Presto
Issue: 1931 2263 - Page 14
14
PRESTO-TIMES
A NEW STORY ON Q. R. S.
November, 1931
H O W ONE GOOD SALE BROUGHT
ABOUT FOUR MORE
The Wyman Piano Co.. Chicago, representatives
and distributors of the Schiller piano, made a sale
A Chicago newspaper, in referring to the business business was debated and as no decision could be not long ago to that famous Chicago-North Shore
and present activities of the (JRS-DeYry Corpora- arrived at for a name to give the music roll enterprise club, the Onwentsia, which sale became the nucleus
tion, Chicago, noted that practically all of the in- it was suggested, as the story goes, by Mr. Charles of four other sales to distinguished members of the
dividuals recently connected with this business am! Burton, Melville Clark's patent attorney, that the hap- fashionable Onwentsia. The first sale attributed to
who were connected with the house in the early days, hazard letters "QRS" from the alphabet instead of, the Club was to an aristocratic family of Chicago's
have severed their connection with the business, with
for instance, "ABC," be taken temporarily until such north side, which was purchased largely on the rec-
the single exception of Mr. E. A. Kieselhorst of St. a time when a better name might be proposed. And ommendation of the pianist of the club's orchestra,
Louis, who for many years has been a stockholder
so, as time went on and many inquiries came in re- and the recommendation of this purchase led to an-
and on the board of control. This means that
garding the meaning of "QRS,'' what the letters other sale to their close friends. Then co/ne another
Thomas Fletcher, Earl Holland, Carl Sundberg, stood for, what it all meant, etc., no change was made sale recommended by a prominent amateur pianist
A. N. Page and Mr. Ames are no longer asso- and about this time Tom Fletcher came out with his who had taken great pleasure in using the club's new
ciated with the QRS. The origin of this busi-
flaming advertisement using "QRS" as his slogan Schiller. After this a sale was made to a college at
ness is an interesting story and is linked up with
and giving the meaning of the letters to be ''Quality Klmhurst on the recommendation of an Ontwentsia
the former Melville Clark Piano Co. which orig- and Real Service," which seemed to settle the per- club woman; four good sales as the result of one good
inated when the Story & Clark Organ Co. made
manency of the name. Thus "QRS" became a fixture starter.
and the legal and corporate title of the business.
Mr. Wyman has been very successful with the
As the trade generally knows, the Melville Clark Schiller agency and has received many testimonials
interests established their location at DeKalb, 111., from users of these instruments. Three extracts from
retaining a Chicago office which was in the old Van letters appear in a Schiller advertisement in this issue
Buren Street Theater building between Michigan of Presto-Times and to this list may be added the
boulevard and Wabash avenue. From there they following extract Iron a letter recently received by
moved to the Fine Arts building, then to the Kimball the Wyman Piano Co. from Geraldlne Seitz, a noted
building and finally to their last Chicago location, at pianist who writes Mr. Wyman as follows:
333 North Michigan avenue, after which the QRS "Words could never tell you how happy my
interests went on under the leadership of Mr. Tom Schiller grand has made me. I think it the finest
piano in the world. Every other musician who has
played it says it is perfect in every way."
JULIUS BLtJTHNER CO. OF AMERICA
Under the caption which heads this article a com-
pany has been formed with headquarters at 734 So.ith
Hill street, Los Angeles. Calif., for the distribut'on of
the Julius Bluthner piano, manufactured at Leipzig,
German}'. The concern is to take oxer the distribu-
tion of the Bluthner product in this country. The
officers and directors of this new organization are:
Louis Danz, Rudolf Schad. and Frederick W.
Schmidt, all well known piano men of the West.
Presto-Times' correspondent at Los Angeles says
that numerous inquiries have already been made by
dealers along the Pacific Coast and the Western
States concerning agencies and selling franchise. Our
correspondent also says that the first lot of pianos
that came from Leipzig to Los Angeles was soon
sold. Mr. Rudolf Schad, vice-president of the com-
pany, says that it is intended to establish headquar-
ters in New York soon after the first of the new
year and to have distribution centers at New York.
Chicago and Los Angeles. It is well known that the
Julius Bluthner piano is one of the leading instru-
ments of Germany and numbers a long list of artists,
composers, teachers, who give high praise to the
instrument.
KRNEST G. CLARK.
changes in its organization away back in 1899, when
it was located at Canal and 16th streets, Chicago
Mr. Clark had perfected the self-playing organ called
the Orpheus and for which instrument the music rolls
were supplied by the Aeolian Co.
Mr. E. G. Clark, now head of the Clark Orchestra
Roll Co., DeKalb, 111., and in those days one of the
important factors in the development of the self-
playing instruments which his brother Melville was
getting ready for the trade, became greatly interested
in the music roll proposition aside from his work in
the factory.
To make a long story short, Mr. Melville Clark
and E. G. Clark and others of their associates de-
termined to open up a music roll industry, which in-
dustry soon became well established, Melville Clark-
being in charge of the manufacturing in the Melville
Clark Piano Co. and E. G. Clark taking on the duties
of developing the music rolls.
In the year 1900 a small factory on West Madison
street was secured and the Melville Clark Piano Co.
became a growing concern, while Ernest G. went to
Waukegan, 111., where for six months in another
brother's scale factory he was perfecting the first
perforating music roll machine and during which time
he was the prime factor in developing a master
punching machine with which to complete the master
rolls. When this was done the music roll business
was moved to Chicago where it occupied space in
the piano factory, thus enabling the two interests to
work in closer cooperation with each other, and dur-
ing the five years' existence of this business, while
Melville Clark was developing his grand piano, and
the well known Apollo piano player, the music
roll department of Ernest G. Clark made much
progress.
The question of a name for the new music roll
THOS. M. I'LKTrilKU.
Fletcher who gathered around him a wonderfully fine
organization, now a matter of music trade history.
It may be added here that after severing his connec-
tion with QRS, Mr. E. G. Clark purchased the auto-
matic roll equipment and rights to manufacture from
QRS and thereupon located in DeKalb where many
of the former employees of the QRS Co. were still
residing. The story of Mr. Clark's success at DeKalb
is well known. He has one of the most complete and
in many ways the most thorough equipment for music
roll manufacture in this or any other land.
At the recent annual meeting of the stockholders of
the QRS-DeVry Corporation the new officers and
directors formed an entirely new set of officials, as
follows: J. B. Kleckner, president; M. J. Peary, vice-
president; Paul Gilchrist, treasurer; W. W. Kiesei-
horst (son of E. A. Kieselhorst), secretary.
The capital stock is to be increased from 400,000 to
500,000 shares, no par value.
/AUSIC PRINTERS
ENGRAVERS AND LITHOGRAPHERS
PRINT ANYTHING IN MUSIC
BY ANY PROCESS
SEND FOR QUOTATION AND SAMPLES
NO ORDER TOO SMALL TO RECEIVE ATTENTION
THE LARGEST EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PRINTER WEST OF NEW YORK AND
THE LARGEST ENGRAVING DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.
ESTABLISHED 1876
REFERENCE ANY PUBLISHER
THE
OTTO
CINCINNATI,
ZIMMERMAN
SON CO.jNC.
OHIO.
KREITER
Pianos and Player-Pianos are
Produced in a New, Modern
and Well-Equipped Factory
Kreiter—Style 15
They are Standard Instruments of
High-Class Design, Noted for Admir-
able Tone Qualities, Affording Ample
Power and Expressive Effects. The
Results of Over Forty Years of Expe-
rience. They satisfy Both Dealer
and Customer.
KREITER MFG. CO., Inc.
310-312 W. Water St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Factory: Marinette, Wis.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
PRESTO-TIMES
A NEW STORY ON Q. R. S.
November, 1931
H O W ONE GOOD SALE BROUGHT
ABOUT FOUR MORE
The Wyman Piano Co.. Chicago, representatives
and distributors of the Schiller piano, made a sale
A Chicago newspaper, in referring to the business business was debated and as no decision could be not long ago to that famous Chicago-North Shore
and present activities of the (JRS-DeYry Corpora- arrived at for a name to give the music roll enterprise club, the Onwentsia, which sale became the nucleus
tion, Chicago, noted that practically all of the in- it was suggested, as the story goes, by Mr. Charles of four other sales to distinguished members of the
dividuals recently connected with this business am! Burton, Melville Clark's patent attorney, that the hap- fashionable Onwentsia. The first sale attributed to
who were connected with the house in the early days, hazard letters "QRS" from the alphabet instead of, the Club was to an aristocratic family of Chicago's
have severed their connection with the business, with
for instance, "ABC," be taken temporarily until such north side, which was purchased largely on the rec-
the single exception of Mr. E. A. Kieselhorst of St. a time when a better name might be proposed. And ommendation of the pianist of the club's orchestra,
Louis, who for many years has been a stockholder
so, as time went on and many inquiries came in re- and the recommendation of this purchase led to an-
and on the board of control. This means that
garding the meaning of "QRS,'' what the letters other sale to their close friends. Then co/ne another
Thomas Fletcher, Earl Holland, Carl Sundberg, stood for, what it all meant, etc., no change was made sale recommended by a prominent amateur pianist
A. N. Page and Mr. Ames are no longer asso- and about this time Tom Fletcher came out with his who had taken great pleasure in using the club's new
ciated with the QRS. The origin of this busi-
flaming advertisement using "QRS" as his slogan Schiller. After this a sale was made to a college at
ness is an interesting story and is linked up with
and giving the meaning of the letters to be ''Quality Klmhurst on the recommendation of an Ontwentsia
the former Melville Clark Piano Co. which orig- and Real Service," which seemed to settle the per- club woman; four good sales as the result of one good
inated when the Story & Clark Organ Co. made
manency of the name. Thus "QRS" became a fixture starter.
and the legal and corporate title of the business.
Mr. Wyman has been very successful with the
As the trade generally knows, the Melville Clark Schiller agency and has received many testimonials
interests established their location at DeKalb, 111., from users of these instruments. Three extracts from
retaining a Chicago office which was in the old Van letters appear in a Schiller advertisement in this issue
Buren Street Theater building between Michigan of Presto-Times and to this list may be added the
boulevard and Wabash avenue. From there they following extract Iron a letter recently received by
moved to the Fine Arts building, then to the Kimball the Wyman Piano Co. from Geraldlne Seitz, a noted
building and finally to their last Chicago location, at pianist who writes Mr. Wyman as follows:
333 North Michigan avenue, after which the QRS "Words could never tell you how happy my
interests went on under the leadership of Mr. Tom Schiller grand has made me. I think it the finest
piano in the world. Every other musician who has
played it says it is perfect in every way."
JULIUS BLtJTHNER CO. OF AMERICA
Under the caption which heads this article a com-
pany has been formed with headquarters at 734 So.ith
Hill street, Los Angeles. Calif., for the distribut'on of
the Julius Bluthner piano, manufactured at Leipzig,
German}'. The concern is to take oxer the distribu-
tion of the Bluthner product in this country. The
officers and directors of this new organization are:
Louis Danz, Rudolf Schad. and Frederick W.
Schmidt, all well known piano men of the West.
Presto-Times' correspondent at Los Angeles says
that numerous inquiries have already been made by
dealers along the Pacific Coast and the Western
States concerning agencies and selling franchise. Our
correspondent also says that the first lot of pianos
that came from Leipzig to Los Angeles was soon
sold. Mr. Rudolf Schad, vice-president of the com-
pany, says that it is intended to establish headquar-
ters in New York soon after the first of the new
year and to have distribution centers at New York.
Chicago and Los Angeles. It is well known that the
Julius Bluthner piano is one of the leading instru-
ments of Germany and numbers a long list of artists,
composers, teachers, who give high praise to the
instrument.
KRNEST G. CLARK.
changes in its organization away back in 1899, when
it was located at Canal and 16th streets, Chicago
Mr. Clark had perfected the self-playing organ called
the Orpheus and for which instrument the music rolls
were supplied by the Aeolian Co.
Mr. E. G. Clark, now head of the Clark Orchestra
Roll Co., DeKalb, 111., and in those days one of the
important factors in the development of the self-
playing instruments which his brother Melville was
getting ready for the trade, became greatly interested
in the music roll proposition aside from his work in
the factory.
To make a long story short, Mr. Melville Clark
and E. G. Clark and others of their associates de-
termined to open up a music roll industry, which in-
dustry soon became well established, Melville Clark-
being in charge of the manufacturing in the Melville
Clark Piano Co. and E. G. Clark taking on the duties
of developing the music rolls.
In the year 1900 a small factory on West Madison
street was secured and the Melville Clark Piano Co.
became a growing concern, while Ernest G. went to
Waukegan, 111., where for six months in another
brother's scale factory he was perfecting the first
perforating music roll machine and during which time
he was the prime factor in developing a master
punching machine with which to complete the master
rolls. When this was done the music roll business
was moved to Chicago where it occupied space in
the piano factory, thus enabling the two interests to
work in closer cooperation with each other, and dur-
ing the five years' existence of this business, while
Melville Clark was developing his grand piano, and
the well known Apollo piano player, the music
roll department of Ernest G. Clark made much
progress.
The question of a name for the new music roll
THOS. M. I'LKTrilKU.
Fletcher who gathered around him a wonderfully fine
organization, now a matter of music trade history.
It may be added here that after severing his connec-
tion with QRS, Mr. E. G. Clark purchased the auto-
matic roll equipment and rights to manufacture from
QRS and thereupon located in DeKalb where many
of the former employees of the QRS Co. were still
residing. The story of Mr. Clark's success at DeKalb
is well known. He has one of the most complete and
in many ways the most thorough equipment for music
roll manufacture in this or any other land.
At the recent annual meeting of the stockholders of
the QRS-DeVry Corporation the new officers and
directors formed an entirely new set of officials, as
follows: J. B. Kleckner, president; M. J. Peary, vice-
president; Paul Gilchrist, treasurer; W. W. Kiesei-
horst (son of E. A. Kieselhorst), secretary.
The capital stock is to be increased from 400,000 to
500,000 shares, no par value.
/AUSIC PRINTERS
ENGRAVERS AND LITHOGRAPHERS
PRINT ANYTHING IN MUSIC
BY ANY PROCESS
SEND FOR QUOTATION AND SAMPLES
NO ORDER TOO SMALL TO RECEIVE ATTENTION
THE LARGEST EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PRINTER WEST OF NEW YORK AND
THE LARGEST ENGRAVING DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.
ESTABLISHED 1876
REFERENCE ANY PUBLISHER
THE
OTTO
CINCINNATI,
ZIMMERMAN
SON CO.jNC.
OHIO.
KREITER
Pianos and Player-Pianos are
Produced in a New, Modern
and Well-Equipped Factory
Kreiter—Style 15
They are Standard Instruments of
High-Class Design, Noted for Admir-
able Tone Qualities, Affording Ample
Power and Expressive Effects. The
Results of Over Forty Years of Expe-
rience. They satisfy Both Dealer
and Customer.
KREITER MFG. CO., Inc.
310-312 W. Water St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Factory: Marinette, Wis.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).