Presto
Issue: 1937 2281 - Page 14
14
PRESTO-TIMES
Mr. Mil's Stop-Off at Chicago
Enroute Home from Europe
Soliloquizes and Contemplates at Spot of
His Chicago Successors
Enroute to Los Angeles front a two months' so-
journ in Europe, Ed. Uhl. president of the Southern
California Music Company, Los Angeles, made a
brief visit to Chicago and got in touch with as many
of his friends while here as he was able to do.
The site of the VVurlitzer building on Wabash Ave-
nue, JTist north of Van Buren Street, was interesting
to him, "for," said he, "I started the Wurlitzer busi-
ness in that store now torn down and the site of the
old building used for another unit of the Down-Town
Auto Parking, Inc., which extends from Van Buren
Street north to the Baldwin Piano Company premises,
323 South Wabash Avenue.
The Wurlitzer building was acquired by E. H. Uhl,
who came from Cincinnati to establish a Rudolph
Wurlitzer branch house in Chicago. On his arrival in
Chicago he secured temporary quarters and soon made
a deal with Mr. Fisher, owner of the property in
Wabash Avenue, and secured a lease for a term of
years. At the time the lease was made the Albert
Weber estate business, which had become the Manu-
facturers Piano Company and which was under the
management of Louis Dederick, now of San Fran-
cisco, occupied all or nearly all of the main floor.
The third and fourth floors were occupied by two
wholesale book and publishing concerns. Mr. Uhl
took possession of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company,
May 1, 1905. The Manufacturers Piano Company
moved to the west side of the street, which gave
Wurlitzer the basement, first floor, mezzanine and
second floor. As the business grew, the entire build-
ing was taken over by Wurlitzer. As Mr. Uhl took a
farewell look at the site of his activities he remarked
that the old building put up in 1873 was unsafe as
well as unsanitary, notwithstanding that much money
had been spent in remodelling and other improve-
ments. It is estimated that the Wurlitzer lot of 45 x
165 feet with deck and ramp can be made to hold as
many as 125 to 150 cars at one time and that the
average will be 100 entrances daily at an average rate
of fifty cents for each car. This would make a gross
income of $50.00 per day. $350.00 a week and $1,500.00
a month and about $18,000.00 a year. This beats the
rental paid by Wurlitzer all to pieces.
ber of inquiries we receive from old piano men who
retired and now wish to get back into the game—
they will reach and supply long neglected markets.
The future of the piano business looks bright to
us and really the above reasons are but a few of
the signs portending an expanding trade.
Yours very truly,
JESSE FRENCH CORPORATION,
By H. Edgar French, Pres.
In Chicago notably marked advancement and im-
provement are being made in musical instrument
teaching in the public schools. Permits are now given
to music teachers of repute and well established in
their profession to form classes in piano or other
musical instruments where class lessons may be given.
Free use of rooms for teaching and other conveniences
are offered and the plan has opportunities which will
continue to be taken advantage of.
STEINWAY
A brochure catalog of the Steinway & Sons piano-
fortes issued a little over a year ago bears the plain
title, "Steinway" and it contains this paragraph:
"Every Steinway piano is further equipped with the
New Steinway Accelerated Action, which gives a
sensitiveness of touch, speed of action and command
of tone never before attained in the pianoforte. This
improvement, amazing in its results, appears only in
the Steinway piano."
The listing of the pianos in this catalog is a little
novel and certainly sensible. First is the Orchestral
Concert Grand, length 8 feet \\}i inches, then the
Music-Room Grand, length 6 feet 11 inches, the Draw-
ing Room Grand, 6 feet 4 ! / 2 inches, the Living Room
Grand, 5 feet 10K> inches, the Baby Grand, 5 feet 7
inches, and in a special sheet the small grand, the
smallest Steinway & Sons have ever made, being 5
feet one inch long.
FIVE POINTS OF SOUND LOGIC
Apropos of the continued interest in music as an
education and the development of music on all sides,
and particularly in the public schools, the following-
letter from H. Edgar French, President of the Jesse
French Corporation, New Castle, Ind., is timely and
interesting. Mr. French's letter, addressed to the
Editor of Presto-Times, reads:
We believe the music loving public is definitely
in the piano market—they are buying new pianos
for several very good reasons.
First—People are tired of canned entertainment
and wish to once more do something for them-
selves. They are no longer sat.shed to sit and
listen to a medley of propaganda, wise-cracks and
jazzy, even though good music may be sandwiched
in between the trash.
Second—The stocks of used pianos are low and
reduced to large out-of-date and thoroughly unde-
sirable models.
Third—-New stylings have supplied a great impe-
tus to the desire for something new and up-to-date
readjustments of living conditions with new space
limitations has also contributed to this movement,
which accounts for the increasing demand for such
instruments as the Jesse French Wcegrand.
Fourth—The pent-up demand for better home fur-
nishing with the possibility of self-expression
through music, is just getting well underway and we
believe will continue for some time to come.
Fifth—Larger distribution is forecast by the num-
Old Steinway Hall, E. 14th Street, New York City,
recently torn down.
In a later catalog the following item appears con-
cerning the famous Steinway Hall location at East
14th street, New York:
"Steinway Hall, 14th Street, was opened in October,
1866. For a quarter of a century it was the shrine
of music in America. Now it has been razed and it
is only a memory, but it will for many years linger
in the hearts of music lovers 2nd in the memoirs of
American m u s i c '
Jan.-Feh., 1937
MUSIC—THE FOURTH NECESSITY
Federal Housing Administration Afforded
Opportunity to Include Pianos and Other
Musical Instruments
By Harry Edward Freund
The Federal Housing Administration can take a
most forward step, especially for the benefit of the
younger generation and the happiness of the people at
large, by including pianos, organs and other musical
instruments in its plan for financing buyers.
America today is leading world civilization and edu-
cation and for the furtherance of these objectives, the
Guaranteed Loan Plan of the Federal Housing Admin-
istration should include the financing of musical in-
struments.
The younger generation of today are the leaders of
tomorrow, with right thinking, which must begin in
the home, rind proper training, they will prove worthy
of their trust. The young people must be given every
advantage in their education in every way, to live up
to the noblest traditions of their forefathers, and in
all of this worthy purpose, musical education and
training are a potent force. For in the final analysis,
the child's real training begins in the home, and
whatever tends to engender in the minds of boys and
girls the understanding of life and its problems and
its purpose, is to be encouraged, for it means their
future happiness and service to the nation. Home
training is the start of the child's life, and helps to fit
the boy or girl to meet the problems, that will sooner
or later confront them.
Music is an important and vital part of home train-
ing, and whatever can be accomplished in that direc-
tion is an asset for the nation. High school bands and
orchestras do their valued share in enabling the boy
or girl to give expression to their feelings and emo-
tions, and teaches them self discipline and self control,
spirit of co-operation and concentration, which will
enable them in later years, to overcome the pitfalls of
life, that lead to destruction, poverty and misery.
Music, recognized as "The Fourth Necessity," must
be awarded its important part in the home life of the
American people, especially to the benefit, education
and culture of the younger generation.
It is absolutely incumbent upon the Administration
at Washington, D. C, to exercise every effort and
endeavor to afford the younger generation opportunity
for education and culture and to instill into home life
the spirit of harmony and unity.
In this material and machine age, with increasing
hours of leisure, on account of the shorter working
day the nation has as a paramount duty and obliga-
tion, especially to instill into the lives of the younger
generation the love for good music, to train their minds
by home influence, and with right thinking, the invest-
ment will be repaid a thousand fold.
With the material viewpoint at work in the nation
today, the spiritual effect of good music will prove a
foundation for a higher and nobler civilization.
The members of the Musical and Allied Industries
should start a campaign to have musical instruments
included in the eligible list for financing under the
Guaranteed Plan of the Federal Housing Act.
Manufacturers and music merchants can write to
their Senators and Congressmen, musical educators
can be interested; Parent-Teacher Associations may
be invited to do their part; the press of the nation
furnished with articles, and many other contributing
authorities called on for the success of the campaign.
The movement is great and inspiring, and well-
organized and carried on, will arouse public sentiment
for its successful achievement.
Ernie Smith (Ernest E.) of Akron, Ohio, who has
been carrying on an active campaign in selling Straube
pianos, was in Chicago early in January to confer with
the Straube manufacturers regarding future operations
in the Straube line.
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
Mr. Mil's Stop-Off at Chicago
Enroute Home from Europe
Soliloquizes and Contemplates at Spot of
His Chicago Successors
Enroute to Los Angeles front a two months' so-
journ in Europe, Ed. Uhl. president of the Southern
California Music Company, Los Angeles, made a
brief visit to Chicago and got in touch with as many
of his friends while here as he was able to do.
The site of the VVurlitzer building on Wabash Ave-
nue, JTist north of Van Buren Street, was interesting
to him, "for," said he, "I started the Wurlitzer busi-
ness in that store now torn down and the site of the
old building used for another unit of the Down-Town
Auto Parking, Inc., which extends from Van Buren
Street north to the Baldwin Piano Company premises,
323 South Wabash Avenue.
The Wurlitzer building was acquired by E. H. Uhl,
who came from Cincinnati to establish a Rudolph
Wurlitzer branch house in Chicago. On his arrival in
Chicago he secured temporary quarters and soon made
a deal with Mr. Fisher, owner of the property in
Wabash Avenue, and secured a lease for a term of
years. At the time the lease was made the Albert
Weber estate business, which had become the Manu-
facturers Piano Company and which was under the
management of Louis Dederick, now of San Fran-
cisco, occupied all or nearly all of the main floor.
The third and fourth floors were occupied by two
wholesale book and publishing concerns. Mr. Uhl
took possession of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company,
May 1, 1905. The Manufacturers Piano Company
moved to the west side of the street, which gave
Wurlitzer the basement, first floor, mezzanine and
second floor. As the business grew, the entire build-
ing was taken over by Wurlitzer. As Mr. Uhl took a
farewell look at the site of his activities he remarked
that the old building put up in 1873 was unsafe as
well as unsanitary, notwithstanding that much money
had been spent in remodelling and other improve-
ments. It is estimated that the Wurlitzer lot of 45 x
165 feet with deck and ramp can be made to hold as
many as 125 to 150 cars at one time and that the
average will be 100 entrances daily at an average rate
of fifty cents for each car. This would make a gross
income of $50.00 per day. $350.00 a week and $1,500.00
a month and about $18,000.00 a year. This beats the
rental paid by Wurlitzer all to pieces.
ber of inquiries we receive from old piano men who
retired and now wish to get back into the game—
they will reach and supply long neglected markets.
The future of the piano business looks bright to
us and really the above reasons are but a few of
the signs portending an expanding trade.
Yours very truly,
JESSE FRENCH CORPORATION,
By H. Edgar French, Pres.
In Chicago notably marked advancement and im-
provement are being made in musical instrument
teaching in the public schools. Permits are now given
to music teachers of repute and well established in
their profession to form classes in piano or other
musical instruments where class lessons may be given.
Free use of rooms for teaching and other conveniences
are offered and the plan has opportunities which will
continue to be taken advantage of.
STEINWAY
A brochure catalog of the Steinway & Sons piano-
fortes issued a little over a year ago bears the plain
title, "Steinway" and it contains this paragraph:
"Every Steinway piano is further equipped with the
New Steinway Accelerated Action, which gives a
sensitiveness of touch, speed of action and command
of tone never before attained in the pianoforte. This
improvement, amazing in its results, appears only in
the Steinway piano."
The listing of the pianos in this catalog is a little
novel and certainly sensible. First is the Orchestral
Concert Grand, length 8 feet \\}i inches, then the
Music-Room Grand, length 6 feet 11 inches, the Draw-
ing Room Grand, 6 feet 4 ! / 2 inches, the Living Room
Grand, 5 feet 10K> inches, the Baby Grand, 5 feet 7
inches, and in a special sheet the small grand, the
smallest Steinway & Sons have ever made, being 5
feet one inch long.
FIVE POINTS OF SOUND LOGIC
Apropos of the continued interest in music as an
education and the development of music on all sides,
and particularly in the public schools, the following-
letter from H. Edgar French, President of the Jesse
French Corporation, New Castle, Ind., is timely and
interesting. Mr. French's letter, addressed to the
Editor of Presto-Times, reads:
We believe the music loving public is definitely
in the piano market—they are buying new pianos
for several very good reasons.
First—People are tired of canned entertainment
and wish to once more do something for them-
selves. They are no longer sat.shed to sit and
listen to a medley of propaganda, wise-cracks and
jazzy, even though good music may be sandwiched
in between the trash.
Second—The stocks of used pianos are low and
reduced to large out-of-date and thoroughly unde-
sirable models.
Third—-New stylings have supplied a great impe-
tus to the desire for something new and up-to-date
readjustments of living conditions with new space
limitations has also contributed to this movement,
which accounts for the increasing demand for such
instruments as the Jesse French Wcegrand.
Fourth—The pent-up demand for better home fur-
nishing with the possibility of self-expression
through music, is just getting well underway and we
believe will continue for some time to come.
Fifth—Larger distribution is forecast by the num-
Old Steinway Hall, E. 14th Street, New York City,
recently torn down.
In a later catalog the following item appears con-
cerning the famous Steinway Hall location at East
14th street, New York:
"Steinway Hall, 14th Street, was opened in October,
1866. For a quarter of a century it was the shrine
of music in America. Now it has been razed and it
is only a memory, but it will for many years linger
in the hearts of music lovers 2nd in the memoirs of
American m u s i c '
Jan.-Feh., 1937
MUSIC—THE FOURTH NECESSITY
Federal Housing Administration Afforded
Opportunity to Include Pianos and Other
Musical Instruments
By Harry Edward Freund
The Federal Housing Administration can take a
most forward step, especially for the benefit of the
younger generation and the happiness of the people at
large, by including pianos, organs and other musical
instruments in its plan for financing buyers.
America today is leading world civilization and edu-
cation and for the furtherance of these objectives, the
Guaranteed Loan Plan of the Federal Housing Admin-
istration should include the financing of musical in-
struments.
The younger generation of today are the leaders of
tomorrow, with right thinking, which must begin in
the home, rind proper training, they will prove worthy
of their trust. The young people must be given every
advantage in their education in every way, to live up
to the noblest traditions of their forefathers, and in
all of this worthy purpose, musical education and
training are a potent force. For in the final analysis,
the child's real training begins in the home, and
whatever tends to engender in the minds of boys and
girls the understanding of life and its problems and
its purpose, is to be encouraged, for it means their
future happiness and service to the nation. Home
training is the start of the child's life, and helps to fit
the boy or girl to meet the problems, that will sooner
or later confront them.
Music is an important and vital part of home train-
ing, and whatever can be accomplished in that direc-
tion is an asset for the nation. High school bands and
orchestras do their valued share in enabling the boy
or girl to give expression to their feelings and emo-
tions, and teaches them self discipline and self control,
spirit of co-operation and concentration, which will
enable them in later years, to overcome the pitfalls of
life, that lead to destruction, poverty and misery.
Music, recognized as "The Fourth Necessity," must
be awarded its important part in the home life of the
American people, especially to the benefit, education
and culture of the younger generation.
It is absolutely incumbent upon the Administration
at Washington, D. C, to exercise every effort and
endeavor to afford the younger generation opportunity
for education and culture and to instill into home life
the spirit of harmony and unity.
In this material and machine age, with increasing
hours of leisure, on account of the shorter working
day the nation has as a paramount duty and obliga-
tion, especially to instill into the lives of the younger
generation the love for good music, to train their minds
by home influence, and with right thinking, the invest-
ment will be repaid a thousand fold.
With the material viewpoint at work in the nation
today, the spiritual effect of good music will prove a
foundation for a higher and nobler civilization.
The members of the Musical and Allied Industries
should start a campaign to have musical instruments
included in the eligible list for financing under the
Guaranteed Plan of the Federal Housing Act.
Manufacturers and music merchants can write to
their Senators and Congressmen, musical educators
can be interested; Parent-Teacher Associations may
be invited to do their part; the press of the nation
furnished with articles, and many other contributing
authorities called on for the success of the campaign.
The movement is great and inspiring, and well-
organized and carried on, will arouse public sentiment
for its successful achievement.
Ernie Smith (Ernest E.) of Akron, Ohio, who has
been carrying on an active campaign in selling Straube
pianos, was in Chicago early in January to confer with
the Straube manufacturers regarding future operations
in the Straube line.
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).