International Arcade Museum Library

Presto

Issue: 1940 2295

Presto - 1940 2295 - Page 20 – Presented by the International Arcade Museum (IAM)

'anulacturer* P O I N T T H E WAY NEW HARMONIC TONE AMPLIFIER BY SCHILLER-CABLE PIANO CO. We enjoyed our visit to the exhibit of the Schiller-Cable Piano Company at the recent Convention. Mr. Edgar B. Jones gave us an interesting story of their new product. This is a Harmonic Tone Amplifier. It is built like a violin and suspended on the plate of the piano. It has openings on the under side directly above the strings to pick up the vibrations, and on the top side violin F vents to let the tone out. The bottom side is built of spruce and the top side of maple and it is crowned like a sounding board. The most pleasing sound to the trained ear is the tone built up of harmonics. In this device, as has been proven by laboratory tests and Ocillograph photographs are shown just how much the harmonics are increased with the Harmonic Amplifier. This device brings out a big round bass and a rich treble both in the center and upper registers. It actually gives a piano characteristic grand tones. This device will be used in our pianos built in 37 V2 inch height, 40 inch height, and 41V2 inch height. One of the most admired pianos at the Convention was the new and vericable model in the 41V2 inch height. This piano was equipped with the Harmonic Tone Chamber. (See page 7). CHARLES H. BARTHOLOMEE MADE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRAUBE PIANOS, INC. Charlie was born in New York City on July 25, 1874. He left New York when he was twelve years old, but later returned to New York and was an apprentice with Steinway & Weber. His ambition from his early days had been to become a factory superintendent or own a factory, both of which aims he has attained. Mr. Bartholomee started at the age of 13 in the mill room and worked at every branch of the piano trade under the tutalage of his father and other master mechanics. Third Generation In Piano Industry He is the third generation in the piano business. His grand father had a piano factory in Germany, his father a factory in New York and Charlie was a partner in a factory in Chicago. Has Had A Wide Experience He worked as an action finisher and regulator at Newcombes Piano Co .of Toronto, Canada, where his father was superintendent. He had charge of fine regulating and grand action work, with the D. W. Karn Piano Co. at Woodstock, Canada. He also was with the Thomas Organ & Piano Co., Woodstock. He was assistant superintendent to Walter Lane of the Russell Piano Co. in Chicago. Mr. Bartholomee was with G. P. Bent for 10 years in charge of fine regulating and Tone regulating departments. He was the Supt. of Werner Piano Co. and later Supt. for Smith & Barnes. These various positions gave Mr. Bartholomee a wide experience as each new position was a good promotion to a larger joband a bigger opportunity. Today he is nationally known as one of the ablest superintendents and factory managers in the industry. He was Supt. of P. A. Starck Piano Co. for nearly 20 years and also as a partner in the Company. He has made special improvements and has patents to his credit. The scales now being used in Straube Pianos are of his creation. Joins Straube Pianos For the recent Chicago Convention Straube created several new models in various woods and finishes. Their factory is now producing 18 to 20 pianos per day. These pianos are being snipped regularly and many car loads are leaving the factory every month. Charlie was rencently made Vice-President of Straube Pianos, Inc. An Outstanding Athlete In his early days in Canada Charlie took great interest in athletic meets and was a champion bicycle rider in one to five mile series. He is a hail-fellow-well-met with whom one likes to visit. PAGE TWENTY CONOVER HAS NEW LINE Mr. Jones announced: "The Conover line has heretofore consisted of only grand pianos; it now embraces new designs of vertical pianos in the 41V2 inch height. The Conover has aways been known as a truly great piano and the ingenius scale used in the new Conover 41V2 inch piano carries out its distinguished tradition." "LUCITE" LIGHTS UP BANDS AT NIGHT Youthful musicians of Fromberg High School, Fromberg, Mont., believing a band should be seen as well as heard, have strikingly adapted the optical properties of "Lucite" methyl methacrylate resin to achieve that end. All band instruments, and even the batons of three drum majors, who perform in unison, are outlined with rods of the crystal clear plastic. They provide an impressive colored lighting effect as the band marches at night or plays in the darkened auditorium. Each rod is formed to the shape of the instrument and fastened on with transparent tape. On clarinets and saxophones, small superstructures of wood hold the rods in position. The rods are illuminated by tiny flashlights, each instrument obtaining its individual lighting effect. The light bulbs are placed at the end and the glow transmitted throughout the length of the rod by "Lucite's" property of internal reflection. Each of the 30 musicians also wears a hat decorated with glowing "Lucite." In all, 110 bulbs and batteries are required. The transparent plastic rods look like the finest glass. They are shatter-proof, however, and the weight of the instrument is increased only slightly. "Lucite" weighs only half as much as glass. This combination of properties is especially important to the band's "twirlers," who send their long batons whirling high in the air to create solid wheels of flashing light. Glenn Reddick, director of the band, designed the batons and worked out the adaption of the plastic to the other instruments. CHARLES FREDERICK STEIN One of the interesting exhibits of the Convention was that of Charles Frederick Stein and his Patented Harmonic Tone Chamber. Mr. Stein had a great number of enthusiastic visitors at his exhibit continually. PRESTO MUSIC TIMES 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/

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