THE PIANO SHOP R. R. 6 Bo~ 216 Warsaw, IN 46580 Phone (219) 269~127 - Thadde~s 1. K~·~hannv. 26441 W Vista Ct. Ingleside, fL 60041 The BLUE BOOK of American Musical Instruments 29th Year 01 Pa6licatiM PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE to Pianos Player-Pianos and Reproducing Pianos In Three Parts: I. In_ruments of Established Names and Character. II. In_ruments bearing Special Name. or Trade Marks. Ill. Manufacturer. of Pianos and Player Pianos. All preceded by Chaptera on Piano Baildiq and BuyinC de.icned for the PIANOS auidance of pro.pective purcha.era. PLAYERS 29thYear ofPublication REPRODUCING PIANOS AND THEIR MANUFACTURERS 1926 .,TIae Book flaGf Sell. PiImoa" 2 PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE. 3 IN ADVANCE The outstanding features of the piano at this time PREFACE are the remarkable development of the Reproducing Grand, the economy of space occupied by the little Uprights and the dainty beauty of the so-called EDITION OF 1926. Baby Grands. The steadily growing popularity of "In the multitude of cOUDsel there is wisdom." But the small grands is easy to understand, for in power in selecting a piano the average purchaser finds that and resonance of tone the miniature replicas of the a "multitude of counsel" is confusing. That is one old-time concert instruments are full-grown and of the reasoDS why Presto Buyers' Guide is so pop- . capable of the most artistic musical expression. ular and is so repeatedly referred to by prospective In a general sense the piano-the only instrument piano purchasers and is employed by piano salesmen of music that responds fully to the heart of the home with which to convince their customers that the in­ -has steadily advanced, and the outlook is that it struments present are of dependable, whether pop­ will become even more of the favorite "household ular, "high grade" or distinguished. For not many god" than ever before. Without doubt the necessarily retail piano buyers can recognize the names which, large increase in cost of the piano threatened a tem­ in piano trade circles, stand so high as to disarm porary slowing up of its demand, but that has been all adverse criticism. in a large degree overcome and it is predicted that One of the certain signs of a piano's quality is the during 1926 the number of pianos manufactured will name it bears. And, inasmuch as all piano manufac­ be larger than in any year since this century began. turers try to have the names of their pianos in some The favor of the very small upright pianos is way characteristic, the style of the name is made another feature of the piano demand. These dainty with especial reference to its being quickly recog­ little instruments are designed for schools and small nized by experts, or others familiar with the various apartments. They are almost phenomenal in power trade names which appear on pianos of any'charac­ and a majority of the foremost manufacturers are ter whatsoever. For in this country there are no producing them in growing numbers. established pianos that do not bear the trade-mark, The playerpiano retains its popularity. It is, of or the manufacturer's ·name, on the fall-board. course, in every essential feature, a piano, as of old, Therefore it is essential, especially to buyers of into which is installed a special mechanism by which high-grade or costly pianos, to recognize the name are produced the same musical effects as if a pianist the instruments bear. There have been spurious were at the keyboard. The raQge of the playerpiano's piano names which have resembled those of distinc­ possibilities is practically unlimited because of the tion so closely as to mislead all but the most experi­ enterprise of the music roll industries, which put enced. forth the new as well as the classic music at small The American piano is a better instrument than cost to the public. ever before. It is an article of pride in any home. With pianos, as with most things, prices should And as a means of a full-rounded education and re­ serve as an index to values. The old-time tricks of finement, the rising generation, and the generations the trade have largely disappeared and prices have to come, will prove it, as never before since its first assumed a normal basis. And that means that the suggestion in the invention of Cristofori of Padua, in price is, when rightly fixed, a question of compara­ 1711. tive quality. No one can expect to buy an instru­ This issue of Presto Buyers' Guide has been pre­ ment of the higher grades, or of great distinction, pared with especial care, and its estimates of all for anything like the prices asked for "popular" or pianos may be depended upon in every particular. the "medium" grade instruments. By applying the same rules to the purchase of a The editors are always ready to supplement what plaur-pillno that have been prescribed for the plano is herein said by any further advice for dealers or the least Informed purchaf.er will be on the safe side. As with planas. It often happens that the best possible their customers who may apply for information of commendation Is In the name of the player-plano manu­ any kind pertaining to any instrument or industry facturer. And with very fare e~ceptlons all plano man­ ufacturers now also produce player-planas. In very many referred to in this book. cases the player action Is a specialty. made by expert plaYfsr-actlon Industries and adapted to the planas. In PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE IS REVISED AN­ such cases the makers of the planas Uf-e great caution In NUALLY. choosing their plano player parts and. while there are several good plaYer actions and player systemB now In All Earlier Editions Are Cancelled. use. the plano manufacturers study them all with a View to discovering the ones best suited to their Individual planas. On general principles, it is perfectly safe to rely SPECIAL NOTICE: This book consists of three upon the descriptions and representations set forth parts. First, brief analytical descriptions of all estab­ in the catalogues of reputable manufacturers. And Ushed pianos and playerpianos. Second, trade mark if the name of any instrument presented for sale is pianos and playerpianos. Third, succinct facts con­ found in this book, it is a sure sign that it is a "regu­ larly made" player-piano and worthy of considera. cerning the manufacturers, their factories, and other tion. It shOuld be said, also, that throughout this details of interest to prospective piano owners. It b~ok ~e word piano applies equally to the player­ is suggested that, after noting what is said in Part plano, Insofar as concerns any reference to char­ . One, concerning any instrument, the reader tum also acter or quality of the instruments under discussion in to Part Three for additional information. Should any paragraph or section of the book. • the name about which data is desired not be found it may here be said that the purpose in the descrip­ ~ons of pianos in this book is to be as brief as pos­ in Part One, it will probably be in Part Two, where Sible, and the length of the analysis of the instnll­ the trade-mark and special-name instruments are menta has no siKDificance with respect to the char­ Uated. acter of the subject under di.ecussion. 4 PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE. PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE. How Instruments Are Graded The Commercial Piano N piano catalogue. and other commercial literature a HE predominating characteristic of the commer­ common announcement il one which refers to the cial plano Is indicated by the descriptive adjec­ lP'ade of the inltrument. In very many cales the tive used to designate Its Quality, It is a plano piano il said to be one of "Str1ctly High Grade." manufactured with the Idea (If commercial ada ­ Originally planol were not graded. Each manufao­ tabl1lty. The Ide'l of musical superiority, whNe I turer Itrove to produce the best Illltrument ponible. T not always ellmlnated from consideration, Is not A plano was then a rarity. As to prkle, It could only the dominant thought. To Insure a large sale and to be high, for few pianos were made and they conlumed lustaln the commercial advantage of low price. the man­ much time and' neclliitated great effort in their con­ ufact'irer must reduce the cost of production to the low• •tructlon. But with the advancement of the indultrial est poeslble point. The commercial plano Is not designed world, with the improvementl In machinery and the tor musical experts. nor for well-to-do customers who are adoption of more emclent methods, mE-ans were employed actuated In their choice by the fame of the manufacturer by which musical Instruments might be produced more and are Wl11inf to pay a llberal price for correspondingly and more rapidly. Thus all pianos were "high-grade" costly materia and workmanshIp. It is never given the untll about the early 70's, at which tlme the first com­ place of a "leader" In any honorable piano store, but is mercial planas appeared. Before that tlme there had sold for what It Is and at a price consistent with its been no thought of differentiation in grading planas. qualities. With the appearance of the commercial plano condltlons It Is equally true that the commercial plano often pos­ changed, and. with every advancement In modern methode sesses real merit, and serves to gratify the taste and of manufacture.