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46
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
FEBRUARY 2, 1918
GIVES INSTRUMENTS TO SOLDIERS
S. Ernest Philpitt Distributes Among Camps All
Uncalled-for Musical Instruments in His Re-
pair Department and Urges That Dealers
Throughout the Country Follow His Example
WASHINGTON, I). C, January 28.—One music
dealer who has done and is doing his bit to
cheer the lives of the soldiers in the various
camps through the medium of the Y. M. C. A.
is S. Ernest Philpitt, who operates a sheet
music and musical instrument department in the
store of H. F. Droop & Sons, this city.
At the request of Mrs. John Philip Sousa, Mr.
Philpitt contributed a large quantity of music
for the American soldiers overseas,, and like-
wise presented the troops at Miami, Tampa
and Jacksonville, Fla., in each of which cities
Mr. Philpitt has music stores, with Victrola out-
fits and records, an outfit going to each unit.
Perhaps the most original feat, however, was
the collection of all the uncalled-for instru-
ments, including violins, mandolins, guitars, ban-
jos, etc., in the repair shop of the Philpitt de-
partment here, and their distribution among the
men of the Engineer Corps, at Belvoir, Va.,
where 30,000 troops are in training. Every un-
called-for instrument was thus given away, and
Mr. Philpitt received many letters of deep ap-
preciation from the military officials.
Mr. Philpitt suggests strongly that music deal-
ers follow this plan of giving to the soldiers
such uncalled-for instruments in their repair
departments, seeing, of course, that they are first
put in playable condition. There are always to
be found men among the soldiers who are able
to play the various instruments, and when pre-
sented to the Y. M. C. A. huts at camps in this
country they remain there for the use of new
troops as they come in to replace those sent
abroad. He states that he will be very glad to
receive such donations in his department at 1300
G street, Washington, D. C , and see that the
instruments are sent to the proper authorities
at the camps. Otherwise music dealers may
send their donations direct to the Y. M. C. A.
Field Secretary at the camp they may select.
Mr. Philpitt also plans at an early date to ar-
range for some concerts in the various South-
ern camps, supplying the instruments himself.
RUNO
87-101 Ferry Street
Jersey City, N. J.
OSCAR SCHMIDT, Inc.
ESTABLISHED 1877
Manufacturer of Musical Stringed Instruments — Celebrated Stella
Sovereign Guitars, Mandolins and Banjos, Violins,
Menzenhauer Guitar Zithers, Mandolin Harps,
Guitarophones, Symphonettes and other musical novelties
CONN FACTORIES EXPANDING
IMPROVED DRUM PATENTED
Latest Issue of House Organ Issued by Band
Instrument House Tells of Progress of the
Concern—Many New Processes Utilized
New Construction Provides for Elimination of
Usual Tension Hoop
WASHINGTON, D. C, January 28.—Patent No.
The latest issue-'of "Musical Truth," the suc- 1,252,878 was last week granted to Harry A.
cessful house organ published by C. G. Conn, Rower, Boston, Mass., for a drum.
Ltd., Hlkhart, lud., prominent band instrument
This invention has relation to drums, and has
manufacturer, contains a number of timely and
for its object to provide certain improvements
interesting items, particular reference being
therein by which numerous and important ad-
made to the fact that the Conn factories are ex-
vantages may be obtained.
panding every minute. The front cover features
From the aspect of mechanical construction
the portraits of seven of the most prominent
one
of the' objects of the invention is to secure
bandmasters
of America—Sousa,
Conway,
I'ryor, Kryl, Creatore, Innes and Liberati—all a construction in which the usual tension hoop
of whom highly endorse and recommend the use is omitted, and a single hoop employed to per-
form the functions of the said tension hoop and
of C. G. Conn, Ltd., band instruments.
the usual skin hoop, thereby reducing the num-
The editorial contents of this publication con- ber of parts, and securing a simpler and more
tain several practical items anent band instru- durable construction than has heretofore been
ment manufacturing, one article calling atten- possible.
t:on to the new processes which are utilized in
the manufacture of Conn band instruments, and
THE MAKING OF GUT STRINGS
pointing out how these new processes have been
perfected in order to enhance factory efficiency
A Description of the Process Used in the Manu-
and produce better instruments.
facture of Musical Instrument Strings
In connection with the steady expansion of
the Conn, Ltd., factories it is interesting to note
"As soon as the sheep intestines are graded,"
that the company's business in 1917 was approxi-
says
Popular Science Monthly, "they are divided
mately three times as great as any previous
year, having gone well past the million mark, into narrows about eight yards in length. These
and approaching the two million mark in orders are sent to the string factory, where they are
very closely. During 1917 a new process was thoroughly cleansed and chemically treated.
installed whereby all taper branches are ex- It takes from twenty to twenty-four sheep to
panded by hydraulic pressure. The installa- produce the strings for one tennis racket. A
tion of this process alone cost more than one single violin string monopolizes the entrails of
hundred thousand dollars and demanded between a whole sheep, however big.
"After the gut is split by running it over a
four and five years of continuous labor on the
part of a certain part of the company's force safety razor blade, the strands go through an-
before it was pronounced perfect and ready for other machine which removes impurities. Fol-
lowing this they are repeatedly run through
manufacturing use.
wringers on washtubs. From four to fifteen of
these strands are used for one music string."
JOHN FRIEDRICH&BRO
ESTABLISHED 1834
351-53 FOURTH AVE. NEWYORKCITT
VIC tor Distributor's
DURRO
AND
THE OLDEST AND
LARGEST MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE HOUSE
IN AMERICA
Exclusively Wholesale
and
STEWART
OLIVER DITSON GO.
BOSTON, MASS.
Manufacturers
Importer* and Jobbers of
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
Attractive Specialties
Modern Service
ESTABLISHED 1S34
Largest Wholesale
Musical Merchandise
House in America
Buegeleisen & Jacobson
113 University Place
NEW
YORK
Black Diamond
Strings
MUSICA L
Merchant! ise
WEYMAHH
Scpenor Quality MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Chicago
Victor Distributors
National Musical String Co.
1108 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
New Brunswick, N. J.
Cincinnati
Manufac-
turers of
Established over half • canturr
THE WORLD'S BEST