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THE
JULY 20, 1918
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
FINE CROPS INSURE PROSPERITY IN THE PIANO TRADE
DEATH OF VETERAN ORGANIST
Resume of Agricultural Conditions Published by the Federal Reserve Board Shows That the Com- Theodore D. Ruddock Passes Away in Charles-
ton, S. C, in His Ninety-ninth Year
ing Harvest Will Be a Record-Breaker—Prosperity for Farmers Means Prosperity Everywhere
CHARLESTON, S. C, July 15.—Theodore Dehon
Ruddock, the oldest organist in the world, re-
cently died at his home in Charleston in his
ninety-ninth year. Mr. Ruddock was nationally
known as an organist, was a composer of ability,
and for twenty-six years, from 1875 to 1901,
served as director of music in the public schools
of this city. For twenty-seven years he was
organist at Trinity Methodist Church.
Mr. Ruddock was born in Charleston July 25,
1819, and completed his education in music at
Boston. He returned to Charleston and spent
sixty years in work in this city before retiring,
teaching music and serving in many of the local
churches and only resigning from his last charge
about two years ago when more than ninety-six
years old.
As a recognition of his work the International
Order of Organists in convention at New York
some years ago sent him a message of congratu-
lation upon the fact that he was the oldest liv-
ing organist in the world.
WASHINGTON, D. C, July 15.—Crop prospects
throughout the nation indicate that America this
year probably will be ready to meet all war de-
mands for food. This estimate is according to
the Federal Reserve Board's monthly summary
of business conditions, issued here to-day, and
doubtless will be of interest to the members of
the piano trade throughout the country because,
after all, the prosperity of the country is based
upon the crops, and the splendid reports just
made indicate that there will be a good surplus
of money for the purchase of musical instru-
ments.
Confidence in the business situation is marked
in every section, the summary reports. The
general public has accepted without question the
idea of giving precedence to Government re-
quirements, and Government regulation of com-
modities and industries has aided in establishing
an equilibrium which now is almost nation wide,
the statement says.
Tremendous crops in the Middle West have
caused a labor shortage in that region which
threatens to become acute. A competitive bid-
ding for the services of common labor has
brought conditions among the land owners
which so far have failed of solution, according
to the summary. The weather and tempera-
ture, so far, have been the farmers' allies in
harvesting their great crops, the statement adds.
General business conditions in the various
Federal Reserve districts follow:
New York—Unusual increase in gross earn-
ings of practically every line of trade and a
wide adaptation of production of war essen-
tials.
Philadelphia—Extreme labor shortage in both
city and country, handicapping the completion
of gigantic war contracts as well as harvesting
bumper crops.
Cleveland—Excellent crop prospects through-
out the district and busy industries.
Richmond—Business generally limited only
by labor and supplies.
Atlanta—Much labor leaving for work in war
industries, with resultant shortage locally.
Chicago—Industries having difficulty in run-
ning at capacity because of the widespread de-
mand for labor in the district.
St. Louis—Excellent crop conditions in the
district have contributed to the good business
of the industrial centers.
Minneapolis—Increase in war production, with
no shrinkage in retail sales of any lines.
Kansas City—Indications of the largest crop
in the history of the district.
Dallas—Marked increase in production of in-
dustrial lines in a season ordinarily dull.
San Francisco—Grain crops heavy, but fruit
in some sections will show a decrease.
PUBLIC "SINGS" IN KANSAS CITY
BABY GRAND JEWEL CASES
Local Safety Council Doing Much to Stir Up
Patriotism of Industrial Workers
Piano Salesman Making Novel Jewelry Cases
Shaped Like a Grand Piano
KANSAS CITY, MO., July 15.—The Local Safety
Council of this city, co-operating with the In-
dustrial Department of the Chamber of Com-
merce and the Rotary Club, have been doing
some excellent work recently in acquainting the
general public with facts connected with the
war, and why the United States is involved.
During the recent, convention of the Rotary
Club the public were invited to open meetings
where they were addressed by prominent speak-
ers from all sections of the country. At the
meetings also there were held informal "sings,"
the audiences joining heartily in the rendition
of the songs that are popular just now with the
soldiers. The secretary of the Local Safety
Council is B. S. Brown, correspondent for The
Music Trade Review.
Another piano manufacturer has entered the
field. B. B. Halle, of the piano sales staff of
C. H. Ditson & Co., 8 East Thirty-fourth street,
is improving his time at home evenings by carv-
ing jewel cases for some of his friends in the
shape of baby grand pianos. These miniature
CONDITIONS IN THE PIANO TRADE
models measure twelve by nine and one-half
inches and are replicas in every detail of the Business Editor of New York Times Reports
actual instrument with the exception of the ac-
Satisfactory Conditions in the Piano Trade
tion and strings. They have ivory keys, fall
Discussing conditions in the piano trade dur-
board, rising cover with support, separate key
blocks and a key bed, etc. The completed carv- ing the summer months the editor of the busi-
ness department of the New York Times on
ing is finished with seven coats of varnish.
Sunday last remarked:
"Though the summer months seldom see very
L. B. KLUGH AWAITING CALL
much activity in the piano trade, this season the
Review's Cartoonist Preparing to Answer Call demand for both new and used instruments is
said to have been very good. The extent of
for Army Service
the business in used pianos is viewed with spe-
WOODSTOCK, 111., July 15.—Lewis Brown Klugh, cial satisfaction by sellers, inasmuch as it will
brother of Paul B. Klugh, head of the Auto- leave them in a good position to meet the fall
piano Co., New York, and who himself is a season when it opens. In new instrument busi-
piano dealer in this city, is expecting to be sent ness, player-pianos continue to figure prominent-
to Camp Rockford, 111., in the near future with \y and are even preferred, it is said, in the bet-
a contingent of drafted men. Mr. Klugh was ter grade grand and baby grand types."
called by his local board recently, but the quota
from his district was already filled, so he was
SECURE INCORPORATION PAPERS
sent back to await further orders. In addition
to being a live piano dealer, Mr. Klugh bears
Secretary of State Francis M. Hugo, at Al-
the distinction of being the only music trade bany, N. Y., on July 10, at the request of Went-
man who is also a cartoonist, and his inimitable worth, Lowenstein & Stern, filed and approved
sketches of various phases and conditions in the the certificate of incorporation of B. B. Todd,
piano trade appear exclusively in The Review.
Inc. The company is incorporated to carry on
a general piano business.
Its capital stock
consists
of
fifty
shares
of
no
nominal or par
JOIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
value. The incorporators and directors named
Herbert W. Hill, secretary of the Music In- in the certificate of incorporation are clerks and
dustries Chamber of Commerce, has announced attorneys in the office of Wentworth, Lowen-
the election this week of the following mem- stein & Stern. It was stated at the office of
bers of the chamber: J. Rossi Co., New Castle, the attorneys that the company had been in-
Ind.; George W. Moore, Boston, Mass., and the corporated in the interests of B. B. Todd, of
Philadelphia.
• 4 £»
W^ebb.Wjre Works, New Brunswick, N. J.
IMPORTANT POST FOR ALDCROFTT
Appointed Chairman of Committee of New
Regional Classification Commission
Richard B. Aldcroftt, of DeRivas & Harris,
piano manufacturers, was last week appointed a
member of the Regional Industrial Commis-
sion for New York City by William F. Morgan,
president of the Merchants' Association. The
purpose of the Commission is to classify and
co-ordinate manufacturing plants in and around
New York City. Mr. Aldcroftt is chairman of
the committee on trade organization and pro-
cedure, one of the very important committees
of the Commission.
ENTERS BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF
John McCleary, widely known to the music
trade in Texas, has severed his connection with
the J. W. Carter Music House, of Houston, Tex.,
and will act independently as an agent for
pianos and Victor talking machines and records.
WINTER & CO.
R. N. WATKIN IN Y. M. C. A. SERVICE
Well-Known Texas Piano Man One of the Vol-
unteers for Overseas Service
• DALLAS, TEX., July 15.—Robert N. Watkin,
president of the Will A. Watkin Co., and presi-
dent of the local Music Trades Association,
has volunteered and been accepted for overseas
service with the Y. M. C. A. At the present
time Mr. Watkin has not been advised whether
he will go direct to France or enter one of the
training schools in this country.
To enter the Y. M. C. A. service Mr. Watkin
has been compelled to make a considerable busi-
ness sacrifice, but feels that he is thus doing
his bit for his country.
RUDOLF
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
22O SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK