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40
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
JANUARY 3, 1925
Boston Sheet Music Trade—(Continued from page 39)
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the piano who do not remember the pleasant
"Robin's Return" and "Moonlight on the Hud-
son."
Mr. Woodman was very enthusiastic about
their new series of 50-cent books, yielding a
profit of 150 per cent to the dealer. Three of
the books are now ready, "The Miniature
Classic," volumes 1 and 2, and "Ten Russian
Piano Pieces."
There are many important cogs in the Ditson
wheel and I want to mention a few. E. W.
Briggs is the treasurer and his signature cer-
tainly looks good on a check. Wm. J. Riley,
the man who has never been known to have
had a grouch, and the trim and handsome in-
dividual, James A. Smith, manager of the retail
department, a charming fellow with a lot pf
ability, are also there.
I have often heard dealers and teachers re-
mark that the Ditson publications are well
edited. That credit is due to Wm. Arms Fisher.
One of the old timers who still looks like a
young fellow is Harry Haney, superintendent
of the wholesale department and buyer. I know
the secret of Harry Haney's perpetual pep. He
lives in Jamaica Plains, right on the top of
the plains. He claims the birds sing a little
sweeter there and the air is good and pure. His
motto is work hard, play hard, eat well and
say your prayers every night of the week. His
favorite adage is "early to bed and early to
rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and his
envelope rise." To give you an idea of the
scope of Mr. Haney's knowledge of music, the
copyright office is among those who seek in-
formation from him. And here's another reason
why Haney is so happy.
It seems that several years ago a man who
boasted of being the best-posted individual in
the music business passed on. When he reached
the Heavenly Gate he was confronted by St.
Peter, who asked him by what good deed he
asked admission into Heaven. The individual
promptly responded that he had been the best-
posted man in the music field and had given
great service to dealers, teachers, students, etc.
It happened, however, that St. Peter's secretary
overheard the conversation and knew from the
reports he had been receiving that the person
at the gate was not making a true statement.
He, therefore, said, "St. Peter, there must be
some error. There is just one man who is the
best posted in the music industry and that is
Harry Haney, who is with the Oliver Ditson
Co. in Boston."
Seeing that Harry possessed such wide knowl-
edge I asked him who originated the titles of
two famous songs, "You're the Only Girl in the
World for Me" and "Home, Sweet Home." You
couldn't fool Harry. "Adam, in the Garden of
Eden, suggested the first, and Babe Ruth the
other," says Harry.
One of the remarkable things Mr. Woodman
disclosed to me was that the heads of all the
departments of the Oliver Ditson Co. have been
there since boyhood. They had been promoted
according to their worth and ability.
While sitting in Mr. Woodman's office on the
tenth floor of the Oliver Ditson building Mr.
Woodman pointed out the window to the corner
of Beacon"antl Charles streets, just a short dis-
tance away. That was where the British landed
on April 28, 1775. To-day it is the important
part and heart of the city.
I gathered a bit of Mr. Woodman's philos-
ophy which is well worth quoting. "What the
Oliver Ditson Co. is trying to do is to show
the dealers their possibilities, strength and
power to accomplish whatever is necessary to
make their business profitable. Make it a habit
to expect great things of yourself and it will
bring forth the best in you. Let the dealer put
himself in his customer's place. The consumer
likes to be considered."
When novelties come to the dealer from the
Ditson Co. they should not be set aside, but
submitted to the professional musicians who are
qualified to judge this type of material. In that
way the dealer is in closer contact with his cus-
tomer. Mr. Woodman does not believe in ask-
ing the dealer to take everything that is pub-
lished. He states that Chas. W. Homeyer, of
Boston, is working out the plan very success-
fully.
The Ditson Co. is also distributor for the Vic-
tor Talking Machine Co. Henry Winkleman is
the manager of that department. Musical instru-
ments, wholesale and retail, are under the super-
vsiion of James F. Fitzgerald, who is very well
known in these circles.
Boston Music Co.
The Boston Music Co., at 26 West State street,
dates back about forty years. Gustave Schirmer,
ajjyjitstablished that business in 1885. After es-
tablishing that business Mr. Schirmer returned
to New York. He died very suddenly in 1907.
For a while Winfred Rogers operated the busi-
ness, but later Gustave Schirmer, 3d, came to
Boston and purchased it for himself. The cat-
alog of the Boston Music Co. contains almost
all the works and original compositions of
Ethelbert Nevin. There are just a few excep-
tions and tHewf^-are published by the John
Church Co. The Boston Music Co. also con-
{Continued on page 40)
Of Interest to McKinley Dealers!
Now ready for season 1925!
50 New Numbers and New
Catalogs now ready for 1925
:(~ C h o i c e N I I I I I I M T S f o r I'iiinu, 5 V i o l i n a n d
I ' i a n o D u e l s , :< V i o l i n . V i o l o n c e l l o a m i P i a n o
I'icres.
"
. > M o r e f o r S a x o p h o n e anil I ' i a n o .
Salable Copyrights!
Best Reprints!
World Famous
McKINLEY
MUSIC
"Always
First With
the Best"
Free Catalogs with Slock Orders
A complete storl; of salaiilc music at very
low cost.
200 % Profit
Wrile for Samples anil Terms Toriu.v'.
McKINLEY MUSIC CO.
1501-1517 East 55th Street - CHICAGO