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APRIL 17, 1926
The Music Trade Review
F, A. North Co. Presents First of a
Musical Series at Pennsylvania Hotel
Lester Piano Demonstrated in an Elaborate Program to Large and Enthusiastic Audience—James
Bellak's Sons Settled in New Quarters—Music Master Corp. Bankrupt
PHILADELPHIA, PA., April 12.—While the
* majority of music dealers complain of the
quieter times in the local trade, there are a few
of the high-grade instrument distributors and
the department stores enjoying an improved de-
mand over the same season of 1925. Though
the limited extent of the improved demand is
not as encouraging for the future of the Spring
business drive, there, nevertheless, is a hopeful
attitude maintained by the trade. This hopeful-
ness is expressed in the belief that conditions
will be considerably improved as soon as the
present continued colder and unseasonable
weather is at an end.
Filing of an involuntary petition in bank-
ruptcy in the United States District Court of
Philadelphia last Saturday disclosed the financial
embarrassment of the Music Master Corp.,
manufacturer of radios, Tenth and Cherry
streets. Melville G. Baker and David S. Lud-
lum were appointed temporary receivers, by the
court, under bond of $50,000. The action of the
board of directors in passing a resolution of in-
solvency at a meeting held for the purpose of
determining the financial standing of the con-
cern preceded the institution of the bankruptcy
proceedings by the creditors. Attorneys for the
creditors attributed the failure to a "general de-
pression in the radio market." Henry P. Brown,
attorney for the creditors who instituted the
bankruptcy proceedings, said the liabilities
would approximate $1,200,000 and that the as-
sets are worth between $300,000 and $400,000.
One of the largest throngs ever to attend a
furction in the Pennsylvania Hotel, in this city,
listened to the first of a series of musicals pre-
sented in the main lounge of the hostelry by
the F. F. A. North Co., 1306 Chestnut street,
dealer in pianos and musical merchandise, on
Sunday evening. The opening concert featured
Feri Sarkozi and his orchestra ensemble, with
soloists. There were renditions from Mendels-
sohn, Rubinstein and Castro. Among those
participating in this first of Sunday trade
musicals of classic renditions sponsored by the
North Co., and which amply demonstrated the
use of the Lester piano as a high-grade concert
instrument, were Alexander Schmidt, concert-
meister of the Victor Talking Machine Co., first
violin and soloist; Balo Schaeffer, second violin;
Ion Pasternock, viola soloist; Peter Wenner,
cello soloist; Bernard J. Cortese, concert pianist,
and Jacob Rinck, bass viol. The instrument
used was the Lester reproducing grand, which
was part of the program instrumentations, and
interpretations were given by such noted artists
as Mile. Katinka Narinska, Jose Valasquez,
Josef Lhevinne and Mile. Yolando Mero.
When the new quarters of the James Bellak's
Sons, 708-710 Market street, have received new
stocks of the Cable line, made by the Cable
Company of Chicago, the piano department will,
be among the very attractive show places in
the lower Market street section of the city. In
fact, the Bellak piano department will be the
only exclusively trade house to feature pianos
on an extensive scale on Market street. There
also will be carried a complete line of the Hol-
ton band and the Keystone string instruments
and other musical merchandise, such as violins
and accessories, and the Victor Orthophonic and
Atwater Kent radios. Harry Baron, formerly
manager of the piano department of the Gimbef
Bros, department store and lately with the
Knabe Warerooms, is now associated with the
Rellak Co. in the piano department.
General Manager Robert Cassell, of the Estcy
Piano Co., of New York, journeyed to Phila-
delphia last week to talk over the Spring plans
for the Philadelphia store with Manager Her-
bert S. Skidmore.
Having arranged with the Homer L. Kit Co.
COINOLAS
and the Jordan Piano Co., of Washington, 1). C,
to carry Starr pianos, made by the Starr Piano
Co., Richmond, lnd., President Ben Witlin, local
distributor of the Starr and head of the Witlin
Musical Instrument Co., is back at headquarters
here. Mr. Witlin leaves this week for a tour of
the central Pennsylvania territory.
The trade learned with regret of the passing
of Frank Broderick, formerly manager of the
Camden store of the Story & Clark Piano Co.,
and within recent times associated with the
Philadelphia branch, 1105 Chestnut street. He
had been associated with the local branches of
the Story & Clark Co. for the past six years.
Manager Thomas A. Patton, of the Chestnut
street store of the Cunningham Piano Co., who
has been spending a brief Easter vacation at
the seashore, is back at his desk again after
enjoying the breezes at Atlantic City.
A visitor to the local headquarters of S.
Jacobs & Sons, Columbia avenue dealers, was
Louis S. Roemer, president of Cable & Sons,
New York. President Roemer spent the holi-
days in Atlantic City with David Jacobs.
President Harry W. Weymann, of H. A. Wey-
mann & Sons, 1108 Chestnut street, who has
been confined to his home suffering from an
infection of the sinus bone, is now able to be
about and at his desk.
Supremacy thru their
Performance
Fitzgerald Announces Its
Second Annual Contest
Tiny CoinoU
Event to Be Held in May With Knabe Grand as
Prize—Furnished Knabes for 947 Concerts
in 1925
Durability that has
defied the years
Los ANGELES, CAL., April 10.—The second an-
nual Fitzgerald trophy contest, in which a
Knabe grand piano will be presented to the win-
ning piano student, was announced here this
week by James Taber Fitzgerald, president of
the Fitzgerald Music Co., and will take place in
May of this year. Last year's contest, which
attracted nation-wide attention, was won by
Miss Doris MacLean.
"Our first contest, held last year, did a great
deal to cultivate a higher knowledge and ap-
preciation of good music," stated Mr. Fitz-
gerald. "Naturally such a valuable prize leads
to the best work of which the talented pupil is
capable and greatly stimulates his desire for
personal study and practice. We are also glad
of the opportunity to do our share in developing
future concert artists who will eventually take
their place in spreading the message of culture
with music."
The services of the Fitzgerald Music Co. in
the cause of music and its assistance to local
musical organizations • have done a great deal
toward making the name Knabe widely known
in that territory. During 1925 the Knabe was
furnished by the Fitzgerald house for 947 con-
certs and musical entertainments, and at 188 of
these the Knabe Ampico entered the programs
either as solo or accompanying instrument. The
list of artists in this extraordinary total includes
the appearances of the world-famous pianists
using the Knabe, the most distinguished resi-
dent musicians, as well as local clubs and choral
societies.
Another medium which is influential in keep-
ing the name Knabe before the public is the
radio. Through the influence of the Fitzgerald
Music Co. Knabe grands have been installed in
stations KNX, KHJ, KNRC and KFSN and
the air is well filled with Knabe tone each day.
Tn a recent cross-word puzzle appearing in a
Los Angeles paper the definition of a five-letter
word, No. 10 horizontal, was, "Piano heard over
the radio," which spelled Knabe.
Reprodnco Player Organ
Known Values
Proven Satisfaction
Your territory may be open
Manufactured by
The Operators Piano Co.
715 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago
Illinois