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JULY 23, 1927
The Music Trade Review
Exhibits at Western Music Trades
Association Meeting Largely Attended
Pianos, Phonographs and Musical Merchandise Elaborately Shown for the Dealers and
Pacific Coast and Mountain States
CAN FRANCISCO, CAL, July 14.—While
music merchants in the Bay cities did not go
to the length of shutting up shop and leaving
notices: "Closed on Account of Music Trades
Convention," it is true that everyone connected
with the various stores who could get away
was there. Those whose duties keep them on
the selling line were running over in the lunch
hour to visit the exhibits, of which there were
about fifty. These exhibits catered to prac-
tically all lines of music merchandise, sheet
music being least in evidence. The piano and
the band and orchestra instruments had the
largest representation and Brunswick phono-
graph lines and the Columbia were well to the
fore.
Columbia Representatives Are Pleased
Yesterday was rather a day of rejoicing with
Columbia representatives here. They had re-
ceived word of the tie-up between the Kolster-
Brandes and the Columbia. The Kolster radio
is a subsidiary of the Federal Telegraph Co.,
of California. A. J. Schrade, representative for
the Columbia in this city, went over yesterday
afternoon with a group of ladies visiting the
Convention to see the Columbia pressing fac-
tory on Fifty-seventh avenue near East Four-
teenth street, Oakland. He left in charge at
the St. Francis Hotel exhibit R. R. Souders,
East Bay representative of the Columbia
Phonograph Co., who said that the factory is
kept very busy pressing records. Several times
a year a recording organization visits the Coast.
Little Piano Displayed
There was a little piano, exquisitely finished,
in a closet in the Western Piano Corp.'s suite.
It represented the last word in compactness
for an apartment and the closet showed what
the modern apartment dweller is coming to.
Another of the novelties was a chromatic glis-
sando Starr grand in the Starr Piano Co.
(Pacific Division) exhibit. People who run to
somewhat showy technic in their piano-playing
could scarcely keep their hands off that lordly
looking instrument for it is equipped with ivory
rolls which raise the white keys to the level of
the black keys thereby enabling the performer
to play every note on the keyboard with just a
negligent movement of one hand.
People Talk to Famous Artists
In the American Piano Co.'s exhibit, someone
seemed to be seated at every piano. Many vis-
itors expected to hear them play on first enter-
ing the room. It took a second or two to d's-
cover that they were some of the world's
famous pianists but had only two of Euclid's
three dimensions—length, breadth but not
thickness. They were clever "cut-outs." The
light in the room helped the illusion of reality
and to hear that any short-sighted visitor ac-
tually addressed one of them Is considered one
of the jokes of the local music stores.
Well Known Manufacturers at the Convention
Beeman P. Sibley, president of the Western
Piano Corp., had as visitors at his exhibit: W.
C Heaton, president of the Auto Pneumatic Ac-
tion Co., who was accompanied by Mrs. Hea-
ton and Gordon Campbell, son of Mark P.
Campbell, president of the Brambach Piano Co.
The Western Piano Co. had also K. W. Curtis,
H. Melvin and F. C. Buell. Some beautiful
pianos were in the Western's exhibit, including
an Italian model of Hazelton Bros., braced with
wrought iron.
Shepard Pond, who came from Boston for
the Convention, had a large exhibit in charge
of Gibson McConnell Co., local representatives.
Mr. Pond said that in addition to Ivers & Pond
pianos they were also showing the line of the
Poole Piano Co. in which he is interested.
Most of these pianos were grands but they
also showed for the first time anywhere a small
upright, style 45. H. Paul Mehlin had the Paul
G. Mehlin & Sons exhibit.
Came Long Way and Talked Briefly
That courteous and unselfish piano manufac-
turer, John H. Parnham, came all the way from
his home in the East to make an address on
"Period Model Tendencies in Pianos." He was
the last speaker on the morning program and
because previous portions of the program had
encroached on Mr. Parnham's time, he gave
up much of his own time and only spoke very
briefly, in order that adjournment might occur
promptly.
Small Uprights Much in Evidence
A number of the piano exhibits featured small
uprights and the visiting delegates to the con-
vention showed much interest in the new
models. The American Piano Co.'s exhibit, in
charge of O. F. Rydeen, Coast representative,
was large in itself and was made larger by
special dealer exhibits. Kohler & Chase has an
exhibit at the hotel in charge of R. S. Irving
and the local house displayed a new model
Fischer; the Wiley B. Allen Co. displayed a
magnificent new model Louis XV. Mason &
Hamlin and Lee S. Roberts had a Chickering
exhibit at his store.
The Gulbransen exhibit, in charge of G. E.
Corson, Coast representative, featured a hand-
some new model which, by touching an attach-
ment, is either a reproducing or a player piano.
Charles Dandore says that the lines he repre-
sents are going into period models. Small up-
rights are also among the exhibits. He repre-
sents the Haddorff and Bush & Gerts.
The Baldwin Piano Co. showed new factory
models with Morley P. Thompson, Coast repre-
sentative of the company, in general charge. The
Starr Piano Co. (Pacific Coast Division) in
charge of J. W. Steinkamp, representative, had
a number of piano lines and gave handsome
souvenirs to visitors.
The M. Schulz Co., with R. K. Maynard in
charge, showed some attractive uprights and
"La Marquise," a concert period grand, at-
tracted attention. Other excellent piano ex-
hibits and their representatives were: Lester
Piano Co., E. R. Potter; Lyon & Healy, E. G.
Clayson; Paul G. Mehlin & Sons, H. Paul
Mehlin; the B. K. Settergren Co., Jas. A. Stitt,
and Jesse French & Sons, Marshall Breeden.
Just Returned From Honolulu
Clyde Wilson, who had a large exhibit for C.
Bruno & Son, Inc., has just returned from Hono-
lulu where, he states, business is very good and
things promising for the future. In the Islands
he has had special success with Tru-Fret Uku-
leles and the Vita-uke. He is showing the en-
tire Bruno lines. Another of the many instru-
ment exhibitors was Bob Selander, representing
Slingerland Banjo Co., Chicago. Sherman, Clay
& Co. shows a large line of King band instru-
ments in charge of F. A. Norton, head of their
wholesale band and instrument department.
Among radio exhibitors the Atwater Kent oc-
cupied a prominent place. The exhibit was in
charge of" R. E. Smiley.
church organist and choirmaster. Later he be-
came soloist at the Strand Theatre, in San
Francisco, and afterward at the Rialto, in Los
Angeles. At the present time Mr. Charles is
solo organist at the Tivoli and Uptown The-
atres, in Chicago.
Baldwin Grand Piano
in Roumanian Legation
A Baldwin grand piano is now a permanent
feature of the equipment of the Roumanian
Legation in Washington and the Baldwin Co.
is particularly gratified with the manner in
which the instrument was selected. Not long
ago a Baldwin grand was requested for use at
one of the important receptions held in the
ballroom of the Legation, and His Excellency,
G. Cret/.iano, the Roumanian Minister, himself
accomplished musician, and Countess Piercy,
in charge of social affairs, were so impressed
with the instrument's tone that an order was
issued for its purchase.
A Striking Tribute
An illustration from the Marshall & Wendell
catalog, which appeared recently, has been
selected by the American Photo Engravers' As-
sociation as an example of fine engraving and
has been reproduced in the association's book,
"Achievement." Only the best engraving work
of the year is included in the yearbook of the
engraving trade, which speaks well for the qual-
ity of workmanship in the Marshall & Wendell
catalog.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.
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Milton Charles, Noted
Organist, With Columbia
Milton Charles, the noted organist, has be-
come an exclusive recording artist for the
Columbia Phonograph Co. Mr. Charles, who
at present is one of the directors of the Gunn
School of Music and Dramatic Art, in Chicago,
has had an interesting career as a musician.
He made his debut as a pianist at the age of
fourteen and when sixteen vears old was a
PRATT, READ & CO.
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