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Novel Order Blank for
Roy Smeck Vita-Guitars
At Dinner to Introduce New Product of Har-
mony Co. Guests Inscribe Orders on Sample
Spruce Tops
CHICAGO, III., April 16.—An unusual form of
order blank was used in connection with the
aimouiK rnunt of the new Roy Smeck Vita-
Ciiiitars by the Harmony Co. jay Kraus, presi-
\
= m
dent of the company gave a dinner to announce
the new instrument to a number of jobbers, and
the spontaneous outburst of enthusiasm which
greeted the new instrument led to the placing
on the spot of orders for more than,4li$ree
hundred.
23
The Music Trade Review
APRIL 21, 1928
••*.'-i.
The blank consisted of an unfinished sample
spruce top which Mr. Kraus passed around tne
table to demonstrate the construction of^the
new Vita-Guitar, and as the top passed from
hand to hand each jobber in turn inscribed
upon it the name of his company along with
an initial order.
The following jobbers are represented: C.
jjBruno & Son, Inc., Ruegeleisen & Jacobson,
'Chicago Musical Instrument Co., Cole & Dunas,
Continental Music Co., Carl Fischer, Inc.,
Illinois Musical Supply Co., J. W. Jenkins &
Sons Music Co., Lyon & Healy, Targ & Dinner,
Tonk Bros. Co. and Rudolph Wurlitzer Co.
Since that time of course additional orders for
the instruments have been received by the Har-
mony Co., not only from the original pur-
chasers but from other jobbers who were not
able to be present at the dinner.
As described in previous issues the new Har-
mony product includes the Roy Smeck Vita-
Guitar, Tenor and Plectrum Guitar, and each
model is equipped with a new Harmony "Aero-
Bridge," a patented device designed to elimi-
nate buckling or warping of guitar tops.
New York, Oregon, Utah, eastern and western
Washington and probably West Virginia. The
contest promoters in these units are making up
for the delays of their sections in joining the
movement by the fervor of their present par-
ticipation. •
• " . • . ' -
Florida, for instance, has already held its con-
test, with five bands taking part in a competi-
tion so close and spirited that there was only
five-sixths of a point's difference between the
three bes.t.bands.- The award went to the Eustis
Boys' Band and the press of the State chroni-
cled the event as ar item of real news interest.
An indication of the whole-heartedness with
which the newcomers have joined the movement
is provided by the number of entries thus far
listed £or<.their respective contests. As given
bv ; the National Bureau these are Maine, twelve
bands and twelve orchestras; Mississippi, six
bands; Missouri, eight bands, ten orchestras;
New Jersey, twenty-one bands, eight orchestras;
New Mexico, six bands, six orchestras; New
York, fifteen bands; Oregon, ten bands; Utah,
nineteen bands; Washington, twelve bands. The
total for Washington is for the two sections:
eastern Washington, seven, and western Wash-
ington, five.. •
The work of organizing these contests on a
State basis is less than five years old. From a
beginning of five State contests in 1924 to the
present respec'table total, embracing a large ma-
jority of all the States in the Union, is a de-
velopment that is proof of the soundness of the
idea, as well.as of the amount of intelligent
and earnest work by which the idea has been
promoted.
New Bands and Orchestras
Arbuckle, Cal., Saxophone Band, A. L. Winter.
Bridgeport, O., Drum and Bugle Corps, Bob
Wiley.
Brecksville, O., Brecksville Retail Merchants'
Band, John Grieves.""
Concord, Cal., Diablo High School Orchestra,
T. Frederiksen.
Newcom'erstown, O., Newcomerstown Band,
Charles Lieser.
Stockton, Cal., Symphony Orchestra, C. M.
Dennis.
Stockton, Cal., Boys' Band, E. M. Bunnell.
Geneva, O., Geneva Boy Scouts' Rand, John
Russell.
Patterson, Cal., Patterson Boys' Band, Karl
Tngebretsen.
Branciforte, Cal., Branciforto School Band,
Armand Putz.
Albion, N. Y. Albion Boys' Band, R. L.
Doran.
Pittsburgh, Pa., Allegheny Community Or-
chrstra, Harold W. Lange.
Crookville, O., High School Orchestra.
Guttenberg, Iowa, Guttenberg High School
Thirty-four Units Scheduled to Participate in Orchestra, Miss Helen Coleman.
Piedmont, Md., Toonerville Band, Leo
National Contest to Be Held in Joliet, 111.,
Wilcox.
on May 24-26
Reedley, Cai., Community Orchestra, Miss
Comparison of this year's roster of States in Josephine Barber.
Susanville, Cal., Community Boys' Band.
which school band contests will be held, with
Newman, Cal., High School Band, E. E.
the number in which* similar competitions were
held last year, shows a remarkable growth in Oertel.
Riverton, Wyo., Riverton Band, J. B. Taylor.
the movement. Not the least gratifying fea-
ture of the development is its geographical dif-
Trinidad, Col., Boys' Band.
fusion to include some of the border States in
Wase'ca, Miri'n.,' Waseca Band, D. E. Perrin.
which the stress of pioneer community building
Marengo, la., Marengo High School Orches-
might be supposed to preclude thought of the tra, Miss Blanche Williams.
cultural side of life.
Grove City, Pa., Grove City College Band,
As stated by the National Bureau for the Foster Jones.
Uhrichsville, O., Uhrichsville School Band, L.
Advancement of Music, which is actively oper-
ating with the Committee on Instrumental H. Alexander.
Tarentum, Pa., Boys' Band, Frank Leighton.
Affairs of the Music Supervisors' National Con-
Newark, O., "Mariott's Harmony Kings," R.
ference in promoting these events, band con-
tests prior to the national meeting at Joliet, 111., L. Mariott.
East Providence, R. I., High School Band,
May 24-26,, have been scheduled in thirty-four
contests units, comprising individual States, sec- Harold Wiggen.
Attleboro, Mass., High School Orchestra,
tions of States and groups of States. In 1927
Miss Gertrude Z. Mahan.
twenty-two units held these band contests.
Sunbury, Pa., Sunbury High School Orchestra,
The newcomers this year are Florida, Maine,
Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Prof. Beckman.
National High School
Orchestra Broadcasts
Presents Program Over Wide Radio Hookup
on Wednesday of This Week Under Auspices
of National Musical Merchandise Association
CHICAGO, 111., April 17.—The National High
School Orchestra will present a concert over
the radio to-morrow night through Station
KVW, this city, and over the WJZ network
from New York, with a short-wave hookup to
reach England and continental countries. The
concert is part of the National Orchestra pro-
gram financed by the National Musical Mer-
chandise Association, of which W. J. Haussler
is president, and conducted by the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music. The
great radio hookup affords striking evidence of
the success of the work thus far accomplished.
Selmer Clarinets Used
by U. S. Marine Band
Entire Clarinet Section of That Famous Organ-
ization Now Equipped With Selmer Instru-
ments—Conductor Praises Results
ELK HART, IND., April 14.—During a recent visit
to Washington, D. C, George M. Bundy, presi-
dent of Selmer, Inc., was pleasantly surprised to
find the entire clarinet section of the United
States Marine Band was equipped with Selmer
instruments. The principal clarinetist of the
organization is Emil Rada, who has won a
national reputation as an artist and has been an
admirer of the Selmer clarinet for many years.
Capt. Taylor Branson, conductor of the Ma-
rine Band, is credited with the statement that
the tuning and intonation of the clarinet section
has greatly improved since the adoption of
Selmer instruments.
Buegeleisen Off to Europe
Samuel Buegeleisen, head of Buegeleisen &
Jacobson, wholesalers of musical merchandise,
New York, sailed for Europe this week for a
two months' visit.
Consult the Universal Want Directory ot
The Review.
School Band Contest
Movement Shows Growth
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