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DECEMBER 15, 1928
H. Paul Mehlin, Piano
Manufacturer, Is Dead
Prominent Member of Industry Passes Away
in 65th Year at Home in Maywood, N. J.,
After Long Illness
H. Paul Mehlin, treasurer of Paul G. Mehlin
ik Sons, prominent piano manufacturers of West
New York, N. J., died at his home in May-
wood, N. J., on Thursday of this week, after a
lengthy illness following a stroke suffered in
September, 1927.
Mr. Mehlin, who was in his 65th year, was
the oldest son of Paul G. Mehlin, founder of
the company, and had been identified with the
institution throughout his business career.
He was born in New York in 1864, and after
attending the public schools and the College
of the City of New York, joined his father in
1889. His keen business ability manifested it
self on many occasions in the affairs of the
company.
He was a past president and charter member
of the National Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
tion and also past president of the New York
Piano Manufacturers' Association. He also
took an active interest in civic matters in his
home town of Maywood and served for a time
as president of the Board of Education of the
town. His genial disposition and keen mind
won for him a host of friends in and out of
the industry.
Mr. Mehlin is survived by his widow and
one son, Paul G. Mehlin 2nd, who has for some
years been actively connected with the business
of Paul G. Mehlin & Sons in the sales depart-
ment, and a brother, Chas. Mehlin, president o
the company. Funeral arrangements have not
been completed at the time of going to press.
The Music Trade Review
Planning for Piano Playing
Contest in San Francisco
S
AN FRAN CISCO, CAL., December 7.—At the meeting of the board of directors of the
Music Trades Association of Northern California, held here December 4, the chief matter
talked about was the supporting of the piano-playing contest to take place here in May.
Announcements of the competition and the list of compositions to be played have already been
sent out. Plans are also on foot to hold a piano-playing contest in Oakland, Cal., as the Trans-
Bay city is doing much to promote interest in piano-playing.
Shirley Walker, of Sherman, Clay & Co.,
president of the Music Trades Association of seaboard, as well as the Middle West and the
Northern California, stated.that they are going Pacific Coast. Piano teachers, students and
to hold the piano-playing contest in this city people generally interested in fostering piano-
in accordance with the rules of the National playing are those who are writing in for the
Association of Music Merchants, so that the rules, stated Mr. Rosekrans.
A cheerful message will be taken East by
winners will be eligible to participate in the
national piano-playing contest to be held next Bceman P. Sibley, president of the Western
Piano Corp., when he goes to the Atlantic sea-
June.
board for New Year. He will spend New Year
Interest Is Nation-Wide
The strong probability of a national wave of with members of his family in Boston, Mass.,
interest in piano-playing contests was suggested and early in January will visit the factories of
by the pile of correspondence on the desk of the Kohler Industries. Asked for The Review
Chester W. Rosekrans, chairman of the San regarding business during the current year, Mr.
Francisco Civic Association, which has general Sibley said: "Business has been really better
charge of San Francisco's annual Music Week. than we expected."
Leaders Will Honor Steinway Artist
Mr. Rosekrans said that every week-day brings
a similar pile of letters, all asking for the pro-
One of the largest affairs ever planned in
gram and the rules of the piano-playing con- San Francisco will take place on December
test, to be held in May in connection with 17 when society, civic and business leaders of
Music Week. Among to-day's letters was one this city will join in a great dinner at the Palace
from Savannah, Ga., another from Galveston, Hotel, in honor of Ernest Bloch, composer of
Tex., several from Middle Western States, and the winning symphonic poem: "America." Nat-
a number of letters from all over California. urally, Sherman, Clay & Co. will be well repre-
Many requests for the rules of the piano-play- sented at this gala dinner in honor of the
ing contest and for the list of compositions to famous composer who uses the Steinway piano.
be played come from cities on the Atlantic At the Sherman, Clay & Co. table will be Fred
R. Sherman, vice-president of the firm; Mr.
and Mrs. Shirley Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Harald
Pracht and Edward P. Little.
Cumberland Salesman
Year-End Luncheon to Be
Leads Frederick Staff
Held on December 27
CUMBERLAND, MD., December 10.—H. B. Wil-
liams,- this city, heads the salesmen of eleven
stores operated by the Frederick Piano Co. for
volume of individual sales from June 30 to Sep-
tember 30, according to figures just released.
In total volume of store sales Cumberland
ranks second, being topped only by Pittsburgh.
Other cities in which the Frederick Piano Co.
operates are Uniontown, Greensburg, Johns-
town, McKeesport and Brownsville, Pa., and
Kingwood, Morgantown, Clarksburg and
Wheeling, W. Va.
Death of Thos. J. Price
BELLEVILLE, 111., December 10.—Thos. J. Price,
who has operated a music store at 15 West
Main street, this city since 1883, died suddenly
at his home here last week from heart trouble.
He was born in England and came to Belle-
ville when a young man. He is survived by
three daughters.
The Stranburg Music Co., Oil City, Pa., has
bought the entire stock of the Madison Piano
Co., Franklin City, Pa.,, and will move the
stock to the Oil Citv store.
Theodore E. Steinway and George Urquhart
to Speak at Annual Get-Together of the New
York Piano Trade
The annual year-end luncheon of the New
York piano trade will be held on Thursday,
December 27, in the west ballroom of the Hotel
Commodore, the arrangements being in the
hands of that veteran committee, Beti H. Jans-
sen, A. Dalrymple and Albert Bchning. The
principal speakers will be Theodore E. Stein-
way, president of Steinway & Sons, and George
Urquhart, president of the American Piano Co.
Take Additional Store
for Radio Department
CLEVELAND, O., December 11.—The William Tay-
lor Sons Co. has taken over the store formerly
occupied by the Wolfe Music Co., at Prospect
avenue and the Taylor Arcade, and has re-
modeled and rede-corated it for use as a radio
annex. Combination instruments are also dis-
played. The record and main phonograph and
radio department is being continued at the store
on Euclid avenue.
Krakauer Retail Trade Good
Milton Weil, manager of retail department
of Krakauer Bros., in New York, reports a
splendid increase in retail business during Oc-
tober and November, with prospects for an ex-
cellent December. Mr. Weil states that the
outstanding feature of this business has been
the demand for the high-priced grand piano,
which he says indicates the people are insisting
on quality pianos.
Recently a large order for Krakauer pianos
was given to this company by the Board of
Education of the City of New York. These
instruments were for immediate delivery to
grade and high schools in the city, where they
will be used in classroom and auditorium work.
New Store in Oelwein, la.
The Music Shop has been opened in Oelwein,
la., by John Jenney, a factory representative of
C. G. Conn, Inc., and will be managed by Mrs.
John Jenney. The store will feature C. G.
Conn band instruments and other musical goods
and will be operated as a branch of the Babbit-
lenney Music Co. of Cedar Rapids, la.