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The Music Trade Review
MAY 18, 1929
Death of Charles H. Ditson
Prominent Music Publisher
President of Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, and
Charles H. Ditson & Co., New York, Passes
Away in Eighty-fourth Year
Charles Healy Ditson, the music publisher,
president of the Oliver Ditson Co., of Boston,
and Charles H. Ditson & Co., of this city, died
at 10 o'clock Tuesday night at his home, 1*1
The Late Charles H. Ditson
East 37th street, New York, after a brief illness.
He was in his eighty-fourth year.
Mr. Ditson's health had been poor for the last
few years, nevertheless he remained active in
business to the end. He was an exceptionally
hard worker.
Mr. Ditson was born in Boston on August
11, 1845. His father, Oliver Ditson, founded
in 1835 the music publishing house that bears
his name.
After Charles H. Ditson had graduated from
the English high school in Boston his father
sent him to Europe for travel and study. In
1865 he entered his father's firm. Two years
later the firm bought the business of Firth, Son
& Co., of New York and Charles came here to
manage it as a branch of the Boston firm under
the name of Charles H. Ditson & Co. In 1875
the business of William Hall & Son, and two
years later that of J. L. Peters, both of New
York, were acquired by Mr. Ditson's New York
firm.
Between 1867 and 1878 the growing business
of the New York house caused its removal from
553 Broadway to 711. then to 843. In 1883
the firm erected at the southwest corner of
Broadway and Eighteenth street the first Dit-
son building. Here at 867 Broadway it re-
PHILIP W. OETTING & SON, Inc.
213 East 19th Street, New York
So?.« AGENTS FOR
WEICKERT
Hammer and Damper Felts
Piano Club in Chicago Plans for
Many Convention Week Activities
/CHICAGO, ILL., May 13.—Owing to the
^^ trade interest in the approaching Chicago
conventions, the Piano Club devoted the enter-
tainment time on Monday to an outline of the
work so far accomplished by the Chicago en-
tertainment committee in providing for the en-
tertainment of the visitors—both men and
woinen.
Vice-President G. B. Brownell as chairman
of the local entertainment committee first an-
nounced that there would be a prc-convention
meeting of the Chicago piano men to take the
form of a supper at 6.30 p. m. Monday, May
27, at the Medinah Athletic Club. It is the
desire of the officers to have as many local
piano men present at that convention as pos-
sible, and tickets can be obtained from either
Mr. Brownell or other members of the com-
mittee, who also include: G. S. McLaughlin, Ted
Benedict, James T. Bristol, and H. T. Hewitt.
The conventions will, as usual, be formally
opened by the luncheon on Monday at 12.30,
June 3, at the Drake under the auspices of
the Piano Club of Chicago. The Tuesday
luncheon at the same hotel will be managed
by the Chicago Piano & Organ Association.
Later provision is expected to be made for
organization luncheons on Wednesday, and at
the banquet at the Drake on Thursday night.
It is the hope of the Chicago men that the
diners will number at least as many as at the
Chicago convention of two years ago, when
there were nearly 800 took part in the festivi-
ties. The tickets for this event are $7.50 each
and for the Monday luncheon $2.50 each.
It is the intention to put on an interesting
musical program at the Monday luncheon with
one or two opera stars as headliners. A num-
ber of manufacturers' representatives said that
the inquiries they had made had convinced them
that more dealers than usual will attend this
convention, and former President Gordon
Laughead of the Piano-Club, and sales manager
of the Wurlitzer Grand l'iano Co., made an im-
promptu but inspiring speech calling attention
to the undeniable sales possibilities for manu-
facturers and dealers alike in the present con-
dition. He reminded the assemblage of a fact
incurred by other makers that the dealers'
stocks were low throughout the country and
that energetic and persistent selling was bring-
ing satisfactory results.
The announcement was made of the recent
death of Willard A. Vose, president of the Vose
Piano Co., and at the suggestion of several of
the members present paid the deceased a tribute
by standing in silence several minutes.
Atlas Now Distributing
Portables and Records
The Atlas Player Roll Co., Newark, N. J.,
manufacturer of Atlas and A-R player rolls,
has expanded its organization to include the
distribution of a standard make of portables
and Vocalion popular, "race," "hill billy," Mexi-
can, Jewish and Polish records, released by the
Vocalion division of the Brunswick-Balke-Col-
lender Co., Chicago. The territory to be cov-
ered by the distributing division of the Atlas
mained until 1907, when it erected the second Player Roll Co. covers and includes Wilming-
Ditson building at 8-12 East Thirty-fourth ton, Delaware; North along the Atlantic sea-
board to Canada on a line roughly passing
street. The firm was then forty years old.
Oliver Ditson died on December 21, 1888, and through the middle section of Pennsylvania
his son Charles became treasurer of the parent and New York State. Distributing branches
house. Upon the death of President John C. carrying complete lines of all these various
Haynes in May, 1907, Mr. Ditson became presi- products, including music rolls, have been es-
tablished in Boston and Philadelphia, in addi-
dent.
Mr. Ditson was a liberal contributor to settle- tion to the main office and factory in Newark
ment schools and other welfare organizations. N. J.
His benefactions to individuals were many. He
was esteemed for his considerateness toward
employes when they were past their best years
Sadock & Adelman, who have opened an
of service.
During his more than sixty years of residence elaborate new furniture store on South Michi-
in New York, Mr. Ditson had been active in gan avenue, Chicago, have installed a piano
the city's music life. He was a member of the department to handle the Cable Company line.
New England and Boston Societies, the Society Keevan Sadock, of the company, was formerly
of Mayflower Descendants, the Players' Club manager of the branch store of the Cable Piano
Co. at 11361 Michigan avenue.
of New York and the Algonquin of Boston.
In October, 1890, he married Miss Alice M.
Christopher C. Zcek, for the past 30 years a
Tappin of this city, who survives him.
Funeral services were held at Mr. Ditson's piano dealer in Morristown, Pa., died in his
late home on Friday evening of this week, and home in that city recently following a stroke of
the body was taken to Boston for burial on paralysis. He is survived by a widow, a
daughter and two sons.
Saturdav.
Open Piano Department
THE REVIEW'S UNIVERSAL "WANT" DIRECTORY
NY member of the music trade may
forward to this office a "position
"wanted" advertisement intended
for this Department, to occupy four
lines agate measure, and it will be in-
serted free. Replies will also be for-
warded without cost. Additional space
charged at the rate of 25c per line. If
bold-faced type is desired, the cost for
same will be 25c a line, 7 words to a line.
"Help Wanted" advertisements will be
charged for at the rate of 25c per line
Cash must accompany order.
Business Opportunities and For Sale
advertisements inserted as display space
only at $7.00 per single column inch.
All advertisements intended for this
department must be in hand on the Sat-
urday preceding date of issue.
A
EXCEPTIONAL CHANCE FOR ORGAN
SALESMAN—We want a thoroughly ener-
getic, reliable, man capable of taking full charge
of pipe organ sales and getting results. Draw-
ing account, commission basis. Give full de-
tails by letter to D. P. Garber, general manager,
Geneva Organ Co., 35 E. Wacker Drive, Chi-
cago, 111.
MANAGER—Thoroughly experienced in every detail of
music store operation, also in branch store management,
collections, service, etc., with Steinway and American
Piano houses, desires position as manager or sales manager
with first class store, preferably in New Jersey or Pennsyl-
vania.
Highest references.
Address Box 3327, Music
Trade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York City.
POSITION WANTED—Sales and advertising, by Amer-
ican young man of excellent education and long experience
in band instrument business. Address 15ox 3326, Music
Trade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York City.
POSITION WANTED—by A-l tuner and player me-
chanic, steady and reliable. Address Box 3319, Music
Trade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York City.
POSITION WANTED — Experienced piano salesman
wants wholesale connection on a part-time basis, in and
around Minnesota, with privilege to retail line in home
city. Address Box 3325, Music Trade Review, 420 Lex-
ington Avenue, New York City.
EXECUTIVE—Many years' experience with Steinway
and American Piano Co. dealers will consider position as
manager or sales-manager where future depends on results
obtained. A-l references. Address Box 3322, care of The
Music Trade Review, 420 Lexington Ave., New York City.
POSITION WANTED—First-class tuner and player
technician, good character, very reliable and honest, seeks
connection.
Can furnish excellent references.
Address
Box 3320, Music Trade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue,
New York City.
POSITION WANTED—by tuner-playerman.
Reliable
in character and ability.
(References.)
Extensive ex-
perience on playerwork.
Competent and accurate me-
chanic. Write Box 3321, Music Trade Review. 420 Lex-
ington Avenue, New York City.