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The Music Trade Review
FEBRUARY 2, 1929
Lyon & Healy Takes Over
Blackman Distributing Co. Appointed
Bissell, Weisert Go.
Exclusive Edison Jobber in New York
President Durham in Announcing Deal States
That Arthur Bissell and Henry Weisert Will
Become Lyon & Healy Vice-Presidents.
CHICACO, I I I . , January 30.—The taking over liy
Lyon & Healy of the Bisscll, Weisert Co., the
old-established piano house in this city, effec-
tive as of February 1, was announced today by
K. E. Durham, president of Lyon & Healy.
The Bissell, Weisert store is to be closed
and the business transferred to the Lyon &
Healy store. Arthur Bissell and Henry Weisert
are to become vice-presidents of Lyon & Healy,
which company will also take over the staff of
employes of the Bissell, Weisert Co.
Will Have Sole Distribution Rights in Metropolitan Territory for Complete Line of
Edison Radio and Phonograph Combination Products
H p H E Blackman Distributing Co.. Inc., 28
West 23rd street, New York, lias been
appointed exclusive distributor iti the metro-
politan territory for the Edison radio and
radio-phonograpli combinations, manufactured
by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., of Orange, N. J.,
the new arrangement becoming effective on
February 1. The Blackman Co. will have cx-
Fritz Weickert Dies
Announcement was made this week by Philip
W. Octting & Son, Inc., New York, importers
of Weickert piano felts, that Fritz Weickert,
Sr., died suddenly of apoplexy in Leipzig on
January 10. Mr. Weickert made several visits
to America, the last being in 1926, and he had
many friends in the piano industry. Mr.
Weickert had been a partner in the firm of
J. D. Weickert since 1901. His son, Edwin
Weickert, has traveled widely in America and
last year made an extensive trip through the
piano industry, maintaining headquarters at the
offices of Philip W. Oetting & Son, Inc., Ameri-
can agents for the firm.
Death of Sumner A. Gould,
a Veteran of the Trade
chise through the outright purchase of several
thousand records at a total cost of $2,298.10
cash, this initial stock being one of the require-
ments for a jobbership. He also became whole-
saler for the products of the Victor Talking
Machine Co., continuing with that line until
about nine months ago.
The Blackman Talking Machine Co. for many
years maintained quarters on Chambers street,
but some few years ago moved to the more
central location on 23rd street where improved
facilities were available. In 1925 the company
entered the radio field, acting as distributor
for several prominent lines of receivers and
accessories, and a year later this department
had developed to such an extent that it was
deemed advisable to change the name of the
company to the Blackman Distributing Co.,
Inc.
The company has arranged to stock a full
line of Edison radio and radio-phonograph
products, including records, and to carry on
an aggressive advertising and sales campaign
in the interests of the new line. In addition to
Edison products, the company is distributor for
All-American, Mohawk, Lyric receivers, Eve-
ready batteries and flashlights, and radio acces-
sories.
The new arrangement is one upon which
both Thos. A. Edison, Inc., and the Blackman
Distributing Co. are to be congratulated.
J. Newcomb Blackman
WELLESLEY,
MASS.,
January
25.—Sumner
A.
Pratt Read
Ser vice
Houck Co. Acquires Store
elusive distributing rights for the Edison prod-
ucts over a wide territory including New York
and Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island, the
Hudson river cities in New Jersey and New
York State, as far West as Utica and north to
the Canadian line. The territory will also
cover Connecticut as far as New Haven, and
certain Western counties in Vermont and
Massachusetts.
J. Newcomb Blackman, head of the Black-
man Distributing Co., Inc., first became iden-
tified with the talking machine industry in 1897
when only seventeen years old, when he bought
the first Edison "home" phonograph placed on
the market. In 1899 as secretary of the firm
of Barkelew & Kent, he installed the Edison
phonograph department for that company, atid
in 1902 organized the Blackman Talking Ma-
chine Co., J. Newcomb Blackman, proprietor.
He then secured the Edison distributing fran-
Purchases Business of Elliott-Rittenberry Piano
Co. in Nashville, Tenn.
New Store in Columbus
Send your work to
us for prompt at-
tention and careful
workmanship.
(jould, a veteran of the music trade, died at his
home in this town to-day after a short illness
from pneumonia. The funeral will be held in
Worcester, Mass., on Monday with interment in
Hope Cemetery, that city. Mr. Gould was born
in Worcester in 1854, and after a thorough
training in music became engaged in the retail
piano business first with E. B. Guild, of Topeka,
Kansas. After a year in the West he returned
East and became manager of the Pittsburgh
branch of the Wilcox & White Organ Co. He
was then in succession manager of the retail
warerooms of Behr Bros. & Co., New York, of
the piano department of the Oliver Ditson Co.,
Boston, and finally Eastern sales manager of
the Estey Organ Co. and the Estey Piano Co.
in Boston.
NASHVILLIC,
TKNN.,
January
27.—The
O. K.
Houck Piano Co. announces its purchase of the
Elliott-Rittenberry Piano Co. as part of an ex-
pansion program that it has been conducting
and which about a year ago took over Our
Phonograph Shop. The Houck organization
has large stores in Memphis, Little Rock, Ark.,
and Shreveport, La., as well as the Nashville
store. With the union here Houck will carry
also the Kurtzmann piano line, with which
Elliott-Rittenberry had great success for years.
The stock will be moved to the Houck store,
and most of the staff will also be added.
Former lines carried by the Houck store will
be featured as before, and much attention given
to radio too. Floyd Elliott and Nat Ritten-
berry will come with Houck; they labored with
the firm ten years before they started their own
store here.
D. D. Luxton, of Vose & Sons Piano Co.,
Boston, Mass., was a business visitor in New
York this week, making several trade calls.
The Palmetto Music Co. has opened for busi-
ness at 1643 Main street, Columbus, S. C, with
W. L. Bryson as proprietor and W. C. Bryson
as manager. The Brysons have for four years
past operated the Florence Music Co, Florence,
S. C, and have had long experience in the music
field. The company will carry Victor and
Columbia phonographs, records and combina-
tions, together with small goods.
Houston Tuners Elect
HOUSTON, TEXAS, January 27.—Officers for 1929
were elected at the January meeting of the
Houston division of the National Association
of Piano Tuners. E. A. Williams was elected
president, succeeding A. L. Lappine. ("has. R.
Williams was elected vice-president and Allen
E. Pollard, secretary-treasurer. The retiring
president reviewed the progress of the organ-
ization since 1928. The new president will
outline the 1929 program at the next meeting
on February 7.
We maintain special
Repair Departments
for the convenience
of d e a l e r s a n d
tuners.
Write tor our price lists on
key—action—player
repairs and materials
PRATT, READ & CO.
Established i n 1 8 0 6
The PRATT READ FLAYER ACTION CO.
Deep River, Conn.