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24
THE
OBITUARY
John S. Macdonald
MUSIC
TRADE
Piano Mfg. Co, and then returned to Cable.
About eight years ago he left their service,
and, with Mrs. Walter, who survives him,
kept a shop for the sale of antiques in
Poughkeepsie.
John S. Macdonald, for the past six
years in charge of the Recording Depart-
Ralph Joseph Cassell
ment of the Columbia Phonograph Company,
Ralph Joseph Cassell, head of the collec-
Inc., New York, died suddenly on Septem- tion department of Grinnell Bros., for the
ber 25, at his home in New York from past seventeen years and a recognized
heart failure following an attack of acute authority on collections, died in his home in
indigestion. Mr. Macdonald, who was in that city on September 24 after a lengthy
his early sixties, is survived by his wife illness. He was born in El Paso, 111., and
and two sons.
had lived in Detroit for some twenty-five
Prior to his association with Columbia in years. He is survived by a widow, a son
1925, Mr. Macdonald had been with the and a daughter.
Victor Talking Machine Co. for twe:ity-four
years, during which time he had been in
Joseph Benedict
charge of recording, sales manager, and
lastly in complete charge of the artists and
Joseph Benedict, a veteran music dealer of
repertoire department.
Galesburg, 111., died at his home in that city
As a young man, Mr. Macdonald, a recently, in his 85th year. He was a native
native of Canada, showed considerable of Austria and in his early days sang in
talent as a singer. Under the name "Harry the opera.
McUonough," he sang in the original Ameri-
can quartet, who were at one time world
John A. Anderson
famous. It was while recording with this
quartet that he became interested in the John A. Anderson, for some years produc-
for De Sylva, Brown & Hen-
phonograph and record business, which he tion manager
derson, New 7 York, died at Palenville, N. Y.,
entered at the first opportunity.
recently. He was 37 years old and is sur-
vived by a widow and three children.
REVIEW,
November,
193 T
interest in the retail field insofar as pianos
are concerned. I limit it to the 'interest'
because due to the depression there aTe a
number who are not buying but who are sin-
cerely in favor of buying, and I believe
without the question of a doubt there is more
interest shown in pianos now than has been
in the past two years. I think the interest
is on the increase but the depression and
the constant thought and dread of it have
acted as a wet blanket, stopping the interest
in the piano business which 1 believe will
soon rise from its ashes as did the ancient
Phoenix.
"I wish that I could give you an intelli-
gent estimate or deductions approximating
what is likely to happen between now and
January 1. According to past history the
last three months of any year are the best
months for the piano trade. I sincerely trust
that this may be redemonstrated this year
for there will doubtless be many who can
afford to be reminded of it as an incentive
to greater effort.
THE NEW BECHSTEIN
BABY GRAND IS HERE
The C. Bechstein Piano Co., of Berlin,
in response to the ever-increasing demands
for grand pianos of compact size, to fit into
Joseph H . Templeman
the smallest room, brought out last fall a
Joseph H. Templeman, who for the past PIANO INTEREST IS H I G H
new model, which is only 5 feet long, but
twenty-four years conducted a piano music
has all the characteristic qualities, i. e.
store in Lexington, Ky., died at his home SAYS FRED'K PHILIP STIEFF
beauty of tone, responsiveness of action,
in that city on September 29. He was Frederick Philip Stieff, vice-president of
finely balanced scale, etc., of the Bechstein
seventy-six years old and is survived by Charles M. Stieff, Inc., Baltimore, is of the standard.
his widow,' a sister and two grandchildren. opinion that interest in pianos is at a very
This piano has met with a great and
He and Mrs. Templeman had only recently high level and that any favorable change steadily growing demand in Europe and
celebrated their fifty-fifth wedding anni- in the general situation will see this in- other parts of the world, and is now being
versary.
terest capitalized in sales. To THE REVIEW offered to the trade in the United States.
Altogether Mr. Templeman had been in he said:
The retail prices of this style, in New York,
the piano business for some fifty-two years,
without sostenuto pedal, are: $1,300 in ebony,
"The business with us this year is about
conducting stores at various times in Chat- nip and tuck—ahead in some places and be- $1,400 in mahogany and $1,475 in walnut
tanooga, Term., Cincinnati, O., and various hind in others. I do notice an increased
finish.
Kentucky towns.
E. E. Walter
Among the veterans of the piano trad.?
who have passed on is E. E. Walter, who
recently died at his home in Poughkeepsie,
N. Y. He was an old-time piano traveler,
and had for years been with the Cable
Company, where he started traveling under
the late H. D. Cable, selling Chicago Cottage
Organs. Later he went to the Schaffer
MEHLIN
PIANOS
"A Leader Among
PAUL G. MEHLIN & SONS
Warerooms:
509 Fifth Ave., near 42nd St.
NEW YORK
500 E. 134th St., New Ynrk
Main Office and Factories
Broadway from 20th to 21st Sts.
WEST NEW YORK, N. J.
RAKAU
Backed by Family Pride
BOGART PIANO
COMPANY
Leaders"
GRANDS
UPRIGHTS
PLAYER-PIANOS
KRAKAUER BROS.
Cypress Ave., 136th and 137th Sts.
NEW YORK