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10
THE
THOMAS A. EDISON'S DEATH
CAUSES WORLD MOURNING
Thomas Alva Edison, who died on Octo-
ber 18, after a lengthy illness, and whose
death plunged the entire nation in mourning,
was born in Milan, O., February 11, 1847,
and received much of his schooling in that
town. His mother had formerly been a
school teacher and assisted greatly in his
education, particularly in the matter of en-
couraging him to read books on electricity
and chemistry and in conducting some of the
simple chemical experiments described. To
this instruction is credited his lifelong interest
in chemical and electrical experimenting.
Edison's early career as a seller of news-
papers and candies on trains, as the pub-
lisher of a small paper, and later as a teleg-
rapher, is generally known. Even in his
early days he invented several devices that
have found a permanent place i:i telegraphic
work. In fact, all his early inventions had
to do with telegraphing, including important
improvements to the stock ticker, which netted
him $50,000 in one instance.
It is estimated that Mr. Edison's inven-
tions number over a thousand, most of which
are duly patented. Outstanding among them
was the phonograph invented in 1877 and
publicly demonstrated in 1878, this being the
forerunner of the various types of phono-
graphs and talking machines, the manufac-
ture and sale of which represented a great
American industry for well over a quarter
of a century. His electric light, for which
he was most widely known, was invented in
1879 and his motion picture machine in 1887.
About that time too he invented a system of
wireless telegraphy for communication to and
from trains in motion.
Mr. Edison's remains laid in state in his
laboratory for two days in order to give
thousands of his friends an opportunity of
paying their last homage to the great inven-
tor. The funeral services were held in
Orange with the interment in a cemetery
near that town.
Fitzgerald Music Co. Moves
The Fitzgerald Music Co., of Los An-
geles, Cal., has moved from 727 South Hill
street to 645 South Flower street.
The
new quarters consist of a two-story building
of thirty-foot frontage.
They have been
attractively remodeled and otherwise made
into a verv handsome home for the com-
pany.
15.
The
MUSIC
removal occurred on
TRADE
October
The Fitzgerald company was founded
forty years ago, and, prior to moving, had
been conducting a big anniversary and
removal sale combined. It had occupied
the old Hill street location for several years.
PAUL H. SCHMIDT RETURNS
FROM EUROPEAN TRIP
Paul II. Schmidt, a director of Steinway
& Sons, returned last month from his annual
visit to Europe, in the course of which he
spent some weeks at the branch of his
company in England, of which William R.
Steinway is the manager, and also at the
Steinway factory in Hamburg, Germany. In
addition, Mr. Schmidt visited other sections
of continental Europe, including France and
Switzerland, where he spent a short time
with Paderewski.
Conditions
abroad
were
considerably
worse than in the United States, said Mr.
Schmidt, and the business men in England,
Germany, and other countries are suffering
from heavy taxation and various other
burdens which are stifling commerce.
It is the general belief abroad that a
reaction
favorable
to business
cannot
take effect before political conditions im-
prove materially, and the recent victory of
the Conservatives in the British election
may be taken as an indication of the new
trend. That the upset condition in business
is international is proven by the fact that
trade with such countries as Switzerland,
Norway and Sweden, and the South Ameri-
can Republic, which, as neutrals, were not
directly affected by the war, has shown a
marked decline.
LOW PRICE AVERAGES
FOR PIANOS IN ENGLAND
Those who are inclined to decry the low
average value of a piano sold in the
United States at the present time, and par-
ticularly those who have given some consid-
eration to what piano men in other countries
are doing, may be interested in learning that
for the first nine months of this year only
between 35,000 and 40,000 pianos were sold
in Great Britain at an average wholesale
price of £30 and an average retail price
of £'50.
Grand pianos taken alone brought an av-
erage price of considerably less than $500,
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REVIEW,
November, 1931
and of course the upright is still much in
favor in England. Both imports and exports
of pianos have fallen off heavily, the for-
mer because of the McKenna tariff, which
makes it practically impossible for foreign
makers to lay down pianos in England at
a price tb compete with local products, and
the latter because of the world-wide business
conditions.
BRITISH TRADE VOTES TO END
FEDERATION ACTIVITIES
"Resolved that in view of the financial
state of the Federation and the total absence
of funds and revenue, the Federation go out
of activity entirely and remain quiescent."
The passage of the foregoing resolution at
a meeting of the Grand Council of the Fed-
eration of British Music Industries on Sep-
tember 25 last brought to an end this
British trade organization formed some years
ago for the purpose of promoting the inter-
ests of the music industries of Great Britain.
The Federation was organized along the lines
of the Music Industry's Chamber of Com-,
merce of the United States, was enthusi-
astically received and functioned very suc-
cessfully for several years, but finally the
lack of revenue brought this activity to a
close.
It was stated by those at the head of the
Federation that a minimum of ,£5,000 per
year was required to operate the Federation
even on a limited basis. But last year the
stamp charge brought in only £1,000, which
represented 10,000 pianos or less than one-
quarter of the total output. Individual sub-
scriptions from manufacturers and others
also fell off to practically nothing. It was
suggested that the fourteen trade associa-
tions affiliated with the association contribute
£50 each per annum to the central body in
order that it might continue to function par-
ticularly along educational lines. However,
nothing came of the suggestion, and the
abandonment of the entire enterprise was
decided upon by the directors.
New Concern in Stamford
Furer's Music Shop, Inc.,
Stamford,
Conn., has been incorporated with paid-in
capital of $25,000, of which $2,500 is in cash,
and the balance in property other than cash.
Jacob J. Furer is president and treasurer;
Harold S. Morehouse, vice-president; and
Ida J. Furer, secretary.