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10
THE
MUSIC
CONSOLIDATION OF SKINNER ORGAN CO.
AND AEOLIAN CO. PIPE ORGAN DIVISION
Announcement was made last month of
the consolidation of two of the preeminent
builders of pipe organs, The Skinner Organ
Co. of Boston and the pipe organ division
of The Aeolian Co. of New York. With
the Aeolian pipe organ interests now en-
tirely centered in this new company, the
Aeolian management will now concentrate
its entire efforts and resources in the manu-
facture and sale of pianos and reproducing
pianos.
The Skinner Organ Co. has always built
pipe organs only and, therefore, its entire
business will be consolidated in the new
company, which will be known as The
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Inc.
Much public interest will be aroused by
this announcement, not only on account of
the unquestioned standing of both of the
organizations as builders of the finest pipe
organs but on account of the coalescence of
experience and resources—which, it is felt,
will greatly broaden the scope of their
activities.
The pipe organ division of The Aeolian
Co. has long been recognized as a leading
authority in the building and installation of
pipe organs for private residences, both in
America and Europe. Due to its many years
of exhaustive study and world-wide re-
search, it has achieved unquestioned mastery
of the special tonal and acoustical problems
involved in this special work.
An important Aeolian organ feature has
been the development of the Duo-Art Organ,
which makes it possible to reproduce the
actual playing of the great organists, with-
out affecting the organ as a medium for
hand playing.
Leading organists of world-wide fame
have recorded their playing for the Aeolian
Duo-Art Organ, and a comprehensive
library of organ music has been published.
Also, many prominent European and
American composers have written works
especially for the Aeolian Organ.
Aeolian Organs have been installed in
homes of distinction all over the world.
Among these owners are included: George
Eastman, Edsel B. Ford, A. W. Mellon, E.
T. Stotesbury, Joseph E. Widner, Pierre S.
DuPont, C. H. K. Curtis, Mrs. E. H.
Harriman, W. K. Vanderbilt, John D.
Rockefeller, Jr., H. T. Parson, Walter C.
Teagle, Dr. C. H. Mayo, Charles M.
Schwab, O. P. & M. J. Van Sweringen,
Duke of Westminster, Sir Joseph Flavelle,
Alfred Dunhill, The Rt. Hon. Lord Curzon
and Dr. G. Krupp-von Bohlen-Halbach.
The Skinner Organ Co., through brilliant
leadership and devotion to the highest ideals,
has been signally successful in developing
the classical and traditional art of organ
building into the present-day magnificent
instruments found in churches, cathedrals
and great universities.
Among the hundreds of Skinner Organs
to be found in all parts of the United
States are:—Cathedral of St. John the Divine,
New York (4 organs) ; Trinity Church,
Broadway and Wall street, New York; St.
Thomas' Church, Fifth avenue and 53rd
street, New York; Grace Church, Fifth ave-
nue, New York; St. Bartholomew's Church,
Park avenue, New York; Trinity Church,
Boston, Mass; St. Joseph's R. C. Cathedral,
Columbus, O.; Trinity Church, San Fran-
cisco, Cal.; Congressional Library, Wash-
ington, D. C.; Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh,
Pa.; Cleveland Auditorium, Cleveland, O.;
Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.; Yale
University, New Haven, Conn.; Princeton
University, Princeton, N. J.; University of
Chicago, Chicago, 111.; University of Mich-
igan, Ann Arbor, Mich.; University of
California, Los Angeles, Cal.; Columbia
University, New York, and College of the
City of New York, New York.
Although the principal business of Aeolian
has been for many years residence organs,
they have recently built a number of or-
gans for prominent churches and colleges.
On the other hand, although the Skinner
Organ Co.'s business for many years has
been principally organs for churches, col-
leges and public institutions, they have also
developed a residence organ and have in-
stalled many residence organs in various
prominent homes. In general, however, the
activities of the two companies have been
along separate lines and both are recognized
as leaders in their respective fields. It is
believed that the consolidation under one
corporation and one management will be of
great benefit not only to the companies in-
volved but to the public who will receive
from one factory the result of the best tal-
ent of both organizations. A brilliant fu-
ture is anticipated for the new company.
The officers of the new company are as
follows: Arthur H. Marks, president; W. H.
Alfring, vice-president; Ernest M. Skinner,
vice-president; George L. Catlin, vice-presi-
dent and treasurer; Frank Taft, vice-presi-
dent; William E. Zeuch, assistant vice-pres-
ident; Henry M. Channing, secretary and
clerk; Walter G. Keating, assistant treas-
urer ; George O. Kingsbury, assistant sec-
retary and G. Donald Harrison, assistant
general manager.
The large pipe organ business will be
handled at the present headquarters of the
Skinner Organ Co., 677 Fifth avenue, New
York, while, for the time being, at least,
the residence organ business will be taken
care of at Aeolian Hall, New York.
WILEY B. ALLEN CO. TO
RETIRE FROM MUSIC BUSINESS
The Wiley B. Allen Co., for years one of
the largest and best known retail music
firms of Los Angeles, Cal., having been
founded fifty-eight years ago, has announced
its intentions of retiring from business. The
announcement to this effect was made on
December 1st by the president of the com-
pany, E. Palmer Tucker, who, in an inter-
view given to the local press, stated:
''Rather than reorganize to meet the present
demand for commercial low-priced instru-
ments or add lines not heretofore carried by
music dealers, my associates and I have
definitely decided to terminate retail opera-
tions." The merchandise on hand is being
offered to the public in a closing-out sale,
TRADE
REVIEW,
January,
1932
extensively advertised through the local
newspapers.
The company, with its headquarters store
at 720 South Broadway, Los Angeles, oper-
ated branches in Santa Monica, Beverly
Hills, Anaheim and Pomona, California. It
represented the Mason & Hamlin, Cable,
Conover, Kingsbury, and Haines Bros,
pianos, including the Ampico player, and
the Majestic, Philco, Atwater Kent, RCA-
Victor, Fada, Brunswick and other radios.
Landau's Celebrates
Landau's Music and Jewelry Store of
Wilkes Barre, Pa., recently celebrated the
thirty-third Anniversary of the establish-
ment of the business by the late Samuel
Landau. The business is now conducted by
the sons of the founder.
WINTER
GRANDS
Came through 1931 with flying
colors. Never before did the
trade and public demand so
much in piano value, yet the
Winter line met every test.
The result has been the crea-
tion of many new Winter en-
thusiasts; dealers who found
that within the attractive cases
were tone and structural quali-
ties of high order—the sort
that sell pianos to the discrim-
inating, and keep them sold.
Winter & Co. enter 1932
with a line of unusual quality
and value, and with confidence
that Winter grands will make
still /further gains in dealer sup-
port during the twelve months
to come. It is the piano line
of the day.
WINTER & CO.
845 East 141st St. - New York