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THE M U S I C TRADE
REVIEW, October, 1932
ELABORATE W. W. KIMBALL CO. CATALOC
MARKS COMPANY'S SEVENTY-FIFTH ANN IVERSARY
T
HE W. W. Kimball Co., Chicago, has
marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of
the establishment of the business by the
issuance of an elaborate catalog, profusely
illustrated, which not only describes the
Kimball products, but tells much of the his-
tory of the house and also pays tribute to
the value of music in child life. Particu-
larly important is the tribute paid to the
music teachers of the country, who are
described as able allies of parents in the
training of their children.
In paying tribute to the teachers, the cata-
log says in part:
"Consider the incalculable contribution to
the musical advance of America made by
the thousands of teachers who have done
their great work towards the moulding of
budding genius.
"Truly, the profession of music teaching
has gone forward with giant strides. To-
day, American methods of instruction are
recognized as foremost; American conserv-
atories, schools of music and private teach-
ers are admittedly the world's leaders-
"Happily, too, the modern methods of in-
struction in piano playing—either under
individual or group instruction—are within
the reach of all.
"The music teacher is your willing, inter-
ested and able ally in the cultural develop-
ment of your children. With you, the
teacher will watch the literal unfolding of
your children's minds, will bring out those
hidden talents which might otherwise remain
dormant forever.
"No tribute to the American teacher of
music can be too glowing. It is well proved,
however, by the fact that over one million
and a half children are today receiving
musical instruction in American homes, pub-
lic schools and music schools. Your chil-
dren should be among them.
"Perhaps you have been contemplating
piano lessons for your children but are un-
decided as to the teacher or school. Call at
your nearest Kimball dealer—he will gladly
put you in touch with an accredited music
teacher or music school in your community."
The catalog itself is dedicated "To those
loyal legions of Parents, professional musi-
cians, and dealers, who have made possible
this record of three-quarters of a century."
The illustrations include a reproduction of an
oil painting of William Wallace Kimball,
founder of the company, portraits of some
fifty famous artists who have used the Kimball
piano, and views of Kimball Hall on Wa-
bash Avenue and of the great Kimball fac-
tory. There is also included a list of several
thousand educational and public institutions
which have purchased Kimball instruments
in the past.
The instruments illustrated and described
include five grands of different sizes and
two uprights, the grands ranging from 4
feet 5 inches to 8 feet 9J/j inches in length,
the latter being the famous Kimball concert
grand. Particularly interesting is the series
of period model grands, including the Shera-
ton, Hepplewhite, Chippendale, Spanish, and
French Eighteenth Century designs.
The whole catalog represents a noteworthy
II
SHERMAN, CLAY PRESIDENT
ON VISIT TO THE EAST
C. H. DeAcres, president of Sherman,
Clay & Co., San Francisco, visited Chicago,
New York and other Eastern centers early
this month. While in New York he held
extensive conferences with the officials of the
Aeolian Co. and Steinway & Sons in con-
nection with plans for the expansion of his
company's business.
WHY IT IS WISE TO
FILE SALES CONTRACTS
W. W. KIMBALL, THE FOUNDER
tribute to the house of Kimball and its
friends on this important anniversary-
File your contracts. That is a piece of
advice that might well be taken to heart
by some piano dealers who have been a little
careless in filing their conditional sales con-
tracts either from motives of economy or
through carelessness. In Syracuse, N. Y.,
recently, when a music company attempted
to reclaim a piano sold to a party who
later went into bankruptcy it lost out because
the contract had not been filed and the
referee in bankruptcy held that as a result
the music company had no legal rights to
the instrument. The music company took an
appeal from the referee's decision which is
still to be decided.
CHICAGO PIANO AND ORGAN ASSOCIATION
RESUMES REGULAR SERIES OF MEETINGS
T
HE regular monthly business meetings of
the Chicago Piano and Organ Associa-
tion were resumed September 29 at the
Auditorium Hotel, Chicago, preceded by a
luncheon. Fourteen members were present,
including President George L. Hall, Vice-
President L. C. Wagner, Secretary David W.
Kimball and, of course, Adam Schneider,
treasurer and executive secretary. Other
trade members, Ben Strub of the Mathushek
Piano Mfg. Co., R. J. O'Connell of Lyon
& Healy, President George J. Dowling of
the Cable Company, B. F. Duval and Eu-
gene Whelan of the W. W- Kimball Co.,
Frank J. Weiser of Elmhurst and trade
paper representatives.
The most important matter discussed was
the group piano instruction system in the
public schools of Chicago, in which every-
body was greatly interested owing to changes
in the School Board personnel. Mr. Schnei-
der has devoted much of his time to this
important work and he noted with satisfac-
tion the fact that Superintendent Bogan was
giving every encouragement to the work of
Dr. J. Lewis Browne, director of music, in
his efforts to enlarge the groups of pupils
now taking this course.
He reported that the enrollment up to Sep-
tember 15 exceeded that of the same time
in 1931 and the Chicago Piano and Organ
Association had aided Dr. Browne in stimu-
lating the parents' interest in piano instruc-
tion for their children. The association paid
for 80,000 questionnaires and enrollment cir-
culars now being distributed by Dr. Browne's
department and the teachers. For the first
time the parents know officially what is to
be taught, and the text of this notice, already
very successful, is as follows:
TO PARENTS:
Class Piano was inaugurated in the Chicago
Public Schools with the idea of increasing the
opportunity for children to express themselves
musically, no matter what branch of that art
would be their ultimate choice. In order that no
child might be deterred from following his musical
bent, a minimum charge of 25c the lesson for
class piano instruction, in not too large classes,
is the sole charge, with the exception of $1.00,
which is the price of the music material, such
material consisting of a music book and a sub-
stitute keyboard.
With the first year's work including elementary
harmony, rhythms, piano technique, formation of
scales, first sight reading, transposition and original
composition, with pupils playing a piece at the first
lesson, it will be readily seen that the piano is the
instrument par excellence upon which to make a
beginning in music study.
Parents interested in having their children join
these classes will kindly fill in the attached blank
and return to the teacher.
J. LEWIS BROWNE,
Director of Music.
This circular is an important endorsement
from the school authorities of the value of
the piano and of music generally to the
children. The local piano trade, maker and
dealer alike, have helped along the cause by
loaning pianos when the school board was
(and is) too poor to buy them and by paying
for these question blanks and have respected
rigidly the demand of the school authorities
that it be an educational and not a commer-
cial matter. In other words, the dealers did
not canvass or attempt to reach the pupils
and the sales which have resulted were self-
developed through the enthusiasm of the
scholars and their families.
The George Innes Co., Wichita, Kansas,
has been appointed representative for the
Baldwin line of pianos in that territory.
J. A. Campbell is manager of the piano de-
partment of the company which has been
verv successful.