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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
October, 1932
There IS no finer piano than a
KRANICH & BACH
Made under one family's supervision
since 1864
FANICH f BACH
237 EAST 2 3 " STREET
New York
J. B. SCHLOSSER MAKES
LENGTHY TOUR OF EUROPE
Jacques B. Schlosser, president of Kranich
& Bach, Inc., New York, who with Mrs.
Schlosser, their daughter, Miss Louise
Schlosser, and a girl friend of the latter
spent the summer in an extensive tour of
Europe, returned home last month in excel-
lent health and much enthused over what he
had seen abroad.
Mr. Schlosser declared that Americans
might well take a lesson from Europe in
bearing their business troubles without con-
tinual complaint. He stated that in various
European countries, even those who had been
particularly hard hit, the citizens go about
their affairs quietly and smilingly, working
hard in the hope for future betterment and
not discussing their troubles.
Even in Austria, which has been particu-
larly hard hit, the shops have brave displays
of merchandise and there are few visible
signs of business stress, while the word "de-
pression" does not seem to be in the Viennese
vocabulary.
Mr. Schlosser was particularly impressed
with the progress that was being made
throughout Italy under Mussolini's govern-
ment. Modern public works of all types are
being carried on throughout the country, new
roads built and various other movements
carried on to improve the country and bring
comfort to its citizens. He stated that Mus-
solini seemed to be the idol of the Italians,
who never ceased to marvel at his tremendous
energy and his foresight.
Although naturally glad to be home again
in his own New York, Mr. Schlosser was
somewhat disappointed to find that the situa-
tion had not improved as much as he had
anticipated. He is strongly of the opinion
that a cessation of depression talk will do
much to relieve the public mind and encour-
age genuine effort toward revival.
STEINWAY REPRESENTATIVE
VISITS THE FAR WEST
Ramon de Majewski, wholesale representa-
tive for Steinway & Sons, returned last
month from a lengthy transcontinental busi-
ness trip, in the course of which he spent
some four weeks on the Pacific Coast. He
visited Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Salt
Lake City and other points en route.
Mr. Majewski reported that there was a
much improved tone in business apparent in
many localities and that the piano retailers
were, for the most part, in a much better
frame of mind. Late this month he will
leave for a lengthy tour of the Middle West.
MUSIC IS PROMINENT AT
WISCONSIN IN STATE FAIR
Musical features played an important part
in the program of the annual Wisconsin
State Fair, held at Milwaukee during the
week of Aug. 28 to Sept. 3, this year. Over
500 band musicians comprised about IS
bands from various parts of the state and
which furnished band music day and night
at the eighty-second annual exposition.
The Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs
sponsored three musical programs each day
during the fair in the Little Theatre in the
educational building on the fair grounds.
Each program consisted of chorals or instru-
mental ensembles, a soloist and a one-act
play. An innovation this year was the in-
troduction of rural singing groups on the
program.
Three prominent Milwaukee women, each
active in one or more of the city's musical
groups, served as chairmen to arrange the
music programs for the state fair. Mrs. O.
F. Schmidtill, representing the Tuesday Music
Club, served as general chairman. Mrs. J.
A. Hervey, retiring president of the State
13
Federation of Music Clubs, and Mrs. L. H.
Goodman, representing the MacDowell Club,
were assistant chairmen.
The rural groups were an innovation. A.
R. Wiledon, head of the rural sociology of
the University of Wisconsin, assisted in
bringing to the fair not only adult and chil-
dren's singing groups, but instrumental en-
sembles as well. Leading soloists within
driving distance of Milwaukee offered their
talents again this year.
Miss Agnes Benoe, Ashland, chairman of
the American Music Committee of the fed-
eration for seven years, prepared an exhibit
of the history of Wisconsin's contribution to
music, shown at the state fair in the form
of clippings, photographs, correspondence, etc.
FRED R. SHERMAN AGAIN
ACTIVE IN COMPANY AFFAIRS
Fred R. Sherman has again returned to
take an active part in the affairs of Sher-
man, Clay & Co., having been elected sec-
retary of the company at a meeting of the
Board of Directors last month. Mr. Sherman
retired from the company about a year ago,
although retaining his place on the directorate.
B. O. MARSH CELEBRATES
40 YEARS IN MUSIC TRADE
B. O. Marsh, founder and head of the
Marsh Music House, Decorah, la., and, in-
cidentally, the present mayor of that active
community, recently celebrated the fortieth
anniversary of the establishment of his music
business in 1892. In addition to his music
sales, Mr. Marsh also served as bandmaster
for a number of local bands during the
past 15 years.
Krakauer Bros., well-known New York
piano manufacturers, recently installed 22
grand pianos in the famous Westminster
Choir School, in Princeton, N- J.
The Portland, Ore., store of Sherman, Clay
& Co., which was closed some time ago, was
reopened on October 1, at Adler Street and
West Park, with B. R. Brassfield, formerly
proprietor of the Brassfield Music Co., as
manager.
MATHUSHEK PIANO MFC. CO. ANNOUNCES
SUBSTANTIAL PRICE REDUCTIONS
HE Mathushek Piano Manufacturing
Co., on October 1, announced substantial
reductions in both retail and wholesale
prices of all the instruments in the com-
pany's lines. It was emphasized that the
"price reductions were made possible through
current savings in materials costs while part
was to be credited to the company's belief
that a good portion of the reduction would
be absorbed through increased production.
In a letter to its dealers throughout the
country the Mathushek Co. said in part
concerning the reduction.
"In keeping with the downward trend in
commodity prices, we are enclosing herewith
a revised schedule of Mathushek wholesale
prices effective as of October 1, 1932. These
prices represent a substantial reduction from
T
the prior list prices, and we are pleased to
be able to pass this on to our dealers.
"We, at the same time, wish to assure
you that this price reduction does not repre-
sent in any way a reduction in the standard
of quality of the Mathushek product, but is
based on a forecast of future Mathushek
production and an accurate survey of com-
modity price reductions. In our commitments
for the purchase of supplies during the com-
ing months we have been able to effect some
savings in cost and taking that into considera-
tion with the increased production which we
anticipate, enables us to furnish Mathushek
pianos at these new prices. This will admit
of the dealer quoting a substantially lower
retail price and should bring about a pro-
portionate increase in sales."