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14
THE
OBITUARY
Edward Saxton Payson
Edward Saxton Payson, without question
one of the best beloved members of the
piano trade in the United States, died at
his home in Lexington, Mass., on September
22. He was 90 years old, having been born
in Groton, Mass., in 184-2.
After his schooling, Mr. Payson began his
business career as a bank clerk but his deep
interest in music moved him to have his
voice trained with the result that, for a
number of years, he toured extensively as a
baritone singer in grand and light operas.
For a time he was a member of the famous
Bostonians.
Upon forsaking opera, Mr. Payson became
associated with the Henry F. Miller Piano
Co. in 1882 and in 1885 joined the Emer-
son Piano Co. He became president of the
latter company in 1906 and retained that
position until his retirement from active busi-
ness several years ago.
Mr. Payson was a past president of the
National Piano Manufacturers' Association
and of the Boston Music Trade Association
and an honorary member of both the National
Association of Music Merchants and the Na-
tional Music and Piano Travelers' Associa-
tion. He was also active in local, civic and
fraternal organizations. The deceased was
widely known as a strong exponent of Es-
peranto as an international language and for
years maintained a world-wide correspondence
with other Esperanto students.
In 1872 Mr. Payson married Caroline A.
Morrill, of Boston, who survives him.
No member of the piano trade who at-
tended the national conventions regularly
but had a high esteem for Mr. Payson, whose
well-chosen words uttered in a sonorous voice
inducted into office a great majority of the
association executives and pronounced the
benediction at the final convention session.
He was widely read, had a keen wit and
looked upon his associations with the music
trade as a privilege rather than a calling.
His passing, even at his ripe age, represents
a deep sentimental loss to the industry.
MUSIC
George Edward Chesebrough
George Edward Chesebrough, who, for the
past eleven years, conducted a music store
in Chico, Cal., died last month after an ill-
ness of over a year. He was born in the
East but spent most of his business life on the
Pacific coast. He is survived by a son and
a daughter.
Banks W . Kauffman
Banks W. Kauffman, who operated music
stores in Lewiston and Mifflin, Pa., died at his
home in the latter town recently in his sev-
enty-fifth year. He is survived by two
daughters and two sons, the latter, Shelley
and Jonas Kauffman, being associated with
him in business.
Walter S. Fischer, Jr.
Walter S. Fischer, Jr., son of Walter S.
Fischer, president of the music publishing
house of Carl Fischer, Inc., died at his home
in Darien, Conn., on Sept. 16, after a lengthy
illness. He was secretary of Carl Fischer,
Inc.
Benjamin Reynolds
Benjamin Reynolds, long a well-known
music merchant in Western Pennsylvania,
died at his home in Washington, Pa., on
September 30th, after a long illness. He was
67 years old and is survived by his widow
and seven children, all of whom live in
Washington.
Mr. Reynolds was born in England, but
was brougth to the United States when an
infant. After various business ventures he
entered the employ of the C. A. House Music
Co. in Washington in 1890 and ten years
later established his own business in that
town.
FORBES-MEAGHER OPEN
FINE ARTS STUDIOS
The Forbes-Meagher Music Co., 25-27 West
Main street, Madison, Wis., has announced
plans for opening of Fine Arts studios
in their building. The second floor is being
turned into completely furnished individual
studios, which will be used by local music
teachers and instructors in other arts. The
Henry Luther Baker
Henry Luther Baker, for the past fifteen third floor may be added later as the busi-
years proprietor of the Hyannis Music Shop, ness expands.
According to J. E. Meagher, president of
Hyannis, Mass., died at his home in that city,
recently, after an illness of several months. the music company, many unique ideas will
He was 61 years old and is survived by his be put into effect in the studios. One of the
outstanding features is a recording machine
widow, Martha A. Baker-
on which the various music pupils may make
records of their voice or instrument on which
Daniel P. Wise
they are studying. With such records at
Daniel P. Wise, who, for a number of
hand, the teacher is able to point out any
years, conducted a music store in York, Pa., mistakes and make corrections when playing
in addition to acting as an instructor 6f over the recording with the pupil a distince
instrumental music, died in that city on Sep- advantage.
tember 13. He was 54 years old and is
Another feature is a classroom for class
survived by his widow and one son.
teaching, equipped with blackboards and
desks, and otherwise especially fitted for
Otto Zimmerman
group or class instruction. A studio will also
Otto Zimmerman, president of Otto Zim- be equipped with practice pianos available
merman & Sons Co., Inc., printers and pub- to music lovers working downtown who have
lishers of sheet music in Newport, Ky., died spare time to practice during the day.
J. H. Forbes is associated with Mr.
at his home in Fort Thomas, Ky., last month.
He was 72 years old, and was very active Meagher in the firm which is one of the
leading music houses in central Wisconsin.
in civil and fraternal circles.
TRADE
REVIEW,
October,
1932
A CREDIT ORGANIZATION
WITH SPEED PLUS SAFETY
(Continued from page 4)
tab is set up 5 days, giving that much
grace; if an old account, 10 days.
The hundreds of active accounts are di-
vided into four groups alphabetically and
each group is in charge of a credit man and
his stenographer. Each morning the men
run through the cards, examining those whose
tabs correspond to that date, and any on
which payment has not been made are with-
drawn and examined. A series of three re-
minder letters are available and the credit
men note on the cards which letters should
be sent, whereupon the tabs are set up five
days and automatically come up for exami-
nation then. If there is no response to the
three reminder letters by the time the second
payment is due, or within 30 days, the ac-
count goes to the collection manager. He,
too, has a series of collection letters which
he may use, or he may immediately turn
the account over to one of his ten outside
men for investigation. From the report of
the collector, the credit department decides
whether or not the merchandise should be
repossessed.
If the customer declines to surrender the
merchandise on a repossession order, it is
turned over to a special investigator. He
usually handles cases wherein landlords are
holding merchandise in payment for rent.
If no trace of the customer or the mer-
chandise is obtained by the collector's man,
the case is turned over to the skip tracer,
who works on it a week, and, if with no
results, it is turned over to a firm which
specializes in this work and which is paid
by the piece for merchandise recovered.
The first three payments are the most im-
portant. If the customer takes care of these
faithfully, it is a good omen. If he lags
on the first payment, his ability to carry out
his contract is rechecked. If in doubt in
the beginning, the card is marked, "Pull on
first payment missed." As long as the
whereabouts of the merchandise are known
it is permitted to stay out if there is any
likelihood of the customer being able at a
later date to meet his obligations.
The fellow to watch is the one who makes
a down payment and then sees how long
he can keep it with no further payments.
The men who watch the account cards
also interview applicants for credit at the
main store, a special series of booths being
provided for that purpose. Here the vari-
ous records are instantly available so that
credit decisions can be made promptly.
WILBUR TEMPLIN CO.
OCCUPIES LARGER QUARTERS
The Wilbur Templin Music Store, South
Bend, Ind., has moved from 114 South Main
Street to larger quarters at 115-117 South
Main Street. In the new location the com-
pany has a double store with a frontage of
fifty feet and a depth of ninety feet. The
company, which handles pianos, radios, small
musical instruments and sheet music, was
organized fifteen years ago and operates
stores in Elkhart and Mishawaka. Electrical
appliances and household merchandise will
be handled in a section of the new store.