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MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, PIANOS ONLY, JANUARY, 19A2
1941 a year
to remember
Signified the absolute revival of the piano
in all phases of American Life
1
AST year—1941—will long be remem-
bered as the year in which the
piano became firmly established
again as a necessity in the American
home, one in which sales were the largest
in months -which are usually dull and
vise versa, one in which installment sell-
ing was put on a basis equitable for all
music merchants by government decree
and one in which the piano industry as a
whole came into its own again after a
terrific struggle for a decade only to be
faced with a greater crisis owing to the
present war emergency.
In spite of the present conditions sur-
rounding the industry production steadily
increased throughout the year until it
reached an all time high since 1929. Dur-
ing the year several reorganizations in
manufacturing units took place and a new
factor for this industry entered into the
field with several musical merchandise
manufacturers who either becoming fac-
tors for piano manufacturers or purchas-
ing plants outright.
Several hundred dealers are in busi-
ness to-day who had not taken on pianos
at this time last year. There was also more
moving of stores and renovating of old
stores than has been witnessed in a
decade. On the whole the industry is now
in a better position to withstand the
critical period which it faces than it
would have been three years ago and it
has the will and the stamina to come
through in the same manner it has in the
past. Among the highlights of happenings
during the past year were:
Sons, New York, announce their retire-
ment.
Board of Control of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants meet in New
York and decide on Convention dates
for July 29th to August 1st inclusive.
National Piano Manufacturers Association
executive committee meets in New York
and discusses Piano Foundation.
National Piano Travelers Association ex-
ecutive committee meets and decides to
hold Jamboree during convention.
W. S. Bond, president of the Weaver
Piano Co., York, Pa. tendered a dinner
by employees in honor of his fifty years
of association with the company.
Frank P. Whitmore retires as secretary of
W. W. Kimball Co., Chicago and Ben F.
Duvall is elected to that position.
P. J. Cuningham, head of the Cunningham
Piano Co., Philadelphia, passes away at
76.
Alfred Bleckwin, office manager of Stein-
way & Sons. New York, passes away at
age of 71.
Executive Committee of the Music Mer-
chants Association of Ohio decides on
convention in June.
FEBRUARY
First of the 1941 Sales Clinic held in St.
Louis on Feb. 10th.
Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the
National Association of Music Mer-
chants formed in Philadelphia, Pa., with
Luke Moore as chairman.
Pratt Read & Co., Ivoryton, Conn., an-
nounce a new type - action for spinet
pianos.
Steve Reed second son of Joe Reed,
JANUARY
head of Paragon Foundries. Oregon,
B. F. Miessner patents electronic orchestra
111. joins that business.
control. .
MARCH
National Piano Manufacturers Association
Carl Fischer Musical Instrument Co., Inc.,
joins the National Music Council.
New York becomes national distributor
William R. Steinway makes extensive
for the Janssen Piano Co., Brooklyn,
goodwill trip visiting Steinway dealers
N. Y.
throughout the country.
Legislation embodying changes in the Chicago Musical Instrument Co., Chicago,
HI., becomes national distributor for the
New York Installment law suggested by
Cable and Conover pianos made by the
National Piano Manufacturers Associa-
Schiller-Cable Piano Mfg. Co., Oregon,
tion.
EL John H. Parnham becomes produc-
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. advises employees
tion manager of Schiller-Cable plant.
called to colors that insurance will be
Cable Piano Co., Chicago moves into
maintained by the company.
new retail quarters in Chicago.
Ben M. Strub resigns as estem repre-
sentative of the Mathushek Piano Mfg. Master Piano Corp formed in New York.
Baltimore Chapter of the National Asso-
Co., New York.
ciation of Music Merchants formed in
Frederick Reidemeister, treasurer, Her-
Baltimore, Md.
mann Irion, general manager and Al-
bert Sturcke, historian of Steinway 6» Ava W. Poole for many years president of
the Poole Piano C, Cambridge, Mass.,
passes away at 49.
William Strich former partner of Strich &
Zeidler passes away at Larchmont, N. Y.
APRIL
Julius Breckwoldt, president of Julius
Breckwoldt & Son, Dolgeville, N. Y. and
dean of the supply industry passes
away after a short illness in his Florida
home at the age of 85.
Mid South Chapter of NAMM formed in
Memphis Term.
Lyon <& Healy, Inc., Chicago opens new
store on Michigan Ave.
Wm. Knabe & Co., New York open radio
phonograph department announcing
the Musaphonic manufactured by the
General Electric Co.
J. W. Dawson, head of the Dawson Music
Co., Phoenix, Arizona, dies at the age
of 74.
MAY
10' "<• Federal excise tax proposed for
musical instruments is protested by
manufacturers and dealers.
Jerome F. Murphy, president of M. Stein-
ert & Sons Co., Boston, and Dudley P.
Felt elected directors of Steinway &
Sons, New York, Stuart B. Miller is ap-
pointed comptroller. Paul H. Schmidt,
director retires.
Western Pennsylvanian Chapter of the
NAMM formed in Hershey, Pa.
Gulbransen Co., Chicago, 111., announces
Magnatone Organ with pedal board.
Floyd E. Grove becomes travelling repre-
sentative for the Estey Piano Co., Bluff-
ton, Ind.
Grinell Bros., Detroit, Mich, takes on the
Winter & Co., Musette.
R. B. Jones becomes a travelling repre-
sentative for Steinway & Sons, New
York.
JUNE
The American Society of Piano Tuners-
Technicians hold joint session with the
Piano Tuners Association of Illinois in
Chicago.
E. M. Boothe well known piano man
passes away in Port Chester, N. Y.
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., announces new
35,000 sq. ft. addition to De Kalb piano
plant.
Ray Erlandson, Rudolph Wurlitzer Co.,
elected president of the Music Mer-
chants Association of Ohio.
National Piano Manufacturers Association
re-elect officers with R. C. Rolfing as
President.
Ignace Pedewreski former premier of