Music Trade Review

Issue: 1950 Vol. 109 N. 8

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
American Society of Piano Technicians
Holds Successful Los Angeles Convention
The 9th Annual Convention of the
American Society of Piano Technicians,
held at Los Angeles, Calif. June 27-30,
stood out as one of the best attended in
the history of the organization.
Willard B. Davis, Pasadena, Calif.,
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., DeKalb, 111.,
who gave an inspiring talk on "Build
Your Business with Bricks not Sticks."
This was followed by a business pro-
motion forum conducted by Ted Gose,
Les Hoskins and George Brash. Many
The newly elected officers of ASPT for ihe ensuing year. I^eft to right: Kobert I.utzen, Milwaukee,
Recording Secretary; (ieorjje Brsisch, Milwaukee, President; Willard R. Davis, Pasadena, California,
Vice President; and Floyd Orr, Berkley, Michigan; Retiring President and newly elected Treamirer.
welcomed the delegates and guests at
the Elks Club convention hall. Greetings
were extended by a representative of
the piano manufacturers. The Los An-
geles piano dealers were represented by
one of their midst who also spoke for
the music dealers throughout the coun-
try.
President Floyd Orr. Royal Oak,
Mich., then reviewed the piano business
as a piano technician sees it. He stated
that the future of the piano business is
very bright. The tremendous expansion
in the West which offered the oppor-
tunity to hold a successful convention
on the far West Coast, demonstrates be-
yond doubt, that new fields have come
into being. He gave much credit to the
fine work of the American Music Con-
ference for the promotion and a greater
desire for music through public school
education to meet tomorrow's necessity.
The American Society fully indorses
this program and hopes to contribute
generously to its development.
The Wednesday morning session was
given over to a demonstration of tuning
a piano with the Mean Tone tempera-
ment by Paul Kegley, and Percy Gatz.
It was interesting to note the difference
of the Mean Tone temperament as com-
pared with the modern Equal tempera-
ment.
Demonstrations and classes conducted
by the various exhibitors on action regu-
lating, trouble shooting, getting the best
out of a piano with proper service, were
well received and well attended.
The afternoon featured Joe Daurer,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1950
helpful hints were brought out to help
the service man build up a profitable
business of repeat orders at regular in-
tervals.
More highlights of the convention
were presented on Thursday in the form
of a technical presentation on piano re-
building, piano servicing, and satisfy-
ing the customer. The panel was headed
by Charles Fredrick Stein, representing
Pratt Read & Co., Granville Ward, Stein-
way & Sons, Bob Johnson, Schaff Piano
String Corp., Vic Jackson, Baldwin Co.,
Roy Newsted. Wurlitzer Co., and Charles
Smith, Wm. Stonaker, Ted Gose, Alfred
Utterberg, representing the American
Society.
Percy Gatz then continued with a
HENRY WICKHAM.
presentation of Applied Electronics for
Piano Technicians. Mr. Gatz set up
elaborate equipment to demonstrate the
behavior of the piano string, and other
acoustical oddities, and the science of
sound. This demonstration was a mar-
velous presentation on "why" things be-
have as they do.
The afternoon session was concluded
by William Dege, with a talk of Sound
Board and Bridge repairs. Mr. Dege be-
lieves that every piano technician should
have at least three years training in
cabinet work to really qualify him for
such delicate work as to build up a
sagged bridge or to replace a split
bridge with another one. The work must
be done with precision to have good
tone.
All technical discussions were re-
corded with a wire recorder. The tran-
script will be published in book form
and for sale at the home office of the
American Society or directly by the pub-
lisher, Hollywood Convention Reporting
Co., 5410 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
36, Calif.
The newly elected officers for the
coming year are: George Brash, Mil-
waukee, Wis., President; Willard Davis,
Pasadena, Calif., Vice President; Floyd
Orr, Royal Oak, Mich., Treasurer, and
Robert Lutze, Milwaukee, Wis., Secre-
tary.
The 1951 convention of the American
Society will be held at Milwaukee Wis.
RCA Television Picture Tube
Plant Opened in Marion, Ind.
The Radio Corp. of America recently
dedicated a new television picture tube
plant in Marion, Ind. An impressive
program of events was arranged by the
Indiana state and local officials in co-
operation with the RCA Victor Division.
ESTABLISHED 1885
INCORPORATED 1903
25
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Peter Harlmann Passes Away
After Long Piano Career
Peter Hartmann. 70, died Sunday.
Aug. 6th. at his home. 100 W. 55th
Street, New York, after a short illness.
HERMAN B. SPIVEY, 44
Herman B. Spivey, 44, for more than
10 years selling for E. E. Forbes Piano
Co., Birmingham, Ala., specializing on
the Hammond organ, passed away re-
cently in the Birmingham Hospital after
a brief illness. He was a native of Ho-
gansville, Ga. and had made his home
in Birmingham for the past 18 years.
He is survived by a widow, Mrs. Alico
B. Spivey; two sons, Dolphus and Ken-
neth Spivey, both of Birmingham; two
brothers, Lester Spivey of Brunswick.
Ga., and Metus Spivey of Roanoke, Ala.;
four sisters, Mrs. George Culverson, Mrs.
Mattie Rodgers and Mrs. Fannie Hill,
all of Hogansville, Ga., and Mrs. Emma
Roberson, Langdale, and a granddaugh-
ter, besides several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at the
Ridout Funeral Chapel and interment
was in Elmwood Cemetery.
In commenting on his passing, E. E.
Forbes, Sr. stated: "He was a very valu-
able man to us as well as to others.
Everybody liked him and he will be
greatly missed."
MANPOWER
PIANO SALESMAN
WANTED
Washington's leading music
department store offers a
most attractive and well pay-
ing proposition to an excep-
tionally experienced piano
salesman, with a record of
results.
We are exclusive dealers
for Steinway, Sohmer, Kim-
ball, Gulbransen, and Conover
Cable pianos and Hammond
organs. Large productive ter-
ritory, growing rapidly. Write
in detail about yourself, your
experience, your personal sit-
uation and your ambitions.
Communications will be held
in strictest confidence. Ad-
dress to R. J. Leonard, Man-
ager, Piano Department,
Campbell Music Co., Inc., 1108
G Street NW, Washington,
D. C.
PETKK HARTMANN
Although in failing health for the past
year, he had been active in his business
until a few days ago.
Mr. Hartmann came from Waterbury,
Conn, as a young man, where his family
was prominent in the industrial and
religious activities of the community.
He was associated with piano concerns
for more than fifty years and at the
time of his death he had been with
the New York retail division of
the Baldwin Piano Co. for more than
ten years. Formerly he had been with
John Wanamaker, Wm. Knabe & Co.
and the Aeolian Co. Mr. Hartmann was
an outstanding figure in his chosen
career and was loved and respected by
the legion of friends who mourn his
passing.
He was a weekly communicant at
St. Patrick's where he took an active
part in the Cathedral activities and was
an usher.
Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth
Murphy Hartmann and his only child.
Mrs. Eleanor Hartmann Kracke.
Funeral services were held in Water-
bury, Conn., where internment took
place on Aug. 8th.
"Pete" as he was familiarly known
to his many friends was one of the
unique personalities in the industry with
a genial and compelling disposition
which won him success wherever he
came in contact with the public.
26
SALES INVESTMENT
(Continued from Page 'i'i)
that the objective of this store was to
give the service required and expected.
Here we have a big front but no sales-
manship. Believe me, I could give names
and stores that a lot of you folks would
recognize, practicing the infallible "prin-
ciple that an efficient sales force pro-
duces successful results, and again con-
versely the lack of this, produces failure.
I believe sincerely in what I have
said today. I have intended no pre-
sumption in telling you how to sell a
piano, but meant, only, to reiterate the
sound advice given through the years
by the men associated with the music
industry. It has been good advice and
where accepted, invariably produced
success, but of course when cast aside
produced the inevitable failure.
. Let us all work more closely in the
interest of our common objective
"music". Let us, too, use all of our
abilities to do a much better job for
ourselves, our business associates, and
for the music industry. Never forget
we are an integral part in the develop-
ment of community and national, cul-
tural and economic progress.
As a parting shot may I quote Victor
Hugo, "More mighty than an army
with banners is an idea whose time
has arrived."
TO SAVE TIME
Try Our Bar Bridle
(just shove thru hole and hook up)
Priced $1.35 per 100
PIANO KEYS RECOVERED
Regular Style or Waterfall
(State on Key One Whidi Style)
McMACKIN PIANO SERVICE
f s f . 792T
1719-21 Mondamin Ave., Des Moines 14, Iowa
The Tuner Alone^
Preserve*^
The'
J O I N
THE
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
of
PIANO TUNERS
Organized To Maintain The Highest Tech-
nical And Professional Standards In The
Practice Of Piano Service.
Originators of a Nation-Wide System of
Qualified Piano Service Identified by a
Membership Certificate of "REGISTERED
TUNER and REBUILDER of Pianos." This
certificate is issued each year for the pro-
tection of the Tuner and his Clientele.
Read the
TUNERS JOURNAL
For particulars nddrvss the
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
PIANO TUNERS
430 OGLETHORPE ST., N.W.
WASHINGTON 11, D. C.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1950

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