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Dampp-Chaser the Outcome of the
"Kitchen Krispers" for Food Closets
Personal observance combined with
ingenuity and individual enterprise
were factors which resulted in the final
THE DAMPP-CHASER
FACTORY
It was not long, however, that this
gave way to a larger work area and Mr.
Foote, an electronic engineer, hit upon
dersonville, N. C , having changed its
name to Dampp-Chaser, Inc. Jobbers
from coast to coast are keeping the new
plant, which is shown herewith, busy
and turning out a continuous stream of
IN H EN DERSONVILLE, N. C—ALLEN M. FOOTE AND O. JACK BUCKLEY AND A SCENE IN THE
ASSEMBLY ROOM OF THE FACTORY.
creation of the Dampp-Chaser which
will now be found in thousands of pi-
anos throughout the country, eliminat-
ing sticking piano keys and sluggish
actions and protecting other piano parts
from dampness and moisture.
It was when Mr. and Mrs. Allen M.
Foote were living in Fort Lauderdale,
Fla. that dampness in kitchen food clos-
ets prompted them to develop what was
known as "Kitchen Krispers" which
were manufactured in their home.
the idea of the Dampp-Chaser.
In 1948, 0 . Jack Buckley, father-in-
law of Mr. Foote, joined the company
as Sales Manager-Secretary, which was
at that time incorporated as the A. M.
Foote Electric & Mfg. Co. The unique-
ness of the idea brought many articles
in national magazines and the Under-
writers Laboratories assured the safety
of the device, which carries the familiar
U. L. label.
The company is now located in Hen-
Dampp-Chasers which are now being
used in thousands of pianos through-
out the country.
At the recent Convention, the Drum
Heater for all drums was shown and is
now meeting the approval of music
dealers and musicians.
Thus, from an idea first grasped from
dampness damage, when Mr. Foote was
doing radar installations in the British
West Indies, has now developed into a
very lucrative business.
FRED PATTON
Fred Patton of Detroit, Mich., Pro-
fessor of Music at Michigan State Col-
lege from 1932 to 1946, passed away
on Thursday, October 25th, at the age
of 63, after a brief illness.
At the time that the Autopiano Co.
was making player pianos, Mr. Patton
was sales manager of the company, at
which time he was then studying music.
This was before 1919 when he began
his career as a concert and opera singer.
He sang with the Cincinnati Opera Co..
the Philadelphia Civic Opera Co., and
the Metropolitan Opera Co. He also ap-
peared as soloist for the New York
Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and
the Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Cin-
cinnati, Cleveland, Minneapolis, San
Francisco and Manhattan Symphony
Orchestras.
He is survived by his widow, the
former Jessie David Wool ley, and two
daughters, Mrs. Charles Coll of Hud-
son, Mich., and Mrs. George Barkentin
of Westport, Conn.
the RCA Victor Home Instrument De-
partment, has been appointed staff as-
sistant to J. B. Elliott, Vice President
in charge of the company's Consumer
Products.
In his new position, Mr. Boss will
be located at the RCA Victor head-
quarters in Camden, N. J.
W. E. Boss RCA Victor
Staff Assistant to J. B. Elliott
William E. Boss, formerly field sales
representative in upstate New York for
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, NOVEMBER, 1951
23