Music Trade Review

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Over 4,000 People Attend Opening of
New Wm. Knabe & Co. Building in New York
Over 4,000 people attended the grand
opening of the new building which Wil-
liam Knabe & Co. occupied at 536 Fifth
York, Brooklyn and Boston, is located
at the rear of the second floor.
A feature of the opening was a door
prize of a $1,100 Knabe console piano
The piano was won by John A. Rob-
ertson. 420 Royle St., Bellmore, L. I.
He held Ticket No. 03048.
Mr. Robertson who with Mrs. Robert-
son and their 16-year old daughter,
Patricia, had received the piano on Mon-
day, March 9th, plays the piano for
relaxation, he says, after his strenuous
days as an engineer for the Board of
Transportation in New York City.
His daughter Patricia has been tak-
ing vocal lessons for some time, is a
lyric soprano and has appeared in many
local musicals and light operas while
attending the Methan High School in
Bellmore. A lyric soprano, she hopes
to follow a career on the concert stage
and some day be auditioned for the
Metropolitan Opera.
Mr. Roertson, besides being an engin-
eer for the Board of Transportation,
is also a short-wave radio station oper-
ator, which is one of his most interest-
ing hobbies.
The drawing for this piano took place
on Saturday, March 7th, at 11 o'clock
behind the convex window of the main
floor wareroom and was consummated
before a tremendous crowd who had
gathered not only inside but outside the
store. The actual drawing was made
by Mrs. Herbert Witherspoon, Direc-
tor of the Metropolitan Opera Guild,
and after the winner was announced,
the presentation of the piano was also
made by Mrs. Witherspoon.
On the opening day, many members
of the industry visited the new buildings.
CLARENCE M. PETTIT AT HIS DESK.
PICTURE OF FIRST KNABE PLANT
HANGS ON THE WALL.
Ave., New York on Monday, March
2nd.
The company occupies five floors. On
the top floor is the business office while
the fourth floor is devoted to the Ham-
mond organ. The third floor and sec-
ond floors are for piano displays, and
the first floor also has a complete dis-
play of pianos as well as a record de-
partment.
The office of Clarence M. Pettit, Vice-
President of the American Piano Corp.,
who is the general manager for the
stores operated by that company in New
VIEW OF THE MAIN FLOOR SALON OF THE NEW WM. KNABE & CO.
BUILDING IN NEW YORK.
MRS.
HERBERT WITHERSPOON HANDS THE WINNING NUMBER TO ARTHUR W. WRIGHT, SALESMANAGER OF WM. KNABE &
CO., WHO READS IT TO THOSE PRESENT — RIGHT—JOHN A. ROBERTSON SITTING AT THE PIANO RECEIVES BILL OF SALE
FROM MRS. WITHERSPOON WHILE HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER LOOK ON.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW. MARCH. 1953