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uled for Milwaukee, Wis., on January
15th and 16th, 1954. The Schroeder
Hotel has been chosen for the head-
quarters and Ralph A. Kingsbury, of
Waumatosa, Wis., has been selected as
chairman.
Both of these regional meetings will
feature technical instructions and dem-
onstrations. Invitations are being ex-
tended to all piano technicians, manu-
fecturers, dealers and teachers within
the respective areas.
Louis Schmidt Passes
Away at the Age of 70
Louis Schmdit, former president of
the American Supply Co., a division
of Hammacher. Schlemmer & Co. in
New York, passed away on August 6th
David Semonile Joins
Pratt Read Kaman Division -
David Semonite from Cranford, New
Jersey, was recently appointed Assistant
Superintendent to Erl Nord in the Ka-
man Division of Pratt, Read & Co..
Ivorytown. Conn.
After completing high school in Cran-
ford, Mr. Semonite entered Princeton
University where he received a Bachelor
of Sciene Degree in engineering in 1951.
Soon afterwards he became a Junior En-
gineer in the Works Laboratory of the
National Carbon Co., Niagara Falls.
New York.
In September, 1951, he was called to
active duty as a 2nd Lieutenant and
later served in Japan for one year in
a field artillery battery. He became a
First Lieutenant in March, 1953. and
received his discharge in June.
Mr. Semonite was on the freshman
crew and a member of the Sailing Club
at Princeton, and during several sum-
mers has worked on yachts along the
New England coast in capacities ranging
from sailor to skipper. He'll feel at
home with Pratt-Read Yachtsmen.
HENRY WICKHAM.
Founder
LOUIS SCHMIDT
after a lingering illnss. He was sev-
enty years of age.
Mr. Schmidt started his business
career as a mail boy with the com-
pany in January, 1897. He was elected
a director in 1921 and later became
general manager and president of the
American Piano Supply Co. In 1947
he was tendered a dinner by the entire
Hammacher, Schlemmer organization
and presented with a valuable gift at
that time.
Mr. Schmidt was compelled to retire
in 1952 on account of ill health. He
is survived by a widow, Mildred, and
a sister, Mrs. Estelle Samuel. Funeral
services were private.
ESTABLISHED '885
INCORPORATED 1903
JAY C. FREEMAN
Jay C. Freeman, considered this
country's foremost violin expert, who
retired in 1949 as curator of the vio-
lin collection of the Rudolph Wurlitz-
cr Co. in New York City, passed away
on August 18th at Stockbridge, Mass.,
where he had lived in retirement, at
the age of 85.
In his earl\ life, he spent many
years as a cowpuncher and ranch hand
in the Indian Territory of Oklahoma.
He then became an apprentice violin
maker in Chicago. He joined the musi-
cal instrument department of Lyon &
Healy in 1889 and remained there un-
til 1920 when he became manager of
the Wurlitzer violin department. Be-
fore his retirement, he had brought the
lotal value of the Wurlitzer collection
in 1949 to more than three million
dollars, which included the renowned
"Swan 7 " Stradivarius, the last violin
made by the master, which was fin-
ished in 1737 when he was 93 years
old. Mr. Freeman was married twice.
His first wife was the former Ula Mick-
ens, who passed away in 1904, and his
second wife, the former Miss Lulu
Berkley, in 1936. He is survived by his
son, Paul J. Freeman, of New York,
and a daughter. Mrs. Jean Baver. Pitts-
field. Mass.
DR. FRANK BUTTELL
Word has been received of the death
of Dr. Frank Buttell. who passed away
on August 1st at San Luis Obispo,
Calif., at the age of 67. Dr. Buttell,
besides being a piano man, was also a
physician and was born in Newark,
N. J., in 1886. to a piano family. He
was active in the piano business until
about a year ago when he retired.
He is survived by his wife, one mar-
ried son and daughter-in-law, one
daughter, two brothers in Los Angeles,
Dick and Harold Buttell, and several
nephews and nieces in Los Angeles and
Strger, 111.
-KEYS THAT SATISFY SINCE 1890"
PIANO KEYS RECOVERED WITH
I V O R I N E
LOOKS LIKE IVORY AND COST IS LOW
#50
plain Ivorine tops
__$9.50 set
We also liefinish Sharps
IVORINE PIANO KEY CO.
1201
Stirling St.,
Coatesville, Pa.
Piano Supply Salesman
C E L E B R A T E D WICKHAM P L A T E S .
30
Wanted, young man now selling musical in-
struments—or representing wood or veneer
-firm—to add very profitable side line of
supplies for piano manufactures. Eastern
states territory. American Piano Supply Co.,
6 W . 20 St., New York I I , N. Y.
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, SEPTEMBER, 1953