11
October 23, 1920.
F. W. CHICKERING
DIES SUDDENLY
Head of Sales and Credit Departments of
Chickering Bros., Chicago, Had a Great
Career in the Piano Industry
and Trade.
While he was dancing in the Hyde Park Hotel
on Thursday night of last week, Frederick W. Chick-
ering, of Chickering Bros., manufacturers of the
Acoustigrande playerpianos, sank over with his head
on his companion's shoulder, and slid to the floor.
A doctor was called, but only to pronounce the piano
manufacturer dead. Mr. Chickering had been bowl-
ing earlier in the evening. And it is believed that
his heart, already affected, had been overstrained.
In the passing of Fred Chickering the industry
has lost one of its most active and forceful figures.
Mr. Chickering was 57 years old. He was born at
Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 1, 1863.
At Chickering Institute.
As boy and youth, Mr. Chickering had his educa-
tion in his father's school at Cincinnati, and spent
his summer vacations in Massachusetts. His father
was a famous educator, the Chickering Institute for
Eoys at Cincinnati being one of the leading schools
Master Musician
of its time. It had as high an attendance as 250
boys at a time, and many of the leading business
men of Cincinnati and other towns owed their edu-
cational start to this school.
After completing his schooling Mr. Chickering
went to Boston and in the factory of Chickering &
Sons he learned the business of the practical piano
maker. He was taught the business in its various
branches in the Chickering factory.
Tireless Student and Worker.
For several years Mr. Chickering worked at the
bench in the piano factory. At the end of that time
he had so thoroughly mastered every branch of the
industry that he decided to follow his inclination
for a commercial career, which drew him back again
to Cincinnati and into the work of piano selling.
He joined the old house of Smith & Nixon. Later
he accepted the responsibilities of manager of the
Mason & Hamlin branch house in Chicago. From
there he became manager of the retail department
of the Weber Piano Co., in which capacity he re-
mained until he joined his brother Clifford in es-
tablishing the present industry, which is making the
Acoustigrande.
Mr. Chickering had a dominant and winning per-
sonality, and for these reasons was a very successful
salesman. He was an indefatigable worker who
often went out at night to close sales and then ap-
peared at the usual time at the office the morning
following. As a credit man his judgment was ex-
cellent; he was a keen judge of character. He was
sociable, affable, entertaining. Of late years he had
charge of the sales end of the business and of credits
principally.
His hard work and intensive thinking had cut
into his splendid constitution so much that he had
not slept well at night lately, and his heart gave out.
Mr. Chickering's last vacation, which he enjoyed
thoroughly, was taken late in the summer when he
went to Alexandria, Minn., for about a month. He
returned to the city and buckled in harder than ever.
The Final Scenes.
The funeral was held from the Daylight Church,
at Forty-seventh street and St. Lawrence avenue,
Chicago, on Monday of this week, the active pall-
bearers being old employes of the factory—men who
had worked for Chickering Bros, for fifteen or
twenty years. The honorary pallbearers were:
Exigent Whelan, of the W. W. Kimball Company;
E. F. Lapham, of Grosvenor, Lapham & Ce.; James
F. Bowers, president of Lyon & Healy; H. C. Dick-
inson, vice-president of the Baldwin Co.; Adam
Schneider, of Julius Bauer & Co., and James T. Bris-
tol, secretary and treasurer of the Price & Teeple
Piano Co.
The committee on resolutions consisted of H. C.
Dickinson, Eugene Whelan and Platt P. Gibbs.
They were appointed at a joint meeting of the Chi-
cago Piano & Organ Association and the Piano Club,
which was held Saturday. Mr. Dickinson is now
preparing resolutions of appreciation of the life and
services of Mr. Chickering.
The Rev. Johnston Myers, pastor of the Immanuel
Baptist Church, Chicago, conducted the funeral ser-
vices.
The remains were taken for final ceremonies and
carried to Clinton, Mass.. which is seven miles from
the old Chickering home at West Boylston, Mass.
Another service was held at the grave.
LABOR LEADERS IN
HOT WAR OF WORDS
Piano Workers Interested in Controversy Between
President Gompers and Chicago Officials.
The labor unions of Chicago are involved in a dis-
pute which touches the piano industries. President
Samuel Gompers, of the American Federation of
Labor, in a recent communication, pointed out there
was no power in the labor movement to call a gen-
eral strike, but asserted there were a few leaders,
here and there, "so obsessed with egotism and vanity
that they believe they have the autocratic power to
call a general strike—or that some others have that
power."
He advised the Chicago federation leaders to in-
form themselves as to real conditions in Russia be-
fore taking up the defense of the bolshevists. An-
swering a statement by a Chicago labor leader that
"we don't know much about bolshevism and care
very little," Mr. Gompers said that the fact that the
Chicago federation didn't know and didn't care any-
thing about the Soviets, was typical of strange lead-
ership it had. This reply brought forth a' storm of
criticism of Gompers, and a motion that his com-
munication be referred to every labor organization
in Chicago for further action.
Charles Dold, of the piano workers, informed the
federation of trouble with a Chicago piano company
and urged aid in fighting the concern, which, he de-
clared, has refused to meet their wage demands and
has put into effect a nine-hour day.
The piano industry is one of the broadly liberal
kind whose employes are contented in turning out a
fine line of instruments. Its superintendent is a
sympathizer in the purposes of labor and has never
opposed the piano union, nor has he advocated a
"nine-hour day."
THE OBSERVANT TUNER.
A piano tuner who seems to have forgotten that
the Civil War has been over for fifty years and
more, sixty-five years, recently wrote as follows
from Lynchburg, Va., to the Chicago Tribune: "I
am a piano tuner by trade. Today I was working in
the public school at Appomattox. While tuning a
piano in the schoolroom I happened to glance up
and there hung a picture of Jefferson Davis, and a
short distance away was one of Lee, and another
one of Stonewall Jackson, and two or three others
of generals who fought in the confederacv.
"GEORGE GIESKE."
NO MORE LIFTING
WITH
AN
ATWOOD
ONE MAN CAN LOAD OR UNLOAD
A PIANO IN 15 SECONDS
NEW OFFICERS FOR
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
E. A. Geissler Chosen President of the Trade Organi-
zation of Los Angeles at Recent Meeting.
DANCE 125
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Didn't You. One-step.
Sweetest Lady. Waltz.
Laughing Vamp. One-step.
I Like to Linger in the Lin-
gerie. Fox Trot.
Peacock Walk. Fox Trot.
The Wimmin Won't Let Me
Alone. One-step.
Venetian Melody. Waltz.
Rose of Spain. Fox Trot.
Whispering. Fox Trot & One-
step.
E. A. Geissler, president and general manager of
the George J. Birkel Company, was elected president
of the Music Trades Association of Southern Cali-
fornia at the annual meeting in Los Angeles re-
cenily. He succeeds G. S. Marygold, vice-president
of the Southern California Music Co., as president
of the trade association. Other officers elected were:
W. H. Richardson, president of Richardson's, Inc.,
vice-president; Irving Andrews, head of the Andrews
Talking Machine Co., second vice-president; Harold
Jackson, treasurer and A. G. Farquharson, secretary.
The new president of the Southern California
Aspcc'ation has been one of the most enthusiastic
proponents of the trade reforms promulgated by his
predecessor.
10 Nobody to Love. Fox Trot.
This program, taken from
our October Bulletin is typical.
Good music, well arranged and
timely, is the key to roll sales.
CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLL CO.
De Kalb, Illinois
LOYALTY IN BUSINESS.
Abraham Lincoln once said: "Never swap horses
when crossing a river." This is a good axiom in the
industrial as well as the political world. The founda-
tion of profitable business today is continuous pro-
duction and satisfactory work. No change should
be made that would lessen production or lower qual-
ity. The true and tried employe is the biggest asset
in the world today.
One Atwood Loader—One Ford Car and
One Man, will sell more pianos than any
6 of the best salesmen that ever walked in
shoe leather—Needn't take our word, ask
the dealers using them.
The Atwood Piano Loader is a compact, light,
indestructible device enabling one man to load or
unload a piano in fifteen seconds—Designed to
fit Ford Roadsters without any change to car
necessary—Can be attached to any make of car—
Can be attached to Ford Roadster in thirty minutes,
taken off in less time, and car can be used as a
pleasure vehicle—Will accommodate four Talking
Machines.
ORDER ONE TODAY—It will be the best in-
vestment you ever made in the piano business
—The price is $65.00 cash with order or $15.00
cash with order and the balance bill against
bill of lading. Attach this ad to your order
and we will credit you with $1.00.
ATWOOD PIANO LOADER CO.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
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