PRESTO
OHIO CONVENTION
ANOTHER TRIUMPH
(Continued from page 3.)
president, treasurer and council. In the discussion
following Mr. Fletcher's address there seemed to be
a general agreement with his point of view.
"Music merchants should rescue the radio and
make the music store its home," said Thomas
Pletcher in the course of his interesting address.
"The appeal of radio is nine-tenths musical. Our
taking it over would not mean we would have to sell
one' less clarinet pad or violin string or piano.
"We must crawl out of our conservative shell and
recognize that people admit no peer to radio as a
musical instrument. It combines the romance of
music and the romance of chance. You tune in. It
may be on a local station, it may be on San Fran-
cisco.
"More radios are sold than all other instruments
put together. Why can't we give people what they
want?"
The convention adopted a resolution to oppose any
law which would forbid a merchant advertising by a
loud speaker. The action was taken after a discus-
sion of a Dayton, Ohio, merchant whose neighbors
got out an injunction because he placed a talking
machine near the open door of his shop.
"Are Talking Machine Record Manufacturers
Producing Too Many Each Month" was the theme
of an able talk by C. C. Baker, Columbus. It was
listened to intently by the members because Mr.
Baker as one of the largest distributors of talking
machine records is considered an authority on the
handling of the commodities. Mr. Baker's address
was a vigorous protest against the great number
of records which phonograph companies have been
turning out. He held quality was placed second to
quantity.
Some Exhibits.
On« of the exhibits at the Hotel Statler that drew
interested dealers was that of the Christman Piano
Co., of New York. It was in charge of Henry Christ-
man, whose long experience in the factory and office,
enables him to tell of the good points of the Christ-
man instruments in a way as convincing as interest-
ing. It is said that no display gave better satisfac-
tion, and it embraced, of course, the famous little
Studio Grand.
At the Hotel Cleveland the F. Radle, Inc., dis-
played a fine line of the New York instruments.
Radle pianos and players are of the kind that hold the
dealers who handle them. They made a fine show-
ing in Cleveland, and usually a good crowd was there
to see and hear.
Music Roll Displays.
The music roll industries were well represented.
The Q R S Music Co. not only made a good display,
but President T. M. Pletcher was one of the principal
speakers. And his message had the punch that car-
ried.
The U. S. Music Co. also had a good exhibit and
its representatives were alert and helped to give in-
terest to the occasion.
As a matter of fact, this year's convention of the
Ohio dealers presented the first gathering of a state
organization in the music trade at which anything like
a considerable share of the attention was given over
to the productive side of the business. It presented
another proof that the exhibition phase of the con-
vention is liked, and that opposition to the shows had
not been successful. It further seems to suggest that
the next national convention, to be held in Chicago
next spring, will develop the display feature to a
greater extent than ever before.
THREE FINE ARTISTS
AND A MASON & HAMLIN
Notable Concert at Los Angeles Under the
Supervision of the Local House of the
Wiley B. Allen Company.
By MRS. BRATON S. CHASE.
The concert of Roderick White, violinist, assisted
by Ellen Bronson Babcock and Edythe Reily Rowe,
violoncellist, which took place at the Unitarian
Church, Los Angeles, Cal., on September 2nd, was an
event of special general musical interest and of spe-
cial interest to me. It was a rare musical evening,
and, when it was announced in an advertisement of
the Wiley B. Allen Company, I decided that no other
engagements should deter me from hearing the young
artists from back near "home."
For both Mr. White and the brilliant young pianist
are from Grand Rapids, Mich. Of course Roderick
White is too universally recognized to require special
commendation. He has "won his spurs," if that
simile is permissible in art lingo. And little Mrs.
Rowe, too, is a Grand Rapids girl now living in Los
Angeles. I had not seen her since she came out.
And she proved a worthy musical partner for
Roderick White. It was a delight to hear them
again. Their performance was wonderful.
From a purely "trade" point, too, the concert had
special interest because the glorious Mason & Ham-
lin piano was used. Mrs. Rowe made its appeal to
the trained musical ear one to be remembered. And,
also of trade interest, the house of Wiley B. Allen
Co. made of the event an occasion for special news-
paper promotion of the Boston piano which was ad-
mirable. Liberal space was used in which were pre-
sented portraits of the three artists with the announce-
ment that "these popular artists will use the Mason
& Hamlin piano—a masterpiece." There 'were brief
sketches of Mr. White and the two young lady art-
ists which fitted well into the educational plan of the
perfectly balanced program.
September 13, 1924.
MEMORIALS TO THE
LATE WALTER SCHAAF
Piano Men's Associations Place on Record
Warm Tributes to Character and Steadfast
Loyalty of Chicago Member.
It isn't often that death invades the ranks of any
industry and leaves so large a circle of regret as
followed the unexpected passing of Walter Schaaf,
secretary of Adam Schaaf, Inc., Chicago, on Septem-
ber 3. Still in the vigor of life, and filled with the
ambitions which have actuated the other up-builders
of the famous piano industry, of which he was the
ARTHUR BRAND DIES
SUDDENLY IN CLEVELAND
Head of Cincinnati Music Firm Was Attending
Convention of State Association.
Arthur Brand, head of the Arthur Brand Co., 1618
Vinse street, Cincinnati, aged 50, was found dead in
his bed at the Cleveland hotel, Cleveland, on Mon-
day of this week.
Mr. Brand had come to Cleveland to attend the
annual convention of the Music Merchants' Associa-
tion of Ohio. He had left a call for 6:30 a. m.
When he failed to respond, the clerk notified George
W. Wagenman, the night manager, who entered
Brand's room.
When Dr. Nelson, the house physician, was called,
he pronounced death due to heart disease. A card
in his clothing identified him.
THE DOINGS OF TWO
TRAVELING SALESMEN
It Happened Down in Pittsburgh and the Dialogue
Points to Piano Trade Conditions.
One day this week Lem Kline went into a popular
hotel cafe in Pittsburgh and there spied J. C. Hender-
son dining with a well-known buyer for a big local
piano house. Of course the Chicago man didn't in-
trude, but as he passed Deacon Henderson asked:
"Well, what's doing?"
"Oh, nothing much; just taking a few grand orders
every now and then. And about yourself—what you
doing?"
"Just keeping quiet," replied the deacon; ''just
keeping still, and booking a carload or two now and
then."
Mr. Kline says business is good in Pittsburgh.
NEW HARDMAN ARTISTS.
Several new artists have been added to the list of
Hardman piano users as a result of news received by
Hardman, Peck & Co. last week, to the effect that
new artists of the Metropolitan Opera Co., for the
coming season, have signified their intention of using
the Hardman piano for their studio and rehearsal
work. The list of artists includes Tulio Serafin, who
will replace Roberto Moranzoni as conductor during
1924-25. Some other artists who will use the Hard-
man are Miss Mary Larseri-Todsen, singer to the
Royal Court of the King of Sweden; Ralph Errole,
the popular American tenor, and Miss Joan Ruth,
lyric soprano of Boston, who created an operatic
sensation this year.
ADAM SCHNEIDER RETURNS.
Adam Schneider, treasurer of the Julius Bauer Co.,
305 South Wabash avenue, Chicago, returned to the
offices of that company this week from a visit to his
summer home at Lake Beulah, Wis. Mr. Schneider
expressed enthusiasm over the pleasant stay at the
Wisconsin resort, which is in the heart of region
famous for summer resorts. Mr. Schneider is of the
opinion that the rest did him a lot of good and feels
fit for the coming activities of the fall season.
SUPERIOR PLATE REPRESENTATIVE.
Frank Weiser, the new western representative of
the Superior Foundry Co., Cleveland, Ohio, whose
headquarters will be at Chicago, was a visitor at the
Piano Club luncheon this week Monday. He was
accompanied by Mr. Turner, of the Superior Com-
pany, who heretofore has given personal attention to
that company's piano plate business in this territory.
Cornelius T. Lynch, of Lynch Bros., Geneva, N. Y.,
was recently elected president of the Geneva Mer-
chants' Trading Association.
WALTER SCHAAP.
second brother in years, Walter Schaaf had endeared
himself to a host of his associates in this department
of business.
From almost his beginning with the house founded
by his father, Walter Schaaf had been especially
active in the retail department of the business, his
elder brother, Harry, the company's president, head-
ing the wholesale departments. And in his capacity
as manager of the retail branch of the business,
which is one of the most successful in the lists,
Walter Schaaf had proved his fitness. He built up
a large following, and he was liked and trusted by
every member of the selling staff.
When Mr. Schaaf left the Wabash avenue ware-
rooms on Wednesday preceding his death, his brother
Harry had no intimation that he was in any sens*
seriously ill. Nor did he think so himself. The
insiduous cold which had attacked him, developed
into fever, and quickly pneumonia set in with fatal
results. And when he felt that he was in danger
he said to his brother that he believed that he
would not recover, adding, "For myself I do not
care, but—mother!''
Walter Schaaf had lived at the family home, with
his mother. A single man, and devoted to his
mother, his chief concern at the last was in the
mother's agony to follow his going. He was a good
son and loyal friend. At a meeting of the Chicago
Piano & Organ Association the secretary was in-
structed to send a letter of condolence to the family,
of which the following is a copy:
To Mrs. Schaaf: It is with deep sympathy and
regret at your great loss in the death of your sou
Walter that this message goes forward to you from
the Piano Club of Chicago, which in open meeting
directed me to inform you of its action.
We who knew him personally will keenly feel the
loss of our friend and fellow-member.
Words cannot lighten the burden of your loss; time
alone can heal a little, but we do want you to know
that we shall miss him.
HARRY SCHOENWALD,
Secretary Piano Club of Chicago.
Albert Steiger, owner of a chain of department and
music stores in New England, has purchased the
Symonds Block on Main and Bridge streets, Spring-
field, Mass. The deal involved $250,000.
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