Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
EHabiuhed i$$4. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
to c*nt.; ti.oo « r - .
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1925
sting and engendered no bitterness. He could take
a joke at his own expense, too, with Chesterfieldian
grace. In spite of a retiring disposition, he was much
sought after to speak at banquets and to give zest to
assemblies of piano men and their wives and daugh-
ters and sons. He was a ready speaker who never
suffered from stage fright, talking naturally and rap-
idly as though his thoughts were running faster than
his utterance. And the prettiest of his orations always
carried a message of importance; always brought
strong philosophy based on experience that would be
profitable to his auditors.
Work for Association.
From the formation of the National Music Dealers'
Association Mr. Bowers had been conspicuous as an
officer or member of the Executive Board. He was
present at the old Hoffman House, New York, to-
gether with the late P. J. Healy and J. P. Byrne on
the occasion of the organization of the association,
and he had evinced interest in it ever since. He was
made a member of the executive board in 1908 and
continued to serve through several years.
Not more than a month ago Mr. Bowers gave out
to the trade press an entertaining sketch of his career
in the music business—and, of course, his continu-
ous association with the house of Lyon & Healy. He
said that, while his energies had been dimmed by
illness, his interest in the work to which he had de-
voted fifty-five years of his life could not cease.
In his understanding of the business and in his
knowledge of every detail in the interests of the old
house it may be said that Mr. Bowers was the real
successor to its founder, the late P. J. Healy. He
was the very last survivor of the original workers in
the house, following C. N. Post and Robert Gregory
only six years, and the two named began with the
very start in old Smith & Nixon Hall, at Clark and
Washington streets, which had been chosen by Mr.
Healy for the scene of his first venture in the west.
A Suggestive Picture.
Hanging on the wall in Presto's editorial rooms is
a group portrait of the "Directors and Officers of
Lyon & Healy, 1904." The picture shows four stal-
wart men, seated next to or standing behind the late
P. J. Healy—their chief for so many years. Now,
with the death of Mr. Bowers, the entire group of
men whose work had been vital in the upbuilding of
music in the west are gone. Besides P. J. Healy,
the group embraced J. P. Byrne, Chas. N. Post, R. B.
Gregory and J. F. Bowers—a suggestive picture re-
peating the oft-told history of the brevity of man's
life and the swiftly following changes by which are
closed the useful careers of men who would them-
selves, in most cases, be ready to say, even at the
end, that their work had but just begun.
Chicago Association Acts.
At Thursday's meeting of the Chicago Piano and
Organ Association the members and associates of
Mr. Bowers took suitable action upon the loss to their
organization, and to the entire trade, in the death of
James F. Bowers.
SORROW AT DEATH
OF J. P. BOWERS
HALLET & DAVIS TO
PREMIER GRAND
Popular Member of Lyon & Healy House
Passed Away Suddenly on Wednesday
Morning Aged Sixty-seven at His
Home in Chicago.
Famous Boston Industry Bought by Energetic
Makers of Small Grands, and Uprights in
the Line Will Be Made by Jacob
Doll & Sons.
A NOTABLE CAREER
Had Been with Old Music House for Fifty-five Years
and Was Last of the Original Workers
with Its Founder.
James F. Bowers, chairman of the Board of Direc-
tors of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, died at 6 o'clock
Wednesday morning of this week—Armistice Day—
at his home, 431 Aldine avenue, Chicago.
Funeral services were held Friday morning at Our
Lady of Mount Carmel Church, and the interment
took place at Calvary Cemetery.
Mr. Bowers, who was sixty-seven years old, had
been with Lyon & Healy for fifty-five years, having
J. F. BOWERS.
begun work as an office boy when only twelve years
old—a record of continuous service for one house that
has been rarely exceeded in this country or any
other land. His employment began six years after
the house of Lyon & Healy was founded, and he had
the satisfaction of having helped to build it up until
it truthfully claimed to be the largest retail music
house in the world, catering to "Everything in Music."
At different times in his interesting career he was
head of the sheet music department, secretary, treas-
urer, president, and lastly chairman of the board of
directors of the big corporation he served so ably.
A Notable Career.
Mr. Bowers had been ailing for two years past.
One trouble that seemed to come and go was quinsy
sore throat. But at the last he had been seriously
ill only two weeks, and his heart failed him on
Wednesday morning. He died of angina pectoris at
his home, 431 Aldine avenue, Chicago.
He was the last of the old-time men at Lyon &
Healy's. All the former presidents, including Chas.
N. Post, R. B. Gregory and Paul J. Healy are dead,
and Raymond J. Healy, another son of the late P. J.
Healy, died last summer.
The immediate relatives left by Mr. Bowers are his
widow, Mrs. Mary R. Bowers, and their two sons,
Francis and James, Jr., and a sister, Mrs. W. A*.
Stapleton, whose husband was for years with Lyon
& Healy. James Bowers, Jr., went over seas in the
world's war and served with distinction in some of
the severest battles at the front.
Mr. Bowers was scholarly and his wit was of the
impromptu sort, sparkling, pointed, of an Irish qual-
ity, that while the arrow shot home it carried no
LOOKS LIKE COMBINATION
OF AUTOMATIC INSTRUMENTS
Charter Just Issued at Dover, Del., for $100,000,000
Stock Company.
Automatic Musical Instrument Co., Wilmington,
Del., $100,000,000; authorized shares 1,000,000, di-
vided into three classes—preferred stock Class A
and Class B, no par; preferred stock, 100,000 shares
Class A and Class B, no par; preferred stock, 100,000
shares Class A, 100,000 Class B, no par.
The Corporation Trust Co. of America is the in-
corporator, but what the basis of the combination is
or who the members is not stated. A very large pro-
portion, if not the major part of the Automatic musi-
cal instruments are made in the western factories, and
the Chicago industries seem to know nothing about
the new enterprise. It is presumed that the "Auto-
matic musical instruments" are of the self-playing
banjo and other amusement place contrivances.
Mayor Frank D. Stringham of Berkeley, Cal., has
been chosen president of the California Music
League, a non-profit organization formed three years
ago for the promotion of better music.
STATEMENT BY CONWAY CO.
The Following Announcement Tells in Detail of Most
Important Transactions in Piano Industry
Within Many Months.
One of the most important transactions in the piano
and allied industries is told in the following announce-
ment, which is presented just as it comes from Presi-
dent Carle C. Conway, of the Conway Company, by
which the fine old Hallet & Davis, and associated
i n d u s t r i e s , are controlled.
There are very
few American pianos the history of which runs back
beyond the inception of the Hallett & Davis, and
none that has sustained a more honorable place with
the piano buying public.
The change here announced is therefore propor-
tionately interesting. Together with the assurances
of continued activity in both-the grand and upright
departments of the old instruments, the trade will see
even added opportunities for profiting by the fame
and standard character of the distinguished old Bos-
ton piano. The Hallet & Davis will henceforth issue
from two great New York factories and every reader
of Presto will be concerned in the statement of Mr.
Conway which follows:
Mr. Conway's Statement.
To the Trade: Realizing certain fundamental
changes were operating in the musical industry, and
believing concentration of effort and specialization to
be the most efficient means of serving the piano in-
dustry, the Conway Musical Industries announce the
re-grouping of their interests, which will give to the
merchants depending upon them a stronger affiliation
than ever before.
The new re-grouping will form also a community
of interests exceedingly strong, combining the lead-
ers in their fields of endeavor.
First: Arrangements have been made with the
U R S Music Company (the world's largest and
most outstanding manufacturers of music rolls)
whereby they take over the manufacture and distribu-
tion of Artrio Angelus music rolls through their own
channels of distribution. In addition to this, the An-
gelus Library of Masters has been made available
to the Q R S Company for transcribing to their
Kecordo tracker bar library. At a glance may be
seen the tremendously improved service this combina-
tion of interests will render to the music trade at
large. Mr. P. K. Van Yorx, acknowledged to be one
of the greatest authorities on recording of artists'
playing, will join with the Q R S Music Company in
the continuation and promotion of this work.
Grand Goes to Premier.
Second: The next grouping developed through a
desire on the part of the Premier Grand Piano Cor-
poration interests (who have made such an outstand-
ing success in the grand field) to secure the Hallet &
Davis Piano Company; to acquire its scales, patterns
and good will, and the exclusive use of the famous
Angelus reproducing mechanism.
The Premier Grand Piano Corporation has im-
pressively proved through its concentrated effort
what can be done with grand piano manufacturing
on a very large scale when grands are made exclu-
sively.
Because of their experience and high ideals, the
Premier interests would best carry out all the tradi-
tions of Hallet & Davis quality and standing in the
manufacture of Hallet & Davis Grands and the
installation of the Angelus mechanisms.
Accordingly arrangements have been made where-
by the Premier interests secure all the capital stock
of the Hallet & Davis Piano Company as of January
2, 1926, thus becoming the owners of the Hallet &
Davis Piano Co. (including the Angelus library of
world famous masters) and continuing uninterrupt-
edly the manufacture of Hallet & Davis, Conway and
Merrill Grand Pianos and the Angelus Reproducing
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