MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1927
JESSE FRENCH, SR.
DIES AT NEW CASTLE
End of Active Career of Head and Founder of
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co. Occurs
Unexpectedly at His Home in Town
Associated with His Activities.
A LIFE OF ACHIEVEMENT
Since 1873 His Strong Personality Had Made Him
a Prominent Figure in the Business
He Loved.
Jesse French, head and founder of the Jesse French
& Sons Piano Company, New Castle, Ind., died at
his home in that city at 1:55 last week Saturday,
May 7. Although he was past eighty years of age
and had not been in his normally robust health for
many months, his death was unexpected by his fam-
ily. Almost to the last the veteran piano man had
JESSE FRENCH.
found recreation and inspiration in an industry in
which his early visions had become practical accom-
plishments.
Mr. French had been known in the music business
since 1873' when, prompted by his musical proclivi-
ties, he purchased the small goods and sheet music
department of Dorman & Holmes in Nashville, Tenn.
Three years later he was persuaded to take a one-
third interest in the firm named and the house of
Dorman, French & Smith was created. The Smith
in the firm was F. G. Smith, maker of the Bradbury
piano, which was featured. The next form of the
title was Dorman & French, when the Smith interests
were acquired. Mr. Dorman retired a year later and
Mr. French took entire control.
A Winner frorii Start.
Thus commenced the single-handed play of Mr.
French's abilities which eventually resulted in the
great manufacturing plant in New Castle and piano
selling interests of a wide character at home and
abroad. Thrown on his own resources, he became
a pathfinder in piano merchandising, the creator of
chain stores directed from headquarters. He cov-
ered the southern states thoroughly and in 1885
found it expedient to organize the Jesse French
Piano & Organ Co.. with a capital of $500,000. It
was the proud accomplishment of a man who had
started twelve years before with a capital of barely
$3,000.
Began Piano Manufacturing.
In 1902 Mr. French had become one of the com-
manding figures in the piano trade, so that progress-
ing to piano manufacturing was logical. In the year
named the Krell-French Piano Co. was incorporated
with a capital of $550,000, with Mr. French as vice-
president. In 1905 he became president and assumed
entire control.
But other profitable activities shared his interests
in piano making and selling. He was one of the
organizers of the Union Trust Company and the
Liberty Mills, in Nashville, and when he trans-
ferred his headquarters to St. Louis, he became a
director of the Missouri-Lincoln Trust Company, with
a capital of over $13,000,000. In addition he became
a director of the Lincoln Trust & Title Company and
active president of the Mercantile Metal Milling Com-
pany, capitalized at $400,000.
He was also formerly president of the St. Louis
Motor Car Company, which was sold in 1907 to the
Doris Motor Company. Until moving to Newcastle
he was vice-president of the Missouri Lincoln Trust
Company and the Lincoln Title and Trust Company
at St. Louis.
Mah of Affairs.
Mr. French came of good old English stock, the
family of his father, who came to this country in
1820, being of a highly influential type. The sister
of Mr. French's father was one of the literary
geniuses of her day and had the proud distinction
of being the first woman to petition Parliament to
grant woman's suffrage.
He was born in Devonshire, England, in 1846, and
came to the United States with his parents when a
child. In 1856 they moved from New York to Nash-
ville, Tenn., where he began his business career as a
clerk in the office of the Secretary of State of Ten-
nessee. He worked for awhile on the Nashville
Banner and for seven years served as assistant secre-
tary of state in Tennessee.
Mr. French was a fine example of the American
man of affairs, but in his wide interests he always
found his greatest joys of achievement in the piano
industry. He built a plant which produces pianos
which are strictly high grade and express his aspira-
tions better than any words could do. In addition
to his well-known character as a business man he
was also a philanthropist in the practical meaning of
the word. He devoted large sums of money to
public betterment and in his home town of New
Castle the handsome building of the Y. M. C. A. is
a monumental proof of his wise generosity.
Besides his widow he is survived by his sons, H.
Edgar French, vice-president and general manager,
of the Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., and Jesse
French, Jr., secretary of the company
Funeral services were held on Monday afternoon.
May 7, at the home in New Castle with interment in
Southmound Cemetery. A large number of men
prominent in the piano industry and trade were in
attendance.
ANOTHER PRACTICE KEYBOARD.
The Forse Manufacturing Company, of Anderson,
Ind., is making a keyboard invented by H. C. Neely,
who demonstrated the keyboard at a national music
teachers' meeting in Springfield, 111. Since that time
many orders have been coming in from all over the
country for the keyboard. Prof. Neely's invention is
constructed for class piano instruction. It has the
same action as the piano.
SMALL STARR BLAZE.
Friday afternoon, May 6, a fire was found in the
rear of the Starr Piano Company store, 49 Monument
Circle, Indianapolis. H. G. Hook, manager of the
store, extinguished the flames before apparatus ar-
rived. Damage was said to be small, although the
finish on several pianos was damaged by smoke which
filled the establishment.
BUYS SCHEFFT STOCK.
The Flanner-Hafsoos Music House, Inc., Milwau-
kee, has purchased the music goods stock of the
Schefft Music House, 96 Mason street. The last
named company was the successor to the Ross,
Schefft & Wienmann Piano Co., which was organized
in 1901. Charles H. Schefft has become associated
with the Flanner-Hafsoos Music House, Inc.
$2 The Year
PLANS PROGRESS AS
CONVENTION NEARS
Arrangements for Piano Playing Tournament
Give Promise of Special Interest, and the
Social Events of the June Days
Will Be Brilliant.
PIANO CLUB ACTIVITIES
Why It Will Be Wise to Reserve Places at Music
Merchants' Banquet Well in Advance, and Other
Suggestions for Convention Visitors.
The official seal of the
annual convention of the
music trades at the Hotel
Stevens, Chicago, June 6
to 9, shown here, is be-
ing used in sticker form
by t h e manufacturers,
retailers, travelers, a n d
all individuals and organ-
izations desirous of the
most effective publicity
for the event. It will be
an odd thing if anybody
connected with any of the various associations
making up the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce fails to see and note the little emblem with
red lettering on a black background. Many seals
in the first batch distributed by Treasurer Brownell
of the Chicago Piano Club have before this time
performed their purpose of reminding somebody of
the annual meeting in Chicago.
Invitations Are Out.
Chicago music merchants, and the Piano Club of
Chicago in particular, are putting into execution the
plans already laid out for the great music trades con-
vention to be held at the new Stevens Hotel, Chicago,
June 6 to 9 inclusive.
Before this issue of Presto-Times reaches its read-
ers the invitation cards for the Music Merchants'
banquet, Thursday evening, June ninth, will have
been received. This event, always a delightful affair,
takes place in the grand dining room of the Stevens,
advertised as the world's largest hotel.
The committee in charge urge that reservations be
made at the earliest hour possible. It has been ar-
ranged that favorable reservations will be alloted in
the order of receipt of responses to the invitations.
To insure the best table locations, therefore, it will be
necessary to make early reservations. Communica-
tions should be addressed to Roger O'Connor, treas-
urer and member of the Chicago committee of ar-
rangements, 77 East Jackson boulevard, Chicago.
Monday's Dinner.
The other social event of particular importance is
the Monday luncheon-dinner at 'the Stevens. This is
known as the Piano Club Luncheon, and is the only
special noon-day event of the week. It will set in
motion the great convention. As in the case of the
Thursday night banquet, reservations should be made
early. Those who intend to be there and who will
want choice places in -the room and special tables
should report at once to G. R. Brownell, the treas-
urer, 243 South Wabash avenue, Chicago. The tickets
for this luncheon are two dollars each.
The committee in charge is planning to make this
an extraordinary luncheon in point of entertainment;
a sort of "Three in One" affair, where one occasion
equals three less consequential ones. There will be
speeches, songs, and an array of talent which would
cost away into the thousands of dollars to secure if it
had to be purchased. Lee Sims will be there, and
next week other names will be announced, and the
thing broadcast over one of Chicago's biggest sta-
tions.
There will be a rush for seats and tables for the
Monday noon luncheon and entertainment, so get
your reservations in early, and remember that the
ladies will be there. It is a social event insofar as;
the invitation to ladies is concerned, although the
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