MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1927
FRED'K T. STEINWAY
DIES IN MAINE
Head of Great House of Steinway & Sons Suc-
cumbs Suddenly to Heart Disease at
Summer Home in North East
Harbor.
GRANDSON OF FOUNDER
Deceased Was Widely Known as Patron of the
Musical Arts Since Succeeding His Late Brother
in Presidency of Famous Industry.
Frederick T. Steinway, president of Steinway &
Sons, New York, died suddenly last Sunday morning
(July 17) of heart disease at his summer residence
Fourteenth street, where the building had become a
landmark of the city, and moved to the beautiful
new building in West Fifty-seventh street. The
opening of the new auditorium, recital halls and
offices was celebrated by one of the finest radio
concerts ever given in America. Josef Hofmann
was the principal artist. The artistic scheme of the
opening ceremonies was the thought of Mr, Stein-
way.
Patron of Musical Arts.
Mr. Steinway was one of the leading American pa-
trons of the musical arts. He knew T well nearly every
great musical artist and conductor of his time. His
residence in New York City was at 420 Park Ave-
nue. His clubs included the Lotos and the Oakland
Golf.
The funeral was held Thursday morning at 10
o'clock from Community Church, Park avenue and
34th street.
R. E. Durham, president of Lyon & Healy, Chi-
cago, was among those present at the funeral, rep-
resenting the Chicago house which has been the
western representative of Steinway & Sons since it
was founded in 1864.
H. H. Fleer, vice-president, when interviewed by
a Presto-Times representative this week said: "There
is no question but the trade has lost its most out-
standing figure in the death of Mr. Steinway."
$2 The Yea.
LESSON AT SAN
FRANCISCO MEET
Convention of Western Music Trade Associa-
tion at St. Francis Hotel, Showed the
Earnestness of Dealers and Their Keen
Interest in Association Affairs.
LOS ANGELES IN 1928
Election of E. H. Uhl to Presidency Assured Selec-
tion of His Home City as Convention
Location Next Year.
San Francisco again made good as an entertainer at
the convention of the Western Music Trades Associa-
tion held there at St. Francis Hotel, July 11-12-13-
14-15. Los Angeles, which will be the convention
city for 1928, will have to "go some" to even equal
the accomplishment of the "fair sister of the North."
JULY MUSIC BUSINESS
GOOD IN INDIANAPOLIS
Fine Sales of Grand Pianos Notable Features
of Business for Sixth Month—State Fair
Exhibits Interest Trade.
in North East Harbor, Me. He had just risen from
his bed when he collapsed and died within a few mo-
ments. His wife, who was formerly Miss Julia
Cassebeer, and his daughter, Miss Florence Steinway,
were with him.
Mr. Steinway was born in New York City sixty-
six years ago. He was a son of the late Charles G.
and Sophie Millinet Steinway. His father was one
of four brothers who came to the United States from
Germany with their father, the late Henry E. Stein-
way, who founded the great piano industry that bears
their name.
Enters Business.
Frederick T. Steinway, grandson of the founder,
was educated at New York City schools and at Col-
umbia College from which he was graduated in 1881.
After leaving college he pursued further studies in
Europe and then returned to New York and entered
the family business of making pianos which stand
for the highest quality all over the world.
After some years as vice-president of the firm Mr.
Steinway succeeded to the presidency in 1919 on the
death of his brother, Charles H. Steinway, who had
held the office for twenty-three years. Thus it was
under the direction of Frederick T. Steinway that
Steinway & Sons forsook its old home at 109 East
Herbert Teague of the Christena-Teague Piano
Company, reports July up to date ahead of last year,
in both volume of sales and high grade pianos sold.
During the past week one of the city's leading attor-
neys purchased a sty'e 53 Chickering & Sons with
the Ampico. Another Chickering & Sons sale was
a concert grand to one of the public schools in the
city, and was purchased by the Indianapolis school
board. In addition to this two Vose & Sons upright
pianos were sold to the school board.
The Starr Piano Co.'s store in Indianapolis has on
display in one of its spacious windows the new style
38 Starr grand with the chromatic glissando key-
board. The instrument is causing the traffic on the
circle to halt. Ned Clay at the head of the sales
force has mastered the new invention, and is capable
of giving an excellent demonstration, by imitating the
various instruments. It is one of the first productions
of the instrument from the factories at Richmond,
and has so far received a very favorable reception
in Indianapolis.
Preparations are being made for a display at the
state fair which will be held the first week in Sep-
tember and will be in charge of E. B. Stephens, one
of the salesmen. One of the principal features at
the display will be the popular priced Gulbransen
piano, which is reported as selling very well.
Herbert Teague will leave Indianapolis on Friday
for an extended trip through the northwest accom-
panied by Mrs. Teague and their daughter. The trip
will be made by motor in order to visit all the inter-
esting points.
Frank Wilking, of the Wilking Music Company, is
very much elated over July business and declares it
has gone ahead of any month this year. At present
Mr. Wilking is having difficulty in keeping Jesse
French & Sons' pianos in stock.
E. Fred Colber, special representative of the Aeo-
lian Company, spent some time in the city at the
Pearson Piano Company's warerooms demonstrating
the Duo-Art in the Aeolian Company's line, which is
sold by the company.
O. C. Stone, representing the Everett Piano Com-
pany, was another visitor to Indianapolis during the
week.
Warde W. Robinson, assistant manager of the
Hyatt Music Co., Portland, Ore., was recently elected
president of the Portland Retail Credit Men's Asso-
ciation.
SHIRLEY WALKER,
Secretary.
The attendance from all of the ten western states, in-
cluding British Columbia, was most gratifying and
the subjects taken up for discussion were all inter-
esting and instructive and the entertainment features
were most enjoyable.
A very noticeable feature of the convention was
the fact that at all the business sessions at which
addresses were delivered in person (not read) the
attendance was at least twice as large as that which
gathers at any of the national conventions held in
Chicago and New York. The main object of the
convention is to hold meetings at which discussions
will take place from the floor after hearing the inter-
esting and carefully prepared speeches on important
subjects, and it seems too bad that at so many
gatherings of this kind, delegates remark easily that
they will read the addresses in the trade-papers later
and deliberately leave to play golf or indulge in some
other amusement. It is, therefore, all the more re-
markable that at these conventions of the Western
Music Trades Association the delegates seem to
really get down to business.
The Social Features.
The luncheon on Wednesday was in honor of the
state of Oregon and radio and the principal speaker
was Howard I. Milholland, studio manager and chief
announcer, KGO. whose subject was "The Human
Side of Broadcasting."
On Tuesday night, July 12, a delightful dinner and
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