MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1884
Established
1881
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
$2 The Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1928
CONVENTION PLANS COMPLETE
Trade Meeting of Unusual Attractions in a Business and Social Way to Draw a Record
Crowd from All Phases of the Music Business to the Hotel
Commodore, Week of June 4
In addition to the reunion of old-line music
merchants and manufacturers the lobby of
the Commodore Hotel will have another at-
traction during the cenvention to be held
there June 4 to 7. According to reports
issued by the Convention Publicity Commit-
tee a collection of very interesting old instru-
ments will be displayed during the entire
week.
Rare Exhibit.
The collection will consist of one Uth
century spinet, which is reported to have
been imported to America by John Jacob
Astor in 1789, furnished by the Bacon Piano
Company; also an 18th century harpsichord
made by C. F. Laefcke in Amsterdam, Hol-
land in 1768, taken from the collection of
the Brambach Piano Company. A virginal
made by Kroeger Piano Company in 1856
and a square piano, the first to be made by
Steinway & Sons, are in the display.
An instrument favored by Mozart & Bee-
thoven and played by them has been fur-
nished by Chas. M. Stieff, Inc. This is
known as the famous Stein pianoforte and
was built by Johann Andreas Stein prior to
1771. Last, but not least, there 1 will be an
historic square piano, the first to be built
by Chickering & Sons in 1823, furnished by
Chickering & Sons of Boston.
Piano Club Special.
The Piano Club of Chicago will operate
a special train to the Music Trade conven-
tion in New York. This will be operated as
a second section of the "Fifth Avenue Spe-
cial" of the New York Central Railroad. It
will leave Chicago from the La Salle Street
Station, Saturday, June 2, at 10:30 a. m.
(11:30 a. m. Daylight Saving Time), sched-
uled to arrive in New York on Sunday morn-
ing at 8:30 a. m. Standard (9:30 a. m. Day-
light Saving Time).
This is a Pullman train exclusively,
equipped with 12 section-drawing room, 12
section-compartment, parlor car Chicago to
Cleveland, club car to New York, and dining
car serving all meals.
Time of Departure.
The time of departure and arrival is de-
signed to meet the convenience of those at-
tending the convention, and who may have
arrangements to complete before the opening
day of the session, and ample time in which
to do so; or wish to spend the day sight-
seeing.
The usual rate and a half for the round
trip will be available to all those attending
the convention. This is extended on the cer-
tificate plan to those purchasing tickets May
31 to June 6, with the return limit June 13'.
Those going to New York from points
North, South and West of Chicago can ar-
range their schedules so as to join the party
in Chicago. Dealers and others at South
Bend, Elkhart, Toledo, Cleveland, and other
points on or adjacent to the line of the New York
Central can arrange to join the party at those points.
Reservations for space should be made immediately,
so that everyone will be accommodated. Applications
for reservations should be addressed to the Chairman
of the Transportation Committee, E. A. Leveille, 1746
Marquette Building, Chicago, 111.
W. H. Alfring's Opinion.
Following is a message from W. H. Alfring, vice-
president and general manager of the Aeolian Com-
THE HOTEL COMMODORE.
pany, to the music trade regarding convention attend-
ance:
"It is my opinion that there has never been a time
in the history of the music industry when the possi-
bilities for profit to the music dealer existed as
abundantly as during the coming year. To share in
this coming prosperity, of course, means work, and
the music merchant who puts his shoulder to the
wheel and determines to obtain his part of the pros-
perity will be rewarded.
"I draw this conclusion from the facts that the
American public have a greater income than ever be-
fore in the history of any nation and the music in-
dustry, and especially the piano industry, will keep
pace with the advance of American prosperity. We
are now on the threshold of a substantial increase due
to the fact that only a few years ago not many people
could listen to music very often. In the smaller lo-
calities they were fortunate if they heard music in the
churches on Sunday—and then it was not always
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