MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1928
$2 The Year
CONVENTION STAGE IS SET
Attractive Program for Business Sessions of AH Associations Supplemented by Historic
Exhibit of Pianos, Great Display of Musical Instruments of All Kinds
and Attractive Social Events Covering Week of June 4
HISTORIC LOAN
PIANO EXHIBIT
at the recital in the Harwood-Hammond House on
the afternoon of May 15 and at the musicale directly
after the banquet that evening. President Coolidge
accepted an invitation to attend, and the invitation
list also included the governors and their wives of
RECORD ATTENDANCE
IS NOW ASSURED
Keen Interest Is Evinced in the Display of Old
Pianos Assembled in the Commodore
as a Notable Feature of
Convention Week.
Interest in Big Displays of Music Goods at
Commodore Hotel Equal Anticipations of
Other Items in an Alluring Schedule
for the Week.
In the collection of old instruments to be displayed
during convention week in the Commodore is an old
square piano made by Chickering & Sons, Boston,
in 1823, and which is loaned by Chickering and Sons
for the exhibit.
The piano, now a treasured and guarded relic of
the company, is the work of Jonas Chickering's own
Hopeful expectations for the annual conventions of
the associations of the music trade will become inter-
esting actualities next Monday when the manufac-
turers, dealers and travelers representing all phases
of the music business foregather at the Hotel Coni-
modode, New York city. Important beginnings to
the week's activities will be made when the executive
committee of the National Piano Manufacturers' Asso-
ciation and the Board of Control of the National
Association of Music Merchants meet in Rooms A
and C respectively.
The Formal Opening.
But what is considered the actual opening of the
convention of 1928 is the luncheon and mass meeting
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce in
the Grand Ballroom of the Commodore at noon on
Monday. The guest of honor and principal speaker
wi:i be Prof. John Erskine, president of the Julliard
School of Music and well known as an educator.
What makes him particularly interesting to piano
men is that he could easily take rank as a profes-
sional pianist if he should choose to do so.
To Broadcast Events.
A novelty in the noon luncheon, as well as in the
annual banquet on Thursday evening, is that the
proceedings will be placed on the air by the National
Broadcasting Company.
Other important opening events on Monday will
be the business meeting of the Band Instrument Man-
ufacturers' Association in Room A at 2 p. m. and
the meeting of the directors of the Musical Supply
Association in Room C at 6 p. m. At 7 p. m. the
National Piano Travelers' Association will hold its
annual dinner and election of officers at the Repub-
lican Club.
First Merchants' Event.
The first meeting of the National Association of
Piano Merchants at 9 a. m. will be the beginning of
three days of keen interest for the trade. At the
meetings of Tuesday and Wednesday there will be
addresses by prominent men in other industries, as
well as by practical men in the music trade.
Two important meetings for Wednesday are the
meeting of the National Musical Merchandise Asso-
ciation and that of the National Association of Musi-
cal Instrument and Accessories Manufacturers. On
Thursday at 10 a. m. in the Commodore there will
be a joint promotional meeting of the two associa-
tions named and the Band Instrument Manufacturers'
Association. It will be a week of interest to those
who attend.
Broadcasting Features.
The two most important social events of. the com-
ing national conventions to be held at the Hotel
Commodore, New York, week beginning June 4,
will be broadcasted through the following stations
which are associated with WEAF, New York, and
the Red Network:
New York City, W E A F ; Hartford, W T I C ; Wor-
cester, WTAG; Philadelphia, W L I T or W F I ;
Schenectady, WGY; Pittsburgh, WCAE; Detroit,
W W J ; Chicago, WGN or W E B H ; Davenport,
GOV. RITCHIE BESIDE THE OLD STEIX PIANO.
OLD CHICKERING PIANO.
hands. Its remarkable condition today testifies to
the thought and care the young artisan put into its
construction. The original bill of sale to the cus-
tomer, James W. Bingham, was obtained with the
piano itself from a descendant, Miss Thankful C.
Hutchinson.
The collection also will contain one 18th 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,
Holland, in 1768, taken from the collection of the
Brambach Piano Company, A virginal made by Kroe-
ger Piano Company in 1856 and a square piano, the
first to be made by Steinway & Sons, are in the
display.
Another exhibit is an instrument favored by Mo-
zart and Beethoven and played by them, which has
been furnished by Chas. M. Stieff, Inc., Baltimore,
Md. This is known as the Stein pianoforte and was
built by Johann Andreas Stein prior to 1771. In
the accompanying picture Governor Ritchie is shown
standing beside the famous Stein piano.
The Historic Stein
Governor Alfred C. Ritchie of Maryland, who will
be the orator at the banquet of the National Piano
Merchants' Association, is a sincere champion of
music, and he really voices the opinion of the Mary-
land public in this regard. In his picture Governor
Ritchie is shown standing before a genuine Stein
pianoforte in the Harwood-Hammond House at
Annapolis on May 15, when the entire city of Annap-
olis staged a pageant in the interest of St. John's
College.
This Stein pianoforte is the property of Charles
M. Stieff, Inc., and it was used for a concert over
WJ|AL during the broadcasting of the Governor's
address on "The Development of the Pianoforte."
This piano was manufactured about 1777 A. D. It
was the favorite pianoforte of Mozart and was used
also by Beethoven. The Stein pianoforte was used
the thirteen original states. Frederick P. Steiff was
a member of the general committee.
Governor
Ritchie was present.
The growing importance of Baltimore as a center
of musical art is a most pleasing development in the
Maryland piano situation.
SPECIAL TEXAS TRAIN.
Robert N. Watkin, of the Will A. Watkin Co.,
Dallas, Tex., former president of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants, and State Commissioner
for Texas, is arranging for a special car to go to
New York over what is called "The short, comfort-
able route," via the Texas & Pacific and Pennsylvania
railroads. The car will leave Fort Worth, Tex., at
1:05 p. m. June 1; Dallas at 2:00 p. m., and will also
be available for delegates from Galveston and Hous-
ton. The car is scheduled to arrive in New York at
9:50 a. m. June 3.
In sending out the notices for this special car Mr.
Watkin has indicated the names of passenger agents
who should be consulted regarding Pullman reserva-
tions for delegates boarding the train at various points.
THEATER PARTY INVITATION
The American Piano Co., New York, has mailed the
following to invited guests to a theater party and
supper-dance: "The President and Directors of the
American Piano Company request the pleasure of
your company at a theatre party on Tuesday, the
fifth of June, and afterward at a supper and dance
in the ballroom of The Biltmore, New York "
JESSE FRENCH JUBILEE SINGERS
The Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., New Castle,
Ind., announces that The Jesse French Jubilee Sing-
ers, a colored quartette, expects to go on the road
and on the air. So that "the name Jesse French,
which has been well known since 1875" will be
broadcast through this organization over a wide area.
The Harter & Wells Piano Co., Bellingham, Wash.,
has moved to its new home at 1321 Cornwall avenue.
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