MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1928
C. A. HADDORFF
DIES IN ROCKFORD
Sudden Death of Vice-President of Haddorff
Piano Co. Removes Prominent Figure
from the Roster of Expert Piano
Builders in the United States.
ARMER JOHNSON'S TRIBUTE
Feelings of His Associates in the Company and Atti-
tude of the Business Element in Rockford
Admirably Expressed in Few Words.
Charles A. Haddorff, vice-president of the Haddorff
Piano Company, Rockford, 111., since its organization
in 1902, died suddenly on Thursday morning of last
week at his home, 1532 East State street, Rockford,
from heart trouble. He was 64 years of age.
The death of Mr. Haddorff, for whom the pro-
gressive piano manufacturing company was named, is
brought to Rockford from Minneapolis, where he had
been connected with the Raudenbush Company, and
on January 1, 1902, he assumed full charge of the
production of pianos of the new firm, which at that
time was housed in a building one-sixth the size of
the present plant.
Mr. Haddorff was born in Sweden February 2,
1864. He early learned the piano making trade, study-
ing every detail of piano construction and its tech-
nique in the thorough manner of Europe. Having
learned the trade in Sweden, but desirous of attaining
further knowledge, he studied and learned the German
language principally so that he might read the German
technical authorities on acoustics.
Having worked in several Swedish firms and feel-
ing that he knew everything about piano making that
Sweden could teach him, he went to Germany where
he worked in piano factories and studied closely all
technical features.
To America in 1893.
In 1893, while still a young man of 29, Mr. Had-
dorff came to the United States. He worked for a
time in piano factories in New York City and then
went to Minneapolis where he was connected with
the Raudenbush firm.
Thus, in 1902, when Mr. Haddorff arrived in Rock-
ford, he came with the extensive piano building knowl-
edge and technique of both the old world and the
United States.
Other Interests.
Eesides his connection with the Haddorff Piano
Company, he was a member of the board of directors
of the Swedish-American National Bank and also on
the board of directors of the Consolidated Industries,
of which firm he had been a part since the first of
the year.
He was an active member of First Swedish Baptist
Church and was a member of its board of trustees.
He married Miss Agnes M. Lilja in Minneapolis in
18S4. She survives him, as do two sons, Irving R.
Haddorff and Carl L. Haddorff.
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at
2:30 o'clock at the home. The Rev. Jacob Peterson
officiated and burial was in the Scandinavian cemetery.
Pallbearers were Armer E. Johnson, Linus I. John-
son, Arthur Rohlen, Albin Nordin, Victor Johnson,
and Birger Gabrielson.
LIKES WURLITZER TREASURE CHEST
A. E. Tipling, proprietor of the Edwards Piano Co.
of Perth Amboy, N. J., and Mrs. Tipling were visit-
ors last week to the plant of the Rudolph Wurlitzer
Mfg. Co., North Tonawanda, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs.
Tipling were enjoying a vacation in Canada and North
Tonawanda was a stop-over on their return to Perth
Amboy. Mr. Tipling is very optimistic about the new
Wurlitzer Treasure Chest of Music in the upright
and reports selling six of these instruments in a short
period of time since they have been on the market.
C. A. HADDORFF.
•
a distinct loss to the piano industry, in which he had
achieved fame as a piano builder. In that field he
had been considered an expert for years. The city of
Rockford mourns him as an industrial and commer-
cial leader and associate of the late P. A. Peterson.
The feelings of Mr. Haddorff's associates in the com-
pany and the general opinion of the business element
of Rockford are well expressed in the tribute by
Armer Johnson, president of the Haddorff Piano
Company, who said:
"I have been associated with Mr. Haddorff for 27
years, and I have never met a man I have had such
a high regard for, both as to his character and ability.
"He was an unusual man, always faithful, always
painstaking in his work, and very just in dealing with
his men. No man at the head of a factory has had
the love and confidence of his employes as Mr.
Haddorff.
"He was even lempered, gentlemanly and thought-
ful of others. He was very modest, never putting
himself forward. His character was perfect.
"As for his ability and skill, he cannot be replaced.
There was no problem in the piano trade or in the
manufacturing business which he could not handle."
A Wise Choice
When P. A. Peterson and Armer Johnson planned
the organization of a piano factory at Rockford in
October of 1901, it was Mr. Haddorff whom they
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations of friends in and out of the trade
are be : ng showered upon Mr. and Mrs. Robert S.
Steinert, Boston, over the arrival of a son, born on
Saturday, July 28. Mr. Steinert is the newly-elected
president of M. Steinert & Sons Co., and the presi-
dent of the Jewett Piano Co. Before her marriage
Mrs. Steinert was Lucy Currier of Peterboro and
Boston.
CHARTER FOR ILLINOIS FIRM.
The Hurtt, Jones & Koeder Co. of Pekin, 111., last
week was granted a charter by Secretary of State
Emmerson to deal in and manufacture musical in-
struments. The company is incorporated for $25,000.
F. L. Hurtt, H. G. Jones and T. M. Koeder are the
officers of the company.
ANNUAL OUTING ENJOYED.
C. M. Sigler, Inc., Steinway representative in Har-
risburg, Pa., held its annual outing recently at Red
Quill Cabin in Perry county. An enjoyable program
of sport was provided for the participants which in-
cluded members of the firm and employes and fam-
ilies.
Silbert's Music and Radio Market has been opened
at 42 Stuart street, Boston, Mass., by William Miller.
$2 The Year
BOOK AIDS CAUSE OF
PIANO INSTRUCTION
Guide to Conducting Piano Classes in Schools
Published for Music Supervisors' National
Conference Is Valuable Publication
Now Made Available to Schools
STIMULUS TO MOVEMENT
New Work Anticipates the Increased Interest in
Group Piano Classes Assured at the Opening of
the New School Year.
The cause of piano instruction is served by the
recent publication, the "Guide for Conducting Piano
Classes in the Schools," published for the Piano Sec-
tion of the Committee on Instrumental Affairs of
the Music Supervisors' National Conference by the
National Bureau for the Advancement of Music, 45
West 54th street, New York. This book is now avail-
able for distribution among parent-teacher associa-
tions, music clubs, women's clubs, music dealers and
others actively interested in the formation of piano
classes in the public schools.
The book is in response to the widespread interest
in piano classes and anticipates the greater activity
of dealers and school heads at the close of the vaca-
tion period.
Mr. Tremaine's Preface.
A significant foreword to the new manual has been
written by C. M. Tremaine, director of the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music. He states, in
part:
"The tendency of the times, the restlessness of the
people, the assertiveness and independence of the
younger generation—all these point to a need for self-
expression. Music offers an ideal outlet for the emo-
tions and is becoming so recognized by leading edu-
cators, statesmen and sociologists. That the appre-
ciation and enjoyment of music through passive lis-
tening is beneficial is a generally accepted fact. There
is, however, a growing need for active participation in
music, which not only increases appreciation, through
a more intimate understanding, but gives a pleasure
all its own, in addition to supplying a wholesome out-
let for the energies.
"The piano being the basic musical instrument, as
well as the popular home instrument, it is natural
for the schools to supply the necessary instruction,
now that the class method of teaching has proved
to be practical. The school can do much to solve
our leisure time problems and realize our leisure-time
opportunities. Music is unquestionably an effective
means of accomplishing both these objectives."
Suggests Effective Action.
The book should suggest effective action to every
alert dealer. No one can better appreciate the signifi-
cance of the movement than the mus ; c dealers of the
country, for if there is anything that is going to insure
the growth of the industry, it is the more widespread
introduction of piano instruction in the public schools.
The increasing interest in piano classes, and also the
services which such a group as the Committee on
Instrumental affairs could render, became apparent
through the revelations of the survey in the booklet
"Piano Classes in the Schools" previously published
by the National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music. These showed above all the need for more
positive guidance to those who would soon be put-
ting the plan in operation in large and small communi-
ties all over the country. To meet that need the
present manual was prepared. It has sought to re-
duce to a minimum the dangers of narrowness, and
at the same time to increase the authority and under-
standing of its suggestions.
The Interesting Contests.
Among the topics mentioned are: "The Part that
Piano Education Should Take in the Child's Music
Education," "Aims of the Piano Class," "Practicabil-
ity of Piano Classes, "Results, Aims and Objectives
of Education," "Trained Teachers, Thorough Prep-
aration Necessary," "Effect on the Private Teacher,"
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