MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL
\ 0 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1929.
Raymond E. Durham, president, and C. H. De-
Acres, vice-president and general manager of Lyon &
Healy, joined the association as individual active
members.
New Columbus Members.
At the invitation of Otto B. Heaton, Mr. Loomis
Plans for Convention Week in Chicago in June spent Monday and Tuesday, February 4 and 5, in
Columbus, Ohio. Visits were paid to every music
Assume Definite Shape, Following Visit
merchant in the city, Mr. Heaton giving generously
cf Secretary Loomis—Columbus Adds
of his time, accompanying Mr. Loomis and introduc-
ing him to most of the merchants and arranging for
Six New Members and Interest
his manager, Arthur L. Roberts, to make other calls
Increases There.
with Mr. Loomis. Columbus has a number of live,
up-to-date, progressive dealers who evidenced a very
In addition to the General Convention Arrange-
ments Committee meeting, in Chicago, last week decided interest in association matters, both in their
there were also sessions of the Merchants' Conven- own Ohio association and in the national.
tion Committee and the Banquet Committee. The
Six new members were added to the roster in
program for the joint session on Tuesday of Con- Columbus and the names in the order in which they
vention week was approved by the general commit-
were taken follow: W r . M. Frickman, manager,
tee and tentative programs for the Wednesday and
Steinway & Sons; O. W. Hudnell, proprietor, Hud-
Thursday meetings of the Merchants' Association and nell Music Store; Benjamin F. Traub, manager, Ru-
the annual banquet were made.
dolph Wurlitzer Company; Arthur L. Roberts, man-
ager, Heaton's Music Store; C. A. Gaetz, proprie-
When the desire was expressed at the meetings last
tor, Gaetz Music House; William P. Hocrmle, pro-
October by several members of the board of control
of the National Association of Music Merchants, prietor, Hoerrule's Music Shoppe.
among them Otto B. Heaton, one of the board of
These new members in addition to R. C Wilkin of
directors, that the executive secretary should continue
Wilkin, Rodman Company and Mr. Heaton, make a
his visits to members of the trade, which were begun
total of eight Columbus members.
on the west coast in October. No definite route was
Mr. and Mrs. Heaton entertained a party of guests
outlined or cities named, but the board indicated
including Mr. Loonv's at their home on Riverside
that whenever the work of the executive office in New
Drive Monday evening after which some of the party
York permitted, the secretary, Delbert L. Loomis, attended the concert of the Cleveland Symphony
might make trips as extended as possible.
Orchestra.
President Roberts wished to have Mr. Loomis
Several other cities will be visited by Mr. Loomis
attend the meeting of the general convention arrange- before returning to New York.
ments committee called by Chairman O'Connor for
The Arrangements.
Thursday evening, January 31, at the Lake Shore
Athletic Club, Chicago, and it was decided that after
The general convention arrangements committee
the stop in Chicago certain other cities might be of which Roger O'Connor of Chicago is chairman and
visited before returning to New York.
which includes members of all branches of the indus-
George I. Dowling's Activity.
try will have charge of arrangements for the various
George J. Dowling, president of the Cable Com- convention activities of all of the branches of the
pany, for many years a member of the Merchants' music industries. The banquet committee of which
Carl Weber of Chicago is chairman will have charge
Association, and whose membership in company with
a number of others was carried over during the period of the arrangements of the annual banquet of the
of the chartered state assoc'ations, reinstated IT is in- National Association of Music Merchants to be held
at the Drake Hotel, Thursday evening, June 6, 1929
dividual active membership.
ACTIVE IN WORK
OF ASSOCIATION
JESSE FRENCH FOR BROADCASTING
The Montgomery, Ala..
radio station WAP1 at the
State Department of Agri-
culture and Industries went
on the a'r last week for the
first time and the event
was treated as a highly im-
portant fact by the news-
papers of Alabama and
radio fans within a hearing
radius.
An important incident of
the formal opening was
the acceptance for the new
station by Governor Bibb
Graves of a splendid grand
piano presented for use in
the station by the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co.,
through H. K. Poston.
manager of the Montgom-
ery branch of the big
Richmond. I ml., industry.
In the accompanying cut
Governor Graves (right)
is shown accepting the
Jesse French & Sons grand
from Mr. Poston, and the
governor took occasion to
comment on the public-spir-
ited character of the house
of Jesse French & Sons
Piano Company, and the
keen interest in Alabama
progress by H F d g a r
French, its president, and
the French family gener-
allv. on all occasions.
$2 The Yeai
R. S. WILLIAMS CO.
HAS CELEBRATION
Widely Known Toronto Music House, One of
Canada's Largest Businesses of the Kind,
Celebrates Eightieth Anniver-
sary This Month.
During the month of February, R. S. Williams
Co., Ltd. Toronto, Out., with its three branch stores
is celebrating its eightieth anniversary in the music
business. R. S. Williams founded the business at
Hamilton, Ontario, in 1849, later moving the firm to
Toronto, where it is now housed in a hagnificent
ten-story building in the heart of the retail shopping
district.
The company is headed by Bert A. Trestrail, pres-
ident, and his brother, Fred A. Trestrail, vice-presi-
dent. Both are young men, born in the United States,
who have established themselves in the Canadian
music industry over a long period of years. In addi-
tion to operating the R. S. Williams Co., Ltd., they
direct the activities of the Q R S Music Company of
Canada, Ltd., which in turn is distributor in the entire
Dominion for the Rogers Batteryless Radio and the
Grigsby-Grunow Radio.
Celebrates Anniversary.
A most un'que advertising campaign has been under
way during the past few weeks. One week prior to
the opening day of the anniversary celebration, the
five leading Toronto radio stations, FFNC, EFRB,
CKCL, CKMC, EFCA, broadcasted the efforts of
over one hundred artists giving the widest publicity
possible to the eightieth anniversary of R. S. Williams.
The Williams building was especially decorated for
the event and in the windows were pictures of im-
portant events in Canada's history. A large battery
of spotlights made the R. S. Williams Company one
of the brightest illuminated spots in Toronto during
the anniversary. On the first day of the anniversary
open house was held for all. Artists, orchestras and
bands dressed in the fashion of eighty years ago
entertained thousands of people on the various ten
floors of the R. S. Williams Building. One of the
most unique parts of this celebration was the enter-
tainment of all men and wo:v.cn of Toronto who
were 80 years or over.
Old Folk Participate.
About fifty of these octogenarians were brought in
special automobiles to the W.lliams store, where they
were greeted personally by Bert A. Trestrail, the
president, entertained by the large group of art'sts
and then each lady was presented with a beautiful
basket of flowers and each man a fine pipe.
Over 50,000 people, it is conservatively estimated
visited the R. S. WiU'ams store during the day.
Handsome souvenirs were given all. Thousands of
congratulatory letters and telegrams have been re-
ceived by the Messrs. Trestrail. The R. S. Williams
Co., Ltd., has a warm spot in the hearts of all Cana-
dians.
Gordon Laughead Present.
Representatives from many American firms were
present. Gordon Laughead, sales manager of the
Wurlitzer Grand Piano Company, DeKalb, 111., rep-
resented the Wurlitzer institution. On the first day "
of the anniversary celebration no goods were sold,
but now a great anniversary sale is in progress.
Messrs. Trestrail report that they are enjoying the
largest business in the history of the old R. S. Wil-
liams firm.
HERBERT S. MILLS DIES.
Herbert S. Mils, president of the Mills Novelty
Co.. Chicago, died February 3 aboard his yacht in
Mi;imi harbor, following an attack of paralysis. He
was 58 years old He was the inventor of a vending
machine from the sale of which he amassed a fortune.
Other automatic devices were later invented by him
He is survived by bis widow, four sons who are
associated with the Mills Novelty Co., and four
daughters.
GOVERNOR GRAVES ACCEPTS JESSE FRENCH PIANO.
Leo Brick opened a new music store at 1580 St.
Johns place in Brooklyn, N. Y.
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