PRESTO-TIMES
PIANO CLUB OF CHICAGO
INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS
There was no guest speaker at the after-luncheon
business meeting of the Piano Club of Chicago, held
on October 6, at the Illinois Athletic Club, other
matters taking up the time, yet it was a most enjoy-
able and interesting session. An important ceremony
was the installation of the officers elected some weeks
ago. Ben F. Duvall, the incoming president, received
a meed of praise from the retiring- president, Gurney
R. Brownell, as a man who has worked hard and
successfully in the interests of the club and the trade
at large. And after he was installed Mr. Duvall
pledged himself to do all in his power to increase
interest in the piano business and build up the club
along the lines of its usefulness.
Vice-president-elect Ed. Benedict, after his installa-
tion, earnestly enjoined the members of the club to
make the utmost effort every week to increase the at-
tendance and get new members to unite with the
organization. He facetiously complimented himself
for regularity in attendance, crediting dullness of sales
and lack of pupils since the Wall street crash, for
bis ability to be on hand at every meeting during the
entire year.
Henry Hewitt said lie echoed the sentiments of
Mr. Benedict for an increase of attendance as one of
the urgent necessities for the upbuilding of the club,
and he suggested that individual firm days be 'set
apart for the meetings. For instance, he noted that
there were quite a number of Kimball men present
at this meeting—so why not have a Kimball Day, a
Cable Co. Day, a Story & Clark Day, and so on.
This suggestion met with hearty approval from the
club.
Officers-elect are: Ben F. Duvall, president; R. E.
Benedict, vice-president; David W. Kimball. secre-
tary; Sam Harris, treasurer.
The treasurer's report, read by Treasurer E. Ben-
edict, showed a balance of $5,764.97, which includes a
valuation set upon the club-owned piano at the Wash-
burne School, Chicago.
Assistant States Attorney Marshall Solberg, who
was present, made a very neat address, as a forensic
lawyer knows how, eulogizing the outgoing officers
for their fidelity and work during the past year, and
particularly Retiring President G. R. Brownell, and
then presented him with the club's gift of apprecia-
tion, a beautiful wrist watch, engraved as from the
club and bearing the date, October 6.
The annual report of the outgoing president, Gurney
R. Brownell, was too good to cut, so here it is in
full:
"When you placed the mantle of responsibility upon
me one year ago, it was my hope to be alert to every
opportunity and sensitive to the needs of the club,
and I regret that I could not offer a more real con-
tribution to an association so rich in tradition and
replete with many achievements.
"To my fellow officers and to those members of
the board of governors who have been so faithful
in the performance of their duties, T wish to express
my sincere appreciation. Edward E. ("Ted") Bene-
dict, treasurer, and who also lately took over the
duties of the secretary, has been more than faithful
and conscientious. As usual the trade journals have
cooperated in every way and I extend to them my
sincere thanks, both officially and personally.
"Significant of a newer and broader trend was the
character of some of the programs, the importance
of which should not be overlooked.
Never before
have the values of a membership been more apparent.
In many instances programs assumed a new meaning.
A partial summary of the addresses made to us in
the last year include talks on Internationalism, Sales
Promotion, Musical Appreciation, Patriotism, Inspi-
ration, Success, Travel, Health, Judiciary, Radio
Trade Problems, as well as talks which were Cultural,
Educational and Biographical.
"Among those addressing our meetings were Mar-
shall Solberg, Tom Pletcher, Hon. James Hamilton
Lewis, Harry Newman Tolles, Paul B. Klugh, Frank
M. Hallenbeck, Dr. Arnold Kegel, Health Commis-
sioner, and Leila M. Bloomfield.
"Special thanks are due to Morris Blink, general
chairman of the Entertainment and Speakers' Com-
mittee, who was responsible for each weekly program.
He was ably assisted by Adam Schneider, Marshall
Solberg, E. F. Lapham, "Ted" Benedict, Sam Harris,
Henry Hewitt, Axel Christensen, Eugene Whelan.
and Wm. Gamble, to whom we acknowledge a debt
of gratitude.
"There were two social events in which the club
participated. Of noteworthy importance was the
occasion of the testimonial dinner to Adam Schneider,
because it brought together, for the first time in
years, all of the "Old Guard" in the trade. Thanks to
Roger O'Connor, in charge of arrangements, the
party which was held at the Medinah Athletic Club,
was a most wonderful success and one to be long
remembered.
"Then there was the stag dinner and all-star boxing
bouts, also held at the Medinah Athletic Club. The
The
M. SCHULZ
CO.
Piano enjoys a
Popularity That
is Unfailing.
October, 1930
party was well attended and voted the best of its
kind ever sponsored by the club. Roger O'Connor
was chairman of this event, too, and again we thank
him for his cooperation.
"One of our reasons for existence is the promo-
tion of music, and this year the Piano Club pur-
chased a grand piano and placed it in the Wash-
burne Continuation School at the disposal of our
good friend, Dr. J. Lewis Browne, director of music,
board of education, for the Chicago public schools.
"The Piano Club of Chicago faces a new day of
opportunity and service inspired by its unusual past.
Encouraged by the faith and devoted efforts of its
members, it will build a greater Piano Club of Chi-
cago with a more sure and unquestionable permanency
and strength—the creature of the high purpose and
courageous work of its founders.
"With all its tender associations, the Piano Club of
Chicago is more than worthy of the desire of the
officers and members to endeavor by every possible
means to maintain this standing and at the same time
add their mite lo the glory and achievements of this*
organization.
"Because of the service rendered to the trade and
its record of good; because of its great and moving
spirit of comradeship and good will the Piano Club
of Chicago has more than earned the right to live.
"My wish is that the high principles and ideals of
this club, so closely related in the past, may find a
fuller expression in the years to come; and to you,
whose friendship and confidence I value most highly
and who have made possible the success of the Piano
Club of Chicago, 1 now acknowledge in full my feel-
ing of obligation."
H. L. DRAPER PASSES AWAY
H. L. Draper, vice-president and treasurer of The
Cable Co., Chicago, died on the night of October 9
at the West Suburban Hospital, Oak Park, 111., and
his passing has caused sorrow among a wide circle
of friends, lie was about 65 vears old and the imme-
Graceful in Style, Rich
in Tone, Reasonable in
Price, and Every Instru-
ment Made with a Final
Touch of Quality.
When you s e e This
Piano you will Want
the Agency for it. Every
Instrument Made in the
Reliable M. Schulz Co.
way.
Address the
M. Schulz
Company
711 Milwaukee
Avenue
Chicago, 111.
IIKRB10KT U DRAPER.
diate relatives surviving him are his widow and a
son, Nelson Draper. For many years Mr. Draper was
in charge of the finances of the big corporation he
served so faithfully and efficiently.
He submitted to a surgical operation about a year
ago and never fully recovered, although he came to
the office regularly for a short time each working day.
He went back into the hospital on Sept. 22, and three
weeks ago a second operation was performed.
Mr. Draper was beloved by all who knew him, and
in his prime he was an ardent autoist and golfer. He
spent short vacations on Grand Island in Lake Supe-
rior, one of the wildest spots to be found near to
civilization, as he described it.
The funeral was held Saturday afternoon, Octo-
ber 11 from the Draper residence, 219 South Grove
avenue, Oak Park. Burial was in Oakwoods cemetery.
BEAUTIFUL HADDORFF CATALOG.
Beautiful new designs in the grand and upright
pianos manufactured by the Haddorff Piano Co..
Rockford, 111., are shown in their new catalog just off
the press. These designs are the embodiment of
artistic conceptions in style and are characterized as
Model Concert Grand, Model B Professional Grand,
Model A Small Professional Grand, Model E Resi-
dence Grand, Model E-16 Louis XVI, Model E-14
Sheraton and several others. The catalog is a rich
presentation of rare and fine pianos. The frontispiece
of the catalog shows a picture of the late Charles
A. Haddorff, founder of the company and a prac-
tical piano builder of the creative kind.
The Wood Music Co., Alva, Okla, moved this week
into the Monfort Building, that city.
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