Presto

Issue: 1940 2294

EDWIN R- WEEKS'
TRAGIC DEATH
Was Twice President of NAMM
Edwin R. Weeks, 72, presi-
dent of Weeks 6? Dickinson
Inc., the City's Music Store,
Binghamton, New York, and
one of the most widely'known
and beloved citizens, was killed
instantly early Sunday, June
31, when struck by lightning
while playing golf at the Bing-
hamton Country Club.
Mr. Weeks 1 death removes
from the community one of its
outstanding leaders in civic,
educational, and religious af-
fairs.
Countless thousands
came to know him through his
popular "Happy Birthday"
broadcast heard daily over
Station WNBF and few were
the community projects or en-
deavors in which he did not play an important part.
He was vice chairman of the Retail Merchants Bureau and served
as chairman for the "Binghamton Days" of 1940. He was treasurer
of the original Civic Music Association organized in 1929, served
for two terms as President of the National Association of Music
Dealers, Inc. He was a trustee of the Home for Aged Women and
the Y. W. C. A. and was a member of the Binghamton Auto Club
and Y. M. C. A. He was also a member of the Advisory Board of
the Salvation Army for many years.
Mr. Weeks was well known for witty lectures which brought him
before many outstanding organizations. He was exceedingly pop-
ular with the Music Merchants throughout the country who will
miss him greatly.
Presto Music Times extends its sincere sympathy to his bereaved
family and to his civic and business associates.
STARR PIANO COMPANY ACQUIRES
WESSELL, NICKEL 6? GROSS
The Company gave PRESTO
MUSIC TIMES
the following information:
"For almost seventy years The Starr Piano Company has purchased
piano actions of Wessell, Nickel &? Gross whose actions have been
carefully made by skilled workmen who were artists as well and thus
established a high standard of performance, touch, responsiveness,
repetition, and durability. Wessell, Nickel & Gross actions when
exhibited in competition, both nationally and internationally, were
awarded the highest medals and diplomas for their splendid product.
Piano manufacturers with the most famous names competed for the
right to use Wessell, Nickel & Gross actions which are a guarantee
of quality. The final achievement of the designers and engineers of
Wessell, Nickel & Gross was attained in their compact action of
which approximately five thousand were manufactured and sold for
the complete line of grand and upright, square and studio, and the
latest marvel, the spinet.
"Recent acquisition by The Starr Piano Company of the Wessell,
Nickel 6s? Gross engineering, designing, and manufacturing systems,
automatic machines, fixtures, tools, and patterns constitutes a great
triumph for The Starr Piano Company, its associates, and customers.
This secures to the piano trade the continuation of more than three
score years of successful action manufacture in the hands of a
modern concern with ample factory facilities and supplies to main-
tain this work on the same high standard established by its founders.
"The results of combing this compact action with the new scales
drawn by Starr experts and installed in unusually attractive new
case designs will have its initial showing at the coming Convention
July 30th to August 1st. Everyone is most cordially invited to view
the Starr display which will be staged in Private Dining Room
Number Two on the Trird floor of the Stevens Hotel, Chicago."
Starr Pianos have enjoyed a long established reputation
for distinction and durability. Expert engineering, care-
fully selected materials, and skillful craftsmanship carry
on the Starr traditions
Designs of Authentic Period Styles in the finest woods
to enhance the charm of every home.
Model 156 — Louis XV — Walnut Only
A fine Piano For Every Occasion.
Exquisite Tone—Enduring Beauty.
Convention Exhibit
Stevens Hotel Private Dining; Room No. 2
THE STARR PIANO COMPANY
Model 345, Height 36'/ 2 , Width 59 1 /!', Depth 245/ 8
RICHMOND, INDIANA
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All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
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NEW
NOTE
E
GREAT CONVENTION FOR OHIO ASSOCIATION
CARL DROOP DIES SUDDEHLT
We have just received by wire news of the sudden death of Carl
Droop of the old and honored Music House of Droop in Washing-
ton, D. C. The funeral services were held on the afternoon of July
12 in Epiphany Episcopal Church and were attended by many
distinguished persons
Presto Music Times expresses its sympathy to the bereaved family,
friends, and business associates.
PIANO SHIPMENTS FOR JUNE 1940
Total 7,498, which was 1,070 or 16.65% more than June 1939.
In proportion there were 6,434 or 65.81% uprights and 1,064 or
14.19% grands.
Total shipments for January — June:
Uprights, 44,797; Grands 9,025; as compared with Uprights 39,005;
Grands 6,861; for the same period, 1939.
Unfilled orders: Upights 1,998; Grands 485.
A. H. GRIM RETIRES AT EIGHTY
Mr. Albert H. Grim, who is retiring on his 80th birthday, Aug.
12, 1940, from active duty with the Tonk Mfg. Co., was born near
Hillsboro, Ohio, 1860. In 1885 he became a salesman for the Stomps
Burkhardt Co. of Dayton, Ohio, manufacturers of chairs and bed-
room furniture. In 1893 he went into business for himself in fur-
niture and undertaking in Dayton. Owing to the panic of 1893
he shut up shop to go on the road for John Stengle & Co., Dayton,
Ohio, selling chairs.
In 1911 he took charge for the Tonk Mfg. Co., of their city
showroom where stocks of piano stools, benches, and cabinets were
maintained for quick delivery to the merchants in the loop of Chicago.
Since 1915 Mr. Grim was travelling for Tonk east of Chicago as
far as Pittsburgh, and Wheeling, W. Va., and during this time
made a host of friends, in this territory.
Mr. Percy Tonk, President of the Tonk Mfg. Co., says, "It
certainly will not seem natural not to have A. H. on the road. I
was only 21 when he came to work for my father, and at the time
of father's death in 1914 his sympathy and guidance meant a great
deal to me ever since. Fortunately, A. H. is going to be in Chicago
so we expect to see him often. Mr. Grim will be at the Convention
dcavors in which he did not play an important part.
WM. H. BEASLET HEADS
PADEREWSKI
William Howard Bcasley, President of the NAMM, has accepted
the Chairmanship of a Music Merchants Committee to participate
in the national campaign of the Paderewski Fund for Polish Relief.
The full membership of Mr. Beasley's committee will be announced
in time for a committee rally to be held during the Convention
in Chicago. Colonel Frank Knox, recently appointed Secretary of
the Navy, will address the Convention at its open session July 31st,
at the Stevens Hotel in he interest of the Fund, taking as his topic:
"Paderewski: Poet and Prophet of Democracy. 1 '
Mr. Beasley, in calling for a strong committee to support him in
this project, made the point that it is most fitting for the music in-
dustry in the United States to honor Mr. Paderewski in his 80th
birthday year. During nearly half a century of piano playing
throughout America Paderewski did perhaps more than any other
individual toward awakening America to the appreciation of good
music. For that reason, the music merchants should consider it a
privilege to take part in this fund which is being raised as an Amer-
ican tribute to Paderewski as his 80th birthday approaches. Bart
Andrcss, National Director of the Fund, will meet with the music
merchants committee in Chicago.
PAGE THIRTY
The 29th annual convention of music merchants of Ohio was held
at the Breakers Hotel, Cedar Point-On-Lake-Erie, June 23-25. It had
the largest registration record, being 227. There were a number of
excellent speeches and meetings. The exhibits were larger than
usual with 13 firms displaying their products. The social features
were pleasing.
THE HEW OFFICERS
LESLIE STEWART, President (Heaton's Music Store)
Columbus, Ohio.
RAY ERLANDSON, Vice-president (The Rudolph Wurlitzcr Co ,
Columbus, Ohio.)
CHARLES McCARTHY, Treasurer (Lasarus Music Center),
Columbus, Ohio.
RAY HYRE, Secretary, Cleveland, Ohio.
NLW MEMBER OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
H. E. SIMON (Succeeding Otto Grau)
Barbcton, Ohio
THE
PROGRAM
SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 1940.
ANNUAL DINNER.
6::.O p.m. Annual informal dinner.
"An Address, "The Three Unused Senses" By Fred W. King.
"Ohio Prize-Winning Olds Trumpet Quartette"
MONDAY, JUNE 24, 1940 OPENING BUSINESS SESSIOII
9:00 a.m. First business session, President Henry C. Wildermuth
presiding.
10:00 a.m. Erlandson Sales Clinic (First Session)
2:30 p.m. Erlandson Sales Clinic (Final Session)
4:30 p.m. Dealer's Visitation to exhibits of Manufacturers & Jobbers
located on the lobby floor.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1940
CLOSING BUSINESS SESSION
9:00 a.m. Final business session. President Henry C. Wildermuth
presiding.
DISCUSSION—"The Music Teacher & The Music Dealer-
Have They a Common Ground?"
DISCUSSION — "The Price-Cutting Evil and its Possible
Cure."
1:30 p.m. OHIO MUSIC TRADE GOLF ASSOCIATION, Otto
Heaton, President.
6:30 p.m. Famous Steak Dinner a la Howard, Plum Country Club.
NUMBER
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
COMPANY
LOCATION
EXHIBITS
Buescher Band Instrument Company
Parlor E
Chicago Musical Instrument Company
Parlor 5
Estey Piano Corporation
Parlor 4
Farnsworth Tel. 6? Radio Corp. (Capehart) Parlor H
Gretsch &? Brenner, Inc.
Parlor 6
Grossman Music Company
Parlor B
Kohler & Campbell Inc.
Parlor J
The Martin Band Instrument Company
Parlor A
F. A. Reynolds Company, Inc.
Parlor 1
H. & A. Selmer, Inc.
Parlor 30
Stewart-Warner Corporation
Mezzanine
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company
Parlor C
SOCIAL EVENTS
Association Trophy awarded Lee Short for one year on his low
net score of 75.
Winter & Co. Trophy awarded Al Mertes for low gross—84.
One dozen golf balls awarded each of the following for "birdies";
S. E. Zack, Fred Tangeman, and Ernie Dahlen.
Ash tray awarded Paul Andrews for least "putts".
Cocktail shaker awarded Mr. Bert Yockey for most "putts".
John Phillips Sousa Plaques awarded Mrs. Chas. McCarthy and
Clarence Havenga for most "pars".
Billfold awarded V. J. Sanborn for "blind bogey."
Music Box awarded Frank Campbell as world's worst golfer.
Pencil awarded Miss Marie KraU as consolation prize.
PRESTO MUSIC TIMES
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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