Music Trade Review

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CHICAGO AND THE MIDDLE WEST
Frank W. Kirk, Manager, 333 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
9,000 Chicago Children Now
Taking Group Instruction
Steady Increase in Enrollment in Piano Classes
In the Schools Reported by Supervisor of
Music
CHICAGO, I I I . , March 11.—•Remarkable progress
is being made in group piano instruction in the
Chicago schools under the direction of Dr. J.
Lewis Browne, supervisor, for there are now
approximately 9,000 children taking piano les-
sons by this system of instruction.
This figure represents about 2,000 more en-
rollments over a month ago and emphasizes the
increased interest and growth' in group piano
instruction. Additional schools are installing
the system, and there are now about 500
Chicago schools giving instruction.
These interesting details about the develop-
ment of group piano instruction under the di-
rection of Mr. Browne were given by Adam
Schneider of the Chicago Piano & Organ Asso-
ciation and the Chicago Piano Club at last
week's meeting of the latter organization. Mr.
Schneider has been taking an active part in
co-operating with Mr. Browne and reports that
the local trade has supplied Chicago schools
with a number of pianos where needed.
"The fact that these children are paying 25
cents per lesson, and about $2.50 for books and
staying after school hours to take lessons shows
a desire to learn how to play the piano," says
Mr. Schneider. "In the course of about six
weeks several thousand more students have en-
rolled to take piano lessons, which shows the
growth of the movement.
"There is no doubt but that these lessons
will tend to increase piano sales and benefit
all branches of the industry In the course of
time, there will no doubt be from 25,000 to
30,000 children taking piano lessons which will
also create a desire to play other instruments."
Fire Guts G. M. Ott Co.'s
Piano Store in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, O., March 11.—One of the most dis-
astrous fires that Cleveland has had in the
downtown section for many years was discov-
ered on March 8 in a block at Euclid avenue
and East Nineteenth street, part of which was
occupied by the G. M. Ott Piano Co., agents
for the Hardman line of pianos. Thousands of
gallons of water were poured onto the instru-
ments by the fire companies as they fought the
flames that completely gutted the upper floor.
Mr. Ott had the pianos and other stock
moved to 1903 East Nineteenth street. Every
instrument was watersoaked and damaged
from the heat of the fire overhead, and smoke.
What the full extent of the damage will be
has not as yet been determined.
It was the intention of Mr. Ott to retire from
the retail piano business on the first of the
month. The May Co. were appointed Hard-
man agents following his decision. He has an-
nounced that as soon as he can get things ad-
justed he will cover Ohio as wholesale repre-
sentative for the Hardman Peck Co.
Chisholm Is Transferred
The Grigsby-Grunow Co., Chicago, manufac-
turers of Majestic radio, announces the transfer
of C. J. Chisholm from the territory served by
Albany, N. Y., to that covered by the Electric
Supply and Equipment Co., Erie, Pa.
Three More Stores Are Acquired in
Chicago District by Lyon & Healy
/ C H I C A G O , ILL., March 9.—Lyon & Healy
^
have purchased three leading north side re-
tail music and radio stores it is announced by
Raymond E. Durham, president of the com-
pany.
This announcement follows closely on the
establishment of an Oak Park branch and the
absorption of the Bissell-Weisert Co. The ac-
quisition of the new stores is to further permit
the egress of this sixty-five-year-old concern in
the retail field.
The three new stores which have just been
acquired are the North Town Radio Shop, 4710
Lincoln avenue; and the Arthur C. Lenberg
Stores at 2305 and 2410 Devon avenue. With
the addition of these three shops the Lyon &
Healy Co. will own and operate ten retail
branch houses including a Cleveland store, for-
merly the Dreher Piano Co., of that city, which
was acquired last September. Each of the
branch stores are replicas of the parent estab-
lishment in regard to personal services and
ethics, Mr. Durham said.
It is also announced that the former owners
of the north side stores, Mr. Michael Grodsk}'
and Mr. Arthur C. Lenberg, Jr., will continue
to manage their respective stores in the interest
of Lyon & Healy under this new arrangement.
Inventory of Assets of the
Chase-Hackley Piano Co.
Assets Set at $214,557 and Stockholders May
Expect to Receive About $60,000—Permission
for Private Sale
MUSKEGON,
MICH.,
March 9.—Total assets of
the Chase-Hackley Piano Co., of this city,
which has been ordered dissolved by Judge
John Vanderwerp, of the Muskegon circuit
court, are $214,557.44, as against a book value of
$210,000, according to an inventory recently
filed with the court.
These assets include land at $47,800, the fac-
tory building at $64,200, machinery at $15,-
537.65, and stock and accounts for the balance.
The inventory showed that stockholders might
expect to receive $60,876.03 after payment of
creditors, although it is seldom that the full in-
ventory is received upon sale of the assets.
A petition of the permanent receivers, the
Bankers Trust Co., of Muskegon, to allow for
private sale of finished pianos and radio cabi-
nets was granted this week by the court. The
receiver stated in the petition that at private
sale the products could be sold at prices higher
than the appraised value at a forced sale, which
would be more beneficial to the creditors and
stockholders.
The Greater Muskegon Chamber of Com-
merce, through the Muskegon
Industrial
Foundation, is seeking a purchaser for the
Chase-Hackley building, which is located on
Muskegon harbor, near the new Grand Trunk
railroad car ferry terminal now being con-
structed.
Private sale of the finished stock of the com-
pany is being conducted by E. L. Atherton,
former managing director of the company.
L
U
Raymond E. Durham
Mr. Grodsky, the former owner of the North
Town Radio Shop, has been identified for the
past ten years with the retail music business.
His first venture was made at the corner of
Barry and Lincoln avenues, where he enjoyed
a prosperous business. In 1924 he added radios
to his phonograph and record stocks and short-
ly afterward he opened a second store at 4716
Lincoln avenue. For the last three years he
has operated one of the most successful and
favored radio and music stores on the north
side. In making the new arrangement with
Lyon & Healy he feels that he can further ex-
pand his service and states: "With the in-
creased facilities and reputation of Lyon &
Healy I shall be better able to service my pat-
ronage than ever before."
Mr. Lenberg, Jr., the recent owner of the
Lenberg stores, entered the music business in
1916 dealing exclusively in pianos, phonographs
and records. In 1922 he removed his establish-
ment to the corner of Clark and Balmoral
streets. With the advent of the radio Mr.
Lenberg was quick to foresee the possibilities
of the machine as a real musical instrument;
and he has become identified with the leading
popular makes as an expert.
BOARDMAN tic GRAY
Reproducing (Welte Lic'e) Grand and Up-
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