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WHEN YOU "FIX" A SCRATCH
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
Ingenuity of Man Has Added One More Con-
venience to Soften the Perplexities of
Hard-Working Piano Dealers.
Every "small dealer," and, in fact, every larger
one also, finds it necessary sometimes to overcome
the disfigurements produced on pianos by a slight
scratch. Even in the warerooms new instruments
often meet with little accidents, by which some
slender scratch produces a problem. With second-
hand stock such things are m. -e the rule than the
exception.
And what does the average dealer do in such
cases? Does he try to obliterate the trivial scar by
"blacking" it over? Or does he try to "varnish"
it out? Whatever he does, he is very apt to make
the small wound a larger one. But here comes an
ing of music in their schools and at the Eastern
Music Supervisors' conference held recently in New
York City, G. O. Gibson, superintendent of schools
of Savannah, Ga., stated that music was 'the most
vital element in public education.'
"The intense and widespread interest in music is
now recognized by the public press, between 40 and
50 great daily newspapers running music pages con-
sisting of bright and lively articles of interest to the
general public.
"Nationally known pianos such as the Steinway,
A. B. Chase, Hazelton, Emerson, Milton, Victor
Talking Machines and Records, all of which are the
leaders in their respective fields, make it easy to
cater to a musical public who require and desire the
best, with the consequent result that somewhere
back of the sales we make every day is a power
which is constantly bringing a new business to us.
This is merely the application of the Rotary motto—
'He profits most who serves best.' "
TRADE REGRETS DEATH
OF CLARENCE WIN. SOMERS
Loyalty of the Well Known Traveler Commented
Upon by the Bjur Bros. Co.
MR. LESL.EY APPLYING VARNISH.
industry with something designed to successfully
meet the difficulty. Lesley's Patching Varnish is a
convenient cure for the defects which so often
threaten to spoil a sale or to depreciate the values
of second-hand pianos. The varnish "dries in ten
seconds." It leaves no sign. It is made by Lesley's
Chemical Company of Indianapolis, and it is some-
thing the trade is interested in.
With this article there is a picture of Mr. Lesley
applying the Patching Varnish to a slightly wound-
ed veteran. Standing alongside is another piano, the
name of which is a guarantee of its excellence. It is
a Chase Brothers' Player de Luxe. No doubt it has
met with some triflng accident or it has been sent
in to be put in perfect condition. Anyway, its pres-
ence seems to add indorsement to Lesley's Patch-
ing Varnish. The makers of the "scratch remover"
also produces piano varnish, "crack rilling" varnish,
stains, glue and other essentials to the industry.
BAYONNE N. J., ROTARY
CLUB HEARS E. G. BROWN
"Music" Is Topic of Bright Association Secretary
Who Talks with Usual Vim.
E. G. Brown, secretary of the Talking Machine
Dealers, Inc., an association of retailers of the states
of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, last
week read a paper on "Music" at the meeting of the
Bayonne, N. J., Rotary Club. Mr. Brown could im-
part interest to any subject so that his treatment
of one on which he feels so enthusiastic fairly
chained the attention of his hearers. The art phase
of his subject and the historical bearings of music on
events within the past few years were subjects in
his instructive talk.
"Not only in home life but in the shop, on the bat-
tle field, in recreation centers and in every line of
human endeavor music is now considered a neces-
sity," said Mr. Brown. "More and more, people are
learning to think of music as something very valu-
able in their lives, indeed an almost indispensable ad-
junct. Plato, the great philosopher, said: 'Music is
a moral law. It gives a soul to the universe, wings
to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to
sadness, gaiety and life to everything else. It is the
essence of order and leads to all that is good, just
and beautiful—of which it is the invisible, but never-
theless dazzling, passionate and eternal form.'
"The New York Board of Education has asked
for a largely increased appropriation for the teach-
Clarence Wm. Somers, of 25 Woodford street,
Dorchester, Mass., who has been wholesale New
England representative for the past fifteen years
for the Bjur Bros. Co., suddenly passed away on
Sunday, August 1, at Whitefield, N. H. His death
was caused by complications from which he was
unable to rally.
He was born in Boston, April 6, 1867, his father
being Wm. Somers, one of the prosperous lumber
dealers in Boston. He was educated in the public
and high schools of that city, and his education was
considerably augmented by extensive reading, and
his close application to educational interests.
His career in the piano business began in 1900,
when he started with the McPhail Piano Co. of
Boston. After serving several years there he changed
his connections, and went with Henry & S. G. Linde-
man, He later went with Christman & Son, and
finally with Bjur Bros. Co., which company he
served faithfully and loyally until his end. Mr. Som-
er's death is keenly regretted by the company. He
was exceedingly well known by the New England
trade in its entirety, and a great many of the piano
dealers throughout New England will miss him sin-
cerely.
NEW VENTURES SHARE
FAVOR OF BUYERS
Late Additions to Forces of Piano Distribution
Show Liveliness of Trade.
J. E. Rice has purchased the music store of the
Bruce Company, Mt. Olive, 111., and has named it
"The Music Shop.'"
Fred Rumple has purchased a half interest in the
W. W. Hall typewriter and music store on West
Sixth street, Bloomington, Ind.
J. T. Phillips of Franklin, has leased the Renaker
Building on Court street, is now arranging for the
opening of a music store.
F. E. Wealse & Sons opened a store for the sale
of music goods last week at Fort Jarvis, N. Y.
The New Home Furnishing Co., operating stores
in Bloomiield and Linton, Ind., has opened a third
store in Bloomington, Ind. G. E. McCracken is
the manager.
J. M. Camp and Ralph C. Dodson have opened a
new store in Palo Alto, Calif. The Steinway and
A. B. Chase pianos are included in the line carried.
Extensive additions have been made to the piano
department of Blooniingdale Bros., New York.
The J. B. Bradford Piano Co., Milwaukee, Wis.,
is rebuilding the store at 411 Broadway.
The branch store of the E. M. Abbott Music Co.,
542 Walnut street, Cincinnati, is being remodeled.
The main store is at Seventh and Elm streets.
The Y. D. Music Shop, Dorchester Center, is a
new store in Boston. The initials stand for Yan-
kee Division, of which the principal was a member
during the late war.
ANNOUNCES PRICE ADVANCE.
An advance announcement of an increase in the
prices of Gulbransen playerpianos was recently made
by the Music Store of the J. L. Hudson Co., Detroit,
Mich. Following the announcement this was printed:
"We are publishing this information particularly for
the benefit of those who have examined playerpianos
and made up their minds to buy Gulbransens. There
is no doubt that it is an extraordinarily good in-
strument at its price. It would be too bad to miss
the opportunity to buy at the rockbottom price."
August 14, 1920.
MUSICAL SUPPLY
ASSOCIATION PLANS
Work of Committee
Result in Bureau
Supervision of
Chamber
and Sub-Committees to
of Standards Under
Music Industries
of Commerce.
The plans of the Musical Supply Association of
America relative to its work on standardization
have been determined upon in a general way as is
noted by the letter, dated August 6, which the chair-
man of the committee has just sent to the chairman
of the sub-committees. The letter in part reads:
"As a member of this committee representing
this part of the industry you are respectfully re-
quested to name a sub-committee covering the
salient points involved, subject to the approval of
the chairman with instructions to each sub-commit-
teeman to formulate such recommendations as may
be deemed consistent with good practice. When
such reports have been received you are requested
to hold a meeting of your sub-committee and present
their findings to the chairman. When the chairman
has received reports from each committee member,
a committee meeting will be called and the recom-
mendations of the general committee upon approval,
will be submitted at a conference with the manu-
facturers and merchants' committees, respectively.
"As a result of the operations of the committee
and sub-committees a Bureau of Standards, under
the supervision of the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce, is apprehended, where all issues relative
to standards of material and practice may be sub-
mitted for adjustment.''
To Clarify Situation.
. As soon as the sub-committees are appointed by
the sub-chairmen, which should be within the next
few weeks, it is expected that through conferences
and reports of individual members of the sub-com-
mittees the ideas of each branch of the industry
will soon become clarified. The main committee
will then be in a position to make definite recom-
mendation and commend to the trade adoption of
such standardization as is determined upon from
time to time.
The Sub-Chairmen.
From the nature of the problems it is evident that
the work will be carried on very gradually. The
sub-chairmen are as follows:
Piano actions: Warren B. Thayer, Thayer Action
Company.
Player actions: Frank Wade, Amphion Piano
Player Company.
Piano cases: E. B. Richardson, Richardson Piano
Case Co.
Piano plates: John C. Wickham, Wickham Piano
Plate Company.
Piano hardwares: H.. Patterson, Cornwall & Pat-
terson Mfg. Co.
Piano benches and stools: To be appointed by
their association.
GOOD PLAYER AND GRAND
SALES ENLIVEN PORTLAND, ORE.
Calls for High Class Instruments Characterize
August Business of Oregon City.
W. A. Hodecker of Seiberling-Lucas Music Com-
pany, Portland. Ore., was the fortunate one, who
succeeded in selling against great competition a
Haddorfr playerpiano to J. R. Bowles, president of
the Northwest Steel Company. The player has been
shipped to Mr. Bowles' country home at Stevenson,
Washington.
Manager Erwin of the piano department of Lip-
mann-Wolfe & Co., Portland, Ore., reports fine
sales this week and last. Amongst others was that
of a Knabe Ampico to W. H. Cullers for his fine
home in Irvington.
The McCormick Music Co., Portland, Ore., in
addition to a number of good sales of uprights, sold
a Chickering grand to C. C. Rush, a rice merchant
and a banker.
Miss Albers, of San Francisco, who is cashier of
the Wiley B. Allen Co. in that city, is spending her
vacation with relatives in Portland. Mrs. Clark,
cashier of the local Wiley B. Allen Co. has gone to
the seashore on her vacation and Mrs. Eva Poynter
is at present filling the position. Miss Emma Ewart,
who is in the Wiley B. Allen record department,
has just returned from a pleasant vacation.
The McLogan-Pearce Music Co., Calumet and
Hancock, Mich., recently held a three-day sale of
"big piano bargains." Free auto service to out-of-
town customers was offered.
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