Presto
Issue: 1920 1791 - Page 11
November 20, 1920.
JAS. F. BRODERICK
HAS PASSED AWAY
Forcible Character, Who Began as Traveler,
and Became President of Straube Piano
Company, Died Wednesday
After Long Illness.
James F. Broderick, retired piano manufacturer,
died at his home, 4709 Beacon street, Chicago, at 1:15
o'clock Wednesday morning of this week. Mr. Brod-
erick had been ill for a long time and was a helpless
invalid for several months past.
His principal business career was as president of
the Straube Piano Company, which he conducted in
Chicago for several years and then moved it to Ham-
mond, Ind., where he had a new factory erected.
Later he sold out to E. R. Jacobson and others, and
since the sale has lived retired.
One of Mr. Broderick's social delights was in pre-
siding at the meetings, lunches and dinners of the
Piano Club of Chicago, of which he was the founder.
He was not given to making long 1 or set speeches,
phia. Mr. Broderick having been a Mason, the lodge
to which he belonged took part in the services.
A meeting was held at Julius Bauer & Company's
at 11 a. m. Thursday, at which a committee of res-
olutions was appointed to prepare a suitable memo-
rial paper on the life of Mr. Broderick for the files
of both the Chicago Piano & Organ Association and
the Piano Club of Chicago.
Adam Schneider presided at the joint meeting of
the Chicago Piano & Organ Association and the
Piano Club of Chicago on Thursday. Remarks were
made about the life of the deceased from every one
present, the general tone of which referred to his
fearlessness and ruggedness.
The history of his career was brought out, show-
ing that he began with the Chicago Music Co., work-
ing for Platt P. Gibbs; then went with Julius Bauer
& Co.; then with the B. Shoninger Co.; then with
the Mason & Hamlin Co.; then with J. V. Steger &
Sons Co., and latterly with the Straube Piano Co.
as its president.
Active pallbearers were appointed as follows: R.
K. Maynard, A. B. Breese, Roy E. Waite, Platt P.
Gibbs, Mr. Ward and S. E. Moist; Adam Schneider
to substitute in case Mr. Moist could not serve.
Honorary pallbearers: E. B. Bartlett, James F.
Bowers, George J. Dowling, M. J. Kennedy, E. R.
Jacobson, P. A. Starck.
Provision was made for flowers, a minister and a
quartette. Automobiles of members of the trade will
be at the disposal of the committees. The remains
will be deposited in a vault and not buried for the
present. Members of Dearborn Lodge of Masons,
of which Mr. Broderick was a member, will attend.
FRANK L. GEORGE INVENTS
IMPROVED PIANO ACTION
Assisted by Others, He Is Exhibiting It at the Audi-
torium Hotel, Chicago.
Frank L. George, of Los Angeles, Calif., is build-
ing a new action for both grand and upright pianos.
R. K. Maynard, former piano manufacturer, is as-
sisting him in daily demonstrations of the new ac-
tion at Room 453 Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. It is
styled the Duplex Piano Action.
Mr. George's invention is said to cut the cost. His
idea is to simplify action manufacture. Mr. George
has been studying on inventing a simpler action, and
one easier to get at, for the last 25 years, and for
the last 9 years has worked at the problem inces-
santly. For nine years he has done nothing else.
The screws are all in front and the repair man can
get at any part without removing the whole action.
The inventor was told by Alfred Dolge, years ago,
thae he was attempting the impossible in trying to
construct a lift soft pedal in the grand that leaves
no lost motion, and leaves the touch the same. But
Mr. George has recently had a letter from Mr. Dolge
telling him that he has accomplished the impossible.
The demonstration in Chicago has attracted much
attention from piano manufacturers.
but he was a brilliant raconteur and witty in the
toastmaster's position, excelling in jokes at either the
expense of the Jews or the Irish. Sometimes the
dawdling type of Englishman came in for a "scotch-
ing" or a tight-wad Scotchman or downeast Yankee
would be the subject of his jokes. Nor was the
"wise-guy" spared, whether he were piano dealer,
manufacturer, traveler or factory workman.
Native of Philadelphia.
Mr. Broderick was born in Philadelphia in 1854.
In his youth he knocked around as young men do,
in getting an education, and did a little work in the
show business. He came to Chicago in the fall of
1877, being then about 23 years old, and was engaged
by the Root & Sons Music Company to go on the
road. After traveling for that house for a few
months he secured a position with Julius Bauer &
Company, remaining 1 with that concern until the
death of Mr. Bauer, some four or five years later.
The Straube Piano Company was formed in 1897
and Mr. Broderick took charge January 1, 1898. The
company grew rapidly under Mr. Broderick's man-
agement, and it is still growing fast under the able
direction of Mr. Jacobson.
About the first earnings of Mr. Broderick were
gained in his boyhood in Philadelphia in gathering
waste lumber and selling it to the neighbors who
needed kindling. After that a tent was set up on a
vacant lot close to his home. Mr. Brokerick was
ticket taker and collector at the amateur show.
-From that tent show emanated "Bob" Wilson, the
famous actor for so many years with Nat Goodwin,
and also George Broderick, a brother of James F.
Broderick. George Broderick's fame as a prominent
basso is well known.
The funeral is to be held today, Saturday, at 3
p. m. in the chapel at Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago.
This gave the relatives time to come from Philadel-
11
O
FARM PRODUCTS AND PIANOS.
Inasmuch as farmers buy most of the pianos and
playerpianos manufactured in this country, whatever
contributes to prosperity on the farm indirectly adds
to piano sales. Just now farmers are panicky over
rushing their cattle, hogs and sheep to the big mar-
kets; they have oversupplied the markets and prices
have dropped. On Wednesday of this week 500
farmers from northwestern Iowa were at Fort Dodge
for a conference with officers and members of the
Iowa Bankers' Association regarding present mar-
ket conditions of farm products. The bankers prom-
ised to aid them. And at Omaha, where the Nebraska
Farmers' Co-operative Grain and Live Stock State
Association is in session, J. W. Shorthill, of Omaha,
said that too much credit had been granted the farm-
ers, rather than too little. Too much credit had per-
mitted the farmers to invest in foolish ventures when
they ought to have known better all the time.
AIDS COMMUNITY SINGING.
Appreciation of the aid the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce has been able to give through
Robert Lawrence, of the National Bureau for the
Advancement of Music, in the promotion of com-
munity singing is expressed in a letter from Martha
Berry, director of the Berry Schools, Mount Berry,
Georgia, in which Mr. Lawrence recently instructed
a class in song leadership. "I want to tell you." she
writes, "how much we appreciated Mr. Robert Law-
rence, who helped our school so much this summer
with his splendid community singing. He aroused
a great deal of interest and enthusiasm and everyone
seemed blest from his visit."
The Jones-Penry Furniture Co., Danville, 111.,
claims to be outside the high rent district and cites
it as an advantage in giving piano value. The house
handles the Gulbransen player.
NEXT CONVENTION IN
CHICAGO EARLY IN MAY
Music Industries Will Have No Music Show,
But Official Report Tells of What
Music Merchants May Do.
The week of May 9th, 1921, as the time of the next
annual convention has been announced by Presi-
dent Aldcroft. It was also definitely decided that the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce will not hold
a music show next year.
The sessions of the Chamber will be held in Chi-
cago at the Congress Hotel, as well as those of the
National Association of Music Merchants, the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association, the Musical
Supply Association of America and several other
member associations. Indications point to a larger
attended, more enthusiastic and more successful
series of conventions than ever before held by the
music industries.
The first part of May was set as the date for the
convention at the previous meeting of the Board in
June, and the fixing of the exact date was left to
the president. The executive committee of the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants later decided
upon the week of May 23rd, as it was learned that
the Chicago Coliseum would not be available for a
music show prior to that date. Subsequently, it was
found that the Coliseum would be available earlier
and accordingly the executive committee approved
by mail the week of May 9th.
The executive committee of the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association at their recent meeting
in Buffalo voted on May 9th or such time as was
decided upon by the Chamber. The by-laws of the
Musical Supply Association of America provide for
its convention at the same time and place as that of
the Chamber.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE
PORTLAND, ORE., FIELD
Progressive Houses in That Busy Section Realize
on the Fall Expectations.
The Reed, French Piano Co. has just received
a large number of playerpianos, which it is offer-
in at very reasonable prices. A fine stock of
used pianos are also offered by this house. Good
used pianos have been hard to get in Portland, but
the Reed, French Company has a superior line at
present, including many of the best known makes.
A Chickering Ampico was among the best sales
made by the G. F. Johnson Piano Co. this week.
Mr. Johnson has purchased a new piano moving
van. He said he waited until a republican presi-
dent was elected before making the purchase. He
looks for good times during Harding's administra-
tion.
BOHEMIAN 132 ROLL
(For 65-note
Pianos)
1. Kvitko. Valcik.
Na Pankraci na
vrsicku. Valcik.
Kralovna Vitezxtvi.
chod.
Cerveny Satacek.
Roztomila. Polka.
Siva Holubicka. Valcik.
7. Na Vyskocilce. Polka.
8. Zpiva Zivot. Valcik.
Zlata Praha. Polka.
Vesely Zivot. Valcik.
A November Release!
Place your orders now to insure
prompt delivery.
CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLL CO.
De Kalb, Illinois
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/
JAS. F. BRODERICK
HAS PASSED AWAY
Forcible Character, Who Began as Traveler,
and Became President of Straube Piano
Company, Died Wednesday
After Long Illness.
James F. Broderick, retired piano manufacturer,
died at his home, 4709 Beacon street, Chicago, at 1:15
o'clock Wednesday morning of this week. Mr. Brod-
erick had been ill for a long time and was a helpless
invalid for several months past.
His principal business career was as president of
the Straube Piano Company, which he conducted in
Chicago for several years and then moved it to Ham-
mond, Ind., where he had a new factory erected.
Later he sold out to E. R. Jacobson and others, and
since the sale has lived retired.
One of Mr. Broderick's social delights was in pre-
siding at the meetings, lunches and dinners of the
Piano Club of Chicago, of which he was the founder.
He was not given to making long 1 or set speeches,
phia. Mr. Broderick having been a Mason, the lodge
to which he belonged took part in the services.
A meeting was held at Julius Bauer & Company's
at 11 a. m. Thursday, at which a committee of res-
olutions was appointed to prepare a suitable memo-
rial paper on the life of Mr. Broderick for the files
of both the Chicago Piano & Organ Association and
the Piano Club of Chicago.
Adam Schneider presided at the joint meeting of
the Chicago Piano & Organ Association and the
Piano Club of Chicago on Thursday. Remarks were
made about the life of the deceased from every one
present, the general tone of which referred to his
fearlessness and ruggedness.
The history of his career was brought out, show-
ing that he began with the Chicago Music Co., work-
ing for Platt P. Gibbs; then went with Julius Bauer
& Co.; then with the B. Shoninger Co.; then with
the Mason & Hamlin Co.; then with J. V. Steger &
Sons Co., and latterly with the Straube Piano Co.
as its president.
Active pallbearers were appointed as follows: R.
K. Maynard, A. B. Breese, Roy E. Waite, Platt P.
Gibbs, Mr. Ward and S. E. Moist; Adam Schneider
to substitute in case Mr. Moist could not serve.
Honorary pallbearers: E. B. Bartlett, James F.
Bowers, George J. Dowling, M. J. Kennedy, E. R.
Jacobson, P. A. Starck.
Provision was made for flowers, a minister and a
quartette. Automobiles of members of the trade will
be at the disposal of the committees. The remains
will be deposited in a vault and not buried for the
present. Members of Dearborn Lodge of Masons,
of which Mr. Broderick was a member, will attend.
FRANK L. GEORGE INVENTS
IMPROVED PIANO ACTION
Assisted by Others, He Is Exhibiting It at the Audi-
torium Hotel, Chicago.
Frank L. George, of Los Angeles, Calif., is build-
ing a new action for both grand and upright pianos.
R. K. Maynard, former piano manufacturer, is as-
sisting him in daily demonstrations of the new ac-
tion at Room 453 Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. It is
styled the Duplex Piano Action.
Mr. George's invention is said to cut the cost. His
idea is to simplify action manufacture. Mr. George
has been studying on inventing a simpler action, and
one easier to get at, for the last 25 years, and for
the last 9 years has worked at the problem inces-
santly. For nine years he has done nothing else.
The screws are all in front and the repair man can
get at any part without removing the whole action.
The inventor was told by Alfred Dolge, years ago,
thae he was attempting the impossible in trying to
construct a lift soft pedal in the grand that leaves
no lost motion, and leaves the touch the same. But
Mr. George has recently had a letter from Mr. Dolge
telling him that he has accomplished the impossible.
The demonstration in Chicago has attracted much
attention from piano manufacturers.
but he was a brilliant raconteur and witty in the
toastmaster's position, excelling in jokes at either the
expense of the Jews or the Irish. Sometimes the
dawdling type of Englishman came in for a "scotch-
ing" or a tight-wad Scotchman or downeast Yankee
would be the subject of his jokes. Nor was the
"wise-guy" spared, whether he were piano dealer,
manufacturer, traveler or factory workman.
Native of Philadelphia.
Mr. Broderick was born in Philadelphia in 1854.
In his youth he knocked around as young men do,
in getting an education, and did a little work in the
show business. He came to Chicago in the fall of
1877, being then about 23 years old, and was engaged
by the Root & Sons Music Company to go on the
road. After traveling for that house for a few
months he secured a position with Julius Bauer &
Company, remaining 1 with that concern until the
death of Mr. Bauer, some four or five years later.
The Straube Piano Company was formed in 1897
and Mr. Broderick took charge January 1, 1898. The
company grew rapidly under Mr. Broderick's man-
agement, and it is still growing fast under the able
direction of Mr. Jacobson.
About the first earnings of Mr. Broderick were
gained in his boyhood in Philadelphia in gathering
waste lumber and selling it to the neighbors who
needed kindling. After that a tent was set up on a
vacant lot close to his home. Mr. Brokerick was
ticket taker and collector at the amateur show.
-From that tent show emanated "Bob" Wilson, the
famous actor for so many years with Nat Goodwin,
and also George Broderick, a brother of James F.
Broderick. George Broderick's fame as a prominent
basso is well known.
The funeral is to be held today, Saturday, at 3
p. m. in the chapel at Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago.
This gave the relatives time to come from Philadel-
11
O
FARM PRODUCTS AND PIANOS.
Inasmuch as farmers buy most of the pianos and
playerpianos manufactured in this country, whatever
contributes to prosperity on the farm indirectly adds
to piano sales. Just now farmers are panicky over
rushing their cattle, hogs and sheep to the big mar-
kets; they have oversupplied the markets and prices
have dropped. On Wednesday of this week 500
farmers from northwestern Iowa were at Fort Dodge
for a conference with officers and members of the
Iowa Bankers' Association regarding present mar-
ket conditions of farm products. The bankers prom-
ised to aid them. And at Omaha, where the Nebraska
Farmers' Co-operative Grain and Live Stock State
Association is in session, J. W. Shorthill, of Omaha,
said that too much credit had been granted the farm-
ers, rather than too little. Too much credit had per-
mitted the farmers to invest in foolish ventures when
they ought to have known better all the time.
AIDS COMMUNITY SINGING.
Appreciation of the aid the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce has been able to give through
Robert Lawrence, of the National Bureau for the
Advancement of Music, in the promotion of com-
munity singing is expressed in a letter from Martha
Berry, director of the Berry Schools, Mount Berry,
Georgia, in which Mr. Lawrence recently instructed
a class in song leadership. "I want to tell you." she
writes, "how much we appreciated Mr. Robert Law-
rence, who helped our school so much this summer
with his splendid community singing. He aroused
a great deal of interest and enthusiasm and everyone
seemed blest from his visit."
The Jones-Penry Furniture Co., Danville, 111.,
claims to be outside the high rent district and cites
it as an advantage in giving piano value. The house
handles the Gulbransen player.
NEXT CONVENTION IN
CHICAGO EARLY IN MAY
Music Industries Will Have No Music Show,
But Official Report Tells of What
Music Merchants May Do.
The week of May 9th, 1921, as the time of the next
annual convention has been announced by Presi-
dent Aldcroft. It was also definitely decided that the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce will not hold
a music show next year.
The sessions of the Chamber will be held in Chi-
cago at the Congress Hotel, as well as those of the
National Association of Music Merchants, the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association, the Musical
Supply Association of America and several other
member associations. Indications point to a larger
attended, more enthusiastic and more successful
series of conventions than ever before held by the
music industries.
The first part of May was set as the date for the
convention at the previous meeting of the Board in
June, and the fixing of the exact date was left to
the president. The executive committee of the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants later decided
upon the week of May 23rd, as it was learned that
the Chicago Coliseum would not be available for a
music show prior to that date. Subsequently, it was
found that the Coliseum would be available earlier
and accordingly the executive committee approved
by mail the week of May 9th.
The executive committee of the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association at their recent meeting
in Buffalo voted on May 9th or such time as was
decided upon by the Chamber. The by-laws of the
Musical Supply Association of America provide for
its convention at the same time and place as that of
the Chamber.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE
PORTLAND, ORE., FIELD
Progressive Houses in That Busy Section Realize
on the Fall Expectations.
The Reed, French Piano Co. has just received
a large number of playerpianos, which it is offer-
in at very reasonable prices. A fine stock of
used pianos are also offered by this house. Good
used pianos have been hard to get in Portland, but
the Reed, French Company has a superior line at
present, including many of the best known makes.
A Chickering Ampico was among the best sales
made by the G. F. Johnson Piano Co. this week.
Mr. Johnson has purchased a new piano moving
van. He said he waited until a republican presi-
dent was elected before making the purchase. He
looks for good times during Harding's administra-
tion.
BOHEMIAN 132 ROLL
(For 65-note
Pianos)
1. Kvitko. Valcik.
Na Pankraci na
vrsicku. Valcik.
Kralovna Vitezxtvi.
chod.
Cerveny Satacek.
Roztomila. Polka.
Siva Holubicka. Valcik.
7. Na Vyskocilce. Polka.
8. Zpiva Zivot. Valcik.
Zlata Praha. Polka.
Vesely Zivot. Valcik.
A November Release!
Place your orders now to insure
prompt delivery.
CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLL CO.
De Kalb, Illinois
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/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).