The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-01-28


rink. At the time of the mothers
death the craze was rapidly nearing
its height. AS result, orchestra
music was in great demand. Van
had for months been playing in thea
possibilities which this field offered.
1t naturally followed that the Orion
Bros band was soon signed to play
at one of the principal Kinks.
An interesting incident which
proved the keen foresight of Van
was narrated by Win, present head
of the firm, in connection with the
organization of the band. will, l
want you to play the tenor from
bone and use the treble cleft instead
of the Slide Van told me-" said Will.
Il did not understand at the time
why he should insist that l use the
treble cleft. Three years later, when
l started to master the cornet l saw
the wisdom of his advice. The fin
gering with the treble cleft method
is the same as the lingering on a
cornet."
After playing at the skating Kinks
and theaters for many months, the
brothers conceived the idea of oper-
ating a rink themselves, figuring
that they could run the business
without employing outside help. A
rink was leased, and the venture
proved big success. The brothers
scrubbed the floor, fixed the roller
skates, took turns as floor managers,
hat checker and janitor, in addition
to furnishing the music. A rink was
leased by the brothers in Helena for
two seasons, its popularity forcing
rival Kinks to close.
Open u Store
Jim was an exceptionally good
skater and did good work as in
structor in the art. Van was also
very popular at the skating rink.
AS boy, Van was known as Gin
GER" Will said. His jigging and
singing were the delight of the dis
trict. AS he grew older he never
lost his ginger and his seemingly
unbounded energy proved great as
set in our skating-rink venture"
When the skating-rink craze died
out, however. the band was stranded.
Something had to be done at once ii
the brothers were to continue fulfill
ing their mothers last wish. Again
Van solved the problem when he
conceived the idea of opening must.
cal instrument store.
Without pull" or business train
ing, other than that gained in theil
skating rink experience, the brothers
pooled their savings and launched
the new enterprise. From the star
it was rough sailing. Two othel
dealers exerted themselves to tn.
utmost to discourage them. Will
sneers, jibes and predictions of ruiz
they assaulted the brothers. But tn,
brothers smiled and worked tn,
harder, treasuring the knowledg,
gained through mistakes and hare
raps of experience. Walter and Free
were sent away to learn piano tun
ing and regulating. Jim was sent t.
college. Van, Will and Walter man
ned the ship.
Then came the panic of 1S93-94
It appeared as though the firm coul,
not weather this period of financia
} duress. Credit was strained to tn,
breaking point. Every cent counted
Then, when the crash appeared in
! evttable. letter arrived from tn
ktmbau Piano company, with which
the firm was doing business, stating
that the company realized the trying
conditions under which the brother
were struggling and that they woul
be firmly supported. In the summe
OF 1894 the Kimball company sen
the firm . shipment of 100 pianos.
Open Some Branches
i A few weeks after the sale con
} Quoted by Mr.. and Mrs. Fisher.
travelling representative of the Kim
ball company visited the store an
} inquired how many pianos the fir
could handle. "As many as you wis
to send" he was told by VIII. ION
} hundred?" the salesman suggeste
in . jocblar tone. Eyes, II you wan
to send that many" viii informe
him. The salesman spared ia
: time. How do you want them shiK
ped!" he finally inquired. The
Vas put into execution the idea upo
which the brothers based their chair
store plan. VIII directed: Send