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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
11
SOUTHERN DEALERS SHOULD JOIN
The National Association of Piano Dealers—
J. P. Simmons Working Energetically to
That End—Letter He Is Sending Out Has
the Right Ring.
J. P. Simmons, of the Junius Hart Piano
House, New Orleans, La., member of the execu-
tive board of the National Association of Piano
Dealers, and one of the best known men of the
organization, has issued an appeal to the South-
ern and Western dealers to become members of
the National Association, and which, as can be
seen herewith, has the right ring about it, and
should result in bringing many wavering deal-
ers inside the Association ranks. In fact, he
has written to over 100, enclosing application
blanks and other literature:
"Gentlemen:—I was very much surprised to
learn from our president, Mr. J. P. Byrne, that
we have but five dealers in the State of Louisi-
ana who are members of the Association, and
in Mississippi we have not a single solitary one.
I suppose there are other Southern and Western
States which are doing as well (?) for our As-
sociation as the two states above mentioned.
"I am sure that if those dealers through the
Southern and Western States, who are not mem-
bers, would only realize the vast amount of
good a National Association does, not only to
one section of the United States, but to all sec-
tions, they would wake up at once and send
their application in with the $5, yearly dues, to
our secretary, Charles R. Putnam, 120 Boylston
street, Boston.
"The fact that our next meeting will take
place in the, Western City of Chicago; that our
president is a Western man; that our first vice-
president is a prominent Southern dealer, and
that a large percentage of other officers and
committees this year are Southern and West-
ern men, should be a great incentive for the
non-members through the South and West to
join our forces at once. The movement of the
freight bureau, 'to get instruments shipped in
carload lots, at second class rate,' alone would
save the Southern and Western dealer many
times more than his yearly dues and expenses
would amount to in attending these conven-
tions.
"Then again a great amount of good can be
done by the associating of the different mem-
bers with each other and fraternizing (which is
one of the chief objects and pleasures of any
convention).
The intermingling of dealers
from various parts of the country, exchanging
ideas and becoming acquainted, face to face
with each other, would more than repay a dealer
for the time, trouble and expense of attending
these meetings, to say nothing of the new ideas
and the new methods which he may learn and
which he may and could no doubt work to the
advantage of his own business.
"It is an established fact that the National
Association meetings go a long way towards
raising the standing of the piano business in the
eyes of the general public, as well as raising the
local dealer in the estimation of his home people.
I know it to be the case here in New Orleans
and I take it to be the case all over. The fact
that the principal houses of the 'Crescent City'
belong to and attend the meetings of the Na-
tional Association of Piano Dealers has had a
tendency to elevate the standing of these firms
in business circles, while the individual mem-
bers are thought more of not only by their com-
petitors, but by the community at large. The
higher the estimation of the standing of a dealer
in the eyes of the buying public, the easier for
him to do business with them.
"Our next meeting, which will probably take
place in June of next year, will no doubt be the
largest in the history of the Association. Many
very important matters will be brought up and
discussed. It will do you lots of good, Mr.
Dealer, whether you 'know it all or not' to at-
tend. Therefore, let me beg of you again, if
you are not a member, 'get next,' send in your
application. Come meet with us and let's get
ONE PRICE PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT.
OOME years ago the Review started the one price agitation by
^ offering a prize for the best article on the one price system.
For months past we have advocated the establishment of the
price at retail by the manufacturer at which his product shall
be sold. Resolutions were passed at Washington favoring this
plan, and we believe that the more the question is agitated
the more adherents it will win, therefore we will offer a cash
prize of $25.00 for the best article upon the subject: "Benefits
Which Will Accrue to the Trade by the Manufacturer
Establishing Retail Prices at Which His Pianos Shall be
Sold." All contributions should be typewritten, and addressed
to the Prize Editor, The Music Trade Review, 1 Madison
Avenue, New York.
acquainted, and I feel sure you will never have
cause to regret it."
CLEVER YOUNG PIANO TRAVELER
with its vast and constantly growing number of
industries and a climate that is unexcelled, the
chances for future development are unlimited.
Mr. Hale is agent for the Knabe, Everett and
Ludwig pianos.
Is Edwin G. Tonk, Who Will Shortly Visit the
Trade in the Interests of Wm. Tonk & Bro.
—Well Equipped for His Mission.
H. L. DRAPER'S EUROPEAN TRIP.
One of the youngest of the piano travelers to
start on the road from this city is Edwin G.
The Popular Secretary and Treasurer of the
Cable Company Will
be Three
Months
Abroad—Interesting Chat With The Review.
H. L. Draper, secretary and treasurer of the
Cable Company, Chicago, who left for Europe by
the "Carmania" on Tuesday, was a caller at The
Review sanctum on Monday, and in the course of
a chat said: "My trip abroad will be one of pleas-
ure, but intermingled somewhat with business.
Our growing interests in all parts of Europe
necessitate this. After calling on our representa-
tives in England and Germany I will visit Copen-
hagen, where I expect to meet Mr. Johansen, our
superintendent, who has been visiting his old
home. Together we will visit the principal cities
of the Scandanavian Peninsula.
"In reply to your query how business com-
pares with this time a year ago, I may say that
with us it shows a substantial increase in all de-
partments, and we look forward to a very large
year's business. We were never better organized
than to-day. The Mason & Hamlin Co. is in the
hands of men who are destined to make a splen-
did record, while the Conover piano is winning
increasing favorable attention from experts, and
our magazine advertising bearing on this piano
has been most satisfactory. The Kingsbury in-
ner player is already an assured success. The
simplicity and perfection of the action as well
as its musical possibilities have won high praise.
We intend to embody the mechanism in the Con-
over piano also. You know we have been making
player-pianos for the past three years, but we
were
not selling them. In other words, we were
EDWIN G. TONK.
unceasingly experimenting up to the time when
Tonk, the second son of William Tonk, of the we could secure the greatest degree of perfection,
firm of William Tonk & Bro., of 452-456 Tenth and we not only believe, but all who have exam-
avenue. Like his father, Mr. Tonk is a man of a ined it believe we have attained it in our new
very pleasing personality, and has clearly in- inner player."
herited his talent for salesmanship. He has al-
Mr. Draper, who is accompanied on his Euro-
ready made a couple of short trips in behalf of
pean trip by Mrs. Draper, will return by way of
his firm, which were a marked success. He will Boston in about three months.
soon start on the road for an extended trip
through the country, and it is the belief of all
MEETING OF BELL CO. CREDITORS.
who know him that he will acquit himself with
great honor. Apart from his personality and
The creditors of the Bell Piano Co. will meet
connections, he is representing instruments that at the office of N. A. Prentiss, referee in bank-
have been highly spoken of.
ruptcy, 120 Broadway, N. Y., on July 11, to con-
PROSPECTS GOOD IN SOUTHERN OREGON.
J. F. Hale, manager of Hale's Piano House,
Medford, Ore., which was opened in September
of last year, with a splendid record to date, says
in a letter to The Review that the outlook for
future business in his section is extremely
bright. Southern Oregon is in its infancy, for
sider and pass upon a proposed compromise of
controversies between the trustee and the Beas-
ley Piano Co., and the trustee and Antonio
Grinaldi, and for the transaction of such other
business as may come before the meeting. J. B.
Wilds, trustee of the Bell Piano Co., has just
declared the first dividend of the estate of 5 per
cent, on all claims approved and allowed.