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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
11
Twentieth Annual Convention
of the
National Piano Manufacturers' Association
New York, June 21 and 22, 1916
There were a number of things calculated to
make the twentieth annual Convention of the
National Piano Manufacturers' Association at
the Hotel Astor this week particularly interest-
ing to those who believe in modern business
methods and in plans for incorporating up-to-
date ideas into the piano trade. There was, for
instance, the all important report of the com-
mittee on trade advancement entrusted with the
work of developing a greater public interest in
music and in musical instruments. The ques-
tion of the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce was also one of the live topics which
served to bring out a most satisfactory attend-
ance from all sections of the country. At a
meeting of the executive committee on Monday
night various matters have been threshed out
carefully, and therefore, the convention itself
moved along with speed and despatch.
The first session of the convention was called
to order on Wednesday morning by President
Ben H. Janssen, with a good percentage of the
membership in attendance.
THE REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
One of the most interesting features of the
manufacturers' convention was the presenta-
tion of this report of the president, which
was most comprehensive in character and gave
the members of the association much material
for future thought. In his report Mr. Janssen
said:
"Gentlemen—With the greeting that I extend
to you is coupled a hearty welcome and the
hope that your presence at this convention will
not alone be fruitful of much good to our in-
dustry, but that it will always be a most happy
and pleasant remembrance.
"We meet to-day under conditions so entirely
different from those which obtained at this time
last year, and with a future so bright that we
have cause for real rejoicing. This convention
has indeed been well named a prosperity con-
vention.
"Our happiness would be complete if we knew
that the titanic struggle now engaging nearly
all of Europe and causing such untold misery
ajid suffering, was nearing its end. We are
anxious with the rest of the world to join in
the song of peace when peace shall have been
declared. The war clouds which are gathering
on our own horizon, we hope, will be dis-
persed by the rays of diplomacy and common
sense, but if war there must be, then let us, as
good Americans, support the Administration to
a man.
Conditions What We Make Them
"Terms, prices, conditions, the merchandising
of our product, our methods of publicity, our
own credit and financing, are what we have
made them, and what we will make them. If
these are not right then we alone are to blame.
But at that, if those who complain will look
into the matter, they will find that in every
trade almost, there are disturbing and annoy-
ing practices and conditions. For every busi-
ness has its good men and its bad men, its
good methods and bad methods, and you will
find everywhere that in various ways the good
men are making their influence felt with the
bad men and methods, and that the great pre-
dominating forces back of it all are business as-
sociation and publicity.
"At no time in the history of our country
has the idea of association gained as much
strength as during the past eighteen months,
and in no previous generation has business pub-
licity stood on a higher moral level than to-day.
"Our association is stronger I think than at
any other period since its organization, and
with co-operative work on the part of each
member, and the right spirit of enthusiasm and
personal interest, it is bound to grow stronger
in members and influence.
"We should plan a constructive program to
show not alone what is the purpose of this or-
ganization, but what it hopes to accomplish,
for we either stand for something or else we
stand for nothing. We either believe in busi-
ness ethics or we do not, and if we have no
Ben. H. Janssen, Retiring President N. P. M. A.
ethics in our industry, then it is time we did
have.
"We have men who have the welfare and fu-
ture of our industry at heart, who believe in
it, who glory in its past, and who are proud of
the fact that their product has added so much
to the happiness of mankind, of the great part
Officers of the National Piano Manufacturers'
Association for 1916-1917.
President, E. B. Bartlett, W. W. Kimball
Co., Chicago.
First Vice-President, J. A. Coffin, E. Gabler
& Bro., New York
Second Vice-President, Paul B. Klugh, The
Cable Company, Chicago
Secretary, Hobart M. Cable, Hobart M.
Cable Co., La Porte, Ind.
Treasurer, Kirkland H. Gibson, Ivers &
Pond Piano Co., Boston
it plays in our daily life, what it means to the
home, to the education of our children, to the
refining influence it exerts everywhere. These
men believe in honest goods, honestly sold and
by honorable methods.
Necessity of Formulating Rules
"I believe we can do what other associations
similar to ours have done, formulate certain
Next Convention City
Chicago
rules and conditions that can and should be
observed by our members.
"Those who wilfully break faith with us, we
would not want them with us and they should
not want to be with us.
"From the reports of our treasurer and sec-
retary, you will see that our association has
prospered during the past year.
"Our membership shows that at the 1915
convention we had 109 members, eight new
members have joined our association during the
year and we have lost nine through various
causes, showing a net membership of 108.
"Our financial affairs under the budget sys-
tem adopted last year are also in better shape,
and I earnestly recommend that this method
of handling our finances be made permanent.
Good Work of Traffic Bureau
"From the report of our traffic committee,
you will see that our confidence in Mr. Leveille
was well placed, and that he is a most worthy
successor to Mr. Moore, with whom he was
associated. The report will show how active
and earnest he has been in guarding our inter-
est, and I desire to attest here to his willing-
ness to aid in every way our members in any
matters pertaining to his department.
"At the suggestion of a number I took up
with the credit agencies the feasibility of hav-
ing them use for their clients in the piano trade
the statement blanks adopted by our associa-
tion, but I was not successful.
The Broad Subject of Trade Advancement
"At the meeting of the executive committee
in February, a great deal of time and thought
was given to the subject of trade advancement
through publicity, and a committee appointed
to lay before this convention some feasible plan
of action. No matter of greater importance to
our industry will come before our meeting, and
I ask that you give this report your most
earnest and thoughtful consideration.
"You will hear reports from the special and
standing committees that I know will prove
interesting.
"Death has again invaded our ranks and
robbed us of our esteemed members, Mr. Camp-
bell and Mr. Steger.
"It has been my privilege to see the synop-
sis of a survey of the piano business, made for
the benefit of one of the greatest concerns in
this country, and let me tell you, the deductions
and conclusions arrived at by the author of
this survey insofar as it makes a creditable
showing of business ability, foresight and man-
agement, is anything but flattering to the men
who make up our trade. It suggests needed
reforms, states the faults we show in advertis-
ing, and what the writer believes is necessary
in order to bring our business up to modern
methods.
Reforms Needed in the Trade
"1 have also received from one of the keen-
est and most observing merchandising special-
ists, a man of great ability, and who is familiar
with our industry, an opinion of conditions in
the piano trade, and in a marked degree it sub-
stantiates the survey just mentioned.
"The reforms needed as they see it, are as
follows:
"1. All pianos should bear the manufacturer's
name and the retail price should be fixed.
{Continued on page 13)