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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Governing Body of the National Piano Manufacturers' Association Holds Session on Monday
Evening—Endorses Proposed Chamber of Commerce and Trade Advancement Plan
The opening gun of the annual convention of the trade is not over-production, but rather
The annual output of
the National Piano Manufacturers' Association under exploitation.
was the meeting of the executive committee of 300,000 or so pianos should be readily assimi-
the association at the Hotel Astor on Monday lated by a population of 100,000.000. that is
night. It was declared to be one of the most steadily growing, if the piano men would be
interesting and important sessions ever held willing to raise a suitable fund and take ad-
by the executive committee and beginning at 8 vantage of the means of exploitation already
o'clock sharp, broke up just as the clock in the available, especially through the medium of the
Yacht Room at the Astor struck eight bells, or local newspapers.
midnight.
Further argument in behalf of the project
The greater part of the meeting was devoted was offered by Theodore Hoffmeyer, of the
to an animated discussion over the report of
Cleveland Plain Dealer, which conducts a suc-
the committee on advancement, consisting of
cessful department devoted to music of all
B. H. Janssen, R. W. Lawrence and J. A
kinds, and C. D. Isaacson, of the New York
Coffin, which was appointed at the executive Globe, who contemplates such a department.
committee meeting in February to plan ways The success of the "Music in the Home" page
and means for developing greater public inter- of the Evening Mail, New York, is also cited
est in music, and the things that make music, as showing what might be accomplished in that
including, of course, pianos. The committee direction.
has been working hard and earnestly, has con-
With the facts presented properly the execu-
sulted with prominent authorities and in its tive committee endorsed the report in full as
exhaustive report, which will be found in the presented and passed it on for consideration by
proceedings of the convention proper, offered the association as a whole in convention.
interesting facts and valuable suggestions.
At the meeting on Monday night the execu-
Although there was no direct opposition to tive committee also endorsed the plan for the
the report, it is quite apparent that some of organization of the Music Industry Chamber of
those present at the meeting required logical Commerce, advocated by Paul B. Klugh.
arguments to convince them of the necessity
The report of E. A. Leveille, traffic manager
of a campaign as suggested by the committee, for the association, which was presented at the
and therefore those who presented the report meeting, was also accepted and endorsed by
fought valiantly for its adoption in toto. The the committee which expressed itself as be-
arguments advanced were strong and compre- ing highly satisfied with Mr. Leveille's work
hensive. As one man said, the trouble with in this connection.
THE MILTON ABRIDGED CATALOG
Handy Volume Features Entire 1916 Milton
Line—Especially Suitable for Mailing
There has just been issued by the Milton
Piano Co., New York, a new Milton abridged
catalog which embodies in handy and concise
form illustrations and detailed descriptions of
the entire 1916 line of Matchless Milton pianos,
player-pianos, electric player-pianos and small
grand instruments. The 1916 Milton styles com-
prise five uprights, six players, one small grand
and one small player grand. Milton player
Styles 57, 67 and 12 may also be furnished elec-
trically operated.
This latest addition to Milton Piano Co. lit-
erature is especially adaptable for the use of
dealers, as it is handy for distribution in the
mail, and contains such particulars relative to
the Milton line as would interest prospects. The
Milton Piano Co. would be pleased to send a
copy of this latest booklet to any merchant re-
questing same.
PAUL G. MEHLIN, j m AT N. Y. OFFICE
Paul G. Mehlin, 2d, who for several years
has been learning the practical end of the
piano business in the extensive Mehlin & Sons
factory in West New York, N. J., is now con-
nected with the executive offices and retail ware-
rooms of the company, 27 Union Square. It is
expected that Mr. Mehlin will do considerable
traveling for the house within the near future.
ORDERED TO PREPARE FOR DUTY
Frederick A. Vietor, assistant to Ernest
Urchs, manager of the wholesale department
of Steinway & Sons, New York, is one of the
several members of the piano trade who have
been ordered to prepare for duty at the Mexican
border in response to President Wilson's order
that all members of the National Guard mobilize
immediately.
CONDITIONAL CREDIT MEN, INC.
Organization Formed Under Above Title in
Which Members of the Music Trade Indus-
try Are Interested—Officers Are Elected
Clarence M. Davis, attorney for the Condi-
tional Credit Men, Inc., announced Monday that
this organization had drafted a constitution and
by-laws, and had elected the following officers:
President, George Farrar, Brunswick-Balke-
Collender Co.; vice-president, Frank J. Shet-
ter, U. S. Slicing Machine Co.; secretary and
treasurer, Frank A. Marsellus, Herring-Hall-
Marvin Safe Co. Mr. Davis states that a num-
ber of piano and talking machine houses have
signified their intentions of joining the asso-
ciation in the fall.
The Conditional Credit Men, Inc., according
to its constitution, has been formed for the
following purposes: "To promote and safeguard
the common interests of its members; to estab-
lish and maintain friendly relations among
those engaged in selling any article by lease,
chattel mortgage, or conditional sales agree-
ments; to take united action upon all matters
affecting the welfare of the trade at large."
The constitution states further that "any
person, firm or corporation of good repute who
sells any article or articles by lease, conditional
sales agreement or chattel mortgage, and has a
place of business, or does business in the State
of New York, is eligible to membership."
PLAN "ELECTRIC MUSIC WEEK'
To Be Held in October of This Year—Will
Cover Ten Large Cities and Tributary Ter-
ritory in New York State
There has just been drafted and announced
the outline of a plan for "Electric Music
Week," to be held in New York State, Oc-
tober 19, 1916, and which, as laid out, will
cover ten of the largest cities in the State, as
well as ten smaller centers. The plan which
is submitted by M. J. DeRochemont as chair-
man of the budget comittee of the Electrically
Driven Musical Instrument
Manufacturers'
Association, calls for a campaign for covering
approximately 150,000 prospects in the ten big-
cities at a cost of $18,020, and 50,000 prospects
in the tributary centers at a cost of $6,007, or
a total of $24,027.
The outline provides for press agent work
on a large scale, special advertising, education-
al literature, house organ and various spread-
ers, letters and stamps. It is exhaustive in
character and has been approved by a num-
ber of prominent members of the trade, in-
cluding R. W. Lawrence, of the Autopiano
Co.; Justin O. Schwarz, Hardman, Peck & Co.;
G. W. Cobb, American Piano Co.; C. H.
Addams, Aeolian Co., and others. The sug-
gestion for an "Electric Music Week" was
called to the attention of the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association informally while
they were in convention.
WASS0N FACTORY BURNS
Fire Destroys Four-Story Building Occupied
by the Wasson Piano Co., Matawan, N. J.
MATAWAN, N. J., June 19.—The four-story
factory of the Wasson Piano Co., was com-
pletely destroyed by fire last week, the loss
being estimated at between $50,000 and $60,000.
Part of the building was occupied by the Syn-
thetic Chemical Co. and the fire started from
an explosion of some kind in the chemical con-
cern's laboratory. The Hames spread rapidly
and though fire-fighting apparatus was sent
from Keyport, the firemen were unable to save
the building. The building burned for about
two hours and then collapsed, several explo-
sions of chemicals during the fire rendering the
work of the firemen very hazardous. The af-
fairs of the Wasson Piano Co. are now in the
bankruptcy court.
RULING FAVORS SHIPPERS
Railways Must Not Charge for Moving Empty
Cars to Points of Loading
WASHINGTON, D. C, June 19.—The principle
that railroads may not charge shippers for mov-
ing empty cars to points of loading was upheld
by a ruling of the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion to-day in a decision forbidding the Pere
Marquette Railroad Company to charge $6 a
car for transporting empty refrigerator cars
from Toledo, O., to Rose Centre, Mich., for re-
turn loading with ice.
WEGMAN FINAL ACTION DELAYED
LARGE ORDERS FOR DOLL & SONS
AUBURN, N. Y., June 19.—The creditors of
the Wegman Piano Co. held a meeting in the
Federal Court last week for the purpose of
declaring a first dividend on assets that have
been collected to date by the trustee, James M.
Knapp. The old issue of the claims of the
Commercial Credit Co., of Baltimore, came to
the fore again, and therefore action on the pro-
posed dividend was delayed.
Business of the Jacob Doll & Sons' factory is
booming, according to Treasurer Geo. Doll, who
reports that hundreds of different styles of Doll
pianos and players have been ordered recently.
Several good orders were received from Stephen
Mahler, traveling representative, who visited the
New York State dealers last week.
Harry
Snyder, another member of the traveling staff,
is in the West at the present time.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos