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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
DECEMBER 21, 1918
PLANS FOR STRONG MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN BEING MADE
YEAR-END PARTY DECEMBER 26
National Association of Piano Merchants Will Launch Campaign Early in January for 100 Per
Cent. Membership Among Piano Dealers—State Commissioners Working Hard
Usual Luncheon of Piano Men to Be Held at the
Hotel McAlpin, New York
Even greater than the efforts to discourage
dishonest competition are the efforts to pro-
mote interest in music. The National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music encourages every
enterprise which advances the cause of music.
It provides a medium for the distribution of
ideas to keep musical interest in constant prog-
ress.
The greatest benefit of all has been proved
during the crisis which the trade passed through
during the wartime period. This crisis dem-
onstrated that a strong organization can meet
conditions which threaten the very existence of
the business. The Merchants' Association was
strong enough to join hands with the Manufac-
turers' Association in the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, which, under direction
of its general manager, Geo. W. Pound, saved
the industry from the danger of being curtailed
or taxed out of existence. If it could accom-
plish this result against forces which threat-
ened destruction, it can do greater things with
the forces for business construction.
The dealer's opportunity to support this or-
ganization work comes through membership in
the National Association of Piano Merchants.
Every dealer who is not a member is invited
to join. Send application with check for $10 to
cover current year's dues to Secretary C. L.
Dennis, 432 Broadway, Milwaukee, Wis.
The annual year-end party of the piano trade
will be held this year on December 26, at 1 p.
m. sharp in the Green Room of the Hotel Mc-
Alpin, Broadway and Thirty-fourth street, New
York. Notices were sent out this week by Al-
bert Behning, secretary of the committee, which
is composed, as usual, of B. "H. Janssen and A.
Dalrymple.
Regarding the affair the committee says:
"Here's the idea!
"Never before, never again, will there be cause
for such a Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year luncheon, as we are all en-
titled to this year, after all we have been
through.
"With the war over, with tuning pins coming
(sometime), with more orders on hand than we
can take care of for months to come, with the
prices of supplies and labor going up faster and
higher than our cost system can tabulate them,
and our adding machine click out totals, we have
more and better reasons for a year-end jollifica-
tion than ever before.
"Motion carried unanimously! Our quota is
150. We want 100 per cent, attendance."
The cost of the luncheon will be $3 per plate,
which should be sent to A. Dalrymple, care of
Estey Piano Co., 112 Lincoln avenue, at the
earliest possible moment.
The membership campaign which has been
launched by the National Association of Piano
Merchants will be well under way early in Jan-
uary, according to reports from the Milwaukee
office of Secretary C. L. Dennis.
State Commissioners are fulfilling their duty
in appointing City Commissioners, and the lat-
ter in turn are sending in assurances of their
best efforts to produce 100 per cent, membership
in their territory.
The strong affiliations that have been formed
by the National Association of Piano Merchants,
with their local representatives and local asso-
ciations on one hand, and with the manufactur-
ers, travelers and others interested in the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce on the other
hand, have given the organization a powerful
leverage for the betterment and advancement of
trade interests. There is scarcely a city in the
United States where this influence is not felt.
In joining the National Association the piano
dealer is giving his support to the national move-
ment to improve trade and advance music in
every locality. The protection given to honest
dealers against the evils of crooked competition
is alone worth many times the dues. It is
necessary that the Better Business Bureau work
be national, because the interwoven interests
of the trade bring complications which are im-
possible to combat locally.
PEARSON CO. BUYS PRESENT HOME
DEATH O F J . A. LUX
GEO. W. POUND TO KEEP OPEN HOUSE Sales
Indianapolis Piano House Secures Title to Busi-
ness Block It Has Occupied for Number of
Years—Plans Extensive Improvements
Office of General Manager of Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce to Be New York Trade
Headquarters—Visiting Dealers Welcome
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., December 16.—The Pearson
Piano Co., through George C. Pearson, presi-
dent, has purchased the south half of the Ex-
change Block, 128-130 North Pennsylvania
street, at a consideration of about $200,000.
The Pearson Co. has occupied the property for
the last nine years, and the purchase was made
to insure the company a permanent home as the
ten-year lease would have expired next fall.
The building is a four-story brick with a front-
age of forty feet.
John S. Pearson, secretary and treasurer of
the company, said that the company intended
to make improvements costing $20,000 after
January 1. Additions will be made to the
third and fourth floors in the rear, and" the base-
ment will be remodeled for a talking machine
department.
A concert room with twenty
booths is planned for this department.
Mr. Pearson said that the company had en-
joyed an exceptional business in its present lo-
cation, and that indications were that a bigger
future than ever was ahead of the piano and
talking machine business.
Geo. W. Pound, general manager of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, stated this
week that it was his desire that his office should
be regarded as headquarters for the entire
trade, and that visitors from all sections would
be most welcome. Mr. Pound is particularly
anxious that out-of-town dealers should call at
headquarters, thereby enabling him to extend
his acquaintance among the individual dealers
and to explain the ever-expanding plan and
scope of his work.
The offices of the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce are located at 105 West Eortieth
street, between Sixth avenue and Broadway.
The office of the National Bureau for the Ad-
vancement of Music is attached to that of Mr.
Pound. Mr. Tremaine, its manager, would also
welcome visits from the trade.
T«he advantage to the dealers in calling at
headquarters is manifest. It enables them to
get a personal survey of the things that have
been accomplished and are to be done in be-
half of the trade, by these new and aggressive
agencies, and to know personally the men who
are responsible for them.
The dealer who visits New York and does not
go to headquarters is depriving himself of an
exceptional opportunity to get at the very core
and center of trade activities.
Manager of Piano Department of J. W.
Jenkins' Sons Co. Passes Away of Influenza—
His Brother-in-Law Also Dies
KANSAS CITY, MO., December 14.—J. A. Lux,
NEW MUSICJSTORE OPENED
C. E. Wright, for several years manager of
the Werner Co. in Easton, Pa., recently opened
a music store in that city under his own name.
He will handle the Hardman, Peck & Co. line
of pianos and players as his leader.
McDOUQAL STORE IMPROVED
The McDougal Music Co., of Portland, Ore.,
recently improved its store by remodeling the
entire front, thereby making it one of the most
attractive music stores in Portland.
A new
electric sign has also been installed.
LAFFARGUE CALENDAR FOR 1919
The first tangible evidence of the fact that the
year 1919 is going to be with us mighty soon is
found in the very attractive wall calendar for
next year sent out by the Laffargue Co. The
calendar is in panel form, and has in the center
a picture of a young lady seated at an old
square piano, and in surroundings that suggest
Civil War days.
WINTER & CO.
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
sales manager of the piano department at the
J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music Co. for the past three
years, died at his home Tuesday night, Decem-
ber 10, following a brief illness from influenza.
He was forty-three years of age, and is survived
by his widow, a daughter, his mother, five sis-
ters and four brothers. Just a week before his
death Mr. Lux played cribbage at the home of
his brother-in-law.
Both men were affected
with colds, but passed over lightly the thought
of influenza. Mr. Lux became ill the next day.
Mr. Calhoun was taken ill the day following.
Mr. Calhoun died the day after the death of
Mr. Lux. A double funeral was held yesterday,
December 13, for the brothers-in-law. Mr. Lux
was a man of high ideals and a valuable asset
to the piano business. He was patient and
courteous with customers and thoroughly re-
liable in every respect. Before his connections
with the J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music Co. he was
a salesman for the Wunderlich Piano Co.
IMPORTS INTO MARTINIQUE
Some Facts Concerning Musical Instruments
Exported to That Country
Figures regarding imports into Martinique,
French West Indies, indicate that during 1917
thirty-three pianos, valued at $11,619, and thirty
phonographs, valued at $559, were brought into
that country. Of the total the United States
furnished thirteen pianos, valued at $5,356, and
twenty-five phonographs, valued at $402. It
would appear from the figures that the phono-
graphs brought in from the United States were
valued at approximately $16 each, while those
brought in from other countries were valued at
approximately $31 each. Something must be
wrong.
RUDOLF
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
22O SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK