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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PITTSBURGH DEALERS READY FOR CHICAGO CONVENTION
C. J. Roberts Stirring Up Enthusiasm for the National Association of Piano Merchants—To Or-
ganize Pennsylvania Dealers—Motion Picture Film Brings Big Business
PITTSBURGH, PA., May 12.—"Mickey" holds full
sway in Pittsburgh, as this week marks the open-
ing of the celebrated photo play film in the
Nixon Theatre, a feature that has been most
widely and ostentatiously advertised in the pub-
lic, press as well as house organs and also in
elaborate window displays on the part of lead-
ing piano merchants of this city as well as the
talking machine dealers. For "Mickey" is be-
ing brought to the attention of the devotee of
the player-piano roll, the talking machine record
lover and the patron of the motion picture house
and, last but not least, to the singer of songs
and to those who love songs.
"Mickey" opened to-night with a capacity au-
dience in the Nixon Theatre, the largest in this
city, and the popularity of the film is all that
its promoters anticipated it to be and more.
The C. C. Mellor Co., S. Hamilton Co. and
the W. F. Frederick Piano Co. are especially to
be mentioned for the use they have made of
their show windows in directing the attention of
the public to "Mickey" in talking machine rec-
ords and in player rolls. It is too early to
formulate an opinion on the sales made the past
week, but from an offhand examination it is
safe to say that "Mickey" was responsible for
many more shekels rolling into the coffers of
the piano, talking machine and sheet music deal-
ers than any similar attraction.
C. J. Roberts, the well-known manager of
the local branch of the Chas. M. Stieff, Inc.,
house, who is also Commissioner for Pennsyl-
vania for the National Association of Piano Mer-
chants, has sent a circular letter to every local
Commissioner in the State directing attention to
the need of having all the piano dealers af-
filiated with the N. A. of P. M. The letter in
part reads:
"Every live piano and music merchant in
Pennsylvania ought to be identified with the
great organized movement for the advancement
of music, and the best way to do this is to be-
come a member of the National Association of
Piano Merchants and through this connection
keep informed of what is going on and assist
in the advancement of the great cause.
"What has been accomplished could not have
been accomplished without organization and in
view of what has already been done it naturally
follows that with a still stronger and more com-
prehensive organization much more can be
hoped for in the future. What the National
Association wants and ought to have is the full
co-operation of all who are interested in the
cause of music.
"It is proposed that the form of the National
Association shall be changed to include as full
members everyone engaged in the music trade
in addition to those engaged strictly in the piano
trade as heretofore. Therefore, what I want to
ask you to do is this: for you to, if possible,
personally invite every eligible member of the
music trade in your community and district to
become a member of the National Association.
This invitation should include piano merchants,
talking machine merchants and salesmen of both
divisions of the trade. Salesmen are, as you
know, admitted to associate membership.
"While it is possible that merchants, pro-
prietors and full executives may be more di-
rectly benefited by their membership in the as-
sociation than would be salesmen and semi-ex-
ecutives, nevertheless it has been my observa-
tion that salesmen and semi-executives, who have
taken an interest in the national musical affairs
have been later on heard of in more important
positions in the trade.
"In cities and communities where the num-
ber of merchants and dealers are sufficient and
where conditions make it at all possible, local
associations should be formed without delay and
these local associations should then effect for-
mal affiliation with the national body, through
which means the individual members could be
best kept in touch with whatever is going on
and the local associations thus strengthened in
their work."
Mr. Roberts stated to The Review representa-
tive that he was planning to have the Pennsyl-
vania piano merchants fully organized in due
time, as he felt that from a preliminary exam-
ination of the field there would be a very grati-
fying response to the organization plan when
the trade more fully understood its significance.
Giving intimations of the close approach of
the month of weddings—June—Lechner & Scho-
enberger are directing attention to an ideal gift—
a Kranich & Bach grand piano for the newly
weds.
W. O. Williams, head shipper for the C. C.
Mellor Co., who was overseas with the Ameri-
Test the Ludwig against any
player-piano in the world
We who make the Ludwig know—
every Ludwig dealer knows—and
the many thousands of Ludwig
owners know that comparative tests
with any other player-piano invariably
result in the selection of the Ludwig.
As a cold business proposition we invite every dealer
to make this comparison. Write us about it
Ludwig &
Willow Avenue and 136th Street
Co.
NEW YORK
MAY
17, 1919
can Expeditionary Forces, is back at his old post
again, having been honorably discharged. Mr.
Williams appeared in the Mellor store in khaki
on Wednesday, the next day in his civilian attire
and the next day he was on the job again. An-
other returning Mellor employe is William Troy,
a piano tuner, who also was in service over-
seas.
Robert Winter, the progressive piano mer-
chant of Irwin, Pa., was in Pittsburgh the past
week on a business trip. He was very enthusi-
astic over trade conditions and stated that he
was encouraged by the brisk sales of pianos and
talking machines. Mr. Winter handles the Bush
& Lane, Laffargue, Hallet & Davis and Conway
pianos, as well as the Victrola and Sonora talk-
ing machines. He has a very commodious store
and showroom for both the pianos and talking
machines. As an indication of his progressive-
ness Mr. Winter is a strong believer in trade
publications and reads them regularly.
WHEN LIVE WIRES GET TOGETHER
A. B. Smith, of Akron, O., Gives H. R. Bauer, of
New York, Some Inside Facts as to How
Quality and Refinement Put "Pep" in the Re-
tail Piano Business in the Middle West
When two live wires of the piano industry
meet it is natural to suppose that something is
going to happen. In this instance the only thing
that really happened was a very enjoyable week-
A. B. Smith and H. R. Bauer
end trip in which business with pleasure was
combined by A. B. Smith, head of the A. B.
Smith Piano Co., Akron, O., and H. R. Bauer,
secretary of the Bogart Piano Co., New York.
The accompanying illustration was taken while
Mr. Bauer was making his trip through the West
recently, and he happened into Mr. Smith's office
toward the end of the week. Mr. Smith being
a man of a naturally hospitable disposition, real-
izing that a piano manufacturer in a strange land
on a week-end would have a pretty dull time of
it unless somebody took an interest in him, in-
vited Mr. Bauer to inspect some of his stores in
the cities of the Middle West, which include
Cleveland, Canton, Steubenville, Columbus and
Youngstown, O.
From the photograph it can be easily seen that
Mr. Bauer said "Let's go," and, take it from The
Review representative, he hasn't stopped talking
yet about the good time he had.
A. B. Smith is one of the most progressive
piano merchants in the Middle West, and has
built up a chain of stores which are conducted
strictly on a quality basis. He handles high-
grade instruments, and his advertising campaigns
through the daily papers of the cities where his
stores are located are noted for their refined
character and quality appeal. At the present
time every store of the A. B. Smith Piano Co.
is enjoying record-breaking business.
CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Clarence E. Steere, one of the best-known
music dealers in New England, celebrated his
seventy-fifth anniversary last week. He has
been identified with the music trade in Worces-
ter, Mass., for fifty years, and is actively engaged
in his business at the Steere Music Store, 18
Mechanic street. Before he started business for
himself he was head tuner for the Taylor & Far-
ley Organ Co.