Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
OCTOBER 23, 1920
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
CLEVELAND ASSOCIATION STARTS MUSIC PROPAGANDA
Plans Being Perfected Whereby a Greater Interest in Music Generally Will Be Fostered Through-
out the Entire State—Tuners and Finishers Seek Increased Wage Scale
. CLEVELAND, O., October 19.—Plans to extend its
activities in music appreciation work here and
toward the development of the music industry
generally were started by the Cleveland Music
Trade Association at its October meeting this
week. It is proposed to enroll as members
the talking machine dealers who are not con-
nected with the piano industry. To accomplish
this purpose a change in the by-lays of the piano
organization will be necessary. If sufficient
members of the talking machine branch of the
trade are enrolled, it is possible the name will
be changed to the Cleveland Music Trades As-
sociation. Already two linns have been ad-
mitted—'the Kennedy-Green Co. and the Tiffany
Phonograph Sales Co.
C. H. Randolph, Randolph House of Good
Music; A. P.. Smith, the A. B. Smith Piano
Co.; J. W. Kegel, the Harmony Music Shoppe,
and Rexford C. Hyre, assistant secretary, are
taking up the work now.
At the October meeting also a proposal to
aid dealers in other sections of the State in
creating more stable relations with the buying
public was taken up. Since price-cutting de-
veloped in other lines of industry the attention
of- Cleveland piano merchants has been directed
to what might be termed sensational advertis-
ing, indicating that merchants are prone to slash
prices at this time in order to induce business.
It is the belief of the Cleveland trade that
this city is looked to in the matter of leading
unusual movements among the merchants of
Ohio and in this belief it is planned to appoint
a committee whose work will be to evolve an
educational campaign, whereby the value of all-
year-round selling, with the one-price feature
paramount, shall be emphasized, rather than re-
peated price-cuttings through the year in order
to move stock more rapidly.
Cleveland piano merchants are confronted
with another controversy with the members of
the local Piano and Organ Workers' Union, for,
though it was believed that wage disputes had
been settled, representatives of the tuners and
finishers have again presented demands, and this
time all out of proportion to present conditions
in the piano trade. At least that was the con-
sensus of opinion of members at a special meet-
ing called by President George M. Ott, of the
Cleveland Music Trade Association, following
receipt of the demands. The demands call for
approximately 80 per cent increase in wages,
from $30 a week to $55 a week, which is the
minimum figure operatives want. Demands also
provide for a piecework basis, $4.50 for one
tuning a day, or where three tunings daily are
provided they will accept $4 each.
At the special meeting of members each in-
sisted that conditions in the trade do not war-
rant any increase in wages at all at this time,
while the demands as presented by the union are
unreasonable in any event. For the time being
the trade appears unalterably opposed to any
change in wage agreement. A meeting to dis-
cuss the position of both the merchants and
workers will be called at an early date, but it is
not believed that the present stand of the indus-
try will be altered.
Regarding the chance for lower prices on the
high-grade pianos, some pretty definite infor-
mation in this connection was brought to Cleve-
land this week by Ernest Urchs, the manager
of the wholesale division of Steinway & Sous.
Mr. Urchs has been making a tour of the Middle
West in the interests of his firm, and while
here made the B. Dreher's Sons Co. his head-
quarters. While here Mr. Urchs was the guest
of Henry Dreher in a tour of the city and a
day at the Shaker Heights Country Club. Re-
viewing the piano industry and the hints of
lower prices Mr. Urchs stated that the fac-
tory he represents is more than a thousand
pianos behind in delivery, most of these instru-
ments already having been purchased by the
consumers. He points out that production costs
have not lessened, and in view of the big de-
mand there appears no ground for a lowering of
prices at this time.
At the Starr Piano Co. the question of getting
pianos, rather than of getting lower prices, seems
to be the big point among purchasers, in the
opinion of D. G. Free, retail sales manager.
While there has been improvement in delivery
of instruments from the factory to Cleveland dis-
tributing headquarters, demand still is running
ahead of supply, explains Mr. Free, and to date
the question of whether prices are coming down
has not yet been raised by any prospective pur-
chaser.
3 Great Pianos
VETERAN SALESMAN NOW A FARMER
With 3 sounding boards
in each (Patented) nave the
greatest talking points in
the trade.
ban Swro«» Batons
We fix " o n e p r i c e " —
wholesale and retail.
The Heppe Piano Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
The big question that
gives impetus to your
holiday business—that is
backed by the force of
Victor advertising.
An all-important ques-
tion for thousands o]f
people all over the coun-
try—and for Victor re-
tailers everywhere.
" V i c t r o l a " i, the Registered Trademark ol
the Victor Talking Machine Company designating
the products of this Company only.
W a r n i n g : The use of the word Victrola
upon or in the promotion or sale of any other
Talking Machine or Phonograph products is mis-
leading and illegal.
I m p o r t a n t N o t i c e . Victor Records and
Victor Machines are scientifically co-ordinated
and synchronized in the processes of manufacture,
and should be used together to secure a perfect
reproduction.
A. J. Howard Was With Harding & Miller
Music Co. for Twenty-seven Years—Friends
Tender Him a Farewell Banquet
EVANSVILLE, IND., October 18.—A. J. Howard,
the man who has probably sold more pianos in
Evansville than any other salesman, has moved
to his large farm near Richmond, Ind. He has
been connected with the Hardiing & Miller Music
Co. for twenty-seven years.
Sixty-five employes of the company gave a
farewell celebration for Mr. Howard and his
family, at which W. B. Miller gave a talk on
Howard's long service.
On behalf of the piano salesmen, M. F. Zieg-
ler presented him with a waterproof hunting
coat, while the lady employes' gave him hunt-
ing gloves and cap.
The company gave him a player-piano.
DIRECTORS OF CHAMBER TO MEET
tem Seamen Seat*
."Will there be
a Victrola
in your home
this Christmas?"
Victrola XVI, $275
Victrola XVI, electric, $337.50
Mahogany or oak
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce Officials
to Meet November 12
Other styles $25 to $1500
A meeting of the hoard of directors of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, sched-
uled to be held early this month, at the head-
quarters of the Chamber in New York, has been
postponed until November 12. It is expected
that some particularly interesting reports re-
garding the progress made by the Chamber since
the meeting in June will be presented.
Victor Talking
Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., U.S.A.
I
3
)