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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
DECEMBER 2, 1922
PITTSBURGH ASSOCIATION DISCUSSES VITAL QUESTIONS
Proposed Music Week Postponed Until a Later Date—Discuss Definite Basis of Exchange Value
for "Traded-in" Pianos—Co-operative Advertising Planned—News of the Week
PITTSBURGH, PA., November 28.—At the Novem-
ber meeting of the Piano Merchants' Associa-
tion of Pittsburgh, held last Monday evening at
the Lincoln Club, there was a representative
turnout of the membership. The usual dinner
was served prior to the business session, during
which E. B. Heyser, general manager of the
W. F. Frederick Piano Co., introduced C. E.
Lucore, the new piano sales manager of the
firm, to the members. Mr. Lucore takes the
place of A. V. Williams, the latter returning to
assume charge of the Cumberland, Md., store
of the company.
Wm. C. Hamilton presided at the meeting.
The first business taken up was the report sub-
mitted by Mr. Hamilton relative to the plans
for the proposed Music Week to be held in
Pittsburgh during May, 1923. Mr. Hamilton
slated that the matter had been very closely
and thoroughly gone into by the committee with
the result that after viewing the situation from
all angles and taking into consideration all the
factors for and against the Music Week pro-
gram it was decided that the most logical thing
to do was to postpone the Music Week arrange-
ments until a later period.
Mr. Hamilton explained that there had been
a personal interview with Robert W. Lawrence,
the Music Week leader, who came to Pittsburgh
during the past Summer and conferred with
W. C. Dierks, treasurer of the Association; Dr.
Thomas E. Arbuthnot and Mr. Hamilton, at
which the plans and suggestions made were
quite favorable toward the Music Week idea.
The matter then was allowed to rest until
September, however, during the interval, Mr.
Hamilton, for the committee, was in communi-
cation with Mr. Lawrence and local people who
were planning to be actively identified with
the Music Week plans. The report of the com-
mittee was received and approved.
The question of the members of the Associa-
tion, having a definite basis of exchange value
for "traded in" pianos, was then broached by
H. H. Fleer, of the C. C. Mellor Co., who
stated that if the music merchants of Pittsburgh
had a definite schedule to give to their respec-
tive sales forces it would simplify matters very
much in dealing with prospective patrons who
have a piano that they wish to trade in for a
new instrument. The matter was discussed at
length, among those participating being Jacob
Schoenberger and A. O. Lechner, of the Lech-
ner & Schoenberger Co.; W. C. Dierks, of the
C. C. Mellor Co.; D. L. Aaron, of Kaufmann's;
Messrs. Heyser and Lucore, of the W. F. Fred-
crick Piano Co.; Paul S. Mechling, of Dawson
Bros., and President Hamilton. It was decided
to arrange a trade-in value schedule for the
membership and the chair named Messrs. Fleer,
Lechner and Lucore to submit a plan at the
December meeting of the Association.
The matter of co-operative and concentrated
advertising was brought up by Mr. Fleer, who
spoke of its manifold advantages in bringing
results. It was decided to make a "test adver-
tising campaign," each of the members present
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ACOUSTIC DEPARTMENT
808 S. LA SALLE ST., CHICAGO
agreeing to adhere to it. The afternoon papers
are to be used on Tuesdays and Thursdays until
the date of the December meeting, Monday the
eleventh, when each of the firms will submit a
report of their experiences with the proposed
methods of publicity.
Dawson Bros. Piano Co. reports a very brisk
pre-holiday season. Paul S. Mechling, sales
manager, said: "Our business is showing up
remarkably well and our sales of player-pianos
and grand pianos thus far this season have been
most gratifying. The firm handles the A. B.
Chase, Schomacker and Lindeman pianos and
the Starr phonographs and Gennett records, as
well as an extensive line of player rolls.
The Schroeder Piano Co. held a very success-
ful "Piano Show" the past few weeks at which
their leaders, such as the Kurtzmann, Brambach,
Autopiano and Kohler & Campbell pianos, in
player, grand and upright styles, were shown.
Through the generosity of about twenty
prominent Pittsburgh devotees of music a sym-
phony orchestra of this city now seems to be
a reality. On December 8 and 10 in Carnegie Music
Hall an orchestra of Carnegie Institute of Tech-
nology graduates, students and faculty, number-
ing seventy-five members, will make its formal
bow to the public under what probably will
become its permanent name—the Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra. The concert of Friday
afternoon, December 8, will be for pupils in
high schools and will be the first of the series.
Admission will be by free tickets, which are to
be distributed through the office of Will Ear-
hart, director of music in the public schools.
In connection with this concert explanatory
programs are to be distributed throughout the
high schools prior to the date of the offering.
On Sunday evening, December 10. the second
concert is scheduled.
The NEW
EDISON
London
BUpright
WOULD SELL B._SHON1NGER ASSETS
Receiver L. H. Strouse Believes Creditors Will
Derive Greater Profit From Sale Than to
Continue Operations by the Company
A letter recommending the sale of the assets
of the B. Shoninger Co., of New Haveq, Conn.,
has been sent to creditors of that concern by
Louis H. Strouse, of New York, receiver. In
his letter to the creditors Mr. Strouse states
that he has thoroughly examined the situation
and is convinced that there will be less expense
and a larger return from the sale of the assets
than to continue operations. The receiver also
predicted that 25 per cent is about all the estate
will pay, even if the expenses incident to bank-
ruptcy proceedings are not incurred. It has
been estimated by the committee that a price
of $250,000 would be approved, in view of the
fact that at this figure the sale would be facili-
tated.
MASON & HAMLIN AD SERVICE
Artistic and Dignified Series of Advertisements
Prepared for Dealers' Use
A high-class advertising service has been
placed at the disposal of dealers by the Mason
& Hamlin Co., Boston, manufacturers of the
Mason & Hamlin pianos. A series of artistic
advertisements have been prepared which reflect
the characteristic dignity of this well-known
house. The ads are illustrated and are directed
to the discriminating music lover who desires
a high-grade instrument. These ads stress in
a subtle manner the fact that the Mason &
Hamlin instruments are constructed with regard
only to tonal beauty and artistic finish regard-
less of price and the tonal quality is featured
especially. Matrices or electrotypes are fur-
nished to dealers who desire to use this service
in their local advertising campaigns.
London Upright
List Price $100
A G E N U I N E New
^~*- Edison, in an attrac-
tive upright model, at the
s u r p r i s i n g l y moderate
price of $100.00! This
design will be welcomed
in many homes where
quality and unusual value
are appreciated.
The musical features of
Mr. Edison's $3,000,000
experiment are incorpo-
rated in the London Up-
right, assuring realistic
tonal quality unmatched
by any other phonograph.
THOMAS A.EDISONJnc.
ORANGE, NEW JERSEY