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DECEMBER 19,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1925
Activity of the Chamber of Commerce—(Continued from page 4)
around which a future statistical reporting serv-
ice can be built that will be invaluable to the
music industry.
Statistics of piano production are collected
monthly from approximately one-third of the
piano manufacturers in the country. The data
thus compiled are so divided as to styles, quan-
tities and prices that they furnish a very reliable
index of the industry as a whole. So far as
the trend of the industry is concerned it would
differ very little even if all manufacturers were
to report.
Monthly charts are compiled in the Chamber
showing productions, orders received, shipments
made and unfilled orders for all types of pianos,
also shipments of different types of pianos for
comparison with each other.
The statistical service embraces also reports
from leading representatives of the musical sup-
ply industry, which offer important and valuable
information by way of comparison with the
trend of the piano manufacturing industry.
Members of the Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
tion and the Musical Supply Association receive
monthly reports and charts of both associa-
tions, so the similarity or difference of their
trend may be readily observed.
It is hoped as time goes on a statistical re-
porting service for the different divisions of the
music industry may be established.
Merchandising Service
merging of the Trade Service and Bet-
I N ter the Business
Bureaus under the name Mer-
chandising Service Department, with C. L. Den-
nis in charge, the directors of the Chamber took
a step toward greater efficiency and economy of
operation at the 1925 convention meeting. Es-
pecially did this become true with the delegation
to the Chamber of the secretarial duties of the
retail division of the National Association of
Music Merchants.
This most important move brought into closer
working relationship the entire national organ-
ization functions, with the Executive Board of
the Music Merchants as the Chamber Advisory
Committee in direct supervision of the merchan-
dising activities. The department necessarily
had to be reorganized and expanded to take care
of the clerical duties of the association in addi-
tion to the trade service and better business
work.
First of all the department found it necessary
to establish a working basis to carry out the
recommendations of the Association based upon
the Hamilton committee report at the Chicago
convention in June. The closer affiliation of
State associations, with delegate representation
and executive recognition in the national work,
was the basic idea of these recommendations.
A definite plan of promotion was worked
out and adopted by the Executive Board of the
National Association at its October meeting in
the Chamber meeting in New York. This plan
is now being put into operation. The first step
has been taken in submitting to the present
individual members a "Question and Answer"
form, bearing on the local association activities
of the trade. It is obvious that the National
Association cannot function through individual
membership opinions expressed at an annual
meeting once a year. The effort is now aimed
at the consolidation of organized opinion, as de-
veloped in the local groups and crystallized into
national action through a system of delegate
representation.
The first meeting to bring about group action
will be held in January. Three delegates from
each association now affiliated with the National
Association—ah affiliation in name only—have
been invited to attend the mid-Winter executive
meeting of the Association, to be held in New
York City, probably about January 20, the exact
date to be announced later.
The delegates themselves will be asked to
determine the form of organization whereby the
National Association will truly represent the
organized opinions of the local music merchants
as determined in their State and local associa-
tion work throughout the country.
The National Association is now organizing
its forces toward the end of carrying out such
plans as the delegates may formulate. It is
obvious that the entire country will not be
organized into State association activity over
night. Therefore, the association plan of pro-
motion contemplates a steady development of
the present system of individual memberships
in those States which are not yet organized.
Already there are suggestions in hand for
State associations in Alabama, Connecticut,
Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana (with Mississippi,
Tennessee and Arkansas), Maine, New York,
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, to add to the exist-
ing associations in California, Illinois, Michigan,
New England, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and West-
ern (Pacific Coast). To these may be added
suggestions for city associations in Freeport
and Peoria, 111.; Houston, Tex.; Cincinnati, O.;
Norfolk, Va.; Washington, D. C, and the Tri-
Cities (Moline and Rock Island, 111., and Dav-
enport, la.).
The subjects in which the greatest association
interest has been expressed so far, as noted
in a preliminary review of the early question-
naires returned, show a wide diversity of opin-
ion. At the same time they reflect the past
activities of the Trade Service-and Better Busi-
ness Bureaus of the Chamber.
It is evident that the deliberations of
the music merchants will take form in the out-
lining of service subjects, not alone in mer-
chandising service, but in other co-operative
work for the advancement of music. Already
there is an example of constructive thought in
the program to encourage class instruction in
grade schools to teach the playing of musical
instruments. Thus the working relationship of
the Merchandising Service Department to the
National Bureau for the Advancement of Music
makes for more thorough organized effort. The
State and city associations working with the
national organization provide local machinery
for' organized effort in national movements.
The merchants will determine for themselves
their outstanding problems of merchandising and
concentrate on those which demand early at-
tention and are practical for solution. Service
items can be produced which meet a general de-
mand. Trade evils may be combated by educa-
tion and agitation, but here again the local
machinery must function in harmony with the
national. All the efforts must be geared up to
work together, and that is the purpose to-day
of the leaders in the National Association of
Music Merchants.
Years of effort have ironed out certain mis-
understandings; brought about closer affilia-
tions, and developed the organization machinery
which is placing the music industry on a better
working basis. The music merchants have
taken important steps during the year now clos-
ing, to make their influence more strongly felt
in relation to the industry, as well as in their
own national, State and city association work
for improved merchandising conditions.
As for the merchandising service work done
by the Chamber during the past year, there
have been numerous reports submitted. We
may briefly note among the activities the fol-
lowing:
Promotional—Cooperation in National Thrift
Week, Franklin's anniversary, January 17, Na-
tional Music Week, May 3 to 9, and Better
Homes Week. (Proper provision for musical
equipment in the home); Advertising Exhibits
during convention week, and American Educa-
tion Week, November 16 to 22.
Merchandising—Distribution of service helps
such as the books "Advertising Music," "Ac-
counting for Retail Music Stores," and "Book
of Business Standards" and reports on "How
Music Merchants are Selling Radio" and "Turn-
over and Rate of Net Income," also booklets
like "The Care of the Piano" and "My Friend
the Player Piano."
Corrective—Campaigns against "bait" adver-
tising and the song swindle; cooperation with
the Better Business movement of the Associ-
ated Advertising Clubs of the World and the
Commercial Standards Council; and direct ef-
fort in scores of merchandising cases, with
special reference to the Band Instrument code
of ethics, the Organ Builders' condition of com-
petition and, earlier in the year, the problem of
sheet music price marking.
Bacon Piano Co. Enjoys
a Most Prosperous Year
W. P. H. Bacon, President of Francis Bacon
Piano Co., Foresees and Prepares for Era of
Prosperity
The Francis Bacon Piano Co., New York, re-
ports 1925 as one of the best years of its en-
tire history, and W. P. H. Bacon, president of
the company, sees great business ahead in 1926.
To a Review representative Mr. Bacon stated
this week:
"I do not believe that in all our history we
have ever seen conditions at the end of a year
that point so decidedly to great activity for the
immediate future. Consequently, we are be-
ginning now to campaign for our full share of
the piano business which continued prosperity is
sure to bring. And we are doing all in our
power to encourage our dealers, in their turn,
to prepare for unusually good business during
1926. It is our belief that dealers should be
prepared with well-rounded stocks and plans
for consistent advertising campaigns, both in
the way of newspaper publicity and direct-mail
effort. With all these sales producers of mod-
ern industry working for us, I fail to see where
the piano industry has anything to fear in the
future. On the contrary, we now know that the
piano industry occupies a place of high im-
portance in the business world."
Clarence Dickinson Now
Records for De Luxe
Well-known New York Organist's Rolls Avail-
able for Owners of Welte-Mignon (Licensee)
Clarence Dickinson, pianist and organist of
the Union Theological Seminary, New York,
who is also organist and choirmaster of the
Brick Presbyterian Church and Temple Beth-El
in New York, has just completed several record-
ings for Welte-Mignon (Licensee).
These
recordings consist of several Christmas carols,
which have been released to dealers in time for
the Christmas business.
Mr. Dickinson is very enthusiastic with the
results of his new recordings and has written
to William C. Heaton, president of the De Luxe
Reproducing Roll Corp., New York, as follows:
"I was amazed to hear the perfect reproduction
of my playing on your marvelous instrument! I
never cease to wonder at the fidelity with which
it gives back not only the technical character-
istics but the essential quality of each artist's
playing. It would be impossible for me to be
too enthusiastic about your instrument; it is
indeed wonderful!
The W. S. Custer Music Co., of Canton O.,
has been granted a charter recently with a
capital stock of $50,000. William S. Custer,
Harry C, Mary and Edna B. Edelman,
Ronald O. Robertson and Beatrice M. De Corps
are the incorporators.