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APRIL 24, 1926
The Music Trade Review
Travelers' Ass'n President Urges Full
Attendance at the National Conventions
George E. Mansfield Writes Letter to Members of Association Urging Them to Give Full Co-
operation in Getting Out Attendance at the Annual Meetings in June
T T is planned to make the Anniversary Conven-
tions, June 7 to 11, Commodore Hotel, New
York City, the largest attended in the history
of the Music Industries. In this connection,
as a member of the Travelers Association, I ask
your very earnest co-operation.
If there ever was a reason why a dealer should
attend a music trades convention, it surely is
supplied this year, for there will be the most
complete display of pianos and musical mer-
chandise, and the greatest collection of values
that have ever been assembled in one place.
Furthermore, practically every manufacturer
who will exhibit will have a second display—of
the advertising and sales helps that he places at
the disposal of his dealers.
It is fair to assume that anv dealer who at-
tends will be able to carry away enough ideas
and selling information, which can be applied
to his business, to more than make the trip
to New York worth while and a profitable in-
vestment.
Of course, after business hours, there will be
all of the entertainment features which make
the Conventions such enjoyable affairs. But
during the business hours, from 9 until 5, every
hour can be profitably spent.
I wish that I could convey to you the en-
thusiasm that I feel for these conventions, and
the reason why I believe that every dealer will
find it profitable to attend.
We are working for a 50 per cent larger
dealer attendance than we have ever had. I
know that I can count on you to shoulder part
of the responsibility in urging every dealer that
you call on, between now and Convention time,
to attend—and sell him on the vital reasons
why he should attend.
Thanking you in advance for your coopera-
tion.
Very truly yours,
NATIONAL PIANO TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION,
GEORGE E. MANSFIELD,
President.
Philadelphia Piano Merchants Giving
Large Number of Concert Demonstrations
Results Reported from Such Events Highly Satisfactory—B. B. Todd Co. Handling Jacob Bros,
and Mathushek Lines—Broadcasting Makes Weymann Banjo Sale
PHILADELPHIA, PA., April 19.—In these
days of keen competition and uncertain busi-
ness trend, the music trade of Philadelphia is
aware that the best stimulation for interest in
the various merchandise offered through its
channels among the public is to concentrate on
campaigning for sales and to devise new ideas
to promote its lines of pianos, instruments in
both string and brass goods and in the other
offerings of the industry. Realizing that stren-
uous efforts are necessary to revive business,
the piano trade is particularly alive to the inno-
vations of direct contact with the musical in-
strument buyers, prospective and present
owners of pianos seeking to replace old styles
for the newer and more modern types. To
accomplish this end the dealers are using the
various amusement fields, clubs and civic organ-
izations to demonstrate, in artistic ways, the
newest ideas of piano developments and in re-
viving an interest in the string and brass goods.
The result, while not effective immediately, has
given the dealers new leads and sales possi-
bilities froin inquiring customers who have
heard the demonstration concerts either in the
theatres or at the club musicals where the in-
struments were used in combination with tal-
ented artists of note in the musical world,
locally or nationally. These concerts have
been impressive demonstrations of the various
grand and reproducing pianos.
With, the two former local retailers of the
Jacob Bros, pianos now retired from the
field, the exclusive Philadelphia dealer for
the pianos made by that manufacturer and the
Mathushek makes now are centered in the B. B.
Todd Co., 1306 Arch street. The Todd Co. is
carrying a complete line of the Jacob Bros,
and the Mathushek in the players, uprights,
grands and the Welte-Mignon (Licensee) repro-
ducers. The two former retailers of the Jacob
Bros, pianos were the G. W. Huver Co., which
discontinued its business at Chestnut and Tenth
streets a little over a year ago, and the Goldman
Co., South street near Sixth, which closed its
store at this address to open a new business on
Spruce street near Tenth. The Huver Co. also
carried the Mathushek.
That the perfection of the Weymann orchestra
banjo can be reproduced with marvelous effects
in talking machine records is demonstrated by
the unique method with which the manufac-
turers, the H. A. Weymann & Sons Co., 1108
Chestnut street, secured an order through a re-
cording by the Victor Talking Machine Co.
Both the Victor Co. and the Weymann banjos
are to be commended for their excellent tone
reproductions, for it was the true rendition of
the Victor record that carried the excellent tone
qualities of the Weymann orchestra banjo to a
customer. Last week the local headquarters
received an order for its banjo with an explana-
tion of how the buyer became interested in the
string instrument. The buyer, Bob Pittman, is
banjoist with Warner's Seven Aces, playing at
the Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tenn. In his
letters ordering the Weymann orchestra banjo
he stated that he had heard the Victor record-
ing of "Mighty Blue," by the noted artist, Fred
C. Buck, to whom he wrote requesting the
name of the maker of the banjo as it was such
an excellent instrument that he wished to make
it his future instrument for orchestra work.
The new Weymann was immediately sent on its
way to the Tennessee enthusiast. The broad
advertising policy of the Weymann Co. has
brought many requests to the local manufac-
turers, with heavy demands from London, Eng.
G. C. Ramsdell, head of the firm of Ramsdell
& Son, local .representatives of the Laffargue
and Ivers & Pond pianos, 127 South Twelfth
street, spent last week in Washington, D. C, on
a brief vacation trip, returning to his desk to-
day.
By action of the United States District Court
the temporary appointment of David S. Ludlum
and Melville G. Baker, president of the Penn
National Bank, as receivers for the Music
Master Corp. last Saturday was made perma-
nent. Under the permanent receivership Judge
Thompson, of the United States District Court
sitting in Philadelphia, authorized the receivers
to continue the business for ninety days. At
the same time he gave them power to employ
expert accountants to examine the books in an
effort to ascertain the reason for a loss of
between $700,000 and $800,000, which creditors
say occurred within the last three months.
The corporation's liabilities have been placed
at $1,200,000 and its assets about $400,000. The
receivers intend to close the showrooms and
offices at Tenth and Cherry streets, in this city,
in order to save the expenses and will conduct
all business from the manufacturing plant at
Betzwood, Pa.
An exhibition of the Rudolph Wurlitzer col-
lection of famous stringed instruments will be
made under the auspices of the local branch
of the Wurlitzer Co., Tenth and Chestnut
streets, at the Art Alliance, Eighteenth and
Walnut streets, a leading organization devoted
to the fostering of the musical acts.
Duo-Art Is Shown
at Supervisors' Meeting
Educational Department of Company Makes
Elaborate Display at Music Supervisors' Con-
vention in Detroit
Announcement was made by the Aeolian Co.,
New York, that a splendid Duo-Art exhibit
had been arranged by Franklin Dunham, educa-
tional director of the company, in Detroit, Mich.,
in connection with the convention of the Na-
tional Music Supervisors' Association held there
last week. Word was received from Mr. Dun-
ham early in the week to the effect that the
Duo-Art was featured prominently on the plat-
form of the assembly hall, as well as in a beau-
tiful balcony display. Ossip Gabrilowitsch, con-
ductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and
exclusive Duo-Art recording artist, acted as
toastmaster at the Duo-Art banquet held on
Tuesday, April 13. Mr. Dunham reported that
exceptional co-operation for all of the Aeolian
Co.'s activities was being rendered by Grinnell
Bros., local representatives of the company.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge to men who desire positions.
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