Music Trade Review

Issue: 1926 Vol. 83 N. 18

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National Ass'n of Music Merchants
Board of Control Meets
Sessions at Indianapolis Enthusiastically Endorse Class Instruction on the Piano and the Piano Playing
Contest—Nearly 50 Per Cent of the National's Members Have Pledged Themselves to Support
Promotional Campaign for the Piano—C. L. Dennis Elected Executive Secretary
NDIANAPOLIS, IND., October 25.—That
the State associations of the music trade,
j;
under the new constitution of the National
:
'Association of Music Merchants adopted at the
New York convention in June, are to play an
important .part in shaping of development pro-
grams of both the State and national bodies was
a fact really established at the meeting of the
Board of Control of the National Association
of Music Merchants held yesterday and to-day
at the Indianapolis Athletic Club.
The Board of Control, a new body provided
for under the constitution of the national asso-
ciation, came into being with the call by Presi-
dent E. H. Uhl for a meeting of the executive
committee of the national organization. The
Board of Control, which is the governing com-
mittee of the National Association of Music
Merchants, now has as a member unit the
Auxiliary Board made up of three delegates
each from the State associations that have ap-
plied for a charter in the national, they being,
thus far, the Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois
and Southern California Associations. The ap-
pointment of twelve members for the Auxiliary
Board makes it possible for that body to func-
tion.
The Board of Control was distinctly busy
throughout the time it was in session. The
members enthusiastically adopted the principle
of class or group instruction on the piano; en-
dorsed the piano-playing contests, the musical
instrument revue idea, as carried out in Colum-
bus recently, and other promotional work being
done in the interests of the piano. The com-
mittee reports clearly showed a growing interest
among a large number of dealers in this pro-
I
Charles H. Yahrling
motional work and that nearly 50 per cent of
the members of the National Association of
Music Merchants had obligated themselves to
support the work financially through new stamp
pledges.
President Uhl reported on various activities
of the national association, which are now con-
fined principally to the forming of State associa-
tions under national charters. Vice-President
Charles H. Yahrling, of Youngstown, was
praised for the work he had done in promoting is organized for such purpose. This action fol-
the formation of new associations in the East lowed a criticism directed towards the Chamber
and North Central States, and it is reported that and the national association by the New York
much interest in local associations was shown piano merchants following failure of those
bodies to take action on a bill before the New
in President Uhl's territory. R. M. McKee, of
York State Legislature concerning instalment
sales.
The board called for a report of the Mer-
chandising Service Department of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce including re-
sources, available matter and manner of opera-
tion to be presented at the mid-year meeting in
Chicago in January, inasmuch as the Merchan-
dising Service Department has been functioning
for the music merchant and has looked after
trade service, including retail advertising ex-
hibits, music week celebrations and numerous
other activities.
Considerable time was given to a discussion
of the various phases of the promotional work
now being carried on in the trade. Otto B.
Heaton, of Columbus, reported on the Columbus
musical instrument revue and what it had ac-
complished, and there was also considerable talk
regarding piano-class instruction both in schools
and in stores.
To encourage new members to join the na-
tional association it was decided to cancel the
balance of 1926 dues provided those who joined
E. H. Uhl
between now and the first of the year paid 1927
Charleston, W. Va., reported that the West Vir- dues with their application.
ginia music merchants were ready to organize
Before the executive session was brought to a
with twenty-five members to start and that an close C. L. Dennis was elected executive secre*
organization meeting will be called soon after tary ,of the National Association of Music Mer-
the first of the year.
chants.
Frank J. Bayley, president of the Michigan
Those who attended the meeting of the Board
Music Merchants Association, gave a detailed of Control included President Edward H. Uhl,
report of the Detroit piano-playing contest, of Los Angeles; William C. Hamilton, Pitts-
which has been copyrighted by Mr. Bayley and burgh; Otto B. Heaton, Columbus; Alex: Mc-
Roy A. Maypole, its general manager. They Donald, New York; Henry E. Weisert, Chicago;
very generously granted permission to the Na- J. Edwin Butler, Marion, Ind.; R. A. McKee,
tional Association of Music Merchants to use
the copyrighted method, and the Board of Con-
trol tendered them a vote of thanks for this
action, as well as for their interest in offering
detailed explanations of the Detroit event.
Application for the use of the Detroit contest
method must be made to the national associa-
tion through the State association and a booklet
of working plans is to be prepared.
It was voted to hold the 1927 annual conven-
tion of the National Association of Music Mer-
chants in Chicago during the week beginning
June 6 and the new Stevens Hotel was selected
as the official headquarters. It was also voted
that after 1927 the custom of alternating between
New York and Chicago would be changed so
far as the Merchants Association is concerned,
and President Uhl announced that bids were in-
vited from cities to accommodate the 1928 con-
vention of the association. Such bids must be
in the hands of the association officers by the
time of the June convention so that proper
William C. Hamilton
action can be taken.
The meeting inspected new charter forms for Charleston, W. Va.; Lloyd L. Parker, Harris-
State associations and adopted them as official. burg, 111.; Joel B. Ryde, Indianapolis, and Al-
A limited appropriation for the expenses of a fred L. Smith and C. L. Dennis, of the Music
speakers' bureau to assist in securing new mem- Industries Chamber of Commerce, N. Y.
bers for the national association was also au-
thorized.
The board voted that it was the sense of that
The music and jewelry business of Herman
body that legislation in the several States is a
matter for State association activities, as neither F. Mueller, in Elkader, la., has been purchased
the National Association of Music Merchants by Paul Youngdale, William Kurelmeyer and
nor the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce Julius Mentzel, and the latter will have charge.
Buys Mueller Store
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Indiana Ass'n of Music Merchants
Formed in Indianapolis
Two-Day Sessions in That City Start Latest of State Music Merchants Associations on Auspicious Way—New
Organization Immediately Applies for Charter as Affiliated Memher of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants—Indiana Dealers Enthusiastic Over New Body
NDIANAPOLIS, IND., October 26.—The
formal launching of the new Indiana Music
Merchants' Association took place at the
Indianapolis Athletic Club this week at meet-
ings held yesterday and to-day, the first ses-
sion beginning with a luncheon on Monday
noon with about 100 present. Harry B. Wert,
chairman of the program committee, presided
at the meeting and first introduced Alvah J.
Rucker, City Corporation Counsel, of Indian-
apolis, who welcomed the merchants of the
State and their guests. Wm. Christena, presi-
dent of the Indianapolis Music Dealers' Asso-
ciation, followed, and after responding to the
welcome in the name of the State dealers, intro-
duced the officials of the National Association
of Music Merchants who were present, includ-
ing E. H. Uhl, president; William C. Hamilton,
Otto B. Heaton, Frank J. Bayley, Alex. Mc-
Donald, J. Edwin Butler, Lloyd L. Parker, R.
A. McKee and C. L. Dennis.
The business of the convention proper was
stated when Joel B. Ryde, who had acted as
temporary convention chairman, was elected
permanent chairman and Herbert J. Teague was
elected secretary. M. L. Claypool, of Crawfords-
ville, was the first speaker at the business meet-
ing, telling why the Indiana dealers should get
together. He stated that merchants in other
lines in the State had their associations and
were enthusiastic over the results, particularly
in the matter of having laws passed to benefit
their particular industry and of preventing the
passage of other laws likely to do da'mage.
The speaker stated that, with a State associa-
tion, the music merchants would get together
regularly, discuss common problems and there-
I
dustries Chamber of Commerce, next spoke,
pointing out some of the benefits of co-operative
effort in industry, stating that by working to-
gether members of the music trade had proven
their ability to solve many problems that would
Joel B. Ryde
have greatly embarrassed the individual dealer.
Mr. Jacobson told of what the various national
associations are doing by themselves and in co-
operation with the Chamber of Commerce, and
pointed out the need of local and State associa-
tions of music merchants to co-ordinate in this
national work.
E. H. Uhl followed with an address in which
he recited the extensive work in the interests of
the retail music merchants now being carried on
and planned by the National Association. He
likened the officers and employes of the national
body to the employes of the individual dealer
and stated that if the work was to be most
efficient they must have the full support and co-
operation of the individual association member.
He explained that no national association can
succeed without State organization and co-
operation and pointed out some of the benefits
that could be realized through the medium of
iiiiininiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
that this work was launched and carried on in
his own particular locality.
Following Mr. Uhl's address, Fred L. Paige,
of Terre Haute, Ind., offered a resolution to
the effect that the Indiana Music Merchants'
Association apply for a charter with the na-
tional body, and co-operate with the organiza-
tion in the promotion of music, and that the
president, treasurer and a director be appointed
by the president, when elected, to serve as
members of the Auxiliary Board of the National
Association. The resolution was adopted.
H. G. Hook, of the Starr Piano Co., and
Alfred Rapp, of Rapp & Lennox, were ap-
pointed a membership committee, after which
Frank J. Bayley, of Detroit, Mich., made an
address* in which he emphasized the importance
of the pianolas one of the supports of the
American home. Albert S. Bond, of the Pack-
ard Piano Co., also talked upon the importance
of getting the child interested in music, and
called attention to the recent questionnaire in
Pennsylvania which indicated that practically
all children desired to play some musical in-
strument, with about 80 per cent of them pre-
ferring the piano. Others who talked on the
subject included C. W. Browne, vice-president
of the Miessner Piano Co.; Frank E. Edgar, of
the Aeolian Co.; Frank O. Wilking, of Indian-
apolis; Messrs. Jacobson and Uhl and others.
Alfred L. Smith and C. L. Dennis told of the
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Officers of the
Indianapolis Ass'n of Music Merchants
President
Joel B. Ryde, Indianapolis
George E. Stewart
by put their business on a higher plane through
the establishment of better terms, improvement
in advertising and the confidence developed in
the honesty of competitors.
A resolution was next offered providing for
the organization of the Indiana Music Mer-
chants' Association and was carried without a
dissenting vote. A committee was appointed
immediately consisting of George E. Lennox,
chairman, M. L. Claypool and J. Edwin Butler,
to work with W. C. Hamilton, of Pittsburgh,
in drafting a constitution and by-laws.
E. R. Jacobson, president of the Music In-
First Vice-President
Wilbur Templin, Elkhart
Second Vice-President
Albert S. Bond, Ft. Wayne
Treasurer
J. Edwin Butler, Marion
Secretary
George E. Stewart, Indianapolis
:lh!l:l N IMI Illlill INLIIIIIIIII
,s
the newly created Auxiliary Board of the na-
tional body. In closing Mr. Uhl endorsed
strongly the idea of giving musical instruction
in the schools of the country and said it was
the personal business of each merchant to see
Harry W. West
work that is being carried on by the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music in the
interest of the industry, and of the large amount
of valuable and helpful literature available for
the use of interested dealers.
W. C. Hamilton, of Pittsburgh, was then in-
troduced as the man who was largely instru-
mental in drafting the constitution and by-laws
of the Pennsylvania Association, which were
used as a model by the new Indiana organiza-
tion. Mr. Hamilton read the various paragraphs
of the proposed constitution and explained each
one in detail, following which the instrument
was adopted.
The new body will be known officially as the
Indiana Association of Music Merchants. The
(Continued on page 17)

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