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MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Conducted By Thomas W. Bresnahan
Musical Merchandise Men
Hold Mid-Year Meeting
National Association of Musical Merchandise & Accessories Man-
ufacturers Discuss Promotion Work and Standardi-
zation at White Sulphur Springs Gathering
Bv THOMAS W. BRESNAHAN
H I T E SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va, March 10. The Greenbrier.—The. completion of pre-
liminary plans providing the groundwork for a nation-wide campaign for the promotion
of the use of fretted instruments and the provision for funds for payment of this cam-
paign were the principal accomplishments of the three-day session of the third annual mid-
Winter meeting of the National Association of Musical Instrument & Accessories Manufacturers.
Other important matters were plans for wider dissemination and use of the standardized
label, a discussion of ways in which the monthly
production figures can be used to better advan- economic discernment of the buying public
tage and active co-operation with the American which is forcing manufacturers more and more
Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists & Guitarists. to the production of better quality merchandise.
He showed how this should work to the advan-
President Walter M. Gotsch of Chicago called
the meeting to order with the following mem- tage of American-made merchandise and in clos-
ing he made a plea for the association members
bers present:
H. H. Slingerland, Slingerland Mfg. Co., Chi- to feature the association label on instruments
cago; F. R. Johnson, Globe Music Co., St. that meet the required specifications and urged
the members to look upon the label as a badge
Charles, 111.; G. F. Chapin, Standard Musical
String Co., New York; A. L. Smith, Secretary; of honor. He touched upon the promotion
Jay Kraus, Harmony Co., Chicago; H. K. Kuhr- work done by the association and urged adop-
mcycr, Stromberg Voisir>et Co., Chicago; Wal- tion of a greater promotion program.
Krauth & Benninghofen, makers of Hamilton
ter Gotsch, Walter M. Gotsch Co., Chicago;
Carl G. Bjorkman, Armour & Co., Chicago; D. music stands, Hamilton, O., were accepted into
L. Day, Bacon Banjo Co., Groton, Conn.; L. A. membership and the resignation of the Lifton
Rlkington, L. A. Elkington Co., New York; Mfg. Co., New York, was accepted.
Walter Grover, A. D. Grover & Son, Inc., Long
The financial report was read and it showed
Island City; H. C. Lomb, Waverly Musical that upon completion of the collection of assess-
Products Co., Long Island City; J. P. Grant, ments due from members a fund of nearly
William L. Lange, New York; Mortimer K. $7,000 will be available for promotion purposes
Plushbottom, Chillicothe, O.; William Dough- during the coming year, so the matter of raising
erty, Music Trades, New York; T. W. Bresna- increased funds was left until the June or Octo-
han, The Review, New York.
ber meetings.
Secretary Smith read a letter from the Mer-
After reading telegrams of regret from Will-
iam F. Ludwig and Nicholas Geib, who were chants' Association of New York relative to the
proposed bill to rescind certain duties on cigars
unable to attend, President Gotsch made a short
speech which stressed the present-day impor- from Cuba in order to retain the parcel post
tance of courage in merchandising. He dis- agreement, but it was the sentiment of the meet-
cussed the hand-to-mouth buying of which so ing that present conditions of musical instru-
ment trading with Cuba did not warrant the as-
much is made by trade pessimists, but explained
how this will ultimately work to the advantage sociation taking a position in the matter.
of manufacturers.
Walter Grover read a letter from an officer in
Other points covered by Mr. Gotsch included the American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists
ihe uncertainty of public taste as a factor in- & Guitarists urging greater co-operation from
fluencing manufacturing methods and instru- the association in the matter of trade member-
ment changes and styles and the ever-increasing ships in the guild at $25 a membership. There
W
J 0T ,
GRETSCH
Jot-
Trade
Mark
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS
SINCE 1883
The Fred GretschMfoCo.
6O Broadway
BrooklyrI.N.Y
are at present eight members who arc members
of the guild. Mr. Chapin proposed that the
National Bureau for the Advancement of Music
get in touch with the guild on the question of
supplying fretted-instrument teachers for deal-
ers in cities where they are needed and for fur-
therance of promotion work through that body.
It is expected that there will be about ten more
memberships from the association if plans un-
dertaken materialize.
H. C. Lomb reported for the slogan special
•committee and stated that there would be a
meeting of this committee in New York March
12.
Secretary Smith reported that Kenneth Clark
of the National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music has arranged to attend a meeting of rural
workers at the University of Illinois, where he
will stage demonstrations of his ukulele clubs,
mandolin clubs, etc.
President Gotsch spoke of the work of Meyer
Davis in conducting his spectacular frctted-in-
strument contests in Willow Grove Park, Phila-
delphia, last Summer. He recommended that
the promotion committee consider following up
this work in other cities.
Mr. Lomb reported for the standardization
committee and made a spirited plea for greater
recognition of the advantages of the label.
Upon motion of Jay Kraus the meeting re-
scinded previous action in preventing the use of
publicity for the label in jobbers' and other
catalogs and a committee was appointed to
bring about greater publicity for the labels
which will shortly be ready for the guitar and
tenor banjo. Representatives of trade publica-
tions present agreed to co-operate in giving
wider publicity to the label.
A resolution presented by Mr. Lomb on the
death of Albert D. Grover was adopted and the
secretary was directed to send a copy to Mr.
Grover's family.
The hours between the sessions were devoted
to sports of various kinds, including a riding
party, a swimming carnival in the indoor tank,
and golf. As a climax to the golf sessions Mr.
Chapin announced that there would be an
eighteen-hole medal play handicap competition
for the Music Trade Review Cup offered by T.
W. Bresnahan, which will be played for at the
semi-annual meetings, the first person to win it
three times to gain permanent possession.
The prize was won by H. K. Kuhrmcyer of
the Stromberg-Voisinet Co., Chicago, with a
score of 86—11—75.
In the team match the East defeated the West
five to three. The scores: Bresnahan and
Chapin defeated Kuhnneycr and Gotsch, 2—0;
Kelsey and Smith defeated Slingerland and
Johnson. 3—0; Bjorkman and Kraus defeated
Millar, 3—0.
The scores: H. K. Kuhrmeyer, 86—11—75;
T. W. Bresnahan, 86—8—78; C. T. Kelsey, 87—
9—78; C. G. Bjorkman, 115—33—82; G. F.
Chapin, 96—13—83; H. H. Slingerland, 110—23—
87; G. R. Johnson, HO—23—87; D. G. Millar,
124—34—90; A. L. Smith, 115—23—92; J. L.
Kraus, 129—35—94.
Pictures of the meeting will be published next
week.
Sorkin Store Enlarged
PHILADKU'HIA. PA., March 12.—The store of
Sorkin Bros, at 1806 Ridge avenue, has been
remodeled and enlarged. The windows have
been extended while the interior has been re-
decorated and enlarged in the rear. More dis-
play room is available for the stocks.
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