Music Trade Review

Issue: 1928 Vol. 86 N. 22

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
JUNE 2, 1928
dividual association. The music industry is already well organized
and the problem of this industry is to make existing organizations
more effective.
REVIEW I
(Registered in the U. S. Patent Office)
Published Every Saturday by
Federated Business Publications, Inc.
at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York
President, Raymond Bill; Vice-Presidents, J. B. Spillane, Randolph Brown: Secre-
tary and Treasurer, Edward Lyman Bill; Assistant Secretary, L. B. McDonald:
Astiitant Treasurer, Win. A. Low.
B. BRITTAIN WILSON, Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
W. H. MCCLEARY, Managing Editor
RAY BILL, Associate Editor
F. L. AVERY, Circulation Manager
E. B. MUNCH, Eastern Representative
WESTERN DIVISION:
BOSTON OFFICE:
FRANK W. KIRK, Manager
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
E. J.
NKALY
Republic Bldg., 209 S. State St., Chicago
Telephone: Wabash 5242-5243
Telephone; Main 6950
Telephone: Lexington 1760-71
June 2, 1928
Vol. 86
1
Cable: Elbill New York
i
No. 22
The Association as a Force
HE industry that possesses a strong trade asso-
ciation is equipped for self regulation in a degree
which, if wisely directed, will effectively preclude
Governmental interference by rendering it unnecessary," said Abram
V. Myers, a member of the Federal Trade Commission, in a recent
public address.
The speaker pointed out that organizations of professional men
exercise effective control over the conduct of their members and
see to it that they conform to established ethical standards, and that
a movement was on foot to extend this method of self regulation
to all groups.
Here is an endorsement of the value and importance of the
trade association that bears an official stamp. It is admitted, of
course, that the trade association may find it impossible of itself to
force members to observe certain fixed standards but when such
standards are approved by the Government they will be regarded
as more binding and therefore more easily enforceable. That the
Federal Trade Commission is sincere in its desire to encourage the
formation of effective trade organizations, is shown by the estab-
lishment of a series of trade practice conferences of which approxi-
mately thirty have been held to date.
The trade association as a medium for establishing standards in
an industry, for surveying markets and for general constructive
as well as defensive effort, is steadily assuming greater importance,
depending in each case, of course, upon the character of the in-
More Salesmen — More Sales
T has been strongly suggested, and with logic, that the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants in its convention
next week should devote at least a portion of one session to
discussing earnestly the question of proper contact with the piano-
buying public and the need for many thousands more piano sales-
men to establish and maintain that contact with a view to increasing
sales and consequently production. There are cities in which there
is one piano salesman to 2,500 or 3,000 of the population, but these
cases are extremely rare, and it often happens that one piano
salesman to every 10,000 of population or more is the average.
The need for more salesmen has been strongly emphasized by
A. G. Gulbransen, head of the Gulbransen Co., who holds to the
belief that, properly approached, the public will buy pianos, and that
to make that approach it is necessary to have an adequate number
of salesmen. The idea has been accepted widely throughout the
trade, and is felt to be of sufficient importance to warrant its frank
discussion at the convention sessions. By this means it may be
possible to secure concerted action and develop the thought more
rapidly and successfully than can be done by an individual concern
regardless of how earnest its efforts may be.
In view of the evident tendency of those arranging the con-
vention program to plan matters of great importance to the trade,
for discussion the thought is not a bad one.
I
i
A Victory of Organization
HE Conference Committee, made up of members of
the House of Representatives and of the Senate
having agreed upon the provisions of the new rev-
enue bill, it is probable that, by the time this issue of THE REVIEW
is in the hands of its readers, it will have been signed by the
President and be a law.
That the new bill provides for a large general reduction in
taxes is in itself interesting, for these savings whether in corpo-
ration taxes or what not, are likely to benefit the public in numer-
ous ways directly and directly.
From the standpoint of the trade, however, the outstanding
feature of the new bill is the amendment designed to eliminate
the double taxation feature of the old law as applied to reports
on instalment sales. The inclusion of this amendment in the
final draft is a distinct tribute to the power of organization, for
it was due to the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, backed
by the music merchants of the country in large numbers and by
other instalment interests, that this result was achieved.
Not so long ago the House Committee refused to include the
amendment in its report of the bill, despite earnest argument. The
Senate Finance Committee, however, was inclined to listen to that
same argument and wrote the amendment into the bill.
Aeolian Go. of Missouri
Broadcasting Programs
F. G. Goryell to
Handle Nevin Line
night. In order to create interest in the con-
cert, the company announced that a beautifully
bound album containing 112 pages of photos of
world renowned piano concert artists would be
ST. LOUIS, May- 28.—As another step in its sent to every one responding with a card or
F. G. Coryell, formerly secretary of the Lai-
broad program to stimulate greater music ap- letter containing an expression of opinion of
fargue Co., New York, who is wholesaling
preciation, the Aeolian Co. of Missouri has ac- the new plan.
furniture, radio cabinets and pianos, announced
quired contract rights over radio station
this week that he will handle in addition to
KMOX, the "Voice of St. Louis," and is broad-
those lines already represented the Nevin
casting special concert programs every Friday
Pianos, manufactured by the Nevin Piano Co.,
night.
New York.
The company recently completed arrange-
MILWAUKEE, WIS., May 29.—Milwaukee musical
To a representative of The Review, Mr. Cor-
ments with officials of the Columbia Phono- dealers are prominent on the State committee yell stated this week: "The Nevin Grands are
graph Co. to broadcast locally the eastern com- for the second national radio audition, Mrs. J. produced in attractive period models which fit
pany's program. The local station, it was ex- H. Stapleton, Milwaukee, is chairman of the in admirably with the high grade furniture now
plained, will be cut in on the eastern chain and committee. Members of the committee include in vogue and I can see a great future in this
the Aeolian Co.'s time over KMOX will be Hugh W. Randall, president and general man- proposition."
devoted to the dissemination locally of concert ager of the J. B. Bradford Piano Co.; Eric S.
Mr. Coryell makes his headquarters at 22
programs broadcast from the eastern station.
Hafsoos of the Flanner-Hafsoos Music House, Hunter avenue, New Rochelle, N. Y.
The concert has been designated as "At Inc., and Mrs. Hafsoos; Edmund Gram, presi-
Home With the Artists and Masters," and the dent of Edmund Gram, Inc., and leaders in Mil-
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
first program was broadcast locally last Friday waukee music circles.
The Review.
Dealers in Audition
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JUNE 2, 1928
The Music Trade Review
Gulbransen Co. Completes Regional
Conferences With Pacific Northwest
is one of the most effective means of loosening
the American family's purse strings. Sales
records of his company, he said, indicated that
a large volume of piano business is obtained
through this medium.
Meeting at Portland Has 100 Per Cent Attendance of Gulbransen Dealers From States
In answer to the question, "Is the piano los-
ing its hold on the public," Mr. Gorman said:
of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana
"Despite the invasion of radio, phonograph,
DORTLAND, ORE., May 24.—A 100 per cent
"This new fashion of harmonizing pianos with saxophone, or what have you, there are more
representation of Gulbransen dealers from the furnishings of American living rooms will American youngsters taking music lessons on
Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana met rid thousands of homes of antiquated tin-pan the old-fashioned piano than there are en-
in Portland May 21 and 22 for the seventh re- relics by up-to-date instruments. There is rolled in all the colleges and universities of the
gional meeting held by the Gulbransen Co. with nothing more pathetic than a worn-out piano. United States. There are 865,000 piano stu-
John S. Gorman, vice-president and sales It has no appeal either to the eye or ear. Its dents in America," he declared, "while the reg-
manager, and Walter Kiehn, advertising mana- tone is dead and its action paralytic. It can- istration of regular students in 192 resident col-
ger, in charge. George E. Corson, Pacific not be tuned into serviceability. It has finished leges and universities is but 570,000."
Northwest district manager, assisted at the its day and deserves a perpetual rest. A su-
Luncheons were held each day in the Heath-
Portland meeting which was held at the Heath- perannuated piano is as out of place in a modern man club rooms, where a Gulbransen piano was
man Hotel. Each day was devoted to sales living room as a plush-bound family album." installed, with all dealers joining in community
meetings and discussions of policies and there
Newspaper advertising, Mr. Gorman declared, singing.
was a complete display of the many Gulbransen
models. The display was thrown open to the
public each evening and much interest was
shown in the entire line, comprising period
grands in a new Spanish model and small Art
grands, color Art Minuets, small uprights in
ivory, Japanese red and walnut, and the new
three-way piano, the Triano, in both upright
and grand, also high-lighted uprights and reg-
istering pianos. One of the unique features of
the exhibit was the fancy scroll back in the
minuet.
Mr. Kiehn, in speaking of the series of meet-
ings, said: "This Portland meeting is the
seventh and last of our regional meetings, the
other six having been held in Chicago, Atlanta,
Dallas, New York, Los Angeles and San Fran-
cisco. In this manner we have been able to | The Four Instru- |
give every one of our 1,500 Gulbransen dealers j
merits Were 1
a chance to hear our story. The message given
our men is the necessity of increasing the man | Sold by James T
power of the piano business, by adding 100,000
G. Talbot
u
retail salesmen to the field, working with and I
not against their piano competitors, and stress-
ing the fact that 'The Public Properly Ap-
proached Will Buy Pianos,' that the competi-
tion of the piano merchant is from the outside
and not from within, and that modern piano
merchandising calls for modern window dis-
plays, concentrated new piano advertising and
intelligent use of literature by dealers and sales-
men to compete with other industries."
ililULIUIIIIIINIIIIrS
Following is part of one of the talks given
the dealers by Mr. Gorman:
lished by M. Witmark & Sons, New York, is
"Fashions in pianos, like styles in women's Surgeon Uses Music
winning individual honors.
clothes, household furniture and automobiles,
have shown marked changes recently. To keep
Preliminary to Operations
in tune with the present interior decorative
Takes Over Frank Co.
trends pianos must harmonize with their sur-
DETROIT, MICH., May 26.—The use of music as
roundings. Standardized mahogany a-nd oak up- an aid in surgical work is being advocated by
The Frank Music Co., one of the oldest music
rights are being supplanted by new models in Dr. Alexander W. Blaine, a prominent local sur- houses in Minneapolis, has been taken over by
period designs, including Spanish, Adam, Hep- geon, who states that music helps to relieve the the Baldwin Co., and is now being operated as a
plewhite and Louis XVI. The American house- nervous strain on a patient, when an anesthetic branch by that company under the management of
wife has discovered that it is poor art as well is being administered. Dr. Blaine has a phono- C. C. Krier, who is also in charge of the St. Paul
as economy to invest time and money in se- graph and a library of records in his operating branch.
lecting period furniture to adorn her living room in the Jefferson Clinic and Diagnostic
room only to have an orphan piano sound a Hospital of this city. Before being placed on
Miss Pauline Manchester was the winner in
decorative discord. Consequently manufactur- the operating table the patient is asked his fa- the finals of the piano contest held recently
ers are replacing the old-fashioned cases of vorite melody. The surgeon states that national under the auspices of the Society of American
yesterday's pianos with thoroughly modern and anthems are chiefly in demand, with Irish ditties Musicians with the co-operation of the Cable
individual period designs now in vogue in fur- next, and old folks songs right behind. Ernest Piano Co. The contest was held at the Chi-
niture styles.
R. Ball's ballad, "My Wild Irish Rose," pub- cago Art Institute.
Four Sohmer & Co. Pianos for Leading
Baptist Church at Gloversville, N. Y.
; ince
184/2
cAmcriceCs
c
Fbremost
'Piano
^ S T I E F F PIANO
Will attract the attention of those
who linow and appreciate tone guality
CHAS.M.STIEFF Inc.
JtieffHall
~
Baltimore
c
yfie oldest
(piano-forte in
cAmerica to»day
owned and con"
trolled by the
direct decendents
of the founder

Download Page 8: PDF File | Image

Download Page 9 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.