Music Trade Review

Issue: 1928 Vol. 87 N. 13

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Chamber President Dinner
Guest of British Federation
the adverse tide. Of course it was not so bad
as it seemed, but it was serious enough to
arouse our trade to realize the necessity for
concerted action to reawaken the people to the
fact that the piano maker and merchant were
still trying to do business at the old stand. It
was not to be thought either that music would
be cast aside for good. Too many prominent
ERMANN IRION, president of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, was the guest piano manufacturers had always taken great
of the Council of the Federation of British Music Industries at a dinner held at the May- pains and spent considerable sums of money in
fair Hotel, London, on September 12, and attended by the leading lights of the industry connection with musical affairs, artists and
from many sections of England and Scotland. *S. E. Moon, of Plymouth, chairman of the Fed- schools to make certain that the art should
eration, presided at the dinner, and in addition to Mr. Irion the guests included John Eshelby and thrive and expand, but the new condition re-
quired more than all of these individual houses
Wm. R. Steinway, of Steinway & Sons of London.
could
possibly cope with and I am happy to say
In his address Mr. Irion made some interest-
~
ing comparisons between the Music Industries and realized the need for promotional work as a that we feel that in the work of our association,
as in your own, a solution has been found, work
Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of means of investment for future business har-
which indeed only an association well con-
British Music Industries, the latter, as a matter vests.
ducted with a definite goal always in mind can
of fact, having been modeled more or less after
"As we pause at periodical intervals to take
accomplish for the benefit of the whole.
stock of our achievements and to measure their
"Your own great poet, Kipling, has aptly
results, where this may be possible, we wonder
why this thought and the need for it was so
tardily recognized," said Mr. Irion. "I think
the reason for this is quite clear. A new era
had begun to set in. At first the effects of it
were not clearly definable, even if they were
recognized, partly because the industry itself
became the beneficiary of it in the shape of the
player-piano and the phonograph.
Both of
these instruments for quite a period of years
.urnished manufacturers and dealers alike a
goodly portion of their annual turnover and in-
deed I will recall periods at which prediction^
were freely made that the time was near at
Land when the straight piano would be a thing
HI the past. Even the music teacher was in
great fear that his usefulness was nearing its
md. However, the new era did not confine the
i hanges wrought by it to the music industry.
It brought the automobile, at first a costly and
troublesome affair, but later perfected and com-
mercialized as it is now, which diverted the
thoughts of the people from home pleasures and
amusements to those of the countryside,
forests and fields, and in its wake came a dozen
Hermann Irion
or more of new mechanical contrivances, cal-
President, Music Industries Chamber of
culated to produce greater comforts, efficiency
S. E. Moon
Commerce
and economy in the household, all of which
Chairman, Federation of British Music
contended seriously for a slice of the house- said, 'The strength of the wolf is the pack,' and
Industries
holders' budgetary allowances and available applying it to our associations this may be
the Chamber, and being made up of divisional spare change, if any. All of these new and de- paraphrased to read, 'The strength of the In-
sirable devices quickly took a hold of the popu- dustry is its Association.' Far be it from me
and individual membership.
In comparing, at some length, the work lar fancy, and, lo and behold, along came the to imply that a trade association can supply
of the trade organizations, Mr. Irion pointed radio with its fascinating ability to put one in the intelligence, energy, experience and talent
necessary for an individual to achieve a worth-
out that up to the time of the war they had communication with all the world.
"Small wonder that the player-piano, which while success in business, but I do wish to em-
devoted themselves chiefly to purposes of de-
fense against labor troubles, inimical legisla- up to that time had held the center of the phasize that no trade can prosper as a whole,
tion and questionable trade practices, and with stage for automatic musical instruments, and in our modern high-tension type of competition
the coming of the conflict and its curtailment even the gramophone for a while, dropped into —not alone with this industry, but competition
regulations proved a strong factor in preserv- disquieting desuetude for the piano manufac- with other active industries—unless it has an
ing the foundation of the industry. With the turer and merchant alike. It.seemed as if the ably managed association competent to cope
passing of the war there came the need for bottom were going to drop out of the music with every new phase arising on the constantly
(Continued on page 6)
rehabilitation and the association officers saw business, and something- had to be done to stem
Hermann Irion, President of Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce, Honored by Officials of Federation of British
Music Industries at Dinner in London
H
ESTABLISHED 1862
L^UTER
ONE OF AMERICA'S
GRANDS
NEWARK, N. J.
FINE PIANOS
UPRIGHTS
THE LAUTER-HUMANA
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
Chamber President Dined
by British Federation
(Continued front page 5)
and rapidly changing commercial horizon of
our modern time.
"There are still many business men, partic-
ularly in the older industries such as ours, who
fail to realize the need for united action, and
are too prone to regard associations as the
means for the aggrandization of the relatively
few who are willing to give their energy and
time required for the necessary work, but I am
happy to say that the number of such men is
gradually melting away under the fire of posi-
tive evidence of the beneficial results which as-
sociations such as yours and ours have and still
will and can achieve. I am confident that at no
time in the history of our industry have the
members thereof been so keenly alive to the
Big Attendance Expected at
Wisconsin Association Meet
MILWAUKEE, WIS., September 24.—Reservations
for the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants for the dinner
which will be held when the association comes
together on October 3, at six o'clock at the
Milwaukee Athletic Club, are coming in to
Henry M. Steussy, secretary of the association.
The meeting will be short, according to an
announcement from Mr. Steussy, as the retailers
are to take part in the annual Radio-Music ex-
position which is being held in Milwaukee dur-
ing the week. After the good-fellowship din-
ner, association business will be taken up, and
following the meeting the music dealers will
attend the Radio-Music show in a body.
Seek Funds for National
Distribution Census
WASHINGTON, D. C, September 24.—Funds for
the taking of a national distribution census in
connection with the general population and
manufacturers' census in 1930 will be asked of
the Bureau of the Budget in the near future by
officials of the Department of Commerce.
Preliminary plans for this census were
mapped out by the department prior to the
resignation of former Secretary Hoover, who
SEPTEMBER 29, 1928
part which is theirs to play in the musical life
of our nation. This confidence instills in me
the greatest optimism for the future of the busi-
ness in which we are all so vitally interested."
Many Trade Notables Present
Time Coming When There Will Be More
In addition to Mr. Irion, whose address was
Prospective Piano Students Than Available
received enthusiastically, other speakers at the
Teachers Can Handle, He Says.
dinner included Wm. R. Steinway, F. B. Allen,
of Bansall & Sons, Ltd., London, and chairman
Arthur L. Wessell, vice-president of Wessell,
of the Executive Committee of the Federation; Nickel & Gross, New York, who attended the
E. J. Marshall, of Sir Herbert Marshall & Sons Illinois Music Merchants' Convention last week,
Ltd., London; Eric Foster, of John Broadwood following a trip through the mid-West, stated
& Sons, Ltd., London; R. P. Brasted, Brasted that business not only looks good, but that it
Bros., Ltd., London, and deputy chairman of will surpass expectations this fall. Mr. Wessell
the Federation; Lieut.-Col. R. H. Tatton, organ- points out that with a general improvement in
izating*" director of the Federation, and Wm. business and the depleted stocks of dealers the
Rushworth, of Rushworth & Dreaper, Ltd., industry will be swamped with orders.
Liverpool, treasurer of the Federation. The
Mr. Wessell attributes the increase in busi-
guests included representatives of all branches ness to the reaction to group piano class in-
of the British trade.
Must Train Music Teachers,
Declares A. L. Wessell
declared that an accurate knowledge of the
volume of distribution would contribute greatly
to the campaign to eliminate depressions and
panic times It is pointed out by officials of
the department that most of the wastes have
beer eliminated from production, and that
manufacturers are applying scientific principle.-,
to their operations, but there are still vast
potential savings to be made in the distribu-
tion system.
Brunswick Distributing
Branch Opened in Buffalo
SUFFALO, N. Y., September 24.—The Brunswick -
Balke-Collender Co. is completing the installa-
tion of new service features in its Buffalo Pana-
trope division, under the direction of George A.
Lyons, branch sales manager. Under the new
arrangement, which makes Buffalo an inde-
pendent branch instead of being under direction
from Cleveland as formerly, complete shipping
and other services will be given from Buffalo
stocks. A force of four salesmen will work out
of Buffalo covering the greater portion of New
York and six counties of northern Pennsyl-
vania.
The Alleghany Music Co., Chattanooga,
Tenn., has been incorporated with capital stock
of $20,000 by George P. Garrett, J. H. Sherill,
L. M. Donovan, F. M. Payne and J. F. Finlay.
A Real Pipe Organ
for the Home
At a Home Owner's Price
Arthu* L. Wessell
struction and other promotional work being
done to interest the child and parents in play-
ing the piano. He states that this work will
also help to bring back the player and repro-
ducing piano.
"In training a great army of children to play
the*piano," says Mr. Wessell, "I believe that we
should look, beyond the present to a condition
that is not far distant when there will not be
enough teachers to instruct these children if we
do not make an effort to also promote the art
of teaching music.
"In a survey recently made I have already
found thatin many localities this is a short-
age of music teachers at the present time. To
take care of a future condition when there will
be a great many more children who will want
to continue their group instruction work with
private lessons, the industry should aim to
train more music teachers to take care of the
increased number of pupils."
Reese With Harbaugh Go.
The new Geneva Home Organ built by specialists of many years' experience,
meets the demand of the professional musician in tone, quality, equipment and
tone combinations.
Each model is equipped with a 16-foot pedal organ.
The cost installed in the average home meets the average man's pocketbook.
And the piano merchant finds a handsome profit and a splendid sales field.
The new Geneva Home Organ can be played by manuals or by rolls, with
an unlimited roll library at command.
AKRON, O., September 24.—Thomas Reese has
been made manager of the newly opened radio
department of the B. F. Harbaugh Piano Co.,
Kast Market street. This concern has just com-
pleted installing demonstration rooms for radio.
It is one of the oldest music houses in greater
Akron.
Ask for details
AKRON, O., September 24.—George S. Dales Co.,
one of the oldest and best-known music stores
in Akron, announces commencing this week an
entire floor will be given over to the display
and sale of radios and accessories. The third
floor of the Dales store, for many years the
piano salon, is now the radio department. This
store recently discontinued pianos. Frederick
Dales is looking after the buying and manage-
ment of the department.
GENEVA ORGAN CO.
Builders of the highest grade pipe organs for
churches, theatres, public auditoriums and homes
GENEVA, ILLINOIS
Radio Department for Dales

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