Music Trade Review

Issue: 1954 Vol. 113 N. 8

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Jtusi
Established 1879
Vol. 113-No. 8
PIONEER
2,893rd Issue
REVIEW
75lh Year
THE
August, 1954
PUBLICATION
75th Year
O F T H E M U S I C
I N D U S T R Y
Piano Manufacturers Optimistic After
Successful Convention in Chicago
HE 53rd Annual Convention of the
National Association of Music Mer-
chants, Inc. opened at the Palmer House
in Chicago on Monday, July 12th, with
an opening luncheon which was held in
the Grand Ballroom. President Russell
B. Wells welcomed the guests and stat-
ed: "There is no greater opportunity
to see everything in the world of music
than right here in this hotel. Many
thousands of dollars have been invested
by our commercial members in making
their exhibits attractive for you." He
then pointed out how the program was
planned and stated that it had been done
so as to allow "the greatest amount of
time possible to visit the suppliers and
manufacturers and to browse around to
learn of the many new products being
offered here for the first time."
T
He paid a complimentary tribute to
the men at the speakers' table whom he
introduced, who included the officers ©f
the N.A.M.M., Directors and committee
chairmen and also the officers and trus-
tees of the American Music Conference.
Continuing, he said: "As for the gen-
tlemen of the N.A.M.M. group and other
directors sitting in the audience, they
are the ones we can thank for the prog-
ress we have made this year. They have
worked out the big activities such as
our uniform accounting project, group
purchasing and the like as well as the
many worthy but less spectacular under-
takings such as telling the finansial
world what a good risk musical instru-
ment field is."
He paid a glowing tribute to the
American Music Conference when he
said, "The gentlemen of the American
Music Conference are no less gluttons
for punishment. Their responsibility is
promoting the use of music in schools,
communities, industries and in homes.
Had human beings been born with the
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1954
TIIK WIHTK HOl'SK
WASIIINCUOV
June 30, 1954
Dear Mr. Wella:
Please extend my greetings to everyone attending
the Annual Music Industry Trade Show and Conven-
tion of the National Association of Music Merchants.
THE
GREETINGS
OF
PRESIDENT
DWIGHT
As in other lands throughout the world, music has
a daily place in our nation's society. It has been
said that America has been blessed with men and
women who quickly forget their hardships but always
remember the songs that led them through the periods
of trial. All of you surely derive a sense of satis-
faction from the knowledge that, through your work,
so many Americans gain enjoyment and inspiration.
E.
EISENHOWER
To all of you go my best wishes for a most enjoyable
convention.
READ AT
THE
Sincerely,,
OPENING
LUNCHEON
Mr. Russell B. Wells
President
National Association of Music
Merchants, Inc.
28 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago 4, Illinois
ability to play instruments, these gen-
tlemen would all be out working their
heads off to keep up with the demand
of 165,000,000 musicians. Instead, we
must continually promote the use of
musical instruments which is made pos-
sible by money supplied by members
of the N.A.M.M., all musical instrument
manufacturing association members, the
industry's members and many farsight-
ed organizations wno are not members
of any group."
In conclusion, he said: "I wish to
thank our commercial members for
their interest in helping us build a
strong and prosperous retail association.
Our excellent trade publications deserve
special commendation for so generously
supporting our activities and otherwise
working in the interest of this great
industry.
"I have had the privilege to lead a
great organization, of which I am proud.
No one need fear for its future, for I
have worked closely with those in whose
hands the future lies. They have my
utmost unqualified confidence as I know
they have yours. With the same coop-
eration you have given jne, they, too,
will be inspired to give you back the
most that is in them."
Before the luncheon was over, the
guests were duly entertained and in-
spired by Gene Flack, whose message of
optimism started off the Convention
with much enthusiasm.
(Turn Over)
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC MERCHANTS
OFFICERS and DIRECTORS — 1954 -1955
President—Earl Campbell, Campbell Music Co., Washington, D. C.
Vice-President—Paul E Murphy, M. Steinert & Sons, Boston, Mass.
Treasurer—Ben F. Duvall, W. W. Kimball Co., Chicago, 111.
Secretary—H. T. Bennett, H. T. Bennett Music Co., Santa Barbara, Calif.
Executive Secretary—Wm R. Gard, 25 E. Jackson Blvd., hicago, 111.
Board Chairman—Russell B. Wells, C. E. Wells Music Co., Denver, Colo.
A. M. C. Trustee—Frank O. Wilking, Wilking Music Co., Indianapolis, Ind.
out. He added:
"1953 was a boom year which will
be hard to match for business men gen-
erally. The fact that we came so close
to registrations of about the finest re-
tail year in musical instrument history,
gives us an encouraging note for the
remainder of the year."
DIRECTORS:
For 3 years—S. H. Almanrode, J & S Music Co., Inc. Shreveport, La.
William Howard Beasley, Whittle Music Co., Dallas, Tex.
L. A. Chenoweth, Chenoweth & Green Music Co., Enid, Okla.
R. Gregory Durham, Lyon-Healy, Inc., Chicago, 111.
Ted Koiten, Korten's, Longview, Wash.
J. A. McClanahan, The Williams Music Co., Columbus, Ohio
Laurin A. Mueller, Redewill Music Co., Phoenix, Ariz.
Clay Sherman, Sherman Clay & Co., San Francisco, Calil.
\
For 2 years—Earl Campbell, Campbell Music Co., Washington, D. C.
Thos. J. Holland, Glen Bros. Music Co., Salt Lake City, Utah
James F. Maroney, Thos. Goggan & Bros., Houston, Tex.
••
\
B. E. Neal, Neal-Clark-Neal Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
\
Oliver H. Ross, Jr., O. H. Ross Piano Co., Ft. Worth, Tex.
R W. Schirring, Halle Brothers Co., Cleveland, Ohio
Rudolph Siegling, Siegling Music House, Charleston, S. C.
H. J. Sneller, Sneller Music Co., Minneapolis, Minn.
For 1 year —Charles B. Adams, Adams Music Co., Peoria, 111.
J. A. Brown, Brown Music Company, Jackson, Miss.
E. E. Forbes, Sr., Forbes Piano Co., Birmingham, Ala.
E. R. McDuff, Grinnell Brothers, Detroit, Mich.
Chas. O. Morgan, Morgan Piano Co., Miami, Fla.
Emory Penny, Penny-Owlsey Music Co., Los Angeles, Calif.
Wm H. Schmoller II, Schmoller-Mueller Piano Co., Omaha, Kabr.
Wm. R. Steinway, Steinway & Sons, New York, N. Y.
1,828 Dealers Attended
The Trade Show and Convention
closed July 15 with the fourth largest
attendance in history. Final registration
figures showed 7,955 persons in attend-
ance of whom 1,828 were dealers. In
1953 registration totaled 8,582.
Although there were fewer exhibitors
than last year, 256 as compared with
274 in 1953, those who did display
their wares took more total floor space
than did exhibitors the preceding year.
Three times as many rooms were pro-
vided for exhibitors on the 9th floor
of the Palmer House as last year, per-
mitting the exhibit hall to be opened
up. This resulted in less crowding, less
noise and less confusion for exhibitors
as well as lending a spacious back-
ground for the displays.
This was the first year that an ac-
curate record was kept of buyers at-
tending the convention. The large num-
ber revealed was a strong indication of
the show's success, William R. Gard.
executive secretary of the National As-
sociation of Music Merchants, pointed
Press Conference
Early on Monday morning, a press
conference was held at which President
Wells predicted that 1954 sales would
equal and certainly wouldn't be more
than 3 % less than last year's by an es-
timated total of $324,000,000. He stated
that 60% of the year's business nor-
mally occurs in the final four months
of the year.
"High-priced merchandise," he said,
"is moving well, especially large organ
and piano units. Generally, the level-
ing off in business has been stabilized
and sales are starting to climb upward."
At the same conference, John E. Fur-
long, President of the National Piano
Manufacturers Association and Vice-
President of Winter & Co., said the pi-
ano industry feels optimistic because of
the upward sales trend since 1950. "In
1951," he said, "sales were 133,712 un-
its. In 1952. sales were 140,580 units,
and in 1953 sales were 147,753 units.
"This year," he said, "sales are run-
ning about 23% behind 1953 but we
expect a strong fall pick-up so that we
shall be at least equal to 1953."
He told the group that the National
Piano Manufacturers Association has
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC MERCHANTS OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 1954-1955. Officers (seated left to right) are: William
R. Gard, Chicago, executive secretary; H. T. Bennett, pres., The H. T. Bennett Music Co., Santa Barbara, Calif., secretary; Russell B.
Wells, pres., The Chas. E. Wells Music Co., Denver, Colo., chairman of the board; Earl Campbell, pres., Earl Campbell Music Co.,
Washington, D. C, president; Paul E. Murphy, treas., M. Steinert and Sons Co., Inc., Boston, vice president; Ben F. Duvall, vice pres.
and general manager, W. W. Kimball Co., Chicago, treasurer; Frank O. Wilking, pres., Wilking Music Co., Indianapolis, Ind., American
Music Conference director.
New directors elected (standing, left to right) are: J. A. McClanahan, pres., The Williams Music Co., Columbus, Ohio; Ted Korten, pres.,
Korten's, Longview, Wash.; R. Gregory Durham, pres., Lyon-Healy, Inc., Chicago; S. H. Almanrode, partner, J & S Music Co.. Inc.,
Shreveport, La.; Laurin A. Mueller, general mgr., Redewill Music Co., Phoenix, Ariz.; William Howard Beasley, pres., Whittle Music Co.,
Dallas, Tex.; and L. A. Chenoweth, pres., Chenoweth & Green Music Co., Enid, Qkla.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, I954

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