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January 8, 1920.
which have to do with propaganda and the purification of the retail
methods of doing business.
All of these things must so far concern every branch of the in-
dustry and trade as to attract attendance of the thinking class of both
manufacturers and merchants.
From letters which have come to this paper, it is plain that there
are piano dealers who think the Music Show is the dominating pur-
pose of next month's meeting. That is a mistaken notion. The
Music Show is of a collateral interest, but so great as to be a drawing
card by which the interest of both public and trade may be very
greatly enhanced. The public will have occasion to know more
about the practical and commercial sides of the things of music,
while it will be entertained, also, by a high class of interpretative
talent.
The dealers will be given the opportunity of seeing a great many
makes of pianos, and many novelties together in one vast exposition,
and to hear the instruments played by experts and explained by the
men who make them. It will be a music show surpassing everything
that has gone before, and even comparing in interest with the favored
Section I, of the Columbian Exposition, which is still fresh in the
memory of veterans in the trade.
Is there not enough of promise in next month's New York con-
vention to draw crowds of piano men? Is there any live piano mer-
chant who can afford the trip who does not see the advantages of
being there?
Finally, as a special favor, Presto requests that all readers of
this paper who expect to attend the convention and Music Show,
advise us of their plans, giving their New York address. And please
do it soon. If there is any information or advice by which we can
be of help let us know that, also.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1920.
A LIVE TRIO
*BooK J^umber
RESOLUTION FOR NINETEEN TWENTY.
Whereas, The New Year dawns with the promise of
new opportunities for men of vision and energy,
be it Resolved,
That we bury all old grudges and grievances, strifes
and strikes;
That we give ourselves to producing the wealth the
world needs;
That we make each day count for a full measure of
honest toil;
That we put new emphasis on service and co-opera-
tion as the keynotes of happiness, peace and
prosperity;
That we spend less extravagantly and more intelli-
gently;
That we subordinate class advantage to the com-
mon welfare, and
That we dedicate 1920 to a revival of the American
spirit of enterprise, energy and achievement.—
Associate Business Men.
THE CONVENTION
The convention in New York next month will present some ex-
perimental features. First of all, the change from blossoming spring
to chilly winter as the time of meeting will present some new condi-
tions. And it is possible that, coming at the season when trade is
usually quiet with the retailers, the change may be a good one re-
sulting in larger attendance.
The prominence given to the Music Show is another innovation.
For, while there have been expositions at convention times, they have
created a division of opinion among manufacturers, at one time
approaching a split in the association. This time the feeling seems
to be almost unanimously in favor of the show. This time, too, will
be the first at which may be possible a full consideration and weigh-
ing of the auxiliary branches of the central organization of music men
Three names have grown with almost peculiar significance into
the records of the music industry and trade during the past twelve
months, or a little more. They are the names of men whose work
has been auxiliary to that of the manufacturers or merchants. They
are names of men who have neither made pianos nor sold them. But
their work has, without question, helped all along the line, and added
to the possibilities of the future of both makers and sellers.
It would have been considered a proposition almost grotesque—
say twenty years ago—to suggest a special counsel to look after the
larger interests of the piano industry. Perhaps not a man in the
business at that time would have said that the affairs of the piano
trade required any special safe-guarding, or any influence by which
to avoid unjust legislation or unfair discrimination on the part of
the law-makers who regulate the public revenues.
Today, Mr. George W. Pound is a strong factor in the affairs
of the piano and its well-being. As a smoother-out of many troubles
he has done good work and made a name for himself in connection
with the industry.
Where, in earlier times, would it have been possible to find
a piano man ready to say that a special stirrer-up of music-lovers,
and a distributor of music propaganda, could be of appreciable influ-
ence in the sale of pianos ? In the early days of the piano the only
literature of music was the criticisms of concerts, the cynical or hu-
morous items about piano playing and the paid puffs concerning the
public performers. Today a fair number of large newspapers are
printing full pages of music-matter, well written and attractive, in
a popular sense.
It is the work of the bureau of music conducted by Mr. C. M.
Tremaine, who has shown himself equal to an effort which to many
at first seemed almost hopeless. And if there has been a special
call for good pianos, and a better understanding among the people
of good pianos, it is fair to give considerable credit, also, to Mr. Tre-
maine.
There was a time—not so very long ago—when piano advertis-
ing threatened to bring the trade into disrepute. The methods of the
dealers in their publicity efforts sometimes barely escaped being
fraudulent. This paper opposed the rising tide of the puzzle
schemers, the coupons and imitation bank checks, which were used
as lures for the little-informed. In several instances piano dealers
who had overstepped the lines of the law w.ere indicted and fined,
and the public had begun to scan piano advertising with open sus-
picion.
Today, all that has been changed. Some of the cleanest and
most efficient publicity experts in the advertising world are now
handling piano promotion in the press. The public is forgetting the
past in recognition of the fine enterprise of the music industries of
the present. And it is only fair to give much of the credit to the
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