10
PRESTO
NEXT WEEK'S EVENT
IN SUPPLY TRADE
Convention in New York Beginning Thurs-
day, Promises to Be Starting Point in
New Progress of Large Interests in
Musical Instrument Industries.
In making the final announcement for the Supply
Convention to be held at the Hotel Commodore,
New York City, May 20 and 21, the committee in
charge of arrangements announces that the informal
dinner which will be held at 7 p. m. Thursday at the
Hotel Astor instead of the Hotel Commodore as
originally announced. The business sessions of tho
convention, however, will be held at the Commo-
dore, the Thursday sessions taking place in the
Grand Ball Room and the Friday sessions in the
West Ball Room. The price of the dinner will be
$5.00 per cover.
Invitation Is General.
The committee is anxious that all firms manufac-
turing .or dealing in supplies used in the manufac-
ture of pianos should have representatives present
irrespective of membership in the Musical Supply
Association of America. This is not so much a con-
vention of the Musical Supply Association of Amer-
ica as it is a convention of the entire supply trade.
The official meeting of the Supply Association will
be held on Friday afternoon, and to this all repre-
sentatives of the trade are likewise invited. The
committee makes this announcement because there
have been rumors that several firms desire to be rep-
resented at the convention but fear that they are
not eligible because they are not now members of
the Supply Association.
Present indications are that there will be a large
attendance at the convention. Frank E. Morton,
Edmund C. Johnson and John C. Wickham, repre-
sentatives of the committee in charge of arrange-
ments, who are located in the Middle West, report
keen interest in the convention throughout the- en-
lire supply trade in that section and while unsettled
conditions, particularly freight transportation diffi-
culties, may, at the last moment, prevent some sup-
ply men from leaving their plants, nevertheless it is
expected that most western supply firms will be rep-
resented at the convention.
Large Attendance Promised.
Throughout the eastern section, the committee
hears little except favorable comment concerning
the convention and the revival of the Supply Asso-
ciation. Practically, all eastern firms have already
assured the committee that they will be reprseented
at the convention.
The oustanding feature of the program of the
convention is its constructive nature. The sub-
jects and discussion at each session lead up to a
resolution on the subject which will be presented for
action at the meeting of the Supply Association.
May 15, 1920.
These resolutions, if adopted, mean energetic action
on the part of the Musical Supply Association to
obtain the active support of other division members
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce to
bring about needed improvements in the music
industry from the standpoint of the supply trade.
Topics for Discussion.
For instance, the first policy relative to promotion
of the use of American-made supplies is not merely
a resolution against the use of foreign supplies, but
a request for the co-operation of the manufacturers
and dealers with the supply men to improve the type
and quality of American-made parts and supplies so
they will be superior in all cases to the foreign ar-
ticles. Of particular interest to supply men is that
part of this policy which provides in effect for scien-
tific determination of the quality of materials in
order that domestic piano supplies in competition
with imported supplies will be purchased upon the
basis of actual merit rather than supposed or al-
leged superiority.
The problem of standardization of piano parts and
supplies is not only one of the greatest importance,
but is one which will require constant attention over
long periods of time. Standardization is a relative
term, and complete standardization will never be ob-
tained.
Credits jjjid the Dinner.
The resolution on credits provides for a standing
committee to keep in close touch with the credit sit-
uation constantly. Such a committee should be a
factor in preventing the entrance into the trade of
unwise credit policies which are so likely to crop
out during periods of falling demand or over-pro-
duction.
The informal dinner on Thursday evening, prom-
ises to be one of the valuable sessions of the con-
vention. In view of the economic situation, and
particularly because of the effect of price changes
upon the demand for musical instruments in the
near future, the speech of Howard S. Mott of the
Irving National Bank on "The Underlying Causes
of Present Prices and the Factors Which Will In-
fluence Future Price Changes," should prove in it-
self worth attending the convention.
Effective work to promote the obects of the dis-
cussion at the convention will depend to a large
extent upon the co-operation of other associations
in the membership of the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce. The trade will be told of what
can be expected in the way of co-operation from
these associations by the president of the chamber,
the music dealers, and a representative of the piano
manufacturers, R. B. Aldcroftt, and E. P. Ham-
ilton.
(A New One Every Week.)
By The Presto Poick.
THE TRADE-INS.
In olden times the second hand
Was such a blasted bore
We'd kick each time we saw one land
Inside the wareroom door!
The cellar and the rooms upstairs
Were filled with ancient wrecks,
And "four-round" squares of millionaires
O'erfiowed the upper decks!
Like spavined steeds that stand in stall,
Too stiff to trot or run,
The trade-ins waited for a call
In vain—for there was none;
With cases checked, the keys fly-specked—
And rusted pins and strings—
Who could select, do you expect,
Those ghosts of better things?
But now the times have shifted so
That when a wreck comes in
T i s welcomed with such warmth and glow
That makes it shine like tin;
The precious trade-ins are as rare
As messengers from Mars,
And everywhere their values are
As high as summer stars!
The Discussion,
Sound credits are fundamental to prosperous busi-
ness conditions. The chief speaker on Thursday
will be J. H. Tregoe, secretary of the National As-
sociation of Credit Men. The committee has also
decided to invite a representative of the manufac-
turers to discuss this topic from the manufacturer's
standpoint.
In his address as president, at the business session
of the Musical Supply Association of America, E.
ARTISTIC CARVINGS
E. KOPRIWA CO.
When in Chicago visit our showrooms
at the Factory
2220 Ward Street, near Clybourn Ave.
Tel. Lincoln 2726
TWO TRADE WINNERS
I CHURCHILL
If you want Good Goods at Right Prices, here ars two
that will meet your requirements—Players and Pianos.
RELIABLE — FINE TONE — BEAUTIFUL
HARTFORD PIANO COMPANY
1223-1227 MILLER STREET, CHICAGO
B. Richardson will discuss, "A Proper Cost System
and Its Value as a Basis for Fixing Prices.''
The Program in Full.
Thursday. 9:30 a. m.—Grand Ball Room, Hotel
Commodore): Welcome to Representatives of the
Supply Trade, E. B. Richardson. Discussion: "The
Possibility of Standardization in the Musical Sup-
ply Trade." Leader of discussion, Frank E. Morton.
Thursday, 2 p. m.: Discussion: "Proper Credit
THE ORIGINAL RELIABLE
for PIANO and PHONOGRAPH
Manufacturers
HIGH-GRADE CARVED
NOVELTIES
Lamps, Wall Brackets, Book Ends,
Pedestals, etc.
HARTFORD
WAREROOM WARBLES
PIANO
(STRICTLY HIGH GRADE)
Sure Sellers.
Certain Satisfaction
Thirty years of satisfactory service in American homes.
O.BNERAL OPFICES AND FACTORY
WEED and DAYTON STREETS
CHICAGO
KROEGER
(Established 153 2)
The name alone is enough to suggest to dealers the Best
Artistic and Commercial Values.
The New Style Players Are Finest Yet. If you can
get the Agency you ought to have it.
KROEGER PIANO CO. •
NEW YORK. N. V.
and
STAMFORD. CON*.
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