Presto

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
E««bu.hed 1884. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
to < w . ; $IM a r. ar
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1925
STAMP TAX PART
OF CHAMBER DUES
At Chicago Meeting the By-Laws Were
Amended to Admit of Increased Collection
to Sustain Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce.
INCOME TOO SMALL
Added Rights Accorded to Members Who Conform
to Rules and Contribute to Distribution of
Stamps on Pianos.
The By-Laws of the National Piano Manufacturers'
Association were amended at the special meeting in
Chicago. January 22, to provide for increased dues,
the additional dues being based upon production and
amounting to twenty-five cents per piano. This in-
crease in dues was brought about in order to assure
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce of nec-
essary financial support and to distribute the expenses
equitably among the members of the Association.
Prior to the special meeting the Executive Commit-
tee approved the proposed amendment.
President E. R. Jacobson presided at the special
meeting and, among those present, were E. B. Bart-
lett, Hobart M. Cable, Mark P. Campbell, A. G. Gul-
bransen, Charles Jacob, D. D. Luxton, John H.
Parnham, Adam Schneider, Otto Schulz, B. K. Set-
tergren and C. A. Wagner.
Fifty-four members of the Association were present
by representation or by proxy. Only one member
opposed the increase and one other objected to the
stamp method of collection. Three or four members
wrote President Jacobson prior to the meeting
objecting to the increased dues.
Funds Badly Needed.
Soon after the organization of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, and the delegation to the
Chamber as the operating agency of many activities
which the Piano Manufacturers' Association would
otherwise have had to undertake itself or leave un-
done, it was found that the low rate of dues was
insufficient to finance the additional Association
activities. At first a special subscription was taken
up to finance the Association's share of the expense
of the work done by the Chamber. Later the so-
called stamp plan of the music merchants was en-
larged to include the 'piano manufacturers.
However, the use of the stamp, and hence the con-
tribution to the expenses of the Association, was
on a voluntary basis. For several years there has
been a growing feeling that everyone who belongs
to the Association and gets credit for supporting its
work and who shares in its benefits, particularly the
services of the Chamber, should bear a just share of
the expense.
The discussions prior to the vote showed a keen
appreciation of the value of the Chamber's efforts on
behalf of piano manufacturers and the necessity for
the Association providing a sound system to finance
its support of the Chamber. There was almost no
opposition whatsoever to the increased dues of
twenty-five cents per piano, and very little opposition
to the stamp plan as the method of collection. A more
satisfactory method of collection has never been devised
and it was pointed out that the use of the stamp
enables the merchants to contribute equally with the
manufacturers, which would be impossible under any
other arrangement.
The Stamp By-Laws.
The amended By-Law now reads as follows:
"All individuals, firms or corporations joining this
Association as members, shall pay an initiation fee
of $25.00. The annual dues of each member shall be
$50.00 payable on the first of May of each year, but
one-half of the annual dues of a member elected after
November 1st, and before the first of May next fol-
lowing, shall be remitted for that year. Members
shall also pay, as a regular part of their dues, 25
cents for each piano shipped by them, to be collected
from them in accordance with the so-called "Stamp
Plan" of the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce. The payment of the initiation fee, annual
dues and 25 cents for each piano shipped, by any
individual, corporation or firm, entitles said individ-
ual, firm or corporation to one vote, but extends the
privilege of membership, with all the rights connected
with the same, to the various members of said firms
or officers of said corporation, subject to the limita-
tions of the Constitution.
"Members who have not paid their dues, at the
time of the annual meeting, are not entitled to vote;
and, members who have not paid their dues six
months after the annual meeting shall cease to be
members, unless, in the opinion of the Executive
Committee, there are extenuating circumstances
which would make it advisable to extend the time
for the operation of this clause."
It was the consensus of opinion of the meeting
also that exhibits should 'be allowed at the official
convention hotel during the convention in June.
"BAIT" ADVERTISING
HIT BY CHAMBER
Better Business Bureau Presents Report on
Abnormal Amount of Low-Price Induce-
ments and Suggests Methods for Coun-
teracting the Gross Evils.
PREVENTIVE METHODS
Local Associations and National Body of Music Mer-
chants Urged to Discourage Practices
That Injure the Trade.
HOBART M. CABLE CO.
TO ENLARGE FACTORY
A report and recommendations have been sub-
mitted by the Better Business Bureau, Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce, to the officers and direc-
tors of the Chamber, in response to the action of the
Board of Directors on October 31, requiring an in-
vestigation and preparation of a report upon the ques-
Industry at La Porte, Ind., Will Soon Start tion of an abnormal amount of low-price advertising
and t h ^ u s e of so-called "bait" advertising and pos-
on a New Building for Grand Piano
sible work to counteract same.
Production.
An analysis has been made of information already
Evidences of the "come back" of the piano prom- on file, as a result of complaints handled by the
ised for the immediate future, as compared with the Bureau, and through investigation and observance of
past two years, come to notice almost every week. conditions generally and in several situations which
And one of the indisputable'proofs of the new activi- have become acute, says the report. A newspaper
ties may be seen in the extensive plans of the Hobart clipping service was instructed to submit advertising
M. Cable Company, of La Porte, Ind.
of playerpianos offered under $300, as being most rep-
The substantial industry referred to has already resentative of the condition in question.
The extent of the "bait" price advertising is indi-
prepared plans for a factory extension which will
fully double the present capacity. The addition will cated by the accumulation of 1,362 clippings in less
than one month through one service, during the holi-
be devoted to the manufacture of grand pianos, of
which a small grand will be noticeable for its special day season. The same advertisements included with
features of merit and beauty. The Hobart M. Cable the player copy a considerable amount of bargain or
Company owns ample ground adjoining the factory, "bait" advertising of small grand pianos, and other
at the edge of La Porte, and is in position to extend instruments. Of the total clippings, 360 were not
considered in the analysis compiled as a supplemen-
the addition to suit any increase in the output.
Business with the Hobart M. Cable Company has tary part of this report, because they included clearly
steadily increased, and the demand for a new small qualifying phrases which would classify the pianos as
grand is urgent. Messrs. Cable and Morenus are second-hand, even though the character of the adver-
not the kind of men to overlook such opportunities as tising could be questioned in many cases. Other
their consistently fine work has created, and they copy does not describe the pianos clearly as "used,"
will have as good a grand piano plant as the country although the prices indicate carelessness or over sight
in respect to this.
can boast.
The remaining 1,002 clippings are analyzed in the
The character of the Hobart M. Cable trade affords
one of the gratifying evidences of the continued prog- supplement attached to this report, according to states
ress of the piano trade, and that a well conducted and cities in alphabetical order, with the newspapers
piano industry presents the opportunities for which and advertisers named, showing the number of ads of
live men are ceaselessly seeking. The Hobart M. each advertiser and the price quoted therein.
Cable Co. factory, with the addition completed, will
Cities Are Named.
be more than double its present size and one of the
Special
mention
may be made of Washington, Bal-
most perfectly equipped in the list.
timore, Philadelphia, St. Louis and New York in call-
ing attention to this report, by reason of publicity
DEALER ENTERTAINS ASSOCIATES.
given to certain situations through the trade press, or
J. T. Couch, head of the Jas. T. Couch Music Store, because of special attention given them by this and
McKinney, Tex., recently entertained his business local Better Business Bureaus. It is noteworthy that
associates and office and sales staffs at an annual dealers of standing who were hitherto regarded as
banquet, which it has been his custom for many years believers in better business standards and recognized
to give in appreciation of the services of those whose adherents of sound business principles, have utilized
activity aids the prosperity of the company. The the lure of unbelievably low prices, if not as "bait,"
banquet was served at the beautiful home of Mr. then without regard to profits.
The Bureau has reached the following opinions,
Couch on West Virginia street, and was an occasion
of choice fellowship among all those who work with based upon a study of the advertising itself, informa-
tion about wholesale prices and retail expense, re-
him in the music business.
ports of the selling methods used, and actual shop-
ping experiences by representatives of this Bureau
HARRY V. BRIGGS IN EAST.
and detailed reports of other shoppers:
Harry V. Briggs, general manager of the May Co.'s
The Opinion Stated.
music salons, Los Angeles, left this week for New
1. Nearly all of the abnormally low price adver-
York on February 1 and stopped at the Commodore
with headquarters at 1115 Broadway. He will de- tising may be considered as "bait." Only a limited
part for Chicago on the 7th, and will put up at the number of pianos are actually sold at the unduly
La Salle Hotel February 8 to 12, and after visiting low prices advertised. Such low prices, as distin-
guished from legitimate popular prices, misrepresent
the May Co.'s stores in St. Louis.
the piano industry and cheapen its product in the
eyes of the public. The volume of low price adver-
BUYS STOCK IN SALEM, ORE.
tising is all out of proportion to the number of low
Geo. C. Will, the music dealer, Salem, Ore., has priced pianos sold. Apart from the use of low price
bought out the stock of R. F. Peters, formerly Peters advertising as "bait," and without reference to its
& Mills Music Store, on Court street, and moved all legitimacy, the growing volume of such advertising,
in proportion to the advertising of higher priced in-
pianos to his store on State street.
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