Presto

April 11, 1925.
PRESTO
ACTIVE MEETING
OF OHIO DEALERS
Music Merchants' Association of Ohio Hold
Sessions at Columbus and Cover a Good
Deal of Ground, Including a New
Golf Organization.
TOO MANY ABSENTEES
But Committee Reports Prove that Interest Is Alive
and Present Most Cheerful Outlook for This
Year's Business.
The regular mid-year meeting of the Council and
Advisory Board of the Music Merchants' Association
of Ohio was held at the Fort Hayes Hotel, Colum-
bus, March 30th. President Grau called the meeting
to order. The following members of the Council
were present, in addition to President Grau: Otto C.
Muehlhauser, vice-president; secretary, Rexford C.
Hyre; executive committee men, R. C. Taylor, E. C.
McMahon, E. M. Harbough and George P. Gross.
Treasurer O. H. Boyd wrote explaining his absence—
vacation trip to Panama; C. C. Baker was also unable
to be present.
There were six members of the Advisory Board
present: A. B. Smith, Omer E. Westerfield, John F.
Renner, Henry Dreher, William W. Smith and Robert
C. Wilkin. Letters were received from other mem-
bers explaining their inability to attend.
Push for New Members.
C. M. Alford, chairman of the Membership Com-
mittee, and William V. Crowe, chairman of the Legis-
lative Committee, were also present. The former
made his report, which showed that since the Cleve-
land convention twelve members had resigned, eight
had removed from the trade or died, and fourteen
new members had been secured, making the present
total membership 360. A general discussion followed
regarding the best methods to get new members.
It was finally decided to have the secretary send
all present a list of the present membrship with appli-
cation blanks, so that each one could secure at least
five new members by July 1, 1925. It was also sug-
gested that each month a list be carried in the bulle-
tin of all those members who have secured new mem-
bers, giving the number of applications secured by
each member.
The report of the Advancement of Music Commit-
tee was given by Otto Grau for F. B. Beinkemp,
chairman, who was unable to be present. Mr. Bein-
kamp urged the establishment of a broadcasting sta-
tion by the Ohio Association. Because of lack of
finances, this suggestion was passed for consideration
at a future meeting.
Insurance and Carrying Charge.
The report of the Mutual Insurance Committee
was read by Secretary Hyre, as Charles H. Yahrling,
chairman, was not present. The secretary was in-
structed to continue the Mutual Insurance Depart-
ment and all members were urged to give the organi-
zation a part of their insurance at least.
The report of the Carrying Charge Committee was
not available due to the absence of its chairman, Wil-
liam R. Graul. W. W. Smith, president of the Na-
tional Association of Retail Music Merchants, then
presented a letter from Ed Kiesselhorst, of St. Louis,
which the secretary read and, in which Mr. Kiessel-
horst told how he had been using a carrying charge
since January 1, 1925, on his piano sales. A great
deal of discussion followed and it was by mutual
consent decided to continue this committee for re-
port at the next convention.
President Otto Grau then read the report of Joseph
A. Jacober, chairman of the Cincinnati Convention
Executive Committee.
Upon a motion by Mr. Crowe, secouded by Mr.
Renner, and unanimously adopted, Henry Dreher was
appointed a committee of one to take up and prepare
plans, including a constitution and by-laws, for or-
ganizing an Ohio Music Trade Golf Association at
the forthcoming Cincinnati convention; the said asso-
ciation to be composed of members of the Music Mer-
chants' Association only, to have its own member-
ship fee conduct its annual contest at the same time
as the annual conventions of the State Association,
and to have uniform rules and regulations for its play
each year.
It was also moved and seconded that future con-
ventions charge for strip entertainment tickets the
fixed sum of $8.50, said amount to cover a banquet
and such additional entertainment as is possible in
each individual case, depending upon the ability of
the local committee each year.
Fixed Convention Dates.
It was also decided to recommend to the 1925
convention that the annual meeting and convention
each year of the Music Merchants' Association of
Ohio, beginning with the year 1926, occupy three
days—that is, the second Monday of September each
year and the Tuesday and Wednesday following,
with business meetings held only in the afternoons
of these days.
It was unanimously decided that the same plan for
selecting the subjects to be discussed at the forthcom-
ing Cincinnati convention be used as was adopted for
the 1924 convention held in Cleveland. The secre-
tary was instructed to prepare a suitable letter to all
members, enclosing a printed postal for the recording
of a vote on a suggested list of subjects. The six
subjects receiving the highest postal card vote of the
members are to be discussed at the 1925 Cincinnati
convention, the speakers and the method of handling
to be left to the discretion and judgment of the
president.
Subjects for Discussion.
The following subjects were suggested, with the
understanding that they could be added to or changed
before the postal card vote was taken as the presi-
dent and secretary might deem best:
Overhead Compared to Volume; The Carrying
Charge; Bait Advertising; Radio Discounts; Future
of the Talking Machine; Trade-Ins; Advantages of
Handling Smaller Musical Instruments in Music
Stores; Business Systems, Prospects, Shop, Collec-
tions, etc.; How to Create and Secure Trained Piano
and Musical Merchandise Salesmen; Financing; Tun-
ing and Service; Mutual Insurance.
Secretary Hyre reported regarding the credit blank
that he was authorized to prepare at the Cleveland
convention. He stated that he had prepared a proper
legal blank but that it was too lengthy, in the opinion
of the members heard from, and asked for a com-
mittee to co-operate with him. He also suggested
the preparation of a uniform slip that could be used
by Ohio retail music merchants on their bills, their
payment books, or any other method used to collect
installments, which would inform customers of the
uniform rule of the association regarding delinquent
payments, and when the instrument should be re-
possessed.
Credits and Freights.
The credit statement and repossession slip notice
was approved in principle, and the president was
authorized to appoint a committee of three to co-
operate with and advise the secretary in the final
preparation of these two forms. President Grau ap-
pointed the following credit statement committee:
M. E. Smith, Cleveland, chairman; F. E. Woodford,
Youngstown; Fred J. Van Court, Cincinnati.
A motion was made and seconded that the asso-
ciation pledge its united support to the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce in its fight against in-
creased freight rates affecting the music industry.
Radio in the Trade.
President Grau appointed the following committee
to investigate and report on the radio manufacturers
of the country who were inclined to provide proper
discounts for music, stores: E. C. McMahon,
Youngstown, chairman; Omer E. Westerfield, Green-
ville, and Dan R. Baumbaugh, Cleveland.
The question of admitting radio dealers to the
State Association was presented, and after consider-
able discussion it was decided that merchants han-
dling radio only were not to be invited to join or
admitted to the State Association. This was not to
INDIANAPOLIS SHOWS UP
AT HOME EXHIBITION
All of the Local Music Houses Are Repre-
sented and Many Fine Pianos Add to
Beauty of Display.
Practically every music house in Indianapolis is
represented at the Home Complete Exposition now
being held in the Industrial Building at the State Fair
Grounds. The booths are beautifully decorated and
indeed a credit to the attraction.
The Carlin Music Company are exhibiting the
Fairj' Conover Grand with the Welte-Mignon repro-
ducing action, and also a pressure gauge which is
attached to the instrument and indicates the shading
of the artist. The guage is an invention of Edward
Mitchell, an employee of the company. The Cable
Midget style upright is also being displayed to
advantage.
The complete line of small goods, including the
Holton band instruments, and the Ludwig, Bacon and
Paramount banjos, are also on display, and also the
Ludwig drums.
The Christena-Teague Company is showing its line
of Marshall & Wendell Grands. The Chickering Ara-
pico, in the Adam design, and the William and Mary
style show up well. The Vose Grand, in style O, is
also on exhibition.
The Baldwin Piano Company's both is occupied by
one of the style H, Baldwin Grands, in mahogany;
the Howard Manuola style 476, the art design Bald-
win Grand and a new style Hamilton upright, and
the style 260 Brunswick Radiola.
The Pearson Piano Company are exhibiting the
Steinway Grand in style M, the Settergren Grand,
style X, the Kurtzmann, style B Grand, and the
Weber Duo-Art, style Louis the 16th. The complete
line of Buescher Band instruments are also being
displayed.
Rapp & Lennox are showing the Francis Bacon up-
right, the Fisher Grand, the Fisher Ampico Grand
and the Knabe Ampico Grand.
The Indianapolis Music House are showing the
A. B. Chase piano in several styles and the Repro-
ducing: Grand.
OPENS NEW BRANCH STORE.
The Parks Music House Company, of Hannibal,
Mo., has opened a branch store in Monroe City, Mo.,
with a stock of pianos, playerpianos, and other musi-
cal instruments. A concert was given at the formal
opening. F. A. Hurd, of the Hannibal house of the
Parks company, is in charge.
apply to dealers handling radio along with other
musical instruments.
A motion by Henry Dreher, seconded by Otto C.
Muhlhauser, and unanimously adopted, was that the
retail music business is on the up grade, that collec-
tions are much better than last year, and that from
all ndications in Ohio and throughout the country
1925 will be one of the biggest years in the trade.
The ladies and gentlemen present were entertained
at seven o'clock dinner at the Hotel Fort Hayes by
President Otto Grau.
THE H. G. JOHNSON FACTORY
II
As has been told in Presto, the new factory of
the Henry G. Johnson Piano Co. at Bellevue, Iowa,
is under full headway. The new factory is much
larger than the one which was destroyed by fire a
year ago. It is perfectly equipped for the produc-
tion of pianos in quantities to meet the requirements
of the trade. The small grands from this factory
will be a large factor of the trade in the near future.
The completion of this comprehensive piano mak-
ing plant is another testimonial to the energy and
enterprise of Mr. Johnson.
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