November 7, 1925.
PRESTO
MICHIGAN TRADE
HAS ASSOCIATION
J u s t a word or two of
information—a prof-
i t a b l e m e s s a g e to
music merchants.
.progressive dealers
everywhere have long
ago discovered the
unusual possibilities
of selling and oper-
ating automatic
pianos.
SEEBURG instru-
ments, they have ob-
served, are best suited
to this strenuous ser-
vice— simplicity, re-
liability and endur-
ance mean something
P i a n o construction
must vary according
to the purpose long
years of experience
has taught which is
best.
V^o-operation after all,
harmonizes the or-
g a n i z e d effort of
dealer and factory—-
an outstanding fea-
t u r e of the SEE-
BURG selling plan.
J. P. Seeburg
Piano Co.
"Leaders in the
Automatic Field 99
1508-10-12-16 Dayton St.
Chicago
Address Dept. "E"
Enthusiastic Meeting of Music Dealers and
Others at Pantlind Hotel, Grand Rapids,
This Week, Results in Another Healthy
Organization of Merchants.
F. J. BAYLEY PRESIDENT
Detroit Piano Man Honored by New Association
He Was so Active in Promoting and
Securely Forming.
Michigan music dealers completed the formation of
a state association at a meeting at the Hotel Pantlind,
Grand Rapids, on November 2 and 3, Monday and
Tuesday of this week. The expectations of a good
representation of Michigan music merchants were
fulfilled at the opening of the first session on Mon-
day morning, when seventy-five active men of» the
trade took their seats in the convention hall. But
the complete registration was greater than that. The
number at the opening session displayed a degree
of enthusiasm that promises well for the growth and
helpful service of the new association. The following
officers were elected:
Frank J. Bayley, Detroit, president; J. C. Shattuck,
Owosso, first vice-president; Chas. C. Roat (Music
Publisher), Battle Creek, second vice-president; C. E.
Hoffman (Herrick Piano Co.), Grand Rapids, secre-
tary; A. H. Howes (Grinnell Bros.), Detroit,
treasurer.
The Executive Committee comprises Otis Bigelow.
Dowiagiac, for five years; L. C. Schroeder, Escanaba,
for four years; H. H. Myers, Holland, for 3 years;
H. C. Turnell, Jackson, for 2 years, and W. J. Davis,
Saginaw, for 1 year.
The following are the chairmen of the various com-
mittees: Herbert Hardy, Bay City, Registration; E.
E. Wood, Battle Creek, Credentials; Walter Jenkins,
Detroit, Nominating; H. Pulfrey, Ann Arbor, Speak-
ers; Harris Meyer, Kalamazoo, Publicity; A. H.
Howes, Detroit, Program; E. L. Johns, Grand Rapids,
Hotel; S. George Graves, Grand Rapids, Theater;
Hugo Friedrich, Grand Rapids, Banquet; F. C. Diet-
zel, Grand Rapids, Ladies'; J. Maher, Jackson, Enter-
tainment; Fred Beerman, Muskegon, Reception; K.
W. Curtis, Chicago; Souvenir; A. V. Minifie, Detroit,
By-Laws; Phil Sadowski, Detroit, Stunts; Chas.
Smith, Detroit, Music; L. E. Phillips, Grand Rapids,
Printing; H. D. Hewitt, Chicago, Manufacturers;
George Ames, Chicago, Golf; Vic. O'Brien, Bay City,
Sergeant-at-Arnis.
The assurance that the organization will grow was
in the great number of letters from dealers who
pledged their support and sympathy but from one
cause or another could not be present at the meeting
this week. The reading of the letters increased the
enthusiasm of the hearers. The feeling of loyalty
for the new association was augmented at the get-
together luncheon at noon, when E. R. Jacobson, of
the Straube Piano Co., and president of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, took "Why Music
Merchants Should Get Together" for the subject of
a forceful address.
Good Business Talks.
The business session on Monday showed the seri-
ousness of purpose of the Michigan trade. Topics
of vital interest were subjects of able addresses and
evoked interesting discussion.
Thomas M. Pletcher of the Q R S Company, took
"The Future of Radio" as his theme, and the manner
of treatment was characteristic of the speaker. Mr.
Pletcher's forceful method of facing issues squarely,
and calling a spade a spade, was a refreshing begin-
ning to the proceedings.
Henry Weisert, of Chicago, president of the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants, cleverly han-
dled the topic, "The Future of the Reproducing
Piano," and the possibilities the years have in store
for the instrument was envisioned in a fascinating
way by Mr. Weisert. He sees a great future for this
type of instrument, both as to sales, in which the
music merchant will profit in the reproducing piano's
power for cultural improvement and a greater appre-
ciation of fine music.
But all the business talks were not confined to the
business sessions. At 3 p. m. on Monday there was
a round table talk by manufacturers' representatives,
on sales promotion and bait advertising. The gen-
tlemen provided valuable facts of personal experi-
ences and, in a general way, about sales promotion on
which they considered themselves qualified to speak.
But they explained that what was said about bait
advertising was said in an academic way.
Harry Bibb, of the Brunswick, Balke, Collcnder
Co., gave an interesting ten-minutes on phonograph
and radio salesmanship. His remarks came close
upon Mr. Pletcher's second talk on those of radio
values for the music dealer, which he gave in reply
to an inquiry about the up-keep and service required
of a dealer in radios.
Several non-residents of the state were called upon
for "advice and instruction," among these H. D.
Hewitt, president of the Piano Club of Chicago, and
E. W. Furbush, of Chicago, who advised the mem-
bers to practice what they preach. Mr. Furbush's
talk was enlightening and conducive of reflection on
the value and influences of a policy or code of ethics
of a trade association.
Tuesday's Meeting.
Tuesday's meeting opened with a fifteen minute
"concert" of selections on the new Orthophonic
Victor talking machine, after which various topics
were discussed. One of these was the advisability
of the association entering into an arrangement for
co-operative insurance. Mr, Jacobson.. president of
the Music Industry Chamber of Commerce, and Mr.
Dennis, of the Better Business Bureau, spoke in-
terestingly.
At the noonday luncheon, H. E. Weisert, president
Nat'l Assn. Music Merchants, gave a short talk and
was followed by the noted evangelist, M. E. Trotter,
in a ringing speech, after having been introduced by
his friend, C. H. Hoffman, in a felicitous way.
Julius A. J. Friedrich, who is not only the dean of
the Grand Rapids music trade but probably the old-
est dealer in Michigan in point of continuous activity,
was called upon. He said he was going to give out
a secret: it was his seventy-fifth birthday and he
was celebrating it by meeting his friends and com-
petitors in the piano business. He received an ova-
tion from the dealers present, with whom he has at-
tended conventions for a quarter of a century, and
spoke entertainingly of his experiences in his fifty-
two years as a music dealer and of being present at
the organization of the national association twenty-
five years ago.
A Luncheon Feature.
An interesting event of the luncheon was brought
about when Toastmaster Bayley requested that each
lady present at the tables arise, one after another,
beginning at table number one, give her name and
the happiest or most appropriate thought that came
to her mind at the moment. There being about half
a score of ladies present, it may well be imagined
that some interesting thoughts weit expressed. The
husbands of several of the ladies had been at the
"Cheese Hounds" ceremonies the night before and
there was a feeling deftly expressed that they, too,
might sometime organize a circle along the line of
the men's state convention "cheese" adjunct.
Not long after the luncheon was over, the last
session of the convention was in full swing in the
ballroom of the hotel.
Following Mr. Weisert's address, which replaced
the one to have been given by Kenneth Curtis, the
committee on resolutions brought in its report, pre-
senting resolutions to the management of the Pant-
lind Hotel for efficient service, and to the music
trade of Grand Rapids for help and co-operation;
also to E. R. Jacobson, C. L. Dennis and Henry Ys
Weisert for their aid, and to the manufacturers and
their representatives and others from outside the
state who aided the officers and committees in their
work. It was also resolved:
The Resolution.
That it is desirable for the Michigan Music Mer-
chants' Association to affiliate with the National As-
sociation and to send delegates to the national con-
vention of the Music Merchants' Association.
A motion was made to name three delegates to
attend the meeting of the general committee at New
York in January next. This committee will be Mr.
Bayley and Mr. Hoffman, president and secretary,
respectively, of the Michigan association, and J. C.
Shattuck, the first vice-president.
The last piece of business to lie taken up was the
selection of the place of holding the 1926 convention
and the date of assembling. Detroit got the next
meeting, but the time could not be decided upon and
was left to the executive committee to fix a date.
Detroit was not settled upon until a general expres-
sion from every section of the state was heard. Battle
Creek, Jackson, Bay City, Saginaw, Muskegon and
other cities offered the hospitality of its citizens and
invited the association for its 1926 gathering, but in
the end the vote was unanimous for Detroit.
Before closing the meeting Mr. Bayley took occa-
sion to express his thanks for the enthusiasm mani-
fested at this convention. He said that to him the
thirty-live active workers from the retail merchants
of the state assembled at this convention, is far more
satisfactory than would be three times that number
of pepless and indifferent ones. This gathering, he
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