June 18, 1927.
PRESTO-TIMES
16
CONN DEALERS IN ANNUAL MEET
President Greenleaf Gives Notable Talk and Great Enthusiasm Marks Annual
Convention of Men Who Represent Great Band Instrument House
The strength and enthusiasm of dealers of C. G.
Conn, Elkhart, Ind., were the most striking thing at
•their recent convention in Elkhart, and a notable
address by President C. D. Greenleaf pointed out
that strength in his own industry and the admirable
condition of the band instrument business generally.
Successful in every way was the Conn dealers'
convention, which continued for four days. Not only
was the number of dealers registered at 'the conven-
tion the largest of the two preceding conventions,
but in things accomplished and the spirit and en-
session was C. A. McDonald, who told of the national
advertising campaign planned for the year; A. B.
Williams, on the billboard campaign; H. W. Schwartz,
the direct mail advertising; K. P. MacNaughton, on
window displays, and C. G. Hayes told of 'the work
of the Conn Music Center. Mechanical problems
took up the .greater part of the afternoon session.
E. J. Gulick talked on "Factory Plans and Improve-
ments for the Betterment of Conn Instruments."
Major Landers Talks.
One of the most inspiring talks of the convention
came on when Major George W. Landers, of Clar-
inda, la., the man who was instrumental in passing
the first band tax in any of the states, told of the
progress of band tax laws in the various states and
of the increasing growth of interest in municipal
bands and music. Major Landers pointed out the
great good that would come to America and Ameri-
can youth from this.
A crowded hall witnessed the employes' and artists'
concert which was given Friday evening in the Elk-
hart High School Auditorium as a courtesy to the
visiting dealers. The attendance was limited to
dealers, their friends and the employes and families
of the Conn company. The program was opened by
the Conn, Limited, Massed Band of seventy pieces
under the baton of F. E. Waters, and the final num-
ber of which was conducted by Al Sweet, the famous
bandmaster, who was one of the prominent music
men attending the convention. The other visiting
artists who took part in this program were Mme. A.
Cafarelli. soprano; F. A. Napolilli, oboe player in the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Richard Stross, out-
standing cornetist; H. Benne Henton, of Philadelphia,
a leading American saxophone artist, and Jaroslav
Cimera. trombone master. The accompaniment for
the visiting artists was by Mr. Boyer, who is known
in musical circles everywhere.
band instruments is that they have been led to believe
that these other things are more worthwhile or im-
portant or desirable. The music industry, one of
the oldest and catering to the fundamental elements
in human nature, has been outsold, because the people
have been persuaded to spend hundreds of millions
of dollars that should have gone to music on these
other things.
"While the various industries have taken steps to
pool their efforts through 'czars' and co-operative
promotion campaigns to wrest as big a portion of
the consumer's dollar as possible, the music industry
has been very slow to look at the situation from the
standpoint of the entire industry. Instead of con-
centrating our forces in fighting the common enemy,
ENTERTAINED CONN DEALERS IN CONVENTION.
Some of the musical stars who entertained the Conn
dealers during the convention June 1 to 4 in Elkhart, Ind.,
are shown here. In the front row are F. A. Napolilli.
oboe player of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Mme.
A. Cafarelli, soprano; H. Benne Henton, claimed as
America's foremost saxophone artist. In the back row
(left to riprht) are Jarslav Cimera. eminent trombonist;
Al Sweet, the famous director of Al Sweet's Band; Rich-
ard Stross. cornet artist, credited with having attained
the highest range on a cornet, and J. F. Boyer. Mr.
Among the Conn employes who had prominent parts Boyer,
who is secretary of C. G. Conn, Ltd., accompanied
on the concert were R. Saunders, C. G. Sickafus, all the artists in their programs.
William Armstrong, M. Webster, G. Bundy, V. Soli-
other factors in the industrial world, we have
gan, J. Artley, Hobart A. Davis, L. Elhart, E. Burklc. the
C. P. GREEXLEAF.
been fighting each other. Retailers and manufac-
C. Tousley, R. D. Fields and Messrs. Letherman, turers are cutting their throats and going by the
thusiasm displayed, it proved very gratifying to the Webber and Wyatt.
board in the intense competition which is nothing less
Conn executives and the men who attended the
A Notable Address
than ruinous and which has already destroyed large
sessions.
In an address on "The Industry as I View It," factors in the business. It appears to me that one
Two of the four days of the convention were given given before the convention of Conn dealers, Mr. of the greatest tasks ahead of us is to persuade the
over wholly to "shop talk," and two days to the Greenleaf said:
music industry to function as an industry and to
entertainment of the dealers and their wives. In
"The income of the people of the United States," adapt the tactics followed by other successful indus-
addition, the Conn dealers' banquet and dance at the said Mr. Greenleaf in the course of his talk, "is cur- tries. I can foresee no bright future for the industry
Christiana Country Club on Thursday evening, which rently estimated at $85,000,000,000. which they are unless some such new condition is brought about."
was attended by about ISO and which was a thor- spending for the things that they have been led to
In his talk, Mr. Greenleaf also gave the results of
oughly enjoyable event, and the employes' and artists' think they want most. Just think of the hundreds of
a statistical comparison on the cost of Conn band
concert at the Elkhart High School on Friday eve- millions of dollars absorbed by radio, automatic re- instruments with other commodities and which
ning were two high spots of pleasure after full days frigeration and other things scarcely heard of a few showed that instruments are today selling at lower
spent in discussions of the various problems affect- years ago. The reason people are not buying more prices, as compared with 1913 prices, than practically
ing the band instrument industry. Luncheons for the
any other commodity.
dealers were served in the Conn cafeteria and music
furnished by various musical groups from the Conn
The A. F. Beyer Music Store, San Antonio, Tex.,
plant. A feature of Friday's luncheon was a group
has opened a branch store at 638 East Commerce
of songs by Horace V. Wells of South Bend. Mr.
street.
Wells is the son of the owner of Charles B. Wells
Music Company of Denver, which enjoys the repu-
"SPRING and MAY," in E flat
tation of being one of the most progressive music
stores in the United States.
"MINE," in E flat
Discusses Sales Promotion.
Both these songs are of medium range and
The convention was formally opened Thursday
well suited to either soprano or tenor voices.
morning with an address of welcome by J. F. Boyer,
Dealers will find them good sellers.
secretary of the Conn company. He was followed
Orders may be placed direct with the
by Mr. Greenleaf, who dwelled on some of the things
publisher,
given in the fore part of this article. Then the entire
of De Kalb, Illinois
session was turned over into a discussion of advertis-
ing and sales promotion, and many dealers expressed
themselves as amazed with the scope of the Conn
124 North Collett Street
Lima, Ohio
promotion program, aimed at making this the best
year in Conn history. Among the speakers at this
Two Songs of Merit
THE FAMOUS
CLARK
ORCHESTRA ROLLS
VIDA B. BAXTER
C. G. CONN, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.
C. D. GREENLEAF, Pres.
j . F. BOYER, Sec'y
World's largest manufacturers of High Grade Band and Orchestra Instruments. Employs 1,000
expert workmen.
The most celebrated Artists use and endorse Conn Instruments.
Famous Bandmasters and Orchestra Directors highly endorse and recommend the use of the
Conn Instruments in their organizations.
Conn Instruments are noted for their ease of playing, light and reliable valve or key action;
quick response, rich tonal quality, perfect intonation, tone carrying quality, artisticness of design,
beautiful finish and reliable construction.
Conn Instruments are sent to a*iy point in the U. S. subject to ten days free trial. Branch stores
or agencies will be found in all large cities. Write for catalogues, prices, etc.
C. G. CONN, Ltd.
DEPT. MS.
ELKHART, IND.
The Best for Automatic Playing Pianos
Organs and Orchestrions
Whether you sell automatic playing in-
struments or not, it will pay you to
handle and be able to furnish
CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLLS
Monthly bulletins of new records. Write
for lists, folders and FULL PARTICU-
LARS.
Clark Orchestra Roll Company
Manufacturers — Originators — Patentees
De Kalb, Illinois
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/