Presto

June 9, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
MANUFACTURERS
NAME OFFICERS
C. D. Bond of Weaver Piano Company, York,
Pa., Elected as President for New
Term and Other Officers
Are Chosen.
The first meeting of the National Piano Manufac-
turers' Association was held at the Commodore on
Tuesday, June S, following a meeting of the execu-
tive committee of the association on Monday. The
principal business was the National Piano Sales Pro-
motion Plan and at the meeting E. C. Boykin, execu-
tive secretary of the Sales Promotion Committee,
presented his report of its activities. A comprehen-
sive exhibit illustrating the work that has been car-
ried on under his direction was made by Mr. Boykin
and some of the resudts presented in tangible form.
At the annual election on Tuesday the following
officers were elected:
C. I). Bond, York, Pa., president.
Fred P. Bassett, Chicago, first vice-president.
Herbert Simpson, New York, second vice-presi-
dent.
John H. Parnham, South Haven, Mich., secretary.
Charles Jacob, New York, treasurer.
The report on piano sales promotion was very
pleasing to the members and the enthusiasm which
has characterized the scheme since its inception will
be continued.
The Leasing Proposition.
The session of the manufacturers lasted four hours
and was largely devoted to an intense effort as to
methods of arousing the dealers of the United States
to their opportunities and advantages in new methods
and more push in selling pianos.
One important action taken by the organization
was the establishment of a bureau for the purpose of
taking care of the leases of piano dealers throughout
the country.
The leasing proposition, which was one of the most
important actions taken at the manufacturers' con-
vention session—the plan is to establish a bureau for
a checking of leases, but it will have to be handled
through the chamber.
If the manufacturer wants to find out anything
about a certain dealer, he will file his inquiry with
the chamber and pay a $5 fee. Then the chamber
will send out a request to all manufacturers and all
holding leases from that dealer, and they will send
back the information to the chamber, including piano
members. If there are no duplications of leases, let-
ters will be sent to every manufacturer posting that
fact. If there is evidence of duplications on the part
of any dealer, all manufacturers holding that dealer's
leases will be notified of the discrepancy.
Executive Secretary Boykin made his report on the
work of sales promotion his department had done for
the benefit of the members of the association.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
MUSIC MERCHANTS MEET
Annual Convention of the Trade at Hotel Commodore, New York, Marked
by Big Attendance. Enthusiasm of Business Sessions and
Extent and Attractiveness of Music Goods Exhibits
The events of convention week begun at 10 a. m., vised. To have deserted the Bureau for the Advance-
Monday, when the Board of Control met in Room C ment of Music, financially and otherwise, would have
of the Hotel Commodore, and important matters been an irreparable blunder.
Your president does not approve of a merchants'
relating to the convention schedule and policies of
convention separate from other bodies in our trade,
the association were discussed and acted upon. The
trade, it was agreed by the board, never before was nor does he approve of a convention being held in a
small or isolated city or expensive resort.
confronted with conditions requiring such methods of
Identity of Interests.
procedure. The ways to make business better were
Many
of
our
interests are identical with those of
in the minds of the members and everyone knew the
other bodies in our trade. We should, therefore,
necessity of good judgment and forceful action in the maintain
a central body, such as we now have in the
future course of the association.
Chamber of Commerce, but as certain of our interests
The board had planned a convention for 1928 pri- as merchants are sharply divergent from those of all
marily devoted to devising ways and means to trade other bodies, it is absolutely necessary, if we are to
betterment on a permanent foundation. Thus the prosper, for us to at all times strictly preserve our
individuality and maintain our own organization with
speakers chosen were selected for broad views, who
would point out vital necessities of the music trade our own employes accountable to us only, regardless
of the fiction of compensation being received in-
in a day of keen competition by other trades, and who directly.
would suggest by their words music trade action of
Your executives felt that a great opportunity for
the effective kind.
service to the trade was presented in promoting piano
playing and other musical instrument playing con-
NEW OFFICERS.
tests, and devoted their energies in that direction in
C. T. Roberts, re-elected president; Parham Wer- the early months of the administration. Your usual
lein, first vice-president; Chas. H. Yahrling, second
contributions of funds through the Music Industries
vice-president; Shirley Walker, third vice-president;
Chamber of Commerce for the use of the Bureau
A. Z. Moore, fourth vice-president; Herman H. Fleer, for the Advancement of Music in assisting in this
work as well as promoting the cause of music in
secretary: Carl A. Droop, treasurer.
Directors: Otto B. Heaton, Howard Beasley, Jay other fields were made.
Your promotion department soon recognized
Grinnell, W. Barry Hamilton, Edward A. Geissler,
Frank J. Bayley, Alex. McDonald, Alfred D. La- greater opportunities and acted without delay. A
great deal of highly effective work has been done
motte, George J. Winter.
in promoting piano playing contests, group piano
Delegates to Music Industries Chamber of Com-
instruction, particularly in public schools, and along
merce: M. V. DeForeest, Shirley Walker, A. Mc- other promotional lines.
Donald, Henry Weissert, Robert Watkin, P. E. Con-
With other bodies in our trade we are working to
roy, A. Z. Moore, Otto B. Heaton, Henry Dreher, the same end—the promotion of music in our coun-
E. Paul Hamilton.
try. We feel that our particular interest at this time
is in promoting the piano—the basic instrument,
Alternates: Edmund Gram, W. W. Smith.
Merchants' Directors to the Chamber: Henry E. through encouraging and assisting in piano playing
contests, group piano instruction, piano ensemble con-
Weissert, M. V. DeForeest, E. Paul Hamilton.
certs and in any other way that we can.
O P E N I N G SESSION.
E X E C U T I V E SECRETARY'S REPORT.
The opening session of the convention was at 9:30
Delbert
L. Loomis, executive secretary, presented
on Tuesday in the West Ball Room of the head-
quarters hotel. C. J. Roberts, president of the asso- a comprehensive report of great historic value. The
following facts were included in the important data
ciation, presided and presented a report of a general
of a year's activity:
character.
Immediately after taking charge of the office, I
PRESIDENT ROBERTS' REPORT.
inaugurated a promotion department to operate under
Your president, immediately upon assuming office, the direction of the executive secretary and for the
and frequentl since then, has sought the advice and purpose of making use of some of the data and
counsel of some of his predecessors in office and correspondence which had been accumulated by the
other members of our trade who have been active in
National Bureau for the Advancement of Music in
the conduct of its affairs, with a view to speedily
recent months. The successful operation of this
getting into intelligent action and avoid all possible promotion department has become apparent in a
subsequent lost motion.
number of ways.
The American Piano Co. gave a theater party din-
Your president realizes that the very nature of such
At the suggestion of the executive secretary, ap-
ner and dance on Tuesday night of this week to a organizations as ours makes it absolutely necessary
proved by President C. J. Roberts of the association,
very large part}' of its friends, both men and women. for those who accept high honors to also accept great and later by the Board of Control of the association,
The theater was the fashionable Ziegfeld at 54th street responsibilities which carry with them the necessity money was provided by the Merchants' Association
and Sixth avenue, and the play was "The Show Boat." for real work. It is difficult in such an organization for bringing to New York a section of the Committee
on Instrumental Affairs of the Supervisors' Confer-
At 11:30 buses carried the guests to the Biltmore as ours for individual members to do a great deal.
Your president has freely called upon other officers ence, to formulate some definite plans for piano class
Hotel, where a splendid dinner was served and nearly
and members for assistance and feels that he has re- instruction in the public schools.
everybody present took part in the dancing.
ceived as full response as he has been entitled to.
Money obtained from the sale of the promotion
Perhaps many members expected great progress to stamps was also used for other promotional activities.
be made in organizing additional state associations.
Additional work has also been done in sending to a
It was found to be entirely impracticable for the selected list of dealers who had been in communica-
The American Piano Company, New York, has
national office to do this work. The large sum of
tion with the bureau, copies of the booklet, "Piano
announced the following additional list of dealers who money necessary to carry forward such a project was Playing Contests."
have been appointed sole agents for the American not available. It could not be raised and cannot be
Since November 1st the total mailings from the
Piano Company lines: S. Jacobs & Son, Philadelphia, raised. If such a sum could be raised it could be put office of the executive secretary have been more than
to
very
much
better
use.
50.000.
Pa.; Hopper-Kelly Co., Tacoma, Wash.; Bensberg
Some additional state or regional associations
In November the executive secretary prepared copy
Music House, Camden, Ark.; C. C. Adams & Co.,
should
be
formed.
The
state
commissioners
and
the
for a booklet, "Our Association," giving something
Peoria, 111.; Kaplan Bros., Kail River, Mass.
members of such states or regions should do this of the history, achievements, and purpose of the Na-
work with the assistance and guidance of the national
tional Association. This booklet was sent to 5,000
officers. It would be futile and a waste of energy music merchants in duplex mailing, carrying with it
QUIET WEEK AT PIANO CLUB.
and
money
to
seek
to
organize
certain
other
states
a letter and application blank for membership.
As so many members of the Piano Club of Chicago
As a result Mr. Tremaine prepared a manual giving
were in New York this week attending the conven- or regions.
Your executives, realizing fully that a large mem- detailed information on piano class instruction. This
tion, it was thought advisable not to plan any special
bership composed of the right sort of members is guide was made a part of the report of the piano
entertainment feature for the luncheon on Monday. most desirable, have made every possible effort in
section of the Committee on Instrumental Affairs,
Luncheon was held as usual, however.
this direction consistent with the resources of our which was adopted unanimously by the Music Super-
The interest developed in the "Piano Club Spe- association.
visors' National Conference at the biennial convention.
The spirit of executive meetings held during the
cial" resulted in reservations for four cars. The
A great deal of work was done by the executive
1927 convention indicated a certain unrest, a desire office in assisting in bringing about action finally with
board of governors' meeting, which is usually held on
for changes of a radical character, some of which
the Senate Finance Committee in connection with the
the first Monday of each month, has been called for
Revenue Act which has just ben passed to obtain
Monday, June 11, when it is expected that those had they been adopted would have been fatal to the
best interests of our association. Your president, relief from double taxation where dealers have
attending the New York convention will have re- prior
to his election, opposed such changes, and is still changed from a cash or accrual basis to the install-
turned.
opposed to them. A monkey wrench thrown into ment basis of reported income.
machinery does not make a good lubricant.
The executive secretary attended the annual dinner
Abraham Goldberg, proprietor of Goldberg's In-
Loyalty to Chamber.
of the New England Music Trades Association early
ternational Music Shop, Passaic, N. J., has opened a
In the opinion of your president, the movement to this year, the annual convention of the New York
State Music Merchants' Association, and the Pennsyl-
new branch store at 707 Main avenue, Clifton, han- break away from the Music Industries Chamber of
dling a general stock of music goods.
(Continued on page 10)
Commerce and other constituent bodies was ill ad-
A. P. CO.'S THEATER PARTY
GET A. P. CO. AGENCY
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