Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
October 13, 1928
National Association of Music Merchants is endeav-
oring to carry forward as a separate unit and also
through the c'.osest cooperation with the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music," said Mr.
Loomis. "It was really at the suggestion and through
the courtesy of Mr. Shirley Walker, that it was de-
cided that the executive secretary of the national
Pianos Added to Other Lines by Banner Fur-
In Succession of Meetings Executive Secretary association should make this trip at this time.
"Many of you already know of the manner in which
niture Company—Wilking Music Com-
of the National Association of Music Mer-
the national association functioned in bringing about
pany Opens Branch in Shelbyville—
chants Explains Purposes of the
the adoption by unanimous vote of the Music Super-
Church Buys Jesse French
Organization and Recounts Its
visors' National Conference at the biennial conven-
tion held in Chicago last April, of a definite plan to
Piano—Other News.
Achievements for the Trade.
foster and to increase on a nation-wide basis, instruc-
The
Banner
Furniture Company, No. 31 South
A delegation of the Los Angeles trade met Delbert tion on the piano in classes in the public schools.
Meridian street, Indianapolis, has added to their
The
Finances.
L. Loomis, executive secretary of the National Asso-
already large Victrola and Kadiola unit a line of
"I think I should tell you something more about
ciation of Music Merchants on his arrival last week,
pianos—the Behning and the Milton instruments.
including A. Geissler. vice-president and general man- where the money goes that is contributed through
Walter A. Franck, who is in charge of the depart-
ager of the Birkel Music Company; A. G. Farquhar- association dues and also by means of the purchase
ment, announced that it was the purpose of his com-
son, secretary of the Music Trades Association of by retail music merchants, of the Merchants' Promo-
pany to carry only high grade instruments, which is
Southern California; T. C. Mercer, western manager tion Stamp.
in keeping with the company's policy, that the best
of the Bankers Control Securities Company; and Wal-
"In order that you may understand exactly how the is thec heapest.
lace Byam of the Western Music and Radio Trades
National Bureau for the Advancement of Music is
The Wilking Music Company announces, through
Journal.
financed, let me say that in addition to funds provided
its manager. Mr. Stockdale, the opening of a branch
On Thursday morning Mr. Loomis attended the by the piano manufacturers and piano merchants
store at Shelbyville, hid., where the W r urlitzer line
general meeting of the Radio Trades Association of
through their contributions by means of the old form
will be soM only, as the Jesse French & Son's instru-
Southern California at which about 150 music deal- of combination stamps, various other branches of
ments have been sold in that city for some years by
ers, radio jobbers, radio manufacturers' agents and the music industry which are affiliated with the Cham-
another concern. The new store is in charge of
radio manufacturers were present, at the Famous ber of Commerce, such as the band instrument man-
George H. Dunn.
Breakfast Club. Mr. Loomis spoke briefly telling ufacturers, phonograph manufacturers, makers of
William Schoelch, who has been connected with
of the desire of the National Association to maintain radio sets and others, make definite contributions and
the piano industry for some time, has joined the
the closest relations with the radio interests, stressing all of these funds go to tne support of the bureau
sales force of the Wilking Music Company.
the fact that radio retail merchants are eligible to mem- and the chamber. While the activities of the bureau
Jesse French for Church.
bership in the National Association.
are strictly promotional and educational, the chamber
The
second
Jesse French & Son's piano has been
Meeting the Trade.
lias done some exceptionally fine work in legislative
Thursday evening Mr. Loomis spoke before 200 matters and in other directions for the service of the bought by the College Avenue Baptist Church, a
style A upright, to be used in one of the class rooms.
members and their guests at a dinner of the Muse trade as a who'e.
"In 1926 the convention of the National Piano One of the style S grands was purchased about a
Trades Association of Southern California.
Manufacturers' Association embarked upon a pro- year ago.
Message from President Roberts.
The Wilkiug Music Company has been made exclu-
motional program, which contemplated the raising
Mr. Loomis brought greetings from C. J. Roberts, of approximately $200,000 a year for three years. In sive representatives of the Sparton radio and will be
president of the National Association of Music Mer- speaking to you as I have regarding the promotion of
the only music establishment selling the instrument.
chants, to the music merchants of the Pacific Coast: the piano, I have not lost sight of the fact that you
Starr Grands Sell
"Several of our presidents, not from the Coast, have are music merchants and that in a great many cases,
The Starr Piano Company are still enjoying a good
visited you during their terms of office," was Mr. probably in nearly all cases, you handle not only business in high grade grand pianos. The month has
Roberts' message. "I am unable to do so and we pianos but many other musical instruments.
opened up line, and from all prospects will continue
have, therefore, sent our executive secretary, Mr. Del-
Bureau Work
good.
bert L. Loomis, to confer with you. In other words,
H. L. Goodnite, in charge of the Atwater Kent
'"The extraordinarily effective manner in which the
we are sending our office to you. I am sure that Mr.
Loomis in his contact with you will gain much infor- national bureau can operate and produce definite con- radio unit, has only one complaint to make, and that
mation that will be valuable to the entire trade. I crete results is strikingly illustrated in its work since is, it has been impossible to keep enough stock on
am proud to send to you such a man as Bert Loomis. 1924 in cooperation with the Committee on Instrumen- hand to supply the demand. The radio section is
His handling of the affairs of the association has been tal Affairs of the Music Supervisors' National Con- enjoying an excellent business.
Visitors in the city during the week were: J. Schil-
highly efficient. I am sending him to you with my ference in organizing school band contests on a state-
ler, vice-president sales of the Lester Piano Company,
one hundred per cent indorsement. 1 feel that our wide basis.
association is accomplishing some very worth-while
"When the national association has available the Philadelphia, Pa., and Harry T. Sipe of the Adam
things and that the power for doing so is increasing remarkable cooperative influences of the music super- Schaaf Piano Company, Chicago, 111.
steadily."
visors' national conference and of the national bureau,
Longshore's New Music Store announces the open-
it can well afford, and in fact, should not under any
Mr. Walker's Address.
circumstances lose the opportunity to cash in, to use ing of its new store at 32 North 5th street, Janes-
Shirley Walker, one of the vice-presidents of the
ville, O.
National Association of Music Merchants, speaking a very common but pat expression, and support the
at one of the meetings of members of the retail trade, work which is now so well inaugurated of establish-
utive secretary attended a hearing before the Ways
given in honor of Delbert L. Loomis, executive sec- ing piano class instruction in the public schools.
School Piano Classes.
and Means Committee of the House of Representa-
retary of the National Association of Music Mer-
"If the potential force of public school instruction tives last November at which Mr. Smith of the Music
chants, said:
Industries Chamber of Commerce presented a brief
"Mr. Loomis' visit to us has a serious purpose. can produce what it has in the case of bands and
First, he wants to meet us on our own home ground orchestras, I think it is proper to ask you what may in the double taxation matter.
"The executive office has now under consideration
and learn first hand our problems and opinions. And be accomplished when the piano is taught on a nation-
then he desires to get over to us the big problem wide basis in classes in our public schools. Thus far a plan for establishing a legal department which will
that today confronts the music trade, and then present much progress has been made in including piano class be prepared to render certain important service to
a possible solution of that problem—keen competi- instruction in the curricula in a very large number members of the association, particularly with refer-
tion. Not the competition between ourselves, but the of schools in various parts of the country, but the ence to information as to conditional sale laws in the
competition with other very desirable merchandise surface has hardly been scratched. The piano indus- various states.
try, gentlemen, is on the verge of probably the largest
"As I have endeavored to tell you, your executive
offered today to the public.
"'The problem then is, how are we music merchants business which has ever been done. Patience and office is operating exactly as any business is con-
ducted with nothing which in any way approaches
going to get our share of the public's dollar. We perseverence are required.
r
have a marvelous line of merchandise. It has the "In carrying forward the work so admirably begun haphazard methods. W e plan just as carefully as
greatest combination of selling points of any mer- at the supervisors' conference, the national bureau has we can the budget of estimated income and expense
chandise on the market today. But now, the day has circularized 16,000 music supervisors since July 10, and undertake to live within the budget. Where one
come when we must fight. We must find a way to telling them of the literature which is now available, item increases over a period of several months, we
make the public appreciate what we have to sell and including the Guide prepared by the committee on may cut on that particular activity unless we are able
want what we have to sell.
instrumental affairs and published by the bureau, to take funds from some other item where the ex-
"There are several methods open to us. We can which gives complete information as to the actual penses have been less than the estimate.
Plea for New Members.
advertise. Piano playing contests, school band con- physical method of setting up piano class instruction
tests, school orchestra contests, harmonica bands, all in the public schools. A list of 10,000 public school
"There should be a larger individual active member-
of these will throw the spotlight of publicity on our superintendents will be communicated with. The ship in the national association. You all know that
merchandise. But we have still another way of ap- bureau published 10,000 copies of the Guide as the effective January 1, next, a new Constitution and By-
proaching the public through the children of America. first edition of the booklet. Another edition of 10,000 Laws of the national association will go into effect.
I refer to teaching music in all its theoretical branches will be issued this fall. Much is needed in the way of
The national association will foster and work in co-
and its practical phases, in every grade school and funds to carry on this work. The piano manufac- operation with all of the state, city and regional asso-
turers
have
already
shown
their
disposition
by
appro-
every high school, in this great country of ours—and
ciations now in existence or to be later formed.
priating $4,000, an amount sufficient to make a be-
teaching it free.
"Under the new Constitution and By-Laws, state
ginning.
Commends Mr. Loomis.
associations formerly chartered under the old consti-
"Now, T am not going to tell you of the splendid
tution, will be affiliated with the national, but there
More Publicity Planned.
progress which has already been made along this line.
"The executive office has in its plans other and more will be no financial connection.
Mr. Loomis will tell you about it, as he is in close important activities in a promotional way. Not the "The dues in the national association will be re-
touch with this work. But what I do want to say is, least of these is that of publicity. This is not only an duced from $15 to $10 a year. The national associa-
this work must have your cooperation, your moral important but a very serious subject.
tion desires not only to retain all of the members
support, your financial support. There must be actual
who have held membership by virtue of their mem-
Other Association Activities.
work on your part in the local field. And Mr. Loomis
bership in the state associations, but also a large
will also tell you about this phase of the job."
"Among other association activities, which should number of additional music merchants both in states
Mr. Loomis Talks.
rightfully come under the heading of service to mem- where there have been chartered state associations
"The reason I came west w r as to endeavor to tell bers and also to the trade, are those connected with and in states where there have been no such
you something about the promotional work which the legislative matters. President Roberts and your exec- organizations."
D.L.LOOMIS MEETS
WESTERN DEALERS
TRADE HAPPENINGS
IN INDIANAPOLIS
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