PRESTO-TIMES
June-July. 1937
1937 MEETING OF NATIONAL PIANO MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCI-
ATION OF AMERICA
The annual meeting of the members of the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association of America
this year was one of unusual interest and importance
as indicating the various phases of work and piano
trade development which that body of men is carry-
ing on, not only in the way of producing pianos for
their dealers but in activities aiding in their sale in
the hands of music merchants.
The meeting was held at the Hotel New Yorker
on June 8. President L. P. P>ull presiding. There
was a large attendance. Nearly every piano manu-
facturing concern was represented. An innovation
this year was in admitting the trade press to sit in
with the members in their deliberations. In years
past these have been "official meetings," so far as
concerned the trade papers. Presto-Times, not hav-
ing a representative in New York City at the time,
was unable to take advantage of this privilege, but
several of the New York papers were on hand. How-
ever, of the actual business end of the association the
proceedings are of no particular interest or impor-
The contributions to the publicity fund by the piano
manufacturing industry and allied interests are based
on sales of 1936, which fund i> of good proportions
with a good bank balance.
The names of the contributors to this fund are
given following this summary report.
Mr. Bull gave a heart-to-heart expression for the
honor of re-election, which carries his tenure of office
up to June, 1938. He mentioned some of the aims
and objects of the association which every member
has in mind for accomplishment; some of the achieve-
ments attained and others to be looked forward to
doing. He thanked his associates in office for their
cooperation in all these things which become the
duties of officers and trustees to carry out, involving
work in the retailer field as well as that of manu-
facturing and industrial operations.
After considerable discussion on various matters,
and there being no further business, the meeting ad-
journed.
PIANO PUBLICITY FUND
CONTRIBUTIONS
Varnish Works, New York, N. Y.; Tonk Mfg. Com-
panv, Chicago, 111.; Wayne Lumber Company. Brook-
lyn, N. Y.
Miscellaneous
The Chicago Piano & Organ Association, Chicago.
111.; The Music Trades Corporation, New York, N. Y.
AN ADDITIONAL EASTERN GULBRANSEN
TRAVELLER
The subject of this sketch, Mr. Ben Witlin, is the
name of one of the Gulbransen Company representa-
tives in attendance at the Gulbransen exhibit during
the Music Trade Con-
vention.
Mr. Witlin is an ex-
perienced Music Trade
man. He was for four
years with the original
Victor Talking Machine
Company, and for ten
years was the Eastern
wholesale
representa-
tive of a large produc-
ing piano manufactur-
ing establishment. Mr.
Witlin's territory is in
the East where, owing
to increase of sales of
BKN WITI.1N
Gulbransen instruments.
in that territory another travelin representative is
needed.
Mr. Witlin will unquestionably become an active
working force for Gulbransen interests wherever he
may operate.
In accordance with a resolution of the executive
committee of the National Piano Manufacturers' As-
sociation of America, at its annual meeting in New'
York, June 7-8. the following names were given out
as contributors to the 1937 publicity fund of the piano
manufacturing industry:
Piano Manufacturers
Baldwin Piano Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Bogert Piano Company, New York, N. Y,
HOW THE E. F. DROOP & SONS
Estey Piano Corporation, Bluff ton, Ind.
MUSIC HOUSE STARTED
Everett Piano Company, South Haven. Mich.
Grinnell Brothers, Detroit, Mich.
Gulbransen Company, Chicago, 111.
In another column of this issue of Presto-Times
Haddorff Piano Company, Rockford. 111.
there appears, joined to the story headed "Half-
Hardman, Peck & Company, New York, N. Y.
Century Piano Agencies," a reference to the associa-
Janssen Piano Company, New York, N. Y.
tion of E. F. Droop & Sons as being among the first
Klein Piano Company, New York, N. Y.
dealers to sell Steinway pianos. Aside from what
Krakauer Brothers. New York, N. Y.
is written in that column concerning the long service
Kranich & Bach, New York, N. Y.
Mathushek Piano Mfg. Company, New York, N. Y. of E. F. Droop & Sons, Steinway representatives,
Ricca & Son, New York, N. Y.
Mr. E. H. Droop, the senior member of the house of
Sohmer & Company, New York, N. Y.
Droop, gives us further interesting data concerning
Charles Frederick Stein, Chicago, 111.
the record of this important piano house. Mr. E. F.
Steinway & Sons, New York, N. Y.
Droop, the father, came from Osnabriick, Germany,
Story & Clark Piano Company, Chicago, 111.
and
after visiting two intimate friends in Baltimore,
Yose & Sons Piano Company. Boston, Mass.
where he landed, he got in touch with YY. G. Metze-
Weaver Piano Company, York, Pa.
rott at Washington and obtained a position as book-
Weser Brothers, Inc., New York, N. Y.
keeper. Eddie says of his father's handwriting that
Winter & Company, New York, N. Y.
L. P. Bull
it was like a "copper plate," something that pleased
Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mr. Metzerott very much. Mr. Droop's evenings were
President National Piano Manufacturers' Asso-
Supply Manufacturers
ciation of America, Inc.
American Musical Supply Company, Jersey City, spent in study and practice of music and the English
language. It was not long until he had a first-class
N. J.; American Piano Plate Company, Racine, Wis.;
American Piano Supply Co., New York, N. Y.: Julius
command of the English language and it is said by
tance to tiu- music trade at large. The thing that
Breckwoldt & Son, Dolgeville, N. Y.; O. S. Kelly many of his old-time friends that he did not seem to
interests the d e a l e r is: What is the manu-
Company, Springfield, Ohio; Mapes Piano String
facturer doing to aid him in selling more pianos and
have a trace of German dialect. His musical inclina-
Company, New York, N. Y.; Paragon Foundries tions and ability in vocal music led him to become a
in producing pianos that will sell? As to what Jfche
Company, Oregon, 111.; Pratt, Read & Company, first-class salesman, and it was not long until he was
individual manufacturer can do for his individual
Deep River, Conn.; Thayer Action Company, Rock-
dealer is up to them to thresh out.
practically the manager of the Metzerott store.
At the meeting this year Mr. Lucien Wulsin, who ford, 111.; Wessell, Nickel & Gross, New York, N. Y.;
First as a partner then owner of the Metzerott
Wickham
Piano
Plate
Company,
Springfield,
Ohio:
as national councillor'for the association, attended the
business, the Steinway agency was continued so that
Wood & Brooks Company, Buffalo, N. Y.
annual meeting of the United States Chamber of
from April, 1860, when the first Steinway piano was
Indirect Supply Houses
Commerce, made his report. Mr. Wulsin also pre-
American Giese Wire Company, New York. N. Y.; sent to Washington, piano number 2,986, the house
sented the report of the committee on standardiza
American Screw Company, Providence, R. 1.; Fred- of Droop has been one of the leading Steinway houses
tion of piano instruction.
of the country.
Mr. C. Albert Jacob, Jr., chairman of the publicity erick J. Bauer, New York, N. Y.; H. Behlen & Bro.,
"In the autumn of 1884," says Mr. Droop, "as I
New
York,
N.
Y.;
Albert
Constantine
&
Son,
Inc.,
committee, reported on the work of the publiifity
counsel and read the report furnished by Mr. Selz. New York, N. Y.; Faultless Castor Corp., Evans- was preparing to go to college, my father apprenticed
The report showed the great lot of work in the line ville, Ind.; The Fiberloid Corp., Jiwtian Orchard, me to Otto Sutro, the Steinway representative in Bal-
timore. 1 remained there until the spring of 1885
oi piano publicity which the manufacturers' associa- Mass.; Gamble Brothers, Louisville, Ky.; Hoffman
Brothers Company, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Charles YY. when I returned to Washington and joined my father's
tion is carrying on in the interest of the general music
House & Sons, Unionville, Conn.; Jones-Dabney forces at $1.50 per week including board and lodging
trade in a propaganda to "sell more pianos."
Company, Louisville, Ky.; Klise Mfg. Company, at home. I devoted myself in my spare time of eve-
Officers of the association for the coming year, as Grand Rapids, Mich.; Lilly Varnish Company, In- nings to serious study of the piano. My brother, Carl,
brought in by Mr. Herman Irion of the nominating dianapolis, Ind.; Lindeman Wood Finish Company, was attending the Maryland College and he had been
committee, were unanimously elected, as follows:
there only a couple of years when father sent him to
Indianapolis, Ind.; Marathon Box Company, Wausau
President—L. P. Bull.
Wis.; The Mengel Company, Louisville, Ky.; Mur- the Steinway factories in New York where he worked
phy Varnish Company, Newark, N. J.; National Lock at the bench for approximately five years and then
Vice-President—C. Albert Jacob, Jr.
Company, Rockford, 111.; New York Woodfinishers returned to Washington and took up his work in
Treasurer—Eugene A. Schmitt.
Supply Co., New York, N. Y.; Pearl City Plywood father's establishment, so that brother Carl and my-
W. P. Mennie continues as secretary.
The executive committee is as follows: Messrs. Company, Jamestown, N. Y.; Perkins Glue Company, self have been active in the business ever since our
father took us in and ever since the business was
Lansdale, Pa.: Charles Ramsey Corp., Kingston, N
L. P. Bull, Jas. A. Gould. C. Albert Jacob, Jr., Eugene
Y.; Schaff Piano String Company, Chicago, 111.: changed to E. F. Droop & Sons Company. The
A. Schmitt, Theodore
E. Steinway,
Henry
Wickham.
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therefore, 77 years Steinway!"
Standard Felt Corporation, Alhambra, Cal.; Standard
Lucien Wulsin.
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