Music Trade Review

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THE
CONVENTION TOPICS.
Many Members Have Made Suggestions for
Discussions at the Coming Convention,
Others Are Invited—No Exhibit Will be Al-
lo'wed at the Hotel Astor.
(Supplied by Chairman Press Committee.)
Topics for discussion at the next annual con-
vention of the National Association of Piano
Dealers of America are pouring in from various
quarters. Blmon Arm-
strong, of Kansas City,
Mo., wrote a letter to
President Crew urging
that the New York con-
vention shall show some
strenuous results. Mr.
Armstrong calls atten-
tion to the competition
in mail order houses,
which must be met by country dealers, and ex-
presses hope that the association can organize
itself and take action in such a way as will
result in eliminating this undesirable competi-
tion. He also hopes that the stencil question
with all its evils may be settled permanently,
and that a systematic and business-like method
of selling goods should be universally adopted.
In closing his letter, Mr. Armstrong says: "Can't
we pass some resolutions with penalties attached
to them? Sentiment is a good thing, but if our
resolutions are only to be passed for the senti-
mental effect we will never accomplish anything
of any consequence in a business way."
* • • *
Other members of the association urge that
some definite action be taken relative to the
disposition of the old square piano and other
antiquated instruments which are so liberally
taken in trade by dealers. This is one of the
influences which forbids absolute adoption of a
one-price system. These old relics of by-gone
days are practically worthless. The furniture
dealer would laugh at the suggestion that he take
an old bedroom suite in part payment for a new
one, and the clothing dealers have not started
the custom of taking old winter clothes in part
payment for a new spring suit. Many fond hus-
bands would hail the day when the milliner
would take wife's old hats and credit them on
the bill for a new one, but there is no evidence
of any "hailing" as yet.
Some owners of these old instruments labor
under the false impression that the various par.ts
"DISTINCTIVELY HIGH GRADE"
BAe CHRISTMAN
STUDIO GRAND
is the greatest success of the day.
It possesses a scale of rare even-
ness, a tone of remarkable sonority
and richness, with a quality that
is highly orchestral. Our latest
styles of Grands and Uprights
mark a decided advance in the art
of piano-making. We court inves-
tigation. Some territory still open.
CHRISTMAN SONS, Manufacturer,
FACTORY AND OPFTCE:
WARKKOOMS-
Si9-«73 East 137th St.
35 W«ut 14th St.
BTEW YORK
MUSIC TRADE
are of value, and can be used in making new
instruments. It is also thought by some that
these old instruments can be made over, and be
as valuable as when new. Both these impres-
sions are wrong, as no particular part of an old
instrument is of any special value in building
a new one, and in the majority of cases the old
organs and square pianos are not of sufficient
value -to justify the expense of rebuilding them.
These are elements in connection with the old
square which the public does not generally
understand, and. it will require vigorous action
to impress upon the minds of the prospective
purchasers the true state of affairs. Whether or
not the association can at this meeting develop
a plan which can be universally placed in suc-
cessful operation should be determined, so claim
a number of members.
•
*
*
•
»
•
Among other topics suggested are the adoption
of prompt and business-like methods for the col-
lection departments to prove that the music
trade is real business and not haphazard play.
Banks, for instance,' collect small notes just as
methodically as they collect large ones.
The necessity for keeping stock in tune and
prime condition may appear to be a trivial sub-
ject, but many country warerooms show that no
sort of attention is paid to the condition of
stock.
Another interesting topic suggested is the
benefits of regular musicales by piano houses,
which, wherever tried, appear to arouse interest
and stimulate sales.
The time-worn subject of insisting on larger
instalments from first to last of the contract has
also been suggested.
In the matter of advertising, less sensational
methods in the point of advertising bargains
should be earnestly recommended for decency's
sake. In most of our large cities it is possible
to find three or four houses who seem to be for-
getful that the piano trade is entitled to any
semblance of decency. By their methods of ad-
vertising they lowered the standard of the trade
to the level of a second-hand junk shop.
Members should continue to send in sugges-
tions of topics for discussion. President Crew
will do his utmost to see that they are taken up
and given the amount of time necessary for dis-
cussion and disposition. It will be Mr. Crew's
intention to have very few prepared papers, but
the various subjects will be taken up impromptu
on the floor of the convention.
• • * •
The Press Committee has this week sent out
to all members of the association a publicity
sheet submitting a number of stories on associa-
tion topics, with the request that the members
have these stories printed from time to time In
their local newspapers. This is the first time
any concerted plan of this nature has been
adopted by the Press Committee, and it ought to
result as a widespread educational feature.
•
•
*
Do You Wish
To Know
Something
About Player
Mechanism?
•
The disposition of the stencil piano question, in
accordance with the resolution which was passed
at the last meeting of the officers will very natu-
rally come up for a considerable amount of argu-
ment and attention, and it is earnestly hoped
that this problem which has been facing the
dealers and manufacturers for the past several
years may be disposed of in such manner as
will work out satisfactorily to all concerned.
•
11
REVIEW
*
Many manufacturers of instruments have made
the usual inquiry as to the possibility of making
a display of pianos at the Hotel Astor during
the convention. The rules of the Hotel Astor
will not permit any pianos to be delivered at
the hotel for exhibition purposes, and it will
therefore be useless for the manufacturers to
make any overtures to the hitel management.
BRADLEY OPENS WAREROOMS.
J. E. Bradley has opened a permanent office
and exhibit parlors at 1026 Fourth street, Santa
Rosa, Cal., and is displaying a very fine line of
Knabe, Peerless, Mason & Hamlin, Packard, Ijud-
wig and seventy-five more different styles of pi-
anos represented by the Wiley B. Allen Co.
€]J We have a book that will
tell you how to regulate, re-
pair; explains to you in detail
the functions of the different
parts including control and
technique. In this volume the
leading piano. player systems
are described in detail.
^ Do you wish to have all
player problems easily solved
and made perfectly clear? Do
you wish all this information
in a neat, compact volume,
illustrated and printed in an
artistic manner with an attrac-
tive binding?
•I We have precisely such a
volume and it is the result of
long and careful study and
examination of the principal
player products in this country.
C| We have established quite
a reputation for technical litera-
ture and we feel confident
that our new book, which is
entitled "A Technical Treatise
On Piano Player Mechanism,"
will enhance our reputation
along these lines. Every
player, tuner, repairer, dealer
and salesman should own a
copy. It will cost but $1.50
delivered to any part of this
country.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL
Publisher ..
No. 1 Madisoa Avenue, New York