Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JANUARY 26,
1924
9
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Mel-O-Dee Music Go. to Establish
Wide Wholesale Distributing System
Stocks to Be Carried in Centers Throughout Country to Speed Shipments—New Plan of Dealers'
Helps Being Prepared—Retail List Prices to Be Increased on Word Rolls
Mel-O-Dcc Music Co., Inc., New York,
T H has E just
announced some important inter-
esting changes in connection with the merchan-
dising of its product, the Mel-O-Dee music roll.
Particularly interesting from the viewpoint of
the dealer is that preparations have been made
for distributing the rolls from important centers
of the country through the medium of local
wholesalers, representative and established con-
ferns, who will carry full wholesale stocks of
rolls and be able to fill dealers' orders more
promptly than were it necessary to ship the
rolls from New York. Mel-O-Dee rolls have
heretofore been sold direct, but the increase in
the number of dealers has made necessary the
new system of distributors in various sections
of the country.
Another important innovation is the wrapping
of Mel-O-Dee music roll boxes in protective
glassine paper, fully sealed, which not only pro-
tects the stock carried on the dealers' shelves,
but insures the customer getting fresh and per-
fect playing rolls just as they leave the factory.
The paper covering thus serves a double pur-
pose and has the advantage of being transparent
so that the attractiveness of the box itself still
makes a sales appeal.
A new and comprehensive plan of merchan-
dising helps for Mel-O-Dee dealers is also an-
nounced, including a new and very complete
catalog in handy pocket size, now being dis-
tributed. A book entitled "The Dealers' Adver-
tising Service" lists many interesting helps to
new customers and ways to increased pur-
chases by old customers, including the man-
ufacturer's campaign of magazine and news-
paper advertising, local newspaper and other
publicity, process letter campaigns, booklets,
folders, window displays and other strong sell-
ing helps.
The most significant helps outlined in this
"Service" are seven beautiful booklets especially
devoted to music classifications of the following
groups: Marches, Operatic, Waltzes, Popular,
Classic, Selected 200 List, Sacred and Old Fav-
orite Songs, making it easy for owners of
player-pianos to easily find just the selections
they are seeking.
The manufacturers of Mel-O-Dee music
rolls have inaugurated a plan that will surely
prove of great value to all music merchants.
For many years this company has manufactured
perforated music, and has always been a lead-
ing factor in the trade. Its product has always
been of the highest quality. The utmost atten-
tion is given to musical arrangements and a
staff of trained musicians in the New York
recording room of the company is always on
the alert for everything interesting to music-
roll buyers.
Mel-O-Dee music rolls are distinguished for
several exclusive features, such as a patented
steel end that is indestructible, the actual words
on the word rolls, and the dynamic line, which
is a key to correct interpretation of the music
and is of inestimable value to player-pianists.
Another accomplishment under this new plan
is an entire readjustment of list prices. For-
merly there were sixteen prices; this has been
reduced to three, and Mel-O-Dee word rolls
are again listed at $1.25. Mel-O-Dee dealers
will be interested in this entire plan, and will
certainly welcome the announcement of distribu-
tion centers, as well as other features, such as
the advertising service and other features an-
nounced.
Pittsburgh Music Dealers Take Big
Part in Celebration of Thrift Week
Local Merchants Link Up Window Displays to Event—Charles Thompson, of Smith, Barnes &
Strohber, Improving—Memorial Services Held at Grave of Stephen C. Foster
PITTSBURGH, PA., January 21.—"Thrift
"• Week" was given impetus here by the co-
operation of the Piano Merchants' Association
of Pittsburgh, the local banks and the Retail
Credit Men's Association. On Wednesday eve-
ning Edward B. Coll, president of the Farmers'
National Hank, opened "Thrift Week" with a
radio talk on "Thrift."
The next day the local piano merchants had
window displays in practically all of their win-
dows in which "Thrift Week" was the motif.
The Lcchner & Schoenberger Co. had an ex-
ceptionally fine display in which "Music in the
Home" was featured. A large poster on the
show window told of the "Budget" system as
applied to the home and the provision for
music. From this poster lines of white tape
were suspended. Each tape was attached to
a musical instrument. One connected the poster
with a Gulbransen player-piano, another with a
Victor talking machine and the third with an
Edison console type of phonograph.
Charles Thompson, the well-known general
representative of the Smith, Barnes & Strohber
Co., of Chicago, who was stricken with paralysis
while on a business trip here, is still in the
Homeopathic Hospital, where his condition is
reported as improved. The Pittsburgh Piano
Merchants' Association sent a handsome bou-
quet of flowers to Mr. Thompson's room and
several of the members of the Association
called on him and offered aid in any way. Mrs.
Thompson and their son came on and are now-
awaiting word from physicians as to the time
M>- Thompson can be taken home.
A grateful people last Sunday (January 13)
paid tribute to the composer who gave them
more than three score years ago such touching
songs as "Old Black Joe," "My Old Kentucky
Home" and "Massa's in the Cold, Cold Ground."
These and other melodies by Stephen Collins
Foster formed the theme of many special musi
cal features in church services of the city, were
made subjects of organ recitals in Schenlcy and
Northside, Carnegie Halls and were sung by
200 school children at Foster's grave.
The memorial service at the grave of Stephen
Collins Foster was conducted under the auspices
of the Civic Club of Allegheny County, in
charge of Mrs. Samuel Ely Eliot, chairman.
Foster's songs were sung by the school chil-
dren who attend the Stephen Collins Foster
public school'. The pupils also placed a wreath
on the grave. A special poem, written for the
occasion by Mrs. Alexander Dallas Rose, a
granddaughter of Foster, was read by her.
Standing room was at a premium at Carnegie
Music Hall last Wednesday evening when
Paderewski gave a recital. He was repeatedly
encored. As usual, a Steinway concert grand
piano was used. The C. C. Mellor Co., Stein-
way representative in Pittsburgh, had a fine
bust of the noted Polish composer on exhibi-
tion in its show window, together with a
Steinway grand piano.
The Mehlin reproducing piano was featured
in a large advertisement in the Pittsburgh news-
papers by Kaufmann's. It was pointed out that
"Hearing the Mehlin reproducing piano creates
an irresistible desire to own one."
Where Is There Another
Player Piano With So
Many Exclusive
Features?
dealer who handles the
•*• Lauter-Humana has something
that no other dealer in town can ap-
proach. Among its many exclusive
features are:
Duplex Pumping Device
Suction Pump
Pressure Gauge
Tracker Hole Cleaner
Hinged Action
Electric Light in Spool Box
Lauter Patented Back Bolt
Every one of these is a thoroughly
practical refinement. In competitive
selling, the Lauter-Humana invariably
gets the deal. Its superiority is evi-
dent even to the person who knows
little or nothing about player-pianos.
In addition to the Lauter-Humana,
we manufacture:
The Lauter
Small
The Lauter
Grand
Piano
Reproducing Pianos, in grand
and upright styles
Inquiries are invited from dealers
who are interested in handling the
quality products of an organization
whose experience covers a period of
62 years.
LAUTER CO.
Piano Manufacturers
591 Broad St., Newark, N. J.