Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 81 N. 12 - Page 6
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6
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 19,
1925
Ohio Music Merchants' Convention — (Gont. from page 3)
A
Be sincere in dealing
with the buyer.
Your reputation is
worth more than the
slight saving resulting
from the substitution
of doubtful durability,
for known quality.
TONK MFG. CO.
1912 Lewis Street
Chicago
THE BEST m
not only supplied various forms for the use of
members in their businesses, and information
on various trade topics, but has been called upon
to censor several questionable advertisements
with satisfactory results to the complainants.
During the past year the following members
of the Association died: W. S. Robertson, Cin-
cinnati; W. S. Hyer, Greenville; Mrs. Minnie E.
Radebaugh, Columbus; G. E. Spicer, Columbus;
H. A. Griffin, Muskegon Heights, Mich.; A. M.
Witmer, Ashland, and Paul C. Hayes of Toledo.
In closing his report Secretary Hyre said:
"From the foregoing it must be apparent that
the Music Merchants' Association of Ohio is a
thriving, hustling body of retail music dealers,
banded together for the sole purpose of helping
each other in a legitimate and proper manner.
It should also convince every Ohio retail music
dealer that he should become a member.
"The past year, perhaps more than any other
year in its history, has shown that the Ohio
body truly represents the music merchant—not
the piano dealer alone, as has often been as-
serted. The special Columbus meeting on Jan-
uary 12, 1925, definitely stamps the organization
as capable of meeting any real problem in any
branch of the retail music business in Ohio.
This means that any dealer member has the
right to present his individual problem to his
fellow merchants through the Association, have
it discussed, and if it is a common problem,
secure co-operative action by his organization.
"Each year more members are taking advan-
tage of the services of the Association. From
month to month more members are beginning
to realize what the organization means to them
and are giving it some of their attention and
moral support. Year after year, bit by bit, the
Ohio dealers are appreciating more and more
what National Music Week, our State band con-
test and the work of the Bureau for the Ad-
vancement of Music means, and they are giving
time and effort to these movements that spell
only success for those participating.
"Let this, then, be concluded with an earnest
appeal to the membership to interest themselves
in their Association. Take advantage of what it
offers. Give it some of your time, thought and
attention. Help increase its membership. It is
only by sowing that you reap. Others have
been and now are securing the advantages of
the co-operation that is open to every member
who will but seek it.
"In closing, let me state that the past year has
been a very happy one for the writer in the
Association work. The helpful suggestions and
earnest work from most of the members has
made the tasks seem easy. The officers and
committes have all been most energetic."
In his report as chairman of the Music Ad-
vancement Committee of the Association, F. B.
Beinkamp, of Cincinnati, said:
"Our main activity this year has been the
enlisting of bands for the band contest con-
ducted by the New York office. A broadcasting
station was suggested and, as I understand, is
still being considered.
"And now I want to present what I think is
one of the best suggestions we have had in a
long time. A. F. Deters, tuner for the C. H.
DeVine Co., of this city, told me the other
day that when caring for reproducing pianos he
is very often asked to play a certain roll. Then
he is asked the name of the author, or the com-
position, or the artist who played it. Invariably
the name was unusual and often he did not
know how to pronounce it. This proved to him
that the person only used this ruse to learn how
to pronounce the name.
"What is the lesson from this? That if the
owners of the better grades of these instru-
ments had a pronouncing dictionary of authors,
artists and compositions they would talk music
much more than they do, for we all know that
there is a certain pride in talking about art
subjects that we think we are informed upon.
"Here is a prolific source for the promotion
of the industry. These dictionaries could be
published by manufacturers for advertising pur-
poses."
Secretary Hyre then introduced Dan Dettel-
bach of a Cleveland auditing company who
spoke at some length and in detail upon "Over-
head Compared to Volume." The speaker
clearly defined the real meaning of the terms
overhead, profit, turnover, inventory, etc., stat-
ing that many business men lost money con-
tinually by not possessing a proper comprehen-
sion of these various phases of business account-
ing and also through a lack of an understand-
ing of the relationship of the factors which enter
therein.
He was followed by Chas. H. Yahrling, of the
Yahrling-Rayner Co., Youngstown, who read a
paper on retail music merchants' financing that
is printed in full an page 5.
Mr. Yahrling's address made such a strong
impression upon the dealers present that Presi-
dent Grau was authorized to appoint a com-
mittee charged with the duty of investigating
the feasibility of organizing a co-operative
financing bureau for the Association. At the
conclusion of the discussion upon Mr. Yahr-
ling's paper the Tuesday session was adjourned.
Immediately thereafter all those attending the
convention were taken to Cody's Farm in the
Kentucky hills, fifteen miles from Cincinnati,
where burgoo, chicken and the necessary liquid
accessories were enjoyed.
Wednesday Session
The Wednesday morning session of the six-
teenth annual convention of the Music Mer-
chants' Association of Ohio was opened by Sec-
retary Rexford C. Hyre, who read a consider-
able amount of correspondence for the informa-
tion of the members present.
Chas. H. Yahrling then presented his report
as chairman of the Mutual Insurance Commit-
tee. Mr. Yahrling stated that the members of
the Association had not displayed the proper
amount of interest in the development and
carrying out of the plan to have all members
place their insurance co-operatively through the
association. Only twenty during the past year
had placed insurance to the amount of $130,000
through this plan, he said, although the insur-
ance company with which arrangements had
been made required a minimum of $200,000
worth of insurance to insure a maximum saving
of $1,000 or so to the association. Mr. Yahrling
outlined the benefits of this plan at length and
it was urged that the members pledge them-
selves to place a least a certain proportion of
their insurance through the bureau during the
next year.
Bait Advertising
C. L. Dennis, manager of the Merchandising
Service Bureau of the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce, was the next speaker. His
subject was the injury which bait advertising is
doing to the entire retail piano trade and his
address provoked a lively discussion among the
dealers present. Mr. Dennis read the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce report on
bait advertising, which had been presented to
the national association in Chicago last June,
and laid particular stress upon the recommenda-
tions contained in that report for combating
bait publicity through the co-operative local
effort of the legitimate music merchant. He
also stated that the power of the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce Better Business
Bureau in handling local complaints would be
materially strengthened if dealers would co-
operate both in gathering and presenting evi-
dence regarding questionable methods in their
cities. This could then be followed up by the
Better Business Bureau of the Advertising
Clubs of the World working in association with
local corrective agencies to effectively check
this practice.
At the conclusion of the address of Mr.
Dennis several members of the Association dis-
6
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 19,
1925
Ohio Music Merchants' Convention — (Gont. from page 3)
A
Be sincere in dealing
with the buyer.
Your reputation is
worth more than the
slight saving resulting
from the substitution
of doubtful durability,
for known quality.
TONK MFG. CO.
1912 Lewis Street
Chicago
THE BEST m
not only supplied various forms for the use of
members in their businesses, and information
on various trade topics, but has been called upon
to censor several questionable advertisements
with satisfactory results to the complainants.
During the past year the following members
of the Association died: W. S. Robertson, Cin-
cinnati; W. S. Hyer, Greenville; Mrs. Minnie E.
Radebaugh, Columbus; G. E. Spicer, Columbus;
H. A. Griffin, Muskegon Heights, Mich.; A. M.
Witmer, Ashland, and Paul C. Hayes of Toledo.
In closing his report Secretary Hyre said:
"From the foregoing it must be apparent that
the Music Merchants' Association of Ohio is a
thriving, hustling body of retail music dealers,
banded together for the sole purpose of helping
each other in a legitimate and proper manner.
It should also convince every Ohio retail music
dealer that he should become a member.
"The past year, perhaps more than any other
year in its history, has shown that the Ohio
body truly represents the music merchant—not
the piano dealer alone, as has often been as-
serted. The special Columbus meeting on Jan-
uary 12, 1925, definitely stamps the organization
as capable of meeting any real problem in any
branch of the retail music business in Ohio.
This means that any dealer member has the
right to present his individual problem to his
fellow merchants through the Association, have
it discussed, and if it is a common problem,
secure co-operative action by his organization.
"Each year more members are taking advan-
tage of the services of the Association. From
month to month more members are beginning
to realize what the organization means to them
and are giving it some of their attention and
moral support. Year after year, bit by bit, the
Ohio dealers are appreciating more and more
what National Music Week, our State band con-
test and the work of the Bureau for the Ad-
vancement of Music means, and they are giving
time and effort to these movements that spell
only success for those participating.
"Let this, then, be concluded with an earnest
appeal to the membership to interest themselves
in their Association. Take advantage of what it
offers. Give it some of your time, thought and
attention. Help increase its membership. It is
only by sowing that you reap. Others have
been and now are securing the advantages of
the co-operation that is open to every member
who will but seek it.
"In closing, let me state that the past year has
been a very happy one for the writer in the
Association work. The helpful suggestions and
earnest work from most of the members has
made the tasks seem easy. The officers and
committes have all been most energetic."
In his report as chairman of the Music Ad-
vancement Committee of the Association, F. B.
Beinkamp, of Cincinnati, said:
"Our main activity this year has been the
enlisting of bands for the band contest con-
ducted by the New York office. A broadcasting
station was suggested and, as I understand, is
still being considered.
"And now I want to present what I think is
one of the best suggestions we have had in a
long time. A. F. Deters, tuner for the C. H.
DeVine Co., of this city, told me the other
day that when caring for reproducing pianos he
is very often asked to play a certain roll. Then
he is asked the name of the author, or the com-
position, or the artist who played it. Invariably
the name was unusual and often he did not
know how to pronounce it. This proved to him
that the person only used this ruse to learn how
to pronounce the name.
"What is the lesson from this? That if the
owners of the better grades of these instru-
ments had a pronouncing dictionary of authors,
artists and compositions they would talk music
much more than they do, for we all know that
there is a certain pride in talking about art
subjects that we think we are informed upon.
"Here is a prolific source for the promotion
of the industry. These dictionaries could be
published by manufacturers for advertising pur-
poses."
Secretary Hyre then introduced Dan Dettel-
bach of a Cleveland auditing company who
spoke at some length and in detail upon "Over-
head Compared to Volume." The speaker
clearly defined the real meaning of the terms
overhead, profit, turnover, inventory, etc., stat-
ing that many business men lost money con-
tinually by not possessing a proper comprehen-
sion of these various phases of business account-
ing and also through a lack of an understand-
ing of the relationship of the factors which enter
therein.
He was followed by Chas. H. Yahrling, of the
Yahrling-Rayner Co., Youngstown, who read a
paper on retail music merchants' financing that
is printed in full an page 5.
Mr. Yahrling's address made such a strong
impression upon the dealers present that Presi-
dent Grau was authorized to appoint a com-
mittee charged with the duty of investigating
the feasibility of organizing a co-operative
financing bureau for the Association. At the
conclusion of the discussion upon Mr. Yahr-
ling's paper the Tuesday session was adjourned.
Immediately thereafter all those attending the
convention were taken to Cody's Farm in the
Kentucky hills, fifteen miles from Cincinnati,
where burgoo, chicken and the necessary liquid
accessories were enjoyed.
Wednesday Session
The Wednesday morning session of the six-
teenth annual convention of the Music Mer-
chants' Association of Ohio was opened by Sec-
retary Rexford C. Hyre, who read a consider-
able amount of correspondence for the informa-
tion of the members present.
Chas. H. Yahrling then presented his report
as chairman of the Mutual Insurance Commit-
tee. Mr. Yahrling stated that the members of
the Association had not displayed the proper
amount of interest in the development and
carrying out of the plan to have all members
place their insurance co-operatively through the
association. Only twenty during the past year
had placed insurance to the amount of $130,000
through this plan, he said, although the insur-
ance company with which arrangements had
been made required a minimum of $200,000
worth of insurance to insure a maximum saving
of $1,000 or so to the association. Mr. Yahrling
outlined the benefits of this plan at length and
it was urged that the members pledge them-
selves to place a least a certain proportion of
their insurance through the bureau during the
next year.
Bait Advertising
C. L. Dennis, manager of the Merchandising
Service Bureau of the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce, was the next speaker. His
subject was the injury which bait advertising is
doing to the entire retail piano trade and his
address provoked a lively discussion among the
dealers present. Mr. Dennis read the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce report on
bait advertising, which had been presented to
the national association in Chicago last June,
and laid particular stress upon the recommenda-
tions contained in that report for combating
bait publicity through the co-operative local
effort of the legitimate music merchant. He
also stated that the power of the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce Better Business
Bureau in handling local complaints would be
materially strengthened if dealers would co-
operate both in gathering and presenting evi-
dence regarding questionable methods in their
cities. This could then be followed up by the
Better Business Bureau of the Advertising
Clubs of the World working in association with
local corrective agencies to effectively check
this practice.
At the conclusion of the address of Mr.
Dennis several members of the Association dis-
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