Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 81 N. 8 - Page 5
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AUGUST 22,
1925
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
A. G. Gulbransen Points Out Ways and
Means to Increase Tuners' Resources
President cf the Gulbransen Co. States Tuners' Association Needs a Sounder Financial Basis for
the Important Work It Carries on and Outlines a Plan to Secure It
T T IS gratifying to hear that the Tuners' As-
sociation has risen to a point where it is the
largest organized body in the piano industry,
in number of members.
It is fine to learn that the convention at
Detroit was conducted in a manner described
as being unusually businesslike and efficient.
It is pleasing to note that there is a greater
interest in tuning and servicing of pianos on
the part of manufacturers and dealers—and
even on the part of the public. An impression
seems to have been made on a portion of the
piano owners, at least.
These things are very satisfying to the friends
of the Tuners' Association. It-has taken years
to bring about this condition—it has required
a good deal of effort and hard work, and the
A. G. Gulbransen
degree of success attained affords all of us not
a little satisfaction.
In the flush of this measure of success, how-
ever, let us not forget that it is only a start—
that there are very important things to be
accomplished, and that a plan of procedure that
will assure the future of the association is far
from having been worked out.
The Tuners' Association needs a sounder,
more permanent plan of raising funds with
which to do necessary work than the present
one. Some carefully thought-out plan will have
to be evolved, in justice to the tuners and the
trade as a whole.
• The active co-operation of manufacturers,
merchants and tuners will be required. What-
ever plan of raising funds is worked out, it
should be very carefully considered from the
standpoints of equity to all interests in the
piano trade and adequacy to the purpose. If
the funds available are not sufficient there will
not be the incentive or possibility of going
ahead in a way that will make a real improve-
ment in the situation.
There are a number of ways in which the
revenue of the Tuners' Association can be in-
creased:
1. Manufacturers may pledge their support on
a uniform basis, allowing so much per piano
produced, or some arrangement of that sort.
2. Both manufacturers and merchants may
work out some co-operative deal whereby the
tuners can be helped.
3. There may be still further increase in mem-
berships sold, thus increasing the revenue ma-
terially.
4. A plan whereby "Tune Twice Yearly"
stamps may be sold to manufacturers and deal-
ers, to be affixed to the instruments, for which
the Tuners' Association will be paid, may be
worked out.
There are numerous other ways of increas-
ing income which have been and aie being
given consideration. One thing seems certain
—with the present income of the tuners it will
be impossible to raise dues to a point where
a sufficient amount of revenue will be derived.
The help of the manufacturers and merchants
will be required. It is our job. It is proper
that manufacturers and dealers should lend a
hand, for in the end their gain will be as great.
The work of the Tuners is an unselfish work,
for in helping themselves they are helping an
entire industry. What is for the good of the
tuning profession proves to be, immediately and
directly, for the good of all.
The Gulbransen Co., for one, stands ready to
co-operate in any reasonable proposition that
may be worked out, regardless of what the de-
tails of it may be. We realize, with the
number of Gulbransen instruments sold an-
nually and with the number in use throughout
the country, that we cannot afford to let the
tuning and service end of the industry go its
own way and work out its own salvation. We
are interested in the future of every Gulbransen
sold. Probably every manufacturer who makes
a product in which he has any degree of pride
and who expects to stay in business perma-
nently feels the same way about it.
Merchants all over the country have shown
their realization of the seriousness of the tun-
ing problem and its importance to them. Many
of them are taking a hand in assisting in the
solution of the problem and many of them are
giving of their money toward the support of
the organization. Their number will increase
now that the association has rather dramatically
and suddenly called attention to its progress
through the good work at the Detroit conven-
tion. Everybody in the trade knew the Tuners'
Association was alive and active, but the out-
standing success of the recent convention has
focused attention on the organization, its work
and its financial problem as nothing else ever
has.
Start Campaign on Q R S
Red Top Radio Tubes
Company to Run String Advertising Copy in
the Leading National Magazines in Connec-
tion With Marketing of New Product
The New Q R S Red Top radio tube, of which
considerable has been heard for some time past,
has just been announced through the medium
of a three-color ad on the back cover of the
Literary Digest, a reproduction of which ap-
pears in The Review this week. This an-
nouncement represents the opening gun of an
advertising campaign that will include impos-
ing space in such magazines as the Saturday
Evening Post, Review of Reviews, World's
Work, Harper's Magazine, Century Magazine,
and the Golden Book.
The Q R S Music Co. some time ago took
over the Radio Essentials Corp., and the Red
Top radio tubes which represents over two
years of research and experimenting to con-
struct a tube that would combine power, quali-
ty, reception and rigidity and at the same time
overcome the common tube fault such as micro-
phonic noises. The tubes in their perfected
state are manufactured in the Q R S plant
where the most modern tube-making machinery
has been installed. At the present time only
tubes of the 201A type are being made.
The launching of the Red Top Tube cam-
paign will in no way conflict with the regular
and widespread advertising of the Q R S music
rolls and it is felt that the reputation of the
Q R S name, which has been built up through
advertising, backed by good products, will have
a great effect in making the company's guaran-
tee on the Red Top tubes acceptable without
question by the public.
In addition to the advertising, an energetic
sales campaign will be carried on in connec-
tion with the marketing of the new radio tubes.
Flood Damages Piano Stock
JKKSEY CITY, X. ) . , August 17.—The retail
piano warerooms of the Lauter Co., at 734
Washington street, this city, were damaged to
the extent of about $10,000, when water flooded
the store recently to the depth of several
inches. The water was reported to have come
through the ceiling from the floor above, where
some one allowed a bath tub to overflow.
Woonsocket Dealer Bankrupt
A voluntary petition of bankruptcy has been
filed by Phillippo Clement, operating a retail
piano and phonograph business on Cumberland
street, Woonsocket, R. I. Mr. Clement has
listed his assets at $250 and his liabilities at $5,-
550.
Wallace Reynolds, of the traveling staff of the
Auto Pneumatic Action Co., New York, left
last week on a motor trip through New Eng-
land with his family. His objective is Greens-
boro, Vt., where he has taken a cottage for
several weeks.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
Pratt Read
Products
Pi a n o I v o r y
Pi a n o K e y s
Pi ano Actions
PL ayei r Actions
Established in
1806
at Deep River, Conn.
Still There
Standard Service and Highest
Quality
Special Repair Departments
Maintained for Convenience
of Dealers
PRATT, READ & CO.
THE PRATT READ
PLAYER ACTION CO.
Oldest and Best
AUGUST 22,
1925
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
A. G. Gulbransen Points Out Ways and
Means to Increase Tuners' Resources
President cf the Gulbransen Co. States Tuners' Association Needs a Sounder Financial Basis for
the Important Work It Carries on and Outlines a Plan to Secure It
T T IS gratifying to hear that the Tuners' As-
sociation has risen to a point where it is the
largest organized body in the piano industry,
in number of members.
It is fine to learn that the convention at
Detroit was conducted in a manner described
as being unusually businesslike and efficient.
It is pleasing to note that there is a greater
interest in tuning and servicing of pianos on
the part of manufacturers and dealers—and
even on the part of the public. An impression
seems to have been made on a portion of the
piano owners, at least.
These things are very satisfying to the friends
of the Tuners' Association. It-has taken years
to bring about this condition—it has required
a good deal of effort and hard work, and the
A. G. Gulbransen
degree of success attained affords all of us not
a little satisfaction.
In the flush of this measure of success, how-
ever, let us not forget that it is only a start—
that there are very important things to be
accomplished, and that a plan of procedure that
will assure the future of the association is far
from having been worked out.
The Tuners' Association needs a sounder,
more permanent plan of raising funds with
which to do necessary work than the present
one. Some carefully thought-out plan will have
to be evolved, in justice to the tuners and the
trade as a whole.
• The active co-operation of manufacturers,
merchants and tuners will be required. What-
ever plan of raising funds is worked out, it
should be very carefully considered from the
standpoints of equity to all interests in the
piano trade and adequacy to the purpose. If
the funds available are not sufficient there will
not be the incentive or possibility of going
ahead in a way that will make a real improve-
ment in the situation.
There are a number of ways in which the
revenue of the Tuners' Association can be in-
creased:
1. Manufacturers may pledge their support on
a uniform basis, allowing so much per piano
produced, or some arrangement of that sort.
2. Both manufacturers and merchants may
work out some co-operative deal whereby the
tuners can be helped.
3. There may be still further increase in mem-
berships sold, thus increasing the revenue ma-
terially.
4. A plan whereby "Tune Twice Yearly"
stamps may be sold to manufacturers and deal-
ers, to be affixed to the instruments, for which
the Tuners' Association will be paid, may be
worked out.
There are numerous other ways of increas-
ing income which have been and aie being
given consideration. One thing seems certain
—with the present income of the tuners it will
be impossible to raise dues to a point where
a sufficient amount of revenue will be derived.
The help of the manufacturers and merchants
will be required. It is our job. It is proper
that manufacturers and dealers should lend a
hand, for in the end their gain will be as great.
The work of the Tuners is an unselfish work,
for in helping themselves they are helping an
entire industry. What is for the good of the
tuning profession proves to be, immediately and
directly, for the good of all.
The Gulbransen Co., for one, stands ready to
co-operate in any reasonable proposition that
may be worked out, regardless of what the de-
tails of it may be. We realize, with the
number of Gulbransen instruments sold an-
nually and with the number in use throughout
the country, that we cannot afford to let the
tuning and service end of the industry go its
own way and work out its own salvation. We
are interested in the future of every Gulbransen
sold. Probably every manufacturer who makes
a product in which he has any degree of pride
and who expects to stay in business perma-
nently feels the same way about it.
Merchants all over the country have shown
their realization of the seriousness of the tun-
ing problem and its importance to them. Many
of them are taking a hand in assisting in the
solution of the problem and many of them are
giving of their money toward the support of
the organization. Their number will increase
now that the association has rather dramatically
and suddenly called attention to its progress
through the good work at the Detroit conven-
tion. Everybody in the trade knew the Tuners'
Association was alive and active, but the out-
standing success of the recent convention has
focused attention on the organization, its work
and its financial problem as nothing else ever
has.
Start Campaign on Q R S
Red Top Radio Tubes
Company to Run String Advertising Copy in
the Leading National Magazines in Connec-
tion With Marketing of New Product
The New Q R S Red Top radio tube, of which
considerable has been heard for some time past,
has just been announced through the medium
of a three-color ad on the back cover of the
Literary Digest, a reproduction of which ap-
pears in The Review this week. This an-
nouncement represents the opening gun of an
advertising campaign that will include impos-
ing space in such magazines as the Saturday
Evening Post, Review of Reviews, World's
Work, Harper's Magazine, Century Magazine,
and the Golden Book.
The Q R S Music Co. some time ago took
over the Radio Essentials Corp., and the Red
Top radio tubes which represents over two
years of research and experimenting to con-
struct a tube that would combine power, quali-
ty, reception and rigidity and at the same time
overcome the common tube fault such as micro-
phonic noises. The tubes in their perfected
state are manufactured in the Q R S plant
where the most modern tube-making machinery
has been installed. At the present time only
tubes of the 201A type are being made.
The launching of the Red Top Tube cam-
paign will in no way conflict with the regular
and widespread advertising of the Q R S music
rolls and it is felt that the reputation of the
Q R S name, which has been built up through
advertising, backed by good products, will have
a great effect in making the company's guaran-
tee on the Red Top tubes acceptable without
question by the public.
In addition to the advertising, an energetic
sales campaign will be carried on in connec-
tion with the marketing of the new radio tubes.
Flood Damages Piano Stock
JKKSEY CITY, X. ) . , August 17.—The retail
piano warerooms of the Lauter Co., at 734
Washington street, this city, were damaged to
the extent of about $10,000, when water flooded
the store recently to the depth of several
inches. The water was reported to have come
through the ceiling from the floor above, where
some one allowed a bath tub to overflow.
Woonsocket Dealer Bankrupt
A voluntary petition of bankruptcy has been
filed by Phillippo Clement, operating a retail
piano and phonograph business on Cumberland
street, Woonsocket, R. I. Mr. Clement has
listed his assets at $250 and his liabilities at $5,-
550.
Wallace Reynolds, of the traveling staff of the
Auto Pneumatic Action Co., New York, left
last week on a motor trip through New Eng-
land with his family. His objective is Greens-
boro, Vt., where he has taken a cottage for
several weeks.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
Pratt Read
Products
Pi a n o I v o r y
Pi a n o K e y s
Pi ano Actions
PL ayei r Actions
Established in
1806
at Deep River, Conn.
Still There
Standard Service and Highest
Quality
Special Repair Departments
Maintained for Convenience
of Dealers
PRATT, READ & CO.
THE PRATT READ
PLAYER ACTION CO.
Oldest and Best
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