Music Trade Review

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MARCH 19, 1927
The Music Trade Review
Schmoller & Mueller Go.
Organization Meeting for New York
Celebrates Anniversary
Planned at Syracuse, April 26 and 27
Preliminary Meeting in that City Issued Call for Gathering and Issuance of Pledge to
Organize a New York State Association of Music Merchants
SYRACUSE, N. Y., March 12.—The first step
looking to the formation of a State association
of music merchants in New York was taken
here on Thursday, w'hen a meeting of local
dealers was called for the purpose of formulat-
ing plans for a New York State convention
in this city on April 26 and 27, for the pur-
pose of perfecting a permanent organization.
The meeting on Thursday was called by H.
M. Day, convention secretary of the Syracuse
Chamber of Commerce, who pledged the actual
support of his organization in making the
organization meeting next month a success. A
luncheon was held at which one of the speakers
was C. L. Debbis, executive secretary of the
National Association of Music Merchants, and
following a discussion of the matter S. M.
Morecroft, of Leiter Bros., and Glenn L. Ches-
bro, of the Clark Music Co., secretary of the
Syracuse convention committee. In addition,
the following committee chairmen were named:
L. A. Godard, carrying charge;
Burton
Michael, advertising, and Melville Clark, en-
tertainment. Various other sub-committees
will be appointed later to take care of publicity,
legislation and other matters.
The following "Pledge to Organize" a New
York State Association of Music Merchants
was passed unanimously and signed by those
present:
"Whereas, the undersigned members of the
music trade believe that there is vital need for
an Association of Music Merchants and affiliat-
ed industries in the State of New York, to
conserve the interests of and to promote the
welfare of music and the music industry; there-
fore, be it
"Resolved, that we pledge our support indi-
vidually and collectively to promote the
formation of such an organization for the
development and protection of the music bust-
ness, and to that end we hereby guarantee our
active co-operation as follows:
"1. To subscribe our support by membership
and payment of such dues as may be hereafter
determined by ourselves and other members;
"2. To call a State convention of members
of the music trade from throughout the State
Of New York, who are hereby invited to come
to Syracuse on April 26 and 27 for the purpose
of forming an association as stated;
"3. To assist in forming such committees and
temporary organization of officers as may be
necessary to accomplish the formation of this
association, and to serve in such individual and
collective capacities as the work may require."
The Syracuse committee includes L. A.
Godard, Godard's Music House; Melville Clark,
Clark Music Co.; Burton Michael, formerly
Michael & St. John; James H. Persse, E. W.
Edwards & Son; Louis C. Gage, Dey Bros. &
Co.; Glenn C. Chesbro, Clark Music Co., and
S. H. Morecroft, Leiter Bros. Others who
were unable to be present at the first meeting
will be added.
There were also in attendance at the Syracuse
meeting Wm. H. Levis and Miss Ruth Levis,
of the Levis Music Store, at Rochester, and
H. Gerald Hyde, of Cortlandt.
The New York piano merchants who sub-
scribed to the movement, through a similar
pledge circulated by Secretary Albert Behning,
of the local association, are Jerome W. Ackerly,
of Patchogue; George A. Scofield, of Pease,
Behning Co.; Emil Pettinato, Carl Fischer;
William Conkling. Janssen Piano Co.; C. Al-
bert Jacob, Jr., Jacob Bros. Co.; J. H. Gellett,
Mathushek Piano Mfg. Co.; Valentine J. Faeth,
Winterroth & Co.; E. J. Winterroth. Winter-
roth Piano Co.; John J. Glynn. Mathushek &
James & Holmstrom; Joseph Specter, Calvin
T. Purdy, Hardman, Peck & Co.; Berthold
Neuer, Wm. Knabe & Co.; A. N. Spoerl,
Mehlin & Sons; Story & Clark Piano Co.; L.
S. Schoenwald, Chickering & Son; H. Bieling,
Pease Piano Co.; J. S. Ryan, Rudolph Wur-
litzer Co.; G. V. K. Amrhein, P. A. Starck
Piano Co.; Chas. W. Paul, Chas. T. Laurino,
Aeolian Co.; G. A. Polling, Baldwin Piano Co.;
Montague E. Marks, Milton Weil, Kraukauer
Bros.
Other music merchants from throughout New
York State have gone on record in favor of
the State association.
Winegar Player Concerts
Reach 2,000 Homes
Series Given by Grand Rapids Gulbransen
Dealer Meets With Wide Response in That
City
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., March 12.—The Winegar
Furniture Co., working through the Parent-
Teachers' Association, has been able to reach
Winegar Furniture Co.
over 2,000 homes through a series of concerts
featuring the Gulbransen Registering piano
held in public schools of the city. The fourth
concert was given last week at the Harrison
Park School and was attended by 600 persons.
The Gulbransen Registering piano was the
only instrument used. The artists taking part
were M. 15. Witter, salesman for the Gulbran-
sen Co.; Mrs. S. C. Mitchell, vocalist; Miss
Norma Van Houten, Miss Irene Greenly May,
Miss Merna Witter, singing child songs, and
C. A. Malette, a chalk artist, who draws pic-
tures to the accompaniment of the Gulbransen
Registering piano.
"These concerts are of the utmost value to
us," says J. F, Charles, of the Winegar Fur-
niture Co., "for, while the people are being
entertained, they are also receiving direct in-
formation concerning the possibilities of the
Gulbransen Registering piano, as a proper in-
strument for the home. This is brought out
very forcibly in the opening scene and through-
cut the entire program."
Nebraska Concern Was Established Sixty-eight
Years Ago—Handles Many Leading Makes—
Conducting Musical Census
OMAHA, NEB., March 14.—The Schmoller &
Mueller Piano Co. is celebrating its sixty-eighth
anniversary with an anniversary sale extending
throughout March.
The occasion celebrates the founding of the
business by Joseph Mueller, musician and com-
poser, who came here from Germany in 1859.
In 1883 William H. Schmoller, present owner
of the business, became associated with a
branch house in Omaha as partner to Arthur
Mueller, oldest son of Joseph Mueller.
After Joseph Mueller died Mr! Schmoller
purchased the entire assets of the company and
incorporated under the present name.
He
signed contracts with leading piano manufac-
turers, including Steinway & Sons, Aeolian Co.,
Emerson, Steger, Hardman, Ivers & Pond and
many others. The business has grown until
now it is one of the largest retail musical
businesses in the country and does a business
of more than $1,000,000 yearly. Branch houses
have been established at Lincoln, Neb.; Sioux
City, la., and Council Bluffs, la.
"Googie Kisset," heralded as the world's only
piano-playing dog, has been a feature of the
Gulbransen Display
anniversary program. During the noon hour
on certain days he has seated himself before
a piano in the show window and, to the great
amusement of the crowd gathered outside,
see him, actually played and "sung." Googie
has good stage presence and bowed formally
when applauded.
Though not strictly an anniversary feature,
an interesting sales-promotion plan which
Schmoller & Mueller Piano Co. has under way
is a musical census of the city. Ten can-
vassers are making house-to-house calls, while
others are busy on the telephone.
Remodel Harway Store
Extensive improvements have been com-
pleted in the store of the Harway Music Co.,
28 West Blackwell street, Dover, N. J., and
include a new broad stairway leading from the
ground floor of the establishment to the mezza-
nine.