Music Trade Review
Issue: 1945 Vol. 104 N. 10 - Page 12
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
I Continued from page 81
just the other way. If we had not
had the machinery and equipment we
could not have been able to do the
war work we did. When selling pianos
don't say it took years to season the
wood because by modern kiln dried
methods we made some of the most
important parts for war machines
under the strictest specifications.
l.unclit'on
nt
the
\AM>1
Chioaico
"I declare production will be about
30% of 1941, the plate situation is the
bottle neck and there will be few
pianos by Christmas I predict, how-
ever, that by next Spring there can
be delivered approximately half of
the 1941 production (160,000) and
from then on with the usual summer
slump, manufacturers will be able to
catch up.
"The cost of supplies will be about
30% higher than in 1941 and we are
not going back to previous labor scales
but are going to get more work for
the same money. Increases in labor
will be 20%—25% over 1941 but higher
wages will be met by changes in the
tax laws as the excess profits tax will
come off next year. Piano prices must
be kept down and easier selling me-
thods developed for selling with lower
mark-up than before. Don't penalize
the medium priced piano by trying to
sell it on the same basis as the highest
priced instruments."
Over one hundred guests sat. down
to the luncheon and after a few well
chosen introductory words, Mr. Brown-
ell introduced William A. Mills, exec-
utive-secretary of the association. He
delivered his usual "Merchandising
Music" address brought up-to-date in
respect to the work which is now
being done for association members,
12
recited his experiences in Washington
meeting with OPA officials and legis-
lators, and stated that work is still
under way to try and obtain- the re-
lease of musical instruments from the
OPA pricing list. He explained what
the program of the association now
includes and stated that many of
these proposals are now actually in
work. His outline of their policies led
K«-RIOIUI1 Meeting Sponsored
by
the
"What we need is a substantial mem-
bership so as to present a front in
keeping with other outstanding asso-
ciations with which we are now affili-
ated. It is very discouraging to re-
port that out of the several thousand
dealers solicited for membership only
300 applications have been received so
far. If that is all the interest that
will be shown, we might as well quit
ChlenK'o I'iano
mill
right now. We have many problems
to work on particularly in Washing-
ton and when we go before OPA or
some other government agency with
an appeal and we are asked how many
members our association has and we
LaMair Cites Facts
answer 300 what do you suppose the
and Figures on Association Costs reaction will be. In my opinion just a
"This is the 8th regional meeting" laugh. The trade papers have been
he said, and there has been an atten-
doing their part editorially and other-
dance of approximately 500 dealers.
wise but the dealers so far have not
There are to be three more this year
and their financial support is necessary
and undoubtedly when these are com-
in order to put over the planned pro-
pleted approximately 1000 dealers will
gram for their benefit. We should
have attended.
have at least 1000 members. What
Since the reorganization of the asso-
the association can do depends solely
ciation which has now been put on a
on the music merchants themselves and
basis where all dealers may participate
time for action is now before it be-
great progress has been made. Mr.
comes too late. This is the last time
Mills has done a splendid job and
I shall talk about it but the matter
has stimulated greater interest than
is a serious one, more serious for the
has ever been experienced before. The .
small dealer than for the larger ones
board of directors has authorized a
who
are perhaps in a position to fighf
budget of $37,000 and of that 75%
must come from dues. To-day there the problem ahead alone. For the
majority the benefits they will receive
is $28,000 toward the cost which has
will be many, many times greater than
been raised through voluntary con-
tributions and a small amount in dues. the small membership fee of $25. As
a matter of fact no dealer could pur-
If all plans are put in force the ex-
chase the merchandising aids to be
penditures will be between $50,000 to
$60,000 per year. The merchandising provided for him for many times that
amount. That is only one benefit of
aids which are being prepared for the
many that will be forth coming."
benefit of the members are alone cost-
ing $1000 for each quarter year.
(Turn to page 74>
up to the topic of the next speaker,
L. G. LaMair, president of Lyon &
Healy Inc., who has worked inde-
fatiguely on the reorganization of the
association since last January.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, OCTOBER, 1945
I Continued from page 81
just the other way. If we had not
had the machinery and equipment we
could not have been able to do the
war work we did. When selling pianos
don't say it took years to season the
wood because by modern kiln dried
methods we made some of the most
important parts for war machines
under the strictest specifications.
l.unclit'on
nt
the
\AM>1
Chioaico
"I declare production will be about
30% of 1941, the plate situation is the
bottle neck and there will be few
pianos by Christmas I predict, how-
ever, that by next Spring there can
be delivered approximately half of
the 1941 production (160,000) and
from then on with the usual summer
slump, manufacturers will be able to
catch up.
"The cost of supplies will be about
30% higher than in 1941 and we are
not going back to previous labor scales
but are going to get more work for
the same money. Increases in labor
will be 20%—25% over 1941 but higher
wages will be met by changes in the
tax laws as the excess profits tax will
come off next year. Piano prices must
be kept down and easier selling me-
thods developed for selling with lower
mark-up than before. Don't penalize
the medium priced piano by trying to
sell it on the same basis as the highest
priced instruments."
Over one hundred guests sat. down
to the luncheon and after a few well
chosen introductory words, Mr. Brown-
ell introduced William A. Mills, exec-
utive-secretary of the association. He
delivered his usual "Merchandising
Music" address brought up-to-date in
respect to the work which is now
being done for association members,
12
recited his experiences in Washington
meeting with OPA officials and legis-
lators, and stated that work is still
under way to try and obtain- the re-
lease of musical instruments from the
OPA pricing list. He explained what
the program of the association now
includes and stated that many of
these proposals are now actually in
work. His outline of their policies led
K«-RIOIUI1 Meeting Sponsored
by
the
"What we need is a substantial mem-
bership so as to present a front in
keeping with other outstanding asso-
ciations with which we are now affili-
ated. It is very discouraging to re-
port that out of the several thousand
dealers solicited for membership only
300 applications have been received so
far. If that is all the interest that
will be shown, we might as well quit
ChlenK'o I'iano
mill
right now. We have many problems
to work on particularly in Washing-
ton and when we go before OPA or
some other government agency with
an appeal and we are asked how many
members our association has and we
LaMair Cites Facts
answer 300 what do you suppose the
and Figures on Association Costs reaction will be. In my opinion just a
"This is the 8th regional meeting" laugh. The trade papers have been
he said, and there has been an atten-
doing their part editorially and other-
dance of approximately 500 dealers.
wise but the dealers so far have not
There are to be three more this year
and their financial support is necessary
and undoubtedly when these are com-
in order to put over the planned pro-
pleted approximately 1000 dealers will
gram for their benefit. We should
have attended.
have at least 1000 members. What
Since the reorganization of the asso-
the association can do depends solely
ciation which has now been put on a
on the music merchants themselves and
basis where all dealers may participate
time for action is now before it be-
great progress has been made. Mr.
comes too late. This is the last time
Mills has done a splendid job and
I shall talk about it but the matter
has stimulated greater interest than
is a serious one, more serious for the
has ever been experienced before. The .
small dealer than for the larger ones
board of directors has authorized a
who
are perhaps in a position to fighf
budget of $37,000 and of that 75%
must come from dues. To-day there the problem ahead alone. For the
majority the benefits they will receive
is $28,000 toward the cost which has
will be many, many times greater than
been raised through voluntary con-
tributions and a small amount in dues. the small membership fee of $25. As
a matter of fact no dealer could pur-
If all plans are put in force the ex-
chase the merchandising aids to be
penditures will be between $50,000 to
$60,000 per year. The merchandising provided for him for many times that
amount. That is only one benefit of
aids which are being prepared for the
many that will be forth coming."
benefit of the members are alone cost-
ing $1000 for each quarter year.
(Turn to page 74>
up to the topic of the next speaker,
L. G. LaMair, president of Lyon &
Healy Inc., who has worked inde-
fatiguely on the reorganization of the
association since last January.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, OCTOBER, 1945
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