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How Piano Travelers Are Doing Their
Best to Keep Dealers Supplied
by HENRY G. BEHN1NG, President
National Piano Travelers Association
O
NCE again we have reached the
time for our annual report. In
December I stated that I wished
I were able to possess the powers of a
soothsayer, and forecast the important
events of 1951. Little did I know though
at that time, how many important and
far reaching changes were in the offer.
During the first six months of 1951,
consumer buying has gone from a high,
during the early months to a sharp de-
cline in the past few months. We, as
Travelers, were forced to talk to you in
two widely different paths. First we had
to assure you that the factories would
fulfill your requirements and now to
convince you that the pianos on your
floor or in your stock are your assur-
ance for a good fall. In saying the above,
I believe I can speak for all our Trav-
elers as well as our manufacturers.
Let me start in this way. Our few
manufacturers limited by facilities and
their capacity and the resources of the
suppliers can produce so many pianos
in normal times. At the best we can only
with the finest of production methods
and expert management fulfill the needs
of you, our dealers. Now, our govern-
ment comes along with new regulations
and plans, essential to the future of our
country and democracy, which not only
effect our piano industry, our supply
sources, but other civilian industries as
well. At the same time, the people need
and want more of the one thing which
will relieve their cares and worries;
and that "thing" is music. What will be
the result of this—a greater need of
music and therefore of pianos. All these
circumstances will bring us into one
situation and that is a shortage of pianos
this fall.
This very fact is being brought to
your attention by our Travelers. Many
of you have already seen this develop-
ment and have acted accordingly. But to
others let me say our Travelers are not
trying to just sell you, but in their
capacity as friends and helpers of you
all, to protect you. All of us firmly be-
lieve that this fall will be one of our
greatest.
I realize this may sound very much
like a sales promotion, but this is far
from my mind. I was asked to write
16
HENRY G. BEHNING
what the future will bring forth and in
this light could simply have said that
we are there, ready and willing to serve
you. However, I feel that in these days
you want more than that, so for that
reason, I have gone—shall we say—
wholeheartedly to try to show you what
we feel. You all know what we—the
Travelers—can do to help you along
the lines of sales, promotion and still
bring you those other helps you all look
for and like. We are now doing our best
to do something we haven't done in a
long time. Everyone of us wants to see
our dealers come forward with the great-
est social benefit we can give our great
country peace of mind and relaxation
through music.
In July we will have our yearly meet-
ing at which time a new President will
take over the reins of the Travelers. I
know that whoever he may be, will do
his utmost to continue to give you a
Travelers organization who will help
aid and bring you the friendship we
have had in the past. These are the
principles of the Travelers.
I would like to thank you all for the
kindness and friendship you have given
us, also, I would like to thank all the
Travelers for their support of their
officers.
And now as I close my term I wish
you all the very best for many success-
ful years—and to again remind you that
Music is one of the Backbones of our
Country.
Penn's B'way Limited to be
Music Merchants Special
A special train known as the "Music
Merchants Special" will be operated in
behalf of the music industry this year by
the Pennsylvania Railroad. The com-
pany has set aside exclusively for those
going to the Chicago Convention and
Trade Show a complete Pullman section
of the Broadway Limited at no extra
fare. This train leaves New York on
Saturday, July 14th, at 5 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time (6 p.m. Daylight Saving
Time) and is due to arrive in Chicago
the following morning at 8 a.m. Central
Standard Time (9 a.m. Central Daylight
Time).
This train is one of the crack trains
of the Pennsylvania Railroad, being
composed of all modern air-conditioned
cars with observation car, lounge car,
club car. plus a special car for the
members of the industry who wish to
entertain themselves.
The one-way fare from New York to
Chicago will be $47.02, round trip
$84.64. There will be an extra charge
for roomettes, duplex single rooms, bed-
rooms for one or two, bedroom suites
for 2, 3, or 4, a compartment for 2 per-
sons, or drawing room for 2 or 3 people.
Reservations on this train may be
made through Carleton Chace, Editor of
the Music Trade REVIEW, 1270 Sixth
Ave., New York 20, N. Y., telephone
Circle 7-5842, or through W. H. Levins,
Passenger Traffic Dept., Pennsylvania
Railroad, 390 Seventh Ave., Penn Sta-
tion, New York 1, N. Y. or telephone
PEnnsylvania 6-6000.
For those who wish to return to New
York after the Convention by the Penn-
sylvania Railroad, reservations can also
be made through Mr. Levins.
No Travelers Stag Dinner
and Jamboree This Year
Owing to the Emergency which exists
the officers and board of directors of the
National Piano Travelers Association
have decided to eliminate the usual stag
dinner and jamboree during Convention
Week. The annual meeting will be held
during the week at a time and place to
be announced at the convention.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JUNE, 1951