Presto
Issue: 1928 2180 - Page 5
MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1928
$2 The Year
INTEREST IN CONVENTION GROWS
Propaganda of the Music Industries' Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Music Merchants and Other
Bodies, Results in Manner Desired by Promoters
COOPERATION PLEA
VERY EFFECTIVE
Practical Estimate of Music Trade Conditions,
Suggesting the Necessity for a Shoulder-
to-Shoulder Stand by Merchants, Stimu-
lates Desire to Be at Commodore.
The necessity for organized co-operation in the
music business is the strong plea that is interesting
the music dealers in printed and verbal propaganda
for the annual convention. That argument, used so
effectively by Hermann Irion, C. J. Roberts, Delbert
L. Loomis and others, is having its effect in the
manner that the circumstances deserve.
Travelers for piano and other houses who do the
verbal alluring in such pleasantly effective way, report
that the appeal for co-operative assistance is getting
a response that is remarkable. Of course, as usual,
the allurements of the social features of the annual
convention in a city like New York are being arrayed,
and no one doubts their influences in determining the
actions of dealers, but it is surprising how much the
more serious plea aimed at the dealer's sense of duty
is having effect.
Co-operation Is Good Plea.
The topic of co-operation and its notable effect on
music trade conditions has never really been put for-
ward in the most effective way, according to one
observant music trade traveler. In fact, the functions
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and
its relations to the various trade associations are
matters about which this traveler found woeful ignor-
ance among dealers. True, he said, they are dealers
whose trade pride has never been aroused. Such types
are common in the smaller towns where only one or
two dealers wait patiently for the knocking of Op-
portunity.
The nation-wide movements that direct attention to
music and musical instruments were made possible
only by co-operative action.
Music Week, music
contests, piano playing tournaments, school band con-
tests, which now evoke so much interest all through
the country, are the results of action by trade asso-
ciations and music fostering organizations acting in
a unified way. It is a very dull and unobservant
music dealer who fails to see the purposes of such
movements and he certainly lacks energy if he does
not profit from them in some way.
The injustices suffered by the music trade from
Treasury Department regulations and unfair tax leg-
islation are known to every music dealer, whether he
has suffered from them or not. And if he, the dealer,
is observant, he knows what the activities of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and the
National Association of Music Merchants has done to
combat such injustces, to ameliorate impressive tax-
ing methods or to entirely remove them.
They Need Associations.
Music dealers of the somnolent type are the kind
that need the most membership in a trade associa-
tion. Any little disturbance to the even tenor of
their way; a more than usually prolonged period of
depression disheartens them in such a manner that
they lose the power of initiative and "just lay down
until the sheriff comes," as the observant traveler
puts it.
The feeling of mutual effort for betterment excites
a fighting spirit that stimulates the actions, generally,
of the dealer. The shoulder-to-shoulder attitude is
accompanied by the feeling of hopefulness, engen-
dered by the thought, "if there's anything wrong with
the music business, 'tis up to me to set it right."
That is how a lot of music merchants feel who wi'l
attend a music trade convention for the first time at
the Commodore Hotel, New York, the week of
June 4.
Merchandise Men's Banquet.
The Musical Merchandise Manufacturers' Associa-
tion (Eastern District) and the Associated Musical
Instrument Dealers of New York conducted a rous-
ing joint meeting recently at the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
24 Fifth Avenue, New York. The chief interest of
the meeting was the perfecting of plans for the
musical merchandise banquet and entertainment which
will be held at the Commodore Hotel, Tuesday, June
5, during the big convention. A remarkable array of
nationally-known talent has been engaged. Kenneth
Clark, the distinguished song leader of the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music, will lead the
choral singing.
There will be no after-dinner speakers, but a
diversified program of music will stimulate the
merriment.
CONVENTION DATES
JUNE 4 TO 8.
At Hotel Commodore, New York, the following
music trade organizations will hold their annual meet-
ings on dates named:
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
National Piano Manufacturers' Association of
America.
National Association of Music Merchants.
Musical Supply Association.
National Piano Travelers' Association.
National Music Merchandise Association.
National Association of Band Instrument Manu-
facturers.
National Association of Musical Instrument and
Accessories Manufacturers.
Organ Builders' Association of America.
National Piano Technicians' Association.
J U N E 11 AND 13.
The National Association of Sheet Music Dealers,
at the Hotel McAlpin, New York.
JUNE 12.
On this date the National Association of Music
Publishers will hold its annual meeting and election.
AUGUST 13 TO 16.
National Association of Piano Tuners, Inc., at the
Hotel Statler, Cleveland, O. Annual convention and
election and important exhibition of piano, players,
reproducing pianos and supplies.
DINNER PLANS OF
PIANO TRAVELERS
Jack Bliss, Gordon Laughead and Albert
Behning Comprise Committee Determined
to Make Convention Event More
Notable Than Ever Before.
One of the enjoyable
social features of the
convention of the music
trade at the Hotel Com-
modore, New York, dur-
ing the week of June 4
will be the 23rd annual
dinner, of which Jack
Bliss has charge of ar-
rangements. The din-
ner and entertainment
will be given 6:30 p. m.
Monday evening, June 4,
at the National Repub-
lican Club on West 40th
street, between Fifth
and Sixth avenues, only
a few doors from con-
vention headquarters at
GOUDOX LA UO HEAD.
the Commodore.
Assisting Mr. Bliss on
the entertainment committee are Albert Behning and
Gordon Laughead, and the committee is going to try
and outdo any previous travelers' dinner.
Association History.
The National Piano Travelers' Association dates
back 22 years, when it was organized during the
music dealers' convention at Put-in-Bay under the
leadership of the late H. O. Fox. Good fellowship,
a kindliness towards others and pride in their pro-
fession built up this modest, but strong organization.
Down through the years the membership has steadily
remained at approximately 300.
The principal qualification for membership is that
the applicant wholesale pianos, music rolls or player
piano actions. These rules have never been changed
and likely never will be. No one can gain ad-
mittance to the piano travelers' dinner meetings
unless he is a qualified member or an honorary
member. Past presidents of the National Music
Merchants' Association are the only retail piano men
who are invited to the meetings, and they come as
honorary members. Many of the highest executives
in the piano industry value their travelers' member-
ship above all other club memberships and make it a
special point to attend the annual travelers' joyfest.
In later years the travelers have supported the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and the
National Council of Traveling Salesmen. However,
the real function of the club is to keep alive the good
fellowship and lively times of the "good old days."
Past Presidents.
The past presidents are: The late H. O. Fox,
Major W. S. Rich, O. W. Williams, W. E. Hall, A.
Dalrymple, the late Wm. Plaisted, Frank E. Edgar,
the late B. F. Owen, J. Harry Shale, Dan E. Fabyan,
Wm. J. Keely, John A. Krunme, Calvin T. Purdy,
Alex A. Mahan, Geo. W. Allen, Geo. 11. Bliss,
Wm. C. Heaton. Chas. J. Cunningham, Geo. E.
Mansfield, Matt J. Kennedy.
A man who has contributed much to the travelers
is the beloved Col. Edward S. Payson of Boston.
Two other men who have helped make the travelers
an enjoyable association are W. B. Williams and
Gust Ad. Anderson. For many years Albert Behning,
one of the most popular men known to the piano
trade, has served as the association secretary.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1928
$2 The Year
INTEREST IN CONVENTION GROWS
Propaganda of the Music Industries' Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Music Merchants and Other
Bodies, Results in Manner Desired by Promoters
COOPERATION PLEA
VERY EFFECTIVE
Practical Estimate of Music Trade Conditions,
Suggesting the Necessity for a Shoulder-
to-Shoulder Stand by Merchants, Stimu-
lates Desire to Be at Commodore.
The necessity for organized co-operation in the
music business is the strong plea that is interesting
the music dealers in printed and verbal propaganda
for the annual convention. That argument, used so
effectively by Hermann Irion, C. J. Roberts, Delbert
L. Loomis and others, is having its effect in the
manner that the circumstances deserve.
Travelers for piano and other houses who do the
verbal alluring in such pleasantly effective way, report
that the appeal for co-operative assistance is getting
a response that is remarkable. Of course, as usual,
the allurements of the social features of the annual
convention in a city like New York are being arrayed,
and no one doubts their influences in determining the
actions of dealers, but it is surprising how much the
more serious plea aimed at the dealer's sense of duty
is having effect.
Co-operation Is Good Plea.
The topic of co-operation and its notable effect on
music trade conditions has never really been put for-
ward in the most effective way, according to one
observant music trade traveler. In fact, the functions
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and
its relations to the various trade associations are
matters about which this traveler found woeful ignor-
ance among dealers. True, he said, they are dealers
whose trade pride has never been aroused. Such types
are common in the smaller towns where only one or
two dealers wait patiently for the knocking of Op-
portunity.
The nation-wide movements that direct attention to
music and musical instruments were made possible
only by co-operative action.
Music Week, music
contests, piano playing tournaments, school band con-
tests, which now evoke so much interest all through
the country, are the results of action by trade asso-
ciations and music fostering organizations acting in
a unified way. It is a very dull and unobservant
music dealer who fails to see the purposes of such
movements and he certainly lacks energy if he does
not profit from them in some way.
The injustices suffered by the music trade from
Treasury Department regulations and unfair tax leg-
islation are known to every music dealer, whether he
has suffered from them or not. And if he, the dealer,
is observant, he knows what the activities of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and the
National Association of Music Merchants has done to
combat such injustces, to ameliorate impressive tax-
ing methods or to entirely remove them.
They Need Associations.
Music dealers of the somnolent type are the kind
that need the most membership in a trade associa-
tion. Any little disturbance to the even tenor of
their way; a more than usually prolonged period of
depression disheartens them in such a manner that
they lose the power of initiative and "just lay down
until the sheriff comes," as the observant traveler
puts it.
The feeling of mutual effort for betterment excites
a fighting spirit that stimulates the actions, generally,
of the dealer. The shoulder-to-shoulder attitude is
accompanied by the feeling of hopefulness, engen-
dered by the thought, "if there's anything wrong with
the music business, 'tis up to me to set it right."
That is how a lot of music merchants feel who wi'l
attend a music trade convention for the first time at
the Commodore Hotel, New York, the week of
June 4.
Merchandise Men's Banquet.
The Musical Merchandise Manufacturers' Associa-
tion (Eastern District) and the Associated Musical
Instrument Dealers of New York conducted a rous-
ing joint meeting recently at the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
24 Fifth Avenue, New York. The chief interest of
the meeting was the perfecting of plans for the
musical merchandise banquet and entertainment which
will be held at the Commodore Hotel, Tuesday, June
5, during the big convention. A remarkable array of
nationally-known talent has been engaged. Kenneth
Clark, the distinguished song leader of the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music, will lead the
choral singing.
There will be no after-dinner speakers, but a
diversified program of music will stimulate the
merriment.
CONVENTION DATES
JUNE 4 TO 8.
At Hotel Commodore, New York, the following
music trade organizations will hold their annual meet-
ings on dates named:
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
National Piano Manufacturers' Association of
America.
National Association of Music Merchants.
Musical Supply Association.
National Piano Travelers' Association.
National Music Merchandise Association.
National Association of Band Instrument Manu-
facturers.
National Association of Musical Instrument and
Accessories Manufacturers.
Organ Builders' Association of America.
National Piano Technicians' Association.
J U N E 11 AND 13.
The National Association of Sheet Music Dealers,
at the Hotel McAlpin, New York.
JUNE 12.
On this date the National Association of Music
Publishers will hold its annual meeting and election.
AUGUST 13 TO 16.
National Association of Piano Tuners, Inc., at the
Hotel Statler, Cleveland, O. Annual convention and
election and important exhibition of piano, players,
reproducing pianos and supplies.
DINNER PLANS OF
PIANO TRAVELERS
Jack Bliss, Gordon Laughead and Albert
Behning Comprise Committee Determined
to Make Convention Event More
Notable Than Ever Before.
One of the enjoyable
social features of the
convention of the music
trade at the Hotel Com-
modore, New York, dur-
ing the week of June 4
will be the 23rd annual
dinner, of which Jack
Bliss has charge of ar-
rangements. The din-
ner and entertainment
will be given 6:30 p. m.
Monday evening, June 4,
at the National Repub-
lican Club on West 40th
street, between Fifth
and Sixth avenues, only
a few doors from con-
vention headquarters at
GOUDOX LA UO HEAD.
the Commodore.
Assisting Mr. Bliss on
the entertainment committee are Albert Behning and
Gordon Laughead, and the committee is going to try
and outdo any previous travelers' dinner.
Association History.
The National Piano Travelers' Association dates
back 22 years, when it was organized during the
music dealers' convention at Put-in-Bay under the
leadership of the late H. O. Fox. Good fellowship,
a kindliness towards others and pride in their pro-
fession built up this modest, but strong organization.
Down through the years the membership has steadily
remained at approximately 300.
The principal qualification for membership is that
the applicant wholesale pianos, music rolls or player
piano actions. These rules have never been changed
and likely never will be. No one can gain ad-
mittance to the piano travelers' dinner meetings
unless he is a qualified member or an honorary
member. Past presidents of the National Music
Merchants' Association are the only retail piano men
who are invited to the meetings, and they come as
honorary members. Many of the highest executives
in the piano industry value their travelers' member-
ship above all other club memberships and make it a
special point to attend the annual travelers' joyfest.
In later years the travelers have supported the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and the
National Council of Traveling Salesmen. However,
the real function of the club is to keep alive the good
fellowship and lively times of the "good old days."
Past Presidents.
The past presidents are: The late H. O. Fox,
Major W. S. Rich, O. W. Williams, W. E. Hall, A.
Dalrymple, the late Wm. Plaisted, Frank E. Edgar,
the late B. F. Owen, J. Harry Shale, Dan E. Fabyan,
Wm. J. Keely, John A. Krunme, Calvin T. Purdy,
Alex A. Mahan, Geo. W. Allen, Geo. 11. Bliss,
Wm. C. Heaton. Chas. J. Cunningham, Geo. E.
Mansfield, Matt J. Kennedy.
A man who has contributed much to the travelers
is the beloved Col. Edward S. Payson of Boston.
Two other men who have helped make the travelers
an enjoyable association are W. B. Williams and
Gust Ad. Anderson. For many years Albert Behning,
one of the most popular men known to the piano
trade, has served as the association secretary.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).