Presto
Issue: 1940 2296 - Page 6
MESSAGE BY PRESIDENT FELDER
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC MERCHANTS
INCORPORATED
45 West 45th Street
New York, N. Y.
New Orleans, Louisiana
September 18, 1940
Dear Mr. Pengelly:
Paul S. Felder, President, NAMM
I should have addressed a message, through the Trade Journal, to the music mer-
chants long betore this, but my excuse is the first real vacation I have ever had, a
trip through the Canadian Rockies and the Pacific Coast, lasting six weeks and which
started August 3rd, from the Convention at Chicago.
I am very sensitive of the honor conferred on me in being named President of the
National Association of Music Merchants, Inc., and remembering the outstanding ac-
complishments of those immediately preceding me, I am somewhat overcome with the
difficulties in even attempting to measure up to the standards set, but shall do my best.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION — THE HUB OF COOPERATION
Never before in the history of our business is there so great a need for cooperation
as now. Organization is the cry all down the line and the saying "In Union There Is
Strength", was never more true than in 1940; so my first appeal is for the cooperation of
the music merchants to secure the organization which we need and the National Asso-
ciation should be the hub of this movement. I believe it to be the duty of every music
merchant, not only to join our Association, but also to give to it the benefit of his active
service, suggestions and ideas. Outstanding success, I am sure, would follow such co-
operation. We would, for instance, have the power to control to a great extent the correct
ethics of our great business and get relief much more quickly from many of the evils,
from which we from time to time now suffer. The proper education of the consumer
to the truth in advertising and clear information about products sold—anyone of these
subjects are food for thought, and long and interesting articles could be written about
such subjects, but my first cry is, "music merchants, lend us your help, join with us in
making our business better, become a member of the Association, and fight the battles
which may be ahead of us."
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHT
The immediate future seems, and I believe it to be, very encouraging, for nowhere
have I met with any dealer but who is doing a better and more profitable business; so the
outlook is bright and the GO signal is everywhere.
THE ART OF SALESMANSHIP
It is quite refreshing to look back on my trip to California. My own State of
Louisiana, known as the Bayou State, boasts of good fishing and I thought we had sold
the idea pretty generally, but some music merchants in California soon had me believ-
ing that I did not know what a fish looked like, so they took me on a mountain trip for
Rainbow, Brook and various other members of the trout family. .The place was Feather
River, quite an intriguing name, but to my surprise, a treacherous and rocky stream. . I was
shoved in the feathers, walked over boulders, climbed precipices, and when the day was
done, the total catch was a few tiny minnows that we use for bait in Louisiana. .Yet those
Californians sold me then, and I am still sold on the wonders of the great State. Sales-
manship is truly a great art and we music merchants really have it—we even sell each other.
In conclusion, I again desire to assure all my friends and associates in this great busi-
ness of ours of my sincere wish to accomplish something for the advancement of our in-
terest, but I really need your help. So join with us and give us the benefit of your mem-
bership and advice. Just drop me a little personal note yourself.
Yours Sincerely,
Paul S. Felder.
PAGE SIX
PRESTO MUSIC TIMES
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/
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC MERCHANTS
INCORPORATED
45 West 45th Street
New York, N. Y.
New Orleans, Louisiana
September 18, 1940
Dear Mr. Pengelly:
Paul S. Felder, President, NAMM
I should have addressed a message, through the Trade Journal, to the music mer-
chants long betore this, but my excuse is the first real vacation I have ever had, a
trip through the Canadian Rockies and the Pacific Coast, lasting six weeks and which
started August 3rd, from the Convention at Chicago.
I am very sensitive of the honor conferred on me in being named President of the
National Association of Music Merchants, Inc., and remembering the outstanding ac-
complishments of those immediately preceding me, I am somewhat overcome with the
difficulties in even attempting to measure up to the standards set, but shall do my best.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION — THE HUB OF COOPERATION
Never before in the history of our business is there so great a need for cooperation
as now. Organization is the cry all down the line and the saying "In Union There Is
Strength", was never more true than in 1940; so my first appeal is for the cooperation of
the music merchants to secure the organization which we need and the National Asso-
ciation should be the hub of this movement. I believe it to be the duty of every music
merchant, not only to join our Association, but also to give to it the benefit of his active
service, suggestions and ideas. Outstanding success, I am sure, would follow such co-
operation. We would, for instance, have the power to control to a great extent the correct
ethics of our great business and get relief much more quickly from many of the evils,
from which we from time to time now suffer. The proper education of the consumer
to the truth in advertising and clear information about products sold—anyone of these
subjects are food for thought, and long and interesting articles could be written about
such subjects, but my first cry is, "music merchants, lend us your help, join with us in
making our business better, become a member of the Association, and fight the battles
which may be ahead of us."
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHT
The immediate future seems, and I believe it to be, very encouraging, for nowhere
have I met with any dealer but who is doing a better and more profitable business; so the
outlook is bright and the GO signal is everywhere.
THE ART OF SALESMANSHIP
It is quite refreshing to look back on my trip to California. My own State of
Louisiana, known as the Bayou State, boasts of good fishing and I thought we had sold
the idea pretty generally, but some music merchants in California soon had me believ-
ing that I did not know what a fish looked like, so they took me on a mountain trip for
Rainbow, Brook and various other members of the trout family. .The place was Feather
River, quite an intriguing name, but to my surprise, a treacherous and rocky stream. . I was
shoved in the feathers, walked over boulders, climbed precipices, and when the day was
done, the total catch was a few tiny minnows that we use for bait in Louisiana. .Yet those
Californians sold me then, and I am still sold on the wonders of the great State. Sales-
manship is truly a great art and we music merchants really have it—we even sell each other.
In conclusion, I again desire to assure all my friends and associates in this great busi-
ness of ours of my sincere wish to accomplish something for the advancement of our in-
terest, but I really need your help. So join with us and give us the benefit of your mem-
bership and advice. Just drop me a little personal note yourself.
Yours Sincerely,
Paul S. Felder.
PAGE SIX
PRESTO MUSIC TIMES
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).