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PRESTO
February 24, 1923
I
Get In Line
With The
Known
Line
of
PIANOS
TRADE EVENTS
IN SAN FRANCISCO
State Trade Association Brings Freight Rate
Reduction to Entire Pacific Coast and
Active Dealers Use Artistic Methods
of Piano Promotion.
Another triumph has been achieved by the Music
Trades Association of Northern California in the de-
cision of the Interstate Commerce Commission to al-
low a reduction in rail rates on pianos from the
Middle West to Pacific Coast dealers. Commencing
on March 7 a rate of $2.50 per hundred pounds will
supplant the old rate of $3.23}/ now in operation.
The aggressive California imisic trade association
did not accept the act of the commission last fall
when it refused to grant the application of the West-
ern railroads to a reduction of the rate to $3.00 a
hundred pounds. That fact only gave a greater
fighting stimulus to the efforts of the association
which has just achieved a victory for the section.
The reduced ' rate, however, is still considerably
higher than the water route rate from the Atlantic
seaboard, and the combined rail and wafer rate oh
shipments to Pacific Coast points. When the ele-
ment of time is considered, the new rate ruling will
be seen as a great advantage in many ways.
Good Ampico Advertising.
Clever work in synchronizing. Ampicp music and
splendid screen pictures have been effected by Kohler
& Chase, San Francisco, in demonstrations in leading
theaters and before prominent clubs and organiza-
tions. The reward of the Company is the evidence
of greater interest in the Ampico and the closing of
many sales of the instrument. At the California the-
ater recently Branson DeCou showed his "Dream
Pictures" to the accompaniment of Ampico music.
A notable occasion was when Mr. DeCou appeared
before the California Camera Club with his series
of California wonderland pictures. At each showing
the Ampico music w T as appropriate. "The Submerged
Cathedral," by Debussy, was played for old mis-
sions of California. Chopin's "Ballade in A Flat"
went with the Yosemite and the same composer's
"Nocturne in G Minor" was synchronized to the
showing of the giant Sequoias.
1510-1516 Dayton Street
CHICAGO
W. Otto Miessner Heads Milwaukee Industry Which
Makes "Little Piano With Big Tone."
W. Otto Miessner was elected president of the
Aliessner Piano Co., Milwaukee, Wis., at the meet-
ing held in the company's offices last week. Other
officers elected were: E. J. Jordan, vice president;
Osbourne McConathy, vice president, and C. N. Glen-
non, secretary-treasurer.
The ambitious plans of the Miessner Piano Co.
were discussed and these include an aggressive pur-
suit of new business for the Miessner. The reports
cf officers also showed preparations' to increase the
production in preparation for the growth in orders.
Improvement and enlargement of the plant are part
of the scheme for a bigger output.
It was pointed out by President Miessner that an
entirely new organization had been effected. With
the exception of the salesmanager, E. J. Jordan, and
the office force, none of the old personnel remained.
The Jackson & Morton Piano Co. is a thing of the
past, he said. Everything, assets, factory, piano
name, are now the property of the Miessner
Piano Co.
The interest in the "Little Piano With the Big
Tone" is on. the increase in a wonderful way all
over the country, Mr. Miessner informed the meet-
ing. Live dealers see the possibilities for the little
pianos in homes, apartments, colleges and public
schools. But something more than the advantageous
size recommends it. Many endorsements from prom-
inent musicians and heads of music departments in
colleges and schools are in the hands of the Miessner
Piano Co.
PIANO CLUB OF CHICAGO
HEARS NOTED LECTURER
A Duo-Art Event.
Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, is providing
pleasure for the thousands and at the same time sow-
ing the seeds of sales of the Duo-Art with the screen
and stage production, "The Music Mirror," which is
now making a tour of the Pacific Coast territory of
the company. The screen effects of this production
belong to the realm of art, as does the music accom-
panying the pictures.
At the conclusion of the pictures depicting inci-
dents in the lives of great masters, come the actuali-
ties performed by Uda Waldrop. He comes upon
the stage as the Duo-Art is playing a piece of his own
recording. Mr. 'Waldrop, who is a clever performer,
is the Municipal Organist of San Francisco.
The Piano Club of Chicago was indebted to E. V.
Galloway, • of the program committee, for a feature
attraction last Monday, when it had the great pleas-
ure of being entertained by Elias Day, of the Lyceum
Arts Conservatory, and his associates.
Mr. Day is a noted Lyceum lecturer and enter-
tainer, and considered one of the best in the country.
He is a very pleasing speaker and his interesting life
as a lecturer, a traveler and a teacher, has given him
a fund of enjoyable experiences which he shared with
the club members at the luncheon this week.
Mr. Day's associates in the faculty of the Lyceum
Arts Conservatory very kindly furnished the music
for the occasion and some exceptionally find music
was enjoyed.
J. L. Stowers' Music House, in Cuban Capital, Is a
Model for Commercial House Methods.
Leaders in the Automatic Field
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
BY MIESSNER PIANO CO.
How Conventions Helped.
Musical merchandise dealers in San Francisco ad-
mit that the number of bands drawn to the city in
conjunction with conventions during last year had a
stimulating effect on the band instrument business.
The city had 111 conventions during 1922, coming
second to Chicago, which had 113.
SHOWS HAVANA MERITS OF
AMERICAN INSTRUMENTS
J.P.SEEBURG PIANO CO.
there, a fine organ, pianos and recently, Mr. Stowers
installed the best apparatus for radio receiving and
broadcasting. This beautiful Havana home of the
piano man, estimated to be worth a quarter of a mil-
lion dollars, is the assembling place for the cultured
and intellectual men and women of Havana.
One of Mr. Stowers' guests this month is B. H.
Janssen, the New York piano man, whose son Web-
ster Janssen will join his father at the Stowers home
next week. Mr. Stowers will come to New York
about the end of the present month to attend the
meeting of the Howard-Stowers Co., with offices and
factory at 132nd street and Brown Place.
The J. L. Stowers Music House, Havana, Cuba, is
one of the most remarkable commercial institutions
in the island, not only for its amazing growth since
the date of its opening, but also for the palatial ware-
rooms, eloquent signs of progressiveness. The J. L.
Stowers Music House has done much to prove the
excellence of American musical instruments to the
best among the buyers of Cuba. It presents and sells
the goods in the American way and its methods have
had a natural effect in improving the business ways
generally of the city.
J. L. Stowers, head of the J. L. Stowers Music
House, Havana, and the J. L. Stowers Music House,
Key West, Fla., enjoys the rewards of his enterprise
and industry in his beautiful home, Casa Blanco, in
Havana. It is everything and has everything that
one would expect in the residence of a man of mod-
ern mind like Mr. Stowers. Of course the means
towards making good music are essential things
Elias Day of the Lyceum Arts Conservatory Pro-
vides Cultural Treat.
NEW PIANO CLUB OFFICERS.
Max J. DeRochemont was re-elected president of
the Piano Club of New York at a meeting held in
the club rooms last week. Other officers elected
were: Albert Behning, vice president: Charles E.
Reid, secretary, and A. V. W. Setley treasurer. The
board of governors elected to serve until 1925 are:
Charles P. Bogart, H. C. Frederici, Stuart D. War-
ner, William C. Heller and Fred H. Abendschein.
A PIANO MOVER'S SUICIDE.
Edward Constable, who lived at 120 East 108th
street, was found last week Wednesday, dead in a
chair with the end of a gas tube gripped between his
teeth. A letter to his son told of his lonesomeness
since the death of his wife a year ago. Constable
was 52 years old and was employed as a piano mover.
SELLING THE "STRAUBE."
J. R. Hunckins, traveler for the Straube Piano Co.,
Hammond. Ind., visited at tEe Anderson Music
Shop the fore part of the week, and the firm gave
him a substantial order for pianos. This week the
Anderson Music Shop delivered one of their beautiful
instruments to the Paul Hvattum home, says the
Osage (la.) Press.
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