Presto

PRESTO
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of her preceding manner that Mr. Bellwhanger de-
parted full of hope.
Next day the ingenious dealer sent around a funny
man who secured an introduction through the sob
service of the widow. From the success of Mr.
Bcllwhanger's closing story of the day before it was
An Instance in Point Related This Week judged the prospect was susceptible to humor. «But
the funny man also failed to create interest in the
Proved Conclusively the Theory of
piano.
Cycles in Sales Stunts.
A few days later the widow was back. She was as
sobful as ever, but there was a positive ring to her
It is the new men in any business who try the voice that didn't match the whimpers.
o!d ways grown stale with the veterans. Then again
"So many men are like my husband was," she
it is the oldtimcrs in one line who successfully try said. "They won't get a woman a new piano as long
the old schemes in another. Grizzled reed organ as the old one gives out a tinkle. They spend all
men in many places are giving steadiness to the radio their money on themselves; on nice lunches and
business, the newest line and one without any pre- cigars and other foolishness. That's why they don't
cedents in procedure. The piano business is bar- buy nice new pianos for their wives. If a woman
nacled with precedents and of late years the "donts" doesn't get a new piano when the old one is out of
;n the list of instructions to the out-of-door salesmen date there is just as much more for her husband to
have confused and shackled the neophytes. Many spend in riotous living. We women are poor, weak
consider the canvassing methods have become too simps, to be sure.
prim and that the restrictions on the salesmen are
'M always say the character of the home may be
hampering. That was the topic between two men judged by the piano. Instead of that mahogany piano
on a suburban train approaching Chicago this week.
in the living room you should have an artistic Early
"'You regular . piano men could learn something English style to match the furniture," declared the
from a sewing machine dealer out in our town," widow.
"That piano seems incongruous, certainly, but the
said the far-out suburban resident to the nearby one.
"For the nervy follow-up that sewing machine man furniture really in Early Grand Rapids," admitted
the prospect.
has all the other systems for lariating the prospect
"It sure is, now that I look closer at it," followed
looking like dead things. The piano business is some-
thing new with him, but he's pushing it with his up the widow. "You and this nice home deserve
follow-up scheme in a way that deserves to win. The something better. Now, I'll send around one of our
piano he represents, I understand, is a rank one, but Early Michigan styles in the Fencewyre upright
that's neither here nor there; it's the system that's grand and when you see how appropriate it looks
you—"
important."
"No," interrupted the prospect with mock severity.
"Then tell me. about it," invited the nearby sub-
urbanite, who is to be found on Wabash avenue "That would have satisfied me yesterday. After
the way you've opened my eyes about the selfishness
during the working hours.
of husbands, nothing will placate me but a $50,000
From the story it appears that a week previous a combined pipe organ and piano with a phonograph
sad-eyed woman in widow's regalia called on the attachment and a radio receiving set with a world-
suburbanite's wife and sobbed out a request. She wide radius, even if my husband has to build a wing
wanted Mrs. Suburbs to receive an agent for the to the house to accommodate it."
Fencewyre upright grand.
"But why don't you tell me all about it yourself?"
FRANK M. CASE TRAVELS.
the visitor was asked.
Frank M. Case, manager of the Portland, Ore.,
'"I can, but our Mr. Bellwhanger can describe it
Wiley B. Allen store, had no sooner returned from a
ever so much better. The truth is, the ladies of the
town are averse to listening to male agents and if I month's trip, in which he attended the National Music
can only persuade them to receive Mr. Bellwhanger Trades Convention in New York than he left for San
I can retain my position," she added in pleading Francisco to attend the Western Music Trades Con-
vention there this week. He was luncheon chairman
tones.
The prospect was sympathetic and consented to on Northwestern Day. In his trip East he visited
receive Mr. Bellwhanger, who called next day. He Chicago, Buffalo, Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
certainly could describe the Fencewyre upright grand Washington and the Victor factory at Camden, N. J.
in a fascinating way, but his eloquence was as pow-
FRED R. KESSICK RETURNS.
erless as the widow's tears, to arouse any interest
in the piano. Mr. Bellwhanger is evidently the star
Fred R. Kessnich has returned to the Corley Com-
closer for the company. He showed no disappoint- pany, Richmond, Va., as manager of the wholesale
ment at his failure 1 to impress the prospect with the Victrola department. He was recently traveling rep-
lavishly described merit of the piano. His interest
resentative of Metro Pictures and was with the Cor-
was masterly. He closed by telling a decorous funny ley Company for several years. Mr. Kessnich is
story at which the unimpressionable prospect laughed widely known in musical circles. He has a host of
heartily. It was such a change from the grim hauteur friends in the music trades.
SOME NEW PIANO MEN
HAVE OLD PIANO WAYS
Factors that produce
profits for Miessner dealers
Get Them Working For You
A special piano—special markets—and special sales
service from the manufacturer—here is a combination for
sure piano sales. The small Miessner opens up new sales
fields and puts you in touch with new sources of profit.
It puts a new factor of interest in your business. Ener-
gizes sales. Supplies a feeder to your regular sales of
uprights and grands. Sells to new markets. Clean, profit-
. able sales, fewer trade-ins.
NEW FIELDS FOR SALES
As proof of the golden opportunities ready for Miessner Dealers,
send for booklet, "How to Gfet Business in New and Untouched
Fields with The Miessner." Seven big fields hardly touched.
Get
the Miessner on d'splay.
Get Miessner sales service working for
you. We'll help you make sales—give you real co-operation. Send
for full information now. Mail the coupon.
MIESSNER PIANO CO.
/
/
Piano Co.,
126 Keed St..
Milwaukee, Wis.
/
Gentlemen: Send me, with-
out obligation, copy of the
Miessner Booklet with com-
plete information on the sales
territory open to Miessner dealers.
126 Reed Street, Milwaukee, Wis.
y*
,'
f
/
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The Benevolent Society of the employes of Wessell,
Nickel & Gross, New York City, will hold its picnic
and games Saturday. August 16, commencing at 3:30
p. m., at Orchard Grove, Fairview, N. J. The pro-
ceeds are to be used for the Sick and Death Benefit
Fund. Louis F. Cook is chairman and August Hauer
secretary of the committee in charge of preparations
for the picnic.
The annual outing of this organization of employes
of Wessell, Nickel & Gross is looked forward to with
keen anticipation by the members and their friends.
It is always an event in which the officials of the big
piano supply house and the heads of departments in
the factories at 45th street. 10th avenue and West 40th
street mingle enjoyably with the loyal workers.
The Benevolent Society of the Employees of Wes-
sel. Nickel & Gross is one of long standing in the
house, and its purposes are social as well as
beneficent.
STORY & CLARK TO EXHIBIT
AT TUNER'S CONVENTION
Display of the Mechanism of the Story & Clark In-
strument Will Be Interesting to Tuners.
The announcement is made by the Story & Clark
Co., 315 South Wabash avenue, Chicago, that it will
have a complete exhibit at Hotel Wisconsin, Mil-
waukee, Wis., during the National Association of
Piano Tuners convention August 11 to 13.
The exhibit will be under the supervision of Stil
Harcourt, of the Story & Clark Chicago office, who
extends a cordial invitation to all tuners to visit the
showrooms and examine the Story & Clark action,
which is one of the exclusive and prominent features
of the Story & Clark instrument.
Mr. Harcourt will have one of the late Story &
Clark models on display and will also have the me-
chanism of another instrument for demonstrating pur-
poses, and the valve action will be brought into
prominence before the service men.
DALLAS GIRL BUYS PIANO
ON UKULELE INCOME
Negro Customer, with Weekly Wages of $3, De-
faults First Instalment.
Buying a piano on a ukulele income was the feat
recently attempted by a negro girl of Dallas, Texas.
One morning recently she appealed to the city wel-
fare department for a solution of her problem. She
had failed to meet the first payment of $3 on the
piano she had bought the week before. She had paid
$15 down in buying the piano and agreed to pay $3
a week until $745 was paid. Her salary is $3 per
week.
"I was notified that they will come and get the
piano unless I pay them this morning," said the girl.
"I offered them $2, but they wouldn't take it."
The dealer was persuaded to postpone seizure one
day to see whether the girl could raise the extra
dollar.
Secretary of the Interior Work Appoints Committee
of Experts for That Purpose.
BUILT TO LEAD
•
Annual Event of Benevolent Society of the Factory
Workers Set for August 15.
REVISE METHODS OF
THE U. S. PATENT OFFICE
The Miessner piano is built to load, built by a loader in music
education.
The craftsmanship and genius of specialists go into
the manufacture and selling: of the Miesaner. Miessner dealers are
made part of a national movement to place better music in every
American home.
THE LITTLE PIANO WITH THE BIG TONE
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
EMPLOYEES TO HOLD PICNIC
Name of Store
Street
City
and
Number
State
Secretary of the Interior Work has appointed a
committee of patent lawyers and experts in patenting
processes for the purpose of revising the methods of
the Patent Office and providing more simplicity and
expedition in the work.
As a result of a tremendous increase in the patent
business during the last few years, the Patent Office
has been unable to keep up with the number of
applications for patents that have been filed by the
public, and much dissatisfaction has been expressed
regarding the delay incident to the granting of
patents.
It is the purpose of Secretary Work and officials
of the Patent Office to devise a means whereby the
work can be brought to a current basis in the near
future and thereafter maintained up to date.
B. A. Strauch, owner of the Strauch Shop on South
Wright street, Champaign, 111., recently purchased
the Leslie Music and Art Shop, 121 West Main street,
Urbana, 111.
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