Presto

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PRESTO
GEORGE W. POUND PREPARES
ALL=STATE SALE CONTRACT
Counsel of Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
Believes It Will Fit All Requirements.
Other industries suffer the disadvantages of vary-
ing laws governing conditional sale contracts as
well as the piano industry, and like the piano men
those of other industries have considered it a gall-
ing irritant from very early days. All trades agree
with the piano trade that some form of contract
should be drawn to meet the requirements of all
states.
George W. Pound has prepared for the Music In-
dustries Chamber of Commerce a proposed form of
contract which, although prepared with particular
thought for the organ men, can be readily adapted
for use by sellers of all "musical instruments. The
task of preparing it has been arduous and pains-
taking, but the general counsel of the Music In-
dustries Chamber of Commerce believes it is well
worth his labor and will prove very helpful. Copies
of the tentative contract will be furnished the in-
dustry.
PIANO MANUFACTURERS GET
SOME SHIPPING FACTS
Marine Importance of the United States Shown
in Comparative Figures by J. A. Coffin.
In view of the general interest in American ship-
ping at this time, the figures quoted by J. A. Coffin,
chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine,
before the National Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
tion, at the recent convention in New York, are
well worth presenting in a comparative way. Ac-
cording to Mr. Coffin the American Merchant Ma-
rine, since June 30, 1914, to December 1, 1919. shows
that the net increase in the number of vessels was
1.048, in gross tonnage, 6,928,178. Practically all
trade routes are covered, 41 in all. Here are fur-
ther figures from Mr. Coffin: "In December, 1919,
the United States Merchant Marine had 3,103 ves-
sels, of 1,000 tons or over, making a gross tonnage
of 9.703.533. and under 1,000 tons, 582 vessels, with
a gross tonnage of 443,613. There are owned by the
United States government 1,415 vessels with a gross
tonnage of 5,664,170. Private ownership, 1,688, and
a gross tonnage of 4,037,413.
"Total number of vessels in the United States
Merchant Navy of 5 gross tons and over is 27,991,
a gross tonnage of 14,856,866. The percentage of
ships flying the American flag in comparison with
the rest of the world is 24.9. Of these 20.4 are sea-
going, and 4.5 are not sea-going.
NEW VENTURES SHARE
FAVOR OF BUYERS
Late Additions to Forces cf P!ano Distribution
Shew I i-'clir.ess of Trade.
The Koliski Music Co. has leased a new build-
ing in Monroe, La.
A line of pianos is handled by H. Aldrich in his
new store in Fortuna, Calif.
Heintzman & Co. has moved its Niagara Falls,
Canada branch into new quarters in the Canadian
Rank of Commerce block.
The Hopper-Kelly Co., Seattle, Wash., has opened
a piano department. L. F. Galliani is manager of
the piano department.
The Lyttham Music Co., Phoenix, Ariz., has
moved to larger quarters at 312 West Washington
street.
G. M. Richey, dealer of LaGrande, Ore., has sold
his business to the Eastern Oregon Music Co. The
manager of the latter is Clint M. Brookins.
The Schwann Piano Co., Portland, Ore., has
moved from Fourth street to larger quarters at
Tenth and Stark streets.
Peterman & Belknap, Toledo, O., has moved
into much more commodious quarters in that city.
Alex. Kecse, a musician, has opened a music
store at 723 Market street, Chattanooga, Tenn.
The Scott & Hart Company, Terre Haute, Ind.,
has purchased the Dennis Brothers Music Co.'s
stores. One of the stores is at 424 Wabash ave-
nue and the other at Clinton, Ind.
The Grafanola Shop, Shelbyville, Ind., opened
for business with a complete line of Columbia
Grafanolas and records.
The A. B. Clinton Co. opened an exclusive Victor
shop recently at 227 Asylum street, Hartford, Conn.
The Rockwell-Hickey Piano Company, 30-51
North Cherry street, Galcsburg, 111., is having a
great closing-out piano sale. The building will be
sold at auction.
Lee Mason, Tipton, Ind., has sold his business
in Tipton and taken employment with the Pearson
Piano Company, of Indianapolis.
Leland S. Adams, proprietor of the Adams Mu-
sic Store, is going to discontinue his Vevay, Ind.,
business, and is having a closing-out sale.
GREAT CABLE ADVERTISING.
Next Sunday's Chicago Tribune will contain an
attractive advertisement by the Cable Piano Com-
pany, announcing Cable's after-opera selling of Ma-
son & Hamlin pianos and others used during the
winter musical season in recital halls, clubs, hotels,
music rooms and schools. In part the ad will say:
"This selling is an annual event with us. We are
addicted to the sale-holding habit, but when we
announce our annual sale you may be sure to find
here unequaled values." Presto is to have a very
artistic advertisement, full-page size, in its issue of
February 26, from The Cable Company—the picture
of the piano taking up the width of the page and
the reading matter being in an offset at the upper
right-hand corner, over the border mostly. The
effect, will be "great."
MUST PAY EVERY MONTH.
But few piano dealers would have the courage
when soliciting trade to announce in advance of
sales that payments must be made once a month,
and that without fail. But that is practically what
is done by G. B. Dodge & Son, 916 Normal avenue,
Stevens Point, Wis., who handle Baldwin products.
They are so sure of the quality of the goods that
they feel they can afford to announce terms before
the sales are made. The postal cards they send to
prospects bear the picture of a Baldwin grand and
a Baldwin upright and a talking machine. The mes-
sage on the card reads: "Everything in music. Every
instrument we sell bears a factory guarantee,
backed by over $4,000,000. Payments must be made
everv month."
NOW FOR FACTORY CENSUS.
Close on the heels of the censuses of population
and agriculture comes the next big step in the work
of the Fourteenth Decennial Census—that of taking
the census of manufactures, mines and quarries and
oil and gas wells. Director Rogers of the Census
Bureau says that March 1 would see the work of col-
lecting Uncle Sam's industrial statistics well under
way. The general schedules have already been
mailed to ail manufacturing establishments in the
country, approximately 400,000. More than 1,200
special agents will be needed by the Census Bureau
to carry on the vast work of the enumerating.
LITTLE "MIESSNER" POPULAR.
The Jackson Piano Co.'s retail store at 425 Mil-
waukee street, is meeting with a splendid degree of
success in marketing the Kurtzmann player piano.
It also is making most satisfactory headway in in-
troducing its own product, the Miessner little up-
right, into Milwaukee homes. The demand for the
"little piano with the big tone" has grown so large
that the factory at 110-120 Reed street, is far over-
sold and arrangements are now under way for a
material increase in production.
FROM PIANOS TO ARCHITECTURE.
Joseph J. Healy, who was employed in the whole-
sale piano department of Lyon & Healy, Chicago,
as an assistant to N. A. Fegen, has resigned his
place there to engage in the construction line, with
Otis & Clark, architects, whose offices are in the
Tower Building, Chicago. Mr. Healy is not a rela-
tive of the Healys, of Lyon & Healy. He served
in the United States Navy during the recent war.
DANISH PIANO IMPORTERS' UNION.
Danks Klaverfabrikant og Forhandlerforening is
the title of the Union of Danish Pianoforte Makers
and Dealers, 35 in number, formed on October 20
last. This union includes only members who are
either wholly or partly engaged in the importation
of German keyed instruments.
PROHIBITS MUSICAL IMPORTS.
Musique et Instruments says that the entry of any
musical instrument is forbidden in North Russia;
only parts and accessories are allowed—such as
metronomes or diapasons.
The Hollenberg Music Company, of Little Rock,
Ark., has filed a petition with the City Council ask-
ing permission to add two stories to its present
building during the construction of its new five-
story building, which is to be started soon.
T. S. Purcell. of the H. C. Bay Company, Repub-
lic Building, Chicago, is out on a' trip.
February 19, 1920.
NEW BRAMBACH VICE=PRESIDENT
IS GORDON G. CAMPBELL
Young Man Well-Qualified for Duties of This Re-
sponsible Position.
Mark P. Campbell, president of the Brambach
Piano Company, New York, has announced the elec-
tion of Gordon G. Campbell to the vice-presidency
of that organization. Gordon G. Campbell is well
qualified to fill his new position by reason of many
years in actual contact with the business, from
raw material supplies up to the executive offices
of the company.
He began the "piano life" by carrying lumber in
the yards of Palmer & Parker, Charlestown, Mass.,
specialists in piano lumber. Mr. Campbell fol-
lowed this with an apprenticeship in the factory,
working at the bench on the small grands.
For a number of years he was on the retail floor
of the F. C. Henderson Company, of Boston, at-
taining a first-hand knowledge of the demands of
the buying public.
In 1916 Mr. Campbell joined the forces of the
Brambach Baby Grand Company, and has developed
with that company an insight into the grand piano
business which equips him admirably for his new
duties.
EXPORTS TOJAUSTRALIA
HAVE NOT FALLEN OFF
Gulbransen-Dickinson Co. Finds No Slump Due to
Low Rate of British Exchange.
When it was predicted by some of the Wall street
sages recently that the continual falling off of the
British pound sterling in exchange value would
create a slump in export business from America to
British possessions, the export department at the
Gulbransen-Dickinson Company, Chicago, put its
ear to the ground and listened. But, so far, no ap-
preciable slump in that company's business has re-
sulted from any of the British countries to which it
exports its instruments. The fact is explained by
the belief that the buyers of instruments all have
money, and they will pay a matter of 30 to 35 per
cent more in their own money to get them.
Perhaps a partial explanation is that British manu-
facturers of pianos and playerpianos have not yet
recovered from the effects of the war far enough to
ship in large quantities to their own colonial lands
and possessions.
The Gulbransen-Dickinson Company does a large
business with Australia. In shipping to Sydney by
way of San Francisco, normally twenty-five days'
time is allowed from the time the instrument leaves
the Chicago factory until it reaches the Pacific sea-
port, and starts to sea. The total time allowed to
Sydney, normally, is 60 days; practically two
months.
Most of the instruments, however, go East out
of the United States for Australia, instead of West.
It costs less to send them that way. The rate in
carload lots from Chicago to Detroit or Port Huron,
Mich, (points of departure from the country when
shipping by Quebec), is about $5 an instrument;
from Chicago to New York, $10 an instrument;
from Chicago to San Francisco, $25 an instrument.
And Australian duty is charged on the price of the
instrument plus the price of the freight.
INTERESTING COPYRIGHT SUIT
INSTITUTED IN PORTLAND
Leo Feist, Inc., New York, Charges Cafe Band
Jazzed Song Without Permission.
Charging that the jazz band of the Oriental Cafe
of Portland, Oregon, played without observing the
copyright, Leo Feist, Inc., of New York, has filed
suit in the Federal Court against the cafe asking
damages of not less than $100 for each performance,
together with payment of all court costs.
The petition states that words of "My Baby's
Arms" were written by Joe McCarthy and the music
composed by Harry Tierney. On June 2, 1919,
Feist purchased all copyright privileges, it states.
NO TRADE WITH RUSSIA.
The American Manufacturers' Export Associa-
tion has issued a warning to its members that direct
trade with Russia at present would be practically
impossible except under the supervision and control
of the soviet government, and in any event would
be small in volume, due to the demoralization of
the Russian transportation. system and the fact
that business transactions for some time must be
on a barter basis.
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