Presto
Issue: 1924 1982 - Page 4
PRESTO
SCHOOL PLAN AIDS PIANO SALES
The Miessner Piano Company, Milwaukee, Wis.,
under the leadership of its president, W. Otto Miess-
ner, widely known in public school music circles, has
prepared and put into practice an excellent plan for
stimulating piano sales. The plan for free piano les-
sons is already being pushed by the dealers listed
below, who are authorized representatives for the
famous "Little Piano with the Big Tone":
Denver, Colo., The Knight-Campbell Music Co.;
Detroit, Mich., Grinnell Bros. Music House; Grand
Rapids, Mich., Grinnell Bros. Music House; Indian-
apolis, Ind., Pearson Piano Co.; Joplin, Mo., The J.
W. Jenkins Sons' Music Co.; Kansas City, Mo., The
J. W. Jenkins Sons' Music Co.; Ogden, Utah, The
music business. 'He profits most who serves best.' "
Free piano lessons, conducted along the line of the
Miessner Piano Company's plan, will put child-pian-
ists into hundreds of homes. Mr. Miessner is emi-
nently fitted to organize such a plan with an assur-
ance of artistic and educational success. For years
he has been teaching music to children, training
teachers of music, and composing music for their use.
Children in every part of the United States are
familiar with his songs and piano pieces.
The Melody Way.
Especially designed for these free piano classes, Mr.
Miessner has recently completed "The Melody Way
July 19, 1924.
ALFR E D L SMITH ATTENDS
T TRADE
R
MEETING IN CHICAGO
General Manager Also Scheduled to Deliver Lecture
to Trade Executives School.
Alfred L. Smith, general manager of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, is at present in
Chicago on business for the association. One of the
important matters which will have his attention will
be a conference with members of the National Asso-
ciation of Musical Instrument and Accessories Manu-
facturers in regard to its organization and plans for
activity. The new association contemplates becoming
a Division Member of fhe Chamber in the near fu-
ture.
Mr. Smith will attend a meeting of the Band In-
strument Manufacturers' Association with the Fed-
eral Trade Commission, at which the question of the
granting of secret subsidies to musicians for adver-
tising purposes will be under consideration.
Mr. Smith will also make a short trip to Evanston,
111., for the purpose of delivering a lecture on the
"History of Trade Associations" at the session of the
National School for Commercial and Trade Execu-
tives which is being held at Northwestern University.
CHAS. M. BENT IMPROVES.
Chas. M. Bent, of the Bent Music Shop, Chicago,
who recently underwent a serious surgical operation,
is rapidly recovering and hopes to be out again be-
fore long. Meantime his father, Geo. P. Bent, has
returned to California and will attend the Western
Music Trade Convention in San Francisco next week.
The latter attended the Rice dinner, at Des Plaines,
on Thursday.
"MKI.ODY WAY," MIESSNER INSTITUTE, MILWAUKEE.
On the extreme right is W. Otto Miessner, composer of "The Melody Way to Play the Piano" and president of
the Miessner Piano C6.; C. W. Urowne, vice-president of t he Miessner Piano Co., is fourth from the right, standing-.
to Play the Piano," a beautiful collection of exquisite
and interesting piano pieces that children will delight
in.
Teachers to conduct this work have been trained
at the Miessner Institute of Class Piano Instruction,
held in Milwaukee June 9 to June 20. Demonstra-
tion classes of children were conducted, and the
teachers, all of whom were normal school or con-
servatory graduates in music, many of them with
several years of experience in teaching music, were
given the special training to fit them for this work.
Mr. Miessner's object was to prepare these teachers
to "get results/' and as a matter of fact the children
who take this class work can go home after their
third or fourth lessons and announce triumphantly,
"Daddy! I can play the piano!"
One phase of the Miessner Institute work, of
prime importance to music dealers, was the training
given to fit them to co-operate with the salesmen in
music houses. This was presented by C. W.
Browne, vice-president of the Miessner Piano Com-
pany, w r hose retail experience was an excellent prep-
aration for the purpose.
For Music in the Home.
One teacher can handle as many as four or five
"The time is ripe," says Mr. Miessner, "for us of hundred pupils one lesson per week, or two hundred
the piano industry to put into practical everyday use and fifty to three hundred pupils receiving two les-
the ideal 'Music in Every Home.' By doing so, we sons per week. The enrollment fees and the profits
will be doing a wonderful service for our nation and on the sale of the "Melody Way" materials help to
for every community and making a profit for the pay teachers' salaries and advertising expense.
Glen Bros.-Roberts Piano Co.; Omaha, Neb., The
Oakford Music Co.; Roanoke, Va., Hobbie Brothers
Co.; San Francisco, Cal., Kohler & Chase; Toledo,
Ohio, Grinnell Bros. Music House.
What Plan Provides.
The plan provides for free piano lessons for chil-
dren between the ages of eight and fourteen who
have not had piano lessons before. A small enroll-
ment fee of $1.00 is charged, "as evidence of serious
purpose," and the child pays $1.00 for music and
materials. The advertising announces that pupils in
these classes do not need a piano at home. Some
dealers are even restricting the enrollments to those
with no pianos at home.
The plan as formulated by Mr. Miessner is based
on the theory that the dealer who is instrumental in
developing a child-pianist in every home will be able
to sell pianos in many homes where there is no use
for them now. Only about half the homes in the
average community have pianos. Actual surveys show
that to be a fact. The other half don't buy for vari-
ous reasons.
xlubs support it loyally because the plan is public
"spirited in that it provides a cultural development for
children who might otherwise never receive musical
training. Indeed, the dealer who, by this method,
gives away something decidedly worth while is cer-
tain to receive the whole-hearted co-operation of
every element in the community.
There is no doubt that the Miessner Piano Com-
pany has originated a plan that will sell pianos for
their dealers. As Mr. Browne has written them,
"We do not- expect you to sell all Miessner pianos
through' this plan; of course, we'd rather you would,
but if your men find that certain homes call for
grands or big uprights or reproducing pianos, by all
means sell them what they ought to have. We'll rely
on your fairness to give us our share of the business
this plan wilt produce.. We only expect you to sell
Micssners where they ought to go."
The Best Yet
Graceful lines, rugged construc-
tion, moderately priced. It's the
very best commercial piano from
every standpoint.
Mr. Miessner Supervises.
KREITER
Pianos and Players
Have No Competition Where
Beauty of Cases and Tone
Sustain Profit Making Prices.
Everything the Highest but
the Price.
Inspect them Carefully and Sec.
Kreiter Mfg. Co., Inc.
320-322 W. Water St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Factory t Marinotte, Wi*.
These classes are under the supervision of Mr.
Miessner, through reports from the teachers and
through personal visits, thus an assurance of the
educational success is provided. Mr. Browne has
been operating what might be termed as "consulta-
tion service" for dealers on the commercial and pub-
licity features of the work, by mail, telegraph, and
personal visits.
Enthusiastic reports come in from the various cen-
ters where these free piano lessons are being given.
The educational authorities endorse the plan, because
they are familiar with the name Miessner in public
school music. The private teachers of piano are
usually enthusiastic about the work, because they
realize that as a result there will be a great many
pupils available for them that otherwise could not be
secured. Many prominent private teachers have pub-
licly endorsed the classes and congratulated dealers
on the movement. Some private teachers have even
turned beginning pupils over to the dealer schools for
elementary work.
In many towns the newspapers have given "free
publicity" to the plan in the way of news stories,
because of the "news value" in the scheme. Women's
Style 32—4 ft. 4 in.
WESER
Pianos and Players
Sell Readily—Stay Sold
Send to-day for catalogue, prices and
details of our liberal financing plan
Weser Bros., Inc.
520 to 528 W. 43rd St., New York
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/
SCHOOL PLAN AIDS PIANO SALES
The Miessner Piano Company, Milwaukee, Wis.,
under the leadership of its president, W. Otto Miess-
ner, widely known in public school music circles, has
prepared and put into practice an excellent plan for
stimulating piano sales. The plan for free piano les-
sons is already being pushed by the dealers listed
below, who are authorized representatives for the
famous "Little Piano with the Big Tone":
Denver, Colo., The Knight-Campbell Music Co.;
Detroit, Mich., Grinnell Bros. Music House; Grand
Rapids, Mich., Grinnell Bros. Music House; Indian-
apolis, Ind., Pearson Piano Co.; Joplin, Mo., The J.
W. Jenkins Sons' Music Co.; Kansas City, Mo., The
J. W. Jenkins Sons' Music Co.; Ogden, Utah, The
music business. 'He profits most who serves best.' "
Free piano lessons, conducted along the line of the
Miessner Piano Company's plan, will put child-pian-
ists into hundreds of homes. Mr. Miessner is emi-
nently fitted to organize such a plan with an assur-
ance of artistic and educational success. For years
he has been teaching music to children, training
teachers of music, and composing music for their use.
Children in every part of the United States are
familiar with his songs and piano pieces.
The Melody Way.
Especially designed for these free piano classes, Mr.
Miessner has recently completed "The Melody Way
July 19, 1924.
ALFR E D L SMITH ATTENDS
T TRADE
R
MEETING IN CHICAGO
General Manager Also Scheduled to Deliver Lecture
to Trade Executives School.
Alfred L. Smith, general manager of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, is at present in
Chicago on business for the association. One of the
important matters which will have his attention will
be a conference with members of the National Asso-
ciation of Musical Instrument and Accessories Manu-
facturers in regard to its organization and plans for
activity. The new association contemplates becoming
a Division Member of fhe Chamber in the near fu-
ture.
Mr. Smith will attend a meeting of the Band In-
strument Manufacturers' Association with the Fed-
eral Trade Commission, at which the question of the
granting of secret subsidies to musicians for adver-
tising purposes will be under consideration.
Mr. Smith will also make a short trip to Evanston,
111., for the purpose of delivering a lecture on the
"History of Trade Associations" at the session of the
National School for Commercial and Trade Execu-
tives which is being held at Northwestern University.
CHAS. M. BENT IMPROVES.
Chas. M. Bent, of the Bent Music Shop, Chicago,
who recently underwent a serious surgical operation,
is rapidly recovering and hopes to be out again be-
fore long. Meantime his father, Geo. P. Bent, has
returned to California and will attend the Western
Music Trade Convention in San Francisco next week.
The latter attended the Rice dinner, at Des Plaines,
on Thursday.
"MKI.ODY WAY," MIESSNER INSTITUTE, MILWAUKEE.
On the extreme right is W. Otto Miessner, composer of "The Melody Way to Play the Piano" and president of
the Miessner Piano C6.; C. W. Urowne, vice-president of t he Miessner Piano Co., is fourth from the right, standing-.
to Play the Piano," a beautiful collection of exquisite
and interesting piano pieces that children will delight
in.
Teachers to conduct this work have been trained
at the Miessner Institute of Class Piano Instruction,
held in Milwaukee June 9 to June 20. Demonstra-
tion classes of children were conducted, and the
teachers, all of whom were normal school or con-
servatory graduates in music, many of them with
several years of experience in teaching music, were
given the special training to fit them for this work.
Mr. Miessner's object was to prepare these teachers
to "get results/' and as a matter of fact the children
who take this class work can go home after their
third or fourth lessons and announce triumphantly,
"Daddy! I can play the piano!"
One phase of the Miessner Institute work, of
prime importance to music dealers, was the training
given to fit them to co-operate with the salesmen in
music houses. This was presented by C. W.
Browne, vice-president of the Miessner Piano Com-
pany, w r hose retail experience was an excellent prep-
aration for the purpose.
For Music in the Home.
One teacher can handle as many as four or five
"The time is ripe," says Mr. Miessner, "for us of hundred pupils one lesson per week, or two hundred
the piano industry to put into practical everyday use and fifty to three hundred pupils receiving two les-
the ideal 'Music in Every Home.' By doing so, we sons per week. The enrollment fees and the profits
will be doing a wonderful service for our nation and on the sale of the "Melody Way" materials help to
for every community and making a profit for the pay teachers' salaries and advertising expense.
Glen Bros.-Roberts Piano Co.; Omaha, Neb., The
Oakford Music Co.; Roanoke, Va., Hobbie Brothers
Co.; San Francisco, Cal., Kohler & Chase; Toledo,
Ohio, Grinnell Bros. Music House.
What Plan Provides.
The plan provides for free piano lessons for chil-
dren between the ages of eight and fourteen who
have not had piano lessons before. A small enroll-
ment fee of $1.00 is charged, "as evidence of serious
purpose," and the child pays $1.00 for music and
materials. The advertising announces that pupils in
these classes do not need a piano at home. Some
dealers are even restricting the enrollments to those
with no pianos at home.
The plan as formulated by Mr. Miessner is based
on the theory that the dealer who is instrumental in
developing a child-pianist in every home will be able
to sell pianos in many homes where there is no use
for them now. Only about half the homes in the
average community have pianos. Actual surveys show
that to be a fact. The other half don't buy for vari-
ous reasons.
xlubs support it loyally because the plan is public
"spirited in that it provides a cultural development for
children who might otherwise never receive musical
training. Indeed, the dealer who, by this method,
gives away something decidedly worth while is cer-
tain to receive the whole-hearted co-operation of
every element in the community.
There is no doubt that the Miessner Piano Com-
pany has originated a plan that will sell pianos for
their dealers. As Mr. Browne has written them,
"We do not- expect you to sell all Miessner pianos
through' this plan; of course, we'd rather you would,
but if your men find that certain homes call for
grands or big uprights or reproducing pianos, by all
means sell them what they ought to have. We'll rely
on your fairness to give us our share of the business
this plan wilt produce.. We only expect you to sell
Micssners where they ought to go."
The Best Yet
Graceful lines, rugged construc-
tion, moderately priced. It's the
very best commercial piano from
every standpoint.
Mr. Miessner Supervises.
KREITER
Pianos and Players
Have No Competition Where
Beauty of Cases and Tone
Sustain Profit Making Prices.
Everything the Highest but
the Price.
Inspect them Carefully and Sec.
Kreiter Mfg. Co., Inc.
320-322 W. Water St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Factory t Marinotte, Wi*.
These classes are under the supervision of Mr.
Miessner, through reports from the teachers and
through personal visits, thus an assurance of the
educational success is provided. Mr. Browne has
been operating what might be termed as "consulta-
tion service" for dealers on the commercial and pub-
licity features of the work, by mail, telegraph, and
personal visits.
Enthusiastic reports come in from the various cen-
ters where these free piano lessons are being given.
The educational authorities endorse the plan, because
they are familiar with the name Miessner in public
school music. The private teachers of piano are
usually enthusiastic about the work, because they
realize that as a result there will be a great many
pupils available for them that otherwise could not be
secured. Many prominent private teachers have pub-
licly endorsed the classes and congratulated dealers
on the movement. Some private teachers have even
turned beginning pupils over to the dealer schools for
elementary work.
In many towns the newspapers have given "free
publicity" to the plan in the way of news stories,
because of the "news value" in the scheme. Women's
Style 32—4 ft. 4 in.
WESER
Pianos and Players
Sell Readily—Stay Sold
Send to-day for catalogue, prices and
details of our liberal financing plan
Weser Bros., Inc.
520 to 528 W. 43rd St., New York
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).