Presto

PRESTO
December 23, 1922.
not so numerous that any retailer need feel that his business is con-
tributing too largely to the income tax of the source of his supplies.
* * *
Another lovely feature of the prevailing system of settling bank-
rupt piano estates is seen in the arbitrary finding of a commissioner
in the case of the defunct F. G. Smith, Inc., that a perfectly just claim
has been declared void, for some reason not given. Will the better
way proposed at the New York Convention ever succeed the present
one of reckless waste and litigation?
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The number of pianos produced this year will make a better
showing than was made by 1921. But that will be because the last
four months have been good ones. And the dealers have very few in-
struments on their floors, which means that there will be no over-pro-
duction during next year. Happy New Year!
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* * *
If a committee of five advertising men were to pass upon the best
of this year's piano publicity, it would be something of a worry to de-
cide between the displays of the American Piano Co., The Cable Com-
pany, the Aeolian Co., the Kohler Industries and Steinway & Sons.
And there have been some other mighty good ones.
* * *
Another patent right stirs the placid waters of the playerpiano. A
new demand for royalties comes to the manufacturers based upon a
claim to a small but important action improvement. It all costs
money and affects prices some.
* * *
One more week and then—what will your book balance tell you?
If you are a retailer, and you have kept the faith with your manu-
facturers, count yourself well off. You w r ill make some money next
year. Happy New Year !
* * *
It won't hurt the piano dealers if the manufacturers do put prices
up enough to cover increased cost of production. It's easier for the
retailer to go up $50 in his prices than for the manufacturer to step
up $10.
* * *
It has taken the old receivership way of settling bankruptcy af-
fairs more than three years to discover that the lawyers need all the
REPORTED DISAPPEARANCE
OF HARASSED HY EILERS
Following Recent Bankruptcy, Stock in Portland
Store Announced to Be Sold.
Another chapter has been added to the Eilers case.
Oregon Eilers Music House went in the hands of a
receiver recently and the case was to come up in the
near future. It is rumored in music trade circles
that Hy J. Eilers cannot now be located and his
whereabouts are unknown.
The Referee in bankruptcy in the case of the Ore-
gon Eilers Music House has instructed S. J. Bishoff,
at Portland, receiver, to commence sale at once of
the entire stock of pianos, phonographs, records, band
instruments and music. It was announced that the
sale would commence this week, Thursday, Decem-
ber 21.
FAMOUS WESTERN PAINTER
KIN OF WILLIAM TONK
Artist Whose Picture Hangs in Lobby of Club,
Wenatchee, Wash., Piano Man's Nephew.
One of the most notable features of the new home
of the Wenatchee Lodge No. 1186 Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, Wenatchee, Wash., re-
cently opened and dedicated, is the picture in the
lobby painted by Ernest A. Tonk of Cashmere,
Wash. This famous artist is a nephew of William
Tonk, president of William Tonk & Bro., New York.
Indeed it is a fact known to a few outside the Tonk
family, that the artist has been named for the well
known piano man whose full name is William Ernest
Albert Tonk.
Entering the new Elks' building from the Chelan
avenue side through the loggia, the visitor finds
himself in the lobby, which is furnished after the
general Italian Renaissance style. At the further
side of the room is the staircase and at the first
landing is hung the magnificent oil painting by Ernest
A. Tonk. This is the most notable feature of the
entire lobby and it forms a most appropriate back-
money left by the International Piano Co., of Fall River, Mass. The
news has just been reported to the patiently waiting creditors.
* * *
Just a week more in which to collect the delinquent installments
of this year. Make it a serious part of your business to get in collec-
tions. It's one way to begin the new year right. Happy New Year!
* * *
The old year brought plenty of trouble, many gaps in the ranks
and quite a troop of failures. But a sounder industry or trade doesn't
exist. Only a step ahead is the new prosperity. Happy New Year!
* * *
The experts in every line of business agree that trade is rapidly
improving and that the betterment is permanent. The music trade
shares in it and there seems to be a good time ahead.
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Several very live new piano industries will make shining marks
in the musical world next year. And several of the older ones will put
on steam and bound ahead. Merry Xmas!
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No need of being over-sanguine; still less to lack courage in the
light of better times here and ahead. Without recklessness, push for-
ward and try to forget the past two years.
* * *
Only the sluggard will have complaints to make when the next
twelve months shall have rolled around. And there are no sluggards
in the piano trade. Happy New Year!
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Retail selling prices are too low—as a rule. Terms considered,
there's nothing so easy to buy as a piano. We'd like to see more rich
piano merchants.
* * *
Piano men will drive into little young '23 with vigor and great
expectations. It promises to be a good year. Merry Xmas!
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The year that began so badly is ending with a rush of prosperity
for the piano trade. Merry Xmas !
ground for the entire scene. The painting is 10
feet long and five feet high and is entitled "The
Golden Ribbon." It shows a typical Chelan county
mountain valley with a stream winding down like a
ribbon.
Mr. Tonk has also painted two other landscapes
which will be used to enhance the beauty of the
building's interior. Both are scenic pictures showing
the natural beauty of this part of the state.
A HANDSOME GREETING.
It would be impossible to produce a better speci-
men of holiday advertising than appears on the sec-
ond cover page—first inside page—of this issue of
Presto. If we could "crib" that page and apply it to
Presto itself, nothing would seem more appropriate
than the "Greeting" so gracefully extended by the
great industry of the Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. Co.
The beauty of design is perfectly matched by the
appropriate message to the trade, and especially to
the piano merchants who have contributed to the
continued growth of the big industry of Chicago and
Steger, 111.
RECITALS WILL ADVERTISE.
Mrs. J. J. Dorgan, Davenport, la., third vice-presi-
dent of the National Federation of Music Clubs,
and also well known throughout that section of
Iowa for her activity in enterprises of a musical
nature, has been added to the staff of the A. P.
Griggs Piano Co., of that place. Mrs. Dorgan, who
is an accomplished pianist, will specialize in ex-
ploitation of the Duo-Art piano. Mrs. Dorgan has
formulated plans to demonstrate the Duo-Art at spe-
cially announced recitals.
HARRY FREUND'S WIFE DIES.
Mrs. Florence Freund, wife of the one-time music
trade paper editor, died at Hollywood, Cal., last
Sunday. Mrs. Freund was a brilliant woman, known
in literary and dramatic circles by her writings and
scenario compositions. She is survived by her hus-
band, Harry Edward Freund, national organizer for
the National Jewelers' Publicity association. She
was 49 years of ago, had traveled extensively in the
United States and Europe and wrote in English,
Italian and French.
STORY & CLARK DISPLAY
OF "MINIATURE" PLAYERPIANO
Advertisement of the Winning Instrument in Satur-
day Evening Post Latest of Effective Series.
The association of the Story & Clark "Miniature"
playerpiano with the future of children was pre-
sented in the characteristic way in a telling adver-
tisement in the Saturday Evening Post of December
16. The national magazine publicity of the Story &
Clark Piano Co., Chicago, shows the ease in playing
the Story & Clark playerpiano and the simplicity and
durability of the instrument in a charming way which
artistically impresses prospective buyers.
"Give your children the Miniature for Christmas
and they will become endeared to the best in music
which they will play for themselves—and you, play-
ing the music of olden days, will find your Story &
Clark a treasure with which you would never part,"
is the suggestive thought conveyed in the opening
words of the display.
The kiddies of the Story & Clark advertising, now
so familiar to a host of readers, are staging a Christ-
mas dance for which the music is being provided by
the Story & Clark Miniature playerpiano operated by
one of the tots. But the wide range of usefulness of
the instrument is explained in the test:
"Whether it is Chopin's 'Fantasie,' a beautiful
Beethoven sonata, a Grieg Norwegian dance, or im-
mortal 'Home, Sweet Home,' it can easily be played
on the Story & Clark playerpiano with exquisite
expression because of this fine instrument's exclusive
features of construction."
The ad gives the size of the "Miniature" as only
four feet two inches high, full 88-note keyboard, and
of finest quality, is the ideal instrument for the small
room, and adds this bit of description:
"Every Story & Clark playerpiano contains the
Story & Clark Imperial Player Action (with its
Automatic Tracking and Transposing Device) so
simple to learn to operate and so easy to play that it
makes the Story & Clark the instrument of unques-
tioned superiority."
The J. W. Green Co., Toledo, O., has leased the
third floor of Pythian Castle.
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