PRESTO
December. 1, 1923
ALWAYS
AN
ASSET
COIN OPERATED
PIANOS and
ORCHESTRIONS
Are dominant in the auto-
matic field because they
are genuine music makers
and because they bring
real profit to the dealer
who handles them.
SEEBURG Instruments,
because of their popular-
ity, pay for themselves in
a short time and then,
because of their durabil-
ity, become steady money
makers for the dealer.
If you are interested,
and we know you are,
write for the booklet
"Don't Take Our
Word for It", which
will convince you of
the success that many
other dealers are having.
REFUND FOR TAXES
NOW POSSIBLE
Conditions Required Under Federal Tax Laws
Are Fully Explained in Communication to
Piano Trade by Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce.
GENERAL MANAGER WRITES
Directs Particular Attention to Precautions Safe-
guarding Privacy of Data Furnished in Question-
naires Returned by Corporations Replying.
An important notice relative to refund of taxes has
been mailed by the Music Industries Chamber ot
Commerce to corporate members of associations com-
prising the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce,
in which this is said:
A refund of your taxes is possible under certain
conditions as provided in the Federal tax laws, which
state that corporations may have refunded to them
such excess and war profits taxes as may have been
paid, when the total of such tax is in excess of the
average tax paid by representative, comparative con-
cerns engaged in the same or similar business.
To illustrate: If the excess or war profits tax
paid by your company is equal to, say, 10 per cent of
your taxable income for a certain year, and it is
determined that the average of such tax payment by
representative, comparative concerns is only 5 per
cent, then, under certain conditions, your company
may file a relief claim and secure a refund of the tax
paid in excess of the average.
Shows the Way.
In order that any corporation may determine
whether or ijot its percentage of excess or war profits
tax, as paid, was relatively high or low, in compari-
son with that paid by other concerns, it will be
necessary to ascertain the average percentage paid by
other concerns. We are therefore sending the at-
tached questionnaire to all corporate members of our
various associations.
When these questionnaires are returned a chart will
be prepared, which will show a composite of the re-
turns of all corporate members, without in any way
indicating the identity of members reporting, and
thereby enable such members to make the necessary
comparisons, to determine whether or not they are
entitled to the relief provisions granted in the tax
laws.
Chart Is Desired.
The composite chart will be distributed only to the
members who express an interest by returning the
questionnaire. It is probable that, should the re-
sults from this questionnaire warrant, tax experts
will lie retained to represent such members as may
desire to place any claim for relief in their hands.
Concentration of these claims in the hands of any
one firm of tax experts will undoubtedly prove bene-
ficial, but members would be under no obligation in
this respect, and could handle their individual cases
as they desire.
An Important Point.
Particular attention is directed to the fact that
actual figures in respect to income or taxes paid is
neither asked nor desired. Average comparatives
are based on percentages only, and in furnishing the
percentages asked you will not be divulging any de-
tails concerning the earnings of your particular cor-
poration. Special precautions will be taken to safe-
guard the privacy of the data furnished, and when the
composite of all the questionnaires is compiled the
original individual questionnaire received from each
corporation will be destroyed.
Immediate attention to this questionnaire is to your
interest because of the statute of limitations.
MUSIC INDUSTRIES CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.
Bv Alfred L. Smith, General Manager.
WEAVER GRAND PIANOS
IN OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY
Fact Recalled by Efforts of President Jacobs of
School to Move Founder's Body.
J. P. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
Factory
1508-16 Dayton St.
Offices
1510 Dayton St.
CHICAGO, ILL.
Newspaper readers are familiar with the contro-
versy in Government and newspaper circles in Eng-
land created by Dr. Thornwell Jacobs, president of
Oglethorpe University, Georgia, in his efforts to take
hack the remains of General James E. Oglethorpe,
founder of the State of Georgia, from their obscure
resting place at Cranham, England, to an honored
spot at Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, Ga.
This incident is of particular interest to the Weaver
Piano Co., York, Pa., because of the sale of a Weaver
grand piano to Oglethorpe University some years
ago. This piano earned Dr. Jacob's commendation.
More than that, this first piano prompted Dr. Jacobs
to purchase a second Weaver grand for his own home.
Pleasant incidents that add to the satisfactory
pleasures of factory activity for Weaver Piano Co.,
Inc., York, Pa., are the visits of dealers who are
proud of their loyalty to the line of the company.
During October the following were among the visi-
tors who saw the interesting processes in the manu-
facture of Weaver, York and Livingston pianos and
players:
N. O. Eckels & wife, Carlisle, Pa.; J. Brady Miller,
Newville, Pa.; Lloyd Farling, Harrisburg, Pa.; Mr.
and Mrs. E. S. Parker of Miller Piano Co., West
Chester, Pa.; James R. Reed, Secretary of J. S. Reed
Piano Co., Baltimore, Md.; A. W. Snavely, Palmyra,
Pa.; John J. Farling, Selinsgrove, Pa.; F. H. Fens-
termacher, Telford, Pa., with party of prospective
buyers; Ralph, Claude and Frank Price, of Price
Bros., Minersville, Pa.; Wm. A. Dittmer, Secretary
Pathe Phonograph & Radio Co., Brooklyn, N. Y.;
A. W. Johnson, Prcs., Standard Pneumatic Action
Co., New York.
Claude Price, of Price Bros., Minersville, Pa.,
voiced the feelings of Weaver dealers in the follow-
ing letter:
"W r e wish to thank you for your courtesy to us
the other day when we visited your factory. The
only thing we regretted was the fact that we couldn't
stay another day and take more time to the various
operations in the factory. We are convinced more
than ever that the Weaver Piano is a tine, well made
piano, and we now can push sales confident that the
customer is getting quality. Thank you again for
your kindness and we hope to visit you again soon."
PROSPEROUS FALL MONTHS
FOR STORY & CLARK PIANO CO.
E. M. Love, Secretary of Company, Returns From
East Pleased With Trade Conditions.
All seasons go well with the Story & Clark Piano
Co., Chicago, but the fall season this year has been
out of the ordinary. Business conditions have been
a lot better than the customary fall increase would in-
dicate. Dealers of the Story & Clark Piano Co.'s in-
struments are elated over the salability of the ex-
cellent line and have so expressed themselves on
various occasions. The wide popularity and prestige
of the Repro-Phraso player has been a stimulant to
the trade in practically all sections of the country,
and the incentive on the part of merchants to pep up
their business is attributed to the many requests for
this instrument.
E. M. Love, secretary and treasurer of the com-
pany, recently returned from a trip in the east and
had a look at the trade conditions there. "We con-
templated a good business this fall, but did not ex-
pect the volume of orders we are now receiving," said
Mr. Love this week. "Our factories are co-operating
with us admirably and they are running at capacity
limit. Every department in our organization is going
at top speed and at the present time we have enough
work ahead to keep us busy until January. Our fac-
tories are busy and our dealers are elated. What
more could you expect?" queried Mr. Love.
THE FOLDING PIANO.
"Vest pocket" pianos are being imported from Eng-
land for the purpose of supplying the entertainment
on fast New York and transcontinental trains, ac-
cording to Arthur Blyth. manager of the travel
entertainment department of the Consolidated Or-
chestras Booking Exchange 1595 Broadway, New
York. These instruments may he folded up like urn-
brel'as. They are five octaves in length and are tech-
nically known as "Yacht" in England where they are
made. Mr. Blyth states that he has closed contracts
with several railroads and will provide the entertain-
ers and pianists as soon as the miniature pianos
arrive.
JOKE ON JUSTIN BROTHERS.
A neatly prepared Gulbransen Circular and re-
turn inquiry card were distributed by Justin Brothers,
Cicero, 111., last week. The reading on the back of
the card was: "We have no piano! We have a
piano!" Some one thought he would "kid" Justin
Brothers, and scratched out the word "piano" and
inserted "bananas." When Justin Brothers received
the card it read: "We have no bananas," signed
"Barney Google, Cicero, Illinois."
NEW LOCATION IN HERRIN.
At a meeting last week of the stockholders of the
Morgan Music Co., Herrin, 111., it was found desir-
able to give C. W. Fisher assistance in its manage-
ment. It was decided to make vice president Mrs.
Clyde M. Ledbetter, general manager, and place Mr.
Fisher in charge of the sales force. The Morgan
Music Company is to remove from its present loca-
tion on West Cherry street to the new Raddle build-
ing on North 13th street.
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