PRESTO
December 15, 1923.
ALWAYS
AN
ASSET
EVOLUTION OF
THE PIANO BENCH
The Story of a Great Industry, Accessory to
the Piano, from Its Beginning to the
Fiftieth Anniversary of Its
Progressive Career.
PERCY TONK'S REVIEW
How Adjustable Stool Had Its First Suggestion and
Other Points of Progress Told in
"Tonk Topics."
The latest number of "Tonk Topics," the snappy
little magazine put forth by the Tonk Bench Manu-
facturing Company, Chicago, possesses unusual in-
terest of historic kind. The publication is edited by
President Percy A. Tonk and the number celebrates
the fiftieth anniversary of the famous house which,
There is a fine sketch of the "problems of fifty
years ago," at which time "the total population of
the entire United States was only about 40 million,
as compared to the 110 million who now inhabit the
same area."
"It was through Julius Bauer, founder of the Julius
Bauer & Co. firm (an uncle) that Max Tonk became
interested in the manufacture of musical goods. Ju-
lius Bauer & Co. is the oldest firm now in ex-
istence, engaged in the piano business in Chicago.
There were several of the Tonk Brothers working
for the Bauer firm at the time, all of whom, in later
years, became engaged in business for themselves.
"The firm of Tonk Bros. Co., of which Charles
J. Tonk was the head, is still doing business in Chi-
cago under the same style, but is now successfully
conducted by his widow, Mrs. Sarah H. Tonk.
Five Tonk Brothers.
"There were five Tonk boys, of which two are
still among the living: William Tonk, founder of
William Tonk & Bro., Inc., New York, and Albert E.
Tonk, who is domiciled in Sunny California, but not
associated with the industry.
"During the period of the Civil War, Max Tonk
associated himself with the Bauer concern, assisting
in the manufacture of drums for the army. It was
while so engaged that he conceived the idea and rec-
ognized the opportunity offered for the manufacture
of pianos and organ stools."
Not the least interesting of the features of the
story is the picture of the four Tonk brothers which
is reproduced in connection with this article. It is
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 In struments
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.
j. p. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
Factory
1508-16 Dayton St.
Offices
1510 Dayton St
CHICAGO, ILL.
that "When Mr. Bauer remarked that somebody ought
to make an adjustable stool Max Tonk carried out his
idea.
"This stool was made of a beer keg, some pipe and
pipe fittings. It is the original organ stool.
"We are indebted for this information to Adam
Schneider, Dean of the Chicago Piano Industry, now
associated with Julius Bauer & Co."
First Adjustable Stool.
The evolution of the
piano bench has never
been the subject of re-
search. The beginning of
most music lovers, but the
essential article to its use
has not been made the
theme of any writer's pen,
until Percy Tonk made it
the subject of his review
of the industry of which
he is the head. As an item
of curious interest to the
trade, the accompanying
cut of the original practical
suggestion of the first re-
volving adjustable organ
or piano stool is timely and
quaint.
PERCY A. TONK.
for half a century, has been producing piano stools,
benches and similar supplies of high grade character.
As a leading, feature, of especial appropriateness to
the occasion, Tonk Topics presents a review of the
business beginning with the founding in 1873—a time
when Chicago was just recovering from the great
fire, and when the piano business was, at its best, a
comparatively small one. And the story of the Tonk
progress is one of splendid courage and correct busi-
ness principles, wholly characteristic of the name of
Tonk.
50 Years of Harmony.
It is a name that has been associated with nearly
every branch of the music business, from the im-
portation of small goods to the manufacture of mu-
sic benches and the production of fine pianos. It
has represented an industrious family bearing the
name—three brothers, and now the second genera-
tion in both New York and Chicago—making pianos
and piano supplies, respectively.
To return to Tonk Topics and its historic recital
of the progress of one branch of the Tonk family,
nothing better were possible than to make extracts
from the story of "Fifty Years of Harmony." It
begins with the statement that "like most of the vig-
orous business men in the middle west in those days,
Mr. Tonk had unquestioned faith in the growth of
Chicago and believed that the trend of development
was towards the west.
"Piano dealers were fewer in number than today,
even in proportion to the limited population, and the
transportation difficulties were far greater than they
are today."
Following the life of Max Tonk to the time of his
death, in 1914, at the age of 62, the story tells of the
steady growth of the business and describes the de-
velopment of the piano stool to the artistic Tonk
bench of today. An interesting item is the picture of
the first adjustable organ stool of which it is told
THE BROTHERS TONK.
From left to right, the brothers are: William, head of
the New York Piano industry of William Tonk & Bros.,
Inc.; Charles, until his death head of Tonk Bros. Co.,
Chicago; Albert E., and Max, seated at the right.
a picture of permanent interest, and is, without doubt,
a rare one in the annals of the Tonk family. In Tonk
Topics it is explained that the picture "shows the
four Tonk brothers and, incidentally, a library table,
the hand carving of which is the handiwork of Max
Tonk. There are many specimens of wood carving
by him to be found among the relatives."
We believe that dealers generally will want copies
of the Tonk Topics containing the history of fifty
years of successful business effort.
TUNER OPENS STORE.
A music store has been opened by Henry S. Horn-
beck in the Leavitt building on Peconia avenue, River-
head, N. Y. A complete line of pianos, players and
small goods is handled by Mr. Hornbeck, who is an
expert on tuning and repairs.
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