January 3, 1925.
ASSESSING VALUES
OF HOME PIANOS
Incidents Often Occur to Show Assessor's
Helper Is a Law Unto Himself and Two
Stories Are Told to Prove the Impor-
tant Fact.
DAMP PIANO EXEMPT
Well Known Painter Gains From Fortuitous Acci-
dent and Prominent Pianist Is Indebted to
Flustered Assessor's Assistant.
The fine piano in the home is a great incentive to
the tax assessor on his annual visit to increase the
official estimate of the householder's possessions.
Even when the imposing grand, that so distinguishes
the living room or the music room, may conveniently
have been bought on the advantageous instalment
plan, the householder "looks like a money guy" to
the appraising visitor from the tax assessor's office.
In the case of an old piano the assessor says, "I
guess the last year's figure will suit." And, even
though the owner may protest and inform him that
the instrument "was bought nine years ago and isn't
as good as it used to be," he will be taxed at the
figure of the previous year. But there is one instance,
told in Chicago, where the piano was judged on its
apparent merits by a genius from the tax assessor's
department and taxed accordingly.
Mad at Assessors.
Arthur J. Hanaway is a Chicago artist who is all
temperament where color, values, form and atmos-
phere are concerned, and all temper when you men-
tion the tax assessor. When that official is the sub-
ject he puts a degree of warmth into his conversation
that he would not dare impart to the sky of his most
lurid sunsets.
Last year the man from the taxing department vis-
ited the Hanaway home in Austin and coldly put his
own maximum valuation on the belongings. On the
piano he put a taxable value of $700. He observed
the name of the maker on the fallboard and said he
knew a few things about pianos. In vain Mrs. Hana-
way protested at the figure. They loved the piano,
but it was years and years old, she said. The re-
sponse of the official was a negative "tut, tut." The
piano went down at $700.
Then the Flood.
One day early this year when robins and tax as-
sessors were enlivening the Austin landscape, and
Mr. and Mrs. Hanaway were downtown, the light-
running domestic piled the breakfast dishes in the
kitchen sink, put the stopper in the outlet, turned on
the hot water, to let the dishes soak a bit, and then
skipped out to the back yard fence to exchange
neighborhood news and editorial comment with the
domestic next door. When the last word was said
she returned to find boating good in the Hanaway
home. Warm water was trickling, flowing, eddying,
percolating and doing everything that water does in
seeking its own level. A fog of steam saturated
everything.
Next day when things had dried out a bit the keys
of the piano were found stuck from the damp. And
as Mr. and Mrs. Hanaw r ay gloomed over the fact,
PRESTO
by a grim coincidence, an official from the tax as-
sessor's office called for his annual visit.
Began Gaily Appraising.
"That's a swell piano you've got," he said after
an assessing survey of the rooms.
"Swelled would be more correct," replied Mr.
Hanaway in bitter irony. "One doesn't judge a piano
by the looks anyway. What do you. figure that
piano is worth?"
"Guess I'll put it down at $700, same as before,"
said the assessor with pencil poised.
"Th'ell you will! Run your fingers over the keys,"
the artist invited.
"What's the use. I ain't no pianist. But if you
insist I'll play you a tune. What's this?" he ex-
claimed as his fingers scrambled over the dumb
keys. "No music!"
"Complete paralysis," agreed the artist.
"'Tis sure a false alarm! Why, I couldn't put a
valuation of fifty cents on that piano," concluded the
assessor as he departed.
"Remember my pride and make it fifty cents,"
pleaded Mr. Hanaway.
The Pianist's Story.
One of the most prominent teachers of piano in
Chicago who owns one of the finest concert grands
made, admits he has never paid a cent of tax upon
it and he cheerfully exonerates himself therefor. On
the day he moved into his fine home in a fashionable
part of the North Side he "bought his gorgeous
grand. He was directing the delivery crew of the
piano house where to place the instrument when the
assessor's man appeared.
"We haven't a stick more furniture here than we
had in Hyde Park, so what you taxed us for last
time will go this year. But this piano is a new article
with us," the teacher informed him.
Competent, But—
"I ain't got nothin" to do with the Hyde Park-
books and don't have to depend on the Hyde Park
guys for info. I'll give your truck the o.o. my-
self." He did, but when it came to the piano he was
stumped. He hesitated to appraise it, fearing he
might be too low, or too high, so he conveniently
passed the buck.
"I guess I'll leave this whopper of a piano an
open question until I talk with the 'old man,'" he
decided as he left. The "old man" evidently was
the head of his department, or one of his superiors
with better piano appraising ability. It was plain,
though, he never talked about the piano at the office,
because the teacher was never taxed for it in that
year's bill nor in the tax bills of succeeding years.
The teacher is never home when the assessor pays
his annual visit. "Got a new automobile?" used to be
the question. "Have you got an automobile or a
radio?'' is the new version. The negative reply from
whoever opens the door includes both. The piano,
the taxing valuation of which was left "an open
ques'.ion" five years ago, is never mentioned. All of
which seems to soften the old saw about the abso-
lute certainty of death and taxation.
CHRISTMAS IN THE NAVY.
One of the most enjoyable Christmas dinners
given by any U. S. Navy unit was that tendered to
the men of the U. S. S. Toucey at League Island
\ T avy Yard. The festivities were presided over by
Lieutenant Commander Clarence Gulbransen, com-
manding officer of the U. S. S. Toucey, and son of
C. Gulbransen, vice-president and superintendent of
the Gulbransen Company, of Chicago.
ENJOYABLE CHRISTMAS
PARTY IN BOSTON STORE
Joint Forces of Continental Piano Co. and
Henry F. Miller Stores Co. Meet
Santa Claus.
The office forces of the Henry F. Miller Stores
Co. and the Continental Piano Co., Boston, held a
very pleasant Christmas party at the offices on Mon-
day evening, December 22. About fifty attended the
party, which started off with a buffet lunch, consist-
ing of sandwiches, cakes, candies, ice cream and
coffee.
After the lunch was served, Santa Claus, who
proved to be the company's own Mr. Allen, presented
himself in full saintly regalia and in a jocular mood
started picking the decorated Christmas tree. Each
guest opened his gift before the group, and in some
cases there was much chagrin, especially among the
men, because it was evident that Santa had been
shopping for the younger folks, and in the excitement
had taken the wrong pack upon entering the room.
As soon as Santa had satisfied himself that each
member of the party had been supplied with an
appropriate present, he wished all a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year, and departed to remove
his venerable beard and withdraw the baby grand
cover from his camouflaged front.
After the Christmas tree was picked, selected
games were played which created much excitement.
A. C. Clausen proved especially good as a peanut
racer. Then all went to the second floor, where a
spacious room had been prepared for dancing. Music
was furnished by a Henry F. Miller Welte-Mignon
Grand. Everyone danced as they never had before,
and Mr. Butler, the daddy of the party, pranced
around to the tune of "Doodle Doo Doo" like the
sprightly gentleman that he is.
A great deal of credit ior the success of the party
is due the Misses Jean Hurley and Dora Leonard,
who were the leaders in arranging this successful
program.
T. J. MERCER, GULBRANSEN
SALES MANAGER, RESIGNS
Duties in Sales Department Are Taken Over This
Week by H. A. Stewart.
T. J. Mercer, sales manager of The Gulbransen
Company, Chicago, has resigned, the resignation be-
coming effective December 31, 1924.
For personal reasons, Mr. Mercer, who has been
with the company five years, recently asked to be
released at the expiration of the present years' ar-
rangement. He leaves The Gulbransen Company
with the very best wishes of the organization, and
with a sincere regard on his part for those who have
been his associates during the past five years. He
will be at his home in Oak Park until the second
week in January, when he expects to take his family
to Arizona and California for the winter.
Mr. Mercer's duties in the sales department will
be assumed by H. A. Stewart, who has been with
the company for six years.
In the new store of the Ralph P. Dunlap Music
House, Ossining, N. Y., much space will be devoted
to the sale of radio equipment. Mr. Dunlap expects
to be settled in his new store, 149 Main street, next
week.
INDISPENSABLE TO PIANO DEALERS AND SALESMEN
We are now making shipments of our latest model, which is F oolproof and indestructible.
Price reduced to $95.00 including extra good moving cover.
Shipped to responsible dealers on approval.
Try one. If you don't like it send it back.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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