PRESTO-TIMES
May 12, 1928
WILLIAM TONK AND WIFE
RETURN FROM THE EAST
Head of William Tonk & Bro., Inc., New York,
Stops Off in Chicago Enroute Home.
William Tonk, head of William Tonk & Bro., New
York, who, accompanied by Mrs. Tonk has been en-
joying a vacation in California for the past two
months, returned east this week. They stopped off
THINGS SAID O R SUGGESTED
"And then—" prompted the inquisitor, applying the
red-hot
pincers of memory.
I. N. Rice, the general piano traveler, who now
"And
then my fiancee, whom I met there, passed
operates on the Pacific Coast and makes his home in
California, extols the climatic joys of that section. me up for a glittering Chicago dude piano salesman.
But he recalls with pleasure the days when he lived Bah!"
"Ah, yes! The gayly-hued styles attract the con-
near Desplaines, 111., coupling the advantages of sell-
ing pianos on the road on occasional trips with prac- vention girls. No place, my boy, for the dull finished
ticing farming; raising crops and chickens and gath- old cases," said the inquisitor, jabbing in the sizzling
ering eggs and experience with great regularity and poker of resentment.
* * *
profit.
/. A'. RICE RESPONDS
,
Living on an adjoining farm at the same time was
Frank M. Hood, traveler for the Schiller Piano Co.,
who also varied road work with farming, although
in a more dilettante way than Mr. Rice. Mr. Hood
recalls many incidents of those days and takes special
pleasure in recounting the agricultural successes of
his neighbor.
But there is no happiness without alloy, according
to Air. Hood. Mr. Rice has a neighbor whose dog
took his pleasures in worrying Mr. Rice's cows and
chickens and rampaging generally over his vegetable
reservation. Finally Mr. Rice went to the dog owner
and requested that the canine intrusions be stopped.
"How do you know it is my dog?" asked the neigh-
bor, unsatisfactorily.
"How do I know?" exclaimed Mr. Rice with rising
indignation; "why, I've seen him again and again."
"You must bring over better proof," replied the
neighbor, haughtily, turning on his heel.
Next day Mr. Rice discovered the dog invading
the chicken yard, where he had captured Chaliapin, a
Brahma rooster with a basso-profundo voice, and was
proceeding to dismember him while the frightened
inmates of the harem squawked for help. A few
minutes later Mr. Rice dropped the limp and lead-
filled carcass of the dog across the haughty neighbor's
fence. He pounded on the rails with the stock of his
gun until the owner of the late canine appeared at a
window.
"Hello," sang out the farmer-pianoman. "I've
brought you the dog. That bunch of Chaliapin's
feathers sticking out of his mouth is the proof."
* $ *
"Some men always keep the brakes set on their
personal magnetism," observed the piano wareroom
cynic, with a meaning look towards the sales man-
ager.
* * *
IMPERMANENT
"Why did you demand spot cash for that wedding
present for the Higbee girl? You usually sell your
pianos on the instalment plan."
"Safety first. Her marriage was a companionate
one."
* * *
THE UNSHRINKING
VIOLET
"Our royal name-power lowers cost. Our family
reputation was celebrated three hundred years before
this country was a nation and this inspires me to be
so glorious with bargains to those who answer my
ads," says Count George Hay Du Barry in a display
ad in Seattle newspapers for the Royal Court of
Music. "No man in the piano trade in Seattle has
made such progress as myself, and I invite you to
join our gallant musical banner. It will do one
harm to take wife by the arm and give her an invi-
tation to look at pianos and for this specific reason
you can bring her with you to my store today. Re-
solve to come—crowds will wander through my
store crowded to the very street with used pianos
to match the various pocketbooks. We salute you
from this hustling salesroom today with the easy-
term piano of the town."
* * *
WILLIAM TOXK.
for a few days to visit their nephew, Percy Tonk,
president of the Tonk Mfg. Co., and enjoy an interval
of rest on the trip home.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Tonk are looking and feeling
in fine condition and with the color marks of the fine
air and sunshine of California.
BUSH & LANE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
The exhibit room at the Commodore Hotel for the
Bush & Lane Piano Co. has been changed. This
company will now exhibit in room 640 during the
national music industries convention the week of
June 4th. Wm. T. Winstrom, sales manager ot fhe
Radio Division, Bush & Lane Piano Co., announces
that the Call Manufacturing Co., 16 Patterson street,
Pontiac, Mich., has been given the agency for the
Bush & Lane Cecilian speaker and the Bush & Lane
BAD PAY, GOOD COLLECTOR.
radio
sets in that territory. Mr. Call was formerly
John Hart, the Barnett, Mo., dealer, loves to tell
sales
manager
of the Arborphone Division of the
stories about Calvin Lee, an old-time organ man of
the Ozarks, whose life's conduct was governed by Consolidated Radio Manufacturers of America, Ann
wise saws. One day Mr. Hart happened into Calvin's Arbor, Mich., and Mr. William Inglas, now with
Bush & Lane, was formerly in the sales department
place in time to hear a spirited controversy between
of
that company. The Call Manufacturing Co. will
7
that worthy exponent of saw wisdom and his father-
represent Bush & Lane in the states of Michigan
in-law, Napoleon Cairns.
and Ohio.
Lee had engaged Finley Sims as collector, and the
fact had prompted every advice-giving busybody in
HARRY T. SIPE IN CHICAGO.
the township to butt in, amongst them the arch-
Harry T, Sipe, traveling representative for Adam
busybody. Napoleon.
GAY CONVENTION STYLE
"Why, you simpleton, the whole country's laugh- Schaaf, Inc., Chicago, is visiting headquarters this
"Well, and why won't you go to the trade conven- ing. Don' yo' alls know thet Fin's crookeder 'n a week after a successful trip through the southern
states. Mr. Sipe will start out next week on a trip
tion at the Hotel Commodore, New York? You were grape stem?" asked Napoleon.
which will reach as far as the Pacific Coast.
keen enough to go to the piano men's doings at the
"I shore do," agreed Lee.
Hotel Stevens, Chicago, last year," said the Detroit
"An' thet no one ever knowed Fin to pay back a
piano wareroom inquisitor.
borrowed dollar?"
SELLS TREASURE CHEST.
"Sure I was keen to go to Chicago, and all worked
"That's his kerecter to a dot."
Alford & Fryar Piano Company, Canton, Ohio,
up over it," replied the hermit salesman. "Got all
"Then why in tarnation do yo' alls hire him for a reported the sale of a Wurlitzer ZE treasure chest
dolled up, monogram on my sox, hang of the proper job like that?"
of music grand during the recent visit of Gordon
tool to take up in rotation at the banquet and every-
" 'Bad pay, good collector,' " answered Lee, quoting
Laughead to Canton. The sale was made by Claude
thing, and then—"
from his "Guide to Correct Conduct."
M. Alford, president of the company.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER HELPS SALESMEN
Outside Salesmen must be equipped so as to "show the goods." The season for country piano selling is approaching. Help your sales-
men by furnishing them with the New Bowen Piano Loader, which serves as a wareroom far from the store. It is the only safe
delivery system for dealers, either in city or country. It costs little. Write for particulars.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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