Music Trade Review
Issue: 1928 Vol. 87 N. 4 - Page 17
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MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Conducted By Thomas W. Bresnahan
Tonk Purchases Musical Merchandise
Department of Lyon & Healy, Chicago
Sale Also Includes Piano Materials Department—Tonk Bros. Shortly to Issue New
Catalog Combining Two Lines, Being Ready September 1
/CHICAGO, ILL., July 23.—As announced in
^ last week's issue of The Review, the Tonk
Bros. Co., wholesaler of musical merchandise,
has purchased the wholesale musical merchan-
dise department of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, ac-
cording to statements issued by Paul Moennig,
president of Tonk Bros. Co., and R. E. Dun-
ham, president of Lyon & Healy. The sale
also includes the tuners' supply business, but
Lyon & Healy will continue for the present
to operate wholesale piano, radio and sheet
music departments.
The deal was closed last week between Mr.
Moennig and Mr. Dunham whereby the Tonk
concern secures the exclusive wholesale selling
rights in musical merchandise for all Lyon &
Healy trade-marks, copyrights and patents with
the exception of Lyon & Healy accordeons and
harps. For the present Lyon & Healy's whole-
sale department will continue to function, but
within two or three weeks it is expected that
the stock will be transferred to the Tonk ware-
houses at 623 South Wabash avenue and all
orders will be filled by the Tonk company.
"A new catalog, combining the two lines, is
now in work," states Paul Moennig, "and will
be ready for distribution September 1. In tfre
meantime a system has been worked out where-
by orders will be taken care of whether ordered
from the Lyon & Healy catalog or the Tonk
catalog."
The success of Tonk Bros. Co. has been out-
standing and has been built up solely on quality
and service as more than 4,000 Tonk customers
will testify. With the additional lines that will
now be distributed, this service will be aug-
mented.
Tonk Bros. Co. was organized in 1895 by
Chas. J. Tonk, in Chicago. Paul Moennig, the
present head, joined the company in 1914 and
upon the death of Chas. Tonk four years later
was appointed president and general manager.
The company has enjoyed a steady growth un-
der the direction of Mr. Moennig and moved
to the present large quarters at 623 South
Wabash avenue four years ago.
It is announced that there will be no change
in the policy of Tonk Bros. Co. and the man-
agement and personnel will remain the same.
In announcing the sale to The Review, Presi-
dent Dunham, of Lyon & Healy, made the fol-
lowing statement:
"Lyon & Healy have sold that portion of
their wholesale business, including the small
goods and tuners' supply departments, to the
Tonk Bros. Co. We shall continue, however,
to operate the wholesale piano, radio and sheet
music departments and to manufacture trie
famous Lyon & Healy harp which is known
all over the world.
"Lyon & Healy have been undergoing ex-
tensive reorganization during the past three
years. Important additions have been made to
the personnel. The Chicago retail premises
have been completely remodeled and we have
disposed of the factories which manufactured
our pianos, band and stringed instruments.
"With the sale to Tonk Bros. Co. the re-
organization is fully completed. Lyon &
Healy's retail activities have been expanding
through the enlargement and opening of branch
stores in Chicago and Evanston, 111., and the
purchase of the Dreher Piano Co. in Cleve-
land, O.
"Tonk Bros. Co. was organize'd in 1893 and
is under the able management of Paul Moen-
nig, who has been in charge of the business
for the last fifteen years, during which period
the company has grown rapidly. The business
ability of Mr. Moennig, who incidentally
worked for Lyon & Healy when he first came
to America years ago, is known throughout the
trade and his house has always enjoyed an
enviable reputation for integrity and fair dail-
ing."
Rudy Wiedoeft Sax
Wins Popularity at Once
New Holton Style Makes Sales as Soon as
Shown, States Frank Holton, Retail Manager
in Milwaukee, Wis.
MILWAUKEE, WIS., July 23.—Although the sum-
mer months usually comprise the dull season
for band instruments, A. E. Borgeson, manager
of the Frank Holton Co. retail store at Mil-
waukee states that business on band instrument
lines has been lively.
"Great interest is being shown in the new
Rudy Wiedoeft's model saxophone," Mr. Bor-
geson said. "We find that in almost every in-
stance of a request to look at and try out this
model, a sale of the instrument follows.
'"Besides going way ahead in saxophones, we
h'nd that trumpets, trombones and the Holton-
phone are holding up on sales. Up to July 19
we had orders for four of the larger horns for
July delivery."
Mr. Borgeson cited a number of Milwaukee
bands and orchestras which are from 90 to
100 per cent Holton users, and which have re-
cently bought new Holton instruments. These
include Tommy Tucker and his Californians,
Charles Boulanger's "Georgia Melodians"; the
Wisconsin Roof orchestras, both the white and
the colored orchestras being 100 per cent Hol-
ton users; "Slatz Randall and his Orchestra;"
"Midnight Serenaders"; Wisconsin Theatre or-
chestras; Palace Theatre orchestra; Riverside
Theatre orchestra; and the Shorewood High
School band, and the Wauwatosa High School,
which use all Holton instruments. Mr. Borge-
son also pointed out that the Fairvicw School
of West Allis, a suburb of Milwaukee, was re-
cently organized and equipped with Holtons.
"The outlook for Fall is very bright," Mr.
Borgeson concluded. "I think that Fall will see
a big pickup for bands and consequently the
sale of instruments. The enthusiasm shown
during the hot weather, when interest is usually
slow, is a sure sign of a big business when the
season opens up."
Band Instrument Demand
Is Good in Milwaukee
Walker Musical Exchange Continues School
Work During Summer and Adds Another
Organizer to Staff
MILWAUKEE, WIS., July 23.—"Band instrument
business is good. We have the largest enroll-
ment in our school that we ever had," declares
A. S. Arnstam of the Walker Musical Exchange.
"During vacation we have been promoting our
teaching and sales work by giving students who
are studying music in the schools lessons in our
own band instrument school at the same price
they pay for their instruction during the school
year.
"Band organization work is going ahead very
well, and we have added to our staff M. Mestas,
formerly band organizer for Lyon & Healy and
a bandmaster of some reputation. One of the
bands he has organized since coming to Mil-
waukee is the St. Joseph Parochial School at
Waukesha."
Mr. Arnstam also pointed out that it has been
necessary to add another teacher of banjo to
the school staff, and William Middleton has
been recently appointed to this position.
The Walker Musical Exchange, which has the
exclusive Milwaukee agency for the Slingerland
drums, is finding this a very successful line, he
said.
"Small goods business is also very good," Mr.
Arnstam continued. "We have, been selling
more harmonicas and jew's-harps this year than
ever before. I believe this is largely a result
of the wonderful advertising and promotion
work of the Hohner people, and of course, good
store displays.
"We have our harmonicas out where they can
be seen from the street and on entering the
store, and this is an important factor in making
sales on them reach a good volume."
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
BRETBCH
r
Trade
Mark
or
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS
SINCE 1883
The Fred GretschMfeCo.
6O Broadway Brooklyn,N.Y
17
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Conducted By Thomas W. Bresnahan
Tonk Purchases Musical Merchandise
Department of Lyon & Healy, Chicago
Sale Also Includes Piano Materials Department—Tonk Bros. Shortly to Issue New
Catalog Combining Two Lines, Being Ready September 1
/CHICAGO, ILL., July 23.—As announced in
^ last week's issue of The Review, the Tonk
Bros. Co., wholesaler of musical merchandise,
has purchased the wholesale musical merchan-
dise department of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, ac-
cording to statements issued by Paul Moennig,
president of Tonk Bros. Co., and R. E. Dun-
ham, president of Lyon & Healy. The sale
also includes the tuners' supply business, but
Lyon & Healy will continue for the present
to operate wholesale piano, radio and sheet
music departments.
The deal was closed last week between Mr.
Moennig and Mr. Dunham whereby the Tonk
concern secures the exclusive wholesale selling
rights in musical merchandise for all Lyon &
Healy trade-marks, copyrights and patents with
the exception of Lyon & Healy accordeons and
harps. For the present Lyon & Healy's whole-
sale department will continue to function, but
within two or three weeks it is expected that
the stock will be transferred to the Tonk ware-
houses at 623 South Wabash avenue and all
orders will be filled by the Tonk company.
"A new catalog, combining the two lines, is
now in work," states Paul Moennig, "and will
be ready for distribution September 1. In tfre
meantime a system has been worked out where-
by orders will be taken care of whether ordered
from the Lyon & Healy catalog or the Tonk
catalog."
The success of Tonk Bros. Co. has been out-
standing and has been built up solely on quality
and service as more than 4,000 Tonk customers
will testify. With the additional lines that will
now be distributed, this service will be aug-
mented.
Tonk Bros. Co. was organized in 1895 by
Chas. J. Tonk, in Chicago. Paul Moennig, the
present head, joined the company in 1914 and
upon the death of Chas. Tonk four years later
was appointed president and general manager.
The company has enjoyed a steady growth un-
der the direction of Mr. Moennig and moved
to the present large quarters at 623 South
Wabash avenue four years ago.
It is announced that there will be no change
in the policy of Tonk Bros. Co. and the man-
agement and personnel will remain the same.
In announcing the sale to The Review, Presi-
dent Dunham, of Lyon & Healy, made the fol-
lowing statement:
"Lyon & Healy have sold that portion of
their wholesale business, including the small
goods and tuners' supply departments, to the
Tonk Bros. Co. We shall continue, however,
to operate the wholesale piano, radio and sheet
music departments and to manufacture trie
famous Lyon & Healy harp which is known
all over the world.
"Lyon & Healy have been undergoing ex-
tensive reorganization during the past three
years. Important additions have been made to
the personnel. The Chicago retail premises
have been completely remodeled and we have
disposed of the factories which manufactured
our pianos, band and stringed instruments.
"With the sale to Tonk Bros. Co. the re-
organization is fully completed. Lyon &
Healy's retail activities have been expanding
through the enlargement and opening of branch
stores in Chicago and Evanston, 111., and the
purchase of the Dreher Piano Co. in Cleve-
land, O.
"Tonk Bros. Co. was organize'd in 1893 and
is under the able management of Paul Moen-
nig, who has been in charge of the business
for the last fifteen years, during which period
the company has grown rapidly. The business
ability of Mr. Moennig, who incidentally
worked for Lyon & Healy when he first came
to America years ago, is known throughout the
trade and his house has always enjoyed an
enviable reputation for integrity and fair dail-
ing."
Rudy Wiedoeft Sax
Wins Popularity at Once
New Holton Style Makes Sales as Soon as
Shown, States Frank Holton, Retail Manager
in Milwaukee, Wis.
MILWAUKEE, WIS., July 23.—Although the sum-
mer months usually comprise the dull season
for band instruments, A. E. Borgeson, manager
of the Frank Holton Co. retail store at Mil-
waukee states that business on band instrument
lines has been lively.
"Great interest is being shown in the new
Rudy Wiedoeft's model saxophone," Mr. Bor-
geson said. "We find that in almost every in-
stance of a request to look at and try out this
model, a sale of the instrument follows.
'"Besides going way ahead in saxophones, we
h'nd that trumpets, trombones and the Holton-
phone are holding up on sales. Up to July 19
we had orders for four of the larger horns for
July delivery."
Mr. Borgeson cited a number of Milwaukee
bands and orchestras which are from 90 to
100 per cent Holton users, and which have re-
cently bought new Holton instruments. These
include Tommy Tucker and his Californians,
Charles Boulanger's "Georgia Melodians"; the
Wisconsin Roof orchestras, both the white and
the colored orchestras being 100 per cent Hol-
ton users; "Slatz Randall and his Orchestra;"
"Midnight Serenaders"; Wisconsin Theatre or-
chestras; Palace Theatre orchestra; Riverside
Theatre orchestra; and the Shorewood High
School band, and the Wauwatosa High School,
which use all Holton instruments. Mr. Borge-
son also pointed out that the Fairvicw School
of West Allis, a suburb of Milwaukee, was re-
cently organized and equipped with Holtons.
"The outlook for Fall is very bright," Mr.
Borgeson concluded. "I think that Fall will see
a big pickup for bands and consequently the
sale of instruments. The enthusiasm shown
during the hot weather, when interest is usually
slow, is a sure sign of a big business when the
season opens up."
Band Instrument Demand
Is Good in Milwaukee
Walker Musical Exchange Continues School
Work During Summer and Adds Another
Organizer to Staff
MILWAUKEE, WIS., July 23.—"Band instrument
business is good. We have the largest enroll-
ment in our school that we ever had," declares
A. S. Arnstam of the Walker Musical Exchange.
"During vacation we have been promoting our
teaching and sales work by giving students who
are studying music in the schools lessons in our
own band instrument school at the same price
they pay for their instruction during the school
year.
"Band organization work is going ahead very
well, and we have added to our staff M. Mestas,
formerly band organizer for Lyon & Healy and
a bandmaster of some reputation. One of the
bands he has organized since coming to Mil-
waukee is the St. Joseph Parochial School at
Waukesha."
Mr. Arnstam also pointed out that it has been
necessary to add another teacher of banjo to
the school staff, and William Middleton has
been recently appointed to this position.
The Walker Musical Exchange, which has the
exclusive Milwaukee agency for the Slingerland
drums, is finding this a very successful line, he
said.
"Small goods business is also very good," Mr.
Arnstam continued. "We have, been selling
more harmonicas and jew's-harps this year than
ever before. I believe this is largely a result
of the wonderful advertising and promotion
work of the Hohner people, and of course, good
store displays.
"We have our harmonicas out where they can
be seen from the street and on entering the
store, and this is an important factor in making
sales on them reach a good volume."
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
BRETBCH
r
Trade
Mark
or
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS
SINCE 1883
The Fred GretschMfeCo.
6O Broadway Brooklyn,N.Y
17
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