Presto
Issue: 1924 2004 - Page 9
December 20. 1924.
PRESTO
It Pays
to Sell
Tonk Benches
,
The
The
and
Quality
Value
Are Both Achieved Thru
0
R
G
A
N
I
Z
A
T
I
0
N
•As Effec :ted By T h e
TONK MFG. CO.
1912 Lewis St. Chicago, 111.
Manufacturer s
Publishers
KD 88
TONK BENCH
TONK
TOPICS
it Pays
to Buy
the Best
CHEERY OUTLOOK
AT CLOSE OF YEAR
Music Industry Pleasantly Affected by Activi-
ties of Dealers Who Awake to Opportunities
for Sales Created by Improved Financial
and Industrial Conditions.
FARMER REENTERS MARKET
In Cities and Towns Everywhere Music Dealers Are
Heartened by Renewed Ability of Farm
Folk to Buy.
The music trade is sharing in the seasonable activi-
ties plainly evident in every city and town in the
country. The extent of the advertising by music
houses everywhere is a recognition of the fact that
the buying desire is an impelling one with the public.
Grand pianos, reproducing pianos and radio receiving
sets are being presented by dealers in a forceful way
that results in sales.
The music trade is taking- advantage of the condi-
tion which the business writers in the newspapers
describe as productive of music goods sales. "All
signs in the business sky continue bright. As a straw
shows how the wind blows so one example sometimes
suffices to illustrate a very important condition in re-
lation to trade," said the New York American of
last Sunday in commenting on the business fact.
Cheerful Conditions Widespread.
In all the great centers the newspapers reflect the
business activity in which the music dealers share.
"Radios and supplies and music goods in great de-
mand. Good holiday business. Building operations
show improvement which means more holiday, money
for the buyers," says the Los Angeles Examiner.
"Wholesale and retail buying more active and diver-
sified. Department and specialty store trade above
this season last year," says the Baltimore American.
This reflex of conditions is printed in the Washing-
ton Herald: "Each succeeding week presents
brighter business outlook. Christmas sales are in
tremendous volume. For first time this year down-
town section is crowded with early shoppers.
Weather snappy enough for good business, but not
cold enough to halt construction work."
From San Francisco comes the glad holiday tid-
ings that "country buying of seasonal merchandise
much stimulated by general rainfall greatly in con-
trast to this period last year. Local retailers doing
good Christmas trade."
Reasons for Big Sales.
In his review of present trade conditions B. C.
Forbes says in the Chicago Herald and Examiner
this week: "What is desired is not the whooping up
of a boom, but gradual, solid, substantial improve-
ment. And that, happily, is what current conditions
warrant us in expecting."
According to the observant writer named, all the
requirements which go to the making of prosperity
are with us. ''All the major elements which go to
the making of prosperity are with us. Indeed, the
present generation has never seen so thoroughly
healthy underlying conditions," is the bright view of
the writer.
Local Conditions Helpful,
The music trade bases its beliefs in a big holiday
business and a continuation of music goods activities
on local as well as national conditions. The fortunes
of the farmers are matters of consideration in every
city, but in the smaller places the music dealers can
more directly observe the causes that improve the
position of the farm folk as spenders.
The phenomenal rise in agricultural products within
the past month or so has its effect in the little music
store in the village, in the more pretentious one in
the bigger place, and with indirect sureness, in the
great specialty music stores in New York, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Boston and other cities. And of course
the improvement of the farmer as a music goods
buyer has its effect in the big piano and musical
merchandise factories.
The Why of It.
The music trade and industry benefit by the main
elements that make for prosperity. Mr. Forbes sum-
marizes them in a very clear way in a few short
paragraphs:
We have the greatest abundance of liquid capital
and credit either this country or any other country
has ever possessed. Business enterprises of all kinds
have been able to fortify themselves with all needed
capital on reasonable terms.
The balance between agricultural prices and indus-
trial prices has been restored. Since more than a
third of our population are identified with agriculture,
the rise last week to new high price levels by wheat,
corn and oats is a development of far-reaching im-
portance.
The purchasing power of the wages being received
by American workers is practically the greatest that
has ever been enjoyed—in fact, greater than that dur-
ing the heyday of the war boom, when the cost of
living soared recklessly. Unemployment is well be-
low normal.
Transportation facilities are the most efficient the
United States has ever attained. The iron and steel
industry, accepted as an unusually dependable yard-
stick, is showing notable recovery from its summer
dullness. Various other important industries are
strengthening their position. Construction continues
very active, with price advances in raw materials, in-
cluding lumber.
For the twenty-second consecutive week Dun's re-
ports more advances than declines in commodity
prices. Even so, nothing savoring of inflation has
developed. Our foreign trade is showing great
vitality. From the financial and business viewpoint
our own political outlook is eminently satisfactory.
This has more influence upon operations of high
finance and big business than the man in the street
probably realizes.
Savings and Sales.
And here are a few facts which suggest a greater
willingness in the people to consider the purchases
of pianos, players and reproducing pianos and a
better ability to pay cash or put up a generous first
payment. "Our record-breaking savings bank de-
posits and our unprecedented sales of life insurance
indicate that, notwithstanding continuous complaints
about the extravagance of the people, a larger num-
ber of families than ever before are setting aside a
part of their earnings for their future financial
protection."
CLEVELAND'S PIONEER
MUSIC MAN DIES
Henry E. McMillin, Who Had Been in the
Business Since 1882, Passed Away
on December Ninth.
The death of Henry E. McMillin marks the pass-
ing of one of Cleveland's pioneer music men and the
termination of a life of devotion and service to the
music business.
Mr. McMillin died as he had lived—in the harness.
He came downtown to the store on the morning of
December 9, apparently in the finest of spirits and
health. He was extremely bright and cheerful and
active during the morning, and it was during a busi-
ness conference at his desk that he was suddenly
stricken with paralysis. His death occurred about
an hour later after he had been removed to a hos-
pital. He was 77 years of age.
Mr. McMillin, though born in Cleveland, spent the
early part of his life in Shelby, Ohio, where he or-
ganized the Shelby Band. This experience gave him
an insight into the actual needs of the small town
band and in 1882, when he returned to Cleveland to
engage in the music business, with the firm of J. G.
Richards & Co., he set out to provide the small town
bands with a band service. In 1892 he severed his
connections with the Richards house and entered into
business for himself, organizing the H. E. McMillin
& Son Co. He soon became one of the biggest pub-
lishers of band music and secured for his library sev-
eral very prominent numbers. His "Dirge Dolores"
is one of the widely known funeral pieces.
From 1892 until 1907 the firm continued business at
the old stand on Superior avenue. In 1907 Mr.
McMillin bought a fine building on East 9th street
and continued in business there until 1918. The
business moved to the Miles Theater Building and
remained there until 1918, when the leases were sold
and another building at 1351 Superior avenue was
purchased. It was here that Mr. McMillin died.
H. E. McMillin was always active in church and
civic circles as well as in business, and had been an
active member of the Cleveland Chamber of Com-
merce since 1892. He is survived by one son, H. E.
McMillin, Jr., and three daughters, Mrs. Herbert L.
McKinnon, of Cleveland; Mrs. C. B. Klingsmith, of
Youngstown, and Mrs. Neva Morris, of Pittsburgh.
His wife died several years ago while she and Mr.
McMillin were wintering in Florida.
GIVES DUO-ART CONCERTS.
The J. R. Reed Music Co., 805 Congress avenue,
Chicago, of which John S. Caldwell is manager, gave
a Duo-Art concert Dec. 11, 12 and 13 at 9:30 p. m.,
at the Majestic Theater and a concert at the Saturday
matinee on Dec. 13. Mr. Caldwell was in charge of
the concerts at which a Steck Duo-Art Pianola was
used. Mrs. John R. McCall, vocalist, and Professor
H. J. Kronsberg, violinist and director of the Majes-
tic Concert Orchestra, assisted at these Duo-Art con-
certs.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
PRESTO
It Pays
to Sell
Tonk Benches
,
The
The
and
Quality
Value
Are Both Achieved Thru
0
R
G
A
N
I
Z
A
T
I
0
N
•As Effec :ted By T h e
TONK MFG. CO.
1912 Lewis St. Chicago, 111.
Manufacturer s
Publishers
KD 88
TONK BENCH
TONK
TOPICS
it Pays
to Buy
the Best
CHEERY OUTLOOK
AT CLOSE OF YEAR
Music Industry Pleasantly Affected by Activi-
ties of Dealers Who Awake to Opportunities
for Sales Created by Improved Financial
and Industrial Conditions.
FARMER REENTERS MARKET
In Cities and Towns Everywhere Music Dealers Are
Heartened by Renewed Ability of Farm
Folk to Buy.
The music trade is sharing in the seasonable activi-
ties plainly evident in every city and town in the
country. The extent of the advertising by music
houses everywhere is a recognition of the fact that
the buying desire is an impelling one with the public.
Grand pianos, reproducing pianos and radio receiving
sets are being presented by dealers in a forceful way
that results in sales.
The music trade is taking- advantage of the condi-
tion which the business writers in the newspapers
describe as productive of music goods sales. "All
signs in the business sky continue bright. As a straw
shows how the wind blows so one example sometimes
suffices to illustrate a very important condition in re-
lation to trade," said the New York American of
last Sunday in commenting on the business fact.
Cheerful Conditions Widespread.
In all the great centers the newspapers reflect the
business activity in which the music dealers share.
"Radios and supplies and music goods in great de-
mand. Good holiday business. Building operations
show improvement which means more holiday, money
for the buyers," says the Los Angeles Examiner.
"Wholesale and retail buying more active and diver-
sified. Department and specialty store trade above
this season last year," says the Baltimore American.
This reflex of conditions is printed in the Washing-
ton Herald: "Each succeeding week presents
brighter business outlook. Christmas sales are in
tremendous volume. For first time this year down-
town section is crowded with early shoppers.
Weather snappy enough for good business, but not
cold enough to halt construction work."
From San Francisco comes the glad holiday tid-
ings that "country buying of seasonal merchandise
much stimulated by general rainfall greatly in con-
trast to this period last year. Local retailers doing
good Christmas trade."
Reasons for Big Sales.
In his review of present trade conditions B. C.
Forbes says in the Chicago Herald and Examiner
this week: "What is desired is not the whooping up
of a boom, but gradual, solid, substantial improve-
ment. And that, happily, is what current conditions
warrant us in expecting."
According to the observant writer named, all the
requirements which go to the making of prosperity
are with us. ''All the major elements which go to
the making of prosperity are with us. Indeed, the
present generation has never seen so thoroughly
healthy underlying conditions," is the bright view of
the writer.
Local Conditions Helpful,
The music trade bases its beliefs in a big holiday
business and a continuation of music goods activities
on local as well as national conditions. The fortunes
of the farmers are matters of consideration in every
city, but in the smaller places the music dealers can
more directly observe the causes that improve the
position of the farm folk as spenders.
The phenomenal rise in agricultural products within
the past month or so has its effect in the little music
store in the village, in the more pretentious one in
the bigger place, and with indirect sureness, in the
great specialty music stores in New York, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Boston and other cities. And of course
the improvement of the farmer as a music goods
buyer has its effect in the big piano and musical
merchandise factories.
The Why of It.
The music trade and industry benefit by the main
elements that make for prosperity. Mr. Forbes sum-
marizes them in a very clear way in a few short
paragraphs:
We have the greatest abundance of liquid capital
and credit either this country or any other country
has ever possessed. Business enterprises of all kinds
have been able to fortify themselves with all needed
capital on reasonable terms.
The balance between agricultural prices and indus-
trial prices has been restored. Since more than a
third of our population are identified with agriculture,
the rise last week to new high price levels by wheat,
corn and oats is a development of far-reaching im-
portance.
The purchasing power of the wages being received
by American workers is practically the greatest that
has ever been enjoyed—in fact, greater than that dur-
ing the heyday of the war boom, when the cost of
living soared recklessly. Unemployment is well be-
low normal.
Transportation facilities are the most efficient the
United States has ever attained. The iron and steel
industry, accepted as an unusually dependable yard-
stick, is showing notable recovery from its summer
dullness. Various other important industries are
strengthening their position. Construction continues
very active, with price advances in raw materials, in-
cluding lumber.
For the twenty-second consecutive week Dun's re-
ports more advances than declines in commodity
prices. Even so, nothing savoring of inflation has
developed. Our foreign trade is showing great
vitality. From the financial and business viewpoint
our own political outlook is eminently satisfactory.
This has more influence upon operations of high
finance and big business than the man in the street
probably realizes.
Savings and Sales.
And here are a few facts which suggest a greater
willingness in the people to consider the purchases
of pianos, players and reproducing pianos and a
better ability to pay cash or put up a generous first
payment. "Our record-breaking savings bank de-
posits and our unprecedented sales of life insurance
indicate that, notwithstanding continuous complaints
about the extravagance of the people, a larger num-
ber of families than ever before are setting aside a
part of their earnings for their future financial
protection."
CLEVELAND'S PIONEER
MUSIC MAN DIES
Henry E. McMillin, Who Had Been in the
Business Since 1882, Passed Away
on December Ninth.
The death of Henry E. McMillin marks the pass-
ing of one of Cleveland's pioneer music men and the
termination of a life of devotion and service to the
music business.
Mr. McMillin died as he had lived—in the harness.
He came downtown to the store on the morning of
December 9, apparently in the finest of spirits and
health. He was extremely bright and cheerful and
active during the morning, and it was during a busi-
ness conference at his desk that he was suddenly
stricken with paralysis. His death occurred about
an hour later after he had been removed to a hos-
pital. He was 77 years of age.
Mr. McMillin, though born in Cleveland, spent the
early part of his life in Shelby, Ohio, where he or-
ganized the Shelby Band. This experience gave him
an insight into the actual needs of the small town
band and in 1882, when he returned to Cleveland to
engage in the music business, with the firm of J. G.
Richards & Co., he set out to provide the small town
bands with a band service. In 1892 he severed his
connections with the Richards house and entered into
business for himself, organizing the H. E. McMillin
& Son Co. He soon became one of the biggest pub-
lishers of band music and secured for his library sev-
eral very prominent numbers. His "Dirge Dolores"
is one of the widely known funeral pieces.
From 1892 until 1907 the firm continued business at
the old stand on Superior avenue. In 1907 Mr.
McMillin bought a fine building on East 9th street
and continued in business there until 1918. The
business moved to the Miles Theater Building and
remained there until 1918, when the leases were sold
and another building at 1351 Superior avenue was
purchased. It was here that Mr. McMillin died.
H. E. McMillin was always active in church and
civic circles as well as in business, and had been an
active member of the Cleveland Chamber of Com-
merce since 1892. He is survived by one son, H. E.
McMillin, Jr., and three daughters, Mrs. Herbert L.
McKinnon, of Cleveland; Mrs. C. B. Klingsmith, of
Youngstown, and Mrs. Neva Morris, of Pittsburgh.
His wife died several years ago while she and Mr.
McMillin were wintering in Florida.
GIVES DUO-ART CONCERTS.
The J. R. Reed Music Co., 805 Congress avenue,
Chicago, of which John S. Caldwell is manager, gave
a Duo-Art concert Dec. 11, 12 and 13 at 9:30 p. m.,
at the Majestic Theater and a concert at the Saturday
matinee on Dec. 13. Mr. Caldwell was in charge of
the concerts at which a Steck Duo-Art Pianola was
used. Mrs. John R. McCall, vocalist, and Professor
H. J. Kronsberg, violinist and director of the Majes-
tic Concert Orchestra, assisted at these Duo-Art con-
certs.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).