Music Trade Review

September 5th, 1880
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
DOMESTIC
.AJSTD E X P O R T
TRADE.
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1880.
VOL. III.
THE CONDITION OF TRADE.
KBANICH & BACH—J. M. PELTON.
KBANICH & BACH.
11
No. 3
SUIT AGAINST THE TKADE UNION.
A TALK WITH ME. HALE.
REPRESENTATIVE of this paper called upon Mr. J. P. Hale one day
last week, to obtain information in regard to the rumors afloat of a suit
A
having been brought by him against the Piano Trade Union. The following
NE of our reporters recently visited the extensive manufactory of Messrs. conversation ensued :
Kranich & Bach, at Nos. 235 to 243 East 23d street, New York. Messrs.
O
Reporter.— "Mr. Hale, I called to get some facts from you in regard to
Kranich & Bach have here one of the most extensive and well appointed the suit which it is stated you have commenced against the trade union.''
manufactories for pianofortes in the U. S.
Mr Hale.—" Where did you hear that ? "
This house commenced business in New York city 17 years ago,
Reporter.—"Why it is common talk, and a local paper published a
in Houston street, but the growth of their trade soon necessitated a removal statement to that effect last week."
to larger buildings, so in 1873 they purchased land at their present location,
Mr. Hale.—" Oh, that paper you mean always gets everything wrong.
and occupied a building thereon. They were, however, obliged, in order to The fact is, I have not commenced such a suit, but Diehlmann, the case-
meet the increasing demands of their business, to erect their present large maker, who has been making cases for me, has begun a suit ; and as he can
brick building a little more than a year ago, which occupies a space 175 feet prove direct damages, he will no doubt be able to make the trade union pay
front on 23d street, by 100 feet deep, and is six stories in height, surmounted if they have anything to pay with, although I believe their funds are run-
by a handsome clock tower, the whole forming one of the handsomest manu- ning very low. There is a precedent for this suit of Diehlrnann's, in an
facturing structures in this city.
action taken some time since by a builder against a trade union of masons,
The entire building is occupied by Messrs. Kranich & Bach for their etc., in which the plaintiff got judgment for $6,000."
factory and warerooms, and even with their present great facilities for manu-
Reporter.—"I understand that Diehlmann has been obliged to stop
facturing, equaling a production of 40 pianos per Aveek, they frequently work on account of these strikes; and as he was not very strong, financially,
find themselves taxed to fill their orders. Both partners have been brought he must now be in a bad way."
up in the business, and every detail of it is under their personal supervision.
Mr. Hale.—"Yes, that is so ; but then " (significantly), "Diehlmann has
All parts of their pianos are made in this establishment excepting the casting friends who will see him through. His stut is not likely to fail for lack of
of the plates and the covering of the strings, which want of space compels funds to carry it on. If the trade union has any money, and the law will
them to have made by others. They have a fine engine of 60-horse power reach them, they will have to pay."
to run the various wood-working machines used in the factory, and have
Reporter-.—"By the way, how are things getting on at your factory with
availed themselves of all the modern improvements in machinery for the the new men ? "
manufacture of the various parts of this complex instrument. In addition,
Mr. Hale.—"Very well. I find that good carpenters and cabinet-makers
they have several patented improvements of their own ; notably, their new can, with a little practice, turn out just as good cases as if they had learned
patent agraffe, which is pronounced one of the most valuable improvements the piano-case-making trade. They are a little slower at first, of course,
ever made in that line. Their new patent sounding-board is also another and require more overseeing; but the class of men I now have are at least
valuable invention, by which it is claimed that the evils of the old-fashioned 30 per cent, more intelligent than the men whose places they took. It is a
sounding-board, viz., expansion and contraction from atmospheric changes, great relief to be rid of those heavy beer drinkers. I would not have one of
are entirely done away with.
them again at any price ; and as there is no longer any trouble with the car-
They claim that a piano which has to a great extent lost its tone can be penters and cabinet-makers, I can get as much of that kind as I want, and
restored by the use of their invention.
within a short time they will be able to turn out cases just as fast as regular
This firm have also invented and patented a new rack for upright case-makers."
pianos, wherein the hammer-rail is fitted so snugly that it is said to be effect-
THE OTHEK SIDE.
ually prevented from shrinking or changing its position, thereby overcoming
Our reporter had an interview with Mr. A. Lagrassa, who works in
the difficulty of a dei'angement of the action. In addition to the above Hardman,
Dowling & Peck's factory, this week ; and as Mr. Lagrassa is one
Messrs. Kranich & Bach have just made application for a patent for an upright of the moving
connected with the trade union of workmen engaged in
piano action, combining many new ideas and improvements suggested by piano factories, spirits
his
account
of their ideas and purposes cannot fail to be of
their experience.
interest
to
the
trade
generally.
They claim that only the best materials are used in the construction of
Our reporter found Mr. Lagrassa at work in the extensive factory of
their instruments, and their, rapidly growing reputation justifies this claim. Messrs.
Dowling & Peck, and Mr. Dowling assured our reporter
Among the new styles of pianos lately manufactured by this house may be that Mr Hardman,
was an excellent mechanic, and filled his place with much
mentioned their new Baby Grand, which is meeting with great favor among credit to Lagrassa
himself and to their entire satisfaction.
the trade, and their new Parlor Grand, now in process of construction.
Lagrassa, I understand that there are rumors afloat of a
Messrs. Kranich & Bach state that their business during the past sum- suit Reporter.—Mr.
having been brought by Mr. J. P. Hale against the trade union, claim-
mer has been fully equal to the corresponding period last year, and that they ing damages
to the amount of $50,000. Have you heard anything of it ?
already notice indications of an active fall trade ; they are now making 35
Lagrassa.—Yes
; I heard a rumor to that effect last week, and went down
pianos per week, and their entire force of workmen have been employed on to Vogel Hall, our headquarters,
to see if anything was known about it there,
full time.
our committee knew nothing about it, and no papers have been served.
Messrs. Kranich & Bach have not only built up an excellent trade in but
seems to be a device of a paper which has been bought up by Mr. Hale,
their instruments in the United States, but are extending their sales to for- It
and is run entirely in his interests. I don't believe any suit can be brought
eign countries, especially England and Brazil, and report trade with the lat- against the trade union by a manufacturer under the present statute, although
ter country to be entirely satisfactory in regard to prompt payments.
we came very near bringing a suit for conspiracy against the piano makers
Messrs. Kranich & Bach have a large list of agents for the sale of their during the last lock-out. If they had not yielded when they did we would
pianos throughout the country, and those agents whom we have conversed have had a suit in progress against them within three days.
with speak in the most enthusiastic terms of the merits of the instruments.
Reporter.—What does your organization expect to accomplish by its
action against Mr. Hale ?
J. M. PELTON.
Lagrassa.—We have no animosity against any manufacturer. What we
Mr. J. M. Pelton, whose advertisement appears in another column of are fighting against is the manufacture of a class of pianos which does not
the present edition of our paper, is one of the most widely known members require skilled labor, but only a foreman who understands the business, and
of the piano and organ trade. He commenced business nearly a quarter of a a lot of boys and men drawn from other trades, who can only get low wages
century ago at No. 841 Broadway, N. Y., and in June, 1866, became a and cannot find employment with reputable makers ; the result being that,
partner in the house of Peloubet, Pelton k Co., at the solicitation of Mr. in order to meet competition other men will make poor, cheap pianos, and the
same class of men as those employed by Mr. Hale will be employed by others.
Jarvis Peloubet.
Mr. Pelton states that when he became a partner in the house of Pelou- Wages will be lowered from excessive competition, and the public and the
bet, Pelton & Co., they were selling about 60,000 instruments per annum, workmen will both suffer.
and that owing largely to his ability as salesman the sales were rapidly
Reporter.—Mr. Hale says that you are the ringleader of a conspiracy
against him.
increased, until they reached about 400,000 per year.
At the close of 1879 Mr. Pelton sold his interest in the firm of Peloubet,
Lagrassa.—Two years ago Hale offered me high wages to superintend
Pelton & Co., and about Jan. 1, 1880, removed to his present location. We his factory, but I would not work for him. Why, to give you an idea of the
learn from Mr. Pelton that his business, since he has been by himself, has kind of work he turns out and the men he employs, I can tell you that he is
come fully up to hisi expectations, and he already notes indications of a pros- using common hemlock lumber in his cases, and one of his men came to me
perous and active fall trade. Mr. Pelton is selling instruments under his the other day and wished to join the union. I said, "Who are you work-
own name, and the past history of his connection with the trade, both as ing for?" " J. P. Hale," he replied. "How long have you been with
salesman and manufacturer, should be a sufficient guarantee to purchasers him ?" " Seven weeks." " Did you work for any other piano-maker before
that the instruments bearing his name will be of the best quality, and all working for Hale ?" "No." "Well," said I, "We don't want you; you
can go to h—11." Why, Hale hasn't got honesty and pluck enough to put
that he represents them.
his own name on the pianos he makes ; if he did, he couldn't do any busi-
ness, for his reputation is too well known. He called them the " Chicker-
KIND WORDS.
in," " Steinmay," and other weak imitations of the names of good makers.
AMONG our exchanges the Music TKADE JOURNAL attracts especial The firm I am working for now are not afraid to put their own name on their
notice by its neat appearance and well-edited columns. Thomas Brothers' pianos, and if they allow some one else's name to go on them, it is the name
Musical Monthly, Catskill, New York.
of a dealer of reputation and not an imitation name. It would be better for
everybody—workmen, manufacturers and dealers, if Hale was out of the
business,
WEISS.—Mr. J. P. Weiss, of Detroit, was in town last week.