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THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
350
June 5th, 1882.
Three styles of square pianos and two styles of
Mr. Carpenter's catalogue also contains an
article on the subject of fraudulent stops, enti- uprights are described, these being the five styles
tled "The Stop Fraud in Reed Organs."
now manufactured by the New England Piano
An important item of trade news will be found It is interesting and instructive reading. The Company. Business is reported by the firm to be
in the subjoined interview, which our representa- article opens with the following passages, which are in excellent condition, more orders coming in
than the resources of manufacture can fill.
tive had with Mr. George W. Carter, of the Einer- undoubtedly true:
son Piano Company.
"These stops are getting to be wonderful things,
"We have left orders with our attorney to enter and need more than a passing notice, as many peo-
proceedings against George Steck & Co., of New ple think that a cabinet organ is of no account un-
LORING So BLAKE ORGAN CO.,
York, for violation of the patent laws," said Mr. less it contains fifteen or twenty stops. Indeed, it
appears to me that some would prefer one without
Carter.
WORCESTER, MASS.
"Is that an outgrowth of the old suit?" was either reeds or keys, to one with less than twenty or Mr. J. B. Woodford haB been out West since
thirty
stops.'
asked.
11, and was expected back about June 1.
"They began a suit against us, as you know, for There is a manufacturer in New Jersey, well- May George
M. Woodford stated that the firm was
infringement on their patent, or one of their known for his strict adherence to falsehood, who Mr.
the impression about three weeks ago that
patents. This suit was concluded last March, calls organs with less than twenty-seven stops under
orders would "let up" somewhat. But since then
with a verdict in our favor. Now our suit against "built on the old plan."
they
have been literally pouring in, and have kept
George Steck & Co. is not a counter-suit, but a His new plan means stops and not reeds, and the factory
as busy as usual. "It seems," said
suit for violating the patent laws."
Mr. Carpenter's article asks: "What do these Mr. Woodford, "that we are in for it until about
"In what does this violation consist?"
twenty-seven fancy stops in this instrument, con- the middle of July."
"They brand or stamp their pianos as 'patented,' taining only two sets of reeds, represent? They The new wing of the factory is ready for oc-
while the patent which it pretends to cover does represent fraud of the darkest dye!"
not exist. There is no such patent in existence This is emphatically true. These twenty-seven cupancy.
as they indicate with that brand or stamp, and stops are a matter of false pretense, and should
they are thus openly violating the United States be used as evidence of such against any one avail-
C. C. BRIGGS & CO.,
patent laws. They refer to a patent issued long ing himself of them for the purpose of carrying
ago, which covers a flat scale. The patent was on business.
BOSTON, MASS.
issued to S. P. Brooks, of Boston, in 1854. They
Mr.
Carpenter
states
that
he
has
never
before
"As
an
indication
of how our business has
do not utilize any such patent, and it is our inten- been as busy as he is at present.
grown," said Mr. Briggs, Jr., the other day,
tion in bringing this suit that this kind of busi-
"let me tell you that we have been doing four
ness shall stop. If a firm has a patent on any
times as much during the last four weeks as dur-
mechanism, or part of a piano, let it be correct, so
ing the same period last year."
C. N. STIMPSON,
there can be no dispute, and if an improvement is
"This must be gratifying to you," said our rep-
made, let the patent be re-issued."
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
resentative.
"The firm should do so for their own pro- One of the best known men in the trade is Mr. "We are very much pleased, and attribute this
tection."
Stimpson, whose main house is in Springfield, condition to the reliable manner in which we con-
"But they do not, and what is more, some of with branches in Holyoke and Northampton, struct
the Briggs piano. We have many letters
them stamp a piano 'patented,' when that patent Mass. He is also the proprietor of the piano-leg, here that
convince you that the piano is be-
does not exist in the piano so stamped. The mat- lyre and upright truss factory at Westfield, Mass., coming a will
favorite among the dealers. You
ter has never before been ventilated, but it is our which supplies a large number of piano firms with see, a piano great
made of first class material, with care,
intention to go to the bottom now in these patent those articles.
attention, and the knowledge how to construct a
matters."
His factory in Westfield has been running more fine instrument, but which labors under the diffi-
"Do you know anything about the fine that can than twenty-two years, trade having spread from a culty of not being known, does not bring the
be imposed for such a violation as you indicate?" circumscribed limit to a business which is exten- figures that pianos of reputation bring, although
"The fine is, I think, $100 for every piano so sive in its dimensions.
it may be equally as good as they are. We are
stamped. The laws are pretty severe in such in- Business at the factory has been very brisk now feeling the effects of making the Briggs piano
stances. I spoke to Mr. Steck once, in reference lately. At Mr. Stimpson's piano warerooms the an excellent instrument, as it is gaining a splendid
to the danger connected with this kind of busi- following pianos are on sale: Steinway, Hazelton, reputation, and gaining it rapidly. No complaints
ness, and now I want it understood, that my Henry F. Miller, Knabe, Woodward & Brown, of any kind evor reach us; nothing but compli-
motive in bringing this suit is to bring the ques- Behning, Hardman, and cheaper makes. Also the ments and orders."
tion to a square issue. I want it to be officially Smith American organs and the Geo. Woods &
decided if such practices can be continued in the Co.'s organs. Mr. Stimpson is a most energetic The firm is very busy at present. Mr. C. E.
Woodman, who attends to the agencies, has been
piano trade."
business man.
in Boston for a few weeks.
"Have the papers been served?"
"I do not know; our attorney has charge of the
matter."
WILCOX & WHITE ORGAN CO.,
"How is trade with you?"
B. SHONINGER ORGAN CO.,
"If our factory was larger,
we
could
do
more
NEW HAVEN, CONN.
MERIDEN, CONN.
1
business; at present we are doing all that its
"As busy as ever," said Mr. Shoninger, "and
The Wilcox & White Organ Company is very
capacity admits of. However, ground is broken
for the construction of a large building that will prosperous. Mr. Hemingway showed us his order making and shipping as many instruments as ever.
connect our factory on Harrison avenue with our book, which indicates that five hundred organs, Kimball of Chicago want* even more instruments
other one on Randolph street. The new building:, which the firm is trying its utmost to get out than he agreed to take for the year."
Mr. Shoninger showed us two dispatches which
which is to be four stories high and 170 feet long, and send to the agents, are to be shipped.
Messrs. F. A. North & Co., of Philadelphia, who called for seventy-five organs of a certain style
will be ready for occupancy about September.
Then we can do more to please our agents; at pres- control that territory and the adjacent section, per week in addition to those regularly shipped
ent they are all dissatisfied, because we cannot ordered one hundred and twenty-five organs in to Kimball. He has been doing business with
fill their orders. We are trying our utmost to one month. Similar large orders come in from Shoninger steadily* for the past seventeen years,
and never sold as many in any one year as he will
send each his proportion of goods; but when our other active agencies.
capacity ia increased, the difficulty we are now A new case is about to be put on the market sell this year. The Shoninger Company is one of
laboring under will, I hope, be removed."
ealled the Grand Upright Piano Case. The organ the busiest organ concerns in the country.
will be either five or six octaves, and will be
fashioned in ebony finished cherry, paneled and
carved in new and handsome designs, and will re-
E. P. CARPENTER,
GEO. M. GUILD,
semble the upright piano.
WORCESTER, MASS.
BOSTON, MASS.
t
It will have from nine to thirteen stops, accord-
One of the most valuable catalogues ever pub- ing to style. Judging from its appearance, it will An important notice in our advertising columns
lished by any mamifacturing establishment in this find rapid sale.
by Mr. Guild in this issue refers to changes in
country is the one just issued by E. P. Carpenter, Mr. James H. White has been ill for several construction of certain styles of pianos manufac-
of Worcester, Mass., manufacturer of organs and weeks, but is at his desk again by this time, we tured by the firm.
hope.
organ actions.
The Little Beauty Uprights, on account of in-
In addition to the excellent taste displayed in
creased size and scale, will be known as the Par-
its typography and general appearance, the cata-
lor Favorite Uprights.
logue contains many really valuable points of in- THE NEW ENGLAND PIANO COMPANY, THOMAS The advertisement also calls attention to the
formation which should be carefully read and re-
F. SCANLAN, PROPRIETOR,
improvements and changes.
membered.
Mr. Guild reports that trade is excellent, the
BOSTON, MASS.
Mr. Carpenter uses an expression which is very
only trouble with the firm being their inability
apropos, and one which will be appreciated by the Business with this new house has increased so to make pianos ready for the market fast enough.
legitimate trade as specially applicable to certain rapidly that Mr. Scanlan has been obliged to issue
"We are now getting out sixteen square and
phenomena in the organ trade of to-day.
a new, large, illustrated catalogue for the use of eight uprights from our case factory," remarked
He says: "In these days of unblushing misrep- his agents and the dealers. It is compact and at Mr. Guild. "Barring the weather," he continued,
resentation, when so many perplexing varieties of the same time comprehensive; not overburdened "the retail trade all over the country remains good.
instruments are palmed off on the indulgent pub- with matter, and yet each and every detail pertain- Appearances indicate a steady trade for coming
lic as first-class organs," etc.
ing to the question involved fully covered; in months, although, of course, fluctuations will
This is well known to be the case, and a com- short, it is characteristic of Mr. Scanlan's thor- take place, but the general condition of the trade
will be healthy. A remarkable feature in our
bined effort should be made, once and for all, to ough and positive method of doing business.
give full publicity to the methods of the unscru- He strikes a keynote of business success by business is that among our present purchasers are
pulous pretenders who take advantage of an in- stating in his catalogue that "It is only the people who bought pianos from us twenty years
dulgent public, in order to protect the innocent short-sighted business man who, embarking in an ago, who are now refurnishing, and in buying new
and prevent the organ trade from suffering the enterprise which he may desire to be permanent, instruments come to us again."
stigma which is sure to follow a general distribu- ventures to make his money at the sacrifice of the This is the best kind of evidence in favor of a
tion of poor wares.
quality of his manufactures.''
manufactory.
EMERSON PIANO COMPANY,
BOSTON, MASS.