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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW,
ments to foreign ports the last week in August. This
looks like business and we hope they will keep it up.
MR. J. A. GILBERT, of Knoxville, Tenn., one of
the most enterprising men in the trade, handles the
Emerson piano and the New England and Chicago
Cottage organs. He has recently issued a couple of
small " folders " giving excellent hints as to the care
and preservation of pianos and organs. The direc-
tions are given in a very taking way.
WE learn from Mr. Wm. E. Adair, of Cohocton,
N. Y., that trade prospects in that part of the coun-
try are looking up, and that the coming fall promises
to be a busy one for dealers thereabouts.
OK the afternoon of September 4, Otto Sutro's
music store, Baltimore, was damaged by fire to the
amount of $1,000, insured.
G. H. NORTHRUP, Huntington, Conn., has invented
a device for holding music. It can be used upon any
rack to hold the music, book or manuscript.
THE fifty-fourth annual exhibition of the American
Institute will open on Wednesday, September 30.
GEO. W. CARTER, with Vose
upon us a few days ago. He says it is nothing but
pleasure to sell the Vose pianos.
A TEXAN music dealer and a plain American were
discussing the usual subject in glasses. They were
naturally inclined to elaborate on the subject of drink-
ing. "Did you ever," asked the plain American,
"did you ever suffer from a raging thirst?" Did I
ever? I have, Sir. Riding from San Antonio to
Pablo on one occasion, I was so raging thirsty that I
drank a whole bottle of furniture polish all to myself."
"You did? And was there no water?" "Water, Sir—
water? What time has a man suffering from a rag-
ing thirst to think of personal cleanliness?"
J. R. PAINTER, dealer in musical instruments, at
1208 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, was damaged by
fire, on the evening of August 25, to the amount of
from $10,000 to $15,000, partially insured.
PARTNERSHIP INTEREST—ASSETS—LIQUIDATION.—
A partnership may become a member of a new part-
nership, and while the interest of the former in the
latter may be a firm asset of the first partnership,
this will not prevent one of its members from suing
for a liquidation and settlement of the general part-
nership on appropriate allegations and by making
his fellow members of both firms parties. So held
by the Supreme Court of Louisiana, in the case of
Simonton vs. McLain et al., decided on the 13th inst.
DEBTOR AND CREDITOR—CERTIFICATE OF INDEBT-
EDNESS.—A creditor who receives from his debtor a
certificate in writing, not negotiable, of the amount
of his debt, and sells the certificate to a third person
for a sum less than its nominal amount, thereby
authorizes the purchaser to receive the amount from
the debtor, and cannot after the debtor has paid it to
the purchaser maintain any action against the debtor,
according to the decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States in the case of Looney vs. The Dis-
trict of Columbia.
INSURANCE POLICY—STIPULATION—FORFEITURE.
—A condition in a fire insurance policy providing
that the failure of the insured to pay a premium note
when it falls due will relievo the insurer from liabil-
ity from any loss occurring during such default, is
not unreasonable or contrary to public policy, and
unless such condition is waived or rescinded by the
insurer, the nonpayment of the note at the stipulated
time involves a forfeiture of policy. So held by the
Supreme Court of Kansas in the case of The Contin-
ental Insurance Company vs. Daly.
SET
OFF—CITY — BANK DEPOSITORS.—Under
a
statute providing that " in all actions at law or other
legal proceedings by any city against any person for
the enforcement, collection or recovery of any debt,
demand, claim or pecuniary liability, such person
may set off a debt, claim or demand due him from
the city," the Supreme Court of Missouri held that a
depositorin an insolvent bank might offset his deposit
against the claim of the bank on tax bills issued by a
city to a contractor in payment for public improve-
ments and assigned to it before the failure. Kansas
City vs. Bidenour.
THE E. P. CARPENTER ORGAN CO.'S EN-
TERPRISE.
THE COMSTOCK, CHENEY & CO. AS
ACTION MANUFACTURERS.
W
W
HEN it became known to the piano trade that
HEN the E. P. Carpenter Organ Co. was estab-
The Comstock, Cheney & Co., of Centre-
lished in Brattleboro, Vt., about two years
ago, there were many persons who were
brook, Conn., the large key manufacturers,
sceptical as to the future success of the concern. had bought out A. P. Kelley's action business, it
There were enemies of Mr. Carpenter who did every- raised quite a commotion. It was a very important
thing in their power to injure the reputation of the move, and every one knew that when such a wealthy
business and Mr. Carpenter himself, and they even concern as this entered the action trade they meant
went so far as to issue disgraceful circulars reflect- business. One of our contemporaries has seen fit to
ing upon the character of the leading member of the attack this firm in their new departure, giving as an
concern. Notwithstanding all this, Mr. Carpenter excuse that there are sufficient action factories now
had his friends, and they were by no means few. As in excellent shape to make all the actions needed,
soon as the concern was established, these friends even should the trade equal the years of 1882 and
and former patrons began to flock around him, and 1883. Although we credit this attack by this paper
while others were employing their time in talking, to a lack of advertising patronage from the honor-
Mr. Carpenter was busy in attending to his own affairs. able house of Comstock, Cheney & Co., rather than
The result can now be seen in a well-established and to the excuse it gives, we will nevertheless take it
prosperous business.
up on its own defense. In the first place Comstock,
The concern started in Brattleboro in modest quar- Cheney & Co. did not start a new business, but
ters, Mr. Carpenter overseeing the manufacturing, and bought out an old established concern with aa excel-
with the able financiers and ample capital at command lent reputation. Whether they paid one or one hun-
proved successful from the start. Their business dred thousand dollars for it is no business of the
from the very first steadily increased, and it was soon trade or a trade paper.
seen that a larger factory would be needed to meet
Even were this firm starting an absolutely new busi-
the demands for the Carpenter organ. With this view ness, haven't they a perfect right to do it. We do
in mind, last winter they commenced the erection not believe in over competition, but this branch of
of a factory on Flat street which has just been com- business is by no means overdone. This paper might
pleted, and into which they have now moved. The new just as well attack a new piano or organ firm when
factory, which is one of the excellently appointed and they start and say that there are enough of them to
presents an atttactive appearance, deserves at least manufacture all the pianos and organs used, which
a short description. The building is six stories high, would be true. We think, take it altogether, that
has a capacity of over three hundred organs per this paper has made a mistake, and the argument
month, and is used exclusively by the Company. On used very weak. It reminds us of a certain boot
the first floor is the mill room or cutting-up room, maker in one of the country towns of Connecticut.
where all the heavy machinery is placed and the His grandfather, father and himself had occupied
rough lumber is cut up and started on its way to be the stand for a great many years. Finally another
made into handsomely-finished organ-cases. On the man put his shingle to the breeze. This old man
second floor are the office—a tidy, cheerful, pleasant- went to him and said that he thought it an outrage
looking apartment—the work room, packing room, to start in the business as he was fully able to make
and setting-up room. The case-making room occu- all the boots and shoes needed in the vicinity and had
pies the third floor, with a large supply room direct- done it for many years. Nevertheless the new man
ly over the office. The fourth floor is devoted to started and it seems they are both making a living.
action work and the inspection room. The tuning
Comstock, Cheney & Co. have retained the same
rooms and finishing department occupy the fifth floor,
workmen formerly employed by A. P. Kelley, thus in-
and the sixth floor is used for storage and finishing.
suring their old patrons the same kind of work that
An elevator at the east end of the building runs from
they formerly had. They have also engaged Mr. W.
the basement, which is used for the storage of oils,
M. Miller, formerly with Frazier & Smith, who will
varnish, veneers, etc., through to the sixth floor.
superintend the hammer covering department, and
A large amount of new special machinery, of the now they make the entire action themselves. The
most approved manufacture, has been placed in the firm use nothing but the best kind of felt and mater-
several departments on the first, second, third and ials throughout in making their actions, and all those
fourth floors, designed to improve the quality of the who try them may rest assured they will be just as
company's work, and to increase the productive capa- represented.
city at the same time. One of the most valuable of
The firm have up to a few days ago been filling
these machines is a new Whitney scraper, bought at a orders from Cambridgeport, Mass., but they have now
cost of $1000, which turns out the wood-work of the removed all their machinery and are ready to supply
cases all ready for the finisher's hands. The motive all demands from their factory in Centrebrook, Corni.
power of the factory is furnished by an eighty horse-
power Harris-Corliss steam engine, and the building
THE GAZETTE.
is piped throughout for steam-heating.
The E. P. Carpenter Organ Co. will now devote
MRS. N. T. COTTLE, New Bedford, Mass., judg-
themselves principally to the manufacture of com-
plete organs. They have broken off the connection ment against, obtained by Lawrence & Son, Boston.
formerly existing with Maine parties, to whom they She had mortgaged her stock to C. P. Cottle for $1000,
furnished actions in exchange for cases, and now the payable in three years.
Carpenter action can only be obtained by purchasing
ROBERT LOMAY, Burlington, Iowa, chattel mort-
a complete organ made by the company.
gage, $404.
They have added new and costly reed board ma-
MYER & WICKHAM, Brooklyn, E. D., piano
chinery, and Mr. Carpenter assures us that he can plates, chattel mortgage, $200.
furnish the trade reed boards below the "Combin-
OLIVER J. LE FAIVRE, Syracuse, N. Y., judg-
ation" prices.
With the great facilities given them in the new ment for $158.
factory, the excellent material used in the construc-
ADOLPH PFAENDLER, Brooklyn, judgment
tion- of their organs, and the ample capital at their against, $176.
disposal, we see no reason why the E. P. Carpenter
B. R. MEREDITH & SONS, Chicago, chattel mort-
Organ Co. should not continue in the same prosper-
gage, $1,853.
ous road they have begun, and we believe they will.
F. E. STEVENS, Oakland, Cal., organ builder, has
been sued for $365.
PATENTS AND INVENTIONS.
Upright piano case, Nos. 324,051 and 324,052. W.
Umland.
Pianos, trade mark, No. 12,502. T. F. Scanlon.
Opera chair, No. 324,561, T. I. Knight.
Pipe organ, No. 324,437, A. Wales.
Organ reed, No. 324,371, M. Gaily.
Pianoforte, No. 324,467, E. Gabler.
Organ stop action, C. F. Sharps, Meriden, Conn.
Piano stool, No. 324,143, H. T. Merrill.
Harmonica, No. 12,492, M. Hohner.
C. H. MARTIN, St. Joseph, Mo., has sold out to
Huyett Bros.
H. D. CHADWICK, Canastota, N. Y., has had judg-
ment rendered for $2,799.
F. F. POWERS, Lewiston, Me., is doing a very large
business with the Ivers & Pond piano and the Lor-
ing & Blake "Palace" organ. Mr. Powers is a great
believer in printer's ink, and to the carrying out of
his belief is due a large part of his business success.