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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
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SCANLAN'S ASSIGNMENT,
assignment of Thomas F. Scanlan, proprietor of
the New England Piano Company, Boston, Mass., knowl-
edge of which was made public on the 13th inst. by the
issuance of the following circular, fell like a bombshell
among the ranks of the music trade. Subjoined is the
circular:
40 WATER ST., BOSTON, April 13, 1888.
To the Creditors of Thomas F. Scanlan:
Please take notice that Thomas F. Scanlan has this
day make an assignment to the undersigned of all his
property, without any preferences except such as are
provided by the insolvent laws of the State of Massa-
chusetts, and I have accepted said trust.
In order that there may be no interruption to the run-
ning of the factory and business, will you please sign
and return to me the inclosed assent.
A meeting of creditors of said debtor will be held as
soon as I can sufficiently acquaint myself with his affairs
to make a full statement, of which due notice will be
given.
Very respectfully yours,
GODFREY MORSE.
We wish, in the kindest of feelings, to say a few words
concerning this unlooked for catastrophe. It is natural,
in seeking accurate information upon any subject, to ap-
ply at the fountain head. In this instance, however, the
fountain head was barred from us. Where, then, are we
to seek the explanations which the trade very properly
require us to lay before them?
One of the proprietors of the Music TRADE REVIEW
happened to be in Boston immediately after the date of
the assignment. He called several times at the New
England Company's factory, but Mr. Snanlan failed to
appear. As a last resort, before being obliged to leave
for New York, we addressed a note to Mr. Scanlan re r
questing him to furnish us with full particulars of the
assignment, so that we might publish authentic informa-
tion regarding it. Mr. Scanlan has not thought well to
pay the slightest attention to our courteous communica-
tion. He has not even been polite enough to acknowl-
edge it. We must, therefore, form our own opinions as
to the reasons for the failure. If our conclusions prove
correct, well and good. If not, the public will cast the
responsibility upon Mr. Scanlan, with whom it justly
lies.
Why was it, Mr. Scanlan, that no intimation of your ac-
tion appeared in any one of the Boston daily papers un-
til the evening of Wednesday, the 17th inst., whereas the
notice of assignment was issued on Saturday, the 13th?
Can it be that the enlightened Hub is so far behind in
the matter of newspaper enterprise as all this? Or have
you been deliberately concealing from the public the
true condition of affairs? Or did you muzzle the press?
We have seen the treasurer of the New York house,
who assures us that he has no information regarding
the calamity. Can it be that Mr. Scanlan has neglected
to inform so important an official of a house so closely
allied to the Boston manufacturing concern? Would not
the trade have looked with greater respect upon Mr.
Scanlan if he had performed his duty and made a clear,
full, and frank statement for publication?
As to causes and effects. It is alleged that the
immediate cause of the assignment was the failure of
Frees & Son, of Dallas, Tex., whose liabilities are es-
timated at $400,000—assets unknown—and who were
unable to take up such of their paper as was in Mr.
Scanlan's hands. It is further alleged that Mr. Scan-
lan's liabilities amount to about $200,000, that his assets
are placed at $500,000, and that in a few days the affairs
of the New England Piano Co. will be so far in order
as to permit of the continuance of the business. If the
above figures are correct, there is no doubt that Mr.
Scanlan's creditors will receive a hundred cents on the
dollar and that the business will be continued. But if
this statement really is accurate, what reason existed
for the mysterious reticence which figures so promin-
ently in this matter ?
We may as well look these facts squarely in the face.
This failure will unquestionably have a very serious
effect upon the trade. Unless Mr. Scanlan's affairs are
speedily and satisfactorily settled, and his creditors
throughout the country can meet their obligations to
him as they become due, the extent of the resulting
disaster cannot be foretold. Very few of these dealers
can settle their debts without outside aid. Therefore
either many of them must go to the wall, pr the other
manufacturers who are supplying them with goods
must come to their assistance, or, in plain English, carry
them.
Moreover, the fact that Mr. Scanlan was so highly
rated by all the commercial agencies will, in the face of
events, cause the banks to be very chary about nego-
tiating piano paper.
Again, hundreds of New England pianos will be
thrown upon the market and sold at a sacrifice, to the
certain and serious detriment of other manufacturers.
We cannot, of course, speculate as to the effect of the
assignment upon the New York house, which is a separ-
ate concern, incorporated under the laws of New York
State, but in which Mr. Scanlan undoubtedly holds a
large amount of stock.
Mr. Scanlan undertook to do more than one man can
accomplish. He has discovered his mistake. The dis-
aster cannot but be a bitter draught for his pride to
swallow, for no prouder man existed in the music trade.
He has learned his lesson at a terrible cost. May he
profit by it. May he recollect, in future, that no man is
ever so well intrenched as to be absolutely invulnerable
to the shafts of misfortune.
We hope that Mr. Scanlan will enable us to publish,
in our next issue, a full explanation of this most regret-
table event. We reiterate that such an explanation is
due, in common justice, to the trade.
*
* *
EDITORIAL BLINDNESS.
A WRITER in the American Musician, who, by reason
of his weak and sickly puns, reminds us of John C.
Freund, confesses that he "cannot see." Assuming that
Freund and this scribbler are one and the same, we con-
gratulate the "magnetic" editor upon having for once
in his life made a perfectly truthful confession.
In our last issue we explained how Mr. Sylvester
Tower, of Cambridgeport, Mass., threw at our represen-
tative a $5 bill, after the manner in which he would hurl
a bone at a whining hound. We reproved Mr. Tower,
who now realizes, in some degree, how utterly out of
harmony with good sense and good breeding his con-
duct was. But the writer in the Musician " cannot see"
why we should protest against the indecency and vul-
garity of Mr, Tower.
It must be Freund. Freund would have accepted
Tower's charitable offering, of course. Not to accept
five dollars, or even a nickel, from Tower or any other
person, and whether as charity or otherwise, would be
altogether at variance with Freund's traditions. No-
body ever suspected Freund of being able to " see" any-
thing undignified, or reprehensible, or mean in accept-
ing alms. Admitting this by his confession, he demon-
strates how incapable he is of " seeing " in what an un-
enviable light he appears to men of dignity and proper
feeling.
Tower himself, when we passed back to him his
wretched greenback, remarked that John C. would not
have refused it.
The oculist capable of removing the scales from the
eyes of John C. has not yet been heard of.
* *
Mr. American Musician longs to bask in the sun-
shine of Mr. Joseph Planner's photograph. Have
mercy on him, Brother Flanner, for verily he needs
light. Or stay, would not Mr. American Musician con-
sider himself more enlightened by the picture of Mr.
Sylvester Tower, with that $5 bill tacked to the corner
thereof ? Lord, how he would bask in the light of that
greenback! What music in his ears would be its
crackle !
*
* *
BLUMENBERG BALKED.
IF one thing in connection with American music
trade journalism is at this moment more noticeable
than another, it is the attitude taken by Mr. Marc A.
Blumenberg of The Musical Courier, in reference to the
practice of stenciling pianos. Mr. Blumenberg is never
tired of denouncing, in the most vehement terms, the
rascality and fraudulent deceit of the slenciler, and the
enormity of the offence of the dealer who exposes sten-
ciled pianos for sale. This writer, in pursuing his news-
paper crusade against stenciling, poses as one actuated
by the loftiest motives of morality. Says he, " a piano
which has the name of the dealer stenciled upon it in
place of the manufacturer's name constitutes in law and
morals a misrepresentation." In language of apparent
sincerity he appeals to piano-makers and dealers to as-
sist him in uprooting the stencil curse. He never
wearies of asserting that honor and honesty forbid the
dealer and the manufacturer to give the remotest recog-
nition to stenciled wares. And he points the finger of
scorn at those music trade journals whose pages con-
tain the advertisements of stencilers.
The stencil question undoubtedly needs ventilation.
We will freely admit the necessity of disconnecting the
music trade from every suspicion of fraud. It cannot
be otherwise than profitable and interesting to discuss
whether stenciling, in its every phase and ramification,
is or is not morally reprehensible and practically injuri-
ous. But it is beyond everything else essential that the
promoters of the inquiry shall be honest, consistent
men. In an agitation for the abolition of burglary we
would hardly constitute an old and hardened burglar
chairman of executive committee. We would not even
let him preside at debates. We would be afraid that he
might be always on the look-out for some chance of
spoiling our virtuous little game. To say the least, we
would deserve the ridicule and contempt of sensible
men. And, reasoning by analogy, we cannot see the
propriety of allowing Marc A. Blumenberg to constitute
himself the leader in this " stencil racket," to use one of
his own elegant terms. His past history forbids us to
place any confidence in him. We fear that he would be
liable to conduct this, or any other agitation, entirely
from the point of view of personal gain. No, Marc, it
won't do. If men ever do cease to put their names on
pianos not made by themselvesit will not be at your
bidding. You cannot be trusted, and we will without
further preface proceed to show why we, and others
think so.