Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
12
Automato=Electric Affairs.
LEGAL DIFFICULTIES OF THE PAST YEAR—A
REVIEW
OF
THE
SITUATION—MR.
CLAIMS—HIS CIRCULAR TO THE
A
CURIOUS
"SQUASHES"
DOCUMENT
DAVIS'
TRADE
TALKS
OF
EM1L KLABER'S STATE-
MENT—THE AUTOMATON PIANO CO.
ORGANIZED AND FREE FROM LE-
GAL
COMPLICATIONS
HOW
THE WARNING AFFECTS THE
AUTOMATON
A NEW AT-
TACH MEN T OVER WHICH
- . "
MR. KLABER IS EN-
•
>•»..„„
THUSIASTIC.
AST year the trade atmosphere was
somewhat darkened by legal proceed-
ings taken by firms who claimed infringe-
ments of patents in the automato-electric
field.
Wordy pyrotechnics were indulged in to
considerable length.
Let us briefly review the automato-elec-
tric field: It is hardly necessary to go into
detail regarding the Klaber-Davis contro-
versies. We know that Mr. Davis formed
the Electric Self-Playing Piano Co., and
made many claims and assertions for the
attachment, which he started in to manu-
facture. We, with others, were somewhat
enthusiastic over this Davis invention, so
called, as it seemed to us to be a decided
advance in the matter of automatic attach-
ments.
Mr. Davis' career, however, at 335 West
Thirty-sixth street, seems to have termi-
nated somewhat suddenly, and we are un-
able to get at just what he proposes to do
with his attachment. One thing, however,
remains undisputed, and that is that G.
Howlett Davis, electrical expert, has not
been a howling success as a business man-
ager. We have before us a letter which he
has recently issued to the trade. It is, in
itself, a curious document, and is hardly
worthy of serious business consideration.
In it he denies the statement that his "elec-
tric self playing piano has practically gone
out of existence," alleging that the origin
of such statement lies with his "unscrupu-
lous contemporaries."
"Unscrupulous contemporaries" is good,
but what on earth the purchasing trade has
to do or cares about Mr. Davis' "contem-
poraries" is a matter which he has not made
perfectly clear to the on-looker. He says
he has "decided to suspend extensive ad-
vertising" until he can establish his legal
rights and convince certain members of the
trade that certain suits and interferences
instituted by his contemporaries was "bluff
and without foundation."
Mr. Davis states further that he shall be
pleased to hear from "those who are inter-
ested in the success, right, justice and the
best and cheapest self-playing piano attach-
ment ever introduced."
After this he states that he will shortly
"bob up serenely," and will eventually
"squash all bluff, blustering and unscrupu-
lous contemporaries."
L
It occurs to us the trade would be inter-
ested to a greater degree in Mr. Davis'
ability to produce satisfactory electrical at-
tachments within a reasonable time than to
peruse his evident bid for sympathy. The
firms who desire electrical attachments are
more interested in having their orders filled
with a fair degree of promptitude, than they
care about Mr. Davis' "squashes," a crop
of vegetables which seem to have been sin-
gularly prolific with him.
Now, as to Mr. Klaber's side, and the
present condition of his company.
Emil Klaber, manager of the Automaton
Piano Co., said in an interview this week:
"This company to-day is thoroughly
equipped for business. I have succeeded
in disposing of all of the stock which I con-
sidered desirable to dispose of."
"And, Mr. Klaber," we queried, "how
about the legal complications of the Au-
tomaton Co. regarding infringements?"
"We have to-day several suits for in-
fringement against parties who have
ignored our patent rights, but they are
all gradually learning patent law and
equity and profiting thereby.
There
is but one suit in which we are the
defendants, and that is re 'Hupfeld of
Leipsic,' which suit was only commenced
against us after we had refused to abandon
our suit against Hupfeld and his agents
here."
"It was a sort of counter suit."
"Precisely, and they have written our at-
torneys that they are willing and will dis-
continue their suit against us, provided we
will abandon our claim against them. As
to the correctness of this statement, I will
refer you to my lawyers if you desire ad-
ditional proof or confirmation of my state-
ment."
"It is not necessary. Then we are to
understand that the Automaton Piano Co.,
as it stands to-day, is entirely free from
complications of any kind which affect the
legality of your patents or of your ability
to manufacture?"
"As I have stated above, yes."
"Then in what light do you regard the
statement which has been published by an
'esteemed contemporary' warning dealers
to leave alone all electrical attachments
until the legal atmosphere shall have been
cleared; that by handling any attachment
they thereby laid themselves liable to a
damage suit?"
" I consider that this is intended to apply
to every attachment but our own. How
can it affect the Automaton? Has not the
paper in question consistently endorsed the
advantages of the Automaton attachment,
and also upheld its legal position — and can
that paper consistently go back upon its
record in this respect?"
"You are familiar with music trade paper
history, are you not, and you know that to
be a successful trade journalist one should
be an adept at acrobatics as well, do you
not, Mr. Klaber?"
"Why, yes, I think that such an educa-
tion in some instances is necessary."
"It has been proven so, has it not?"
"Yes, but just come out with me in the
factory; I want to show you our new attach-
ment."
Without going into details regarding the
new attachment, which has, in Mr. Klaber's
estimation, reached a high degree of per-
fection, we may say that it possesses many
features which arc original and which have
already undergone a practical test by com-
petent experts.
That is the Antomato-Electric story as it
exists in the early days of the present year.
MANUFACTURERS READ "THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW," THEY
EIND THAT IT CONTAINS ALL
THE
NEWS
OF THE
TRADE
SERVED UP IN A CONDENSED
FORM.
Peaseful Enthusiasm.
HE Pease Piano Co. are constantly in re-
ceipt of letters from dealers through-
out the country who are warmly enthusias-
tic in their praise for the Pease pianos. A
well-known Western firm writes: " We are
to-day in receipt of several of your new
style L pianos, and, although we have
always cherished a warm feeling for the
Pease, your latest efforts, displayed in the
style L, have more than doubled our en-
thusiasm."
Such letters cause a maufacturer to feel
that his work is appreciated, therefore to
receive such communications is indeed grati-
fying.
T
Wm. F. Hasse.
M. F. HASSE, who makes a specialty
of piano stools, scarfs, music boxes
and other musical instruments, at 115 East
Fourteenth street, has built up a very sat-
isfactory business since he established him-
self in this central locality. His stock is as
select as it is complete, and much of his
success can be ascribed to his efforts to
supply his customers with goods that are
fair in price and reliable in quality. Mr.
Hasse reports a very fair business for '95,
and an excellent holiday trade. The pres-
ent year is bound to witness a decided ac-
centuation in Mr. Hasse's business.
W
Piano Maunfacturing in Hamp-
ton, N. H.
HE manufacture of pianos has been
started in Hampton, N. H., by Moses
W. Brown, a graduate of Boston shops, who
is convinced that pianos can be manufac-
tured in the country at greatly reduced cost
from city prices, where rent and living ex-
penses are much higher than in the country.
Accordingly, he built a small, but well-
equipped factory, and last week turned out
complete the first piano ever made in Hamp-
ton. The local paper speaks very favorably
of this instrument, which, by the way, has
already been disposed of. Mr. Brown has
other instruments in different styles, which
are in process of construction.
_ ._
T