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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
8
Gildemeester & Kroeger Fail.
Behr Bros. & Co.'s Affairs.
THE SITUATION UP TO DATE.
MR. HENRY BEHR TALKS ON HIS APPROACHING
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE OLD FIRM—HE
L
AST Thursday Henry K. S. Williams,
of I. T. Williams & Son, lumber mer-
chants, was appointed temporary Receiver
of Gildemeester & Kroeger, under bonds
fixed at $50,000.
It has been well known in the trade for
some time that Gildemeester & Kroeger
were making a hard fight, to stand up under
pressing financial difficulties. Mr. Gilde-
meester and his associates have made a gal-
lant fight, but their troubles have been ac-
centuated since the failure of A. D. Coe,
of Cleveland, by whom they were heavy
losers.
It seems to us, however, that we must go
still farther back to find the real cause of
this collapse. The firm of Kroeger & Sons
at the time of Mr. Gildemeester's admis-
sion, and the formation of the Gildemeester
& Kroeger corporation, was practically in-
solvent. Mr. Gildemeester at that time as-
sumed heavy financial responsibilities, and
shortly after came the panic of '93.
P. J. Gildemeester has been an indefati-
gable worker, and has taken great pride in
the pianos which bore his name. Had the
general conditions of the trade not been so
depressing, he would have won, notwith-
standing the heavy weight which he as-
sumed at the formation of the corporation.
Mr. Williams was appointed by Judge
Pryorat. the expressed wish of all the stock-
holders and two-thirds of the creditors. A
semi-official statement of the affairs of the
company is as follows:
The company is unable to meet maturing
obligations, bills are overdue and wages of
workmen unpaid. The liabilities are $100,-
938; also contingent liabilities, $45,745, for
indorsements.
The assets are nominally
$106,158, the principal items being stock
and materials, $71,353; pianos on in-
stallment and lease, $10,254; open book
accounts, $7,951; tools, patterns, fixtures,
machinery, etc., $11,116.
Leases and
pianos to the amount of $13,547 are hypo-
thecated. The principal creditors are Mrs.
Katie Sidwell, Shohola, Pa., $44,483;
Charles Douglass, $f 1,908; Comstock,
Cheney & Co., T. Shriver & Co., William
Tonk & Bro., I. T. Williams & Son
Alfred Dolge & Son, Chas. Reinwarth,
Clarence Brcoks & Co., Richard Ranft,
Henry Haas & Son and Bernard W. Smith.
. It is said that there are several hundred
pianos, some finished and the remainder in
stages of construction now in the factory.
Of course, it is difficult at this time to
predict just how the matters will be, as the
Receiver only took possession Thursday
afternoon.
Miss Katherine Ahrens is the only woman
music publisher in the country. She began
her career as a stenographer and secretary,
and her business training, combined with
great musical talent, enabled her to realize
her ambition, which was to become a
music publisher. She is the head of the
United States Music Publishing House.
WILL MANUFACTURE A CHEAP GRADE
OF PIANO.
I
N an interview with a REVIEW represen-
tative on Wednesday last relative to
the approaching withdrawal of Mr. Henry
Behr from the Behr Bros. & Co. corpora-
tion, and his determination to commence
manufacturing a cheaper grade of instru-
ment on his own account, Mr. Behr stated
in substance as follows:
"The statement in a Western contempo-
rary that Behr Bros. & Co. are about to dis-
solve, is both incorrect and misleading.
There is no dissolution whatever, the firm
is a corporate body and remains intact. I
merely transfer my stock, my interest in
the corporation ceases, and, as has already
been announced, I shall commence the
manufacture of a cheap grade of piano in
the early fall.
"The facts of the case, in a nutshell,"
continued Mr. Behr, "are simply these. I
have been connected with the piano industry
for twenty-two years; in my opinion, the
general trend of the piano business points
to an increased call for a cheaper grade of
instrument; I have given the matter the
most thorough investigation, and the ut-
most deliberation, and as I am anxious to
make a good opening for my son William
J., I have determined to manufacture on
my own account.
"When I say a cheap piano," continued
Mr. Behr, " I mean a 'good, cheap' piano,
and, however contradictory the statement
may sound, I mean precisely what I say in
the matter.
" I t is hardly likely that with my life-long
connection with a high grade instrument,
I should devote my energies to the manu-
facturing of any piano which should not
prove a credit to myself as maker, and at
the same time a sure winner from a com-
mercial standpoint. The i n s t r u m e n t
which I shall place on the market will not
be glued together in the manner of the
average cheap piano. You cannot empha-
size this point too strongly. It will possess
a fine scale, the action will be first-class,
and a special feature will be its absolute re-
liability in the matter of standing in tune.
At the same time, the instrument will be
sold at a medium price.
"You can also state," continued Mr.
Behr, "that my interests will in no way
whatever clash with the interests of Behr
Bros. & Co. There is, and I trust always
will be, the very best of good-will between
us; the difference of opinion is merely a
question of policy; the majority of the
stockholders did not favor the production
of a cheap grade of piano in connection
with the interests of Behr Bros. & Co.,
with the result that you are now recording.
"Behr ros. & Co. will continue the
manufacture of a high grade instrument;
I shall manufacture a cheap instrument.
Instead of our interests being- antagonistic,
we propose to help each other along rather
than otherwise.
'' I shall be ably assisted in my new under-
taking by my son, aged 25 years, who has
had excellent banking experience, and is
now carefully passing through the various
departments of piano construction in the
factory.
" I have no fear of the outcome of my
undertaking," said Mr. Behr. " I have
studied the question from every point of
the compass. I couldn't make a poor piano
if I tried, and I expect to do business from
the start.
" I cannot at present tell you the name of
the instrument I shall manufacture, as you
know the law would not protect me until
the first instrument has been placed on the
market.
Piano construction, the best
channels for trade, and the business stand-
point, taken from a broad basis, has been
the study of my life, and I am sure that
the result of my labors, so far as the new
instrument is concerned, will be a surprise
to the trade.
"The factory will be located in Newark,
N. J., adjacent to my home, Montclair. I
expect to continue with the present firm
until September, and shall get into my new
quarters in October or November.
MR. CHARLES L. B U R C H A R D ' S STATEMENT.
Mr. Burchard, of Behr Bros. & Co.,
stated in a brief interview: "There is one
point that we wish emphasized in connec-
tion with the retirement of Mr. Henry
Behr, that is, that there are no side issues
in connection with the transaction—noth-
ing under cover. Behr Bros. & Co. will
still continue to manufacture a high grade
instrument, and a high grade only; the
very warmest of feeling exists between
Behr Bros. & Co. and Mr. Henry Behr,
but we will have no connection whatever,
either directly or indirectly, in the manu-
facture of a cheap grade of instrument.
G. Clay Cox at Rochester.
M
R. GEO. CLAY COX will at once as-
sume the management of the music
business conducted under the name of J.
W. Martin & Bro., Rochester, N. Y. Mr.
Martin, the founder, died last year, and
the business will be continued by his widow
without change of firm name. Mrs. Martin
has certainly made a wise move in securing
a manager of Mr. Cox's capabilities. He
has won a reputation of being one of the
leading salesmen of this country, and we
have no doubt that under his able manage-
ment the Martin business in Rochester will
assume satisfactory proportions.
The Martin Co. handle the Steinway as
their leader, hence Mr. Cox will be entire-
ly in his element in his new position, as all
his life he has been associated with high
class instruments, hence the Steinway at-
mosphere is particularly agreeable to him.
IN consequence of several unsuccessful
ventures, Abbey, Schoeffel & Grau, musi-
cal and theatrical managers, have assigned.
Liabilities about $300,000; assets, $200,-