Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
atively demanded in the interests of the
Automatic Affairs.
entire country.
It is a well-known fact that the varying THE "UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE VA-
and uncertain provisions of the assignment
RIOUS COMPANIES—G. H. DAVIS WITH THE
ELECTRIC PIANO CO. THE 7EOLIAN CO.
laws of the different States and the delay
HAVEPATENTSCOVERING A WIDE FIELD.
and expense incident to civil suits do not
THEIR POSITION—EMIL KLABER ALONE
meet the exigencies of business and the
IN THE FIGHT, BUT NOT IN THE
prompt adjustment of relations between the
SLIGHTEST DISCONCERTED.
debtor and creditor classes. That creditors
should be protected against unjust prefer-
JUDGING from certain clouds on the
ences, and an honest but insolvent debtor {J horizon, '96 will not be entirely ex-
who has been unfortunate in business empt from legal wars in the automato-
should have an opportunity for freedom of electric field. There has been a sort of
action and renewed energy; these incon- mutual agreement or understanding—we
testable propositions have expression and hardly believe the word combine is appli-
cable— between the following firms: The
indorsement in the laws of all enlightened
iEolian Co., Wilcox & White, Farrand &
nations.
Votey, the Orchestral and Electric Piano
The Merchants' Exchanges in the prin- Co.
cipal cities have reaffirmed the position
Mr. Geo. Howlett Davis will be associated
with
the newly organized Electric Piano
taken by the National Board of Trade, and
Co.,
and
will soon leave for the West to
in the memorial on this subject it is pointed
make the necessary arrangement for manu-
out that uniformity on the subject of bank-
facturing attachments at the Farrand &
ruptcy is only possible through the power Votey factory, in Detroit. The officers of
conferred on Congress by the Constitution, the company are E. S. Votey, president;
and that there is a pressing demand at the John Hein, secretary. It is the intention
present for the exercise of that power on of this company to perfect the attachments
fair and liberal principles. During our heretofore manufactured by Mr. Davis.
The ^Eolian Co. is the most important
national history this power has been exer-
corporation in the line of mechanical-
cised three times for brief periods, and a attachment manufacturing. They control
sensible, if temporary, relief was expe- hundreds of patents which cover a largely
rienced in the business world as the result diversified field in the manufacture of
automatic instruments, and instruments
of the action taken.
It is believed that a bankruptcy system for cutting the perforated paper used in the
musical attachments.
on wiser principles than any of the preced-
Among the many patents which they
ing can now be established on the lines laid control are those which thoroughly cover
down in the Torrey bankruptcy bill, which automatic musical attachments as well,
we trust will commend itself to the early which have proven successful. The ^Eolian
Co., too, is a corporation which has been
and favorable consideration of Congress.
the most successful in its introduction of
automatic instruments. It is perhaps in
truth the only company which has suc-
NAHUM STETSON and Chas. H. Steinway
will leave for Chicago to-day to attend the ceeded in breaking down the baTrier of
annual meeting of Lyon, Potter & Co., public prejudice toward automatic instru-
which will be held in that city on next ments of any form. It has made the auto-
matic instrument an educator as well as a
Monday.
musical
entertainer in the home circle.
W. P. VAN WICKLE, F. G. Smith's rep-
In
a
conversation
with W. B. Tremaine
resentative in Washington, has favored us
yesterday,
he
said:
with photographic views of the Pennsyl-
"No, I have nothing to say in the matter,
vania avenue front and the E street front
beyond
the fact that we shall thoroughly
of the new Bradbury building in that city,
protect
our interests in ever) 7 way. The
which is about completed. It is an impos-
ing five-story structure, and makes a hand- main facts are already known, and we
propose to show results rather than do too
some showing.
much talking before the results are
THE members of the corporation of Otto reached."
Sutro & Co., Baltimore—which will be
It is understood that immediate action
re-organized, owing to the death of the will be taken in the direction of prosecut-
president, Mr. Sutro, in a week or t w o - ing all infringers of patents controlled by
are Theodore Sutro, of New York; Emil the firms who are included in the "under-
Sutro, Philadelphia; Robert F. Gibson and standing."
Chas. W. Glaser.
It is further understood that the Davis
DIAMOND Hard Oil Polish is a precious patents and law suits will also be assumed
preparation for all careful housekeepers; as above stated. Taken altogether, the
cleans in a marvelous way furniture, outlook is pne which will be full of interest
pianos, organs, etc., and gives them a new later on,.,,, ; ... ,, ... ;
glitter. Manufactured by The Hartford
It seems that Emil Klaber, who is at the
Diamond Polish Co., 118 Asylum street, head of the Automaton Piano Co., is really
Hartford, Conn.
.
•
the only one out of the ''understanding."
Mr. Klaber does not seem seriously con-
cerned over his isolated position. He says:
"No; I do not think I shall invoke the
assistance of the Attorney General on the
ground that it is a 'Trust,' but all joking
aside, the matter is hardly worth serious
consideration. The origin of this move
arose .from the fact that we decided that it
was undesirable for us to continue having
our music cut by the yEolian Co., with
whom we have a contract for such cutting.
It was all right as long as they remained
in the organ business, but when they
started in the piano business we felt that
we ought to protect ourselves against
possible embarrassment by reason of the
JEohan Co. at any time hampering us in our
supply of music. We therefore built
machines, and are now in position to sup-
ply as much as 5,000 feet per day from
one machine. We are also building a
machine for the purpose of cutting thin
paper, and negotiations are pending with
a large organ manufacturing concern for
the purpose of placing an automatic organ
on the market.
"One of the most interesting results of
this controversy is that at a meeting of the
Automaton Piano Co., held Monday last, it
was decided to fix the retail selling price of
our Electric Self-Playing Attachment
complete at $100 fitted. The main reason
for the reduction of the retail selling price
was the fact that we wish now to secure an
output for the large quantity of music that
we are able to produce, and decided that
this was the best way to do it. Business
has been quiet for the last month, the
trade having been genet-ally unsettled by
the many fantastical claims and statements
made by pseudo inventors who were about
bringing the most 'marvellous self-playing
attachments' on the market, but which
have not yet materialized."
There is one thing certain, that Mr.
Klaber has proved in numerous instances
a mighty hard man to down, and he is
continuing business right along at the old
stand, and receiving plenty of orders.
THE pianos made by the Mathushek
Piano Manufactuiing Co., of New Haven,
will in future be handled at retail in
Chicago and Boston by the Mason & Ham-
lin Co.
OTTO WISSNER has secured the services of
Adolf Slomosky, who has been connected
with the warerooms of Hardman, Peck &
Co., as salesman, for the past eight years.
AT the regular annual meeting of N.
Stetson & Co., of Philadelphia, held last
Saturday in Jersey City, N. J., a satisfac-
tory condition of business for the past year
was reported. The following officers were
elected: Win. Steinway, president; F. G.
Smith, vice-president; N. Stetson, treas-
urer, and F. G. Smith, Jr., secretary.
J. N. MERRILL, of the Merrill Piano Co.,
Boston, is closing arrangements for the
establishment of an agency for his pianos
in Brockton, Mass.