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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
N
O dearth of news this week. No
fillers, nothing but great solid chunks
of news—fires—failures—sales.
DECKER BROS.' PROPOSED SALE-
T
O be brief and directly to the point, it
is announced that the business of
Decker Bros., New York, lock, stock and
barrel, is for sale.
It is said that the January inventory
disclosed the fact that the apparent valua-
tion of the assets of the firm closely
approximated $200,000.
It is said further that the business can be
purchased, inclusive of the good will, for
about that amount.
In considering that term, good will, an
interesting question arises. Suppose a
stock company should be formed to purchase
the business of Decker Bros., how much
would that good will be worth?
Unquestionably in some instances the
good will or trade-mark of a firm is of great
value, but in the piano trade its value is
augmented considerably if one of the
founders of the business—one bearing the
name—is directly associated in its manage-
ment.
Suppose a syndicate should be formed, as
we have stated, to purchase the Decker
business, Mr. Win. F. Decker retiring,
would not the same conditions prevail
against the name as in the case of the Weber
Piano Co. ?
Would not every salesman in the country
—and their name is legion — whenever
brought into competition with the Decker
piano, use the same argument as in the
Weber case, namely—a company of specu-
lators, cheapened grade — a commercial
piano; and all that?
It occurs to us that Mr. Wm. F. Decker
lias displayed the possession of rare judg-
ment in not placing a sentimental value
upon the name or trade-mark of Decker
Bros.
Unquestionably, the name possesses a
value—a considerable value—not as much,
however, as some years ago, but the ques-
tion which would naturally interest the
purchaser, would be of • what especial value
would it be to him, and just how much
would it pay him in a business way?
It is a question of cold dollars and cents
with the corporations of today, and we
think that every business man will say that
the honored name of Decker Bros, would
be largely augmented by the association
with it of Wm. F. Decker.
With him removed, the value becomes
purely speculative; its artistic value having
been largely decreased with the severance
of his connection with the business.
We say unhesitatingly, as our belief that
the artistic value of the Decker Bros, name
would decrease under the management of
a new corporation composed exclusively of
outsiders, because by one move they would
have placed the piano on a speculative basis,
and have placed a strong weapon in the
hands of their competitors.
Probably Mr. Wm. F. Decker realized
this when he placed the real valuation upon
the assets of the firm.
This move to effect a sale, it is stated,
is brought about by the desire of Wm. F.
Decker to retire from the piano business,
and also advised after a consultation with
the other heirs of the late John Jacob
Decker.
We hardly consider it the proper time
while discussing the Decker Bros, proposed
sale, to enter into the argument as to the
manner in which such a sale will affect th e
interest of some of the largest dealers—
notably, D. H. Baldwin & Co., Samuel
Hamilton, Estey & Camp, and many others,
who have been loyal to the Decker Bros,
interests for many years, and have expended
vast sums of money in advertising the
Decker name in their respective localities.
This can be dealt with at length shov.ll
the occasion arise.
TEINWAY & SONS can now claim
the especial privilege of being piano
manufacturers to almost every crowned
head under the sun. The few who have
overlooked the excellence of the Steinway
wares are rapidly "getting into line," and
are putting themselves on record as admit-
ting the superiority of American manufac-
tures—at least in piano making. This
week Steinway & Sons received a cablegram
informing them that His Apostolic Majesty,
Francis Joseph, has most graciously ap-
pointed them Piano Manufacturers to the
Imperial Court of Austria and the Royal
Court of. Hungary. His Majesty has also
purchased a Steinway concert grand for the
Imperial Palace at Vienna.
S
"Every American citizen is a king in his
own right," so said some philosopher—or
politician—and as such we felicitate our
royal brother on his selection as well as his
ability to "know a good thing when he
sees it."
A MAIL order concern in Chicago, dealing
in musical instruments—the National
Library Association—have failed. Attach-
ments to the amount of $5,000 have been
issued.
FIRE MARSHAL THOMPSON, of Philadel-
phia, is of the opinion that the fire which
destroyed the Haseltine Building originated
among a lot of pitfno boxes stored in the
cellar.
E
VERY cloud has a silver lining," and
that which loomed up on the horizon
of the music trade early this week, has
shown a silver lining—rather a gold bond
lining — which establishes the nation's
credit, insures business prosperity, and
transforms the pessimist of a week ago into
an optimist with a faith in good times that,
as the scriptures put it, "removes moun-
tains. "
While in the warerooms of Sohmer & Co.
this week, I met Mr. P. J. Cunningham,
the well-known piano manufacturer, of
Philadelphia. I asked Mr. Cunningham if
he had paid to Colonel Gray the $10,000
w'lich he stated in an advertisement would
be paid to the man who produced a better
piano than the Cunningham. He replied,
"No, but I have had quite an amusing
correspondence with the Colonel regarding
it."
* *
*
Owing to Malcolm Love's desire to give
more attention to the road business of the
Waterloo Organ Co., Cha?, G, Reed, son of
the president, has taken his place as secre-
tary of the corporation, and will devote
himself to the office work, while Mr. Reed
will no doubt build up a big trade through his
personal popularity and the excellence of
the Malcolm Love pianos and Waterloo
organs. The move is a good one, and will
undoubtedly be of great service to the
company.
* * *
The Smith & Nixon reorganization deal is
almost consummated. The personnel of the
new corporation will doubtless consist of
the present proprietors, in addition to Dr.
J. M. Crawford, a brother of H. W. Craw-
ford, and formerly United States Minister
to Russia; Hon. James M. Glenn, and Mr.
Charles A. Beecher, a prominent Cincinnati
capitalist.
*
WM. STEINWAY contributes a timely
article upon the Heine Fountain contro-
versy to the current issue of the Forum.
It is a dignified and convincing paper, and
he makes a strong argument in favor of the
erection of this work of art in the metrop-
olis.
* * *
THE Wilcox & White Organ Co. held
their annual meeting for the election of
officers last week with the following result:
James H. White, president and treasurer;
F. E. Bemis, secretary; Howard White,
superintendent. A satisfactory condition
of business was reported.