Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
VOL XXIII.
N o . 9.
Published Every Saturday at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, March 21,1896.
In The^West.
RENNPATH SECURES ALMOST $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 WORTH
OF GOODS THROUGH A BOGUS RATING DE-
CAMPED WITH MANY TO MOURN HIS LOSS.
ESTEY & CAMP AND THE CONOVER PIANO
CO. VICTIMIZED—WHAT W. C. CAMP
SAYS
SOMETHING WRONG WHEN
SUCH A STATE OF THINGS IS POS-
SIBLE— ESTEY & CAMP PUR-
CHASE THE FINISHED AND
UNFINISHED STOCK OF
DECKER BROS.' PIANOS.
ABOUT BUSINESS.
T
HE financial transactions of Francis
Rennpath and others, who secured a
unndred thousand dollars' worth of busi-
ness stock from various firms through a
bogus commercial quotation, has been the
talk of the trade during the past week.
Among the firms who have been trying
unsuccessfully to find Mr. Rennpath are
Estey & Camp and a number of others.
The name of Francis Rennpath appears as
an endorser on notes held by these firms.
On the strength of Rennpath's endorse-
ment, and the high rating given him by
commercial agencies, they sold pianos to
the party holding his endorsed note, one
Patrick Larkin, a saloon keeper.
Shortly after Christmas this individual
purchased an instrument in the Estey &
Camp warerooms. He gave a note for
sixty days endorsed by Rennpath, who, he
said, was worth over $50,000. After in-
quiries at the mercantile agency as to
Rennpath's standing, it was reported that
he was worth $93,000. After making in-
quiries of Rennpath personally at his office,
he vouched for the honesty of Larkin.
When Larkin's note fell due Feb. 6th, he
refused to pay it, but offered to renew with
interest. This was refused, and the day
after, Rennpath disappeared. Judgment
was secured by Estey & Camp, but when
the records were searched it was ascertained
that Rennpath held title to a piece of
property in Cook County, valued at $6,000,
with incumbrances amounting to $3,000.
In November last Larkin also purchased
a piano from the Conover Piano Co. on a
ninety-day note endorsed by Rennpath.
When it fell due on Feb. 25th, Larkin sent
a renewal note signed by himself and
Rennpath. This was refused, and a writ
of replevin was secured, and after searching
Larkin's premises the piano was found.
Estey & Camp took the same steps this
week, but when the place was searched
there were no pianos in evidence. It seems
they were removed during the night, and
so far they have not been located.
William Carpenter Camp, of Estey &
Camp, said in an interview this week:
"There is no doubt but an organized gang
of swindlers exists in this city, and it must
be broken up. Either that gang of whole-
sale swindlers must go, or the business
men of this city must close their doors.
When an issue like that comes, there is no
question as to which will be done. In
years past there have been a number of
swindles perpetrated on the music house's
here, but never anything on such a scale as
the present gang has carried on. They
seem to have procured merchandise of
every description, from groceries to pianos.
" I am in favor of instituting criminal
proceedings against every member of the
gang, no matter who they may be, and
prosecute them to the end. The peniten-
tiary is the place for them all, whether
they're rich or poor," added Mr. Camp.
The entire scheme is one of the most gi-
gantic unearthed in this city in years.
Rennpath and his associates combined to
systematically rob right and left and still
keep within the law.
The mercantile agency who vouched fcr
Rennpath is certainly open to some action,
but their defense is that Rennpath gave
them his rating over his own signature.
There is certainly something wrong when
an unscrupulous scoundrel can secure goods
to the value of almost $100,000.
A big deal was consummated this week
through the purchase by Estey & Camp of
the entire stock of finished and unfinished
pianos in Decker Bros.' warerooms and
factory in your city. I cannot vouch for
the amount of money that changed hands,
but it is a large sum. The number of
pianos purchased, it is said, approximate
three hundred.
Retail business in this city shows an up-
ward tendency this week, but it is not easy
work to free the trade from the era of pes-
simism which has prevailed for some time.
A hasty visit to the Kimball, Lyon & Healy,
C. C. O. C , Lyon, Potter & Co. and Steger
warerooms convinces me that business is
on the turn toward improved times. At
$3.00 PER YEAR-
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS
the factories of the leading manufacturers
they all report to be doing a little, if not a
great, trade.
The rumors that a syndicate in this city
is about to purchase the Decker Bros, plant
still continues to exist. Nothing more
definite can be reported.
A Good Trip.
HETHER Geo P. Bent, of Chicago,
or Robt. M. Webb, of New York, is
destined to become the champion hustler of
the music trades, history will probably dis-
close, but at present honors appear to be
with the Easterner. Mr. Webb left New
York on Saturday night last, flew round the
Windy City in a coupe (if flying is per-
mitted in a hack—but everything goes in
Chicago) on Monday and a portion of Tues-
day, left that evening 5.30 for home, and
during that brief time accomplished the
best Chicago trip he ever made. "Reports
are none too promising from the Western
metropolis," ventured THE REVIEW man,
to Mr. Webb. "Well," was the reply, " I
don't know anything about that; I only
know that I did both a rushing and an ex-
cellent business, and was treated royally.
Those Chicago men understand the art of
making you feel at home," continued Mr.
Webb. "E. S. Conway, J. V. Steger, Mr.
Bush, Sr., Adam Schaaf, Mr. Lufkin, the
Kimball, superintendent; I. N. Rice, of the
Schaerler, etc., all fine fellows. Geo. P. Bent,
I'm sorry to say, was sick, but nothing
serious." "And business generally, Mr.
Webb, was it fairly good?" " I think so;
the manufacturers all spoke hopefully of
trade. By the way, keep your eye rn the
Van Matre & Straube piano; they are
making a good instrument. I carefully
examined one of their new styles. Yes,"
continued Mr. Webb, "Chicago is all right.
I had an elegant reception, and nothing
would please me better than to take another
run over next week. I expect in any case,
to go in six weeks' time."
W
Automaton Piano flusic.
HE JEottan Co., of 18 West Twenty-
third street, New York, have now in
stock a complete line ot music for the Au-
tomaton piano, and are prepared to fill
orders for same at a reduced price.
T