Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1897 Vol. 24 N. 25

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
LYMAN
Editor and Proprietor.
PUBLISHED
EVERY
SATURDAY
• 3 East 14th St., New York
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Canada, $300 per year; Foreign Countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, r per
Insertion.
ertipn. On quarterly or yearly contracts
^ - n special
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'
count n allowe
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
%• made payable to Edward Lyman BilL
Bnttrtd mt ths Nnu Y»rk fits/ Office as Second- Class Mmttm.
NEW YORK, JUNE 19, 1897.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1745. — EIGHTEENTH 5TREET.
THE KEYNOTE.
The first week of each month, The Review
will contain a supplement embodying the liter-
ary and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a trade
paper.
THE TRADE DIRECTORY.
The Trade Directory, which is a feature of
The Review each month, is complete. In it ap-
pears the names and addresses of all firms en-
gaged in the manufacture of musical instruments
and the allied trades. The Review is sent to
the United States Consulates throughout the
world, and is on file in the reading rooms of the
principal hotels in America.
UPHOLD THE TRADE HONOR.
NTIL a week after The Review had
published the announcement of the
refusal of the Secretary of State to grant
incorporation papers to Haines & Co., a
silence was maintained by the trade papers
upon this important subject.
We saw at once the seriousness of this
matter and stated in our first announce-
ment that the position assumed by Mr.
Foster and his confreres clearly called for
an explanation from them in order that
they might free themselves from the odor
of suspicion which surely must attach itself
to them from their connections with a con-
cern which desired an incorporation made
under certain representations which were
glaringly false in that a Haines & Co. ac-
tually existed in New York.
We saw that a tremendous issue was at
stake—one which affected the welfare of
the entire trade.
We are glad to see that our initial posi-
tion has now been warmly seconded by
other trade papers. The matter assumes
such weighty importance that it cannot be
lightly passed over, as a principle which
affects the very trade life itself is at stake.
It occurs to us that there is a way in
U
which to combat successfully operations
of this kind, and that is by organization.
Manufacturers should become fully aroused
to the fact that if men are successful in
trading upon the reputation of others in
so far that they can incorporate concerns
of similar name to those of long time
standing, and send out instruments which
seemingly bear the imprint of the origi-
nal name, then no concern is removed
from the possibility of such incursions.
If such methods obtain, who can tell
how soon some men will take from
a factory a workman bearing a similar
patronymic to that of the founder of the
business and incorporate an institution of
like name?
Suppose that there is capital behind the
move, intelligence and push as well.
vSuppose such were the case. Would the
men, that is the incorporators, push their
business on a legitimate basis, or would
not the incorporation mean solely that
they desired to profit by the artistic and
commercial value of the older name?
Keen business men would understand
that it would be much easier to capture a
large portion of public patronage simply
by a confusion ofnames—by trading on the
reputation of the older and greater—than to
found a new concern and work solely upon
the value of its product.
Now in the first place would such an
incorporation be honest? Would it not
virtually amount to a commercial theft,
the theft of a trade mark—of a name? For
after all, what is a trade mark but prop-
erty. An individual or a concern spend a
life time in creating a value therefor, and
a fortune is spent in acquainting the trade
and the general public with the merits of
that particular article. After it has a well
grounded position in the heart of the public
along comes a coterie of designing individ-
uals who look with hungering eyes upon
the position reached by industry and intelli-
gence. They desire some of it, and in-
stead of working on a basis of fairness
they at once find a man whose patronymic
is similar to that which is placed upon
instruments of world renown.
It seems to us that a correct way to
strike at this evil is to arouse the better
instincts of the trade against such encroach-
ment upon individual and corporative
rights.
If the move is made successfully with
the Haines name why not with others?
Why not Knabe, why not Chickering,
why not Weber?
Steinway had his fight years ago against
the " Steinweg" men and it is proven
clearly that in great cities there is still
continued a nefarious business, conducted!
almost under the shadow of the legitimate
institutions, whereby pianos of similar
names are being sold to a credulous afcd
ignorant public.
Tear out the whole ulcerous growth from
the body of the trade. Remove it and see
that no germs remain.
How?
By arefusalon the part of manufacturers to
sell instruments to dealers who countenance
such unjust commercial methods. If a
dealer should adopt this course towards
one manufacturer would he not pursue a
like attitude towards others?
In other words, the cure lies in the hands
of the manufacturers themselves, and it
would seem to us to be a correct and digni-
fied method on their part to refuse to allow
their wares to be offered for sale by men
who will seek to belittle commercial honor,
and poison the very fount of trade ethics
by their offering goods to the public on the
reputation fairly won by another.
It has been said that manufacturers will
never act together upon any important
subject. Let us see if this imputation is
not false. Surely such a blot should not
be permitted to rest upon the trade
escutcheon. Refuse to have business deal-
ings with men who sell "imitation" piano?.
This matter cannot be permitted to pass
unchallenged.
The honor of the trade is at stake. The
man who to-day deems his position im-
pregnable may to-morrow be the victim
of a trade mark theft.
The patent office affords no remedy.
A patronymic cannot be copyrighted
to give relief.
Trade honor should be upheld.
It must be or the labor of years counts
for naught.
Nordheimer Sells Out.
[Special to The Review.]
Montreal, Can., June 16, 1897.
The well-known firm of A. & S. Nord-
heimer have disposed of their business in
this province, where they have been es-
tablished for thejast thirty" years, to Mr.
C. W. Lindsey, the St. Catherine street
dealer, who will continue the St. James
street establishment, although it is under-
stood that some of the upper rooms now
occupied by the Messrs. Nordheimer will
be turned into offices. The terms of this
important deal have not yet been made
known, yet they are understood to have
been satisfactory to both parties. Mr.
Glendon, who has been manager of the
Nordheimer house for some years past,
will occupy the same position under the
new proprietor. Although the transfer
has already been signed, the deal is not
understood to go into effect before the first
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Haines-Foster Incorporation.
APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
NIED—FOSTER * CO. SHARE IN THE
DEAL NOW KNOWN.
DE-
Columbine Piano Co.
[Special to The Review.]
Knabe & Co. Secure the Contract.
A REPORT WHICH SHOWS THE POPULARITY OF
Denver, Col., June 14, 1897.
THE KNAJiE IN NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN
The Columbine Piano Co. has been in-
INSTITUTIONS.
corporated, with a capital stock of $25,000,
[Special to The Review.]
At the meeting of the committee on
to operate in this city. The incorporators
Albany, June 15, 1897.
buildings
of the Board of Education this
The action of the people ex rel. Haines are Anna M. Buell, Harry A. Triggs city, held last Monday, contracts were
and
William
H.
Montgomery.
vs. John Palmer, as secretary of state, was
awarded to Steinway & Sons for eight
argued in special term yesterday by Sen-
second
hand squares entirely rejuvenated,
Association Dinner.
ator Myer Nussbaum for the applicant and
and to Wm. Knabe & Co. for eight new up-
Marcus T. Hun for the secretary.
The American Piano Manufacturers' Asso- right pianos style 9. Nineteen firms com-
This was an application for a writ of ciation have decided to postpone their peted.
peremptory mandamus to compel the sec- proposed dinner at Manhattan Beach until
In this connection it is not amiss to
retary to issue a certificate of incorpora- August 18. There will be a business meet- quote from the annual report recently
tion to a firm to be known as Haines & Co., ing held at 10 A. M. in the morning, fol- issued by the committee on music, Depart-
of New York. Application had been lowed by a lunch and dinner at night.
ment of Public Instruction, of Brooklyn.
denied on the ground that the company
It shows the standing of the Knabe in the
had been organized for the purpose of
public
institutions in that city as well as
Wilcox & White Affairs.
fraud. There is a firm of piano makers
New York.
in New York now manufacturing pianos
" It appears there are now in the public
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
under the name of "Haines Bros. Incor."
schools of Brooklyn 195 pianos, of which
[Special to The Review.]
A few years ago, while this firm was
126 are instruments of high grade r
Meriden,
Conn., June 15, 1897.
doing business under the name of Haines
namely: One -of Steinway & Sons, and 125
In the probate court, Saturday, ex-
Bros., a son of the proprietors, it is claimed
made by Wm. Knabe & Co. The other
by Mr. Hun, as set forth by an affidavit Mayor E. J. Doolittle was confirmed as 69 are old pianos from sundry manufac-
presented, withdrew a very large sum of trustee of the insolvent estate of the Wil- turers, and are rated as follows: Good, 23;
money, causing the firm to become insol- cox & White Organ Co.
fair, 26; poor, 12; bad, 3; very bad, 5.
Judge Thayer appointed Joseph H.
vent. The present firm was then organized,
"During 1896 eight new Knabe pianos
and has been carrying on the business ever Chase and George W. Hay wood appraisers.
were
provided for; one for each of schools
A statement of the assets and liabilities
since. ThismanHaines, who, it is claimed,
Nos.
9,
24, 35, 77, 94, 101, no, and Eras-
is insolvent, sold the right to his name to was tiled.
mus
Hall
High School.
The assets were put at $244,812.96 and
Foster & Co., piano manufacturers of Ro-
"During
1897 Knabe pianos were fur-
the liabilities at $187 ,730.50—a difference
chester.
nished
for
schools
Nos. 13, 19, 33, 46, 74,
They, it is claimed, are the people who of $57,082.46 in favor of the assets, but 90, 106, and also two for No. 31. Five
desire to be incorporated under the name some of the latter are considered of doubt- other Knabe pianos will be needed this
of Haines & Co. Senator Nussbaum ful value.
year, one each for schools Nos. 72, 89, 98,
objected to the introduction of the affidavit
113, and Erasmus Hall High School."
Goepel Files Answer.
setting forth the above facts but Judge
It is apparent from the foregoing that
Chester admitted it, claiming that it was
the experience which the Board of Educa-
C.[F.
Goepel
&
Co.
have
filed
an
answer
essential as showing why the incorpora-
tion in Brooklyn has had with the high
tion was denied. He denied the appli- in the matter of the preliminary injunction
grade instruments has been eminently
granted
to
the
Everett
Piano
Co.
on
April
cation for the writ of mandamus with
satisfactory.
$10 costs, but granted an alternation writ 24th restraining the Goepel firm from fur-
ther
selling
or
offering
for
sale
the
device
for the purpose of allowing the applicants
known as the Stevens' mandolin attach-
to answer the affidavit.
K. B. & B. Creditors to Meet.
ment.
The meeting of the creditors of the Kel-
The lawyers on both sides are now hard
Karl Fink's Thermometer.
at work procuring evidence for the next ler Bros. & Blight Co. will be held at the
Upon the ample waistcoat of Karl Fink legal battle, the date of which is unknown. office of Paige & Carroll, Bridgeport, Conn.,
June 21, at 10 A. M., for the purpose of
glitters an ornament of unique design and
considering
a proposition looking to the
astonishing make up. A closer inspection
Steck to Far Points.
purchase
of
pianos,
finished and unfinished,
reveals a circular thermometer, which, ac-
When
we
called
at
the
warerooms
of
and
stock
and
material
in the hands of the
cording to the Finkian statement, repre-
Geo.
Steck
&
Co.
yesterday
morning,
said
company.
If,
after
consultation, the
sents the varying conditions of trade.
President
Nembach
was
in
an
optimistic
proposition
appears
to
be
for the best ad-
When we inspected the unique ornament
mood.
Pointing
to
a
pile
of
letters
which
vantage
of
the
estate,
Receiver
Davenport
the Finkian mercury was soaring in the up-
lay
upon
his
desk
he
said:
"We
have
had
will
apply
for
the
requisite
authority
to
per registers, and a happy and complacent
this
day
a
number
of
orders
for
Steck
make
the
sale.
smile ornamented the distinguished feat-
ures of the wearer. We say smile, but pianos from remote localities as far away
who ever saw Karl Fink in any other than as Salt Lake and Oregon. Again we have
Fischer Exhibition.
received a great number of inquiries as to
an affable frame of mind ?
the Steck agency. These indications all
There will be an imposing exhibit of J.
point to better business conditions."
&
C. Fischer pianos at the forthcoming
John Church Co. Will Exhibit.
Music Teachers' National Convention. It
Among orders given and filled this week will include a Fischer piano of 1842, and
The John Church Co. music publishing
at
the Krakauer retail warerooms were the the famous Fischer No. 100,000.
and musical merchandise departments will
following:—One
of the choicest Krakauer
On Thursday afternoon, the 24th inst.,
exhibit at the Music Teachers' Convention.
uprights
to
Mrs.
Brayton-Ives;
a
Krakauer
Miss
Florence Terrel's recital will take
Mr. Adams will supervise, several repre-
sentatives being on the ground. The John grand to Hollywood, N. J., and four of the place in connection with the Fischer exhibit.
Church publications and merchandise spe- latest and most costly styles to prominent Fischer pianos have been used exclusively
at the "Elijah" rehearsals at the Grand
cialties, including the metronome and other residents of Greenwich, Conn.
instruments, will be well displayed. The
Geo. C. Crane has been so unwell during Central Palace. Mr. Lawrence Bogert, of
location of the exhibit, at the east end, the week that he has been compelled to ab- the Union Square Fischer warerooms, will
have charge of the Convention exhibit.
near the entrance, to the right, is admirable. stain from business temporarily.

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