Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1898 Vol. 27 N. 18

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
tisement prepared by Philip Werlein, a
well-known music dealer of New Orleans:
A COMPLIMENT ,
To Werlein's Music House.
The Mathushek pianos have been chosen for
the season in the Crescent, Tulane and Acad-
emy of Music. They want the Mathushek,
because it is loud and sweet and stays in tune.
Other pianos have not given satisfaction for
this purpose.
We believe that Mr. Werlein, upon con-
sideration of this matter, will agree with
us that he is not treating his competitors
fairly when he makes the statement which
is apparent in this advertisement. It is
not dignified advertising, and we believe
it will tend to injure rather than accelerate
the Werlein trade.
We would ask our readers to forward to
The Review any announcements in local
papers of firms in this trade which reflect
upon fair competition. In treating this
matter we propose to be of service to the
trade. The slurring advertising never pays,
and the quicker business men are brought
to a full sense of realization of this the
better it will be for all concerned.
SLURRING ASSOCIATION WORK.
C O R years the "Stenciled" Journalist has
shown on frequent occasions his hatred
of trade associations. We well remember
how for months he ridiculed the object of
The Review in its early advocacy of the
formation of a national association. For ten
years thereafter he has persistently shown
his antagonism to trade associations.
Whatever may be the real cause of this
hatred can best be explained by himself.
There are those who believe—in fact he pub-
lished years ago, that trade papers should
beware of associations because they might
take the trade papers in hand and use them
rather roughly—that he fears the concerted
action of manufacturers.
Another reason possibly was that he soon
found that he could not use the association
to personal ends. He had dominated indi-
viduals so long that he thought an organ-
ization would come under his sway possi-
bly as easily as some of the distinguished
firms whom he had so bitterly assailed in
the past.
We all remember how the oleaginous
"Stenciled" Journalist with his entire staff
was present to overawe the piano men who
gathered at Manhattan Beach in August
1897. We recollect too how complete was
his rout on that occasion, how horse, foot
and dragoons the " Stenciled " Journalist's
forces were defeated. He came, he saw,
but he did not conquer.
We question whether he has ever quite
forgiven the association for not permitting
him to sit at the inner councils and domi-
nate its work as an up-to-date political
boss is usually credited with doing. How-
ever, the piano manufacturers did not
knuckle to the "Stenciled" Journalist on
that memorable occasion, and we are of the
opinion that he has never quite forgiven
them for that obviously intentional slight.
One of his latest outbreaks anent the
Association and its workings appeared in
a recent issue of his attenuated offspring
which trades under the name of " Extra."
The article was intended to be humorous
and at the same time hold the members of
the committee on grievances up to trade
ridicule. Now when the "Stenciled" Jour-
nalist attempts humor he is as far away from
his native element as he would be running a
theological journal. His humor is of that
peculiar density which admits of no scin-
tillations of witty ideas. This is particu-
larly marked in the stupid, filthy poetry
which he delights in publishing. The at-
tempt to ridicule a circular issued by a
business organization with the direct object
of benefiting the trade, could have origin
only in a degraded mentality.
The circular of the National Piano Manu-
facturers' Association addressed to the
trade was a dignified document, in which
was incorporated resolutions passed at the
meeting of the Association. The obvious
intention of the Association was to dis-
courage fraudulent tuners, and its mem-
bers were evidently of the belief that a
document issued by them—showing that
an organization representing a number of
the important concerns in the trade—
would have an immediate effect to dis-
courage the vocation of the fraudulent
tuner and regulator. The Association
plainly stated that the object of this circu-
lar was to enlist the hearty co-operation of
the whole trade to eradicate the fraudulent
tuner and regulator, thereby protecting
individual members and the public as well
from losses caused by the work of pre-
tenders.
eighteen or nineteen years, we have heard
of but one or two public complaints of
fraudulent regulators."
The whole article, aside from being an
attempt at humor, is intended as a direct
slap at Association work and also a slap
which goes even further than that, because
it insults the intelligence of three distin-
guished members of the trade: Nahum
Stetson, Chas. H. Parsons and Robt.
Proddow.
The personal feeling towards Mr. Prod-
dow, whom the "Stenciled" Journalist has
belittled in his columns for months is seen
in the sentence when he says: ' 'Though Mr.
Proddow may recall the proud moment of
his election to office that so well befits his
mental action and his present mood." And
then the brutal insult later, when he says:
"No member of the committee named in
the circular, Messrs. Stetson, Parsons and
Proddow, is able to tell when the piano is
in tune, and therefore they are not qualified
to judge whether the tuner is a straight (?)
tuner or a fraudulent tuner, and no mem-
ber of the committee knows anything
about the regulating of the piano action,
whether action regulating or tone regulat-
ing."
And so the entire page article in the
"Stenciled" Journalist's sheet reeks with
brutal insults and false attempts at humor.
The National Piano Manufacturers'Associa-
tion has accomplished much good since its
organization. Its influence is constantly
extending, and the interest manifested in
it is steadily growing, proof of which is
evidenced in the constant augmentation of
its membership.
While The Review at all times claims
the right to criticise the doings of the or-
ganization, we propose that those criti-
cisms shall be confined to a clean, forceful
language, incorporated in decently re-
spectable English, and not brutal, insolent
and bigoted attacks upon members of the
Association.
We look upon the organization as pri-
marily organized for trade good and we
believe that anything which stands for the
right should be encouraged and if criti-
cised, criticised fairly, not insolently or
abusively.
In his evident desire to ridicule the
document issued by the Association the
" Stenciled " Journalist has overlooked the
important fact that the committee is not
appointed to judge of the ability of the
tuner, but to expose his rascality. In other
words, the Association aims to drive the
THE TRUST SWAY.
fraudulent tuner—the one who attempts
to trade under the reputation of some dis- \ I 7 I L L there be an end to trusts, now
that the highest judicial body in the
tinguished house—entirely from the field.
It is not infrequently that we have land has declared that the Joint Traffic
special reports sent to The Review, warn- Association exists in direct violation of
ing dealers in certain localities against the the law.
There are some who believe that this re-
operations of certain fraudulent tuners and
regulators, and still the "Stenciled" Jour- cent decision of the Supreme Court really
nalist has the effrontery to state, " I n an means a death blow to trusts, but there
experience experience extending over some are one hundred, and fifty-six of them, rep-.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
8
resenting a capital of $2,000,000,000, still
to smash. There is one thing sure, that this
judicial decision will cause a halt in the
formation of trusts, and it will not be in
the year of Our Lord, eighteen hundred
and ninety-eight, that the piano trust will
become a sure fact.
The railroads have time and time again,
for years, formed pools; but this did not
give them what they needed, and they
have insisted that an organization such as
the Joint Traffic Association, giving a cen-
tral body absolute power to control the
rates and freights as well, could alone save
the roads from ruin.
This has been the cry of trust organizers
in all industries, that organization is
the only thing to save the trade from ruin.
We have heard the same argument in the
piano trade and probably shall live to hear
it again, but the fact remains, that the
trusts of America have received a solar
plexus blow from the Supreme Court.
FOR TRADE WITH CUBA.
I / R A J E W S K I , PESANT & CO., 32
Broadway, New York, are desirous
of- doing business with manufacturers who
make an instrument of good value at a
modest price. They wish these instru-
ments for export to Cuba.
Fame—Sohmer.'
The Patent and Trade-Mark
Commission.
The Patent and Trade-Mark Commis-
sion, lately in session in Chicago, has is-
sued a circular letter asking for opinions
and information as to the effect of extend-
ing the right to file caveats to foreigners;
also as to the justice of carrying back the
date of invention by a foreign applicant,
put in interference with an applicant resi-
dent of the United States, to the date of
filing his foreign application. They also
ask for opinions as to reciprocity in the
grant of patents, and call attention to the
fact that some foreign countries do not
grant patents for chemical substances, and
some others do not grant patents for pro-
cesses, while others still impose periodical
taxes, and require the working of the in-
vention within a short period of time after
the grant of the patent, both under penal-
ty of forfeiture.
On the subject of trade-marks the ques-
tion is asked: How the United States
should fulfill the promise in the conven-
tion to register in this country all trade-
marks regularly registered in another
State of the Union for the protection of
industrial property? Whether national law
should not be enacted which would regu-
late these foreign marks and marks used
in commerce with foreign nations?
The circular also calls for opinions on
the subsidiary agreement of Madrid for
the international registration of trade-
marks at a cost of 100 francs in all the na-
tions of the union which may adhere. The
international registration of trade-marks
seems to be a need of the times in view of
our extended and increasing commerce in
manufactured goods. Either of the com-
missioners, Judge P. S. Grosscup or A. P.
Greely, Patent Office at Washington, or
Francis Forbes, New York, will receive re-
plies.
Charles Reinwarth.
By the death of Chas. Reinwarth, the well
known manufacturer of piano strings, which
occurred at his home in this city on the
evening of October 21st, the music trade
loses one of the old guard of manufactur-
ers of supplies for the piano trade. Mr.
Reinwarth was in his seventieth year, and
up to five weeks before his death had en-
joyed the best of health.
He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia,
and came to this country when quite a
young man, establishing himself in the
string business in October, 1858; thus for
CHARLES REINWARTH.
forty years to the month exactly he had
dealings with manufacturers, who always
found him to be a man of the strictest
integrity and most honorable in all his
dealings. Highly respected and popular,
his affability and kindly social instincts
gained him a host of friends who will
sincerely regret his demise. A widow and
three daughters survive him.
A very striking announcement of Sohmer
& Co. appears in another portion of this
paper. It is worth reading. Not only
does it form a striking advertisement, but
the sentiment contained therein appeals to
the intelligent dealer. To quote from it:
'' Trade history as borne out in the Sohmer
The Reinwarth business will be con-
piano, is that the Sohmer is a money-
44
tinued
without change. The present staff
An Art Industry."
maker as well as a fame-maker for the
of
employees,
the majority of whom had
dealer. These facts should not be over-
THE TITLE OF AN ARTISTIC BOOKLET JUST been associated with Mr. Reinwarth for
looked as they certainly cannot be dis-
ISSUED BY THE MASON & HAMLIN CO.
long terms of years, are fully competent
proved. There is more money—surer
to and will maintain the reputation which
future—greater fame in handling the
"An Art Industry" is the appropriate he so worthily won in his special line. This
Sohmer than in devoting one's time and title of a charming little booklet artistically
energies to the sale of unreliable wares printed and illustrated just issued by the will afford satisfaction to many manufac-
which sooner or later reacts to the detri- Mason & Hamlin Co. It reproduces an turers who have been dealing with this
house almost since it was established.
ment of the dealer."
interesting and instructive article pub-
Sound logic there. Sohmer & Co. have lished in Scribner's magazine.
EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY.
always conducted their business on digni-
In a gossipy way the story is told of a
A young man who thoroughly understands
fied lines, the firm members believing that M. & H. piano's adventures en route to the
in Very truth, piano making is an art in- residence of a purchaser residing in Japan. piano action and case repairing, and who is will-
ing to work for reasonable wages can secure a
dustry. It is so typified in the Sohmer There is also a humorous letter from a good situation by applying to D. E. N. Care of
piano which is a noble instrument and one customer in Persia telling of his experi- The Review.
that appeals to the highest artistic sense. ences after receiving an instrument at Khoi
A SPLENDID FACTORY
Dealers can make no mistake in handling ninety miles from his house. It had been
the Sohmer. It has proved a money- thirteen months in transit. The article
OPPORTUNITY.
maker in times past, and it will prove a concludes with reference to the Mason &
A well equipped piano factory, located in a manufactur-
money-maker in the future as well.
Hamlin instruments supplied to the great
ing city, easy of access to all parts of the country, is for
ocean liners and a brief description of sale.
This plant has all the necessary accessories for the
production of pianos. The name is well known, thousands of
Miss Belle Decker, the second daughter piano construction in its various stages.
instruments having been sold over the country from the
of that honored member bf the trade,
Although the Mason & Hamlin products Atlantic to the Pacific A regular output is assured If party
Myron A. Decker, was married last Tues- are well able to hold their own against all purchasing did not desire to buy factory a lease on suitable
terms could be secured. A moderate amount of capital
day night to Dr. Reicht, one of the well- comers, " An Art Industry " will be very would be sufficient to purchase the entire machinery and
known physicians of the Borough of helpful in bringing their merits more stock which is now being manufactured Parties who de-
sire toinvestigate this matter can address: "Factory Oppor.
Brooklyn.
prominently to notice.
twnlty", Care of The Review, 3 E. 14th Street, New York.

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