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V O L . XXX. No. 4 .
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, Jan. 27,1900.
Peter Duffy on Trade Topics,
DISCUSSES A NUMBER OF MATTERS OF WIDE IN-
TEREST IN HIS USUALLY THOROUGH
AND ABLE MANNER.
Speaking with The Review on Wednes-
day concerning the qualities necessary to
make a successful piano dealer, and on
other current trade topics, Peter Duffy,
president of the Schubert Piano Co., said,
in answer to a question: "Individually, I
am of the opinion that the leading neces-
sary qualification of a successful piano
dealer is that he be a good collector.
"Under present conditions, the mere
selling of pianos is an easy matter. A
very small deposit on delivery and trifling
monthly payments extending over a lengthy
period make the inducements so great that
very few people can resist them if their
minds are set on getting an instrument.
The terms on which pianos are sold nowa-
days are such that even the poorest can
have one put into their possession without
much trouble.
"But when collections have to be made
and the shoe begins to pinch a little, ex-
cuses become prevalent and lapses lead to
complications. To my mind, the success-
ful piano dealer is the man who, having
sold his piano on easy payments, can keep
his customer well in hand until the liability
is wiped out and the instrument becomes
the property of the person who wishes to
own it."
The Review asked Mr. Duffy what he
deemed the most pressing need in the way
of reform in the piano business.
After a few moment's consideration, he
replied: " T o my mind, from the point of
view of the manufacturer, the reform most
urgently needed is uniformity of credits in
transactions between manufacturer and
dealer. The subject has been mentioned
before and it has often been freeiy dis-
cussed, but we don't seem to get any near-
er to a proper adjustment. There are cer-
tain standard credit terms in every other
business—why not in ours ?
"I have heard it said that this business
is not like others, because the 'individual-
ity' of firms makes uniform action impossi-
ble. Who wants to disturb their individu-
ality? Is it necessary to upset existing
conditions along that line in order that a
sensible uniform plan be agreed upon and
adhered to with reference to credits? It
would be far better for all parties concerned.
Unless something is done, utter demorali-
zation is bound to ensue.
"Cases have been brought to my knowl-
edge recently where carload after carload
has been shipped from factories—not in
this city—at ridiculous prices on twelve
months' time. Such a course is ruinous to
the trade. It is not necessary to explain
why. Three months or four months is a
fair business credit, considered ample in
every trade but ours. Unlimited credit on
very narrow margins places the firms who
aim to do business in a business-like way
at a tremendous disadvantage. Such un-
restrained laxity in business morals is a
cancer-like condition, and the sooner this
fact is recognized in a practical way the
better for the piano business as a whole."
Rosenberg's Plans.
Seymour H. Rosenberg will devote con-
siderable attention hereafter to the develop-
ment of the retail interests of the James
& Holmstrom business. There are few
better equipped men in this field than Mr.
Rosenberg. He has a large clientele of
friends who have found his representa-
tions in the matter of sales at all times
accurate. The splendid reputation which
accompanies him, will, no doubt, be of ad-
vantage and benefit in his present move.
The James & Holmstrom piano through
the mediumship of Mr. Rosenberg should
henceforth find a larger measure of prac-
tical appreciation.
A Suit Over a Song.
James L. Feeney, Saturday, filed a suit
in equity against Droop & Sons, of Wash-
ington, D. C., and prayed for an injunc-
tion restraining them from selling or offer-
ing for sale, the ballad entitled, "An Old
Sweetheart of Mine." The complainant
alleges that he is the composer of the song
and that Droop & Sons, with whom he had
a contract for its sale, did not fulfill their
part of the agreement. Feeney is a resi-
dent of Washington.
That /Eolian Plant.
An army of workmen is busily engaged
getting the ground in readiness at the new
town of ^Eolian, N. J., (formerly Gar-
wood) for the erection of the buildings to be
occupied by the interests controlled by the
iEolian Co. It is expected that good head-
way can be made with these buildings ow-
ing to the mildness of the weather.
An international exposition on a large
scale is to be held in igoi in Sydney,
Australia, " to celebrate the birth of the
new century and the federation of Aus-
tralia."
•a.oo PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS
The Wegman Annual Meeting.
The Wegman Piano Co., of Auburn,
N. Y., held its annual election last week,
when Mrs. Julia Wegman, A. W. Crocker
and W. C. Burgess were elected directors.
Mrs. Julia Wegman was elected president,
Mr. Crocker, vice-president, and Mr. Bur-
gess, secretary and treasurer.
The business report was one of the most
satisfactory in years. The Wegman piano
made steady gains in output and prestige
during 1899 and its prospects for the pres-
ent year are not overcast by a single cloud.
The condition of business since Jan. 1, af-
fords indications that 1900 will be an ac-
tive year with the Wegman people. And
it should be, because they were never giv-
ing better values than to-day.
Suit to Set Aside Sale.
[Special to The Review.1
Cincinnati, O., Jan. 22, 1900.
Creditors of the Pfeiffer Piano Company
have filed a motion to set aside the sale of
the assets to the Krell Piano Company on
the ground that they were sold for too low
a price, and there was a lack of notice of
the sale. Among the signers of the peti-
tion are the J. T. Towsley Mfg. Co., and
Cordesman Meyer & Co.
A New Jersey Incorporation.
[Special to The Review.1
Newark, N. J., Jan. 22, 1900.
The American Pianist Co. had articles of
incorporation recorded with the County
Clerk to-day. It has a capital stock of
$250,000, of which $1,000 has been paid in.
The object of the concern is to "manufac-
ture, use and lease automatic machines for
playing pianos by air pressure or other-
wise." E. W. Applegate, Albert Tuerk,
C. L. Davis and August Hener, Jr., are
the incorporators.
A Great Steinway Display.
Some of the finest examples of the piano
makers' art ever seen in this city are now
on exhibition at N. Stetson & Co.'s new
store, 1111 Chestnut street, for whose
opening they were brought from the es-
tablishment of Steinway & Sons, New
York. The display includes a baby grand
in Pompeiian style, Colonial uprights and
grands, with rich ormolu work, white ma-
hogany and oak effects in both uprights
and grands, and suggest great possibilities
in music room decorations.—Philadelphia
Ledger.