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THE 7VSVSIC TRRDE
REVIEW
ing duped, and with a copy of the advertise-
IN OHIO'S PIANO CENTER.
ment in the local papers and The Music
Mr. Brown Took His Cue From the Review and Trade Review containing the story of the Trade in Cincinnati is Excellent—Factory Exten-
sions on Baldwin Plant and new Smith &
After Investigation Placed the Matter Before Pittsburg swindle, he repaired to Recorder
Nixon Factory Being Steadily Rushed.
the Recorder of Auburn Who Had the Woman Kent to whom he told what he knew and
what
he
suspected.
up Before Him on a Subpoena—Reveals Her
[Special to The Review.]
The recorder issued a subpoena for the
Method of Operating—Had Been Holding
Cincinnati,
O., Feb. 17, 1903.
Forth in Syracuse—Making a Goodly Profit woman. The policeman was met by the one
Cincinnati
is
steadily
growing to be one
by Selling New Stenciled Pianos as Slightly of the venerable locks, and to his inquiry if
she were the woman who had the piano for of the most important piano manufacturing
Used Instruments of Celebrated Makes.
sale an affirmative reply was given.
centers in the country. When we take the
"Well, I've a subpoena for you, issued by vast Baldwin interests, the John Church in-
That wideawake dealers can crush out the
house sale evil which now seems to be epi- the recorder," said the roundsman.
terests, the Krell Piano Co. and the Smith
"Oh, it's Mrs. Brown you want," ex- & Nixon factory, which is now rapidly ap-
demic all over the country is revealed in the
plained the woman. "She's out. When she
following report which we clip from the Au- goes
proaching completion, we have a number of
out I show her piano."
burn (N. Y.) Daily Advertiser of Saturday
"I guess you are the one the recorder important manufacturing interests which oc-
last. The steps which Mr. Brown so proper- wants to see," insisted Graney.
cupy a strong position in the music trade af-
ly took in this instance can be duplicated
The interview between the woman and fairs of this country.
with success whenever a dealer discovers this Recorder Kent was very interesting. It was
* * * * * * * *
long and therefore cannot be given in de-
gang of schemers operating:
The
piano business of Rudolph Wur-
tail. The woman was at first very reticent,
Another infant industry has been crushed but in time she "thawed" and eventually litzer Co. has steadily advanced, and another
by the strong arm of the law and to-day there gave away the whole scheme. The pianos portion of the building adjoining has now
is one less enterprising firm in Auburn. Of she was selling were of a very cheap make, been secured and will be handed over to the
course the business was a swindle, or so near she acknowledged; the cost, however, she
it that the line of demarcation was hard to declined to state. There was nothing in her decorators to make ready for the reception
define. Had it not been so, the law would advertisement which misrepresented the facts. of pianos. Howard Wurlitzer told me that
not have interfered and the advent of the en-
"I do not say the piano is worth $500/' he had made some particularly good Stein-
terprise would have been heralded by the she explained, "I say it's listed at $500 and way sales. In musical specialties the Wur-
Business Men's Association.
so it is. I say I want to sell it for finan- litzer concern have made decided hits. They
The scheme wasn't a bad one, at that, for cial reasons. You can imagine, judge, that is have developed a large business for their
the operator, and come to think it all over, true. I say it has been used less than three
the bargain hunters who were bitten haven't months, which is true for it is a new instru- Tonophone, some of which have been placed
suffered so terribly. They let their cupidity ment. People come to see the piano, imag- in positions of great prominence. A number
override their judgment and in the end paid ining that I am hard up. I set a price on of other special moves of this well-known
a big price for a cheap article.
it and then they commence to Jew me down. concern will be announced later.
To begin at the beginning and tell the tale Finally I reluctantly accept a cheap offer for
* * * * * * * *
in narrative form and not as the facts trans- cash and they go away hugging themselves
Lucien Wulsin has left for the South. He
pired, there arrived in Auburn a fortnight that they have secured a bargain. I don't
ago a handsome woman. She was one of misrepresent a thing nor urge them to'buy. will enjoy an outing in Florida for some
those women who attract attention, with a They do the buying and selling both and in weeks.
mass of white hair becomingly dressed and the end believe that they have bettered them-
*
* *
* *
* * *
a face which appeared far too young and selves by taking advantage of my necessity.
Otto
Grau,
formerly
of
the
Gran Piano
fresh for the hair. She was attired in fash-
ionable garments which, while bordering on If anyone is deceived it is because of their Co., has returned from Denver and is now
the luxurious were not conspicuous. She cupidity and not by anything that I say or connected with the company which bears his
did not make herself noticeable by manner do. Of course there is profit in the busi- name.
but it did not take a Sherlock Holmes to di- ness."
* * * * * * * *
The woman gave her name as Bennett and
vine that she had traveled and knew the dif-
her
residence
as
New
York
city.
She
admit-
The
extensions of the Baldwin plant are
ference between a calliope and a trolley.
She speedily established herself at No. 42 ted that she knew the pair who were arrested being rushed as rapidly as the winter weather
South street, where apartments are rented. in Pittsburg for playing the same game, but will permit, and the output of this great in-
Next, in conspicuous advertisements ap- declared that she was not the woman. Au- stitution for 1903 will eclipse that of any
peared in the want columns of the daily pa- burnians are not the only ones who have been previous year in the history of the concern.
pers setting forth the fact that a piano was gulled*, for she operated for three months in,
for sale at No. 42 South street. The ad. Park avenue, Syracuse, and did a rattling The continual advance which the Baldwin
went on to explain that the instrument was business. She came to Auburn from Syra- piano has made in the highest musical cir-
listed at $500 and had been used less than cuse.
cles is of obvious benefit to the representa-
As the interview closed she expressed the tives in every part of the country.
three months and for financial reasons the
owner would dispose of it at a bargain. It hope that there would be nothing in the pa-
*
*
* * * * * *
was very cleverly worded indeed, was the pers about the matter. "My people in New
Dawson J. Blackmore, president of the
York would be horrified to know that I had
little notice in the papers.
A couple of days ago the little ad. caught suffered such an indignity. They know that Krell Piano Co., has already taken orders
the eye of Frank H. Brown, a piano dealer I am selling pianos but they do not know all for 1903 for more than three thousand pia-
who resides at No. 6 Clark street. He had about it."
nos. No stronger evidence of Krell popu-
"I can promise that there won't be less
just read a story in The Music Trade Re-
larity could be made than in that statement.
view of a man and woman who had been than a column, knowing the reporters as I Mr. Blackmore has re-organized the manu-
do,"
said
the
recorder.
arrested in Pittsburg for selling pianos under
"Why, that would ruin the sale of my last facturing plant and will steadily increase its
false pretenses. He resolved to look up the
owner of a $500 piano who wanted too sell piano," expostulated the woman. "I have a output. Some recent business connections
it at a bargain for financial reasons. So he customer coming at 7 o'clock this evening made by this firm promise great things for
called at the South street house and asked to whom I can sell it."
the future.
GRASS AT COLLEGE REUNION.
"If I were you," said the recorder impres- GEO.
to see the instrument. It was shown by the
sively,
"I'd
pack
that
piano
and
ship
it
out
lady of the white hair. Mr. Brown exam-
George Grass, of the Steck Piano Co.,
ined the instrument and his professional eye of Auburn to-night. Then I'd take my grip
left
for Boston where he went to attend the
and
leave
the
city
myself."
perceived at a glance that it was a brand new
instrument of a cheap make, .the cost of
The woman read between the lines of this fifty-fifth convention of the Theta Delta Chi
which at the factory was $50 or $60. Per- speech, so to speak, and admitted that the Fraternity, which meets at the Bellevue Ho-
haps he exhibited a too professional knowl- advice was good and being a weak, unpro- tel. The fraternity will be entertained by
edge in his examination of the piano, for the tected woman who was actuated by financial
Harvard and it is expected that there will
owner was very reticent about the price and reasons, she would follow it to the letter.
be
a very large attendance, including men
did not urge the caller to make a purchase.
It is known to the police that half a dozen
When Mr. Brown left the house he paid a of the pianos were sold here. Two went out from Maine to California. It will give Mr.
visit to the Central freight station and found of the city and four are owned by residents. Grass a good opportunity to rest up a bit
that half a dozen instruments of the same What prices were paid for the instruments from piano talk and to meet with old school-
make had been shipped here to the same per- was not divulged, but it is known that much
mates and companions. Incidentally he will
son.
better instruments could have been purchased
This convinced that everything was not as of local dealers for the same amount for probably see his friends in the piano world
of Boston.
it should be and that Auburnians were be- spot cash.
RUNS DOWN HOUSE SALE SCHEMER.