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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
11
"4th—Quick and satisfactory loss adjustments
which will enable the dealer to assist in the set-
tlement of the claim and hold the customer.
"5th—Insurance for members only in good
Steady Betterment in Business Since Holiday Week—Several Firms Sold More Pianos the Past
standing of the National Piano Dealers' Asso-
Week Than They Did Before Christmas—The Lester Factory Moving Along at Good Gait
ciation.
to Keep Abreast of Orders—Chas. E. Doddridge Retires as Manager of the Baldwin Piano
"Customers can be induced to hold the poli-
Co.'s Interests in Philadelphia—Will Probably Open for Himself—Changes in Sales Staff—
cies after the title to piano is passed, thus in-
The National Piano Insurance Agency of Washington Call Attention to Their Plans—
suring a large and satisfactory number of policy-
Heppe & Son Who Issue Their Own Fire Certificates Make Replies to the Different Ques-
holders over the whole country, which means
tions Propounded by a Washington Concern—P. J. Cunningham on a Gunning Trip in the
reduced rates. This preliminary circular is
South—Other Items of Timely Interest to the Piano Trade.
being sent to all members of the National Piano
decided on a future connection, but it is quite Dealers' Association, and vou are requested to
(Special to The Review.)
likely that very soon he will be in charge of fill out the blank enclosed herewith and mail to
Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 7, 1908.
The piano business in Philadelphia has been piano warerooms of his own, located somewhere the secretary at your early convenience. This
picking up gradually since the holiday week, and on Walnut street east of Broad, and representing is an age of specialties and no good reason ex-
the first week in the new year has been fairly one of the biggest names in pianodom, with as- ists why a special policy covering fire loss should
not be issued to protect retail piano dealers,
satisfactory. The trade are coming to look sured success at the start, as Mr. Doddridge en- drawn to meet just the peculiar conditions of
every year with less interest and less expectancy joys the acquaintanceship of most of the leading their business. The details of management will
to the holiday business, for people are not giv- musicians of the city, as well as a personal ac- be in the hands of competent insurance men of
ing pianos for Christmas presents as they did quaintanceship with the high-class trade gener- long experience, insuring prompt and thorough
some years ago, and this is again demonstrated ally. Prom every point of view Mr. Doddridge attention."
in the fact that business has been going right is specially equipped to handle an artistic in-
One of these circulars was sent to the C. J.
along, and is liable to grow better as the month strument.
The Weymann firm have secured the service Heppe & Son firm. As the Heppe firm issue a
increases, for there is every indication to this
end. Several firms told me that they sold more of no manager to take the place of Mr. Dodd- "Fire Certificate" themselves, the following were
pianos the past week than they did the weak ridge as yet. On Thursday, the 16th, De Pach- their replies to the various questions pro-
mann, the well-known pianist, will give his sec- pounded:
just prior to Christmas.
The Philadelphia factories that closed for a ond recital here on the Baldwin piano at the "1. What do you think of the proposed plan?
"Good; but more costly than our own plan,
few days during the two holidays have again Witherspoon Hall, and every effort is being made
resumed and are moving along at a good gait, to get out a large audience. Mr. Doddridge con- under which we issue a 'Fire Certificate' for the
which they expect to be able to keep up, as few tinues to occupy desk room in the Weymann sum of $1, which covers the entire term of lease.
"2. What rate of premium are you now paying
of the factories have stock to any extent on store.
The Estey Co. have placed one of their finest on insurance covering pianos, sold or rented?
hand. The Lester factory have been able to
"Costs us on an average of one total piano
fill all orders, but they have not been able to two-manual organs in the M. B. Church of the
accumulate, and Mr. Pressey is starting the com- Advocate, Germantown, which was opened last loss per year—or two or three partial losses
ing week on his first western trip of the new Monday evening, with Henry W. Fry presiding yearly—against an income of over $1,000.
"3. Attach a copy of policy form, if you have a
year, and then orders will begin coming in and at the instrument.
At all the piano stores I have heard of many special policy.
the company will have to get some stock to-
"Our lease puts the liability for fire on the
applications from salesmen desirous of changing
gether to fill these orders.
The most important news of the week is the their positions. There seems to be a general lessee—and our $1.00 fire certificate releases their
resignation of Charles B. Doddridge as manager unrest among Philadelphia salesmen, due, no liability.
"4. Have you a special policy?
of the piano department of H. A. Weymann & doubt, to the poor business of the past two
"Certificate as attached hereto.
Sons, and likewise as manager of the Baldwin months, which, under such conditions, always
"5. What suggestion have you to make?
brings
dissatisfaction.
I
have
been
unable
to
piano in Philadelphia. This resignation went
"This makes your insurance department show
into effect en December 28. Mr. Doddridge is learn of any changes, however.
a
profit instead of an expense.
A
leading
piano
man
said
to
me
this
week:
one of the best known piano men in Philadel-
"6. What difficulties have you met with in se-
phia. Prior to representing the Baldwin piano "I was out to lunch the other day and met sev-
in Philadelphia, for several- years he was con- eral other piano men, and the general line of curing insurance?
"None.
nected with the Heppe house, in charge of the conversation was for retrenchment. They will
"7.
Will you place your insurance with the
undoubtedly
confine
their
efforts
in
the
new
year
outside force of that house, which part of the
business he had worked up to a wonderfully effi- to a better class of business and allow the agency, if conditions set forth, as per letter, are
cient degree. When he resigned from the Heppe smaller payments to pass by, which means less guaranteed?
"We do not need it.
house he took the representation of the Baldwin business, no doubt, but more satisfactory busi-
"8.
Does your present policy cover piano wher-
ness."
This
is
along
the
line
of
several
piano
piano in Philadelphia, and opened piano ware-
rooms on the fifth floor of the Weightman build- men quoted in my lette*r in The Review last ever it may be?
"Yes, except to theatres and concert halls."
ing. At first two rooms, the business soon grew week.
The following is a sample of the Heppe fire
The National Piano Insurance Agency, of
to the extent that five rooms were necessary,
certificate:
and Mr. Doddridge made the Baldwin, which Washington, D. C, over the signature of Edward
Philadelphia,
— , 190
had not been well known here, quite a factor in H. Droop, chairman, have sent out to the trade
having
leased
of
C. J. Heppe
the trade of Philadelphia. After working sev- the following circular letter, dated Jan. 1, 1908:
Piano No.
, the said
"Dear Sir—We invite your attention to the & Son
eral years in this way, the Baldwin Co.—when
C.
J.
Heppe
&
Son
agree
that
in
case
of injury
the Weymann firm moved to their new home on organization of an agency to insure retail piano
Chestnut street—tinned over their Philadelphia dealers against loss by fire and lightning, to to, or destruction of, said Piano by fire, said
agency to that firm, with Mr. Doddridge as man- pianos sold on partial payment plan, or rented, C. J. Heppe & Son will restore the same to the
ager. This was early last fall. Mr. Doddridge or while in their possession, title for which has condition in which it was before the fire; or, if
resigns his connection with the Weymann house not been passed, or any prospective purchase, to destroyed, will replace the same with a Piano of
under the most pleasant relations. He has not cover piano wherever located. The agency will equal value. Applies during term of lease only.
Patrick Cunningham, the piano manufacturer,
be guaranteed by a company having a capital
stock of $200,000 and a surplus of over $100,000, and his friend Thomas Martindale spent, the holi-
and will be conducted for the express purpose of days in a mid-winter gunning trip in the South,
issuing insurance policies—expressly drawn to from which they returned last Sunday. They
meet the actual requirements of the piano trade had a most enjoyable time and succeeded in se-
and at a cost that can be made attractive. Under curing considerable game.
Gustave Herzberg has been suffering for a
present stock company requirements piano deal-
ers have not been able to secure just the form week from a heavy cold. They have had a good
of policy best suited to the conditions of trade, business the first week in January.
and
it is the aim of the National Piano Insur-
are conscientiously made, good
MR. JONES' EUROPEAN TRIP.
ance
Agency to provide—
instruments; in other words, the
"1st—Ample capital and surplus to protect its
H.
Jones,
of E. H. Jones & Son, the piano
sweetest things out.
contract.
dealers of Des Moines, la., returned recently from
"2d—A special policy drawn to meet the trade an extended European trip, visiting England and
conditions to cover pianos wherever they may all the prominent cities on the Continent. Mr.
be—to be issued under open policy and certifi- Jones was not greatly impressed with the man-
cate form, thereby enabling the dealer to act as ner in which the music trade was conducted
his own agent in forwarding certificate or appli- abroad, stating that none of the foreign houses
cation direct to this office and with no delay.
could compare with those found In the larger
"3d—A rate sufficiently low to cover the haz-
of the United States.
RUDOLF PIANO CO.
ard—probably less than present tariffs, as its
458 E. 144th Street,
NEW YORK.
An improvement in retail trade is reported in,
policy will cover loss and damage to pianos
only.
New York for the past week,
RUDOLF
PIANOS