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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
despite the mortgage and the piano company's
claim had sold the piano to a second-hand dealer.
O'Toole then bought the instrument from the
German Pianos Inferior to American Instruments in Quality, Workmanship and Style, but a
dealer and received the bill of sale as stated.
Very Liberal Credit Is Allowed the Dealer Which Attracts His Business—American Export
When the Lauter Co. brought suit of replevin,
Houses Demand Cash—John L. Stowers, of Havana, Sheds Some Light on This Subject.
Judge Carrick, in the First District Court, held
poor tone and will not last more than five or six that as they had not recorded the conditional
Havana, Cuba, Dec. 14, 1908.
years.
Music Trade Review, New York:
contract of sale and the piano had been pur-
The dealer in South America holds the trade chased in good faith without notice, the title for
Gentlemen:—In your issue of November 28,
under the heading of "American Pianos in Mex- for Germany, as they can buy from Germany on same was in O'Toole. The piano company then
ico," I see that the writer tries to explain why one and two years' time, and if they buy from took the case to the Supreme Court, where Judge
the American piano manufacturers have only a the States through some export house they have Garrison upheld the decision of the District
small part of the Mexican trade. He makes the to pay cash. If you should call on one of the Court.
same mistake that all others do in claiming that dealers and ask him why he does not sell Amer-
the American piano has not any artistic style ican pianos he will not give you the facts; he
BAILEY PIANO CO. AFFAIRS.
about it. The fault is not in the style, tone or will tell you that the American piano does not
quality of the piano, and this reference to Mexico please his trade. It will take time to introduce Creditors Begin to Wonder When the Estate
Will be Finally Wound Up—General Belief
will apply to all of South America and Cuba. the American piano in South America, but when
That Final Settlement Will be Very Small
There are a number of reasons that hold the it is once introduced it will take the trade from
When Expenses Are Paid.
trade for Germany. First, sixty per cent, of the Europe.
I buy pianos from Spain, Germany, France
pianos shipped from Germany to South America
Creditors of the Bailey Piano Co. are com-
are built of yellow pine and painted black with and the States, and the American piano is the
a few streaks of gold paint and a lot of brass best in the world for the money, and I do not mencing to ask pertinent questions as to when
trimmings, and they are sold about 35 per cent, think that the American has anything to learn this estate will be wound up. The concern was
cheaper than the medium price American piano. from his European neighbor about building petitioned into bankruptcy about a year ago, yet
Such pianos could not be sold at retail in New pianos. I sell five American pianos where I sell the creditors of record have only received one
dividend, viz.: 10 per cent. This was In March
York for $50 each. What would the American one European make.
last, and since that time not a single report has
Yours very truly,
public think of a piano built of yellow pine?
been filed by the trustee as to the disposition
JOHN L. STOWERS.
They look very pretty when new, but have a very
of funds held since the assets were disposed of
at public auction in June last.
DEALERS TOO CONSERVATIVE
C. C. MUDGE'S INTERESTING VIEWS
It was said by those in authority that the
estate would pay in the neighborhood of 80 per
In Placing Orders for Holiday Trade, Hence
On Trade Conditions—Says Business Has Fully
cent., but when all court expenses are paid, the
Many Manufacturers Were Unable to Ship
Recovered from Depression—Expects Next
fee of the receiver and trustee are liquidated,
Goods as Requested—During the Panic Man-
Year Will Equal 1906—Popularity of Time
together with miscellaneous fees for adjudica-
ufacturers
Could
Not
Stock
Up
and
had
to
Payment Plan Interestingly Discussed.
tion, there will be little in sight for the creditors.
Move Cautiously—Dealers Are Now Waking
(Special to The Review.)
Up and Placing Orders Liberally for the New One excuse given is that the account of the Com-
mission Merchants Association, which held se-
Houston, Tex., Dec. 19, 1908.
Year.
cured accounts amounting to $146,637, had not
During the visit of Clifford C. Mudge, vice-
One of the largest local piano manufacturers been closed, and that a final accounting could not
president and general manager of the Smith,
Barnes & Strohber Co., Chicago, 111., to this city in discussing the inability to get goods through be made until the courts had passed upon certain
phases of this intricate account. The official
a few days ago, he said, in chatting about trade the factories in time for the holiday trade, said:
"There is no denying that many dealers were schedule filed January 12, 1908, showed: liabili-
conditions:
"The piano industry, which is always one of too conservative, and despite the warning of the ties of $280,395, and nominal assets of $138,439,
the first to suffer from financial depression, has traveling salesmen, refused to place orders ahead consisting of real estate, $22,000, mortgaged for
now about fully recovered from the panic of last to tide them over the holidays. This has re- $22,1(10; accounts, $106,374, part of which was
year, and the trade is in a very healthy condi- sulted in the loss of many sales, for even on the assigned; shares of stock in the Stultz Piano
tion. About four months ago, the sale of pianos receipt of telegrams the manufacturers were un- Case Co., $10,000, and cash on hands, $65.
The creditors are wondering when the estate
began to show a big increase, and a very satis- able to fill the rush orders with any degree of
factory business is being done now. The pres- promptitude. Naturally the manufacturers, dur- is to be finally closed and what will be t h e flnal
ent year will show a substantial increase over ing the recent depression, sailed close to the wind, dividend. One creditor stated that he was afraid
last year because in November and December, and when the tide changed were unable to get there wouldn't be 25 per cent, paid out of the
usually the best months in the year for the sale goods through the factory. They were further estate.
of pianos, there was practically nothing doing in hampered by the supply men, who were buried
under orders, and even to-day cannot promise
COL. TREACY CONVALESCENT.
1907.
"The banner year in the piano trade was 1906, prompt service. One manufacturer aptly put it
The many friends of Col. Daniel F. Treacy, of
and I firmly believe that 1909 will be another that the dealers were under the impression that
such year. There is no Presidential election, they could get all the goods they wanted on short the Davenport & Treacy Piano Co. will be pleased
there is plenty of money in the country and con- notice, forgetting that the manufacturer was not to learn that he is convalescent, having been con-
tying up his capital—with discouraging prospects fined to his bed for several weeks past with
fidence has generally been restored.
ahead and the possibility of a slow return— jaundice. The Colonel has passed the danger
"About 90 per cent, of the pianos.sold in the
hence general disappointment. Judging from the point, but will not be able to return to his desk
United States are on long time payments.
way orders are being booked for 1909, the dealers for a week or so.
Eighteen or twenty years ago only the very
are not to be caught napping this coming spring.
wealthy could afford to buy a piano, as is the
A PECULIAR ACCIDENT.
case with automobiles now. The time payment
plan has placed them within the reach of every
AN INTERESTING DECISION
While endeavoring to move a grand piano in
man, although the wage-worker declines to invest
her home recently, Mrs. Benjamin Cole, of Dun-
in one except when he is getting full pay and the In Suit of Lauter Co. to Regain Possession of ellen, N. J., sustained three fractured ribs, one
Piano Which Changed Owners Several Times.
pay envelope comes regularly."
penetrating her lung, through one of the legs of
WHY GERMANY HOLDS SOUTH AMERICAN PIANO TRADE.
A decision of interest to piano dealers, especial-
ly those located in New Jersey, was recently
Robert C. Kammerer was elected vice-president handed down, in the case of the Lauter Co. vs.
of the New York Taxpayers' Protective Union at John O'Toole, in replevining proceedings. This
a meeting of that organization held last week. was a case in which the Lauter Co. endeavored
The Union has for its object the making of offi- to recover possession of one of their pianos pur-
cial economy a vote-getting proposition for the chased from a second-hand dealer by John
official who practices and the political party which O'Toole, and for which he held a bill of sale
advocates it. The body holds that "the recent from the dealer.
The original purchaser of the piano had mort-
extraordinary increase in the burdens of the tax-
payers is due to lax business methods and the gaged the instrument to O'Toole before he had
made the final payments on the piano, and then
extravagance of city officials."
the piano becoming loose and allowing the heavy
instrument to fall on her and pin her to the floor.
Mrs. Cole was unconscious an hour before her
daughter discovered her and secured assistance
to remove the piano.
"The piano that
has hewn its way
to the front through
a solid wall of in-
telligent conserva-
tism."
The Cunningham Piano Co.
R. C. KAMMERER HONORED.
The Matchless
CUNNINGHAM
Players
Grands
Uprights
If you want to join
the forward march
of our "pushful"
army of dealers,
write for prices, ter-
ritory and proposi-
tions.
SIMON OPENS WAREROOMS.
P. M. Simon, a former piano dealer, has re-
entered the retail trade, opening piano ware-
rooms at 8 East Fayette street, Uniontown, Pa.
Mr. Simon handles the Emerson, Behning and
other makes of pianos.
OFFICE AND WAREROOMS, Chestnut and Eleventh Street!
FACTORIES. Fiftieth Street, Parkside Avenue and Viola Street
Philadelphia, Pa.