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THE
WHAT THE KNABE PICNIC TEACHES.
That the Good Old German Social Spirit Is
Worth Cultivating—Brings Employers and
Employes Together and Engenders Loyalty—
Knabe Reunion Like a Family Gathering—
Observations and Deductions.
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
perpetuated by their descendants, and which was
so beautifully illustrated at the annual reunion
of the employes of Wm. Knabe & Co. in Balti-
more and reported in last week's Review.
For se\enty-two consecutive years the men em-
9
FRAUDULENT JEXPORT AGENTS.
Some Light on How These Rascals Work—Have
Victimized Piano Manufacturers in the Past
and Will Do It Again—Head of an Export
House Chats on the Subject.
In the piano trade, as indeed in every indus-
try, manufacturers are often victimized by well-
organized gangs of swindlers who pose as agents
for export houses. Within the past couple of
years we had an instance of one of these gangs
buying a lot of pianos for export to Russia—
in fact, the deal was put through right at the
height of the Japanese-Russian war—at a time
when the quick-witted American should realize
that Russians had little time for buying pianos,
their time being given more or less to supply-
ing money for the war. However, this gang of
swindlers got a number of pianos, some of which
were subsequently recovered.
This field of operations yields a fair return
to the swindlers, with small danger of punish-
(•HAS. KE1DE1., J i t . , SNAPPED.
ment, if detected, for the reason that their scene
ployed by the great Baltimore piano house have of operations is usually a long distance from the
assembled with their families, and as near July 0 danger point.
as possible, have held one of those delightful
Every day piano manufacturers are approached
picnics whica is more like a reunion of friends by agents of export houses regarding the de-
than an outing of employes. Always before they velopment of export trade, and the greatest care
proceed to enjoy themselves they visit Loudon should be taken to find out that they are really
Park Cemetery and decorate the graves of those connected with the house they claim to be, and
members of the Knabe firm whom they knew before any deals are entered into the closest in-
and loved.
vestigation should be made.
At these social reunions the utmost spirit of
Chatting the other day with a member of one
KliNKST J . KNAHE ADDRESSING THE MEN.
democracy prevails, and as will be seen from of the large export houses in this city, he gave
mendous influence toward cultivating among our the pictures, Ernest J. Knabe and Chas. Keidel, a description of some of the methods employed
people a greater love for music. The increasing Jr., entered into the enjoyment of the recent pic- by fraudulent agents with whom the firm have
attendance at really first-class musical affairs, nic with a delightful spirit of camaraderie and had dealings. He said: "To begin with, the
such as opera, oratorio, classical concerts, demon- good fellowship, just as their fathers and grand- swindling agent usually throws the biggest kind
strates this, altogether apart from the satisfac- fathers did before them. In these days when we of a bluff, and although a man without any pre-
tory work which is being carried on by the Ameri- are led to believe that sordidness and selfishness vious experience or business qualifications, suc-
cans of German ancestry through their singing are predominant in business, and when that old ceeds in convincing you that he is just the man
feeling of friendship between employer and em- you want. He lays out a plan of operations,
ploye is supposed to have become extinct, it is tells you he has had experience in handling this
refreshing to turn to an affair like the Knabe or that line of goods, and having first ascer-
picnic and observe the fine spirit of affection and tained the market you are most desirous of
consideration which exists between the members entering, points out the class of goods most
of the firm and their employes. And it is not likely to suit it.
a made-to-order spirit, but it is a spirit that has
"In one case, I knew a firm to be victimized
existed 'way down the century, since Wm. Knabe by a swindler representing himself as the agent
first established himself as a piano maker in a of a company that was in the field for the pur-
modest way in Baltimore more than seventy pose of selling goods in the West Indies. This
years ago. These men take a pride in their work company, according to the agent, was made up of
and believe it their duty to turn out pianos of the half a dozen manufacturers in western cities,
finest—instruments that will shed luster on the who had secured his services to introduce their
name of Knabe, and consequently on themselves. products in the southern markets. He repre-
The attitude of the men is not one of sub- sented to the firm here that he was desirous of
serviency but loyalty—a feeling which should introducing their goods, along with those of his
more generally prevail. The spirit of indiffer- western houses, and that he was able to do so
ence manifested by many employes toward their on very liberal terms. At the close of negotia-
employer's interests—the feeling of just working tions he presented a contract which bound the
so many hours and quitting when the clock firm to pay him a certain amount monthly.
MR. KNAHE ENJOYING H I S BEE1S.
"Having secured his contract he departed, os-
strikes, and a hundred and one other evidences
ipnsibly to the West Indies, but in reality he
societies, and which is splendidly manifested in of just "doing what we are paid for"—is one of
the reasons why so many employes fail to get merely moved his base of operations to another
their annual saengerfests.
The great part played by the men of the Ger- in closer touch with their house, or its interests. near-by city, and by the aid of a friend in the
man race in the development of the music trade This is just the opposite to the conditions which West Indies, kept his victims here posted as to
industry is too well known to need mention, and have prevailed in some of the old piano houses the conditions of trade and the progress, or the
in this connection we cannot ignore one of the where they number among their employes men lack of progress, that he was making. In these
beautiful social customs which has been brought who have been with them for a lifetime, as were advices he explained why it was he had not
to us by piano workmen of German birth and their fathers before them. Men of this kind been able to open up a demand for the New
take a keen interest in the welfare of their es- York firm's goods, adding, however, that the
tablishment and they are esteemed by their em- prospects looked bright, and that he had con-
ployers, with the result that the welfare of one siderable success with goods manufactured by
is the welfare of all. Would that the Knabe the other firms he represented. The firm finally
spirit were more generally diffused throughout grew tired of this unsatisfactory deal and noti-
the industry; it would mean much for the em- fied him to return, which, of course, he didn't,
ployers, but candidly it would mean much more and equally, of course, he held the firm to their
contract.
for the employes.
"Another method which has been worked
with some success is that used by the agent who
DURHAM CO. HAVE HUNTINGTON AGENCY. represents that he is merely taking a trip to
Australia, say, and would like to fill in his time
The Durham Music Co., 310 North Broadway, while traveling about the country, by taking
Oklahoma City, Okla., who recently secured the orders on certain lines. The fact that this rogue
representation of the Huntington piano, made by asks only a very small commission and salary,
the Huntington Piano Co., Shelton, Conn., are both of which he is willing to take out of the
carrying some excellent advertisements in the first order, makes the merchant bite at the bait
local papers in which they present the merits of very readily, for he concludes that on a basis
these instruments to the consideration of the of that kind he cannot lose.
"As in the other case he signs a contract, and
people of their city.
'-':•'-.'.
WIVES AND DAUGHTERS PREPARING FOB LUNCHEON.
The influence of the German people on the
national life of this country has long been a sub-
ject of commendatory remarks by students of
ethnology. The great love of the people of that
country for their folk-songs has been trans-
planted to the United States and given new birth,
so to speak, with the result, that German tra-
ditions have exercised and are exercising a tre-