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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
FARRAND CO, PLACED IN THE HANDS OF A RECEIVER.
FLANNER-HAFSOOS co. MOVES.
Company States that Action Was Necessary Owing to Difficulty in Securing Ready Money to
Carry on Business—Deemed Liquidation of Business Best Step, as Charter Soon Expires—
Assets Said to Be Double Liabilities—Detroit Trust Co. in Charge and Issues Statement.
Live Milwaukee Concern Occupies Quarters Re-
cently Occupied by Business of Joseph Flan-
ner—Carry an Excellent Line of Pianos and
Player-Pianos Headed by the A. B. Chase.
(Special to The Review.)
DKTROIT, MICH., August 11.—The Farrand Co.,
manufacturer of Farrand pianos and the Cecilian
player-pianos, is now in the hands of a receiver,
the Detroit Trust Co. having been appointed in
that capacity. The action was taken on the petition
of the Farrand Co. itself, the statement averring
that the company desired to wind up its business
because it found it unprofitable. The real reason
for the step, however, is found in the issuance of
a judgment against the Farrand Co. for $9,650,
which the company could not pay, and the giving
oi a chattel mortgage to cover it.
The statement of the Farrand Co. sets forth
that "the cause for this step was the difficulty of
securing sufficient ready money to carry on the
business of the company. This difficulty has ex-
isted for the past five or six years, and the direc-
tors felt that the 'best interests of the stockholders
as well as the creditors would be secured by hav-
ing the business liquidated, especially as the charter
would expire in December in any event, and they
did not feel that the business was sufficiently profit-
able to be carried on any longer."
According to schedules filed in court, the assets
of the company are double its liabilities. But the
big factory, to which a new addition was built
only two years ago, is not included in the list. It
ii owned by W. R. Farrand personally and is leased
to the company. This would make it appearihat
the bulk of the assets consist of machinery, stock
on hand and accounts receivable.
The receiver, the Detroit Trust Co., which made
such a wonderful record in handling the affairs
of the dough & Warren Co. a couple of years
ago and placing that company on its feet, has sent
out, under date of August 7, the following letter
to the creditors and stockholders of the Farrand
Co.:
"By an order of the Wayne County Circuit
Court in Chancery, made on August 7, 1913, the
undersigned Detroit Trust Co. was appointed re-
ceiver of the Farrand Co., of this city. The ap-
poitment was made on the application of the board
or directors of the Farrand Co..
"As receiver, we took possession of the prop-
erty of the company on August 7 for the benefit of
all those interested, including the creditors and
the preferred and common stockholders.
"The order of the court appointing us gives us
the customary powers of a receiver, including au-
thority to conduct and operate the business. The
receiver will, as soon as practicable, cause an ap-
praisal to be made of the present properties of the
company and report the same to the creditors and
stockholders as soon as completed.
"It will be the.policy of the receiver in conduct-
ing any operations to make purchases of material
and merchandise from the present creditors of the
company, and we desire to continue the cordial
relations of the company with them.
"We will take pleasure not only at this time, but
as soon as we have had an opportunity to make
such investigation as may enable us to acquaint
ourselves with the business and property, to an-
swer inquiries of creditors ind stockholders, and
to furnish such information as may be required
from time to time. When a. decision is arrived at
as to the operation of the business and the manner
in which the receivership shall be conducted, we
will report promptly to the creditors and stock-
holders."
CLARK MUSIC CO. IN CORTLAND, N. Y. NOW IN NEW QUARTERS IN DENVER.
Branch Opened in Former Mahan Quarters with
Charles Moser in Charge—The Line Handled.
The Clark Music Co., Syracuse, N. Y., is having
a large measure of success with its branch music
house, under the management of Charles Moser.
now in operation at Cortland, N. Y. It is handling
the Mason & Hamlin, Cable-Nelson and other
pianos, the Apollo and Regina player-pianos and
the Clark Irish harp.
Since the launching of. the new business Messrs.
E. D. Heald and F. W. Jackson, of the Syracuse
store, have been on the ground much of the time
to look after most of the outside selling. The
Mahan music store was recently in business where
the new firm has started. The premises are said,
in fact, to, have been occupied as a music store
for over forty years. Such a record seems to
augur prestige and success for the present occu-
pants.
The Colorado Music Co., one of the oldest of
the piano houses in Denver, Col., is now located in
attractive new quarters at 300 East Colfax street,
opposite the State Capitol, and in "the exclusive
residential section of the city. The Colorado
Music Co. handles the Ludwig, Strich & Ziedler,
Christman and other makes of pianos.
(Special to The Review.)
MILWAUKEE, WIS., August 12.—All the Joseph
Flanner stock, including sheet music, plates, musi-
cal merchandise, office fixtures and furniture, have
been removed from the old Flanner stand at 417
Broadway, by the Heller Piano Co., which pur-
chased the Flanner assets recently. The new
Flanner-Hafsoos Music House, recently organized
by Florian F. Flanner, son of Joseph Flanner, and
Eric S. Hafsoos, a successful piano man of Mil-
waukee, has leased the Flanner stand and is hurry-
ing along the work of remodeling the first and
second floors, which it will occupy. Offices and
"the musical merchandise department will be lo-
cated on the first floor, but the greater portion of
the floor will be given up to a general display of
the extensive line of pianos carried. Grands and
uprights will be featured on this floor. On the sec-
ond floor handsome player and general piano par-
lors are being arranged. Eric S. Hafsoos says
that no expense will be spared in making the store
into one of the finest retail piano establishments in
Milwaukee.
The new Flanner-Hafsoos Music House carries
the A. B. Chase, the Lauter, the Wegman, the
Christman, the Estey, the Lyon & Healy and the
Brinkerhoff pianos. Mr. Hafsoos expects to pay
particular attention to the player line henceforth,
featuring the A. B Chase Aristano, the Lauter-
Humana, the Christman and other players carried.
Several new salesmen have joined the sales
force at the new store and business will be pushed
to the utmost.
SUES FOR $10,000 DAMAGES.
Alleging that his business reputation has been
damaged to the extent of $10,000 by the statement
of the Weatherholt Piano Co., Atlanta, Ga., in
its advertising, to the effect that he had been forced
out of the piano business through insolvency fol-
lowing the purchase of his business by the d e -
fendant concern, W. H. Howard has brought suit
ir the Superior Court in Atlanta for damages in
thf amount named.
BUSINESS MEN OF TWIN CITIES FULL OF CONFIDENCE.
Bumper Crops Throughout Minnesota Arouse Optimism Regarding Future Business—Everett
Piano Leader with Borg Furniture Co.—Grand Pianos in Demand—H. P. Nelson Shipments.
(Special to The Review.)
and will make it the leader. While essentially a
ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., August 11.—
furniture store, Borg's long have conducted a well-
Northwestern piano men hear.that the East is ap- stocked piano department. W. F. Markoe, a vet-,
prehensive that something direful is going to hap- eran in the business and a graduate of the Dyer
pen. They hardly know what, but it may be school, is in charge of the piano business, and is
stated that there is no echo of this feeling in the gieatly pleased over the acquisition of the attrac-
West. Business men in the Twin Cities are chock
tive Everett instruments.
full of confidence and optimism, especially since a
Grand piano sales were the feature of the Brooks-
number of agricultural experts estimated Minne-
Evans Piano Co.'s trade during the past week.
BIDS FOR PIANOSJN LOUISVILLE.
sota's agricultural returns at $350,000,000 in
"We really sold several Everett grands last week,"
The piano dealers of Louisville, Ky., are much
lyi.'i. The territory tributary to the Twin Cities declared Mr. Brooks. "It IF unusual at this time
interested in the 'bids for sixteen pianos to be sup- goes far beyond the confines, and doubling the oi* the yea£ to sell any number of grands, but our
plied to the public schools of the city and three
Minnesota figures will be a conservative predic- people apparently have the money and do not in-
pianos to be supplied to the new $300,000 Y. M. tion for the entire area dependent upon the Twin
tend to wait for Congress or Wall street to re-
C. A. building. The latter will probably take a Cities to market its products. So why should we store confidence." The affairs of the Brooks-Evans
player-piano, an upright and a grand. Some of
worry?
Co. are being cleaned gradually, and Mr. Brooks
the piano merchants are wondering if the bids for
Hints that the summer season soon is drawing soon expects to be sole owner of the business.
the pianos for the schools will lead to the con- to an end and that trade again will soon resume its
Carloads of H. P. Nelson pianos are going out
troversies that have frequently prevailed in the sv/ay have been detected. Robert O. Foster, whose
from the Minneapolis headquarters, according to
past.
perceptions along this line are very keen, explains the veracious reports of William A. Linquist, man-
that he has noted the approach of a change, a
ager. "This week we sold six carload lot orders,
livelier measure in various commercial move- besides booking many smaller sales," said Mr.
rrents. Foster & Waldo report a generally satis- Linquist. "We have been very successful in get-
Music trade men in Eastern Canada are showing
ting the outside dealers to the headquarters, and
much interest in the coming convention of the factory trade.
The T. C. Borg Furniture Co. recently has. when they see the Nelson line the rest is easy, for
Canadian Guild of Organists, which is scheduled to
added the Everett piano to its piano department there are no better sellers in the Northwest."
be held in Toronto on September 10 and 11.
CANADIAN ORGANISTS TO MEET.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD. N E W YORK
Manufacturers of
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos