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THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TWO NEW PIANO STORES TO BE OPENED IN DETROIT.
Brushaber Co. to Open Piano Departments in Its Two Stores with the Baldwin Lin
Ling Foils Bandits in Florida—Travelers Plentiful—News of the Week.
(Special to J'lie Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., March 8.—Two new piano stores
will be opened in Detroit very soon, both being
under one management. The Baldwin Piano Co.
(
has placed its line with the Brushaber Co., an in
stitution which operates two large housefurnishing
stores, one on Gratiot avenue on the east side and
the other on Michigan avenue on the west side.
Both are within half a mile of Woodward and in
very good locations.
Theodore E. Ball, who has had considerable ex-
perience as a piano salesman with Grinnell Bros.,
Bush & Lane and one or two other Detroit piano
houses, will be manager of the piano department of
Brushaber's. The Baldwin line consists of half a
dozen styles, and the range of prices will fit in very
nicely with the class of patronage the Brushaber
Co. enjoys. It is expected that the new depart-
ment will be in operation before the end of March.
J. Henry Ling, who is taking a spring vacation
among Florida breezes, demonstrated to certain
Dixie Land people last week that, though he is of
dimunitive stature, he does not need a policeman to
chaperon him in strange lands. As he was about
to board a train in St. Augustine four men at-
tempted to hold him up. The ringleader was abou:
six feet tall. Mr. Ling is a very affable gentleman,
but when he thinks anyone is trying to impose on
him he is apt to exhibit some temper. So instead
of handing his purse to that bandit he made a dive
for his throat. The bandit, taken by surpris?
turned and fled with Mr. Ling after him, and th_'
other three bandits scurrying in opposite directions.
The bandit dashed through the baggage room, the
station house, under « train and across the tracks,
with Mr. Ling close up, though hampered by his
heavy winter overcoat. Just as he was about f u
^rab the bandit's coat tails a policeman cut across
the railroad yards and headed him off. Then Mr.
Ling turned and dashed for the train, which was
about to pull out.
The superintendent of the railroad happened to
be aboard the train and at a way station he re-
ceived a telegram telling him that all four "bandits
had been captured. He asked Mr. Ling to send an
affidavit regarding the attempted hold-up to St.
Augustine from Miami or Daytona. Mr. Ling
promised, but happened to think that there was a
strong chance that the officers might want to tak^
ESTABLISHES EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.
Kohler & Campbell Industries Inaugurate New
Application System—Other Manufacturers
May Draw on Large Waiting List—Interest-
ing Statistics Regarding Employes' Service.
An improved application system of employment
is now being used in the factories of the Kohler &
Campbell industries of New York. All applicants
for positions are interviewed by men experienced
in the selection of help, and a short and concise
application blank is filled out by the applicant
which covers important details of the man's life
and past business activity. His appearance and
health are passed on by the interviewer, and if
capable of filling the position, "recommended" is
written by the interviewer in accordance with the
information furnished by the applicant's last em-
ployer.
This system has greatly relieved the superintend-
ents who can now draw requisitions against 700 or
800 names which are on file in the employment de-
partment. Preference is always given to former
employes. When .any manufacturing department
has overproduced and it is necessary to lay off
men, their names are automatically placed on the
application list and given first preference. In es-
tablishing this department it has been the hope of
the executives of the Kohler & Campbell indus-
tries that manufacturers or dealers who have
vacancies for men skilled in the various operations
pertaining to the manufacture of pianos and player-
pianos, will feel at liberty to draw upon the list
which they have accumulated.
In compiling statistics regarding the employes of
-J. Henry
him back as a witness, so he changed his schedule
and kept still about it, having no desire to waste a
day or two in a Southern court room.
C. A. Grinnell also is traveling in Florida, hav-
ing left Detroit last week to join his brother, I. L
Grinnell, and party, who have been in the South
several weeks.
A considerable number of traveling men made
Detroit a port of call this week. They broughi
with them all grades of optimism, from the mill
kind to the aggressive kind that predicts a recorl
business before the end of the year. Even the
mildest of them admitted that he was doing fairl/
well. C. D. Holl, special representative of Chicker-
ing & Sons, was here, but he did not get an orde;
because Business Manager J. H. Williams dropped
in last week and topk in one for twenty-two grands
and three uprights from Manager E. P. Andrew,
of the J. L. Hudson Co. Mr. Holl was a welcome
guest, however.
F. C. Harlow, of Vose & Sons, spent Sunday in
Detroit. This was his first stop on a Western
trip, so he had no views to express on things
Western.
R. O. Burgess, representing his new
affiliations, Winter & Co., of New York, called upon
Grinnell Bros., to whom he formerly sold a good
many Wegmans, and upon the Detroit Piano Co.,
which handles the Winter line.
Other travelers to register were G. F. Abend-
schein, the action man; W. A. Vossler, of the Mil-
ton Piano Co.; W. B. Plaisted, who sells the Baco i
pianos, and J. N. Dvorak, of Lyon & Healy.
F. Busoni, the noted pianist, who always.uses a
Chickering, was in Detroit for a while. He played
at Ann Arbor, and being unable to find accommoda-
tions in the hotels of the Michigan University city,
came over to Detroit. He called upon the J. L.
Hudson Co., which is Michigan headquarters for
the Chickering.
The J. L. Hudson Co. is preparing in advance for
the needs of the coming new store by lining up
several high class salesmen from other parts to re-
port for duty about the middle of May, when, it
now is expected, the new store will be ready for
occupancy.
Story & Clark are closing up their Grand Rapids
store and are advertising in the Detroit newspapers
that the Grand Rapids stock will be shipped here
and put on the market "at your own terms."
MORE WEQMAN CO. DISCLOSURES.
Former Bookkeeper of Company Gives Interest-
ing Information Regarding Banking Trans-
actions Before Special Master at Hearing—
"Director of Finance" Also Examined.
(Special to The Review.)
AUBURN, N. Y., March 8.—Further evidence of
a most interesting nature was brought out at a
new hearing in the bankrupt case of the Wegman
Co., held before Referee Irving S. Bacon, acting
as special master last week.
Among those examined was H. H. Hendley,
bookkeeper of the Wegman Co., who gave some
interesting information regarding the handling of
checks and notes which, according to certain bank-
ers, took the form of "check kiting" in various
instances.
Attorney Frank Hodges, of Syracuse, took part
in the examination of J. L. Stewart, who was for
a time, he says, "director of finance" of the bank-
rupt piano company. Mr. Hodges questioned the
witness especially regarding statements made as
to the soundness of the company and the quantity
of the securities as they were represented in the
letters to prospective buyers sent out by Mr.
Stewart.
These letters, which were quoted from in part
by the attorney, contained alluring statements re-
garding the soundness of the paper which the
company wished to dispose of to raise funds. The
information in the statement, the witness declared,
he got from a study of the factory and things
which had been told him, and also from a study
of the "piano game" before he came to Auburn.
He insisted that at the time he wrote the letters
that he believed that Mrs. Julia Wegman Page
and Henry Wegman were financially responsible.
The hearing was adjourned until next Tuesday
morning, when the further financial matters of the
defunct company will be gone into even more fully
than before.
MIX=UP IN BARKER CO. AFFAIRS.
Trustee in Bankruptcy Anxious to Learn Just
Who Should Get the Money Collected.
(Special to The Review.)
HARTFORD, CONN., March 8.—The affairs of the
Barker Piano Co., bankrupt, of this city, are caus-
ing no end of trouble to the trustee in bankruptcy
and the courts in an effort to find out just who is
entitled to the money collected or that will be col-
Kohler & Campbell, Inc., it was recently found that lected by the trustees.
The Barker concern, which did a large instalment
22 per cent, have been with this firm for ten years
or over, and that as high as 51 per cent, have been business, disposed of its claim to the Commercial
in Lheir employ five years or more. This is con- Security Co., Chicago.; on the other hand, several
sidered by the officials of the company a very good piano manufacturers have sold the Barker Co.
record, owing to the fact that several hundred per- pianos on additional sales agreements. Both the
sons aie employed all the year around. It speaks Commercial Security Co. and the manufacturer lay
well for the organization, and is a proof that the claim to the money in the hands of the receiver and
many advantages which are offered employes by the matter is now in the hands of Judge Thomas
Kohler & Campbell have worked out practically as in the United States District Court for decision.
planned.
APPRECIATES "SALESMANSHIP."
GET DAMAGES FOR_ UNFAIR RATES.
CI.KYEI.ANI>, O., March G, 1915.
Gentlemen: I wish to congratulate you upon the
Shippers Can Recover from Discrimination
quality of the articles appearing in your paper each
Provided Claims Were Filed Before August
month under the heading "Salesmanship."
28, 1907—Affects Thousands of Cases.
Personally I would be glad, to see you enlarge
"No matter at what date unfair rates and dis- this department of your paper as it is just what
crimination were practiced on business firms prior we piano salesmen need. It is bound to elevate the
to the enactment of the Hepburn rate law, shippers piano business. Keep up the good work.
Very truly yours,
ROY T. DAVIS.
may recover damages for such, providing their
claims were filed 'before August 28, 1907."
This decision, rendered by the United States
Supreme Court, at Washington, D. C, affects thou-
sands of business firms throughout the country,
and was handed down in the case of Henry E
Meeker, a New York coal dealer, who recovers
mean good sales and good profits.
For Sheet Music, Player-piano
$116,000 from the Lehigh Valley railroad for claims
Rolls and Phonograph Records.
dating back to 1900. Thousands of other claims
Afford perfect protection and
instant accessibility. Made in a
were filed within the first year after the law rate
variety of styles and beautiful fin-
went into effect, and on all of these the Interstate
ishes.
Commerce Commission has been authorized to act
Write to-day for Illustrated
Catalog and Trade Prices
in favor of the shippers.
Style E.
The railroads sought to limit recovery of claims
1W.
34th Street
Tindale Cabinet Company New
York
to within two years before the passage of the act.
TINDALE
Music Cabinets