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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PIANO MAN ARRESTED UNDER OHIO ADVERTISING LAW.
Ohio Association of Piano Merchants Instrumental in Prosecuting J. W. Sprinkle, Who Denies
Charges—A. L. Rawlings Again in the Toils—Piano Section of Chamber of Commerce.
(Special to The Review.)
CINCINNATI, O., August 17.—J. W. Sprinkle,
uwiur of the Grand Piano Co., 2X West Seventli
street, which was opened a little over two months
ago, lias the distinction of being the first retailer
in the trade in this State to be arrested under the
fraudulent advertising statute of Ohio, the deten-
tion taking place at noon last Thursday.
The Ohio Association of Piano Merchants was
instrumental in causing Sprinkle's arrest, and in
this they were given aid by the Chamber of Com-
merce of this city, which has taken a prominent
part in forcing merchants to live up to the letter
of the law. Attorney Bernard C. Bowen, legal
representative of the piano merchants' organiza-
tion as well as the trade censor in this State,
caused the arrest of Mr. Sprinkle. Action was
taken on two charges. The merchant was first ar-
rested on the ground that he advertised ten prizes
for the solving of a "bird puzzle," which were to
be displayed. The affidavit asserts that there was
no such exhibition. The other deals w-ith the giv-
ing away of a piano, the inference being, it is
claimed, that it was a new instrument, whereas
such was not the case. The diamond ring, also
offered as a prize, is claimed to not have been what
is known as a diamond ring.
Sprinkle was given a preliminary hearing Friday
morning. The case was deferred until next Fri-
day morning.
Sprinkle made the following statement: "It is a
false charge, pure and simple. The prizes were
in the window. It is true we did give away used
pianos, but we did not claim we would dispose of
new instruments. D. J. Jacobs, wholesale jeweler,
this city, has sold me thousands of diamond rings,
and he can testify to the rings being, as adver-
tised."
The arrival of Sprinkle in this city immediately
attracted attention through his use of plenty of
space in the newspapers. It was of the type which
has been frowned upon in this State for more than
a year. Efforts were made, it is intimated, to in-
duce the newspapers to cease the use of the mat-
ter on the ground that the material was against
public policy. The arrest of Sprinkle was the out-
come of a constant watch on the part of Attorney
Bowen, who secured what he deemed sufficient evi-
dence to warrant taking last Thursday's step. The
arrest, coming on the eve of the State convention
of the association, to be held in this city the second
Tuesday in September, will naturally be one of the
topics for discussion at this gathering. As it ap-
pears to be a test case, involving the puzzle scheme
of advertising, the outcome of the case will be
watched with much interest. From present indica-
tions there are likely to be other developments in
the same matter.
Addison L. Rawlings, Newark dealer, is again
under arrest and behind the bars, this time on a
warrant sworn to by R. J. Beaman, representing
the Cincinnati Securities Co. One hundred affi-
davits, charging forgery and manipulation of notes,
were filed by Mr. Beaman in an official capacity.
This company is a creditor to the extent of about
$70,000. Rawlings, after his preliminary hearing,
was released on bond for $6,000. The Cincinnati
Discount Co. is also interested in the adventures
of Rawlings.
A piano section of the Cincinnati Chamber of
Commerce is about to be formed. This move is
the outcome of a conference between President
Beinkamp and Rudolph Wurlitzer, held several
days ago. Quite a number of the members of the
trade are affiliated with the Chamber of Com-
merce, and it was this situation which caused the
two gentlemen to believe that an organization
within the bigger organization would be helpful to
the trade so far as Cincinnati's trade is concerned.
It would eliminate the necessity of the merchants
having their separate organization and secure
much help through forming a branch of the Cham-
ber of Commerce. The latter has an efficient office
organization, and this alone will do away with any
one individual being loaded with office cares in
addition to adequately handling his private affairs.
Divisional Manager Wells, of Steinway & Sons,
left for Nashville Saturday evening upon receipt
of news that his father had broken his hip bone.
Wholesale Manager Summey, of the Cable Com-
pany, is dong considerable traveling in search of
new business. He was away the greater part of
last week, returning Sunday morning and imme-
diately leaving on another trip which will keep him
out of town the remainder of this week.
Business, according to E. E. Roberts, of the
Baldwin Co., is up to the standard of the corre-
sponding time of last August.
"YOUR UDELL WAREHOUSE,"
The Apt Title of a New and Comprehensive
Catalog Just Issued by the Udell Works,
Indianapolis—A Score of Talking Machine
Record Cabinets and Over Seventy Music
Roll Cabinets Illustrated and Described.
An interesting and valuable volume for the talk-
ing machine and music dealer is Catalog No. 48,
just issued by the Udell Works, of Indianapolis,
Ind., under the caption of "Your Udell Warehouse."
It serves to emphasize the fact that the ability of
the Udell Co. to fill orders promptly direct from the
factory serves to place their warehouse facilities
directly at the service of the dealer, thus saving
him from having a large part of his capital tied up
in surplus cabinet stock. The introduction to the
new catalog includes a capable outline of the Udell
policies, with rapid service as its keynote.
In the catalog proper are shown all the leading
cabinets in the Udell line, including sixteen distinct
types of cabinets for various popular styles of Vic-
tor, Columbia and Edison machines and including
those equipped for either vertical or horizontal
filing systems. The section of the catalog devoted
to the cabinets for sheet music and music rolls is
particularly interesting, however, in that therein
are shown about seventy-five distinct styles of cabi-
nets, from simple box designs to the most ornate
cases designed to conform with the popular styles
of piano finishes and music room furnishings. By
far the greater number of the cabinets are designed
for player rolls, with capacities ranging from fifty
to 216 rolls.
The descriptions accompanying the various cabi-
nets are so complete that there is no opening for
guesswork on the part of the dealer, and that the
Udell Works is in a position to offer this great
range of cabinet styles for the dealer and his trade
not only impresses one with the extent of its manu-
facturing facilities, but also with the storage ca-
pacity of its plant. The catalog as it stands actually
represents at least several hundred square feet of
floor space to the dealer, to say nothing of the capi-
tal saved by not having it tied up in surplus
cabinet stock.
The finishes of the various cabinets are guaran-
teed to be of the standard Udell quality, with which
the trade is already acquainted. That the catalog is
well illustrated and handsomely printed goes with-
out saying, because it is a Udell product.
R. K. Paynter, vice-president of William Knabe
& Co., New York, will leave to-day for a short
Canadian trip.
Emerson
PLOTER-PIANO
ENABLES EVERYBODY TO RENDER
ARTISTICALLY THE BEST MUSIC OF
EVERY KIND
15
TOPEKA MANAGER BREAKS DOWN.
(Special to The Review.)
TOPEKA, KANS., August 16.—E. P. Hubbard,
manager of the J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music store
here, has been forced to give up his position on
account of a nervous breakdown. Mr. Hubbard's
condition is the result of overwork and close con-
finement to the store. He has not severed his con-
nection with the Jenkins Co., but will leave for an
indefinite stay in either Arizona or New Mexico.
W. C. King, who has been with the Jenkins Co. for
several years, is now in charge of its Topeka store.
SPRINKLERS SAVE PIANO PLANT.
(Special to The Review.)
VVoRCESTHR, MASS., August 16.—What threatened
to be a serious fire broke out on Thursday morn-
ing in the building occupied by the Weber Piano
Co. at Jackson and Beacon streets, this city, but
the quick action of the automatic sprinkler sys-
tem served to check the flames until the fire de-
partment responded. The loss was about $300.
HOLDS FORMAL OPENING.
The Tri-City Piano Co., Davenport, la., recently
held the formal opening of its new quarters at
Third and Main streets, that city. The company,
of which A. E. Nelson is president and J. O. Ben-
son is manager, handles the Haddoff and other
makes of pianos and has been located in Daven-
port for the past five years.
An Acoustical
Triumph Won
by American
Enterprise
The correct and resolute stand
taken by the American Steel & Wire
Co. years ago, that the demand for
extra strong hard strings has no
justification in musical accomplish-
ment, is being more and more realized
daily by piano manufacturers.
The products of this house possess
all the strength that any piano ever
requires. The wire is softer, and its
vibrations produce a more domi-
nant fundamental and fewer higher
partials than the hard strings in de-
mand years ago.
The absolute uniformity, tensile
strength without hardness—wire that
vibrates so evenly throughout when
actuated by the proper amount of
energy, that richness and brilliancy
result, has been the great accomplish-
ment of the American Steel & Wire
Co.
The resultful achievements of this
house in the domain of tone are now
recognized more than ever, and the
fact that the products of this house
are receiving the highest approval
from the users of pianos is a still
higher point gained in acoustical
accomplishment.
DEALERS IN PRINCIPAL
CITIES AND TOWNS
American Steel & Wire Company
WRITE FOR CATALOG
Ckicago, New York, Worcester, CleTela»d, Fittt-
burgb, Denrer. Export representative: U. S. Steel
Products Co., New York. Pacific Coast represen-
tative: U. S. Steel Products Co., San Francisco,
Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle.
I EMERSON PIANO COMPANY.)
BOSTON
ESTABLISHED (840
MASS.