r
June 6, 1925.
PRESTO
FRAUD IN ADVERTISING
FOUGHT BY BRITISH
13
NEW STYLE ADAM SCHAAF
Adam Schaaf, Inc., 319
South Wabash avenue,
Chicago, has announced
a new style soon to be
ready for the trade. The
addition of the new in-
strument to the already
extensive line is signifi-
cant in the fact that it is
an achievement in art
grand production. It is
an authentic Queen Anne
model and is historically
correct.
A beautiful display of
the entire Adam Schaaf
line has been arranged
for the visiting dealers
during convention week
and hope was expressed
this week that the new
Queen Anne model would
be ready for exhibition.
T h e production depart-
ment is busily engaged
in the o u t p u t of art
g r a n d s and the new
model promises to be
l e a d e r of the Adam
Schaaf line.
The case of the Queen
Anne model is unusually
fine, hut no sacrifice in
tone and general con-
struction has been made
to achieve this point. Its
tone quality is of the
same character as that of
other Adam Schaaf lead-
ers. It fulfills the great
purpose of the company
and is a splendid exam-
ple of the realization of
the ambition of a pro-
gressive house.
Federation of Music Industries Directs Par-
ticular Activity Against Misrepresentation
in Presenting Pianos for Sale at Retail.
The Federation of British Music Industries made
fraudulent piano advertising an important and com-
prehensive topic at its annual convention held in
^landudno, Wales, May 19 and 23. The activities of
he federation are directed particularly against the
methods of presenting pianos of the mongrel kind
assembled in factories of sorts, composed largely of
cheap imported parts, which goods in their final
J te generally have to masquerade under some
itious name before they can find any sale what-
The federation recently prosecuted a dealer for
selling a piano attached to which was a description
suggesting that the piano was manufactured by some
person other than the actual manufacturer, and asked
the court for a nominal sentence on the ground that
the case was brought as a warning to others who
commit offenses against the Merchandise Marks
Act, 1887.
The defendant, through counsel, pleaded guilty, but
urged trade custom, and produced in extenuation of
sentence a well-known catalogue, which offers such
fictitious name plates to the trade.
The court found the defendant guilty and imposed
a tine of 40s., with £ 5 5s. costs. The defendant,
agreed to take back the piano so sold and to refund
the purchase price. The penalty provided by the
Merchandise Marks Act for the above mentioned
offense is imprisonment with or without hard labor
for not more than four months, or a fine not exceed-
ing £20.
In view of this successful prosecution by the fer-
eration the following definition by the federation of
the influence of the Merchandise Marks Act on the
piano industry and its trade customs is interesting:
The Merchandise Marks Act, 1'87, prohibits the
application to goods of a false trade description, as
defined in the act; and the sale, or exposing for sale,
or having in possession for sale or any purpose of
DECKER
mJ
EST. 1856 51 SON
Grand, Upright
and
Welte-Mignon
(Licensee)
Reproducing
(Electric)
Pianos and Players
of Recognized
Artistic Character
Made by a Decker Since 1856
699-703 East 135th Street
New York
E. Leins Piano Co.
Makers of Pianos and
Player Pianos That Are
Established L e a d e r s
Correspondence from Reliable
Dealers Invited
Factory and Offices, 304 W. 42nd Si.
NEW YORK
A QUALITY PRODUCT
FOR OVER
QUARTER OFA CENTURY
trade or manufacture goods to which a false trade
description is applied, constitutes an offense against
the act. It would be wrong, for example, to apply
to a German piano a stencil suggesting that the piano
was made in Great Britain, or vice versa.
Should a dealer advertise or otherwise hold himself
out to be a manufacturer of pianos when, in point of
fact, he does not manufacture, it would probably be
held to be an offense on his part to put his name on
any piano whatsoever in such a way as to suggest
that he actually manufactured the instrument. On
the other hand, a dealer who holds himself out as
such—and not as a manufacturer—would be safe in
putting his or any non-copyright name on any instru-
ment because, as he does not hold himself out to be
a manufacturer, it cannot be inferred that his name,
being on the instrument, is a claim to the manufac-
ture thereof.
The case of the manufacturer who is also a dealer
is more difficult. If a manufacturer puts his name
on any instrument not actually of his own manufac-
ture, that circumstance would probably render him
liable to penalties under the act, inasmuch as the
fact of his holding himself out to be a manufacturer
would lead to the impression that any piano bearing
his name was in fact manufactured by him.
T. C. Wright, Frank I. Wesley and H. H. Mason.
The new nominating committee is composed of N.
M. Lewis, E. J. Howes and Paul Hayn.
Victor G. Darmand, who for twenty years was con-
nected with the B. F. Wood Music Co., Boston, re-
cently joined the outside sales force of Carl Fischer,
Inc. , New York.
Builders 01 Incomparable
[PIANOS, PLAYERS^REPRODUCING HAN05
THE BALDWIN
CO-OPERATIVE
PLAN
TRADE ASSOCIATION OF
TORONTO HOLDS ELECTION
will increase your sales and
solve your financing problems.
Ernest D. Gray Chosen to Head Organization of
Retail Piano Dealers for Ensuing Year.
Write to the nearest office
for prices.
The annual meeting of the Toronto Retail Piano
Dealers' Association, Toronto, Out., was held recent-
ly at the National Club with President T. C. Wright
in the chair. At the conclusion of an interesting
business session the following new officers were
elected: President, Ernest D. Gray; vice-president,
Frank Wilks; secretary-treasurer, V. V. Wakelam.
The new executive committee is composed as follows:
POOLE
-BOSTON-
CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS
LOUISVILLE
INCORPORATED
CHICAGO
DALLAS
ST. LOCI8
DENVER
NEW YORK
SAN FRANCISCO
GRAND AND UPRIGHT PIANOS
AND
PLAYER PIANOS
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