Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
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The Patent Law Commission.
But it was protests on the part of foreign
manufacturers and inventors that caused
IMPORTANT DEBATES ON ISSUES OF GREAT
the formation of the commission. One of
MOMENT TO INVENTORS AND PATENTEES.
the principal grievances was that the
• The commission appointed by President foreigner was not entitled to file caveats,
McKinley to revise the patent and trade- by which the American is enabled privately
mark laws of the United States and to to disclose his invention before applying
bring them into conformity with the inter- for a patent. Complaints have been lodged
national agreements made in Paris in 1883, that the general privileges given foreigners
in Madrid in i8yi, and in Brussels a year under the American patent system are not
ago, met in Chicago last week. Judge equal to those enjoyed by citizens.
This discrimination, it has been pointed
Peter S. Grosscup of that city, A. R. Gree-
ley, assistant commissioner of patents, and out, is particularly noticeable in the matter
Francis Forbes, a New York patent lawyer, of determining priority of invention.
constitute the commission. Mr. Forbes is The American inventor's right to priority
also secretary of the United States Trade- begins with the date at which the inven-
Mark Association. The sessions were held tion was made and disclosed to others,
in the United States District Court Room, but foreigners are restricted to the time of
. Monadnock Building. A notable array of filing application for patents in this coun-
lawyers was present. Jiidge Grosscup was try. It has been proposed to admit proof
of filing application in any other country
made chairman of the commission.
Congress provided at its last session for as establishing the date of invention.
In return for such concessions it is pro-
the commission and cut out its work for it.
The members are all familiar with the posed to urge upon the International
patent laws of the principal European Union the modification of a feature of
governments as well as of the United great importance to American inventors
States, and they are therefore deemed es- known as ''delay of priority."
pecially fitted for the work assigned to
The commission have heard arguments
them. It was explained at the outset that on all these points by prominent patent
American inventors and manufacturers lawyers. The trend of their remarks was
who have attempted to dispose of their that American inventors should at all
ideas and products in foreign countries times have special privileges, and that if a
have experienced much difficulty and many foreign inventor were allowed to file a
annoyances because of lack of uniformity caveat he could establish prior claims in a
in the laws of different nations on the foreign land. Some, however, contended
subject of patents, trade-marks and names. that the United States Government must
\ \ JE have already found great increase in our autumn
^ * business for 1898, and we would advise those deal-
ers who handle the Hardman Piano and the Standard
Piano (which we also control), or either of them, as well as
those who wish to take territory now unoccupied, to send
in their orders at as early a date as possible, as indications
now point to a larger demand than we have known in
many years. We do not wish to disappoint our friends
later on and early orders will prevent this result.
meet its treaty obligations while carefully
guarding the interests of American invent-
ors.
The commission will sit in Chicago all of
this month and will take these matters into
consideration. The law provides that the
report of the commission shall be made to
the next Congress; that it shall not only
indicate proposed changes in the present
law, but state the reasons leading the com-
missioners to recommend modifications.
Call for the Raymore.
The Raymore Piano Co., of Albany,
N. Y., are feeling just now the improved
conditions prevalent in this industry. Their
very complete plant is being taxed to its
utmost to fill recent orders which are com-
ing in Ofbm all sections of the country.
Some big shipments are now being pre-
pared for Western representatives of the
Raymore piano.
Victimized Waters.
Among the many prominent business
houses victimized by Mary Wilkins, who
has been passing off at the swell hostelries
in this city, as the "Countess Zingara,"
was Horace Waters & Co. of Fifth avenue.
They let her have two pianos and also gave
her considerable good money in change for
bad checks. The Countess has been held
i n 1,000 bail for the Grand Jury.
The agency for the Richmond piano has
been secured by the Oliver Ditson Co.
the fiardman
PIANO
IS THE
Best and Easiest Selling Instrument of the Highest Class
EVER PLACED ON THE MARKET. EVERY REASONABLE INDUCEMENT, AS TO PRICE,
TERMS AND TERRITORY (IF UNOCCUPIED) GIVEN TO THE RIGHT SORTOF DEALERS.
WE ALSO CONTROL E. G HARRINGTON & CO. (INCORPORATED), MANUFAC-
TURERS OF THE VERY BEST AND MOST POPULAR FIRST-CLASS, MEDIUM PRICED
INSTRUMENT, THE
Standard Piano.
"A WORD TO THE WISE IS SUFFICIENT." MANY
DEALERS ARE HANDLING MOST SUCCESSFULLY
THIS SUPERB SELLER. ALMOST EVERY STYLE OF
CASING COMBINED WITH ADMIRABLE, MUSICAL
QUALITIES
WRITE
US—OR BETTER STILL—CALL UPON
WHEN IN NEW YORK AND
YOU
WILL SFE
US
WHAT MONEY
ADVANTAGES WE CAN GIVE YOU
HARDMAN, PECK &
138 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK.
Co.,