Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
11
a natural result of improved communication, but TROWBR1DGE CO.'S PLANT DAMAGED
neither of these classes of distribution shut out
the specialist. The piano merchant's opportuni- By Fire on Saturday Last—Thought to Have
President Werlein Advocates Meeting This
ties are not decreased by the introduction of
Been
Incendiary's
Work—Loss
About
Class of Competition by Similar Methods—
these varied forms of merchandising, but simply
$3,500—Covered by Insurance.
Recommends Greater Use of the Mails.
bring about the greater necessity for his special-
izing more closely, and being able by his indi-
(Special to The Review.>
(Supplied by Chairman Press Committee.)
Franklin, Mass., Nov. G, 1905.
In August last an order was issued by the vidual judgment to select a line of wares which
The large factory of the Trowbridge Piano Co.
Post Office Department authorizing the designa- will be more acceptable to the purchaser with
came very near being totally destroyed Friday
tion by number of each mail box in use on rural his assurances of the excellence of the article.
"There will always be a class of bargain seekers night by a fire which was discovered by Engi-
routes, making it possible for mail matter to be
delivered without any address other than the who are willing to purchase pianos that are neer Steere of the power station of the Union
number of the box on the route to be reached. cheap. The piano merchant must cater to that Electric Light Co., which is near by. The engi-
The object of this order was to facilitate the de- class, as well as to the class that wants only neer's attention was first attracted by the elec-
livery of mail on rural routes where there ex- what is good, and is willing to pay for it. It must tric fire alarm on the outside of the building.
isted several families of the same name. The be his constant aim to reduce the number of cheap The residences of Mrs. Edwin Trowbridge, the
Post Office Department early in July made public buyers, by having the cheap instrument and owner, and Charles E. Walker, manager, are also
the proposition with a view to bringing out any thoroughly exploiting its cheapness. In exploiting connected to the electric alarm, and they were
objections that might exist. No objections being the cheap article, he must not fail to make a awakened from their slumbers. Mr. Walker ar-
offered against it, the rule was adopted. But im- comparison between it and the better instrument rived on the scene a few minutes before the
mediately thereafter a number of protests were at all times. If this course should be generally alarm was sounded. Ah the hose and hook and
received by the department. Some strong ones adopted by the piano merchants, then we can ladder companies responded, and soon several
were also made to President Werlein by mem- constantly reduce the business of the mail order well directed streams were being thrown into the
bers of the National Association of Piano Deal- houses. We must pursue precisely similar tac- burning plant. In connection with these, the au-
ers, who discerned in this order an opportunity tics with the department store, except we have tomatic sprinklers in the interior were also del-
for the mail order houses to circularize exten- another remedy to stop that, which might be uging that part of the building where the fire
was located with several good streams of water.
sively and without addresses promiscuously so- more effective.
The varnishes, which were kept in this section
licit trade from all sections.
of the building, helped to feed the flames, which
Always alert to the interests of the members
SMITH & NIXON IN MANILA.
were finally drowned out shortly before midnight.
of the Association, President Werlein immediate-
The Smith & Nixon Piano Co., of Cincinnati,
ly entered into correspondence with the Post-
From all appearances the fire started on the
master General, with the result that he received have received the following communication from exterior of the building, and burned up through
a full explanation of the order and its method of Mrs. C. T. Fremont, Manila, P. I., which virtually the boiler, screw, varnish and case rooms to the
operation. The correspondence is too lengthy to speaks for itself:
roof. At 2 o'clock next morning the fire broke
"Gentlemen—The Smith & Nixon piano arrived out again, but it was extinguished by the em-
reproduce here, but members will be interested
in Mr. Werlein's report, together with his com- in good shape, having stood the various changes ployes who were left to watch the factory. Mon-
ments upon the mail order house and department of weather splendidly, and was found, when day morning the employes who did not depend
placed in our nome to be in exquisite tone. Af- upon the power were at work, while other em-
store competition which follows:
"A short time ago I was addressed by several ter so long a journey we think this a remarkable ployes were clearing up the debris. The pianos
members of our association in reference to op- evidence of the superiority of your pianos, and and stock in the factory were valued at $50,000,
posing the carrying out of an order of the Post we are glad to express our pleasure in having while the factory and machinery is valued at a
such a fine instrument."
Office Department, relative to the numbering of
like sum. The fire was eitner set by a spark from
rural free delivery boxes, thus making it possible
a locomotive on the railroad, or by an incendiary.
for mail matter to be delivered without any ad-
The loss, as roughly estimated this morning,
RISSER TO BUILD RECITAL HALL.
dress beyond giving the number of the box on
will reach $3,500, covered by insurance. There
C. E. Risser, of Ihe Risser Music Co., has ar- is no watchman employed by the company. The
the route designated.
"The argument presented was that this order ranged to build a very handsome recital hall, and automatic fire alarm no doubt saved the factory
was directly in the interest of the mail order piano warerooms on Ninth street, near Walnut, from being totally destroyed.
houses. Beyond the correspondence enclosed I Des Moines, la. The hall will occupy the first
have taken no action in the direction requested, floor of the building, the second floor being di-
COMPLAIN OF INSUFFICIENT POSTAGE.
for the reason that I believe that the piano dealer vided into piano parlors. It will be ready for
Carelessness of correspondents in attaching the
of to-day should be able to use the same weapons occupancy in the spring.
required postage stamps to foreign letters cause
as the mail order house, and protect himself by
annoyance and expense to the parties addressed.
the same methods.
DAY'S PIANO STOCK DAMAGED.
The German Consuls refer to this as follows:
"If this method of circularizing is an advan-
"There seems to be a greater number of letters
The George B. Day piano store, Columbus, 0.,
tageous one for the promiscuous mailing of cir-
coming
from America with insufficient postage
culars, why should we, as a national organization, suffered $800 damage through a fire which oc-
oppose what is evidently in the interests of freer curred in their building at 70-80 East Gay street than at any previous time. Numerous persons
last week. The stock was ready to be moved to have recently called at the consulate, showing let-
mail communication?
"The mail order business is one that is profit- new quarters when the fire was discovered, as ters on which they have been obliged to pay 5,
able to any concern that will undertake it. Many the lease in the building had expired Tuesday. 10, 15, and in some instances 20 cents postage.
These matters appear small, but there are few
piano buyers may be reached profitably through The damage was covered by insurance.
things which so irritate a business man as being
no other method. If each piano dealer will take
obliged to pay penalty postage on letters and
up the matter of offering a cheap piano to com-
HIGH PRAISE FOR BEHNING PIANO.
printed circulars. Many of the business houses
pete with the mail order proposition, and thor-
oughly circularize the territory directly adjacent
Huckins Music House, Trenton, Mo., are carry- in America forward packages of circulars in
to him and pursue this course for a few years, ing some very effective advertising for the Behn- sealed envelopes requiring letter postage which
the mail order house will cease to be a factor in ing piano. They recently published a map of could be sent as printed matter."
the piano business of the country. It is prac- North and South America, with a piano in the
tically useless for the piano dealer to stand back foreground, large enough to cover a territory
The Will A. Watkin Co., of Dallas, Tex., were
and indulge in the platitudes about 'how worth- from Chicago to Rio de Janeiro. It was accom- well in evidence at the Texas State Fair. They
less the mail order piano is' unless he is in posi- panied by the words, "The Western Hemisphere distributed a handsome souvenir containing a pic-
tion to furnish such an instrument, where the Holds No Better Pianos Than the Behning."
ture of the A. B. Chase piano, with the inscrip-
customer insists upon it after he has had point-
tion, "Meet Me at Watkins." In their warerooms
ed out in detail the defective construction, and
they recently gave a recital, in which the A. B.
RULES SHOULD BE ADOPTED HERE.
has had explained the poor musical tone, and
Chase piano was used, a very fashionable au-
in fact has been shown conclusively that it is
Organ grinders in Verviere, Belgium, must dience being in attendance.
a thump box. The mail order piano must be met keep their instruments in tune. Every morning
with a similar proposition, but it must be with they are required to go before the police superin-
Seven hundred and fifty-three Burdett organs
the added honest statement that both are worth- tendent and play their instruments. The organs
were shipped by the Hobart M. Cable Co. from
less.
which chance to be out of tune must be set in their factory at Freeport, 111., during the month
"I once said that the department store is a nat- order before a license to play on the streets will of October. Who can say that the organ trade is
dead when we have this record?
ural evolution; similarly the mail order house is be granted.
MAIL ORDER HOUSES.
POOLE
Appeal to cultivated tastes. They are
marvels of beauty and form at once a
valuable accessory to any piano store
5 and 7 APPLETON STREET, BOSTON, MASS.
PIANOS