Music Trade Review
Issue: 1912 Vol. 54 N. 25 - Page 13
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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
13
CONTESTS IN AUSTRALIA.
NEW HOUSE IN SPRINGFIELD.
TRADE DOINGS IN MILWAUKEE.
Court in That Country Holds That Check Given
as Prize Is Worth Face Value in Cash—
Would Prove a Shock to American Concerns.
Sawhill-Dolbeer Piano Co. Opens Ware rooms
with Excellent Line of Pianos and Players.
Heller Piano Co. Takes New Quarters on Grand
Avenue—Good Sales by Ross, Schefft &
Weinman Piano Co.—Edmund Gram Im-
patient to Get Into New Building—Emil O.
Schmidt Visits Branches—Pianos for Sum-
mer Resorts—Other News of Interest.
Those who have been opposed to the contest
method of piano selling, and those who have been
stung by that system will be interested to learn
that even those in far-off Australia have had their
own troubles with the contest problem, although
in that country the courts actually had the nerve
to decide that a check for £10 offered as a prize,
and in accordance with a promise was really a
check for £10, whether or not it was applied to
the purchase of a piano. If such decisions held in
this country, there are a number of concerns who
would have gone bankrupt, even with the backing
of Rockefeller's millions.
In the Australian case the evidence was that,
according to the advertisement, the defendant was
desirous of bringing'this make of piano before the
public, and offered a prize of a Kohler piano to the
person who would first correctly guess the number
of strings in one of such instruments, and prizes
of £10 in value to each other correct guesser. The
plaintiff, having correctly guessed the number, re-
ceived from the defendant a letter stating that the
fir?t prize had been awarded by the delivery of a
piano, and that as he (plaintiff) was also cor-
rect, there wa.s enclosed in the letter a cheque for
£10 in his favor, with the condition attached that
if he bqu^hi a piano from the defendant, the
cheque could be used as part payment, but not
otherwise. It' was also stated in the letter that if
the plaintiff did/'not wish to purchase a piano, he
could pass the' cheque along to any friend who
desired to become a purchaser.
The defendant, for whom Mr. Warren appeared,
contended that he had complied with the terms of
the advertisement by forwarding the cheque for
£10, as being of that value, to any purchaser of
defendant's pianos.
Neville Montagu contended for the plaintiff that
the defendant, having made the promise to give a
prize to the value of £10, and the defendant having
complied with the conditions, and exercised some
skill in doing so, was entitled to recover the
amount, and was not bound to accept the cheque
with a new condition attached. He quoted Hall
vs. Cox, L. R., 1 Q. B. D., where the Court of
Appeal held that the plaintiff was entitled to a
verdict of £1,000, offered by the defendants in his
newspaper, if he, as one of the public, should cor-
rectly guess the probable births and deaths in
London during a forthcoming week, and it was
there held that such competition was not a breach
of the lotteries act.
The magistrate, Mr. Love, in giving his decision,
said that he found there was consideration for the
contract, and on this question of whether it was
an illegal contract, he followed the decision in the
case quoted. His Worship, in referring to section
9 of the small debts act, requiring the court to
give a decision according to equity and good con-
pgience, said he had no hesitation in giving a ver-
dict for the amount claimed and costs.
PIANO MAN MAKES HEROIC RESCUE.
(Special to The Review.)
New Orleans, La., June 17, 1912.
C. G, Medine, a piano salesman of this city and
connected with Philip Werlein, Ltd., recently saved
a young lady from drowning- at the risk of his
own life, while enjoying a short vacation at Alex-
andria, La., and as a result was hailed as a hero
by the local newspapers.
Mr. Medine's many friends have congratulated
him heartily upon his nervy act.
(Special to The Review.)
Springfield, O., June 18, 1912.
The latest addition to the business enterprises
•in this city is the Sawhill-Dolbeer Piano Co.,
which has opened attractive warerooms in rooms
325-7 Fairbanks building. Three rooms have been
elaborately decorated and fitted up to meet the re-
quirements of the business. The heads of the com-
pany, Arthur Dolbeer, of Springfield, and E. W.
Sawhill, of Toledo, were both employed by the
Whitney-Currier Co., of the latter city, and have
a thorough experience in the business. The com-
pany handles Chickering & Sons, Haines Bros.,
Marshall & Wendell and M. Schulz Co. pianos and
player-pianos, as well as reed and pipe organs.
(Special to Tlie Review.)
Milwaukee, Wis., June 18, 1912.
New quarters in the downtown district have
been taken by the Heller Piano Co. at 616-618
Grand avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets,
and will be 'in personal charge of H. Heller, head
of the concern. The H. P. Nelson, Price & Teeple,
Cote and Newman lines are represented by this
company.
Two fine sales of Knabe pianos are reported by
the Ross, Schefft & Weinman Co. as the direct
result of the use of the Knabe by the accompanist
TO FEATURE HALLET & DAVIS LINE. to Jan Kubelik, the famous violinist, on two occa-
sions in Milwaukee during the spring. A Knabe
Koerner Bros. Piano Co., Milwaukee, Appointed
grand, style C, was purchased by the joint socie-
Distributers for That Line in Wisconsin.
ties of the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity congre-
gation, Milwaukee, and a style H grand went
(Special to The Review.)
tc Mrs. John McKenna of Antigo, Wis. A good
Milwaukee, Wis., June 17, 1912.
business in the Behning and Kurtzmann is also
The Hallet & Davis piano will henceforth be
reported by the company.
distributed in Wisconsin by the Koerner Bros.
Edmund Gram, the Steinway representative for
Piano Co., of this city. For some years the Hallet
Wisconsin, is lying awake nights figuring out plans
& Davis has been in charge of the J. B. Thiery
whereby the work of remodeling his new building
Co., and previously its interests were ably repre-
a 1 . 414-41G Milwaukee street will be finished imme-
sented by Andrews, Schubert & Co. "We are
diately. The elaborate decorative scheme in the
going to make the Hallet & Davis our leader," said
interior of the new store is requiring more time
President Koerner. "Personally, I have always
than allowed by contractors and it was not until
held the Boston product in high regard and feel
this week that it was possible to lay the hard-
that we are lucky to be able to become the repre-
wood flooring on the main floor. Mr. Gram has
sentative of it."
been assured that the 'building will be ready for
Among the other changes of lines announced
occupancy on Saturday, June 29, which is nearly
this week by Milwaukee piano merchants, Emil
a month later than contracts called for. Mean-
O. Schmidt, 310 Grand avenue, representing the
while a brisk business is being done in the tem-
Kranich & Bach, Francis Bacon, Seybold and
porary quarters opposite the new building, and not
other lines, has discontinued the Knabe Bros. only is the stock of used instruments cleaned out,
Co. and will pay all of his attention to the leaders.
but new goods are moving so fast that Mr. Gram
will be obliged to rush some of the shipments now
SPECIAL RATES TO NEW YORK.
being prepared at the various factories for his
new store, so that he will be able to supply imme-
Tourist Fares for Summer Announced by Mer-
diate demands. The Gram-Richtsteig piano con-
chants' Association—Suggestion to Sales-
tinues to increase in popularity and Mr. Gram is
men.
keeping his factory "going some"' to fill his local
The Merchants" Association of New York an- requirements wthout cutting down shipments to
other points.
nounces that reduced railway fares for summer
Emil O. Schmidt has returned from a week's
tourists for New'York from most of the Central
West, Far West and Southwest are again in effect, trip through the north central part of Wisconsin,
and will be operated during the months of June, visiting his branch stores and incidentally making
July, August and September, with a thirty-day quite a little business for them. The Stevens
Point and Fond du Lac stores are creating new
return limit.
In dollars and cents the summer tourists' fare records for monthly sales and are making a .repu-
is practically the same as the certificate plan mer- tation equal to that of the Milwaukee agency.
The annual exodus of Milwaukee people to the
chants' rate semi-annually arranged by the Mer-
many
summer resorts in lake regions within a
chants' Association. The tourist fare is authorized
radius of sixty miles of Milwaukee is producing
on the round-trip ticket basis.
Within a month this association will announce a large volume of orders. The summer resort
season started considerably later this year than
the fall, 1912, merchants' rates to New York which
ever
before, due to unfavorable weather condi-
it has arranged from other territories. As in the
past, these rates will be widely advertised by the tions during April and May, and this class of
business has been more brisk than usual for this
customary circular.
time of the year. Many dealers are deriving no,
In the meantime, it is suggested that firms and
small revenue from rentals for used stock which
corporations whose travelers cover the territory
has been standing on the floors for some time by
west of the Alleghanies and east of Denver direct
leasing it for three or four months to resorters,
their salesmen to call the attention of the retail
A number of such rentals eventually lead to sales
trade to these tourists' fares to New York, of
of the used or of new stock.
which full information can be obtained from the
local ticket agents.
FIRE DAMAGES MUSIC STORE.
BUILD ADDITIONTO FACTORY.
Florey Bros., manufacturers of small grand
pianos in Washington, N. J., are building an addi-
tion to their factory which will measure 25 by 45
feet, which will be used for assembling purposes.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, N E W YORK
Manufacturers of
The music store of A. R. Marty, Willows, Cal.,
was recently damaged to the extent of $3,000 by a
fire which destroyed several business buildings in
that city. The loss is covered in part by $2,000
insurance.
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
13
CONTESTS IN AUSTRALIA.
NEW HOUSE IN SPRINGFIELD.
TRADE DOINGS IN MILWAUKEE.
Court in That Country Holds That Check Given
as Prize Is Worth Face Value in Cash—
Would Prove a Shock to American Concerns.
Sawhill-Dolbeer Piano Co. Opens Ware rooms
with Excellent Line of Pianos and Players.
Heller Piano Co. Takes New Quarters on Grand
Avenue—Good Sales by Ross, Schefft &
Weinman Piano Co.—Edmund Gram Im-
patient to Get Into New Building—Emil O.
Schmidt Visits Branches—Pianos for Sum-
mer Resorts—Other News of Interest.
Those who have been opposed to the contest
method of piano selling, and those who have been
stung by that system will be interested to learn
that even those in far-off Australia have had their
own troubles with the contest problem, although
in that country the courts actually had the nerve
to decide that a check for £10 offered as a prize,
and in accordance with a promise was really a
check for £10, whether or not it was applied to
the purchase of a piano. If such decisions held in
this country, there are a number of concerns who
would have gone bankrupt, even with the backing
of Rockefeller's millions.
In the Australian case the evidence was that,
according to the advertisement, the defendant was
desirous of bringing'this make of piano before the
public, and offered a prize of a Kohler piano to the
person who would first correctly guess the number
of strings in one of such instruments, and prizes
of £10 in value to each other correct guesser. The
plaintiff, having correctly guessed the number, re-
ceived from the defendant a letter stating that the
fir?t prize had been awarded by the delivery of a
piano, and that as he (plaintiff) was also cor-
rect, there wa.s enclosed in the letter a cheque for
£10 in his favor, with the condition attached that
if he bqu^hi a piano from the defendant, the
cheque could be used as part payment, but not
otherwise. It' was also stated in the letter that if
the plaintiff did/'not wish to purchase a piano, he
could pass the' cheque along to any friend who
desired to become a purchaser.
The defendant, for whom Mr. Warren appeared,
contended that he had complied with the terms of
the advertisement by forwarding the cheque for
£10, as being of that value, to any purchaser of
defendant's pianos.
Neville Montagu contended for the plaintiff that
the defendant, having made the promise to give a
prize to the value of £10, and the defendant having
complied with the conditions, and exercised some
skill in doing so, was entitled to recover the
amount, and was not bound to accept the cheque
with a new condition attached. He quoted Hall
vs. Cox, L. R., 1 Q. B. D., where the Court of
Appeal held that the plaintiff was entitled to a
verdict of £1,000, offered by the defendants in his
newspaper, if he, as one of the public, should cor-
rectly guess the probable births and deaths in
London during a forthcoming week, and it was
there held that such competition was not a breach
of the lotteries act.
The magistrate, Mr. Love, in giving his decision,
said that he found there was consideration for the
contract, and on this question of whether it was
an illegal contract, he followed the decision in the
case quoted. His Worship, in referring to section
9 of the small debts act, requiring the court to
give a decision according to equity and good con-
pgience, said he had no hesitation in giving a ver-
dict for the amount claimed and costs.
PIANO MAN MAKES HEROIC RESCUE.
(Special to The Review.)
New Orleans, La., June 17, 1912.
C. G, Medine, a piano salesman of this city and
connected with Philip Werlein, Ltd., recently saved
a young lady from drowning- at the risk of his
own life, while enjoying a short vacation at Alex-
andria, La., and as a result was hailed as a hero
by the local newspapers.
Mr. Medine's many friends have congratulated
him heartily upon his nervy act.
(Special to The Review.)
Springfield, O., June 18, 1912.
The latest addition to the business enterprises
•in this city is the Sawhill-Dolbeer Piano Co.,
which has opened attractive warerooms in rooms
325-7 Fairbanks building. Three rooms have been
elaborately decorated and fitted up to meet the re-
quirements of the business. The heads of the com-
pany, Arthur Dolbeer, of Springfield, and E. W.
Sawhill, of Toledo, were both employed by the
Whitney-Currier Co., of the latter city, and have
a thorough experience in the business. The com-
pany handles Chickering & Sons, Haines Bros.,
Marshall & Wendell and M. Schulz Co. pianos and
player-pianos, as well as reed and pipe organs.
(Special to Tlie Review.)
Milwaukee, Wis., June 18, 1912.
New quarters in the downtown district have
been taken by the Heller Piano Co. at 616-618
Grand avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets,
and will be 'in personal charge of H. Heller, head
of the concern. The H. P. Nelson, Price & Teeple,
Cote and Newman lines are represented by this
company.
Two fine sales of Knabe pianos are reported by
the Ross, Schefft & Weinman Co. as the direct
result of the use of the Knabe by the accompanist
TO FEATURE HALLET & DAVIS LINE. to Jan Kubelik, the famous violinist, on two occa-
sions in Milwaukee during the spring. A Knabe
Koerner Bros. Piano Co., Milwaukee, Appointed
grand, style C, was purchased by the joint socie-
Distributers for That Line in Wisconsin.
ties of the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity congre-
gation, Milwaukee, and a style H grand went
(Special to The Review.)
tc Mrs. John McKenna of Antigo, Wis. A good
Milwaukee, Wis., June 17, 1912.
business in the Behning and Kurtzmann is also
The Hallet & Davis piano will henceforth be
reported by the company.
distributed in Wisconsin by the Koerner Bros.
Edmund Gram, the Steinway representative for
Piano Co., of this city. For some years the Hallet
Wisconsin, is lying awake nights figuring out plans
& Davis has been in charge of the J. B. Thiery
whereby the work of remodeling his new building
Co., and previously its interests were ably repre-
a 1 . 414-41G Milwaukee street will be finished imme-
sented by Andrews, Schubert & Co. "We are
diately. The elaborate decorative scheme in the
going to make the Hallet & Davis our leader," said
interior of the new store is requiring more time
President Koerner. "Personally, I have always
than allowed by contractors and it was not until
held the Boston product in high regard and feel
this week that it was possible to lay the hard-
that we are lucky to be able to become the repre-
wood flooring on the main floor. Mr. Gram has
sentative of it."
been assured that the 'building will be ready for
Among the other changes of lines announced
occupancy on Saturday, June 29, which is nearly
this week by Milwaukee piano merchants, Emil
a month later than contracts called for. Mean-
O. Schmidt, 310 Grand avenue, representing the
while a brisk business is being done in the tem-
Kranich & Bach, Francis Bacon, Seybold and
porary quarters opposite the new building, and not
other lines, has discontinued the Knabe Bros. only is the stock of used instruments cleaned out,
Co. and will pay all of his attention to the leaders.
but new goods are moving so fast that Mr. Gram
will be obliged to rush some of the shipments now
SPECIAL RATES TO NEW YORK.
being prepared at the various factories for his
new store, so that he will be able to supply imme-
Tourist Fares for Summer Announced by Mer-
diate demands. The Gram-Richtsteig piano con-
chants' Association—Suggestion to Sales-
tinues to increase in popularity and Mr. Gram is
men.
keeping his factory "going some"' to fill his local
The Merchants" Association of New York an- requirements wthout cutting down shipments to
other points.
nounces that reduced railway fares for summer
Emil O. Schmidt has returned from a week's
tourists for New'York from most of the Central
West, Far West and Southwest are again in effect, trip through the north central part of Wisconsin,
and will be operated during the months of June, visiting his branch stores and incidentally making
July, August and September, with a thirty-day quite a little business for them. The Stevens
Point and Fond du Lac stores are creating new
return limit.
In dollars and cents the summer tourists' fare records for monthly sales and are making a .repu-
is practically the same as the certificate plan mer- tation equal to that of the Milwaukee agency.
The annual exodus of Milwaukee people to the
chants' rate semi-annually arranged by the Mer-
many
summer resorts in lake regions within a
chants' Association. The tourist fare is authorized
radius of sixty miles of Milwaukee is producing
on the round-trip ticket basis.
Within a month this association will announce a large volume of orders. The summer resort
season started considerably later this year than
the fall, 1912, merchants' rates to New York which
ever
before, due to unfavorable weather condi-
it has arranged from other territories. As in the
past, these rates will be widely advertised by the tions during April and May, and this class of
business has been more brisk than usual for this
customary circular.
time of the year. Many dealers are deriving no,
In the meantime, it is suggested that firms and
small revenue from rentals for used stock which
corporations whose travelers cover the territory
has been standing on the floors for some time by
west of the Alleghanies and east of Denver direct
leasing it for three or four months to resorters,
their salesmen to call the attention of the retail
A number of such rentals eventually lead to sales
trade to these tourists' fares to New York, of
of the used or of new stock.
which full information can be obtained from the
local ticket agents.
FIRE DAMAGES MUSIC STORE.
BUILD ADDITIONTO FACTORY.
Florey Bros., manufacturers of small grand
pianos in Washington, N. J., are building an addi-
tion to their factory which will measure 25 by 45
feet, which will be used for assembling purposes.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, N E W YORK
Manufacturers of
The music store of A. R. Marty, Willows, Cal.,
was recently damaged to the extent of $3,000 by a
fire which destroyed several business buildings in
that city. The loss is covered in part by $2,000
insurance.
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).