Music Trade Review

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FEBRUARY 19,
1921
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SUES BANK FOR HEAVY DAMAGES
RENEWED ACTIVITY IN AKRON
REGISTER TRADE=MARK "MASTER"
Bell Bros. Piano Co. Charges That Telegram
from Bank Hinting at Insolvency Caused Sub-
stantial Losses to That Concern
Resumption of Work in Rubber Plants Has
Good Effect on Music Business
Argentine Firm Makes Application for This
Mark Covering Pianos, Talking Machines, Ac-
cessories and Many Kinds of Merchandise
February 14.—Suit for $450,-
000 damages has been brought in the United
States District Court here by the Bell Brothers
Piano Co., of Muncie, Ind., against the Mer-
chants' National Bank of Muncie. It is charged
in the bill of complaint that the defendant de-
stroyed the business of the plaintiff by making
alleged false and misleading statements in a
telegram sent to the Wilcox & White Co., of
Meriden, Conn.
The telegram complained of is set forth as
follows: "If you do not hurry up and complete
your consolidation with Bell Brothers Piano
Co. they will become insolvent." The effect of
the telegram, it is said, was that the recipients,
the Wilcox & White Co., declined to carry out
certain proposed financial arrangements, which,
the plaintiffs say, has hindered them from con-
ducting a profitable business such as they other-
wise could have done.
It is averred by the plaintiffs that they had
always carried on their business of manufac-
turing pianos and players in a manner to be
held in good credit and that they were prosper-
ing when the defendant announced they were
to become insolvent. The plaintiffs say that
prior to January 1, 1920, they manufactured
pianos and players at the rate of one hundred
a month and that the Wilcox & White Co. had
entered into an arrangement to have the plain-
tiff increase its output and manufacture all the
instruments it could for the Wilcox & White Co.
The plaintiff says that the Wilcox & White
Co. had agreed to advance $15,000 and did ad-
vance that amount, so that by May 1, 1920, the
plaintiff company was able to furnish the Wil-
cox & White Co. fifty instruments a month
over the plaintiff's normal output. It is averred
that the Wilcox & White Co. was ready and
about to increase its loan to $50,000 when the
plaintiff should have increased its output by
one hundred pianos and players a month.
It is said that when the Wilcox & White Co.
received the telegram from the Muncie bank it
refused to deal further with the plaintiff. It is
said also that the plaintiff had contracted for
large quantities of materials and that because
of its inability to finance the deal without the
aid of the Wilcox & White Co. its net assets
of. $249,000 became impaired, so that, finally,
they were a total loss.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.,
MOVING OF DEBTORS CAUSES LOSS
Exodus of Workers from Akron District Re-
sults in Trouble for Music Dealers
AKRON, O., February 14/—It is estimated, con-
servatively, by Akron music dealers that sev-
eral hundred thousand dollars were lost by
them in the past year by reason of rubber
workers leaving the city without first making
settlement for pianos and phonographs, for
which they were paying in instalments. One
dealer said, this week, that in some instances,
through the credit bureau, some of those who
left suddenly were located in other cities, but
that dealers were no better off, as it cost more
in transportation and expenses in sending a
representative to the town than the amount due
them from the former customer. Talking ma-
chine dealers were the heaviest losers, it is said.
The exodus began last July and still is in
progress.
FOSTER CO. INCREASES CAPITAL
The Foster Piano Co., New York, has in-
creased its capital from $25,000 to $100,000, ac-
cording to an announcement made on Tuesday
of this week.
TH£ BEST KNOWN
MUSICAL NAME
IN ThS. WORLD.
AKRON, O., February 14.—Although collections
are reported slow, Akron music dealers, for the
first time in. almost a year, regard the future
optimistically. Partial resumption of the larger
rubber-working plans has caused them to renew
activities and salesmen are more on the alert
for prospective buyers than at any time in the
past eight months. The month of January was
quiet for most all downtown dealers, but Febru-
ary is proving considerably better, especially
for talking machines.
H. J. Groeneveld, secretary of the Kratz Piano
Co., told a representative of The Review this
week that music dealers of Akron are encour-
aged over the outlook for the future and that
while the majority of the dealers are well stocked
up and are still receiving their regular allotments
monthly from the manufacturers, still some
pianos and talking machines are moving and
small merchandise and record sales are on the
increase. "Since Christmas business has been
quiet," he said. "We know the people have
money, for they made it when Akron was boom-
ing, but the merchant to-day must offer the cus-
tomer a much more attractive inducement than
in normal times." He says there has been a
decided falling off in the number of people leav-
ing Akron the past four weeks, indicated by the
fact that his store is receiving fewer calls for
piano and talking machine cases for packing
purposes. He predicts that business will be
pear normal by April or May. This is the first
time for many months that an Akron music
dealer, when interviewed, admitted that times
really were improving in the face of the worst
business depression periods in the history of the
city.
PIANOS SENT 100 MILES BY TRUCK
Lauter Piano Co. Makes Rush Shipment in
Answer to Dealer's Order
NEWARK, N. Y., February 14.—The Lauter Piano
Co., of this city, is finding times anything but
dull. On Monday of last week the Goodenough
Piano Co., Bethlehem, Pa., one of the most
aggressive Lauter dealers, sent in a rush order
for six Style 420 mahogany Lauter-Humanas.
Four of these instruments had already been sold
by the dealer and immediate delivery promised.
• Consequently it was up to the Lauter Piano Co.
to make good and send the pianos by the quick-
est possible route. 'This was done, even though
it required trucking over more than one hundred
miles of ice-covered country roads. The dealer
got his pianos on time.
Wholesale Manager Schmalzigan is, at pres-
ent, on a trip through the West and is sending
in a stream of orders from dealers along his
line of march.
PACKARD P U N T ON FULL TIME
Piano Factory Reopens With Full Force—
Annual Meeting Held
FORT WAYNE, INII., February 14.—After having
been closed for several weeks the Packard
piano factory has reopened with full forces.
"The length of time we will operate depends
entirely on business conditions," said A. S. Bond,
president of the company.
The old officers of the company were re-elected
at the annual meeting held at the plant last
month. A. S. Bond is president; J. H. Bass,
vice-president; J. M. Kuhns, secretary; C. J.
Scheimann, treasurer; W. H. Wiebke, assist-
ant secretary and treasurer, and H. W. Bond,
superintendent. These men, together with G.
M. Leslie and F. D. Bond, comprise the board
of directors.
American manufacturers of the trade-mark
"Master" should be interested in protecting their
rights in South America. Word has been re-
ceived by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce ir>. Washington that the firm of Halle
& Co. has applied to the Argentine Government
tor the registration of the word "Master" for
goods of several classes, among them being
pianos, talking machines and all accessories com-
ing under Class 10.
In view of the fact that in Argentina owner-
ship of a trade-mark is based on the priority of
registration, and not of use, as in the United
States, it would be well for American manufac-
turers who have not authorized the Argentine
registration of this mark to begin action for
annulment. Under the Argentine law annul-
ment proceedings may be brought within one
year from the time when the facts came to the
knowledge of the owner of the trade-mark, or
within three years from date of registration.
NEW CONCERN OPENS IN CANTON, 0 .
Van Fossen-Smiley Piano Co. to Occupy Quar-
ters at 426 Market Ave., South
CANTON, O., February 14.—The Van Fossen-
Smiley Piano Co., recently incorporated, will
open its store at 426 Market avenue, south, next
week. The personnel of the new company in-
cludes several men who are identified with the
piano business in Canton.
S. B. Van Fossen, president, was formerly
manager for the J. W. Brown Piano Co. and
has been associated with several leading piano
houses in Ohio.
Charles Smiley, vice-president and assistant
general manager, has been identified with Can-
ton music houses for more than twenty-five
years. For seventeen years he has been with
the Klein & Heffelman Co. and eight years with
the J. W. Brown Piano Co.
Other officers of the company are: S. Paul
Bowers, vice-president; C. H. Van Fossen, treas-
urer; Harold W. Kinney, secretary, and L. J.
Menegay, superintendent of the service depart-
ment.
KRANICH & BACH HOLD ELECTION
At the meeting of the board of directors of
Kranich & Bach, held last week, the officers and
directors were all re-elected for the coming year
and are as follows: Louis P. Bach, president; J.
B. Schlosser, vice-president and treasurer, and
Helmuth Kranich, secretary. In addition to the
above officials, the directors include Louis H.
Maier, Philip Schlosser, Conrad Schlosser and
Victor Kranich.
MRS. GEO. P. BENT BACK IN U. S.
SEATTI.K, WASH., February 11.—Mrs. George P.
Bent and her daughter, Miss Barbara Bent, ar-
rived recently on the "Korea Maru" from Japan,
where they went with George P. Bent, the well-
known piano man, who is now on his trip around
the world. After a short visit in this city and
also in Portland and San Francisco, Mrs. Bent
expects to return to her home in Los Angeles.
ITALIAN IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
Recent modifications of Italian import and
export restrictions affect musical instruments.
Pianos, which are included in the list of articles
under Schedule A, require an import license
when imported by private individuals. No li-
cense is required to export these instruments.
THE BEST PROFIT
PRODUCER FOR THE
DEALER IN THE TRADE.