Scan 33
Musical Courier 1891-05-13: Vol 22 Iss 586, 1891
165 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 500. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1FLECHTER AGAIN.
3Arrested for Fraud and Deceit.
5THE Flechter cases that have been parading in the courts of this city are becoming tiresome and uninteresting, the latest action, reference to which is made in the New York "Times" of May 7, coming within the scope of the Powell-Flechter case, which Flechter lost. The "Times" says:
7* * *
9Victor S. Flechter, dealer in musical instruments, at 23 Union square, this city, was arrested yesterday by Deputy Sheriff Walgerin and held in $3,000 bail, in the suit of J. Beresford Fox, who has brought an action against Flechter to recover damages for fraud and deceit. The affidavits on which the order of arrest was granted are four in number, the first being that of J. Beresford Fox, the complainant, who says: "On the 12th day of July, 1889, defendant, who was at that time, and still is, a dealer in musical instruments in the city of New York, had in his possession at his place of business, and offered for sale to deponent, a certain musical instrument known as a violoncello, representing to deponent that said instrument was of a certain make or kind known as a 'Stradivarius.' That this deponent knew that a genuine 'Stradivarius' violoncello, by reason of its great reputation for superior workmanship and quality of tone, was of great value, and deponent was desirous of securing an instrument of such make.
11"That at the time defendant offered the said violoncello to deponent he stated that it was a genuine 'Stradivarius,' that he kept it concealed because he did not wish people to know he had it, for he intended to take it to Europe, where he could get £600 or over for it, and he advised me not to let the opportunity pass of obtaining a 'Stradivarius.'
13"Defendant several times, in the interviews which I had with him before purchasing said instrument, stated that he was about to start for Europe and would take the instrument with him; that it was worth much more than he chose to ask, but he would let me have it for £600.
15"At the time, and before purchasing said instrument, I, being a stranger in New York city, asked the defendant if there were any other violin dealers in the city, to which defendant replied that there was none of any importance—that he (defendant) did all the business in fine violins. I asked the lowest figure he would accept for the violoncello, and he finally said he would take £550 ($2,740), which I paid to defendant at time of purchase. That I relied wholly and entirely upon the representations of the defendant, and believed them to be true, and bought the said instrument under the belief that it was a genuine 'Stradivarius.' That I have since learned that the said violoncello is not a 'Stradivarius,' but of modern French manufacture and of little value as compared with the value of a genuine 'Stradivarius.'
17"I further say that I have read the affidavits of Pierre A. Josephs and George Gemunder, Jr., verified and annexed hereunto, and that the violoncello therein mentioned as having been examined by each of them at my request is the same instrument heretofore described as having been purchased of defendant by me, and fraudulently represented by said defendant to be a 'Stradivarius.'"
19In substantiation of the charges made by Mr. Fox, affidavit is made by Pierre A. Josephs, who says:
21"I am a resident of the city, county and State of New York. I have been engaged for 40 years past in the experimentation, construction, adjustment and sale of violins, violoncellos, and other stringed musical instruments. I have made careful examination and study of violins and violoncellos of different makes or kinds, and have been many times consulted in regard to the genuineness of such instruments. I am well acquainted with a certain make or kind of violoncello known as a 'Stradivarius,' made at one time at Cremona, Italy, having heretofore carefully examined instruments of that certain make or kind.
23"Some time during the month of December or January last J. Beresford Fox, the plaintiff herein, brought to my place of business in the city of New York a certain violoncello, and requested me to examine the same for the purpose of ascertaining its make or kind. I made a careful examination of said instrument and ascertained, and so reported to Mr. Fox, that the violoncello was of French manufacture, though bearing thereon the label or mark of 'Antonio Stradivarius.'
25"I am well acquainted with the value of a genuine 'Stradivarius' violoncello, and that such an instrument is worth, in good condition, from $3,000 to $5,000. That the said violoncello examined by me at the request of Mr. Fox was worth at the time of examination by me not exceeding $250."
27The affidavit of George Gemunder, Jr., further emphasizes the allegations of the complainant, as follows:
29"I am a resident of the city, county and State of New York. I have been for 18 years past engaged in the business of constructing and selling violins, violoncellos and other musical instruments of that class. In connection with my said business I am well acquainted with violoncellos of different makes and kinds. I am well acquainted with a certain make or kind of violoncello known as a 'Stradivarius,' made many years ago at Cremona, Italy, and which is now of great value by reason of its workmanship and quality of tone.
31Edward J. Delehanty, attorney for Mr. Fox, recites in his affidavit that the summons and complaint in the action were served upon the defendant Flechter on or about April 11, 1891; that no answer to the cause of action, as set forth in the complaint, has been interposed by the said defendant; that on April 30, 1891, Flechter, through his attorney, Benno Loewy, procured from a justice of the Supreme Court an order extending defendant's time to answer, which extension has not yet expired.
33That the deponent Delehanty is informed, and verily believes, the defendant Flechter is about to depart from this State, to wit, to the continent of Europe, and to remain abroad indefinitely. That, in substantiation of this statement, on information, deponent further states that the defendant has given up his residence in the city of New York, and has sent his trunks to the Hotel Dam, where he is at present stopping with his family. That in THE MUSICAL COURIER, a newspaper published in the city of New York, in its issue dated April 29, 1891, was published a statement that Mr. Flechter, the defendant, was preparing to leave for Europe with his family.
35Flechter was admitted to bail yesterday afternoon, his sureties being Louis Hornthal and Joseph Lewis.
37CHICAGO.
39Latest from Our Chicago Representative.
41CHICAGO OFFICE MUSICAL COURIER,
42236 STATE STREET,
43CHICAGO, May 2, 1891.
45TRADE is reported to be much better and collections are also much easier. For a time lately the situation was slightly disheartening; good dealers who were relied on to pay promptly asked for small extensions, but we believe this state of affairs is over with, and orders are coming in freely and money too.
47Messrs. W.L. Thompson & Co. have just issued a new catalogue and report an excellent business in both their Chicago and East Liverpool stores. Mr. W.L. Thompson when last heard from was in Old Point Comfort on his wedding trip.
49Mr. Chas. C. Curtiss, president of the Manufacturers Piano Company, returned this week from a short Western trip and brought with him a stock of orders.
51The Ayres & Wygant Company had a large month's business in April, particularly in their wholesale trade. They are now selling organs at the rate of 1,500 per year. The Palace organs are their line of goods and in pianos they have an excellent variety to choose from, consisting of the Steck, Ivers & Pond, Colby, Jewett and Smith & Barnes and the Conover.
53Mr. Thos. Goggan, of Galveston, Tex., has been in town on a pleasure trip, and while here took occasion to astonish himself with an examination of some of the Chicago manufactories.
55Mr. M. P. Moller, of Hagerstown, Md., has just finished a pipe organ at Ashtabula, Ohio, and is at work on one in Holland, Mich.; he is also making contracts for others in the neighborhood. Mr. Moller visited the Lyon & Healy factory while in Chicago and was very much interested, more particularly in the large reed pipe organ now in course of construction.
57Mr. J. Howard Foote's branch store here has increased its business this year about 40 per cent. An entire new line of mandolins and guitars is now being manufactured by this house right in this city, and so far has not been able to keep up with the demand.
59The A. H. Whitney Company, of Quincy, Ill., adjusted their loss on pianos by accepting 40 per cent. of the sound values, and made an equally satisfactory settlement on the remainder of the damaged stock. This relieves them of all anxiety on that score, and enables them the sooner to turn their attention to repairing damages and resuming business.
61A small music store for the sale of cheap sheet music and small musical merchandise has been opened by Saulfield Brothers, at 231 Wabash avenue. They occupy the south half of the store.
63Mr. Frank Kranz, salesman of the Knabe Baltimore warehouses, is in town on a pleasure trip; as he has been the guest of Messrs. Lyon & Healy it is probable that he will return with a good idea of the wonderful progress and enterprise of Chicago.
65Mr. L. J. Coloney, the financial backer of the Denver Music Company, is dead. The business has been and is now prosperous and will continue in charge of Mr. M. H. Coloney, as heretofore.
67Mr. Louis Dederick, the treasurer of the Manufacturers Piano Co. was unfortunate in having his house burglarized Thursday night last. Over $100 in cash and a large quantity of wearing apparel and silverware were secured by the burglars. Mr. Dederick thinks he has a clue to the culprits.
69Mr. W. F. Decker, of Messrs. Decker Bros., New York, is expected in town to-day. Mr. M. J. Chase, of Messrs. Chase Bros., Muskegon, Mich., was here yesterday. Mr. W. W. Kimball is home again from his Southern trip. Mr. I. N. Camp is in St. Louis for a brief stay. Mr. W. H. Heighton, the treasurer of the Rydman Piano Co., of Des Moines, Ia., is in town.
71Messrs. Julius Bauer & Co. have enlarged their factory premises and have put in several thousand dollars' worth of the finest machinery, and will make everything in their own factory that is produced by most piano manufacturers.
73Messrs. Reed & Sons are still at work on a new method of constructing pianos, which we think will be very interesting when completed. They have upward of a dozen patents now pending in the Patent Office.
75Another trade dinner is announced for May 23, at the Union League Club. No testimonial letters permitted to circulate for signature.
77STENCILMONIALS.
79MANY curious inquiries come to this office referring to stencils or seeming stencils or supposed stencils. Someone in Pennsylvania asks:
81RIDGEWAY, Pa., May 6, 1891.
82Editors Musical Courier:
83Will you kindly state in your paper whether Peek & Son manufacture their piano; also do James & Holstrom make their piano or are these makes stenciled?
84A SUBSCRIBER.
86Peek & Son manufacture each and every Peek & Son piano, now universally known as the "Opera" piano. James & Holstrom should be spelt James & Holstrom, and they make the James & Holstrom pianos and under another name they make the Nilson pianos. Mr. Holstrom is opposed to the stencil but Mr. James is a great believer in the stencil, and he claims that all the great progress made in New York and Boston piano manufacturing would not have taken place had THE MUSICAL COURIER not inaugurated and fought its great stencil war.
88* * *
90There are many reasons why we answer stencil inquiries, but our chief reason for doing so is due to the fact that we receive letters of inquiry, and that is the reason why we answer them. It's a good reason, too. This one, for instance, should be answered with a reply:
92NEWPORT, May 6, 1891.
93Editors Musical Courier:
94Will you kindly inform me if either the Wing & Son or the Swick & Co. are genuine piano manufacturers and would you consider either of them a good piano? Please answer through your paper as I see it every week.
95Yours truly, N. LA ROSE.
97Wing & Son are not manufacturers—ergo stencil. Swick & Co. make the vilest compilations put together and called pianos. They openly announce and brag that they will put any name on the pianos you may ask them to stencil on their boxes. Of course you can readily imagine what kind of trash they make.
99The County Court records of Lucerne County, Pa., and the court of Paterson, N. J., tell just what kind of a lad Swick is.
101Tables of Importance.
103(Compiled by The Musical Courier.) one of two readings
104(Compiled by THE MUSICAL COURIER.) one of two readings
106VALUE OF IMPORTS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
108<table>
109 <tr>
110 <th></th>
111 <th colspan="2">Month ending February 28, 1890</th>
112 <th colspan="2">Month ending February 28, 1891</th>
113 <th colspan="2">Eight months ending February 28, 1890</th>
114 <th colspan="2">Eight months ending February 28, 1891</th>
115 </tr>
116 <tr>
117 <th></th>
118 <th>No.</th>
119 <th>Value.</th>
120 <th>No.</th>
121 <th>Value.</th>
122 <th>No.</th>
123 <th>Value.</th>
124 <th>No.</th>
125 <th>Value.</th>
126 </tr>
127 <tr>
128 <td></td>
129 <td>1,230</td>
130 <td>$79,530</td>
131 <td>45</td>
132 <td>$16,661</td>
133 <td>1,107</td>
134 <td>$107,866</td>
135 <td>1,047</td>
136 <td>$71,880</td>
137 <td>57</td>
138 <td>$16,434</td>
139 <td>11,241</td> one of two readings
140 <td>1,124</td> one of two readings
141 <td>$99,556</td>
142 </tr>
143 <tr>
144 <td></td>
145 <td>7,512</td>
146 <td>492,531</td>
147 <td>419</td>
148 <td>142,809</td>
149 <td>87,968</td>
150 <td>723,308</td>
151 <td>10,325</td>
152 <td>686,513</td>
153 <td>469</td>
154 <td>144,865</td>
155 <td>112,986</td>
156 <td>944,364</td>
157 </tr>
158</table>
160—Messrs. Jacob Brothers notify us that F. W. Clark, the dealer at Ogden, Utah, who was arrested on their complaint and who subsequently escaped, as reported in our last issue, has been recaptured and is now safely lodged in the penitentiary. Particulars next week.
162—Mr. George Nembach, of Messrs. George Steck & Co., has just returned from a very successful trip through the West, where his heart has been gladdened by the praise of the Steck piano that met him in every direction. Mr. Nembach made some important agreements, of which we shall have more to say.
164—One of the best examples of daily newspaper pictorial advertising that has come to our notice lately is that of Mr. Harry R. Williams, of Detroit, who, as most people know, is the agent in that city for the Behr Brothers piano. It appeared in the Detroit "Free Press" on Sunday before last, and represents the Behr grand distancing its competitors.
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