Scan 20
Musical Courier 1892-08-03: Vol 25 Iss 649, 1892
104 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 21. See the scan on archive.org.
1STENCILS.
3THE following named pianos wherever offered for sale, and no matter how advertised, are not legitimate, whether the name New York, Chicago or any other is appended to the so-called manufacturers' name above or not:
4Columbia………….New York.
5Beatty………….New York or Washington, N. J.
6Camp & Co………….New York or Chicago.
7Epworth………….Chicago or some other name.
8Arcade………….Toledo " "
9University………….New York " "
10Marchal & Smith………….New York " "
11C. D. Blake………….Boston " "
12Mozart………….New York " "
13Geo. W. Lyon………….Chicago.
14Linn………….Any name.
15Linnae or Lyndhurst………….Any name.
16Swoger………….Beaver Falls or New York.
17Demorest………….New York.
18Stafford………….Chicago or New York.
20We are on the track of about a dozen other monstrous stencil swindlers and will publish them at the proper time.
22BEHR IN TEXAS.
24Represented by the Goggans.
26DESPITE the summer dullness, trade movements of importance are constantly in progress, indicating that there is to be no lethargy this fall, but, on the other hand, promising a season of activity in contrast with usual campaign years.
28To be recorded this day as the most important movement of the summer is the deal between Messrs. Behr Brothers & Co. and the great Texas house, Messrs. Thomas Goggan & Brothers, which gives to the latter the sole agency and representation of the Behr piano in Texas.
30The house of Goggan now conducts—besides its original establishment at Galveston—branch houses at San Antonio, Austin, Houston and now, also, at Dallas. Its trade and its influence virtually pervade Texas, and its commanding position, attained after years of honorable toil, is a source of pride to the music trade of the Union, and presents to us all the evidence that the Southwest is a section highly susceptible to the best musical thought, for the Goggan house does its largest trade in the better grade of instruments.
32With this great house of Goggan the Messrs. Behr Brothers & Co. have made an alliance, a commercial treaty, as it were, which binds Messrs. Thomas Goggan & Brother to do all they can to sell as many Behr pianos in Texas as possible, while the Messrs. Behr agree to send them as fine pianos as can be produced in this town, and we believe that both parties to the treaty will stick faithfully to their promises. In fact the first shipment of Behr pianos—a very large lot—go into Texas via the steamship that leaves here on Saturday.
34As far as the Behr piano is concerned it enjoys a great reputation in Texas, and this has been strengthened very much by the recent recitals given in Galveston and the chief cities of Texas by Señor Gonzalo Nuñez on the Behr grand piano. From what has reached us in the shape of news and the notices we have read it appears that Señor Nuñez has made a deep impression upon the musical people of Texas, and we would suggest that he repeat his recitals or concerts as soon as possible. There is a demand for such concert work in Texas and it is shown that Nuñez is the artist for it.
36The nature of this deal will be better understood when we take into consideration not only the vast amount of territory covered but the great and constantly growing population of that Empire, for in extent Texas is an empire. Within a few years the trade of the Goggans has absolutely doubled and the working forces of the house distributed in all sections of the State have been doubled. Of all Southwestern States, Texas is advancing most rapidly, and of all Southwestern States Texas is the most difficult for Eastern piano manufacturers to secure a substantial footing in by means of substantial representation.
38There are a great many small piano concerns in the State who will take any number of pianos, give their notes with facility and some will even accept pianos on consignment, we understand. Thus a piano manufacturer can here and there dispose of pianos in Texas, but he also disposes of his good name, for the pianos are huckstered about and sold at any and every price, and their reputation assailed and destroyed.
40In just this manner many pianos have had their chances cut off in Texas, the manufacturers not withstanding the small temptation. The Behr piano is one of the few that has not been damaged in the estimation of the Texas trade or the musical people of the State. It is thoroughly well known and its merits appreciated, and those sales made direct have always turned out favorable to the reputation of the instrument. The Behr piano has moreover been publicly played in the State, thereby enhancing its commercial value, and now, under the direction of Messrs. Goggan & Brother, its prospects are second to those of no other piano made in this country.
42Mr. John Goggan was in the city last week and returned home on Friday afternoon. He expressed himself as highly delighted with the various establishments of Messrs. Behr Brothers & Co. "We are going to do a large trade with the Behr pianos," said Mr. Goggan, and there is no doubt that this is so.
44A FALSE START.
46IF it is true that the editor of the "Music Trade Review," who has announced that he will transmogrify his semi-monthly into a weekly, is asserting that he will print and circulate 10,000 copies of the first number of his new weekly; if this statement attributed to him is so, we are constrained to say that we are sorry for him, and his new venture from the very start is false and based upon a falsehood.
48The editor of the "Music Trade Review" is the same individual who traveled over a section of this country for three years with a handbag containing a specimen of the cover of his "History of American Music Trade." He stated to those with whom he pleaded successfully, and also to those who made his appeals vain, that thousands of copies of this infamous "History" were to be distributed in the trade, in hotels, on steamships and in all kinds of public resorts, this distribution to represent the delivery of the article for which the advertisers were to pay their good money.
50The "History" appeared, after years of struggle, an incomplete, poorly devised travesty on its title, an advertising venture of no possible inherent value, full of poor cuts, poor illustrations and defective descriptive articles and false statements, and instead of the thousands of copies that were to have been distributed a few hundred were sent out and those advertisers in it who paid were swindled. Anyone calculating the cost of the book would have been enabled to see that the printing and distributing of thousands of copies would have bankrupted the editor of the "Music Trade Review." No one blames him for not having risked bankruptcy, but every fair minded man blames him for participating in such a swindle, as is evidenced by comparing the title of the book with its contents.
52Now, in view of the character of the editor of the "Music Trade Review," as exhibited in his willingness to take the chances he assumed in the publication of the fraudulent "History," it is perfectly logical to conclude that he is following the same course in claiming (if he does so claim) that he will print and distribute 10,000 copies of the first number of his weekly. He will most certainly do nothing of the kind and for many good reasons, the chief reason being the lack of facility to do so.
54The time has not yet come, but it is sure to come before long, when the circulation liar in the music trade press will reach his final doom; but some example should be made of the offenders now practicing their swindling vocations with piano and organ manufacturers who are apt to fall into the trap.
56Men publishing from 500 to 2,500 copies of papers, of which the bulk are not even circulated or read, claiming under the maximum of these two figures to be circulating 10,000 copies, are swindlers, and are no better than the thieves who enter premises and steal valuables.
58An editor can be an honest man, even if his paper does not circulate largely. It may have some relative value for some persons and firms who, recognizing this, are willing to appropriate a certain amount of money toward its maintenance. But an editor becomes a bunco steerer when on the strength of confidence reposed in his apparent good nature he secures advertising on a false claim, on the strength of a deliberate lie, and if this rumor to which this editorial refers is true THE MUSICAL COURIER will make an investigation into the subject and ascertain definitely how many copies less than 10,000 were printed and circulated on that special occasion by the editor of that paper.
60Weaver O. and P. Company.
62York, Pa., July 26, 1892.
64A MEETING of the board of directors of the Weaver Organ and Piano Company, of York, Pa., was held on the 21st inst. The reports of Secretary M. B. Gibson and Treasurer W. S. Bond showed an enormous increase in the business for the first six months of 1892 over that of any previous year. The directors decided to add a lot of new machinery in the mill department and thus again increase the capacity of the works, in order to supply the greatly increased demand for the Weaver organ. The company are at present running extra time, and have been during the greater part of the summer and are still unable to fill orders as they come in.
66They have recently finished a new style of chapel organ with 11 sets of reeds, which they expect to be ready to place on the market in several weeks. There are some beautiful combinations and tone effects in this organ, and as this company never does anything by halves dealers may look for something that will prove salable. There will also be a new parlor style out shortly that will attract the eye of every wideawake dealer. It will be the finest case ever manufactured by this company. Watch for it.
68Yours truly,
69WEAVER ORGAN AND PIANO COMPANY.
71A Piano War.
73Music Firms Go to Law About a Chickering.
75TWO suits in the Circuit Court have kept a piano moving about in a rather lively style. The first suit was won by C. W. Marvin, the music dealer, v. his competitor, F. J. Schwankovsky. Mr. Marvin said that about three days ago he had furnished to the Mehan School of Music a Chickering piano, for which Marvin is the Detroit agent, Manager Wilcox, of the Mehan School, agreeing that the piano should not pass into the hands of any competitor of Marvin. Yesterday Mr. Marvin found that the Mehan School had made an agreement with Schwankovsky by which the latter will furnish all pianos to the institution, and Marvin's Chickering piano was sent to Schwankovsky's warerooms.
77Marvin began suit by replevin, and one of Sheriff Hanley's deputies served the writ about noon and brought the piano across Woodward avenue to Marvin's store. But it did not stay there long. Inside of half an hour another suit had been begun by A. M. Travers, Schwankovsky's manager, against Marvin, and Coronor Keefe took the piano out of Marvin's store and brought it back to Schwankovsky's. one of two readings
78Marvin began suit by replevin, and one of Sheriff Hanley's deputies served the writ about noon and brought the piano across Woodward avenue to Marvin's store. But it did not stay there long. Inside of half an hour another suit had been begun by A. M. Travers, Schwankovsky's manager, against Marvin, and Coroner Keefe took the piano out of Marvin's store and brought it back to Schwankovsky's. one of two readings
80Marvin could not replevin the piano again until he began a new suit. This could not be done until 24 hours after the beginning of the old suit. This morning the old suit was discontinued, and Mr. Marvin says that as soon as the piano is displayed in Schwankovsky's wareroom he will replevin it again.
82Mr. Marvin says he is afraid that the reputation of the Chickering piano would receive unfair usage by his competitor.—Detroit "Evening News," July 23.
84WANTED—An experienced piano salesman for warerooms. Address, K. K. K., care of THE MUSICAL COURIER.
86WANTED—To buy a music store—pianos, organs and small musical goods—in good, live town; not over $5,000; will pay cash and some other property for the store. Address "E. B. D." 88 Summer street, Pitsfield, Mass.
88WANTED—A Western dealer wishes to purchase for cash 25 or 30 good second-hand upright pianos; must be under $100 and modern. State age, price, make, size, kind of case and condition. Address "Western," care of THE MUSICAL COURIER.
90WANTED—A first-class piano road salesman with a record and with references to back it up; to travel for a New York piano manufacturing firm. Address F. R. C., care of THE MUSICAL COURIER.
92WANTED—A thoroughly competent foreman for a piano factory located 100 miles from New York. Address, stating full particulars regarding experience and wages expected. Address "Factory," P. O. Box 1728, New York.
94WANTED—A young business man who can put $5,000 into a paying music business in a live Western city of 50,000 population. Object, to secure competent help and double capacity. "K." MUSICAL COURIER, 226 Wabash avenue, Chicago, Ill.
96FOR SPRUCE SOUNDING BOARD LUMBER
98ADDRESS
100IRVING SNELL, Little Falls, N. Y.,
101Manufacturer of first quality quartered spruce for pianos, and also dimension lumber for violins and other instruments.
103MILLS AT HARRISVILLE, N. Y.
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