The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-19
A WORD OF CAUTION TO PURCHASERS.

creasing demand for them, have induced
INSCRIPTIONS Piano manufacturers and
dealers to adopt all sorts OF dishouora'
BILE devices and expedients. which they
systematically follow with a zeal and
perseverance worthy Of better cause.
At one time these persons assert that
the Pianos made or sold by them are
the same as "Steinway's," at another
that they are made by Steinway's FORE
man or best workman, and are just as
good &c., &C., and so widely have these
MISREPRESENTATION been circulated that
thev are continually receiving letters
from all parts OF the country, inquiring
into the truth Of these assertions, and
revealing the fact that most Of the
smaller makers in New York pretend
to have been foremen in their factory or
are represented as such by their agents
throughout the country, when in reality
not one in twenty of them. has ever
been employed by them in any capacity
Up to the present time not one OF their
foremen has gone into business for him
sell, and this fact alone is sufficient re-
futation of the false assertions TO which
we have alluded.
Again, is our duty to forewarn the
musical public against the mlsrepre-
sensations Of host Of " Fiano'making
Associations" pretending to be COM
posed of Steinway's best workmen,
and making Pianos exactly like Stein
ways, and just as good, &C., DC.
This is not true. Several inventions
and improvements, from which arise
the chief excellencies of their instru-
meuts, are patented BY their frm and
cannot be used by any other maker
for instance, their Patent Agraffe Ar
rangement," most essential and i'm
portant improvement which all their
instruments now contain.
The great superiority OF their Pianos
is, therefore, not only the result OF bet
ter material and more thorough work.
manship, (,hough much is derived from
that, but there are essential differences
and improvements of construction, the
right to employ which belongs to them
only, as it was theirs, too, TO first in-
troduce them.
Aside, then, from the untruthfulness
Of the pretensions we thus expose, the
risk of purchasing Piano and relying
upon any statement or assurance that
emanates from an irresponsible body OF
men without name, capital or expert
ence, and whose warranty, in many
cases, is not worth the paper that con-
tains it, will probably be appreciated by
all rejecting purchasers.
1t has frequently occurred that per-
sons intending to embark in business
independently as piano makers and
tuners, have worked for few weeks in
Steinway's factory, their sole object, as
was subsequently learned, being to found
a claim to have been one OF their work
men; and although this only tends 10
confirm the fact that their instruments
are universally regarded as possessing
the highest degree Of perfection, yet the
satisfaction they might take in this
homage is more than counterbalanced
by the loss and modification that but
too often result to those who become
the victims of such practices.
Another very common trick-for il
deserves no other name-resorted to by
many piano dealers and manufacturers,
is, in some manner to procure Stein
way piano, either new or secondhand,
which they place in their salesroom,
designedly keeping it in bad order for
the purpose Of contrasting it with and
showing off their own or other inferior
pianos to advantage.
1t certainly must be poor piano
which cannot be sold upon its own
merits; and when a dealer has really
good instruments for sale he will be
sure to offer them for what they are.
When he is anxious TO persuade his
customers that they are the same
thing" as something else, it is commonly
an attempt to palm off poor article on
the reputation of better one.
Numerous attempts have been made
from time to time to sell inferior pianos
with Stelnways name on, or q name
spelled SO similar to theirs that many
people don't notice the difference and
purchase a spurious, and often totally
worthless instrument for a genuine
Steinway Piano. There being no legal
means OF redress for them against such
positions, invariably perpetrated by
irresponsible persons, we desire to state
that every piano made by them has
the address of the firm in full cast in
large letters on the iron frame, in the
lett hand corner. inst behind the tuning
pins, which can neither be put on after
wards nor removed, and is therefore a
perfect safeguard against imposition.