New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-12
WORTHLESS PIANOS.
TIFF MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF WORTHLESS IN
sTRUMENIs - STEPS TAKEN BY TIE LEADING
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TIFF MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF WORTHLESS IN
sTRUMESTs STEPS TAKEN BY TIE LEADING
PIANoMAKERs.
A short time before the adjournment of Con-
gress an act was passed To punish the cGnnereitng Of
trademark goods and the sale of dealing in counter
felt trademark goods" tho penalty being fine not
ceedipg $780, Imprisonment for not more than one
year, or both Among those manufacture to whom the
law affords means Of protecting themselves and
the public against impOsture are pianomasers.
The prominent firms engaged in the manu-
facture Of these instruments have frequently
but not always successfully invoked the aid Of the law
against "bogus" pian0makors, who have sterced
poorly made pianos with the OF wellknONn
makers, names bearing close resemblance TO Them
These instruments have been widely sold throughout the
West and South, and In the rural districts generally by
travelling statesmen Among the resembling those
OF prominent firms attached to "bogus" pianos are
"shumway," "Steinmay," " Stanlcy," and "Stein-
metz" instead OF Stelnway & Sons; George Stack &
Co.." "Geo. Stick Co" George strack Co." instead
of Geo. steck Co.. Hazleman" aud Hazeltine" in
stead OF HazeltOn Bros; Picking" and "Chok-
ring" and pickering" instead Chickcring; Becker
Bros." and Decker 81 Bros" instead Of Decker Bros.
There is great difference la material and manner Of
construction between the genuine and the "boGus"
pianos The genuine piano made Of lumber which has
been undergoing the seasoning Germany months
The spruce for the soundDg-boards, Ocboards, tops
Is cast from the best metal The choicest felt and Strings
used only pure cOpa garnish II employed aLd the
rosewood vcncers sawcut and Of tue proper thick
united by SAILED and well paid mechanics. SuCh in
On the other hand the "bJgus" piano Il made OF
seasoned lumber, sawed In the common way; the Iron
frame IL old broken stoves box pine
is used for the sounding bOards costing only two cents
square foot while spruce costs from hTo 10 six cents
poor beuzue yaFnsh Is used upon H. and the
pOycd scarcely thicker than paper 80 that TIE glue
Gurates them aud appears the upper surface.
TIE whole il put together by underpai and uuskillod
worKmen the result being piano that, costing about
Sli0-thUugh often sold 10 unsuspcctinE parsons Tor
than SSCO-ls wholly unable to bear for any length
Of tnc thc continuous STRAIN OF the strings, equal t.
pressure OF from 10 10 10 tons especially when exposed
10 furnace heat, ana becomes iutOcTabe nuisance
and total los.
HitlcrO, sooner has pianomaker established
reputation for his instruments than uupIinciprd man
ufaciugcrs have sought % palm Oh limitations ~ he IN
strucuts To thelr prDit, and 20 bis the pubcs
dsady Not lOug since Decker Brothers obtained
injunction against q manufacturer Of pianos Eten
CilCd With their name, and they about 10 proc, ed
against firm the East aide for alleged similar IN
yAsiUu ~ their rights For infringement Of their
patent fer upright pianos Stcinwiy & sous have
within the last few days received promise uf cumpen
sation from IA large manufacturer Of pianos Rgaiust
whom they had proposed To bring lcca action. htcin
way hOs and other leading manufacturers viii imnc-
ddtcy have their gm names Registered as trddelns
and IN future will proceed under the new euactmlnt
against al persons who stencil Instruments rot nae hy
them with THEN firm name OF name resembling 1t.