Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-06
alriu A0urrtiarmrmta.
TO THE PUBLIC.

IN Fridays issue of the MORNING NEWS
Il published an Schreiner's
Imported PianOs"-in which explained what
fraudulent efforts were used to deceive the
public in regard to Pianos, by altering names,
etc. Before going any further l wish to have
it distinctly understood that l utterly dis
claim any intention of arOusing the ire or
treading on the tender cOrns of my contempo-
raries, Messrs. Ludden q Bates. The uncalled
for attack made upon me in Saturdays NEWS
was a surprise to me, TO say the least. Any
reader of my ad. will bear me out that Imade
no allusiOn to that firm, either direct or indi-
rect, and | certainly did not imagine that
they would consider the article in question as
directed against themselves, especially as |
am aware, and so are the readers of this
paper, that l.. Il b. announced publicly in
these columns last spring they did not deal in
stencil Pianos, but that their Pianos had (as
they repeated Saturday the genuine
makers name them. This | be-
lieved to be the fact, and if so the question
arises, why or how can my adj. in regard to
Stencil Pianos affect themY Then, why so
hasty to consider an attack where none was
intended? So much for that.
L never denied that | have had my name
placed ON some of the Pianos | sold. This was
done years ago, when the gohOteSGLe Stencil
business was a thing unknown. and when
Pianos were made more reliable than
these exclusive Stencil Piano makers
are producing instruments nowadays. Good
and reliable makers in former years allowed
their regular agents the privilege of having
JuGlT NAMES Oh IlduOS. 1dJ privilege was
withdrawn long ago, and dealers of good
Pianos found il more to their interest to sell
Pianos with the genuine makers name. |
have never seen any Pianos made by Ernest
Gabler & Bro. otherwise than with their
own name, and Mr.. Gabler showed me his
new Pianos where the firms name was cast
in the iron plate, SO if dealer should
tamper with his name on the keyboard, he
would be detected. Every firm is entitled to
their own opinion in business Mine is that |
can import better Pianos at low price than |
ence only to the cheap, but still reliable in
struments. l have imported number of
Pianos, which are in this city now, which
have kept in tune at Concert pitch.
Schwechten Upright in 1871, which arrived
In perfect tune, were exhibited at the Indus
trial Association Fair that year without one
tuning, and those instruments had still
enough life i'll them and tune too, to take the
Gold and Silver Medals over those exhibited
by Ludden & Bates. The Upright was sold,
has been in constant use for II years and gives
perfect satisfaction. The Grand Piano have
used daily, at home and in concerts, and
would not part with it under any cOnsidera-
ton.
In 1873 1 exhibited at the Townsville Fair
an imported Piano, Organ and Flute, and car
ried Off the first and only hOnOrs on the entire
exhibit. Messrs. Ludden & Bates were my
competitors. All these facts prove con-
clusively that my imported instruments hold
their own. Since 1875 I have rented several
imported Pianos in this city. They are now
rented. ana my patrons ike Ineln. 10eY
keep in excellent tone and tune. In con-
clusiOn, | wish to state that this as
all l have to say in this matter, as l
have neither time nor inclination to en-
gage in any extended newspaper controversy,
which reflects credit or profit to either
side. Neither will l descend from the pedes-
tai of a gentleman, thereby ignoring the du-
ties l owe to myself, my family and society.
An honorable business career extending over
a period of a quarter of a century in this
State alone is a sufficient guarantee to all
liberal men. l do not desire or make any
pretensiOns to control the music BUSINESS in
this city, State or entire South. A fair
share of patronage has always been accorded
to me, with which am amply satisfied.
L. SCHREINER.
From the Ansericdn Art Journal, Sept. 22, 1888.
The Stencil business in the Piano trade has
been carried on to such an extent that every
little Tom, Dick and Harry dealer of the
country have had pianos of the poorest grade
possible to obtain with their names stenclled
thereon. The reaction has set in. The public
has been so numerically swindled by this
method of doing business that scores of dealers
have been forced to abandon it by reason of
its beng now almost impossible to sell, even
by reputable firms. This system was intro
duced to a great extent by Western dealers
sin order to protect themselves against man
nfacturers," as they claim, and doubtless
would have proved beneficial had it been con-
fined to responsible and reliable houses who
cared for their own regulations. But, alas!
such was not the case.