The record-union., 1897-10-02
EXPOSING THE THUMB-BOX.
UNsCRUPULOUS TACTICS ARE
PROMPTLY CALLED DOWN.
A Plain Statement of Facts-Some
Valuable Data-Preserve This
Paper for Reference.

Paper for Reference.
With all due respect for those en-
gagged in the piano business in this city,
we beg to state most emphatically that
we have but one position to maintain
as regards the conducting of our special
piano sale here at this time, and no
amount Of inSinuations and assertions
directed at our goods, our methods and
our prices by dealers who may be sore
ly pinched by them will induce us to
engage in a vulgar newspaper squabble,
or wallow in the mire with individuals
who court that kind of notoriety.
But for the purpose of correcting any
erroneous impression that may have
been created by assertions from certain
quarters, we beg to state that in spite
of the fact that no premiums on pianos
was awarded at the recent State Fair,
it is nevertheless true that six of the
pianos in the exhibit at the State Fair
by the Kohler & Chase Music House,
which carried off everything in the way
of medals and prizes there, are included
in our special sale now in progress. Nor
was this house the only one to make an
exhibit.
Furthermore, we wish to state dis
tinctly that we are offering during this
sale only pianos of unquestioned re-
liability and standing; instruments
that have been handled by our house
for years and years, the names of some
of which have been before the American
people for more than a generation, and
the class and character of which no
honest man can dispute.
AS TO STENCIL PIANOS"
There is not a responsible piano firm,
East or West, having B. reputation to
guard and to maintain, that would ever
consent to be identified with what is
termed in the trade as stencil pianos"
or "thump boxes"
The leading trade journals have for
years waged a bitter warfare against
these frauds, and are doing so to-day.
For many consecutive months the
Musical Courier" the recognized lead
ing authority of the American music
trade, published an article headed:
"$75 Pianos'' or "$75 Thump Boxes"
which we quote:
"Seventy-fiv dollars apiece IS about
the average wholesale price Of the great
raft of stencil pianos now found on
sale in some piano warerooms in this
country The instruments are abso-
lutely worthless as musical instru-
ments, and dealers are asking all the
way from 500 to 5000 apiece for them,
or offering them as secondhand bar
Pains. They are sold as
Leland pianos, Steinberg pianos,
llake pianos, LenoX pianos,
Camp pianos, Epworth pianos
Brunswick pianos, Twichell pianos,
Rentelman pianos, Keystone pianos,
Conservatory Liszt pianos,
pianos MendelSSOhn,
Mozart pianos, pianos,
Arion pianos. Harmony pianos,
Imperial pianos, Rogers pianos,
Stafford pianos, Beethoven pianos,
Steinmetz pianos, Davis pianos,
Bradford pianos, Bedford pianos,
Youman Sons Thompson pianos,
pianos,
"All these names and many others
upon them are fictitious. Such pianos
are bogus STENCIL truck and emanate
from two or three Chicago factories
and five or six New York factories.
None of the manufacturers making
such goods has name of any conse-
quence as a maker of musical instru-
m6nCS, DuI HleIely DIS d pIOuuCS1 u IlC
cheapest kind of truck.
dealers who are finding that other
competitors are selling such stuff
should in each case furnish us GNU
sical Courier New York; with the
names of the purchaser. We will, ETC."
When a dealer advertiseS this class
Of stuff (the five or ten years war
ranties," on which every one knows
are not worth the paper they are writ
ten on) at prices ranging from Sl4O to
S205, or at an average profit of S99 ~,
the underlying motive to mislead and
to detract attention from a fair rival
with whom he finds it impossible to
honestly compete is altogether too
plainly apparent to need further eluci-
dation.
In conclusion, we beg to state that
every instrument sold under our hands,
and which is not found after delivery
to be exactly as represented, both as to
quality and condition, can be had as
a present by the purchaser without his
paying another dollar upon his con-
tract.
We are proud of the good reputation
of the Kohler & Chase Music House,
and proud of the line Of high grade
pianos that we represent, and no in
strument sold here shall prove other
than a source of satisfaction and de-
light to it's purchaser
If you stand in need of piano, or
calculate sooner or later to own one,
and fail to take advantage of this spe-
cial sale, you will have missed an OPP
portunity that comes but once in life
time, for we can now positively save
you a great many dollars in this pur-
chase, besides giving you virtually your
own time to pay for it.
Investigate this matter fully to-day.
study it up ere it is too late, and Sc
cure one of these many fine pianos that
are offered during this sale.
Store open every evening. The Koh-
Ter & Chase Music House, by Harvey
& Ochsner. 921 K street
Try McMorry's Blend Coffee, 35c.
BORN.