The Washington times., 1902-03-16
The Man About Town.
Why Some People Get
Pianos Cheap.
A Young Department Clerk Buys a Piano
atHaIf Price, Which Starts the Man
About Town on a Tour Of Investigation,
and Results in Developing Peculiar
and Llttle-kaoHn Phase Of the Plano
Business.

81 have Just bought piano for about half what
it would cost in the fall winter" remarked 4
young department clerk who IS Just starting
housekeeping 'It happens that | was IN the
piano business before coming to Washington.
and know, in common with all who are familiar
with this line of business that there is certain
time of the year-tsually in the sPrinSs--wheh
conditions urge the piano dealer 10 quoie prices
that are extraordinarily low.
Tc secure further information on this very IN
teresting subject the Nan About Town visited the
weii-known piano warerooms OF the braoDnrs
Factory at 1925 Pa. ave and interviewed Mr.. Nsa
wickle. the local manager. In response 10 a
query Mr. Van Wickle said:
..Yes. spring is the best time of the whole
year to buy piano.
But why sprine?" suggested the writer.
s'Well," said Mr. ya. Wickle, 1--WE usually
have fifty to a hundred and fifty pianos on
rental during the winter which come In about
this time. They have brought Us in conslicranli :
revenue, and while they are practically as goc-i
new, cannot coIscientiousiy sell them ss
any other but second hand pianos-dt so q
s15 less than regular prices. Many dealers would
sell them as new irstruments-and a matter
of fact, they are better than 4 few
months use always improves them. f1r in that
time they have been thoroughly adjusted anu
regulated.
Another reason why pianos are sold cheaper
is because Just after the first OF the scar We
go through our books and there are always s,,n-
accounts that have lapsed-rhe PARTIES pay soIlse-
thing on thern-someti,scs over half-then for
reason ahothcr-usuaily through the party
leaving town or through loss Of employment
the piano is returned to u.s. We Du. these in
struments in good condition and sell them fo-
just the amount required to close the account.
In this way a purchaser is often able to get
$500, 500 or 500 piano for less thin SOD.
Then we have pianos and organs lett stcr-
sge--and after they left with US a certain
time and The owners do not call to pTy stoiage,
have to advertise them for sale. This oilers
an opportunity to some one TO get very geei
instrument for merely nominal sum.
''At this time OF the year We also go through
the stock and select any STYLES that are going to
be discontinued-such as sample pianos that have
been sent on approvai-good pianos-but what
in the parlance Of the dry goods stores would be
called remnants or small lots These all go
to swell the bargain opportunities for the man
who buys his piano in the spring.
''we always have on hand at this season nearly
all the leading makes in upright and square
pianos that have been taken in exchange for
new Bradburys Just now have Chickering
piano, in excellent condition. at S15-a Gabler
Bro. for s1O0-a Hallet. Davis & Co. for S95-a
good Upright and standard make at sli-an-
other Upright for si95. ETC.. all of which in
str,unents may be had on easy terms to suit the
purchaser.
Yes, l should say your young friend
pretty nearly right when he said that spring is
the best time to buy piano cheap said Mr..
Van Wickle, he went out to superintend the
loading of several pianos which had just been
sold and were to be delivered that day.
The Man About Town.