The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1912-09-30
Plans Well Under Way to
Eliminate the Middle
men. Prominent East
ern Piano Men Now in
Seattle. d. w. Thomas
Engaged in Important
Conference This Week.
Astounding Revelations
About the Actual Cost of
Pianos Is Looked for.
Many So-Called Leading
Names of Pianos Threat
ened With Mercilcss Dis
closures.

Reviewing the September trade
statistics for this city. one feature
ct unusual interest IS the unprec-
edented number OF pianos sold here
during this month. IL Is asserted
that in this respect Seattle has
surpassed every other city west OF
Kansas City. The National Piano
Manufacturers at s23 5rd Ave. near
Marion, have been vigorously dem
onstrating that their new plan OF
selling high-grade pianos direct
from the factories to the homes at
small prices and on small monthly
payments. Is the proper way TO
handle the piano part OF the music
trade. II Is plan based entireiy
on small profits and greater mum.
bers OF sales. which. however. Is
impossible for adoption By the
small dealer. selling only two or
three pianos occasionally by the
slow process OF canvasslng with
The aid OF Snlesmen ard Music
Teacher Tho Nsticlal Piano
Manufacturers Company. az Sc Dr.
Ave. composed OF a group % the
most powerful Piano Manufacur-
ers In America. covering the entire
territory Of the states with d.
rect retail plan TO the homes. are
in position 10 sell the highest
grade pianos az so trifIIag margin
Of profit. that It looks now as
though We are rapidly approaching
a time when all the go.betweers In
Piano Selling will be entirely elm
mated The small profit policy Of
the National Piaro Manufacturers.
as exemplificd In their Seattle
Salesrooms az S23 3rd Ave. near
Marion. IS affecting the Piano
trade everywhere In such a man
ner that eventually the plano trade
will resolve itself into one orgaalza.
ton OF manufacturers. retailing d..
rect To the home. We are told that
when the plain facts are made pub
lie there IL but ONE Piano anyway.
and that the multitude OF names
stamped on the fall boards OF
pianos represent nothing more thar
a locaIlty--ali manufacturers alike.
regardless OF names. use the same
piano actions, the same piano
strings. the same piano sound
boards. the same wood. iron and
steel for the cases. and, In reality.
there is no particular distinguish.
ing feature other than the clever.
sentimental advertising suggestions
concocted with the aid OF lot OF
commission-paid statesmen. music
teachers and artists. According 10
runors on the street today. We are
on the eve OF some very interest
ing disclof ures. as 10 the small cost
Of making any piano and the ques-
tionable practices BY which fabu-
lousy high prices have been main
tanned By a secret system OF one
price protection In the trade. A
Star representative called af the
National Piano Manufacturers. s23
Ord Ave, today to learn from ID. w.
Thomas something regarding the
new developments. He was In
formed, however, by his Secretary
that Mr.. Thomas was at that time
In conferences with one osSthe most
influential piano manufacv in
America and that we expected to
make, In a short time. some very
startling disclosures regarding the
piano trade and that at least two
other Manufacturers would become
part OF our National Organization
The Secretary also intimafed that
Mr.. Thomas had almost completed
all plans to give To the public full
and complete information relating
to the actual cost OF making OF ev-
cry name OF Piano that has been
handled by local retail stores In
Seattle In the past, as well as those
names OF pianos which are being
exploited by them at the present
time as costly Instruments. In the
event of such disclosures. II Is safe
to say that the day OF the high
priced piano Is gone forever The
windows al 1913 Ord Ave, near
Marion. are today displaying signs
which bear these words: LESS
THAN HALF PRICES ON ALL
HfGH-QUALITY PIANOS, WATCH
THESE TABLESPOONS DURING
OCTOBER. SOMETHING DOING
Words which are ominous 10 The
mIddIemen and creating much agi
tation among the army OF can
yassers and music teachers thai
are constantly circulating In the
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