The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-03-28


corning the closing out sale of the Reed
Is commenced at the old location under
the full authority of f. w. Grave. and
under direct management of A. Il.
Scherfenberg, that an explanation here
is proper.
The Reed-French Piano Co., urgently
requiring sum of money. offered their
stock of pianos. musical instruments
and supplies to the Sevarg Investment
Co, Of which F. w. Graves is in con-
troll. In consideration of his procuring
for them the funds needed, he was given
absolute power of attorney over their
business in Tacoma and an agreement
authorizing him to hold a sale for the
purpose of closing out the Reed-French
Piano Co.'S business.
To show the scope of the power CON-
ferred on Mr.. Graves. we quote from
the agreement in Mr.. Reeds own Ian
guage:
"And we hereby irrevocably appoint
you our attorney in fact, to do any and
all things that you may deem wise or
mink necessary to profitably conduct
this sale"
Pursuant to this authority, Mr..
Graves procured other pianos. automo-
biles, etc, and included them in the
stock.
At the urgent request of Mr. Reed.
Mr.. Graves first attempted. thru a
money-raising sale. to raise sufficient
funds to reimburse him for his invest
ment and trouble, which sale however.
was not successful, and Mr.. Graves then
determined to close out the business ABB
solutely, to do which there can be no
question that he was duly empowered.
Notwithstanding written contracts to
that effect, Mr.. Reed, after the first ad.
vertisement announcing the closing out
sale was published, wired the news
papers that the advertising was being
run without authority. Mr.. Graves
then. without reservation. published
every agreement In connection with the
transaction, the reading of which must
convince any fair-minded person that
Mr.. Graves was acting entirely within
his rights, and Just to show that the
sale was legitimate, and that the values
Offered were genuine. the first day Of
the sale II pianos were sold, and 1t is
certain that had not the efforts Of Mr..
Graves and associates been interfered
with the entire stock would have been
disposed of within 10 days.
Hopper-Kelly Co, from whom Reed
French Piano CO. were leasing their ware
rooms, objected to the closing out sale
as conducted by Mr.. Graves and Mr..
Scherfenberg, and Immediately can
celed the lease of Reed-French Piano
CO., which cancellation was accepted by
Mr.. Reed from Hopper-Kelly without
consulting or without the consent of f.
w. Graves, and the stock and employees
were Immediately elected. Whether or
not this election was legal is still 10 be
determined, but the fact remains that
they were forced to move the stock and
temporarily had to suspend the sale.
They have now secured ample quarters
which will temporarily serve the pur-
pose and the sale will be resumed on q
larger scale than ever.
Mr.. Scherfenberg was arrested under
the advertisement law. and also for vio-
lation OF the state trading stamp act.
The complaint filed against Mr. Scher-
fenberg on the advertising charge does
not state nor claim, SO far as we can
learn, that the values nor the quality Of
goods offered in the sale were misrep-
resented In any way, but is simply based
on claim that certain automobiles and
fixtures were not part of the stock.
and on that account the advertisement
was misleading. As to the truth Of
these claims, convincing and ample
proof will be supplied at the proper time.
There has been enough fuss and inter-
ference with this sale to discourage
most anybody, and Mr.. Graves. who went
into the proposition originally with a
view as much toward helping his friend.
Mr.. Reed. as for the possible profit in
volved, is disguised
He offered the stock and his contracts
to the Eilers Talking Machine Co., Of
tnlS City, on terms that make IL possible
Tor US to reinaugurate the sale on a
basis even more advantageous to tho
public than ever, and to make this posi-
lively the biggest buying opportunity
which has ever been presented to the
people of Puget Sound, or anywhere else,
for that matter. We will not only offer
every instrument which was included in
the Reed-French stock as we'll as two
carloads which were at the time en- route
from He factories, and those which Mr..
Graves individually procured after ac-
quiring control of the Reed-French Co.,
but also each and every instrument in
cluded in the Elers stock in this vicinity.
every instrument in the hands of various
agents outside of Tacoma as well as
those in the Tacoma store and ware
house The Reed-French business will
positively be closed out. not an instru-
ment will be reserved. Every inducement
offered by Mr.. Scherfenberg in what GER
tainly was a most extraordinary sale
will be assumed by us, but the public is
assured that back of each agreement
made Is the sterling, ironclad guarantee
of the Eilers Music House. as well as
the manufacturers. and the good will OF
the former eed-French Piano Co.
Let Ii be understood that the Eilers
Talking Machine Co, is not going out Of
well as those associated with us are not
to be baked or prevented from finishing
what Is started despite the opposition
and Interference Of disgruntled. outdis-
tanced and 'Holier than thou" compet-
tors.
In this sale the people not only have
. chance to secure high grade pianos at
the prices they were marked by firm
which was going out of business and
quitting but they are able to do SO under
the protection and surrounded by all the
safeguards. guarantees and exchange
privileges offered by ono OF the very
largest music houses In the world.
Bear in mind that included In this sale
is the grand old Chickerfng, the Oldest
In America, the Best IN the World the
pianos manufactured; the Kimball, CHI
Cages finest piano; the genuine old J..
q c. Fischer, the Hallet q Davis the
Decker. the Weber, the Steck. Well, look
over this list. If there are any good
pianos on the market not included In this
ft~s 49,. ~. -. ar = =