Miscellaneous
name: label: Names
content: Baldwin Piano Company
label: Names
content: Consumers Union
label: Names
content: Consumers' Research, Inc.
label: Names
content: Lake Placid Club
label: Names
content: Schlink, F. J.
label: Names
content: Smith, Robert L.
label: Names
content: Sohmer, Harry J., Jr.
label: Collection Author
content: Falcone Custom Grand Pianos
label: Collection Donor
content: Pratt, Read and Company
label: Collection Creator
content: Sohmer & Company
place: label: Place
content: New York
label: Place
content: Lake Placid, NY
topic: label: Topic
content: Piano Examinations
label: Topic
content: Posters
label: Topic
content: Prints
setName: label: See more items in
content: Sohmer & Co. Records
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1894- 1983
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0349, Series 13
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Advertising
label: Type
content: Brochures
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Bulletins
label: Type
content: Reports
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Advertising
label: Genre/Form
content: Brochures
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 1930-1950
label: Genre/Form
content: Bulletins
label: Genre/Form
content: Reports
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The Miscellaneous series includes a variety of materials dated between 1894 and 1983.  Consumers' Research contains bulletins produced by this organization between 1948 and 1963.  These bulletins with other enclosures or attachments are relevant to the topics discussed in the letters and correspondence between representatives of Sohmer, Consumers' Research, and Consumers Union during the years 1941-1963.

The Correspondence between Harry J. Sohmer, Sr. and F.J. Schlink of Consumers' Research between August 13, 1941 and February 24, 1942 reveals that Baldwin Piano Company illegally used Consumers' Research in their advertising and drew misleading comparisons among pianos.  Ironically, the correspondence of May 7 and May 9, 1963 between Robert L. Smith of Consumers Union and Harry J. Sohmer, Sr. reveals the unsubstantiated accusation that Sohmer was using  the 1941 Consumers' Research reports to promote sales.  Harry Sohmer denied this by insisting he did not possess a copy of this report and closed by asking for one.

The brochures of the Lake Placid Club in New York were probably collected for advertising purposes.  The Club was a customer of Sohmer & Co. and the company often included the Club's name in its brocures for the promotion of Sohmer pianos.

The Piano Examinations of 1961 1962 are appraisal reports of pianos of various brand names.  The report describes the piano, defines or diagnoses the main problem with it, and indicates a price for repairing it.  Information about School Pianos includes letters with construction and sound quality specifications and a handbook entitled "Wood Colors and Kinds."