decals

[Steve Grattan]

JIMRPT@AOL.COM wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 8/25/1999 10:16:10 PM, skline@proaxis.com writes:
> 
> << "This assumes, of course, that the FAX was accurately quoted. ">> Susan
> <<"If this fax was official,">> Jim C.
> <<"Don't know about the truth of this decal policy.">> Arthur
> <<"I have seen evidence to back up the possible existence of the so far
> unsubstantiated _fax_ from S&S.">> Dale
> ------------------------------------
> 
> Hey folk;
>  I thought I had made it clear that the FAX was 'from' Pierce decals and was
> signed by Larry Ashley and that they were 'quoting' S&S within the FAX.
>  I am enclosing what I recv'd  for any who would like to read the entire
> thingee....and to clear up any misunderstanding.
> *note the only editing done was to clear up scanning oopsies, otherwise this
> is exactly as I recv'd it.
> Jim Bryant (FL)
> -----------------------------
> 
>  from:                                 No.                      Aug. 25 1999
> 
>  NOTICE
>   We Are No Longer Selling STEINWAY & SONS Decals
> 
> STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC. wants to STOP YOU from buying Steinway &
> Sons decals from the dealer of your choice. After three genenations and over
> 60 years of business Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. filed a lawsuit
> against us, (d/b/a) Pierce Piano Atlas and Decals For Pianos. Steinway's vice
> President and general counsel, Dennis M. Hanson, states in a letter, "Such
> activity (selling Steinway decals) is a clear violation of federal Lanham
> Act, Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984, state unfair trade practice
> statutes, and various other laws. Cririnal and civil sanctions of up to $ I
> ,000,000 and/or five years in prison are available against counterfeiters, in
> addition to seizure of
> goods, treble damages, and attorney's fee's". In addition Hanson states
> "Purchasers include piano refurbishers and refitishers who affix these decals
> to replacement piano components not manufactured by Steinway.".
> 
> *For more than 60 year's Bob Pierce collected piano decals. Whenever and
> wherever possible Bob added to his collection by buying decals from
> rnanufacturers that "were going out of business. Bob used his collection to
> provide decals for his own requirements in his piano dealerships. As time
> went on, and his collection grew, he began to suppldecals to certain friends
> in the business as an accommodation.
>  Many manufacturers would sell decals directly to Bob in large quantities,
> becanse providing single decals to individual piano craftsmen was time
> consuming and costly. In the late 60's and early 70's, after Steinway & Sons
> had changed the style of their failboard decals, Bob purchased thousands of
> the old stylc decal directly from the Steinway & Sons Company. By the inid
> l970's Bob's collection of original piano decals numbered in the hundreds of
> thousands and he was providing over 1000 piano
> names to craftsmen all over the world. In January 1995, a few months before
> Bob passed away, his son larry Ashley moved their small mail order business
> to Albuquerque, New Mexico and assumed the day to  day  duties of filling
> orders for decals and the  "Pierce Piano Atlas".
> 
> We believe it was a ludicrous attempt to try to prevent us from selling
> Steinway & Sons decals which were sold to us by Steinway over 25 years ago.
> However, after spending severul thousand dollars in attorneys fees and facing
> an additional $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 in oost, we signed a settlement
> agreement. The agreement is four pages long and includes the following
> phrases. "WHEREAS, to preserve the STEINWAY standards of excellence,
> reputation and good will, Steinway has decided to limit the application of
> new deaIs bearing the Steinway trademark- to rebuild (they meant, rebuilt),
> reconditioned,
> repaired and restored STEINWAY pianos to those which have been rebuilt,
> reconditioned, repaired and restored either by Steinway or its authorized
> agents using genuine STEINWAY parts and utilizing approved standards of
> quality and crattsenaaship, and to accomplish this goal Steinway has
> appointed one exclusive manufacturer of decals of the Steinway Trademarks and
> maintains close control over the distribution of the use (they meant, and the
> use) of these decals.". In addition the agreement states, "Pierce Piano
> agrees to immediately discontinuc all sale of and not to manufacture decals
> bearing the
> Steinway Trademarks, `unless authorized to do so by Steinway or an authorised
> representative of Steinway.".
> 
> As agreed, we have stopped selling STEINWAY & SONS decals. If your prepayment
> was for more than just Steinway decals you will find a credit certificate
> enclosed with your other merchandise~ If your order `was for Steinway decals
> only we have returned your payment.
> 
> Sincerely
> 
>  (signature)                                  (signature)
> Larry E. Ashley                         Kimberly Carpenter
> (Bob Pierce's son)                      (Bob Pierce's Grandaughter)


List,

I contacted Decals Unlimited and was told that this has been coming down
the line for about a year. They (Decals Unlimited) were approached by
S&S and have been licensed to sell S&S decals.  Whatever the problem
with the Pierce people has in no way affected the supply of decals from
Decals Unlimited.   

Steve Grattan