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THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NEWS.
Officers Desire an Expression from Members on
the Stencil Question—Many New Members
Joining—A Complete List Will be Published
This Month—Convention Dates Selected for
June 8th, 9th and 10th, 1908—Prizes to be
- Awarded to Associates Securing New Active
Members-^$teady Progress Made.
(Supplied by Chairman Press Committee.)
Just now the stencil question is receiving a
great deal of attention from the various trade
papers through the discussions pro and con from
the different members of the Manufacturers'
Association and also the Dealers' Association.
These discussions ought to be encouraged in
order that the opinions of the full membership of
both associations may be brought out in the
hope that at the next annual convention of the
two organizations some definite action may be
taken. The resolutions which have been adopt-
ed by the officers and ratified by the conventions
of the National Association of Piano Dealers
have been along the line of discouraging the
use of the stencil piano in the trade. The asso-
ciation, of course, was not organized with the
intention of dictating to its members a policy for
their individual business, but it was organized
in the hope that many evils of the trade might
by its influence be eliminated.
There is no doubt whatever but that the exist-
ence of the association has been beneficial in
many ways to its members. It* was ^necessary
for it to gather strength through" years of
growth before it could be expected to undertake
to handle the greater problems which confront
the trade. That there is a wide difference of
opinion among members on the stencil question
there can be no doubt,.for ample evidence of it
has been shown through the discussions which
have taken place. I t is well known that the
membership of the Manufacturers' Association
comprises the stencil maker, as well as the legiti-
mate maker, in its membership; that the mem-
bership of the Dealers' Association includes firms
who do almost exclusively a stencil business as
well as firms who are rabidly opposed to this
method, and now that the question of the right
of handling the stencil is more seriously
under consideration than at any time during the
ljfe of our organization, it foreshadows the pos-
sibility of a conflict between the two factions
sooner or later. Whether this will be reached
at the great convention to be held in New York
in June of next year, or whether the discussion
will be continued for a more lengthy period is a
question which the members will undoubtedly
decide. In this connection it might be wise that
the discussion should be encouraged to the fullest
extent in order that the officet^jri^fr be .guided
in their deliberations at their official sessions'.
As far as the interests of the National Asso-
ciation of Piano Dealers are- concerned-, an ex-
pression from the members as to their approval
or disapproval of the stencil piano would be ap-
preciated by the officers. This expression may
be forwarded direct to the secretary, C. R. Put-
nam, 120 Boylston street, Boston, Mass.
Although the officers of the association have
not made any official announcements this fall
they have been active. in association matters.
Early in September B. B. Crew, president of
the Dealers' Association; B. S. Payson, presi-
dent of the Manufacturers' Association; Secre-
tary C. R. Putnam and Treasurer D. E. Woolley
had a conference in Boston. This meeting was
fallowed later by another conference in New
^©rk City, at the time of the meeting of the
officers of the Manufacturers' Association, and it
was there determined that with the approval of
the executive committee the next place of meet-
ing should be at' the new Hotel Astor, New York
Gity, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, June
S,j 9 and 10. The place of meeting was decid-
ed upon after visiting numerous hotels and tak-
ing various propositions as to rates, location,
etp., into consideration. It may be well for mem-
bers to now place on their next year's calendar
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
positive engagements for these three days.
A new membership book will be issued some-
time before the close of the present month, the
matter now being in the hands of the printers.
If there are any who desire to get in on this list
they should immediately file their application.
Among new members recently acted upon are
the following:
Active.—Jas. T. Boden, Boden Bros. Piano Co.,
St. Louis, Mo.; Rudolph Siegling, Siegling Music
House, Charleston, S. C ; Walter G. Tyler, Rice
& Tyler, Bangor, Me.; Frank X. Rice, Rice &
Tyler, Bangor, Me.; J. T. Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald
Music & Piano Co., Los Angeles, Cal.; Adam
Schneider, Julius Bauer & Co., Chicago, 111.;
Edward A. Gressler, Geo. J. Birkel Co., Los An-
geles, Cal.; A. H. Eilers, Eilers Piano House,
Portland, Ore.; Edward Martin, Burdett Piano
Co., Monroeville, 0.; J. D. McLean, Mason &
Hamlin Co., New York; Arthur C. Cox, Wm.
Knabe & Co., New York.
Associate.—C. D. Morgan, A. C. Cheney Action
Co., Castleton-on-Hudson, N. Y.; G. A. Hoffman,
Eilers Piano House, Portland, Ore.
As an incentive to associate members, who are
composed chiefly of traveling men and others,
to interest themselves in securing for the asso-
ciation new active members, the officers have de-
cided to present honor badges to associates for
bringing into the association new active mem-
bers. These badges will be of unique design
and graduated for numbers of active members
brought into the organization—a certain style
of badge for five members, anotheg style for ten,
fifteen, etc. The association owes much to the
associate members for their active work in the
past, and it is hoped they will continue with
their assistance in the future. The fact that
the convention will be held in New York City
ought to strengthen the membership very mate-
rially throughout the East, as the last conven-
tion held in Chicago strengthened it throughout
the West.
OUR EXPORT ANDJMPORT TRADE.
Import Trade of Musical Instruments Shows
Increase—Exports for the Month Are Much
Larger-—Player
Shipments Make
Fine
Record—The Figures in Detail Regarding
the Various Instruments Furnish Some In-
teresting Particulars to Our Readers.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, Oct. 8, 11)07.
The summary of exports and imports of the
commerce of the United States for the month of
August, 1907, the latest period for which it has
been compiled, has just been issued by the Bureau
of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and
Labor. The figures relating, to musical merchan-
dise, including-pianos, orgaas, piano players and
miscellaneous "small goods" in the musical field
are as follows:
The dutiable imports of musical instruments
during August amounted to $172,885, as compared
with $134,236 worth which were imported the
same month of 1906. The eight months' total
ending August, shows importations valued a t
$1,072,532, as against $888,980 worth of musical
instruments imported during the same period of
1906. This gives an increase in imports for the
eight months ending August of $183,552.
The import figures for the eight months' period
for the three years are as follows: 1905, $781,579;
1906, $888,980; 1907, $1,072,532.
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
ments for August, 1907. amounted to $263,126, as
compared with $240,712 for the same month of
the previous year. The eight months' exporta-
tion of musical instruments amounted to $2,216,-
199, as against $2,018,868 for the same period
in 1906. This shows an increase in exports, for
the eight months ending August of $197,331.
The export figures for the eight months' period
for the three years are as follows: 1905, $2,029,-
920; 1906, $2,018,868; 1907, $2,216,199.
Of the aggregate exportations in August there
were 1,270 organs valued at $69,509, as compared
with 1,174 organs in 1906, valued at $83,054. The
eight months' total shows that we exported
8,124 organs, valued at $580,976, as against 8,117
organs, valued at $571,716, for the same period in
1906, and 7,016, valued at $508,631 for the same
period in 1905.
In August, 1907, we exported 231 pianos, valued
at $54,861, as against 244 pianos, valued at $54,-
325 in August, 1906. The eight months' total ex-
ports show 2,401 pianos, valued at $583,982, as
compared with 1,795, valued at $411,759, exported;
in the same period in 1906, and 1,597, valued atj
$363,829, for the same period in 1905.
[
Of the aggregate exportations in August there
were 235 piano players, valued at $65,236. For
the eight months' period, 1,746 of these instru-
ments, valued at $446,771, were sent abroad.
The value of "all other instruments and parts
thereof" sent abroad during August, 1907,
amounted to $73,520, in the same month of 1906
the value was estimated at $59,659.
The total exports for the eight months under
this heading foot up $604,470, as against $591,162
exported during the same period of 1906, and
$547,406 exported during the same period in 1905.
This shows an increase of $13,308.
BECK & MILLER TO MANUFACTURE.
Edward Beck and William A. Miller have'
formed a partnership, leased factory quarters at
501-503 West Forty-fourth street, New York, and
will have already begun the manufacture of the
Beck & Miller piano. Both men were formerly
in the employ of the Pease Piano Co., and are*
regarded as first-class mechanics. Mr. Beck was
for a number of years connected with his father
in business as G. Beck & Son. The new com-
pany announce their intention to produce a thor-
oughly reliable instrument, first class in mate-;
rial and workmanship. They expect to have !
their pianos on the market early in November.
CHAS. J. ORTH HONORED.
Charles J. Orth, the piano dealer of Mil-
waukee, Wis., has been appointed director of the
Milwaukee Glee Club and is now engaged in re-
hearsing for the various concerts to be given
during the winter.
The Hunter-Tuppen Co., a large department
store of Syracuse, N. Y., have recently opened
piano warerooms with the Merrill piano as
leader.
"DISTINCTIVELY HIGH GKADE"
GAe CHRISTMAN
STUDIO GRAND
is the greatest success of the day.
It possesses a scale of rare even
ness, a tone of remarkable sonority
and richness, with a quality that
is highly orchestral. Our latest
styles of Grands and Uprights
mark a decided advance in the art
of piano-making. We court inves-
tigation. Some territory still open.
CHRISTMAN SONS, M»nuf*cturer.
FACTORT AND OFF.OE:
WAREROOMS:
869-873 East 137tli St.
VEW
35 Waat 14th St.
YORK