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FEBRUARY 7, 1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
9
Third Annual Convention
of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
New York City, Feb. 2 and 5, 1920
The National Association of Music Mer-
The annual convention of the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce, heralded as one of chants,
the most important sessions in the history of
The Association of Music Publishers of the
that great central organization, was called to United States,
order shortly before noon on Monday, February
The National Music Roll Manufacturers' As-
2, with President Richard B. Aldcroftt presid- sociation,
ing and with the majority of Association dele-
The National Association of Piano Tuners,
gates present.
The National Musical Merchandise Associa-
Those present in addition to the Chamber of tion,
The National Piano Travelers' Association,
Commerce officers included: From the National
The National Association of Talking Machine
Piano Manufacturers' Association, Kirkland H.
Gibson, president; Otto Schulz, vice-president; Jobbers,
C. C. Chickering, secretary; Charles Jacob,
The Musical Supply Association of America,
treasurer; Herbert W. Hill, assistant secretary,
The Band Instrument Manufacturers' Asso-
and D. D. Luxton, George W. Gittins, E. R. ciation,
Jacobson, delegates. From the National Associa-
The Organ Builders' Association of America.
tion of Music Merchants: E. P. Hamilton and
With several exceptions these associations
M. V. DeForeest, vice-presidents; C. L. Dennis, have continued their functions and operations as
secretary, and F. B. T. Hollenberg, Oscar A. separate units, each maintaining its own or-
Field, John G. Corley, Edmund Gram and John ganization identity and officers as in the past,
A. Turner, delegates. From the National Piano
Travelers' Association: Frank E. Edgar, George
B. McNally, W. B. Williams and George J.
Dowling. From the National Association of
Piano Tuners: Charles Deutschmann, Emil
Koll, Charles L. Merkel, W. F. McClellan and
E. H. Bacon. From the National Music Roll
Manufacturers' Association: A. A. Freistedt,
Frederick Sunderman and Arthur Conrow. From
the National Musical Merchandise Association:
Henry Stadlmair, Samuel Buegeleisen .and Fred
Gretsch. From the Music Publishers' Associa-
tion: George Fischer, Isidore Witmark, E. B.
Marks, Michael Keane, J. M. Priaulx and E. T.
Paull.
The mere statement of this extraordinary in-
difference on the part of the supply manufac-
turers and jobbers carries astonishment and
surprise to all thoughtful men. Upon reflec-
tion, however, there exists an explanation and
a reason which will be adverted to later. When
we add to the sum of the piano supplies trade
the vast supply trade of the talking machine
manufacturers, we have a volume of business in
which we are interested and which should be
interested in us which surprises and delights
the imagination.
Up to the present time the growth of the
Chamber may be said to have been both slow
and rapid—slow in the sense that the constituent
bodies have been exceedingly tenacious of their
prestige and success—and very properly so—•
thus giving way to a certain conservatism in
organization work. This naturally produces a
somewhat restricted field of operation con-
fined to their particular line. The larger out-
look for expansion in the whole music industry
was denied them. They could not co-operate
because the machinery therefor was not in ex-
istence. There has been a rapid growth of the
Chamber in the past two years because, at
least, having the skeleton machinery of a trade
organization, and having accomplished with it
very practical and beneficial results, it was seen
that there lay before us the task of making a
perfected and complete trade organization, com-
prehensive both in its membership and in its
machinery and possessing the quality of giving
to all the membership a highly efficient trade
service.
To this task your Board of Directors has
P R E S I D E N T ALDCROFTT'S R E P O R T
been assiduously devoting itself. In the last
analysis, service is what we must give. It 'is
President Aldcroftt opened the proceedings
the essence of all trade organizations.
with the reading of his own report, which was
Advancement of Music
in full as follows:
The
fundamental
service of the Chamber
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
arises out of the work for the advancement of
was established some five years ago with the
the art of music. I, therefore, place this first
purpose, among other things, "to foster and
in importance.
promote the development of music and the
Richard B. Aldcroftt
Had the Chamber done no other work than
interests of those engaged in any business, and, while co-operating with and .aiding the
profession or industry relating or pertaining to parent body in its general work, no one of establish and operate the Bureau for the Ad-
vancement of Music, its existence would have
music," etc.
them has yet united itself with the larger
It was the logical outgrowth of the wisdom structure so closely as to form a completed been vastly justified. I believe we can all
and intelligence of the thinking men in our edifice which will represent the great and com- safely agree with this.
Few, if any, industries find themselves so re-
industry, who, like all leaders in any sound and prehensive trade work which lies ahead.
lated
to the buying public as to be in a posi-
important trade, value organization and co-
Supply Men Need Organization
tion where a civilizing, educational and artistic
operation in these times of intensified manu-
One grave and serious absence from our
facturing conditions and ever-changing mar- membership is such that special attention should propaganda can be carried on which will result
gins of profit. They saw also that organization be paid to it at this time, and great emphasis in the material increase of the sale of their own
creates a perspective of the whole trade con- laid upon the fact of the absence itself and products. Yet we can plainly see that the work
ditions which is bound to create and maintain actual reasons therefor. I refer to the failure of the Bureau for the Advancement of Music,
powers of adjustment and expansion not pos- of the supply manufacturers and jobbers to operating constantly upon the public mind, in-
teresting it and educating it in the love and
sible in separate or individual effort.
properly and effectually organize and become
appreciation of music, is having and will con-
The scope of the Chamber manifestly was in- an important and working division member of
tinue to produce exactly that result. And by
tended to embrace all the trades and manufac- the Chamber.
precisely the support—financial and practical—
tures which contribute directly and indirectly
Here we have manufacturers of lumber ar- we give the Bureau, so much will public interest
to the production of music-producing articles ticles, backs, cases, sound boards, etc., plates,
in purchase of musical instruments be stimu-
and . those organizations commercially inter- keys, actions, pneumatic actions, hardware,
lated.
ested in producing music itself.
strings, etc., whose total annual turnover de-
Mr. Trcmaine, who has conducted the Bureau
The organization work of the Chamber has rived from the manufacture and sale of pianos
with
such extraordinary skill and comprehen-
heretofore been confined to the task of welding alone may be estimated at from $40,000,000 to
together the, existing associations and co-ordi- $60,000,000, and yet the manufacturers of these sion of the subject, will make his own report,
nating their respective activities under one di- supplies have manifested no united interest or but it is proper for your president to emphasize
recting body. We have, therefore, at the present concern in this Chamber, the success of which the importance of the work at this time.
Organization Needs
time the following constituent or division mem- is their success and the efforts of which are be-
In a report which your president had the
bers of the Chamber:
ing directed precisely as much to increase their
The National Piano Manufacturers' Associa- trade and their profits as those of the piano honor to make to the Board of Directors in
manufacturers.
(Continued on page 11)
tion,