Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
IO
union would benefit the trade would prob-
ably occur to those present.
"Mr. Bill remarked that it was not for The
Review to propose these things, but mere-
ly to respectfully suggest them for the con-
sideration of the members of the trade. He
concluded by suggesting that a chairman of
the meeting be appointed."
RESOLUTIONS PASSED.
After considerable discussion the follow-
ing resolutions were adopted:
Whereas: The duly authorized repre-
sentatives of the piano and organ industries
of America in public meeting here assem-
bled are unanimously of the opinion that,
in the interest of such industries, it is
desirable that a protective union of
America piano and organ manufacturers
be established. Be it
Resolved: That such American piano
and organ makers as have been duly repre-
sented in this meeting do now form them-
selves into an association in a union to be
known as the Protective Union of Piano
and Organ Makers of America.
The meeting was then adjourned until
Oct. 3, after a committee of twelve had
been appointed to formulate plans for the
inauguration of the organization.
At this meeting Marc A. Blumenberg,
editor of The ^Musical Courier, arose and
generously made a motion to tender a vote
of thanks to Bill & Bill for their indefatig-
able efforts in bringing thismeetingabout.
EXTRACTS FRO/1 THE N. Y. PRESS.
The interest that the meeting aroused
was national. Reports of the movement
appeared in the press in all parts of
America. We reproduce below some of
the articles which appeared in the New
York dailies at that time. Every daily
paper in New York gave much space to the
meeting and some commented upon it
editorially. The Clarendon Hall meeting
assumed national prominence.
NOT FOR A PIANO TRUST,
AN ORGANIZATION AGAINST ABUSES IN
THE TRADE.
Meeting of the Leading Piano-Makers of the Country
What Their Harmless Objects Are,
There was opened at Clarendon Hall, at two
o'clock this afternoon, a largely attended meeting
of piano and organ manufacturers and others in-
terested in the musical merchandise trade. They
came together in response to a call issued from this
city on September 5, and the object set forth in
the call was the organization of an association to
be known as the "Protective Union of the Piano
and Organ Makers of America." Such a union has
been advocated for some years in various quarters,
and notably by The Music Trade Review, of this
city. It is designed to correct certain alleged
abuses which have long operated to the detriment
of the trade as a whole.
These abuses consist principally of a system of
long-extended credit on the part of the makers.
Owing to the lack of union and harmony among
the makers, and other causes, it has been found
impossible to overcome this evil, which has as-
sumed (from certain points of view) alarming pro-
portions. Another abuse has resulted from the
competition among the makers, which has led them
again and again to reduce their charges for ship-
ment to purchasers—a reduction really in the prices
of the instruments. The Union will endeavor to
regulate this, and also to procure from the various
transportation companies rates more favorable
than those which now exist. The trade has, more-
over, greatly suffered (all this is what is claimed
by the makers) from a lack of facilities for obtain-
ing trustworthy intormation relative to those en-
gaged in the various branches of the business.
One of the chief objects of the projected union,
therefore, is the establishment of a bureau of infor-
mation which will give precise intelligence as to
the financial standing of anybody in the trade.
Another purpose is the adjustment (if possible) of
the duties on imported musical merchandise. This,
however, is somewhat a subsidiary aim ; as it was
stated this morning by a good authority to a re-
porter of the Evening Post that the makers and
dealers really had little to complain of from for-
eign importations, and were not likely to be par-
ticularly active in petitioning Congress to increase
the duties on such goods. Should the union be es-
tablished, as proposed, it is intended to have head-
quarters in this city and Chicago. They will be
somewhat of the nature of clubs, and will be a
meeting-place for both social intercourse and busi-
ness for all members. A staff of officers in each
city and a number of committees will, of course, be
an adjunct of the proposed union.
Edward Lyman Bill, who has been active 111
bringing about the meeting, said this morning to
the reporter: "An impression has been created by
some of the newspapers that we have projected a
piano and organ trust. That is quite wrong. A
trust would be impossible in this business, and the
union could do nothing further in the way ot regu-
lating prices than to keep them a little firm: it
could not absolutely fix them. '
The meeting was attended by about one hundred
persons, representing all the leading piano and
organ houses in the country, including the Stein-
ways and the Chickerings.—Evening Post, New
York, September 17, 1889.
PIANO AND ORGAN MAKERS' UNION.
Those Interested in the Trade Determine to Unite to
Remedy its Abuses.
Piano and organ manufacturers and their repre-
sentatives from all parts of the country crowded
into the city yesterday to attend a big meeting of
all persons interested in the musical merchandise
trade. Over one hundred persons, representing
all the leading piano and organ houses in the coun-
try, got to work at Clarendon Hall early in the
day, and concluded in very short order preliminary
arrangements for a mammoth association to be
known as the "Protective Union of Piano and Or-
gan Makers of America."
The convention was called to order by Edward
Lyman Bill, who has been active in the movement
for an association for years. R. M. Walters was
elected temporary chairman and Henry Behning,
Jr., was made secretary.
The call for the meeting was issued Sept. 5, and
it was given out that the association to be formed
would correct certain alleged abuses which have
for many years operated to the detriment of the
musical merchandise trade. Responses were
promptly received, and now the association is an
assured success, according to the promoters. At
yesterday's convention the association's work and
object was outlined. The most glaring abuse is
said to be a system of long credit. There has
been a lack of harmony among the manufacturers,
and it has been found impossible to overcome
the evil, which is said to have assumed alarming
proportions.
The manufacturers have been engaged in dam-
aging competition, too, by constantly cutting their
charges for shipment to purchasers, which reduc-
tion is really in the price of the instruments. The
union will endeavor to procure from the various
transportation companies more favorable rates
than the existing ones. A bureau is also to be es-
tablished for the purpose of securing information
which will give precise intelligence as to the finan-
cial standing of all persons engaged in the various
branches of the business. Another task for the
union is the adjustment of the duties on imported
musical merchandise. Headquarters for the union
will be in this city and Chicago.
There was a general denial at the convention
yesterday that the union was really a trust. Ed-
ward Lyman Bill declared that a trust in the piano
business would be an impossibility, as the union
could do nothing further in the way of regulating
prices than to keep them a little firm; it could not
absolutely fix them. Before the convention ad-
journed to Oct. 3, the following committee was ap-
pointed to perfect the organization and induce per-
sons interested to ioin it: George A. Steinway,
James Vose, A. H. Fischer, Henry Behr. Benjamin
Starr, Frank Conover, John McLaughlin, T. P.
Brown, W. A. Kimberlv. Henry Behning, Jr., Au-
gust Baus and R. M. Walters.—Commercial Ad-
vertiser, New York, September 18, 1889.
PIANO AND ORGAN MAKERS UNITE.
A New Organization Which Does Not Appear to Be a
Trust.
A number of the leading piano manufacturers of
New York, New Jersey, Brooklyn and Boston met
R. M. WALTERS.
Chairman of First Music Trade Convention.
in Clarendon Hall yesterday afternoon in response
to a call issued by Mr. Edward Lyman Bill, and to
organize a permanent trust or union among the
piano and organ manufacturers in the United
States.
Mr. Bill addressed the meeting, and stated that
the proposed organization was for the purpose of
eliminating the credit system and to establish bu-
reaus of information in the large cities of the
United States, where manufacturers could ascer-
tain the financial standing of firms and individu-
als, and for the purpose of adjusting the freight
rates.
Mr. R. M. Walters was appointed temporary
chairman and Mr. Henry Behning temporary sec-
retary. A committee was appointed to effect a
permanent organization, to report Thursday night.
—Mail and Express, September 18, 18S9.
PIANO MAKERS UNITE.
A Protective Union Formed at a Meeting in Clarendon
Hall.
Over thirty representatives of piano and organ
manufacturers from all parts of the country met in
Clarendon Hall, in East Thirteenth street, yester-
day afternoon to form a umen for mutual protec-
tion. The meeting had been called by the editors
of The Music Trade Review, which has been ad-
vocating such an organization for a long time.
Edward Lyman Bill, who called the meeting to
order, advocated the establishment in each city of
a mutual mercantile agency which should inform
manufacturers of the standing of dealers. R. M.
Walters was chosen temporary chairman and Henry
Behning, Jr., secretary. On motion of A. H.
Fischer it was decided to have a committee of
twelve appointed to draw up a plan of organiza-
tion. Mr. Walters announced the following names:
George A. Steinway, James Vose, A. H. Fischer,
Henry Behr, Benjamin Starr, Frank Conover, John
McLaughlin, T. P. Brown, W. A. Kimbeiiy, and
August Baus. To these were added the chairman
and the secretary.
By a resolution offered by Edward Lyman Bill
the organization is to be known as the Protective
Union of Piano and Organ Manufacturers of
America. At 414 o'clock the meeting adjourned to
reconvene at 8 o'clock on the evening of Oct. 3, at
the hall. In the mean time an effort will be made
to bring all the large manufacturers into the or-
ganization.—The Sun, New York, September 18,
1889.
PIANO
FIRST
STF.rS
MEN
COMBINE.
T A K E N TO RUN TH KIR
SURE PROFITS.
1SUSINF.SS FOR
The piano and organ manufacturersof New York
and vicinity, in a meeting held at Clarendon Hall
yesterday afternoon, took the preliminary steps
toward the formation of a mutual protective union
patterned after the Furniture Dealers' Protective
Union. Thirty-six firms were represented, and a
committee was appointed to draw up terms for
permanent organization.
Edward Lyman Bill called the meeting to order
and explained the object in view as follows: "There
should be a credit reform in our line of trade, and
a bureau of information should be established in
every large city where the dealer in musical in-
struments can obtain accurate information as to
the reliability of customers.
"Adjustment of the freight tariff should also be