Music Trade Review
Issue: 1919 Vol. 68 N. 3 - Page 11
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Music
JANUARY 18, 1019
TRADE
11
REVIEW
The Activities of the Aeolian Go. During the War
H. B. Tremaine, President of the Aeolian Co., Tells How the Entire Aeolian
Organization Faced the Manifold Problems Which War-Time Conditions
Brought, and How These Problems Were Solved Successfully and Efficiently
[The following article, written by II. B. Tremaine, presi-
dent of the Aeolian Co., appears in the current issue of
the "Aeolian," the house organ published monthly by the
Aeolian Employes' Association. This article is well worth
more than passing attention, for it reflects the progressive-
ness and keen foresight of the Aeolian Co. and its execu-
tives.—Editorial note.]
On the 1.4th of July, the French National holi-
day, 1914, in the Hotel Meurice in Paris, a din-
ner was given at which were present Mr.
Mason, the head of the European business of
our company, Mr. Hessin, at that time head of
the German company, August Zimmermann, our
agent in Russia, and the writer.
We had just ended the most prosperous year
in the history of our European companies and
the outlook for the future was being discussed.
If looked exceptionally bright.
Especially had our German business done
well. In the face of competition of the severest
and most unprincipled kind, Mr. Hessin and his
associates had succeeded in establishing the
Aeolian Co. and its products in a position of
supremacy that had resulted in excellent profits
and we took pleasure in congratulating him on
his well-deserved success.
A Remarkable Prophecy
In thanking us he expressed a doubt about the
future, stating that it was his belief that Europe
was facing a vast war, the beginning of which
would take place before another twelve months
had passed. This was before the Austrian ulti-
matum to Serbia, and it was impossible for any
of us who heard Mr. Hessin's fateful prophecy
to believe such a thing possible.
Three weeks later I was in Folkestone, Eng
land. It was Sunday morning and 1 had slept
late after a tiresome trip from Paris on the day
previous. I rang the bell and asked the boy
who answered to bring me a morning paper.
He did so and on the front page in enormous
type was the news that I had feared—Germany
had declared war and her troops were already
advancing on their way to invade Belgium.
That same afternoon I took the train for Lon-
don, and on the following morning a meeting
was held in the company's offices in New Bond
street, at which were present Mr. Mason and
his department managers.
At this meeting
plans were discussed to meet the effects of
what we all felt was going to prove the most
devastating war in the world's history.
It was beyond the power of any of us to
foresee what the ultimate effects upon our own
business would be. That they would be seri-
ous and far reaching we all knew.
Putting the Business on a War Basis
Immediate and drastic steps were taken.
August and September are the great holiday
months in England. Many of our force were
off on their vacations and others were pre-
paring to go. All vacations were canceled and
those who were away were recalled. Econo-
mies were agreed upon and put into effect and
within forty-eight hours after war was declared
the business had been put upon a war basis and
the organization awaited the coming of events.
I returned to New York a month later. Here
steps similar to those in London had already
been taken. Upon my arrival a meeting was
called, plans were agreed upon, and, with a full
understanding of the seriousness of the condi-
tions we were going to be called upon to face,
each of the different department heads pledged
himself to make whatever effort or sacrifice
might be necessary to successfully meet any
situation the war might bring about.
It is more than four years since that dinner
in Paris and those meetings in London and New
York; during that period the greatest conflict
muffcd/mm
fnt/ieWbr/d.
in the world's history has been fought and a vic-
tory for right and justice has been won. We
are beginning a New Year and entering upon
a period of vast social and industrial develop-
ment, the ultimate results of which no man can
wholly foresee. I believe that at this time it
will be interesting and helpful to look back and
see what we, as a company, have accomplished
during the period of the war; to see how in
the face of difficulties that appear, as we re-
view them, to have been well-nigh insurmount-
able, the Aeolian organizations in England,
H. B. Tremaine
France, Australia and this country did their
part in helping to win the great conflict, and at
the same time not only kept the business going
but actually made great advances in the de-
velopment of our products, besides making the
profits necessary for the continuance of the busi-
ness and the strengthening of our position in
the commercial and financial worlds.
The Company's War Record
The contribution of this company to the
cause of the Allies is one in which I think we
can all feel a just pride. Nearly one thousand
Aeolian employes were enlisted under the flags
of the Allies when the war ended. Some among
them have made the great sacrifice; others have
been wounded and have recovered and others
again are at this time in the hospitals of France
and England. Over three-quarters of a million
dollars have been subscribed to the different war
loans by the company, its officers and its em-
ployes.
Our English factories were entirely devoted
to war products. What our organization in
this country did has not yet been made public,
and perhaps never will be, -but in addition to
producing materials for ordnance and other
Government needs at our factories, we were
able to contribute to the development of what
is conceded by military experts to be the dead-
liest machine known to modern warfare. Eng-
land, France and Germany had all tried to
solve the problems that stood in the way of the
construction and use of this machine and had
all failed and abandoned the task as impossible.
PIANOS
The United States succeeded and to Mr. Votey
and his associates must be accorded the credit
of contributing the final and necessary elements
that made success possible.
How the War Affected Our Business
Turning from the records of the company's
war work, I would like to review briefly its
activities in its own business and at the same
time take this opportunity to express my ap-
preciation for the energy and loyalty of the en-
tire organization during the difficult period
through which we have just passed.
In Europe the first effect of the war was to
shut off the supply of pianos made in Ger-
many.
The total product of the European
piano factories was eight thousand five hun-
dred instruments. Twenty-five hundred Weber
pianos were made in England, and six thousand
Steck pianos in Germany. The Steck plant at
Gotha had been purchased a few years before;
at the time we acquired it, this factory was
producing three hundred pianos a year—we had
increased the output to six thousand and it
was, when the war began, the largest factory of
its kind in Europe.
England, France and Australia were all de-
pendent upon the Gotha factory for a large
part of the pianos they sold, and the shutting
off of this source of supply created at once a
serious situation.
The English Business
In England, the conditions became rapidly
more difficult.
First, a partial embargo was
placed upon the importation of musical instru-
ments, and later a total embargo shut off all
pianos, phonographs and parts thereof.
At the same time the British Government was
enacting measures to restrict the manufacture
of these instruments, and these measures finally
resulted in stopping entirely the manufacture of
musical instruments in our English factories.
Thus the management found itself confronted
with two problems—it must provide goods for
its selling organization and it must secure work
for its factories.
The manner in which this situation was met
and dealt with reflects the greatest possible
credit upon Mr. Mason, Mr. Reid, Mr. Sugden
and their associates.
To provide work for the factories, war con-
tracts were sought. It was found exceedingly
difficult to get work of this kind suitable for
our factories. In the beginning, among other
things, a contract was taken to make overalls,
sewing machines were bought, materials pur-
chased, and the overalls were made and de-
livered according to specifications. It is a far
cry from Weber pianos to overalls, but I am
informed that the overalls we made were quite
equal to the best, and in every way up to Aeo-
lion standards.
English Factories—100 Per Cent. War Work
That was in the beginning; as the war pro-
gressed, contracts were taken for other and
more important products, until, toward the end,
we were building parts for aeroplanes on a
large scale, and not only were our two factories
working to the limit of their capacity, but we
were obliged to hire outside buildings.
With work provided for the factories, there
was still the other problem. We had to have
pianos, and player-pianos for our selling force.
We couldn't make them, nor could we import
them, and we couldn't buy them from other
English manufacturers, because they were in
the same position we were.
(Continued on pac/e 13)
ORGANS
E5TEY PIANO COMPANY NEW YDI7K CITY
7/ie pestp/vnt
producer/orthe
dealer muieflrade.
Music
JANUARY 18, 1019
TRADE
11
REVIEW
The Activities of the Aeolian Go. During the War
H. B. Tremaine, President of the Aeolian Co., Tells How the Entire Aeolian
Organization Faced the Manifold Problems Which War-Time Conditions
Brought, and How These Problems Were Solved Successfully and Efficiently
[The following article, written by II. B. Tremaine, presi-
dent of the Aeolian Co., appears in the current issue of
the "Aeolian," the house organ published monthly by the
Aeolian Employes' Association. This article is well worth
more than passing attention, for it reflects the progressive-
ness and keen foresight of the Aeolian Co. and its execu-
tives.—Editorial note.]
On the 1.4th of July, the French National holi-
day, 1914, in the Hotel Meurice in Paris, a din-
ner was given at which were present Mr.
Mason, the head of the European business of
our company, Mr. Hessin, at that time head of
the German company, August Zimmermann, our
agent in Russia, and the writer.
We had just ended the most prosperous year
in the history of our European companies and
the outlook for the future was being discussed.
If looked exceptionally bright.
Especially had our German business done
well. In the face of competition of the severest
and most unprincipled kind, Mr. Hessin and his
associates had succeeded in establishing the
Aeolian Co. and its products in a position of
supremacy that had resulted in excellent profits
and we took pleasure in congratulating him on
his well-deserved success.
A Remarkable Prophecy
In thanking us he expressed a doubt about the
future, stating that it was his belief that Europe
was facing a vast war, the beginning of which
would take place before another twelve months
had passed. This was before the Austrian ulti-
matum to Serbia, and it was impossible for any
of us who heard Mr. Hessin's fateful prophecy
to believe such a thing possible.
Three weeks later I was in Folkestone, Eng
land. It was Sunday morning and 1 had slept
late after a tiresome trip from Paris on the day
previous. I rang the bell and asked the boy
who answered to bring me a morning paper.
He did so and on the front page in enormous
type was the news that I had feared—Germany
had declared war and her troops were already
advancing on their way to invade Belgium.
That same afternoon I took the train for Lon-
don, and on the following morning a meeting
was held in the company's offices in New Bond
street, at which were present Mr. Mason and
his department managers.
At this meeting
plans were discussed to meet the effects of
what we all felt was going to prove the most
devastating war in the world's history.
It was beyond the power of any of us to
foresee what the ultimate effects upon our own
business would be. That they would be seri-
ous and far reaching we all knew.
Putting the Business on a War Basis
Immediate and drastic steps were taken.
August and September are the great holiday
months in England. Many of our force were
off on their vacations and others were pre-
paring to go. All vacations were canceled and
those who were away were recalled. Econo-
mies were agreed upon and put into effect and
within forty-eight hours after war was declared
the business had been put upon a war basis and
the organization awaited the coming of events.
I returned to New York a month later. Here
steps similar to those in London had already
been taken. Upon my arrival a meeting was
called, plans were agreed upon, and, with a full
understanding of the seriousness of the condi-
tions we were going to be called upon to face,
each of the different department heads pledged
himself to make whatever effort or sacrifice
might be necessary to successfully meet any
situation the war might bring about.
It is more than four years since that dinner
in Paris and those meetings in London and New
York; during that period the greatest conflict
muffcd/mm
fnt/ieWbr/d.
in the world's history has been fought and a vic-
tory for right and justice has been won. We
are beginning a New Year and entering upon
a period of vast social and industrial develop-
ment, the ultimate results of which no man can
wholly foresee. I believe that at this time it
will be interesting and helpful to look back and
see what we, as a company, have accomplished
during the period of the war; to see how in
the face of difficulties that appear, as we re-
view them, to have been well-nigh insurmount-
able, the Aeolian organizations in England,
H. B. Tremaine
France, Australia and this country did their
part in helping to win the great conflict, and at
the same time not only kept the business going
but actually made great advances in the de-
velopment of our products, besides making the
profits necessary for the continuance of the busi-
ness and the strengthening of our position in
the commercial and financial worlds.
The Company's War Record
The contribution of this company to the
cause of the Allies is one in which I think we
can all feel a just pride. Nearly one thousand
Aeolian employes were enlisted under the flags
of the Allies when the war ended. Some among
them have made the great sacrifice; others have
been wounded and have recovered and others
again are at this time in the hospitals of France
and England. Over three-quarters of a million
dollars have been subscribed to the different war
loans by the company, its officers and its em-
ployes.
Our English factories were entirely devoted
to war products. What our organization in
this country did has not yet been made public,
and perhaps never will be, -but in addition to
producing materials for ordnance and other
Government needs at our factories, we were
able to contribute to the development of what
is conceded by military experts to be the dead-
liest machine known to modern warfare. Eng-
land, France and Germany had all tried to
solve the problems that stood in the way of the
construction and use of this machine and had
all failed and abandoned the task as impossible.
PIANOS
The United States succeeded and to Mr. Votey
and his associates must be accorded the credit
of contributing the final and necessary elements
that made success possible.
How the War Affected Our Business
Turning from the records of the company's
war work, I would like to review briefly its
activities in its own business and at the same
time take this opportunity to express my ap-
preciation for the energy and loyalty of the en-
tire organization during the difficult period
through which we have just passed.
In Europe the first effect of the war was to
shut off the supply of pianos made in Ger-
many.
The total product of the European
piano factories was eight thousand five hun-
dred instruments. Twenty-five hundred Weber
pianos were made in England, and six thousand
Steck pianos in Germany. The Steck plant at
Gotha had been purchased a few years before;
at the time we acquired it, this factory was
producing three hundred pianos a year—we had
increased the output to six thousand and it
was, when the war began, the largest factory of
its kind in Europe.
England, France and Australia were all de-
pendent upon the Gotha factory for a large
part of the pianos they sold, and the shutting
off of this source of supply created at once a
serious situation.
The English Business
In England, the conditions became rapidly
more difficult.
First, a partial embargo was
placed upon the importation of musical instru-
ments, and later a total embargo shut off all
pianos, phonographs and parts thereof.
At the same time the British Government was
enacting measures to restrict the manufacture
of these instruments, and these measures finally
resulted in stopping entirely the manufacture of
musical instruments in our English factories.
Thus the management found itself confronted
with two problems—it must provide goods for
its selling organization and it must secure work
for its factories.
The manner in which this situation was met
and dealt with reflects the greatest possible
credit upon Mr. Mason, Mr. Reid, Mr. Sugden
and their associates.
To provide work for the factories, war con-
tracts were sought. It was found exceedingly
difficult to get work of this kind suitable for
our factories. In the beginning, among other
things, a contract was taken to make overalls,
sewing machines were bought, materials pur-
chased, and the overalls were made and de-
livered according to specifications. It is a far
cry from Weber pianos to overalls, but I am
informed that the overalls we made were quite
equal to the best, and in every way up to Aeo-
lion standards.
English Factories—100 Per Cent. War Work
That was in the beginning; as the war pro-
gressed, contracts were taken for other and
more important products, until, toward the end,
we were building parts for aeroplanes on a
large scale, and not only were our two factories
working to the limit of their capacity, but we
were obliged to hire outside buildings.
With work provided for the factories, there
was still the other problem. We had to have
pianos, and player-pianos for our selling force.
We couldn't make them, nor could we import
them, and we couldn't buy them from other
English manufacturers, because they were in
the same position we were.
(Continued on pac/e 13)
ORGANS
E5TEY PIANO COMPANY NEW YDI7K CITY
7/ie pestp/vnt
producer/orthe
dealer muieflrade.
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