Although the first known attempt at creating a national organization for piano tuners goes back to 1892, it wasn’t until 1910 that success was finally in sight. Local tuners’ organizations were already in existence prior to 1890, such as in NYC and Chicago, as well as in other places, but it took a few men from the NYC association with a little fore-sight, prior experience with attempts at organizing, and a lot of will power to see that a national organization was not only essential, but that it was doable as long as some specific ideals were met. Here is an excerpt from the Jan. 1 “Tuners’ Association Bulletin” (subsequently known as “Bulletin of the American Guild of Piano Tuners”) citing a few of these ideals:
Provisional Platform of the American Guild of Piano Tuners
1. To elevate the standard of professional attainment by limiting membership strictly to those who can show a certain minimum of excellence.
2. To make the certificate of the association an object of general desire among tuners.
3. To educate the public as to the significance of the association’s certificate as a guarantee of professional worth.
4. To disseminate more thoroughly a general knowledge of the theory and practice of the tuner’s art.
5. To maintain the standard International pitch A 435.
These “Bulletins” were contained in “The Music Trade Review” magazines between Jan 1 and May 28 of 1910 and were under the heading of “The Review’s Technical Department”, a continuous column that had been written by William Braid White for many years prior. The “Provisional Platform” was also written by Dr. White in order to get things started for the Guild.
On Jan. 9th a meeting of representative Guild members was held at their temporary headquarters, also known as Dr. White’s apartment, which was located at 126 West 100th St. in NY. (A quick Google map search reveals that address is now a parking lot.) It may be interesting and instructive to relate the resolutions that came out of that meeting:
1. That the conference views with pleasure the evident intelligent enthusiasm with which the tuners of the country have received the movement for national organization.
2. That in accordance with the evident mandate laid upon the conference by the tuners of America, who look to NY for an initiatory step, this conference does hereby constitute itself the American Guild of Piano Tuners.
3. That a committee on organization, with full powers to act in its discretion, is hereby appointed to undertake the enrollment of membership and to transact all other pertinent business connected with the preliminary organization of the Guild.
4. That a committee on constitution is hereby appointed to draw up and submit to the Guild a comprehensive scheme of local and national by-laws.
5. That the Guild accepts the principle of organization through local committees, and declares in favor of this plan as an ideal toward which this Guild must strive.
6. That the Guild accepts the applications for membership made already by known and legitimate tuners through the Technical Department of The Music Trade Review.
7. That the Guild expresses its conviction that its aims and ideals are so entirely divergent from any entertained by labor organizations that a position of neutrality toward all organizations, whether of capital or labor, must be adopted and maintained by it.
8. That The Music Trade Review of NY, through its interest and encouragement of this movement, deserves credit and thanks, and that the thanks of the Guild be and hereby are extended to the Editor and Proprietor of that journal, Edward Lyman Bill.
9. That the Guild request The Music Trade Review to act as its official organ for so long as may be agreeable to the said Review.
10. That a second meeting of the Guild be held on Feb 6, 1910, for the election of officers for the first year, reception of reports from committees, and other pertinent business.
11. That the Guild authorize such of its present members as reside in the city of NY to form the NY Chapter of the American Guild of Piano Tuners, subject to suspension of adoption of constitution and by-laws until rules and regulations governing the formation of local chapters have been definitely adopted by the Guild.
12. That the Guild adopts, as an expression of its policy, the following recommendations, as made at the first meeting of the Conference Committee on Jan 2:
1. That the national officers for the first year be stationed in NY.
2. That this policy is dictated by the necessity for a coherent central body, compact and capable, for the preliminary work of organization.
3. That in addition to the central body of national officers, there shall be a national board of vice-presidents chosen from the large cities and important districts throughout the country, who shall become the local chairmen of city and state committees, working locally in their respective districts.
4. That the charter membership shall consist of all known and legitimate tuners, whose names are handed in up to Feb. 1, 1910.
5. That the fees for membership and annual dues shall not exceed $5 annually, the same to include the cost of an appropriate certificate and membership button.
6. That the platform already sketched out by W.B.White and published in the columns of The Technical Department of The Music Trade Review shall be considered as the platform of the American Guild of Piano Tuners until such time as the general membership shall express a desire to revise it.
At that second meeting of the Guild’s founders held in Feb., after several interesting and important propositions were brought up, it was resolved to do nothing until all the members were notified and asked to vote. Also, it was resolved to call the first convention to be in NYC during the month of August.
