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The Conventions of the Local Phonograph Companies, 1890-1893

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The Conventions of the Local Phonograph Companies, 1890-1893 SOURCES IN PHONOGRAPHIC HISTORY SERIES NO. 1 THE CONVENTIONS OF THE LOCAL PHONOGRAPH COMPANIES, 1890-1893. Patrick Feaster, Editor The original pagination has been indicated throughout, so that citations made by previous researchers can be easily located. All text that does not reflect verbatim speech has been put into boldface type for ease of identification. Corrections of punctuation, spelling, etc. are indicated in footnotes except in cases where the printing plate itself seems to be at fault. Thus, for instance, if a comma or hyphen did not print properly but the spacing of characters indicates it must have originally been included, this has been corrected without comment. Frequent minor errors in punctuation that do not impede comprehension have been left uncorrected. Special thanks to Raymond R. Wile for providing a copy of the hard-to-find 1892 volume of the proceedings. PHONOZOIC http://www.phonozoic.net Bloomington, Indiana 2009 [A1] PROCEEDINGS OF FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION OF LOCAL PHONOGRAPH COMPANIES OF THE UNITED STATES HELD AT CHICAGO, MAY 28 AND 29, 1890. REPORTED BY THE PHONOGRAPH AND PHONOGRAPH-GRAPHOPHONE. [A2] PHONOGRAPH PRINTING CO., 414 BROADWAY, MILWAUKEE, WIS. [A3] PHONOGRAPH CONVENTION. AUDITORIUM HOTEL, CHICAGO, ILL., May 28, 1890. MORNING SESSION. The convention was called to order at 12 o’clock M. by Mr. E. D. Easton, President of the Columbia Phonograph Co., who said: GENTLEMEN:—We have met at this time and place in pursuance of the call isssued by Mr. McGilvra, of the OLD DOMINION PHONOGRAPH COMPANY, for such purposes as may seem good to the meeting after it shall have assembled. The first point is the selection of a Chairman and Secretary. Mr. J. H. McGilvra, of Roanoke, Va., was elected temporary chairman and Mr. R. F. Cromelin, of Washington, D. C., temporary secretary. The Chairman: Gentlemen of the convention, it is hardly necessary for me, I think, to assure you that I feel it no small honor to be elected temporary chairman. We are now prepared to go forward with the business of the convention. The chairman then appointed as committee on permanent organization, Messrs. Easton, Gottschalk and Stone. Motion for roll call was then unanimously adopted and the roll was thereupon called as follows: The Alabama Phonograph Co., Anniston, Alabama; Mr. Chas. A. Cheever, President. A4 The Central Nebraska Phonograph Co., Kearney, Nebraska; E. A. Benson, Director. Chicago Central Phonograph Co., 801 and 804 Home Insurance Building, Chicago, Ill.; Geo. B. Hoit, General Manager, E. A. Benson, Chas. Dickinson, Directors. The Columbia Phonograph Co., 627 E Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.; E. D. Easton, President, R. F. Cromelin, Secretary, W. H. Smith, Treasurer. The Colorado and Utah Phonograph Co., Denver, Colorado; S. W. Cantril, Manager, John Barber, Assistant Manager. The Eastern Pennsylvania Phonograph Co., 130 South Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa.; Jas. O. Clephane, Secretary. The Florida Phonograph Co., Jacksonville, Fla.; J. C. Clarkson, Superintendent. The Georgia Phonograph Co., 43 Walton St., Atlanta, Ga.; J. C. Clarkson, Superintendent. The Iowa Phonograph Co., Sioux City, Iowa.; Whitfield Stinson, Secretary. The Kansas Phonograph Co., Topeka, Kan.; Geo. E. Tewkesbury, President. The Kentucky Phonograph Co., Louisville, Ky. The Metropolitan Phonograph Co., 257 Fifth Avenue, New York City, N. Y.; Chas. A. Cheever, President, Felix Gottschalk, Secretary. The Michigan Phonograph Co., 15 & 17 Detroit Opera House, Detroit, Michigan; W. H. Freeman, Manager, C. W. Swift, Secretary. The Minnesota Phonograph Co., 108 Rochester Block, Minneapolis, Minn.; C. H. Chadbourne, General Manager. A5 Missouri Phonograph Co., 416 3rd Avenue, South, Minneapolis, Minn.; J. C. Wood, W. J. Wood, Geo. L. Wood, A. W. Clancy, Vice-President, J. C. Elliot, General Manager. The Montana Phonograph Co., Helena, Montana; E. A. Benson, Director. The Nebraska Phonograph Co., Omaha, Nebraska; E. A. Benson, President. The New England Phonograph Co., Boylston Building, Boston, Mass.; A. N. Sampson, Manager. The New Jersey Phonograph Co., 758 Broad Street, Newark, N. J.; W. L. Smith, General Manager. The New York Phonograph Co., 257 Fifth Avenue, New York City, N. Y.; John P. Haines, President. The Ohio Phonograph Co., 220 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio; Jas. L. Andem, President. The Old Dominion Phonograph Co., Masonic Temple, Rooms 8 and 9, Roanoke, Va.; J. H. McGilvra, President. The Pacific Phonograph Co., 323 Pine Street, San Francisco, Cal.; Louis Glass, General Manager. The South Dakota Phonograph Co., Sioux Falls, Dakota; Henry Lacey, General Manager. The Spokane Phonograph Co., Spokane Falls, Washington;1 Louis Glass, Director. State Phonograph Company of Illinois, 804 Home Insurance Building, Chicago, Ill.; G. Farwell, W. H. Hubbard and Ed. Lobdell, Directors. The Tennessee2 Phonograph Co., No. 5 Noel Block, Nashville, Tenn.; J. Balleras, General Manager. The Texas Phonograph Co., Galveston, Texas; H. L. Sellers, President, Thos. Conyngton, General Manager. The West Coast Phonograph Co., Portland, Oregon; A6 Louis Glass, Director. The Western Pa. Phonograph Co., 146 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.; J. H. Friend, Secretary. The Wisconsin Phonograph Co., 414 Broadway, Milwaukee, Wis.; Henry D. Goodwin, Secretary; W. S. Burnett, Superintendent. The Wyoming Phonograph Co., Cheyenne, Wyoming; E. L. Lindsay, Manager. Mr. Gottschalk: Mr. Chairman, so far as I can find out, the sentiment of the various companies is that our vote should be cast for each company, but as many representatives as are 1 Original: “Washton” 2 Original: “Tennesee” here are to represent that company. They must agree among themselves as to who is to represent them in voting. Mr. Clancy: I do not think that is the way the companies ought to be represented in this meeting. I think that every stockholder who is here ought certainly to have a say in this matter; but we ought not to take up that discussion until after we hear the report of the committee on credentials. The Chairman: What is the further pleasure of the convention? Mr. Easton: Mr. Chairman, yesterday several of the delegates who were here, appreciating the importance of having something to present to the convention, met and prepared certain topics. These topics have been printed and are before the delegates. I move that they be taken up in order and considered, and that, of course, all persons having topics to add to the list be invited to do so. Mr. Chadbourne: Mr. President, would it not be well to have a permanent organization first? I understand that there is only a temporary organization so far. A7 Mr. Cheever: As I understood the motion regarding the temporary organization it should hold until the committee on credentials have an opportunity to report. Am I correct, Mr. Chairman? The Chairman: That was my understanding about it. Mr. Easton: Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a suggestion to Mr. Chadbourne, if he will allow me. It may take some time for the committee on permanent organization to prepare a plan. Now, can we not go right on with our business, and if necessary let the permanent organization ratify what this temporary body may choose to do. We cannot stay very long in session. I suppose most of the delegates want to get home as soon as they can, and if the committee on permanent organization were to ask for time to make up its report, it might be taking too much of the time of the gentlemen present. Mr. Chadbourne. I hardly think so. I think that we ought to take time enough to discuss this whole matter in all its details, if it takes all summer, and I think the better way would be to have an organization perfected, and proceed to business in a business way. I don’t think that taking this up now would be in order at all. Mr. Cheever: The question that arises in my mind is the question of voting. There seems to be a difference of opinion among some of the gentlemen present as to how the vote shall be taken on any particular subject which it might be necessary to vote upon—whether by delegates present, some companies having half a dozen, others having but a single representative, and some single representatives representing a dozen companies. I think it would be well to decide how we are A8 going to vote before we commence the proceedings. I will move that a committee of five be appointed on programme. Motion unanimously adopted that the chair should select the committee on programme which was done as follows: Mr. Clancy, Mr. Cheever, Mr. Andem, Mr. Benson and Mr. Chadbourne. Mr. Clancy: I will suggest that all who have topics that they would like to have discussed pass them to this committee at once, or to any member of it. Motion made and seconded that each company be allowed one vote in this convention and that all their representatives or stockholders be allowed a seat in the convention and to participate in the discussions. Mr. Gottschalk: Mr. Chairman, I simply repeat the remark I made before and that is the delegates of each company must decide who is to vote for that company; and if for instance one of the delegates is in favor of a topic and another delegate opposed to it, if there are only two delegates from the company, that company has no vote. If there are three, and two are in favor of it, I presume the affirmative is to be voted by one of the delegates. Mr. Cheever: Mr. Chairman it seems to me that that will be covered by the action of the committee on representation and they shall decide in their report as to how or who is to vote for each company. Mr. Swift: It is called a committee on programme at present. Mr. Lindsay: That is just the reason I think this motion made by my friend is not in order just now.
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