The first direct link with today’s management was begun ninety-five years ago in June 1912 when Ellis Robert Howard was appointed as ‘traveller on probation’. He was the grandfather of former Managing Director and Chairman Bernard Braley, and the great-grandfather of the present Joint Managing Director, Carol Wakefield.

At the end of 1912, Stainer & Bell needed larger premises and moved along the street to No. 58, where it was to remain until 1950. The last months before the First World War saw the decision to venture into early English music with an offer to publish Edmund Fellowes’ edition of The English Madrigal School. Stainer & Bell sought a co-publishing arrangement with Macmillan and Co, which they declined. However, George Macmillan provided the wherewithal to go ahead on its own by subscribing £2000 for preference shares. At the same time Gustav Holst approached Stainer & Bell to sound them out on an idea for publishing a series of works for school orchestra, which was to come to fruition several years later as The Polychordia String Library.

The trading results for the year to 30th June 1914 were bad. By the time of the Annual General Meeting in December, the country was at war and the outlook for trade was bleak. Those present requested the Board of Directors to take immediate steps with a view to amalgamation with some other firm of music publishers, retaining, if possible, the name and character of Stainer & Bell, and in the event of such negotiations falling through, that an effort be made to sell the business as a going concern. In November 1915, preference shareholders gave consent for the issue of debentures to cover pressing liabilities. Immediate negotiations for amalgamation with J Fischer & Brothers of New York were proposed. In 1916, the Board directed that if all else failed, an approach should be made to Novello to see if they would take over the firm.

In the end, the firm hung on to its independence. Arthur Praeger, who had been Manager since 1908, and his assistant, took jobs with the Bank of England. William Hathaway acted as part-time Managing Director until leaving for Australia in 1917 to take up the post of music examiner. The staff was reduced to Ellis Howard, a Miss Wilkes and the office boy. The company’s printer contributed enough for a debenture which could be used to pay their long overdue bill, and chartered accountant Clifford Bliss joined the Board. Then the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust approached Stainer & Bell as to the possibility of publishing a series of works they were supporting and by the summer, terms were agreed. In November George Riley nominated George Macmillan to succeed him as Chairman.

The mantle of responsibility for running the company’s day-to-day affairs had fallen on Ellis Howard who was formally appointed as Secretary and Manager in November 1917. He employed the help of his daughters, Marjorie and Dorothy. Later, another daughter, Ida, and Marjorie’s husband, Arthur Braley, were to join the company.