Automatic Age

Issue: 1928 August

12
T
he
a u t o m a t ic
A
ge
“Electramuse,” a Quality Product
of a Progressive Organization
A recent entry in the field o f auto­
matic musical production that is fast
earning a reputation as a profit-
maker and trade-builder fo r retail
merchants, is the Electramuse, the
coin-controlled, continuous - playing,
electrically - operated
phonograph
made by the H olcom b & Hoke Man­
ufacturing Company, o f Indianapolis,
Indiana. ‘
There is a background o f success­
ful accomplishment behind this lat­
est enterprise. Thirty-five years o f
achievement have earned fo r the
H olcom b & Hoke Company the title
o f “ The W orld’s Largest M anufac­
turers o f Money Making Equipment
fo r Merchants.” W ith a capitaliza­
tion o f $2,000,000.00, a well-equipped,
up-to-date plant and an engineering
staff o f experts o f many years’ ex­
perience, the Holcom b & Hoke or­
ganization has met with unusual suc­
cess in foreseeing and supplying the
merchants’ demand fo r profit-making
products. The growing popularity
o f these products has proved their
merit conclusively; they have been
made with one idea in mind— to in­
crease trade and profits fo r the pur­
chaser. The sales policy o f the firm
has always been dictated by a genu­
ine spirit o f fairness and understand­
ing.
The distribution o f product and
service is truly national in scope. In
order to thoroughly cover the mar­
ket, forty-five sales offices have been
opened in strategically-located cen­
ters, each in charge o f an energetic
and efficient manager. T o round out
the organization, a force o f four hun­
dred active, hustling salesmen are
selling merchants on the profit-mak­
ing possibilities o f Holcomb and Hoke
© International A rca d e M useu m
[M SIJ
The “ Electramuse,” coin-con­
trolled phonograph, manufac­
tured by Holcom b & Hoke
M fg. Co., Indianapolis.
equipment in all four corners o f the
country.
W ith such backing as this, it is
easy to see why the Electramuse is
stepping out in front in its field. It
represents the most modern develop­
ments, the peak o f engineering ach­
ievement, and, more important still,
a tone quality hitherto unknown in
instruments o f its type.
The Eectramuse provides music o f
the right cort— economically. The
moment a coin is deposited, either in
the instrument itself or in a wall-box
provided fo r that purpose, it begins
to play. T o the most casual listener,
there is a marked difference in the
music reproduced by the Electra-
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T
he
A
u t o m a t ic
muse, both as to tone and to volume.
The music is clear— brilliant— loud.
It has brought forth enthusiastic
comments from all sides. A fter hear­
ing this instrument, Paul R. Mat­
thew, widely-known organist o f the
Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, o f
Indianapolis, expressed himself as
“ amazed at the satisfying tonal re­
production o f the Electramuse.” An­
other noted music critic, Elmer A n ­
drew Steffen, Chairman o f the Dio­
cesan Committee o f the Pontifical In­
stitute o f Sacred Music, Rome, says,
“ Amazed at the resonance and clar­
ity. F or purity o f tone the Electra­
muse surpasses anything I have ever
heard in the way o f automatic pho­
nograph reproduction.”
The Electramuse plays the best
and finest records perfectly. The
latest dance music refreshed with
beguiling syncopation— the plaintive
wail o f the “ blues” singers— the
matchless arias o f the opera. All are
reproduced with remarkable truth
and clarity.
There are two models o f the E lec­
tramuse, the Grand fo r average size
places and the Super-Tone, which is
electrically
amplified,
fo r
larger
places where greater volume is de­
sired. Both models are finished in
soft antique polychrome tones.
A
handsome art panel with illuminated
scene decorates the top o f the instru­
ment. It occupies small floor space
and is suitable for the largest or
smallest business. The illustration
gives a good idea o f the size and ap­
pearance o f this new instrument.
The Electramuse Record Exchange
insures a regular change o f music,
and plays an important part in help­
ing the merchant maintain his steady
flow o f fcus'ness and profits. Every
subscriber to this service, at a very
nominal cost o f exchange, receives a
new supply o f records o f highest
© International A rcade Museum
A
18
ge
quality and o f leading make every
two weeks. Only the beet and most
up-to-date music is selected. Am er­
ica’s favorite orchestras— both jazz
and symphony, world-famed singers
and entertainers, the best and most
varied selections obtainable are sup­
plied to subscribers at only one-third
their actual cost— a distinct economic
advantage.
The Electramuse Exchange Ser­
vice is handled by a staff o f musical
experts, who see to it that only the
latest and surest song hits are sup­
plied. Since most business men are
not in a position to anticipate the
prevailing trends in music, and since
the earning power o f the Electra­
muse is so closely linked up with a
frequent change o f music, it is read­
ily seen why this service l’eceives the
utmost attention. Records sent out
to subscribers o f Electramuse E x­
change Service are sent postpaid.
They are kept and placed fo r a per­
iod o f two weeks on the Electra­
muse and then another set o f new
and different records is sent out.
Restaurants, confectionery etores,
drug stores, hotels, clubs, department
stores, lodges, Y. M. C. A .’s, and sim­
ilar places, have found the Electra­
muse ideally suited fo r the r use.
Several installations o f the instru-
“ Electramuse located at Sage
Candy Co., Marion, Ind.
http://w ww .arcade-m useum .com /

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