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46
THE
THE COPYRIGHT SITUATION
Discussed by Paul H. Cromelin, Who Says That
the Opposition Should Fight in the Open
Against Anything That Threatens Their
Vested Interests.
Paul H. Cromelin, vice-president of the Colum-
bia Phonograph Co., general, than whom no one
in the line is more keenly interested or better
informed on copyright matters in general, espe-
cially conditions applicable to the talking ma-
chine trade, on Tuesday expressed himself "as
surprised at the air of mystery with which the
piano player manufacturers appear desirous of
surrounding the proceedings of their special com-
mittee on this question. Mr. Cromelin believed
tnis a wrong policy, as there had been already too
much star chamber business connected with the
proposed copyright legislation, and the mechani-
cal instrument manufacturers should occupy an
open-and-above-board position as to their attitude,
and this should be uncompromising opposition to
anything that threatened their vested interests or
was suggestive of monopoly in any form.
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
Victor distributers now speak of in the highest
admiration as having made good along the en-
tire line.
TRADE NOTES FROM BOSTON.
The Oliver Ditson Co.'s New Department De-
voted to Talking Machines Much Admired
—Eastern Company's Improvements—Man-
ager Andrews Expects Big Fall Trade—rBusi-
ness Unusually Good—News of the Month.
(Special to The Review. >
BROWN WITHJ^EEDS & CATLIN.
The Former General Manager of the Talk-o-
Phone Co. in San Francisco Now Sales Man-
ager of the Leeds & Catlin Co.—Some
Changes in the Staff of the Peerless Talk-
ing Machine Co. of San Francisco—Mr.
Brown Enthusiastic About the General Trade
Outlook—Condemns Price Cutting.
Charles E. Brown, formerly general manager
of the Talk-O-Phone Co., of San Francisco, also
president of the Peerless Talking Machine Co.,
who are retailers of phonographs on the Pacific
coast, has joined the ranks of the talking machine
men in New York and is Western sales manager
of the Leeds & Catlin Co., manufacturers of Sun
records. He is calling upon the trade personally
aid thoroughly familiarizing himself with tho
situation in the eastern states, and anticipates
a very large and constantly increasing trade. As
Mr. Brown has brought with him his west?™
ideas of business, there will be a square deal for
all and favoritism for none.
Since the San Francisco fire the geneial office
of the Peerless Talking Machine Co. has beirn
transferred to Spokane, Wash., under the con-
trol of Charles H. Carder, secretary of the com-
pany. This company is a growing one and in-
terested in a number of talking machine depart-
ments in prominent music houses on the Pacific
Coast and anticipates largely increasing its in-
terests.
On the 1st of July Charles Freese purchased an
interest in the Peerless Talking Machine Co., and
was elected treasurer of the company. Mr.
Freese for the past seventeen years has been
connected with The Spokesman-Review, the lead-
ing newspaper of Spokane, and severs his con-
nection with The Review on October 1 to take
an active interest in the Peerless Talking Ma-
chine Co. and act as its treasurer. Mr. Carder
remains secretary of the company and moves to
San Francisco, there to reopen the Peerless busi-
ness. Mr. Brown remains president of the com-
pany, but as he is compelled to remain east, ow-
ing to his duties with the Leeds & Caflin Co., he
no longer takes an active part in the management
of the Peerless Co., which he founded.
Mr. Brown Is very enthusiastic in regard to the
talking machine situation. He believes that the
phonographic business on the Pacific Coast i»
much ahead of that of the eastern states, as the
campetition is more keen and the dealers are
n;ore aggressive to secure business. In his opin-
ion, the talking machine business has not even
started, as its future will be so great that in a
few years' time, to look back to what we now
have, we will realize that the business of to-day
was just a feeler and that this industry is gointj
to be one of the greatest and most lasting busi-
nesses ever established. He is a firm believer
in the stopping of price cutting and unfair busi-
ness tactics, and claims that the more amuil.lc
relations that are established among the dealers
the greater the tendency will be to rapidly multi-
ply the business.—The Talking Machine World.
Boston, Mass., Sept. 30, 1907.
The chief feature of the talking machine trade
here this month is the fine new department
which the Oliver Ditson Co. have given to Man-
ager Winkelman for the Victor talking machines.
It is now the finest department in the city. In
place of the tiny little room heretofore used, on
the back part of the sixth floor of the Ditson
building, the entire second floor is given over to
it. Everything is new there, and it is unusually
attractive. The fittings are in oak and there is
plenty of room for all the display needed.
Four large exhibition rooms are fitted up on
the Tremont street end of the building. There
AN IMMENSE EDISON BUSINESS.
is a fine elevator service, and every conceivable
General Sales Manager Dolbeer Chats With the
thing that would be of value in such a depart-
Review Regarding the General Trade Condi-
ment has been provided. The Victor machines
tions—The Volume of Business Exceeds That
are exclusively handled and the business done is
of Last Year in All Departments.
enormous. General Manager Charles Bobzin is
a firm believer in the worth of the Victor and is
When F. K. Dolbeer, general sales manager of
doing all he can to push its sale.
the National Phonograph Co., was asked as to
At the Eastern Talking Machine Co. they are
what condition his company was in regarding
planning to increase their facilities for caring
the supply of goods and general conditions, he for the increased trade which has developed this
said: "The last week in September was the year. An electric passenger elevator is being
largest we ever had. We are now occupying our
installed and the third floor of the building has
new record factory in Orange, and in spite of the been opened as an additional salesroom. A large
tremendous increase in our facilities, so far as business on the Edison and Victor goods is re-
keeping up with orders we seem to be no better ported. They are having a clearance sale of
off than last years at this time. The other day Mr. horns.
Gilmore, Mr. Wilson and myself were talking
Wholesale Manager A. W. Chamberlain has
over this very matter, and after comparing notes
been on a fishing trip to Bailey's Island, Me.,
we found we were doing the heaviest business
with his bride.
in the history of our company, and that, for us
At the Columbia Phonograph Co. the new $200
at least, the future was exceedingly bright. We
machine
is on exhibition, and has attracted
are behind more on records than machines, and
much attention. I t has started a lively compe-
it is likely this will remain so until the close of
the season. Yes, our new agreement and prices tition with the firms handling the Victrola, and
went into effect on the first of October, as our it is generally believed that it will create a good
trade on the high grade machines. Manager
supplemental notice announced."
Blakesborough reports an excellent business as a
result of the establishment of smaller branch
I.0UIS F. GEISSLER VISITS NEW YORK.
stores throughout this section.
Manager Andrews, of the Boston Cycle and
Early in the week Louis F. Geissler, general Sundry Co., says: "I think this Is going to be
manager of the "Victor Talking Machine Co., a record breaker for the talking machine busi-
Camden, N. J., was in New York, calling on the ness. I find that jobbers throughout the coun-
trade. At Landay Bros., his first visit, by the try feel the same way. There is a good under-
way, recalling his experience when abroad this tone, the dealers feel more confident, and the
summer, Mr. Geissler contrasted talking machine public is anxious to buy higher grade machines,
conditions here and in Europe, and succinctly and the higher priced records. We are having
remarked the American crowd beat them all. an unusually good trade on our tray systems and
This was nothing new either to Jim or Max Lan- our carrying cases."
day, both of whom had observed the same thing,
Since the change in retail managers, the busi-
but they felt gratified their experience had been
ness at the C. E. Osgood Co. has developed quite
corroborated by so close an observer and ex-
a little, and the new department, for handling VISITORS TO NATIONAL PHONOGRAPH CO.
cellent business man as Mr. Geissler, whom the
the Columbia goods, is assuming very creditable
Among the visitors at the New York offices
proportions.
of the National Phonograph Co., recently, were:
H. E. Saddles, of the Saddles Phonograph Co.,
ISSUE AN INTERESTING CATALOG.
IMPROVED
Omaha, Neb.; F. H. Silliman, with the Pardee-
iCllenberger Co., New Haven, Conn., with the
The O. A. Reynolds Talking Machine Co., 500 name Edison neatly embossed on a corner of his
East Washington street, Springfield, 111., have Is- business card; Wm. Bailey, New Orleans, La.
sued an attractive illustrated catalog of the
Multi-tone
various lines of talking machines handled by
AUXETOPHONE REPLACES ORCHESTRA.
them, which include the Columbia, Edison, Vic-
Talking Machine
tor and Star. They also make a point in the
Concerts on the Victor Auxetophone have sup-
Needles
booklet of calling attention to their large line of erseded the orchestra music at the Ocean Grove
sundries, comprising several styles of cabinets, Auditorium, Ocean Grove, N. J.
Samples, Prices, Testimonials, etc.
record carrying cases, horns, needles, etc. They
on request
have adopted as their slogan, "If it is a talking
Next week the Columbia Phonograph Co., gen-
machine or for a talking machine, we have it," eral, will be ready to make an important an-
and a glance through the catalog would convey nouncement regarding the sale of Columbia out-
1041 R., N e w York Life Bldg.
that impression.
fits in the future. It will come in the nature of
The booklet is gotten up in an attractive man- a surprise.
NEW YORK
ner, the illustrations are clear, and the text mat-
T. S. Tucker has purchased the piano business
ter interesting, and the little volume should
of Fred C. Leach in Wellington, O.
bring results in the form of increased business.
SOMETHING NEW
Petmecky
PETMECKY