Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
54
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
HARD AT WORK REBUILDING PLANT OF THOS. A. EDISON, INC.
fire is not as bad as first supposed. Most all our
machinery is intact and will only have to be
Monetary Loss by Big Fire Not so Heavy as at First Believed—Phonograph Business Stopped
cleaned up. We are moving it into the storage
Temporarily—Encouraging Letter Sent to Trade.
battery buildings, which are nearly as large as
those burned and just completed; also we are
Since the report ,of the destruction of a large many famous singers are recorded were saved.
section of the plant of Thomas A. Edison, Inc.,
Naturally Edison representatives in every sec- starting outside shops manufacturing the disc
at West Orange, N. J., by fire, as reported in The tion of the country are deeply interested in the phonograph motors.
Review last week, it has been learned that the
future plans of the Edison corporation ; but they
"As to records, we are not badly crippled and
damage, although serious, was not as heavy as
can rest assured that no time will be lost in cre- believe we shall be able to ship a monthly list
first supposed and that the monetary loss will be ating a newer and greater enterprise, and that January 1, and be in good shape thereafter.
between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000 instead of in
every possible means will be use] to facilitate the
"All orders on file are hereby canceled. Do
the neighborhood of $7,000,000, as first reported. rehabilitation of the manufacturing enterprise.
not ship to Orange any records, repair work or
View of the Ruins of the Edison Plant Taken the Morning After the Fire.
Most of the loss is covered by a system of self-
insurance, and some outside policies.
The ashes were still hot on the morning after
the fire when the employes of the plant were put
at work cleaning away the debris preparatory to
rebuilding the wrecked buildings and salvaging
such equipment as could be put into working or-
der. Business will be resumed in a very short
time. Casts of records on which the voices of
On Thursday morning of last week, the day
after the fire, the following optimistic and encour-
aging letter, signed by C. H. Wilson, vice-president
and general manager of Thomas A. Edison, Inc.,
was sent to the trade and should serve to set at
rest any fears entertained by jobbers and dealers
regarding the ability to secure future supplies of
machines and records. The letter reads:
"To Edison Disc Dealers: We find that the
ly requests that a member of the audience add an-
other chorus to this song when he is finished.
'School Room Music," a New Booklet Issued
When he made his customary request Wednesday
by Educational Department—Columbia Ma-
night a member of the audience responded by start-
chine Used at Winter Garden.
ing a Columbia machine, and Mr. Jolson was sur-
prised to hear his own voice singing the selection
The educational department of the Columbia as it had been recorded for the Columbia library.
Graphophone Co. has just issued a new publication
Marion Dorian, treasurer of the Columbia Co.
entitled "School Room Music," which is one of returned Wednesday from the Coast after arrang-
the most interesting publications of its kind that
ing the many details incidental to the Columbia ex-
has ever been prepared in this particular field. hibit at the Panama-Pacific Exposition.
Frederic Goodwin, head of the Columbia education-
Columbia foreign record business is enjoying an
al department worked for many months on the
unparalleled era of prosperity, and Harold \V.
preparation of this new book, every detail of which
Lyle, of the sales and advertising division of this
is calculated to emphasize the importance and pres-
department, states that the demand for Columbia
tige of the Grafonola in the educational world.
foreign records from all parts of the country is
"School Room Music" is profusely illustrated with far ahead of the business closed last year. Owing
actual photographs which present the many uses to the war abroad, the call for records of a patri-
of the Grafonola in school work. Indoor and out- otic sentiment are proving the biggest sellers, al-
door scenes are equally prominent, and scattered though the demand for Christmas records in for-
throughout the new book are pertinent phrases re- eign tongues has been remarkably heavy.
ferring to the educational activities of the Grafo-
nola such as "The Columbia Grafonola teaches
John A. Schwarz, a prominent Brooklyn, N. Y.,
citizenship," "'The Columbia Grafonola teaches self- furniture dealer, with stores at 838 and 1321
control," and other pertinent information.
Broadway, has arranged to handle the complete
Columbia products received considerable general Columbia line in both of his establishments. Mr.
publicity this week through the unexpected use of Schwarz expects to use considerable newspaper to
a Columbia machine and a Columbia record at a advertise Columbia machines and records.
performance in the Winter Garden, New York.
Al. Jolson, the prominent comedian, who is singing
The Union Talking Machine Co., Manhattan,
"Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers," during has been incorporated under the laws of New
the course of his performance at this theater, usual- York, with capital stock of $5,000.
COLUMBIA CO. GLEANINGS.
any material until you are advised we are ready
to receive it.
"Shipments of advance supplemental lists of
disc records, either on hand or en route, may be
placed on sale immediately.
"Assuring you that we shall work day and night
to put things into shape again, we are,
"Yours very truly,
"THOS. A. EDISON, INC."
CHRISTMAS LISTS POPULAR.
The New York Talking Machine Co., 81 Cham-
bers street, New York, Victor distributer, has is-
sued for the assistance of its trade a number of
timely Christmas lists which have met with popular
favor. These lists include a group of Victor rec-
ords for the Christmas season which retail at $10 j
another specially selected group to retail at $25,
and a general list of Victor records for Christmas.
All of these lists have proven of real value to the
company's trade in offering its patrons carefully
compiled lists of desirable records for the holiday
season.
RECORDS
CTOR SUPPLIES
w/rite
Largest Distributors
Chicago