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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
48
APPOINTED ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT
BISPHAM TO RECORD FOR PATHE
CHANGE OF MANAGERS IN CLEVELAND
James P. Bradt, of the Columbia Graphophone
Co., Appointed to New Post This Week—Is
Widely Known in the Talking Machine Field
Famous American Baritone Arranges to Record
Exclusively for Pathe Freres Phonograph Co.
George Madsen Resigns as Columbia Manager
to Become Sales Manager of New Company—
Is Succeeded by O. M. Kiess From Toledo
Francis S- Whitten, president of the Columbia
Graphophone Co., New York, announced this
week the appointment of James P. Bradt as
assistant to the president. Mr. Whitten's an-
nouncement has created country-wide approba-
tion, as Mr. Bradt is one of the most popular
members of the talking machine industry, and
a man whose friends are legion. For the past
week he has been
in receipt of tele-
grams of congratu-
.
lation f r o m all
j f l | H K parts of the United
J l M M States, a n d even
jgftfPflH
abroad, expressing
^^^
^^\
James P. Bradt
the admiration and
affection of t h e
senders.
Mr. Bradt re-
joined the Colum-
b i a forces about
two years ago as
sales manager, and
t h e success h e
achieved in this
important post was
&Q
; mpressive
that
a short while ago he was appointed to the posi-
tion of general sales manager. Under his guid-
ance the sales of the Columbia Graphophone Co.
have increased by leaps and bounds, and his in-
timate knowledge of every phase of the talking
machine industry is reflected in the confidence
and esteem in which he is held by every Co-
lumbia dealer and member of the Columbia sales
organization.
Mr. Bradt gave up newspaper work seven-
teen years ago to join the Columbia Co. He
was assistant manager, in Philadelphia before
being appointed manager for ten Southern
States, with headquarters at Baltimore. After
three years of very successful administration
in the South Mr. Bradt was sent to Berlin as
director of the Columbia operations in Germany.
Austria, Hungary and Russia. England next
claimed him, and for three years he was man-
ager of the Columbia business in Great Britain.
When the Canadian business began to assume
proportions Mr. Bradt was put in charge, with
headquarters in Toronto. His detailed famil-
iarity with Columbia products, his long business
experience and strong personality soon won for
him a splendid reputation among the Canadians.
Under his regime a factory was opened in To-
ronto, and the sales of Columbia goods increased
rapidly.
As assistant to the president Mr. Bradt will
have unlimited opportunities to co-operate with
every factor of the Columbia sales organiza-
tion, and his friendship with Columbia dealers
will enable him to work in close harmony with
every development of Columbia merchandising.
AUTOMOBILE_ADS IN SALES
GARDNER, MASS., April 2.—The Gardner Pho-
nograph Co., of which George A. Murray is the
competent manager, has done a large business
during the first three months of the year and
there is every indication that April will make
an equally good showing. Mr. Murray is the
owner of a handsome Oakland car which he
uses to excellent advantage in bringing pros-
pective customers to his shop which specializes
in the Edison line.
Hoffman & Becker, of Irvington, N. Y., have
secured the agemcy for the Columbia Grafonola.
The Pathe Freres Phonograph Co., Brooklyn,
N. Y., announced this week the addition to its
staff of recording artists of David Bispham, the
famous American baritone. Mr. Bispham will
record exclusively for the Pathe library, and
his first record will be issued in the May sup-
plement.
David Bispham is one of the leading figures in
the American musical world. For fifteen years
he stood alone as the one American baritone
who had sung in opera with the Metropolitan
Opera Co. of New York, and in Covent Garden,
London. For some time past he has devoted
himself to the concert stage, and has given suc-
cessful song recitals in practically every large
city in the United States. His addition to the
Pathe recording staff is a matter of keen inter-
est to every Pathe dealer.
THE NEW COLUMBIA RECORD
The April Issue in Its Enlarged and New Form
a Most Interesting Number
The April, 1917, edition of the "Columbia
Record," the official house organ of the Co-
lumbia Graphophone Co., New York, has just
made its appearance, and is the first number
issued in the enlarged and new form which was
announced a short while ago. "Mr. Dealer,
this is your Magazine" is the inscription on the
front cover, and the contents of the magazine
well justify this phrase.
In its new form the "Columbia Record"
measures nine by twelve inches, allowing plenty
of room for the use of attractive illustrations
and pen and ink sketches. Myron D. Town-
send, editor of the publication, is devoting all
his time to the compilation of a newsy, helpful
organ which will be of practical assistance to
the Columbia dealers in the development of their
business. Among the articles in this month's
Record are "Mail Man's Story for You," "Shake
Hands With W. C. Fuhri," "Columbia Dealers,
Collect Your Money," "All About Breaking the
Record," "Two Door Bell Systems That
Work," etc., etc.
NEW PATHE JOBBER IN KANSAS CITY
The Pathe Freres Phonograph Co., Brooklyn,
N. Y., announced this week the appointment of
the Wm. Volker Co., Kansas City, Mo., as Pathe
jobber in this territory. This deal has been
pending for some time, and its consummation
will give Pathe products aggressive represen-
tation in this important section.
The Wm. Volker Dry Goods Co. is one of
the leading wholesale houses in its section of
the State, and is prominent in merchandising
circles in the Middle West. It has exceptional
means for developing channels of distribution,
and is planning an extensive campaign in behalf
of the Pathe line.
RECENT COLUMBIA VISITORS
Among the visitors this week at the executive
offices of the Columbia Graphophone Co., New
York, were S. H. Nichols, Walter Eckhardt and
H. A. Yerkes, district managers respectively, in
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Chicago.
They
spent some time in conference with U. S. Man-
ager Fuhri, going over routine matters pertinent
to affairs in their individual territories. Inci-
dentally, they all Reported the closing of a March
business that topped by a large margin any pre-
vious March sales record, and told of bright
prospects for future trade.
CLEVELAND, O., April 3.—The biggest news of the
week here in the talking machine sphere of
activity is the announcement that George Mad-
sen has resigned as manager of the Columbia
Graphophone Co.'s Cleveland office to become
sales manager for the distribution of the Cheney
talking machine for Ohio.
Several rubber millionaires from Akron are
backing the new sales company, it is reported.
The main office will be in this city, and the
Cheney product will be sold through dealers to
be appointed from time to time throughout
Ohio. Present headquarters of the Cheney ma-
chine is at the University music store, Euclid
avenue, near East 105th street.
O. M. Kiess, formerly manager of the To-
ledo office of Columbia Graphophone Co., suc-
ceeds Mr. Madsen as temporary manager of
the Cleveland Columbia .office in the Kinney &
Levan Building. The Columbia people have
sold out their retail store at Toledo and trans-
ferred their wholesale department to the Cleve-
land office, according to Mr. Kiess.
C. C. Koch, who has been demonstrator here
with the Phonograph Co., has been promoted to
the position of sales engineer, and will stay in
the Cleveland office.
F. W. Rose has been appointed dealer for the
Edison Co. at East 105th street and St. Clair
avenue, this city.
TO BAR APPROVALS IN CLEVELAND
Talking Machine Dealers to Present Resolution
Planned to Kill System at Forthcoming Meet-
ing of the Local Music Trades Association
CLEVELAND, O., April 3.—Cleveland dealers in
pianos and talking machines have decided to
shut down on the practice of allowing talking
machine records to be delivered indiscriminately
to possible patrons with the probable chance
that those records will be returned damaged or
not returned at all.
Accordingly at the next regular meeting of
the Cleveland Music Trades Association, A. L.
Maresh will introduce a resolution bearing on
this point. It is thought the resolution will
unanimously pass the association on April 15,
the next session of that body. The resolution
follows:
"On and after April 15 dealers will discon-
tinue the sending of records on approval on
Saturdays or days preceding a holiday on which
all business houses are closed. On all other
days regular approval business may be con-
ducted in accordance with rules and regulations
as adopted by the association, that is a time
limit of twenty-four hours and with the under-
standing that at least 3 3 ^ per cent, of those rec-
ords taken be purchased."
Mr. Maresh speaks the belief of other piano
talking machine dealers of the city when he says
that altogether too many talking machine rec-
ord customers drop into a store, paw over the
records, ask to take home a dozen or so "for
over Sunday," and then forget the dealer. The
result is that Mr. Dealer just as likely as not
never sees half his records again or if he does
they are scratched and made unfit to be sold
at all.
It is the purpose of the resolution to come
before the trade association to "offset the tend-
ency of the public to laxity by allowing cus-
tomers a time limit of only twenty-four hours
with the understanding that they eventually
purchase one-third of the records taken out for
approval.