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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
GOLD MEDAL FOR THOS. A. EDISON
ENTERTAINS VIS1TJNG MANAGERS
Presented to Noted Inventor by Distributors to
Mark Fortieth Anniversary of the Invention
of the Phonograph and Dictating Machine
R. F. Bolton Acts as Host to Columbia District
Managers Who Attended Conference in New
York—Other Columbia News Gleanings
ORANGE, N. J., August 13.—Thomas A. Edison,
the inventor, was reminded on Friday that it
was -the fortieth anniversary of the invention
of the phonograph and dictating machine, when
a gold medal was presented to him by one of
the national distributors in behalf of his fel-
low workers. Mr. Edison was visibly surprised
when one hundred distributors of the Edison
dictating machine crowded into his laboratory to
witness the presentation. Among those pres-
ent who represented Thomas A. Edison, Inc.,
were Charles Edison, chairman of the board of
directors; C. H. Wilson, vice-president and gen-
eral manager, and N. C. Durand, who is the vice-
president of the dictating machine division.
Robert F. Reid, president of Roach-Reid Co.,
of Cleveland, O., presented the medal in a speech
that was full of feeling. Among other things
he said: "Mr. Edison, on August 12, 1877, a
page was written into the world's history and
a great achievement was won by a brief order
given by a famous American."
In accepting the medal Mr. Edison said:
"Forty years! It hardly seems possible that
forty years have elapsed since we made a piece
of tinfoil say 'Mary had a little lamb.'
"I appreciate this medal and the spirit be-
hind it. I wish to thank you sincerely both
for the medal and for reminding me that the
dictating machine was invented forty years ago.
"I don't know whether all of you boys have
seen the original tinfoil machine. Your pres-
ent Edison dictating machine doesn't look much
like that, and very likely with constant develop-
ments by our laboratories there will be greater
progress long before another forty years pass.
"You boys give us a great deal of credit for
our improvements, but it's only fair to the sell-
ing end to let you know how we appreciate
the important work you are doing. Inventors
don't follow up ideas that are not proven use-
ful by salesmen and workshops can't keep on
making machines at a low price if a selling force
doesn't keep up the demand for them.
"I can remember when you fellows spent most
of your time in educating the public, but I be-
lieve now they are writing over a million let-
ters a day on dictating machines—thanks to the
salesman.
"Scholes brought the first typewriter to me to
work on, and I predicted then it would have a
tremendous sale. It's just as certain that dic-
tating machines will be sold in greater quan-
tities than the typewriter because one typewriter
can keep two or three dictators busy.
"I want to thank you again for the medal and
the thoughts which inspire its presentation. You
are on the way to greater and greater success in
your sales work and I will follow it and help,
you in every way I know how."
Among those present were Edward E. Scrib-
ner, Ernest W. Moreau, Albert S. Brown, El-
bert M. Cook, Edward H. Friedman and John
Kraft, representing the Roach-Reid Co.; repre-
senting the Brown-Howland Co., of Boston, were
A. Y. Atwell, W. F. Hornby and D. W. Smith—
from Philadelphia representing the division of
Louis Buehn were G. M. Austin, R. L. Austin
and W. E. Carter; from Hartford, Conn., repre-
senting the Brown-Howland Co., J. B. Thwing;
from Norfolk, Va., G. A. Carnegie, L. L. Inabi-
net; S. S. Levy, Richmond, Va.; Julius Tisch
and W. H. Kessler, Grand Rapids, Mich.; A.
A. Bratton, L. L. Stone, L. A. Hawker, A. T.
South-all and L. A. Wolin, Columbus, Ohio; C.
C. Macomber and his son, H. D. Macomber,
Saginaw, Mich; W. C. Quinn, R. J. Nicholson,
Baltimore, Md.; John Christie, Duluth, Minn.;
T. C. Brown, Minneapolis, Minn.; Bruce C.
Beaver, Omaha, Neb.; J. M. Dolbey, Cincin-
nati, Ohio; O. K. Van Ausdall, Indianapolis, C.
O. Barrows, Portland, Me.; P. P. Finigan, Wash-
ington, D. C ; W. B. Morre, Toronto, Canada;
J. R. Gilfillan, Syracuse, N. Y.; R. C. Farring-
ton, Salt Lake City, Utah.
R. F. Bolton, district manager of the Colum-
bia Graphophone Co., in New York and New
England, was the host last week to the man-
agers of the Columbia branches in his terri-
tory. An interesting conference was the most
important feature of the two-days' meeting, and
Mr. Bolton was gratified to learn that every
branch manager was confident that the coming
fall would be a banner season for Columbia
products. Among those who attended the con-
ference were Lambert Friedl, New York man-
ager; Fred E. Mann, Boston manager, and W.
S. Parks, his assistant; H. M. Blakeborough,
New Haven manager; G. P. Donnelly, Portland,
Me.; M. C. Perkins, Springfield, Mass.
The Columbia Co.'s advertising department
recently issued an attractive four-page pam-
phlet entitled "Camp Columbia." This book-
let illustrated some of the smaller models of
Grafonolas which are particularly adaptable for
summer use, together with some timely Colum-
bia record hits which have a strong summer ap-
peal.
The September midmonth list of new Colum-
bia records will include a record by Riccardo
Stracciari, prominent operatic baritone, who has
joined the staff of well-known artists recording
for the Columbia Co. This list also includes a
number of popular patriotic and dance selec-
tions.
BRINGING FARMERSJNTO THE STORE
Special Rest and Reading Room Should Prove
Productive of Excellent Results in the Matter
of Sales—Build Up Interest Gradually
There is no question but that the farming dis-
tricts are particularly fertile fields in which to
sell talking machines at the present time. As
has been said over and over again, conscription
will run light or be entirely eliminated in farm-
ing districts, while on the other hand there
will be an excessive demand for the various
food products which are being raised all over
the country. For this reason continued pros-
perity lies before the farmer.
"In order to book talking machine sales among
the farmers," said a manager recently, "it might
be found well to equip a small reception room,
furnished and decorated with a few fittings of
special interest to the farmers. Charts and
maps of interest could be placed on the walls
and the latest agricultural periodicals could be
placed upon tables. In addition, of course,
there would be talking machines and records.
"When this room or particular booth has been
fitted, invitations could be issued to farmers,
farmers' wives and farmers' daughters through-
out the nearby country. The invitation would
suggest that when they drive into market,
if they have an hour or so to while away, they
can pass it in a most enjoyable way in the at-
tractive room which had been specially fitted
up for the convenience and pleasure of the
farmers. After a given farmer or his family
have availed themselves of the invitation a mat-
ter of several times, the opportunity for a sale
is ripe. The first thing to do in a selling plan
of this sort is to make friends of the farmers
and once this has been accomplished to work
for sales."—The Talking Machine World.
PRESENTED TO^COMPANY K
An Army and Navy model Edison phonograph
was presented to Company K of the Second
Regiment, New Jersey, last week before 1,500
persons in Proctor's Theatre, Plainfield. The
presentation was made by Assemblyman Win.
N. Runyon. The machine was placed through
Vogel & Briggs, local Edison dealers.
Adolph Winters, of Richmond, Cal., is remod-
eling his establishment so as to install a num-
ber of soundproof booths for the demonstration
of Victor and Columbia talking machines.
Increase Your
Income
Piano merchants, who
have not investigated
the talking machine
field, will find that the
subject is one of deep
interest to them and
they will also learn that
talking machines con-
stitute a line which can
be admirably blended
with piano selling.
The advance that has
been m a d e in this
special field has been
phenomenal and every
dealer w h o desires
s p e c i f ic information
concerning talking ma-
chines should receive
The Talking Machine
World regularly.
This is the only publi-
cation in A m e r i c a
devoted exclusively to
the interests of the talk-
ing machine, and each
issue contains a vast
fund of valuable in-
formation which the
talking machine job-
bers and dealers say is
worth ten times the cost
of the paper to them.
You can receive the
paper regularly at a cost
of $1.00 a year and we
know of no manner in
which $1.00 can be ex-
pended which will sup-
ply as much valuable
information.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL
Publisher
373 Fourth Ave.
NEW YORK