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62
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
APRIL 27, 1918
TALKING MACHINE MEN TO DISCUSS CURTAILMENT PLANS COLUMBIA RECORDS OF FOLK DANCES
Will Hold Meeting in New York on May 30 to Organize Committee to Confer With U. S. Fuel
Administrator at His Suggestion—Full Attendance Is Urged
It has just been learned that the order recent-
ly issued by the U. S. Fuel Administrator cur-
tailing the output of musical instrument fac-
tories by 30 per cent, during the months of April
and May does not apply to talking machine
manufacturers. The reason apparently is that
at the recent conference the agreement for a 30
per cent, curtailment was reached with George
W. Pound, general counsel of the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce, who was compelled
to advise the fuel administrator that he was not
authorized to speak for the talking machine
men inasmuch as they were not members of the
Music Industrie's Chamber of Commerce.
The intention of the fuel administrator to
issue a special curtailment order against the talk-
ing machine industry was made known through
the following letter sent to sixteen well-known
concerns in the industry over the signature of
P. B. Noyes, Director of Curtailment, and which
read in part as follows:
"In order that sufficient fuel may be assured
industries essential to the conduct of the war,
the United States Fuel Administration has un-
der consideration curtailment of fuel to be used
by less essential industries.
"Before taking any action regarding talking
machines we should be glad to confer with the
committee representing your industry.
"If the talking machine-industry can organize
EDISON STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
Valuable Booklet for Use of Amberola Dealers
Has Just Been Issued
Thomas A. Edison, Inc., have just brought out
a booklet for the guidance of their Amberola
dealers entitled "Standards of Practice." The
data for this book has been gathered from many
STANDARDS
OF
PRACTICE
EDISON AMBEROLAS
AND
KDISON BLUB AMBEROL RECORDS
New Booklet for Amberola Dealers
sources and represents years of study, based on
experiences and information secured from suc-
cessful Amberola dealers and other authorities
on retail phonograph merchandising. The va-
rious paragraphs cover such items of impor-
itself and form a war service committee that
will represent the industry as a whole, we will
be glad to arrange a conference with them be-
fore any action is taken."
Several of the prominent manufacturers have
already met with the fuel administrator in
Washington for the purpose of discussing in a
tentative way the question of curtailment and
endeavoring to" reach some working basis. The
fuel administrator set forth his ideas on the
question, and suggested that a committee rep-
resenting the whole trade be formed to take up
the matter with him.
A meeting for the purpose of organizing such
a committee and deciding the basis upon which
they shall work has been called for April 30
at the Assembly Hall of the Columbia Shop
at 409 Fifth avenue, and talking machine and
record manufacturers in general have been urged
to be present at that meeting.
As was the case with the piano trade, the talk-
ing machine manufacturers will probably be
given war work in fair quantities to offset
in some measure the effect of the curtailment of
their regular output. Several of the manufac-
turers are already engaged to a greater or less
extent in working on Government orders, and
this fact will probably be taken into considera-
tion by the fuel administrator in any curtail-
ment order issued.
Educational Department of Columbia Co. An-
nounces a Special Set of Country Dances
Because of the introduction of physical train-
ing in schools throughout the country and the
widespread interest in folk dancing, the Co-
lumbia Co.'s educational department has pre-
pared a special set of English country dances,
Morris dances, and sword dances, recorded un-
der the personal supervision of Cecil J. Sharp,
a recognized authority on this work. These
records have been accepted for use in the New
York City schools. Mr. Sharp is an honorary
director of the English Folk Dance Society and
of the Stratford-on-Avon School of Dance and
Song. For three years he has been teaching
these English dances in the leading educational
centers of America, and his work has received
the highest praise.
There is a growing demand for penmanship
records that will give rhythmic count and in-
struction helpful to the school children in their
daily penmanship exercises. The Columbia Co.
takes care of this demand by the issuance of
the Kirby rhythmic penmanship records, which
is a splendid adaptation of the correct rhythmic
forms found in music, woven into rhythmic
counting patterns, for use in instructions in
handwriting. These records were made by J.
Albert Kirby, penmanship teacher of the High
School of Commerce in New York City, where
this rhythmic system js in daily use.
A NEW EDISON SALES PLAY
tance as store arrangement, storing of records,
window displays, recitals, suggestions for ad- 'The Dotted Line" to Be Presented at Forth-
coming Dealers' Convention in June
vertising, motion picture slides, circularizing,
service to owners, canvassing, advertising, re-
Two years ago one of tlte big features of the
pairs, general adjustments and general instruc-
tions, and it is felt that the book will be in Edison dealers' convention was the sales play,
great demand, as it answers many questions of "Bought and Nearly Paid For," and last year
this principle was carried out further with an
interest to Edison Amberola dealers.
act that made even a deeper impression, called
"Mr. Guy Wise, Esq."
RETURNS FROM SUCCESSFUL TRIP
There is being prepared for this year's Edison
dealers' convention, which will be held at the
Frank K. Pennington, assistant general sales Waldorf-Astoria June 6 and 7, another sales
manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co., re- playlet called "The Dotted Line," which will il-
turned to New York Monday after a ten days' lustrate some good methods of getting the cus-
Western trip, which included a visit to the Co- tomer's signature on the dotted line. As in for-
lumbia branches in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Colum- mer years, it is expected that a private view of
bus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, Cleve- this playlet will be given for the advertising and
land and Detroit. Mr. Pennington found the sales experts in New York City, and it is un-
Columbia branch managers enthusiastic and derstood that "The Dotted Line" will be as en-
optimistic, and their confidence in the business thusiastically received as the two plays that pre-
outlook was strengthened by the fact that the ceded it.
Columbia Co. had closed in March the biggest
month in its successful history. Every man-
THE SCARCITY OF NEEDLES
ager predicted that April would outdistance the
figures for March, which would mean record-
The Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Co
breaking sales totals for practically every Co- is using to excellent advantage an article which
lumbia branch.
recently appeared in the newspapers entitled
D. Des Foldes, of the dealer service depart- "Phonograph Needles Scarce." The company
ment of the Columbia Co.'s Baltimore branch, has made a reprint of this article and is utilizing
was a visitor this week at the executive offices.
it as an envelope enclosure in order to impress
upon members of the trade that it is to their
advantage to place their orders now for phono-
PATHE RECORD PUBLICITY
graph needles.
The Fathe Freres Phonograph Co. recently
The article, which appeared in the New York
mailed to its dealers a proof of a full-page ad- Times, reads as follows: "Due primarily to
vertisement that will appear in this week's Sat- the difficulties manufacturers are experiencing in
urday Evening Post, featuring the new Pathe obtaining carbon steel, there is sad to be de-
record of the "Marseillaise," sung by Lucien veloping a scarcity of phonograph needles. And
Muratore, the great French tenor, who is a in face of this condition, the demand for needles
member of the Metropolitan Opera Co., and of this sort in this country is constantly increas-
records exclusively for the Pathe Freres record ing. In export fields also, it is reported pho-
library. Accompanying the proof of this page nograph needles from this country are sought
ii steadily increasing quantities. There have
was a suggestion for newspaper advertising, and
there is no doubt but that the record of the been a few-lots of needles imported to this coun-
French national anthem, sung by this renowned try from Japan, but there also the shortage of
tenor, who has seen service in the French army carbon steel has militated against any increased
in the present war, will meet with a ready sale. production."