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42
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
JUNE 1,
1918
PERSHING RECORD READY SOON
SONORA DISPLAY CONVENTION WEEK
BLACKMAN DINNER EVENING JUNE I
Matrix Made by General Pershing for the Co-
lumbia Graphophone Co. Now on Its Way to
America—Will Be One of a Series of Records
to Be Made by Famous Americans
Complete Line to Be Shown at 668 Fifth Ave-
nue, New York, Convenient to Convention
Headquarters—Dealers Invited to Call
This Will Take Place of Annual Outing of J.
Newcomb Blackman Forces—Some Interest-
ing Features Programmed for the Event
The Sonora Phonograph Sales Co. is plan-
ning to have on display during convention week
a complete line of Sonora phonographs at its
Fifth avenue warerooms, 668 Fifth avenue, New
York. One of the features of this display will
be a group of handsome Sonora period models,
which the company added to its line some time
since. These period models have met with con-
siderable success throughout the country, and
visiting piano dealers wil^ probably be inter-
ested in the distinctive cabinet designs that
characterize the Sonora period model line.
The Fifth avenue warerooms of the Sonora
Phonograph Sales Co. are located between
Fifty-second and Fifty-third streets, a short
walk from the Convention headquarters at the
Grand Central Palace. These warerooms con-
stitute one of the most artistic phonograph
salons in the local trade, and the prestige of the
Sonora product is reflected in the dignified and
artistic decorations of these Fifth avenue ware-
rooms. Sonora phonographs arc exceedingly
popular, and a number of piano merchants have
advised the company that they will spend some
time at the Sonora headquarters during Con-
vention week, to talk over plans for the fall.
J. Newcomb Blackman, president of the Black-
man Talking Machine Co., New York, Victor
distributors, advised the members of his staff
this week that the annual outing of the company
would be eliminated this year, and in its place
a dinner would be held Saturday evening, June
1, at Murray's. This outing has been an estab-
lished event for the past eight years, and the
original program for this year's event called for
the day's outing on Decoration Day. In view of
President Wilson's proclamation as to the ob-
servance of Memorial Day this year, Mr. Black-
man felt that the outing was hardly in accord
with the spirit of this proclamation, and he
therefore changed his plans so that his em-
ployes might observe the day fittingly.
There will be a number of interesting features
during- the course of the dinner and, according
to present plans, several of the former members
of the Blackman staff who are now "doing their
bit" for Uncle Sam will be present at the dinner.
NEW COMMITTEES ARE APPOINTED
At a meeting of the board of directors of the
Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Co. held
May 8 at the executive offices of the company,
25 West Forty-fifth street, New York, the fol-
lowing appointments were ratified:
A. L. Fritzsche was elected a director of the
company. Mr. Fritzsche is general sales man-
ager of the General Fire Extinguisher Co.,
Cleveland, O.,~ being a member of the executive
committee of that company. This is one of
the most prominent industrial concerns in the
Middle West, and is credited with doing the
largest fire extinguisher business in the country.
J. Schechter, a member of the law firm of
Schechter & Lotsch, New York, identified for
many years with the industry, was elected treas-
urer of the company, and Miss F. Aufrichtig
was appointed cashier.
Thos. E. Griffen was appointed manager of
the new Springfield, Mass., factory, and Charles
B. Kraemer assistant manager. Both are well
known in manufacturing circles, and will be in
charge of the new record factory.
As announced some time since in The Re-
view the Columbia Graphophone Co. has made
arrangements whereby it will soon issue a rec-
ord made by General Pershing, commander of
the American Expeditionary Forces in France.
The original matrix for the record is now en
route to America, and according to present
plans will be placed in the Columbia catalog
very shortly. It is one of a series of records
by famous Americans that will be produced
under the auspices of the Nation's Forum, an
organization sponsored by Guy Golterman, a
prominent St. Louis attorney, and a group of
well-known American citizens.
In connection with this Pershing record the
following article appeared this week in one of
the local newspapers:
"One of the most valuable historic records
of the present war is a phonograph record. It
is a matrix of General Pershing's voice amid the
din of battle—a wax cylinder contained in an
ordinary leather sack now in the mail compart-
ment of a convoyed vessel which was headed
yesterday for an Atlantic port on the American
continent.
"Duplicates of this priceless vocal record have
been hidden away in France and England to
insure them against loss from submarine attack.
It is an exhortation to the American people and
will be produced at patriotic meetings, rallies,
school, club and social gatherings and in homes
throughout the length and breadth of the land.
"Unlike the text of Lincoln's Gettysburg ad-
dress and similar priceless national historic
papers, this record will not be merely a Pershing
relic to look reverently upon, but a new Liberty
Bell, to be rung when desired—an ever-living
voice, transmitting through the sense of sound
the message of its author.
"Immediately upon the arrival of the matrix
it will be rushed to Bridgeport, Conn., home of
phonograph record and munition making, where
everything is in readiness to strike off copies
of the record. Then, with all the speed that
the mails afford, the message will start on its
nation-wide circle of inspiration—to every, city,
village and hamlet, to cantonments and scat-
tered, isolated camps.
"The germ of the idea out of which this move-
ment grew had its inception in the brain of Guy
Golterman, a prominent attorney of St. Louis."
DEATH OF H. EVAN WILLIAMS
Noted Tenor and Talking Machine Artist Suc-
cumbs to Attack of Blood Poisoning
At Meeting of Executive Committee of Talking
Machine Men, Inc.—New York Tribune Con-
gratulated on Advertising Stand
At a meeting of the executive committee of
the Talking Machine Men, Inc., held on May
3, a resolution was adopted congratulating
the New York Tribune on its stand against
certain retail talking machine advertising by a
Xew York house.
At the same meeting the following commit-
tees were appointed by President Coughlin:
Outing committee: Messrs. Leins, Galuchie.
Lazarus, Birns and Hunt.
Membership committee: Messrs. Galuchie,
Riddle, Davin, Lazarus and Kaiser.
Legal committee: Messrs. Mielke, Kurtz and
Leins.
E. G. Brown, of Bayonne, N. J., was elected
secretary.
TALKING MACHINE EXPORTS
The Figures for March Presented—Exports
Show Machines and Records Both Increase
WASHINGTON, D. C, May 27.— In the summary
H. Evan Williams, the prominent tenor, who
was particularly well known and popular because
of the records he made for the Victor Talking
Machine Co., died in the City Hospital, Akron,
O., last week from the effects of blood poison-
ing. Mr. Williams, who was born at Mineral
Ridge, O., in 1867, lived in Akron most of his
life.
He was a national figure in the music
world, and for many years taught and sang and
stood for better music throughout the nation.
Recently his work had Ire en among the soldiers.
Although Mr. Williams has gone, his voice,
through the medium of his records, will still
continue to give pleasure to his admirers all
over the country, and prove a lasting memorial.
oi exports and imports of the commerce of the
United States for the month of March, 1918
(the latest period for which it has been com-
piled), which has just been issued, the follow-
ing figures appear:
Talking machines to the number of 9,234,
valued' at $239,049 were exported in March, 1918,
as compared with 7,417 talking machines, valued
at $187,833, sent abroad in the same period of
1917. The total exports of records and sup-
plies for March, 1918, were valued at $199,903",
as compared with $163,632 in March, 1917. For
the nine months' total 69,945 talking machines
were exported, valued at $1,914,730 in March,
1918, and $1,390,227 in 1917, while records and
supplies valued at $1,475,417 were sent abroad
during 1918, as against $1,130,095 in 1917.
C. B. Haynes & Co., of Richmond, Ind., have
incorporated under the style of the C. B. Haynes
Co., Inc., with $100,000 paid up capital. This
concern are old-time Edison jobbers.
„ The Friedberg Talking Machine Co., Brook-
lyn, N. Y., has been incorporated with capital
slock of $10,000 by T- W.. Guttenberg, H.
Schnapp, and N. Friedberg.
SOME IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS
Ratified at Recent Meeting of Directors of Otto
Heineman Phonograph Supply Co.
H. L. TUERS IN THE SERVICE
H. L. Tuers, formerly manager of the dealer
service department of the Columbia Grapho-
phone Co., New York, left Saturday for Ithaca,
N. Y., where he will take a course in training
preparatory to becoming an officer in the Avia-
tion Branch of the Signal Corps. Mr. Tuers
was the guest of honor at a farewell dinner
given last Wednesday by his former associates,
who presented him with an aviator's coat and
helmet.
This dinner, which was informal,
served to emphasize the affection and esteem
in which Mr. Tuers is held by every member
of the Columbia organization.
Mr. Tuers is succeeded as manager of the
dealer service department by Courtland Shaw,
Ji., who has had several years' experience as a
member of the Columbia sales staff, and who
has a thorough knowledge of the dealers' re-
quirements.
The show windows of C. H. Ditson & Co.
are devoted this week to a novel display of the
Cortina method of studying military French by
means of talking machine records and accom-
panying text books.