Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JUNE 22,
1918
THE
MUSIC AND THE FIGHTING MEN
J. K. Nichol, Former Edison Salesman, Tells of
the Value of the Phonograph to the Men in
the Army and Navy—Some of His Experi-
ences Aboard an Army Transport
J. K. Nichol, formerly a most successful sales
engineer for Thos. A. Edison, Inc., in the Ca-
nadian district, and who, although over age, en-
tered the navy, has made a number of trips
to France and back on a search for U-boats.
In a letter to headquarters Mr. Nichol expresses
his regret at being unable to attend the conven-
tion of the dealers in New York, in order to
impress upon them personally what music means
in this war.
"In the first place," he writes, "in both army
and navy camps men are taught to sing; there
are many special instructors for this phase of
the training the men receive. Our nation, as
well as other great nations, have learned that
'singing men are fighting men.'
"History proves that in every great battle
the men have entered singing; men love to sing
and they love to hear good singing; there is
nothing as you well know so inspiring as good
music. Just here I might cite an incident that
occurred in one of the Southern camps that
seems very nearly impossible and yet it is true;
I was told by a chaplain who was present. The
men were assembled and were singing the old
* and new songs and it was noticed a detachment
from the mountain districts of Virginia and
West Virginia were not singing. When asked
why they did not sing they replied 'they knew
nothing of music,' not even the old familiar
airs that every child in the public schools can
hum. The chaplain told me he noticed many
a tear in the eyes of those mountaineers as -the
singing went on and he noticed further how
eager they were to learn. We have men in the
navy who are just as unfamiliar with the good
music of the ages, and I thoroughly agree with
our Government when they advocate the teach-
ing of music for our land and sea forces, but
we want a teacher and a leader after we leave
the camps and I can think of no better medium
than the Edison phonograph.
"I will have to permit the army to speak for
itself.
I know they want good music with
them at all times, but just what is being done
along these lines I cannot say, but I can say a
little about life and music in the navy, and in-
cidentally I might suggest here that the Edi-
son dealers in the mountain districts in the
South get busy, and everywhere else where such
a pitiable state of affairs exists.
"I am limited in my description of life on an
American transport. On the average transport
of any size the ship's quarters are as follows:
The ward room officers' quarters, junior ward
room officers' quarters and the chief petty of-
ficers' quarters. The crew is divided into divi-
sions and in most cases I believe the various
divisions bunk together; however, if they do not,
there are at least eight separate and distinct
sleeping quarters for the ship's crew. This is
an under, rather than over estimate.
"On nj^ship we had one talking machine for
. the entire ship's company, and the boys fought
for it. In my sleeping quarters we heard it
just once in six weeks.
"Every one of the quarters previously men-
tioned should be provided with a musical in-
strument. In most cases, too, our Government
advocates music, why, then, are we not per-
mitted to have more of it? I have been so
* lonely for good music I would give a month's
pay, which, by the way, would not make any
one very wealthy, to hear the New Edison just
playing a re-creation of any of the many artists
in the catalog. We cannot take the interpret-
ing artists with us, I realize that, but we can
take their • re-created music. I know I voice
the sentiment of the men in the navy when I
say, 'We want more instruments of the type of
the New Edison.'
"You may be told the men do not have time
to listen to phonographs.
Well, every one
works in the navy, but our officers arrange so
MUSIC
TRADE
45
REVIEW
we have some time off each day, and our good
commanders tried to make every Sunday a holi-
day for the crew. Aside from the practically
steady grind, we find time to do some things
besides sleep, and it is during our minutes of
leisure that music is always as welcome as chow
call to the average sailor.
"I have said nothing about the soldiers going
over and their monotonous journey. I will say
just this: I have seen just one sound repro-
ducing instrument for the entire company of
soldiers and that was in the officers' mess hall,
because it belonged to an officer and he loved
jnusic.
The instrument was a New Edison,
and the officer in question kept it playing all
the time. Do you think those soldiers would
not enjoy a phonograph going over?
"You will pardon this discourse on music,
but you know I am a nut on the subject and I
have had occasion to see what it means in this
war. My stay in the service may be short, that
is, in my present branch. I may be discharged
as my little bump has affected my general
health, but if I am, as soon as I rest up I in-
tend trying it again."
NEW VICTOR RECORD ANNOUNCED
Double Record Featuring "Hello, Central, Give
Me No Man's Land" and "Belgian Rose" Just
Added to the Victor Record List
The demand for popular music with a patri-
otic swing continues unabated, A new song
becomes popular because everybody is singing,
whistling or playing it. While the demand is
constantly growing is the proper time to offer
such music to the public, and for this reason
the Victor Co. announce as a special a new
ten-inch, double-faced, black label, Victor rec-
ord: No. 18479, "Hello, Central, Give Me No
Man's Land" (from "Sinbad"), Edna Brown;
"My Belgian Rose," by Elliott Shaw and
Charles Hart.
Wholesalers west of Denver should wire or-
ders. Shipments will go forward as soon as
possible.
No special printed matter will be
supplied for the reason that this record, put out
in advance as a special, will be listed in the
regular August supplement.
"Hello, Central, Give Me No Man's Land" is
one of the big hits from the New York Winter
Garden production, "Sinbad." "My Belgian
Rose" is also an extremely popular selection
by Charles Hart and Elliott Shaw, a new com-
bination of Victor artists that should appeal
strongly to record buyers.
RECENT VISITORS TO COLUMBIA CO.
There were quite a number of visitors this
week at the executive offices of the Columbia
Graphophone Co., New York, all of whom were
optimistic in their predictions for future busi-
ness, and commented particularly upon the suc-
cess achieved by Columbia products since the
first of the year. Among these visitors were
Fred E. Mann, manager of the Boston branch;
H. M. Blakeborough, manager of the New
Haven branch; R. A. Davis, vice-president of
the National Talking Machine Sales Corp.,
Boston, Mass., which controls several leading
department stores throughout New England
handling Columbia products; E. G. Neighbors,
a member of the sales staff of the St. Louis
branch, and Odin F. Jester, of the sales force
of the Philadelphia branch.
A. E. LANDON'S NEW POST
The general sales department of the Columbia
Graphophone Co., New York, announce this
week the appointment of A. E. Landon as as-
sistant manager of the Philadelphia branch. A.
J. Heath is the manager of this branch, and
under his able direction the sales totals of Co-
lumbia products in this territory have increased
steadily. Mr. Landon was formerly a member
of the sales staff of the Cleveland branch, and
in this post won the esteem and friendship of
the dealers throughout his territory.
EQUIP THE WONDER-
FUL "RESURRECTONE"
on all make* of machines
and attachments lor Edlions. Improve their
tone and increase the value of records.
Send for our Special Propotition
HOFFAY TALKING MACHINE CO.. l i e .
3 Wert 29th St.
New York City
DELPHEON IN PERTH AMBOY, N. J.
New Store Opens at 185 Smith Street, With
C. T. Dixon in Charge
J. D. Manton, president of the Delpheon Sales
Co., distributors for the products of the Del-
pheon Co. in this territory, announced this week
that the company will open on July 1 a new
store at 185 Smith street, Perth Amboy, N. J.
In addition to handling the complete Delpheon
line there will also be featured at this store the
Bagatelle phonograph, together with music rolls,
sheet music, art pottery and floor lamps. Mr.
Manton is now consummating arrangements
whereby there will also be handled in this es-
tablishment a line of pianos and player-pianos,
but the formal announcement as to the name of
this line will not be ready for the next week
or so.
C. T. Dixon, who has been a member of the
sales force of the Delpheon Sales Co.'s store at
25 Church street, will be manager of the new
store. In view of the fact that it will be located
on the leading street of Perth Amboy, and will
be a quality establishment in every detail, the
success of the new store is practically assured.
NEW VICTOR NUMERICAL CATALOG
All Records Up to and Including May, 1918,
Supplement, Found in New Volume
The Victor Talking Machine Co. has just is-
sued a new numerical list of Victor records, em-
bracing all records up to and including the May
supplement. There is also provided on a sep-
arate sheet a list of nearly 100 records with-
drawn from the May numerical catalog.
It
takes 248 large pages to list all the records.
The catalog is heavily bound, and bears on the
inside front cover some excellent suggestions
for dealers on how to keep track of record
stock.
EDISON MEN CELEBRATE FLAG DAY
With fitting ceremony, the employes of the
Thomas A. Edison industries celebrated Flag
Day by holding a regular community sing, giv-
ing the salute of the flag and pledge of alle-
giance and reciting the American's Creed.
Led by Ed Meeker and the Edison Employes'
Band the assembled workers devoted the bet-
ter part of the noon hour of June 14 singing the
patriotic and popular song hits. T. J. Leonard,
general sales manager of the musical phono-
graph division, delivered an inspiring, patriotic
address, and the announcement was made that
every Tuesday and Friday at 12.30 p. in. until
further notice the Edison employes would gather
in front of the laboratory for such a community
sing.
LINE OF MOTORS RESTRICTED
The Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Co.,
Inc., has just issued the following important
notice: "Owing to conditions in the raw mate-
rial market, due to the necessary Government
work going on at present, coupled with the scarc-
ity of experienced labor, it has been deemed ad-
visable to restrict our line of motors to certain
types. We will supply motors No. 33, No. 77,
and No. 44—this variety will cover a complete
line of phonographs from small ones to the best."
The Meisselbach division of the Otto Heine-
man Phonograph Supply Co. has also issued a
similar notice, the second paragraph of which
reads as follows: "We will supply motors No.
10, No. 12, No. 16 and No. 19 without automatic
stops—this variety will cover a complete line of
phonographs from small ones to the very best."