Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
OCTOBER 26,
1918
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
COLUMBIA DEALER^ HOLD MEETING
First Gathering of the Fall Season Well At-
tended—Toscha Seidel Introduced—Mark P.
Campbell and G. W. Hopkins Speak
More than 150 Columbia dealers in the
metropolitan territory, accompanied by the
members of their sales staffs, accepted the in-
vitation of the Columbia Graphophone Co. to be
present at the first monthly meeting of the 1918
fall season to be held under the auspices of
the local Columbia branch. This meeting,
which was held in the Waldorf Apartments at
the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, was a signal suc-
cess, and Lambert Friedl, manager of the
Columbia Co.'s New York branch, was heartily
congratulated by the dealers on the interesting
program that he had prepared for their enter-
tainment.
These monthly meetings were inaugurated by
Mr. Friedl the early part of 1918, and although
their prime purpose was to introduce the mid-
month records in order to give the dealers an
opportunity to place their orders after receiving
an actual demonstration of the records, these
meetings have also served to introduce to
Columbia representatives many of the new art-
ists who are now making records for the Colum-
bia library. In other words, the dealers were
given an opportunity to meet these artists and
become personally acquainted with them, there-
by welding a personal bond that is invaluable.
At Wednesday's meeting Mr. Friedl pre-
sided, and in his opening remarks paid a tribute
to the loyalty of the Columbia dealers, thank-
ing them for their splendid support during the
past year in the face of discouraging conditions.
His address contained a timely note of patriot-
ism with an interesting resume of business con-
ditions as they exist at the present time, and
the outlook for the future.
The November mid-month records were then
played by O. F. Benz, of the general sales de-
partment, and they were enthusiastically re-
ceived.
Mr. Friedl then introduced Mark P. Camp-
bell, chairman of the Allied Music Trades Com-
mittee, Fourth Liberty Loan, who made one
of his usual stirring addresses in behalf of the
Loan. As a mark of their appreciation of Mr.
Campbell's address, and his untiring efforts in
behalf of the Loan, the dealers presented him
with a handsome total of additional subscrip-
tions to be turned in to the Fourth Liberty
Loan through his committee.
The next speaker on the program was George
W. Hopkins, general sales manager of the
Columbia Graphophone Co., and one of the rec-
ognized authorities in the world of wholesale and
retail merchandising, who delivered an effective
discourse on Columbia Grafonola and Columbia
record merchandising, in which he advanced sug-
gestions and ideas that were heartily applauded
by everyone present. Mr. Hopkins has been as-
sociated with some of the leading mercantile
organizations in the country, and his familiar-
ity with every detail of retail merchandising has
enabled him to give Columbia representatives
invaluable ideas whenever he has an oppor-
tunity of addressing them. On Wednesday, for
example, he submitted a thought which, if car-
ried out, will undoubtedly increase their record
sales 100 per cent. This suggestion is especially
opportune at the present time in view of the
shortage of machjnes, and the fact that there
is no immediate relief in sight. It therefore be-
hooves the. dealers to concentrate on the devel-
opment of record sales in order to show satis-
factory sales totals.
The "star" event of the afternoon was the in-
troduction of Toscha Seidel, the young Russian
violinist, who was recently added to the Colum-
bia recording library, and who will make Colum-
bia records exclusively. Mr. Seidel was intro-
duced by Theodore H. Bauer, director of the
Columbia Co.'s concert and operatic depart-
ment, who is responsible in a considerable meas-
ure for Mr. Seidel's acquisition to the Columbia
recording staff.
Mr.^Seidel was enthusiastically received by the
Columbia dealers, and his rendition of several
standard selections served to emphasize the fact
that this young artist, who has been acclaimed
by musical critics as one of the leading violinists
of the present day, well deserves the praise be-
stowed upon him in Europe and this country.
His Columbia records, which go on sale immedi-
ately, were also played for the dealers, and each
record was a faithful reproduction of Mr. Seidel's
remarkable technique and warmth of expression.
This violinist, who inaugurated his 1918 con-
cert season last week, will undoubtedly add to
his laurels this year.
THREE NEW VICTROLAS
Victor Co. Announces Styles IV, VI and XXV
Containing Exclusive Victor Features
The Victor Talking Machine Co. this week is-
sued literature announcing three new Victrolas,
IV, VI and XXV.
The new Victrola IV is equipped with sound-
ing boards at the aperture of the amplifying
compartment; this, with the decided improve-
ment in the appearance of cabinet, will serve as
a distinct identifying mark in comparison with
the Victrola IV-A.
The new Victrola VI is equipped with a re-
movable motor board while the improvement in
cabinet design is immediately apparent. The
new Victrola VI will be supplied in mahogany
or oak, and as the need of a mahogany instru-
ment of this type has long been recognized this
instrument will find a ready market awaiting its
public announcement.
The new Victrola XXV is equipped with an
enlarged tapering tone arm and new tapering
sound box tube.
Shipments of these new styles will soon go
forward to wholesalers, and it is very probable
that they will reach warerooms in about three
to six weeks, according to the distance from the
factory.
FOUND BUSINESSJN GOOD SHAPE
F. K. Pennington Returns From Visit to Colum-
bia Branches in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh
Frank K. Pennington, assistant general sales
manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co.,
New York, returned to his desk late last week
after visiting the company's branches in Cin-
cinnati and Pittsburgh. He found business con-
ditions in these two cities very satisfactory,
with the managers making their oft-repeated
plea for more merchandise.
There were quite a number of visitors this
week at the Columbia executive offices, among
the callers being J. L. DuBreuil, manager of the
Cleveland branch; S. H. Nichols, manager of the
Pittsburgh branch, and Fred E. Mann, manager
of the Boston branch. A. A. Fair and C. H.
Baker, members of the wholesale traveling staff
from the New York branch, were in New York
for the week-end in order to attend the dealers'
meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
IMPORT REGULATION ON JEWELS
WASHINGTON, D. C, October 21.—According to
a ruling just issued by the War Industries
Board, the New General Import License Regu-
lation No. 27 does not include jewels for phono-
graph needles, which may therefore be im-
ported under the old form of license.
49
TALKING MACHINE EXPORTS GROW
Exports, Including Records, for Seven Months
Ending July 31, Totaled $2,693,868
WASHINGTON, D. C, October 21.—In the sum-
mary of exports and imports of the commerce
of the United States for the month of July,
1918 (the latest period for which it has been
compiled), which has just been issued, the fol-
lowing figures on talking machines and records
appear:
The dutiable imports of talking machines and
parts during July, 1918, amounted in value to
$20,209, as compared with $45,827 worth, which
were imported during the same month of 1917.
The seven months' total ending July, 1918,
showed importations valued at $216,162, as com-
pared with $318,071 worth of talking machines
and parts imported during the same period of
1917.
Talking machines to the number of 3,257,
valued at $119,021, were exported in July, 1918,
as compared with 7,247 talking machines,
valued at $170,751, sent abroad in the same
period of 1917. The seven months' total showed
that we exported 45,229 talking machines, valued
at $1,359,798, as against 47,163 talking machines,
valued at $1,196,637, in 1917, and 31,177 talking
machines, valued at $791,093, in 1916. The total
exports of records and supplies for July, 1918,
were valued at $267,671, as compared with $127,-
580, in July, 1917. For the seven months end-
ing July, 1918, records and accessories were ex-
ported, valued at $1,334,070, as compared with
$1,074,368, in 1917, and $604,948, in 1916.
VICTOR TRADEMARK SHOW CARD
Very Artistic Presentation of the Victor Trade-
Mark in Colors Issued for the Use of Dealers
—Accompanying Letter Explains Its Value
The Victor Talking Machine Co. have issued
a very handsome card in colors of the Victor
trade-mark for display in show windows, below
which appears the following text: "The famous
trade-mark of the Victor Talking Machine Co.
is on all genuine Victor instruments and rec-
ords. 'Victrola' is also the registered trade-
mark of this company, designating its products
only. Such genuine Victor products are on sale
in this store." In this connection the company
states:
" 'The best-known trade-mark in the world—
familiar to more Americans than any of the
world's great masterpieces.' That is how Col-
lier's Weekly described 'His Master's Voice.' It
is a true statement of facts which every Victor
dealer has ample reasou to contemplate with
justifiable pride.
"Publicity alone won't make a trade-mark fa-
mous, but quality merchandise backed by the
right kind of publicity will, and 'His Master's
Voice' owes its popularity to the fact that it
has always stood for all that's best in music.
The importance of this trade-mark and of our
trade-mark word, 'Victrola,' is not perhaps fully
realized, and we suggest that you give these
cards the greatest possible display.
"The public to-day knows that it pays to seek
the trade-mark of the manufacturer as the surest
and safest method of identifying quality prod-
ucts. These cards positively identify you as a
Victor merchant engaged in marketing the best
quality merchandise that human skill and in-
genuity can produce. It will pay you to display
prominentl}' this 'hall mark of quality' in your
show windows."
The charter of the Quincy Phonograph & Art
Co., 411 Hampshire street, Quincy, 111., has been
dissolved. The business was taken over last
March by A. F. Odell.