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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NOVEMBER 2,
1918
A BRAND NEW TYPE OF PHONOGRAPH
PROPOSED FLOOR TAX CONDEMNED
BIQ RECORD "DRIVE" A SUCCESS
Pathe "Actuell" Just Introduced Has No Sound
Box, Tone Arm or Amplifying Horn
Executive Committee of Talking Machine Men,
Inc., Passes Resolution Protesting Against
Floor Tax Clause in New War Revenue Bill
Public Meetings Held Every Day at Wana-
maker's This Week—Other Cities in Line—
Hope to Gather One Million Records
A meeting of the executive committee of the
Talking Machine Men, Inc., was held on Oc-
tober 25, 1918, at the office of the president,
James T. Coughlin, 487 Eighth avenue, New
York City. A motion was made and seconded
that a resolution in regard to the new floor
tax be adopted, which read as follows:
"Whereas, The new floor tax, Sections 909-
910, as now contemplated is unfair, unjust and
detrimental to the interest of our members and
that the legal committee be instructed to con-
tinue their efforts with the Senate Finance Com-
mittee in order to have this new impost elim-
inated; inasmuch as a tax has already been paid
on the goods; further
"The proposed tax would work a grievous in-
justice on nearly every talking machine dealer,
who in order to do business must of necessity
carry a complete catalog of records, many of
which are slow sellers and almost dead stock;
furthermore for the reason that
"The trade is at present laboring under severe
difficulties occasioned by reduced discounts and
a serious shortage of stock. This association,
however, favors a tax which can be collected at
the factory or source of supply."
The executive committee also recommended
that the association apply for membership in the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
WM. A. SCHREINER GOES TO SPOKANE
The great "drive" for the collection of talking
machine records for distribution among the sol-
diers in camps and cantonments in this country
and overseas and on many ships of the navy,
under the supervision of the Phonograph Rec-
ord Recruiting Corps, 21 East Fortieth street,
New York, has been under way during the past
week, with every indication pointing to its prov-
ing a great success not only in New York but
throughout the country.
A feature of the drive was a public meeting
with music at the Wanamaker auditorium every
1
afternoon, at which prominent speakers, in-
cluding Major-General Bell, and such well-
known musical figures as Maud Powell, David
Bispham, Francis Rogers and a number of
others were heard. The public was invited to
bring a record as an admission to these con-
certs, and cash was also received for "needed"
money.
In the prosecution of this campaign local
committees have been organized in over three
hundred towns and cities throughout the coun-
try, and it is expected that as a result of this
week's "drive" a million records will be col-
lected. A systematic survey of the camps of
the country has been made and records will be
distributed through the authorized official and
semi-official welfare organizations. The various
committees engaged in this work are certainly
entitled to commendation and sincerest praise
for their untiring efforts in making this move-
ment a success.
—*••—
The Phonograph Records Recruiting Corps
have been holding a great, campaign this week
on the steps of the New York Public Library,
where from what seems to be a huge talking
machine the voices of well-known singers are
heard. The singers in person step into this
large case and accompanied by a piano their
voices ring out over the crowd; in the meantime
the musical program is interspersed with appeals
to the people to contribute either records, ma-
chines or money to buy them for the boys at
the front.
On Tuesday evening there was a great con-
cert at Carnegie Hall in behalf of this good
cause, when eminent artists headed by Schu-
man-Heink, Frieda Hempel, Maud Powell,
Lazaro, Rogers, Middleton and others were
heard, the proceeds of which are to go to the
work of collecting the million records needed
for our fighting forces. A feature of the enter-
tainment was the reappearance of the young
French pianist, Lacroix. Among those present
at the concert was Major-General Bell, who ad-
dressed the audience on the need of music for
the men in service.
Well-Known Dealers' Service Man for Columbia
Co. Goes With Eilers Music House
THE VOCALION IN INDIANAPOLIS
A phonograph of an entirely new and revolu-
tionary type, and known as the Pathe "Actuell,"
was officially introduced by the Pathe Freres
Phonograph Co. to a group of invited guests on
Monday of this week at the company's factory
in Brooklyn. The "Actuell" is without sound
box or tone arm, and entirely devoid of any form
of amplifying horn. It consists of a large dia-
phragm of parchment, mounted in a circular
aluminum frame. A wire, under tension, runs
from the center of the diaphragm through a hol-
VICTOR SUPPLEMENT FOR DECEMBER
List of "Best Sellers" Contained in December
List—No New Records Listed
The New Pathe "Actuell"
low tube and to the needle holder. Vibrations
as taken from the record by the needle are con-
veyed by the wire to the diaphragm and thence
released directly into the air in the form of
recognizable sound. The volume of sound can
be controlled either by the adjustment of the
device itself, or by opening or closing doors in
the front or at the side of the cabinet. The of-
ficial demonstration made in comparison with
various makes of machines and records proved
that the "Actuell" produces great volume of
tone, and at the same time eliminates entirely
the usual surface noise, or at least reduces it
to a point where it is not audible. A special
cabinet has been designed for the Pathe "Ac-
tuell" wider than, but no so deep as the usual
type of phonograph cabinet, and providing un-
usually commodious record filing space.
Those present at the official demonstration,
which was preceded by an elaborate luncheon, in-
cluded E. A. Widmann, president of the Pathe
Freres Phonograph Co.; C. C. Conway, of the
Hallet & Davis Piano Co.; W. J. Craig, gen-
eral manager of the Pathe Freres Phonograph
Co., of Canada; Frank L. Dyer, the well-known
patent attorney, various ofhcials of the Pathe
Co., and representatives of the trade press.
B. G. Harriott, a music dealer of Concord, N.
H., recently filled an order for a Columbia
Grafonola, which he received from Montiaba,
Central Africa. After its long sea voyage the
Grafonola will have to be carried 700 miles in-
land before it reaches its owner, Ray Crowell, a
former Concord boy.
The Victor Talking Machine Co., has just
issued an announcement to the trade calling at-
tention to the December Supplement which has
just been issued, and which contains a selected
list of records for which there has been so
great a demand that it has been impossible to
keep dealers supplied with adequate stocks of
the same. No new records are to be listed for
December, this being the first time that the
established precedent of issuing new records at
the first of the month has not been followed.
All of the record manufacturing facilities of the
company have been concentrated on the records
listed in the December Supplement, and the
Victor Co. is endeavoring to catch up with the
demand for these records this month. The
January Supplement will offer new records in
accordance with the usual custom, and in addi-
tion a supplement will be issued containing for-
eign-language record listings.
William A. Schreiner, long associated with the
Columbia Graphophone Co. in New York, most
recently as local dealers' service man, has re-
cently affiliated himself with the Eilers Music
House, Spokane, Wash., where he will have
charge of the publicity work for that well-
known chain of Grafonola retail stores. Mr.
Schreiner's intimate knowledge of service re-
quirements gained by his long experience should
insure him success in his new position. Mr.
Schreiner was at one time connected with the
old Twenty-third street store of the Columbia
Co., then went with the F. G. Smith Co. and C.
Bauer & Sons, Brooklyn, before occupying his
last position with the Columbia Co.
Make your quarters grow.
Buy Thrift Stamps.
Agency for That Line as Well as for Pianolas
Placed With Pearson Piano Co.
It has been announced by the Aeolian Co.'that
the company's branch in Indianapolis, Ind., is
being closed, and that the agency for both the
Aeolian Co. line of pianos and Vocalions has
been placed with the Pearson Piano Co., who,
in addition to their main store in Indianapolis,
operate six branches.
W. H. Alfring, manager of the wholesale Vo-
cation department at Aeolian Hall, expressed
himself as much gratified with the placing of an
agency for that line with the Pearson Co., whx>
have planned to give particular attention to the
featuring of both Vocalion machines and rec-
ords.