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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
DEATH OF LEONARD C. McCHESNEY
Advertising Manager of Thomas A. Edison, Inc.,
Succumbs to Heart Trouble on Monday of
This Week—Prominent in Publicity Circles
The phonograph industry has just suffered a
most severe loss in the death of Leonard C.
McChesney, for the past sixteen years adver-
tising manager of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., and
a prominent figure in advertising circles gen-
erally. Mr. McChesney, who was fifty-nine
years old, died on Monday at his home, 170
High street, Orange, N. J., of heart failure.
Mr. McChesney's interests were many. He
was one of the founders of the Association of
National Advertisers, and served as president of
that organization. He was at one time presi-
dent of the Orange Board of Education, and
before joining the Edison interests was for
twenty-one years secretary of the Orange
Chronicle Publishing Co.
Mr. McChesney was recognized throughout
the country as one of the foremost authorities
on advertising matters generally. He, person-
ally, was a firm believer in clean and construc-
tive publicity, and in righteous business policies.
He was straightforward and direct in his deal-
ings, frank in his opinions, and these character-
istics won for him the esteem of those members
of the trade and advertising profession who rec-
ognized their value.
Funeral services were held at the late home
of the deceased on Wednesday afternoon, and
were attended by the officials, and many em-
ployes of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., a large dele-
gation of advertising men, and representatives
of various branches of the industry.
Mr. McChesney is survived by a widow, a son,
Leonard W. McChesney, for a number of years
connected with the Edison Co., and two daugh-
ters.
TALKING MACHINE EXPORTS GROW
Exports, Including Records, for Eight Months
Ending August 31 Totaled $2,963,413
WASHINGTON, D. C, November 11.—In the sum-
mary of exports and imports of the commerce
of the United States for the month of August.
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 August, 1918, amounted in value to
$33,227, a s compared with $12,769 worth, which
were imported during the same month of 1917.
The eight months' total ending August, 1918,
showed importations valued at $249,389, as com-
pared with $330,840 worth of talking machines
and parts imported during the same period of
1917.
Talking machines to the number of 3,796,
valued at $117,424, were exported in August,
1918, as compared with 10,059 talking machines,
valued at $218,761, sent abroad in the same
period of 1917. The eight months' total showed
that we exported 49,025 talking machines, valued
at $1,477,222, as against 57,222 talking machines,
valued at $1,415,398, in 1917, and 37,255 talking
machines, valued at $946,755, in 1916. The total
exports of records and supplies for August, 1918,
were valued at $152,121, as compared with
$105,837, in August, 1917. For the eight months
ending August, 1918, records and accessories
were exported, valued at $1,486,191, as compared
with $1,180,205, in 1917, and $717,804, in 1916.
Cutting down advertising in slack times is an
example of "penny wise and pound foolish."
Advertising is like a magician's bag—more
comes out of it than was put in.
NEW COLUMBIA RECORD ARTIST
NOVEMBER 16,
1918
ADVERTISING VOCALION RECORDS
Miss BarBara Maurel, Mezzo-Soprano, to Make
Records for That Company
Page Advertisement in Saturday Evening Post
a Feature of Aeolian Co. Campaign
The Columbia Graphophone Co. announced this
week the addition to the Columbia recording li-
brary of Miss Barbara Maurel, a mezzo-soprano,
who has achieved signal success on the concert
stage and in operatic circles. Miss Maurel wil'
rccoul exclusively for the Columbia record 1'-
brary, and her first records will be announce'l
very shortly.
Miss Barbara Maurel, who was born in Al-
sace-Lorraine, studied abroad under Jean Do
Reszke, and her season with the Boston Opera
CV;. won the enthusiastic praise of the leading
critics. Musically speaking, she follows the tra-
ditions of the French school, and it is said by
recognized authorities that her voice is remark-
ably adapted for recording purposes. Mis*
Maurel specializes in the rendition of old-time
ballads, and her Columbia records will doubt-
less meet with a hearty welcome from Columbia
dealers.
MRS. E. J. BREWSTER IN CHARGE
The Aeolian-Vocalion phonograph and Aeo-
lian-Vocalion records were featured to excel-
lent advantage last week in a full-page adver-
tisement that appeared in the Saturday Evening
Post. The attractiveness and artistic beauty of
this advertisement was enhanced by the fact that
it appeared in several colors, and this page was
one of the finest talking machine advertisements
that any national advertiser has used recently.
The page featured the new Vocalion records
made by Giulio Crimi, the leading Italian tenor
of the Chicago Opera Co., who is an exclusive
Vocalion artist. The Vocalion record "On With
the Play" from Pagliacci has achieved phe-
nomenal success, and this advertisement called
attention to the musical qualities of this very
popular record.
The Aeolian-Vocalion phonograph presented
in this page was the Vocalion Style "I," retail-
ing at $225, which is one of the most popular
instruments in the Aeolian-Vocalion line, and
which is meeting with signal success throughout
the country.
Appointed Manager of Sonora Phonograph Sales
Co.'s Fifth Avenue Salon
INTERESTING PROGRAM FOR DEALERS
Mrs. Edmond J. Brewster, who has been as-
sistant manager of the Sonora Phonograph Sales
Co.'s Salon at Fifth avenue and Fifty-third street
for the past two years, has been placed in charge
of these handsome demonstration rooms.
Chas. S. Ellis, formerly manager of this es-
tablishment, has been called to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the death of H. W. Bender, for-
merly manager of the Sonora retail warerooms
at 279 Broadway.
Mrs. Brewster has been in charge at the Fifth
avenue Sonora salons since October 1, and dur-
ing the month of October her sales totals for
the month were double the figures for last Oc-
tober. November has started in equally as well,
and judging from all indications will show a
substantial increase over last year.
Mrs.
Brewster is ideally qualified for her present
post, and has achieved remarkable success in in-
troducing the Sonora phonograph to the high-
class Fifth avenue clientele.
SECURE EDISON AGENCY
The Kesselinan-O'Driscoll Co., of Milwaukee,
VVis., has secured the agency for the Edison
Diamond Disc phonographs and records. The
concern has been handling the Victor line for
some time, and will continue to handle Victrolas
as well as the Edison line.
Arranged for Monthly Meeting of Local Colum-
bia Wholesale Branch
The regular monthly meeting of the local
wholesale branch of the Columbia Graphophone
Co. will be held Friday, November 15, at the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Lambert Friedl, man-
ager of this branch, who will be in charge of
the meeting, has prepared an unusually inter-
esting program that will undoubtedly result in a
banner attendance.
According to present plans the artist who will
appear at this meeting will be Miss Barbara
Maurel, one of the latest additions to the Co-
lumbia record library. R. W. Knox, advertis-
ing manager of the Columbia Co., will give the
dealers some idea of the Columbia advertising
plans for the ensuing year.
The most interesting feature of this meeting,
however, will be the inauguration of an open
forum, which will be conducted by the dealers
exclusively. It is planned to have a Columbia
dealer in the chair at this forum, and undoubted-
ly there will be many practical subjects dis-
cussed by the dealers.
B. P. Froodian, dealer in talking machines, of
Providence, K. L, was shot in his store recently
by a man who attempted to rob him. He died
instantly.
LESLIE E. CARL DOING BIG BUSINESS WITH EDISON LINE
Shipment of Edison Machines in Front of Store of L. E. Carl, Deposit, N. Y.