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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
42
AUGUST 10,
1918
WAR-TIME PROBLEMS DISCUSSED
NEW POST FOR A. W. ROOS
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE TRADE
William Maxwell, of Thomas A. Edison, Inc.,
Surveys the Existing Situation From the
Standpoint of the Phonograph Industry
Appointed Acting Manager of St. Louis Branch
of Columbia Graphophone Co.
Talking Machine Manufacturers Asked to Give
Information Regarding Steel Requirements for
Presentation to Government Officials
There recently appeared in the Industrial
Supplement of the New York Kvening Post a
most interesting article by William Maxwell,
vice-president of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., on
"The Problems of One Industry in War-Time
Manufacturing," in the course of which Mr.
Maxwell emphasized the fact that between the
two extremes, "Business as Usual" and "Cut
Out All Luxuries," there is' a middle ground
which we can take, and probably should take,
for the preservation of non-war industries. Mr.
Maxwell took occasion to decry the tendency
of public speakers and men in the public eye
to speak in extravagant terms of luxuries and
so-called non-essentials, without apparently
having given consistent thought to the ques-
tion. He told of the attitude of the industry
generally to bend every energy towards aiding
in the prosecution of the war.
Mr. Maxwell outlined in capable fashion the
relation of phonograph production to the pro-
duction of war materials, and also the fuel and
labor questions as they applied to this industry.
It was a calm, dispassionate article, full of log-
ical arguments, and should be widely read and
have its effect.
LEVERICH RETURNS TO POST
Assistant Advertising Manager of Columbia Co.
Resumes Former Position
Lester L. Leverich, assistant advertising man-
ager of the Columbia Graphophone Co., New
York, who left July 24 for Camp Upton as a
member of the draft contingent from his dis-
trict, has again resumed his duties in the Co-
lumbia advertising department. Although . Mr.
Leverich was keen and anxious to "do his bit"
in the fight across the sea, the army surgeons
decided that he was not physically able to take
his place on the firing line.
FORM WAR SAVING^ STAMP SOCIETY
Every Employe of New York Talking Machine
Co. Enrolls—Those Who Are "Over There"
The members of the staff of the New York
Talking Machine Co., Victor wholesalers, have
formed a War Savings Stamp Society, and are
already entitled to a 100 per cent, flag for their
efforts, every employe of the company being
enrolled. The society is receiving the active
support of Arthur D. Geissler, president of the
company, and Roy J. Keith, general manager.
Miss Florence Roskam is secretary and treas-
urer of the society.
Morris Owens, formerly a popular member
of the company's traveling staff, and now in the
Artillery Corps of the U. S. A., has left for
France to "do his bit over there." John; Con-
nolly, who is also a member of the company's
staff, left for France some time ago as one of
the "Fighting Sixty-ninth," and has been in ac-
tive service for many months. Kenneth Moore,
a brother-in-law of Arthur D. Geissler, and a
lieutenant in the Aviation Corps, left recently
for France.
MEISSELBACHJL^A
FISHERMAN
A. F. Meisselbach, vice-president of the Otto
Heineman Phonograph Supply Co., was the sub-
ject of an interesting tribute from the pen of
James R. O'Neill in the New York Sunday Sun
recently. His skill as a disciple of Izaak Wal-
ton and his popularity were dwelt upon.
George \\•'. Hopkins, general sales manager of
the Columbia Graphophone Co., New York, an-
nounced this week the appointment of A. W.
Roos as acting manager of the company's St.
Louis branch, succeeding Irby W. Reid, who has
resigned from the Cleveland service.
Mr. Roos was formerly manager of the Cleve-
land branch of the Columbia Co., and has been
identified with Columbia service for a number
of years. He has won the esteem and friendship
of Columbia dealers in Cleveland territory and
he is receiving the hearty congratulations of his
co-workers upon his appointment to the impor-
tant post at St. Louis.
J. L. Dubreil, formerly assistant manager at
the Cleveland branch, has been appointed man-
ager in place of Mr. Roos. Although he has
only been associated with the Columbia Co. for
the past year, Mr. Dubreil has already gained
an intimate knowledge of Columbia merchan-
dising systems and plans, and his unceasing ef-
forts to co-operate with Columbia dealers in
Cleveland territory are justly rewarded in his
promotion to the post of manager.
BRISTOL & BARBER INCORPORATED
New Concern Will Take Over Business of Bris-
tol & Barber and Pathephone Sales Co.
There was incorporated last week under the
laws of the State of New York the Bristol &
Barber Co., Inc. This concern is capitalized
at $100,000 and will take over the business of
Bristol & Barber and the Pathephone Sales Co.
of New York. The Bristol & Barber Co., Inc.,
will continue both the piano bench and stool
business conducted by Bristol & Barber in the
past and the Pathe jobbing business formerly
conducted by the Pathephone Sales Co., New
York, the latter company having been dissolved.
The officers of the new. concern are E. D.
Bristol, president; C. L. Johnston, vice-president
and general manager; N. G. Barber, secretary
and treasurer. Mr. Johnston was formerly con-
nected with Steger & Sons, the well-known
piano house, in an executive capacity, and for
many years has been prominent in piano circles.
He will be assisted in the Pathephone jobbing
end of the business by R. B. Caldwell, who will
continue to co-operate with and visit Pathe
dealers in this territory, and J. G. Klein will
assist Mr. Johnston in the piano bench and stool
business. The company is planning to expand
in various directions, and the new arrangement
will enable it to give the dealers in this territory
efficient service and co-operation.
JOHN F. ALSEN SEVERELY WOUNDED
BOSTON, MASS., August 5.—John l\ Alsen, for-
merly in charge of the talking machine depart-
ment of George Lincoln Parker, who enlisted
in the Army some time ago, was reported last
week as being severely wounded. His brother,
Henry C, was killed in action several weeks ago,
and his brother Kllis is also in the service.
He is a member of the 101st Engineers.
ENLISTS IN THE NAVY
Vincent Salmacia, of the Glendale Phonograph
& Piano Co., Glendale, Cal., has enlisted in the
Navy. He will retain his interest in the busi-
ness, which will be operated by his brother
Frank during his absence. John P. Murphy,
former city salesman for the Columbia Grapho-
phone Co., has been made sales manager of
the concern.
There has been sent out to the talking ma-
chine manufacturers of the country by the war
service committee of the talking machine in-
dustry, of which H. L. Willson is chairman, and
J, Schechter, secretary, a general notice regard-
ing the present situation in the matter of steel
supplies for the manufacture of talking ma-
chines. It is explained that the priorities com-
mittee of the War Industries Board has estab-
lished certain classes which are entitled to pri-
ority in the matter of deliveries of iron and steel
for manufactured products. Industries engaged
in making war materials are included in Classes
A A, A and B, and steel producers are instructed
to 'fill orders for such concerns at once. In
Class C are included industries which, while not
actually engaged in war work, are deemed essen-
tial to public welfare during war times. All
other requirements for steel come under what
i.- known as Class D. It is the object of the
talking machine industry to have the priorities
committee recognize the essentiality of the talk-
ing machine in war times and place the in-
dustry in Class C in the matter of steel allot-
ment.
The war service committee has also sent out
a questionnaire to all concerns engaged in mak-
ing or selling talking machines, asking figures
regarding products manufactured, amount of
metal materials used last year, amount of ma-
terial on hand, and the approximate require-
ments for the coming twelve months. It is
urged that all those receiving the questionnaire
fill it out as completely as possible and return
it immediately to Mr. Schechter at 10 Wall
street, in order that definite information regard-
ing the industry and its requirements may be
presented to the authorities at Washington.
FRIEDA HEMPEL ON PHONOGRAPHS
In a Recent Interview the Well-Known Artist
Gave Expression to Opinions Regarding Ac-
complishments of That Instrument—Offers
Interesting Plan to Raise Musical Taste
A most interesting and stimulating interview
with Frieda Hempel, the famous opera star,
and Edison artist, who recently secured Amer-
ican citizenship through marriage with a promi-
nent American business man, appeared recently
in the Musical Leader. In the course of the
interview Miss Hempel paid high tribute to the
phonograph and the re-creation of music through
that means in the development of the musical
traditions of the country. She pointed out that
the phonograph has carried much of the mes-
sage of music into the farthermost corners of
the country and accomplished results un-
dreamed of a few years ago even by the most
enthusiastic.
Incidentally, Miss Hempel gave an interesting
suggestion looking to the taste for ragtime to
Miss Lois Willoughby, who interviewed her.
"Do you know how I would raise a person's
taste in music?" she asked. "If he liked ragtime
I would give him all he wanted—I'd give him
ragtime records until he never wanted to hear
one again. And I'd tuck a few of the classics
in along with them—not designated as classics,
please—and I'd be perfectly willing to trust to
results. There is one thing about the classics
and about traditions—they stand the wear and
tear, even of a phonograph, and I don't care
who plays it."
The Phonographs, Inc., of Atlanta, Ga., is be-
ing extensively improved and enlarged.