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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
APRIL 26,
1919
EDISON CONVENTION JUNE 26=27
COLUMBIA CO. DINES DEALERS
LIEUT. BROWN BACK FROM WAR
Fifth Annual Gathering of Edison Dealers Will
Be Held at the Hotel Commodore, New York
—Many Important Addresses Scheduled—
New Playlet to Be Presented
Gives Banquet to Nearly Two Hundred Dealers
and Salesmen in Kansas City—Merchandise
Shortage Explained—Miss Gates a Guest
Son of Henry C. Brown, Sales Manager of Vic-
tor Co., Now in Toronto Awaiting Discharge
From Royal Flying Corps—Presented With
Daughter as Post-War Surprise
The fifth annual Edison dealers' convention
will be held in New York on June 26 and 27.
The Hotel Commodore has been chosen as head-
quarters for the convention, and Mr. Sweeney
has most cordially invited his Edison guests to
rrtake themselves at home not only there, but
in! his other hotels in the vicinity.
'Edison conventions are celebrated the world
over. The plans of this one look as though it
was going to be the best yet. The one thing
KANSAS CITY, MO., April 19.—Nearly two hun-
dred dealers and salesmen for the Columbia
Grafonola of the Southwest district were guests
of the company at a luncheon given in the ball-
room of the Hotel Muehlebach April 10. Miss
Lucy Gates, of New York, concert soprano
and a record soloist for the Columbia, accom-
panied by Powell Weaver, was a distinguished
guest. Miss Gates is of the opinion that arias
from the famous operas, if sung in the English,
would be much more appreciated by the general
public, to whom the dealers look for the largest
sbare of their business.
E. A. McMurtry, manager of the Columbia
Grafonola Shop, explained briefly the causes for
the great merchandise shortage which is greatly
handicapping every Columbia dealer, and said
in this connection: "Most dealers lack nerve.
They place their orders for only a small number,
probably, of a certain record, and after the order
has been received they find they could have sold
double the number. When they reorder they
find the supply exhausted. The only safe thing
to do is to place a larger order at first and
make the people want the record."
Discussing record prices, he said: "There is
a tendency on the part of the public not to buy
records costing more than $1.25. It is up to
the dealer to make them demand the higher-
priced records. Every one is paying several
times as much for nearly every commodity as
he paid before the war, and it should be an easy
matter to sell the general public the higher class
of music."
R. L. Burke, of the R. L. Burke Music Co., of
Joplin, Mo., gave a most instructive talk on
"Window Displays," their purpose and cost. He
based his discussion on the statement that the
customer's first impression of the store is what
he sees in the window, and said: "Decorate the
window in which the machines are displayed so
that the passer-by can see at a glance the effect
of the machine in the home."
Ed. J. Black, of the Black Music Co., Sprin-
field, Mo., also spoke on the importance of win-
dow displays, and said that there was no better
way to gain popularity with the public than by
being attentive to the children. He has a special
children's corner in his store, and has found it
to be a good investment.
It is planned by the Kansas City wholesale
branch of the Columbia to hold these get-to-
gether meetings, perhaps as often as once a
month, as being the best possible means of co-
operation between the dealer and the factory.
Henry C. Brown, Jr., son of Henry C. Brown,
sales manager of the Victor Talking Machine
Co., and well known to the talking machine trade
through his active connection with the industry
before the war, returned from overseas on the
S. S. "Bohemia," landing in Boston on April 2
and going from thence to Toronto, where he
expects to be mustered out shortly.
Mr. Brown, who held the rank of lieutenant
in the Royal Flying Corps, had a fine surprise
when he reached Toronto, for his wife, who
was waiting for him in that city, had presented
him with a baby daughter on March 27, while
Lieut. Henry C. Brown, Jr.
he was in about mid-ocean. Incidentally, Grand-
pa Brown does not feel so bad about the new
granddaughter, either.
Lieutenant Brown has been in the service
continuously since June, 1917. From June to
October, 1917, he was in the American field serv-
ice with the French army transport Militaire
headquarters at Soissons. He joined the Royal
Flying Corps in November, 1917, and trained in
Canada and Texas until April, 1918, acting as
instructor much of the time. He acted as air
pilot in England from July, 1918, until the date
of the armistice.
Although Lieutenant Brown's future plans
after his discharge from the army are yet to be
announced, it is probable that he will re-enter
the talking machine field, in which his interests
lie.
Hotel Commodore, New York City
all its speeches seem to have in common is that
each is to be delivered by the highest authority
on his particular subject in the country. Some
of the items already scheduled are: An address
on financial and business conditions of this
country in the future by an official of America's
greatest banking institution; a lecture by Miss
Elsie de Wolfe, or her associate, Mr. retry, con-
cerning the artistic furniture values of the new
cabinets which the Edison laboratories have de-
veloped; a talk by one of America's foremost
manufacturers of fine furniture, setting forth the
difference between the materials and workman-
ship employed in Edison cabinets and the mate-
rials and workmanship in ordinary cabinets; an
official statement by Thomas A. Edison of his
COLUMBIA CO.'S STRONG POSITION
plans for the future. This will be the most im-
Has $4,000,000 Cash on Hand With Most of the
portant statement Mr. Edison has ever made
Early Charges Written Off—Rise of Common
concerning the future of the Edison phonograph.
Stock From $62 to $250 a Share
Another item on the convention program is a
new play—a rollicking farce entitled "Eye
THE KAY TALKING MACHINE CO.
The remarkable prosperity enjoyed by the
Value," for which the cast is already selected,
Columbia
Graphophone Co. is shown by the in-
New
Concern
Chartered
to
Take
Over
Retail
and which will be in rehearsal shortly. Last
crease
in
the
value of the common stock, which
Business of Blackman Talking Machine Co.
year's play, you may remember, was "The
has
soared
from
$160 to $250 a share and, which
Dotted Line." This one will have the advantage
a
year
or
so
ago
sold for $62. The company is
Among the recent incorporations chartered
over "The Dotted Line" in that much more time
in
a
very
strong
financial position, and the re-
under
the
laws
of
New
York
State
was
the
Kay
and attention is being given to its production.
port
which
will
be
issued next month will show
The actors will portray well-known figures in Talking Machine Co., which is the name of the
that
there
is
$4,000,000
cash on hand and in
company
that
will
take
over
on
May
1
the
retail
the phonograph industry. They will be given
every possible opportunity to study the char- business formerly conducted by the Blackman banks, with most of the earlier charges writ-
Talking Machine Co. at 97 Chambers street, New ten off.
acters which they are to delineate.
To-day the Columbia Graphophone Co. has
Another feature of general interest will be a York. As noted in last week's Review the lat-
unfilled orders on hand for 90,000 Grafonolas,
ter
company
will
do
a
Victor
wholesale
business
talk by a prominent music critic, concerning
several million records and thousands of dicta-
the part which the New Edison will play in the exclusively beginning May 1.
phones. The three factories at Bridgeport, To-
Louis
Kay,
one
of
the
veterans
of
the
Victor
future of music.
ronto and London employing many thousands
Edison conventions combine the precision of industry, who has purchased the former Black- of men, are working at capacity. Early in April
man
retail
business,
is
head
of
the
Kay
Talking
a theatrical performance with the spontaneous
the common stock was placed on a 10 per cent,
good fellowship of a club meeting. A record Machine Co. The recent announcement that cash dividend basis with an extra dividend pay-
Mr.
Kay
had
purchased
this
business
has
re-
attendance is predicted, for already, two months
able in stock. The remarkable progress of the
ahead of time, acceptances to the convention in- sulted in his receiving hundreds of letters of concern is an indication of the able management
congratulation from his friends in the trade
vitations are coming in thick and fast from all throughout the country.
which has guided its affairs.
over the country.