Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY
8, 1920
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
EDISON DEALERS MEET IN SYRACUSE
0 . K. HOUCK HAS A NEW JOB
Entertained by F. E. Bolway & Son, Inc., Local
Edison Jobbers—Are Enthusiastic Over the
Elaborate Sales Promotion Plans for 1920
Popular Memphis Citizen Appointed Chairman
of New Chamber of Commerce Campaign
MEMPHIS, TENN., May 3.—O. K. Houck, head
Fifty-six Edison dealers from the Syracuse
territory were present at the Dealers' Conven-
tion held in the Onondaga
Hotel, that city, recently,
at the invitatio I cf F. K.
Uolway & Son, Inc , local
Edison jobbers.
Discussion dealt chiefly
with the 1920 sales pro-
motion plans, which were
presented by T. J. Leon-
ard, who represented the
Edison 'aboratorles, and
which were enthusiastical-
ly received. Dealers voiced
freely their appreciation
of the elaborate and com-
prehensive plans connect-
ed with advertising, cir-
cularizing and other sales
promotion features. Sev-
eral dealers, who remained
over until the following
day to visit with the job-
Dinner
bers, signed up for a number of the sal propo-
sitions befoie leaving.
A unique feature of the banquet, which was
tendered the dealers in the evening in the ball-
room of the Onondaga, was the fact that there
were two toastmasters—John F. Fay alternating
with Frank K. Bolway in that capacity. The
dinner show was exceptionally entertaining and
the whole affair a remarkable success.
William ^laxweil, who was to represent the
Edison laboratories at the convention, was de-
tained at Orange and was unable to attend.
VICTOR DEALER ORGANIZING BAND
A. M. Sellemeyer, of Holthouse Drug Co.,
Decatur, 111., Adopts New Plan for Arousing
Greater Interest in Music in His Section
Believing firmly in the advertising benefit that
results from associations in musical affairs of
the community, A. M. Sellemeyer, manager of
the Holthouse Drug Co., Decatur, Ind., is or-
ganizing a band. He hopes to perfect an organ-
ization that will include all band instruments
and will be available for concerts at county
fairs and other community celebrations. As
leader of the band he will gain recognition as
a musical authority, to the distinct advantage
of his Victor record business.
Recently Mr. Sellemeyer gave a demonstra-
tion of orchestral instruments in the high school
auditorium at Decatur, using the instruments of
the orchestra, charts and Victor records to
demonstrate each instrument.
COLUMBIA FORCES TO DANCE
Staff of Executive Offices to Hold Ball at Wal-
dorf-Astoria on May 21
The employes of the executive offices of the
Columbia Graphophone Co. will hold an infor-
mal ball at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on May
21. Lester L. Leverich, advertising manager of
the company, is chairman of the various com-
mittees who are in charge of the evening's fes-
tivities, and, judging from all indications, this
event will be even more successful than the
previous Columbia affairs.
TO HANDLE VOCALION LINE
The Stern Furniture Co., of Jackson, Mich.,
has recently been appointed representative
for the Aeojian-Vocalion. The company has ar-
ranged to open an attractive department for t h e
exploitation of those instruments. With the ad-
dition of the Aeolian-Vocalion the department
is preparing for increased business.
49
REVIEW
of the O. K. Houck Piano Co , this city, has
jv.st accepted another big volunteer job for the
of Edison Dealers in Syracuse
advancement of Memphis and its business in-
terests. Mr. Houck has just consented to act
as commander-i-i-chief of the forces being or-
ganized to conduct the 1920 membership cam-
paign of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce
and is already hard at work. Mr. Houck inci-
dentally is active as chairman cf the Memphis
Art Association and is also interested in the
"progressive" auctioning of a violin for the pur-
pose of raising funds for the Tri-State Hospital
School for Crippled Children. Outside of being
a member of a number of other committees
Mr. Houck has little to do except take care of
his own music business.
EDISON PRICE POLICY ANNOUNCED
Edison Co. Absorb About Half of Increased
Manufacturing Costs, It Is Stated
Considerable interest is expressed in the fol-
lowing announcement which, appears in the
new edition of Edison and Music, and which
is being distributed by the Edison laboratories:
"Careful calculations of the various cost ele-
ments (diamonds, genuine mahogany, quarter-
sawed white oak, walnut, special steel and
bronze, skilled labor, etc., etc.) involved in the
manufacture of the New Edison indicate that
the prices noted in this book reflect only 50 per
cent of the increases in manufacturing cost that
have occurred during the past eighteen months
In other words, it has been our policy to absorb
and write off, as a loss, 50 per cent of the
increased cost cf manufacture. However, con-
ditions are such that we are obliged to reserve
the right to advance our prices at any time,
without notice, and all orders are subject to the
prices effective when executed, irrespective of
the date of receipt.
"Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
"Orange, N. J., February 16, 1920."
According to published financial statements,
the Edison laboratories have been doing busi-
ness on a narrower margin than most manufac-
turers, Edison phonographs having increased in
price (including excise taxes) less than 15 per
cent since 1914.
No change in models is contemplated and
any increase in prices, if such becomes neces-
sary, will be calculated with the thought of
making them permanent prices, it is announced.
JOINS VICTOR TRAVELING STAFF
Morris de C. Freeman, formerly with the
Foley Advertising Co., has joined the traveling
staff of the Victor Talking Machine Co. and
has been assigned to represent that company in
the State of Illinois.
How You Can
Safely Increase
Your Income
Piano merchants, who have
not investigated the talking
machine field, will find that
the subject is one of deep
interest to them and they
will also learn that talking
machines constitute a line
which can be admirably
blended with piano selling.
The advance that has been
made in this special field
has been phenomenal and
every dealer who desires
specific information con-
cerning talking machines
should receive The Talking
Machine World regularly.
This is the oldest publica-
tion in America devoted
exclusively to the interests
of the talking machine, and
each issue contains a vast
fund of valuable informa-
tion which the talking
machine jobbers and dealers
say is worth ten times the
cost of the paper to them.
You can receive the paper
regularly at a cost of $2.00
a year and we know of no
manner in which $2.00 can
be expended which will
supply as much valuable
information.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
Publisher
373 Fourth Ave. NEW YORK