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THE
44
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
DECEMBER 31,
1921
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING VICTOR PRICES
R. L. Freeman, of the Victor Co., Says That the Repeal of the Excise Tax Should Be Regarded as
a Possible Means of Avoiding Increased Prices Rather Than as a Means of Indulging in Reduction
The New York Talking Machine Co., New
York, Victor wholesaler, recently sent out an
interesting letter to its dealers, enclosing copies
of some correspondence between the company
and the Victor Talking Machine Co., relative to
the possibility of a reduction in the price of
Victor products. This letter to the dealers, which
was signed by Arthur D. Geissler, president of
the company, is well worth close attention. It
reads as follows:
"Each year, about this time, there have been
persistent rumors relative to a reduction in the
list price of Victor products from which dealers'
and jobbers' discounts are figured.
"The effect of these rumors has been disquiet-
ing in a measure and if let go unchallenged
might result in many of our dealers hewing too
closely to the line in ordering, allowing them to
go into January with an insufficient stock to take
care of the active Winter business which we
have been taught to look forward to in the first
three months of the year.
"This year the law of supply and demand evi-
dently will take care of this problem for us, as
we are in the midst of an acute machine short-
age at the present time.
"To settle this question the writer wrote Ralph
L. Freeman, of the Victor Talking Machine Co.,
under date of November 15, as per the attached
copy, to which we have appended extracts from
his reply."
The letter sent by Mr. Geissler to Ralph L.
Freeman, of the Victor Talking Machine Co.,
read:
"Rumors have been very persistent relative to
a contemplated reduction in the price of Victor
machines after the first of the year.
"We believe publicity given the possibility that
the 5 per cent excise tax on musical instruments
might be eliminated has caused the dealers im-
mediately to wonder whether or not this would
enable the Victor Co. to reduce prices.
"Our organization has steadily maintained that
the Victor Co.'s margin of profit has been all
too narrow on the present styles of machines and
that, even if the repeal of the 5 per cent excise
tax were an accomplished fact, it would hardly
warrant your cutting the list price of machines
from which your jobbers' discounts are figured.
"If you should be able, in a measure, to advise
us definitely on this subject we would appreciate
it immensely."
In reply to this letter Mr. Freeman sent Mr.
Geissler an interesting communication reading,
in part, as follows:
"Replying to your letter of November 15, we
would say that it is entirely wrong for anyone
to assume that the repeal of the excise tax on
musical instruments would enable this company
to effect a downward revision of its prices.
"Having in mind the very unusual conditions,
the Victor Co. has deliberately sacrificed its
profits during the readjustment period since the
war, but this has gone on as long as can be
permitted. We believe that we are entitled to
a reasonable profit from our investment in money
and effort in this business and we know that the
business cannot be maintained on the basis we
have been operating on during the past year.
The repeal of the excise tax may enable us to
avoid a general upward revision of prices, but,
even at that, there will doubtless be some in-
creases in our prices on certain models to avoid
actual losses.
"In conclusion we would say that the repeal
oi the excise tax should be regarded as a possible
means of avoiding increases in our prices, rather
than as enabling us to contemplate reductions."
LINK'S MUSIC_SHOP ENLARGES
adjoining store and to remodel the building. The
new store has a floor space of 1,440 square feet.
An additional room in the rear of the building
is devoted to music rolls and repair work. The
store has two front entrances and a large at-
tractive show window. Link carries a complete
line of Victrolas, records and Q R S music
rolls. The store is located at 1711-13 Vine street.
Old Cincinnati Concern Doubles Floor and Win-
dow Space by Converting Present and Adjoin-
ing Building into One Large Store
CINCINNATI, O., December 24.—George H. Link,
one of the first talking machine dealers in Cin-
cinnati, recently converted his music shop and
an adjoining store into a single large and up-to-
date establishment at a cost of approximately $5,-
io double
Vour Income
and the proposition could be proved
sound from every angle, you wouldn't
hesitate, would you? Of course not,
but do you TZSXYLZ that a talking machine
department can be made to provide
sufficient revenue to take care of the
overhead on your entire establishment ?
Thousands of other retail music mer'
chants have proved the above made
statement true and thousands of retail
music merchants have looked to The
Talking Machine World for guidance
in the matter of selecting the make of
talking machines they would handle, the
way they would map out their talking
machine department, etc.
VICTOR ARTISTS TO VISIT COAST
Eight Famous Artists to Make Tour of South-
west and Pacific Coast Next Year
Where Geo. H. Link Holds Forth
000. The addition doubles the floor space of
the store and also doubles the store front. Mr.
Link occupied one-half of the present building in
which his business has been housed for many
years. Last Spring his son, George H. Link, Jr.,
musician and former member of the Cincinnati
and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, came home
for a vacation and at that time Mr. Link be-
came ill and his son was forced to stay on and
take care of the business. When Mr. Link was
able to again take charge he induced his son
to cancel his musical contracts and enter the
business as a partner. The partnership was
formed and they then decided to take over the
The Eight Famous Victor Artists will soon
start for the Coast on an extended concert tour,
under the guidance of their able manager, Philip
W. Simon. The artists, namely, Henry Burr,
Billy Murray, Albert Campbell, John Meyer,
Frank Croxton, Monroe Silver, Fred Van Eps
and Frank Banta, who have already appeared
throughout the entire country, with the excep-
tion of the Coast, will now satisfy the demand
of that part of the country for their appearance.
Playing in St. Joseph, Mo., on December 30, and
Topeka, Kan., on the 31st, they commence the
new year with the following itinerary:
January 1, Kansas City, Mo.; 2, Tulsa, 3, Ok-
mulgee, 4, Muskogee, 5, McAlester, 6, Ardmore,
and 7, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 9, Fort Worth, 10,
Waco, 11, Houston, and 12, Dallas, Tex.; 13,
Texarkana, Ark.; 14, Shreveport, La.; 16, Port
Arthur, 17, Beaumont, 18, Orange, 19, Galveston,
20, Austin, 21, San Antonio, and 23, San Antonio,
Tex.; 24, Tucson, Ariz.; 25, Los Angeles, 26, San
Diego, 27, Santa Barbara, 28, Long Beach, Cal.
February 1, Fresno; 2, Sacramento; 3, Stock-
ton; 4, Oakland; 5, San Francisco; 6, San Jose,
and 7, Santa Rosa, Cal. The Eight Famous
Artists are in for a great welcome.
T h e Talking Machine World is the
oldest and largest trade journal in the
world devoted exclusively to the talking
machine industry.
Some book, eh? Yes, and some encyclo'
pedia of the kind of information that
will positively double your income.
Don't miss your chance.
coupon now.
Send in the
TALKING MACHINE WORLD,
37i Fourth Ave., New York City.
Please enter my subscription for one year. I want to
learn how to double my income via a talking machine
department. Bill me $2 at your convenience to cover cost
of same.
Name
The Gaelic Phonographic Record Co..has in-
corporated in Delaware with a capital of $350,-
000. Incorporators are H. P. Fay, H. G. Sueker
Street
and E. W. Jones,
City and State
Firm
,
,