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Eldridge R. Johnson
Eldridge Reeves Johnson, founder
and until 1927 president of the Victor
Talking Machine Company of Cam-
den, N. J., died of a stroke November
14th in his home at Moorestown, N. J.
His age was 78.
Mr. Johnson was born in Wilming-
ton, Del. In 1900 he began experiment-
ing with the phonograph in a tiny,
unpretentious shop along the Delaware
River waterfront in Camden.
He first became interested in the
phonograph while on a trip to Coney
Island in 1898, when he went into one
of the then popular phonograph rooms
at the amusement resort and listened
to the crude machine wheezing out
"Hail, • Columbia" and "When the
Roses Bloom Again, Sweet Genevieve."
That trip and imagination, plus me-
chanical aptitude and perseverance,
laid the foundation for what is now
the RCA-Victor Corporation.
Two years later, working with blue-
prints, he began experimenting in de-
veloping a machine that would more
perfectly reproduce speech.
Experiments were carried on with
sums of $50 and $100 which friends
who believed in him contributed.
Those who joined Mr. Johnson in
forming the Victor Talking Machine
Co. included Albert T. Middleton and
Charles K. Haddon of Haddonfield and
MAN POWER
FOREMAN WANTED
First Class Voicer and Tuning Fore-
man. Must be able to take charge
of department.
EVERETT PIANO COMPANY
South Haven
Michigan
W A N T E D
TUNER and REGULATOR
Experienced tuner and grand action
regulator for shop and wareroom
work. Permanent position with .old
established firm. Good salary. The J.
W. Greene Co., 805 Jefferson Avenue,
Toledo, Ohio.
PIANO TUNER AND VOICER—First class ex-
pert to supervire Department. Firm develop-
ing along new engineering lines is prepared
to make advantageous offer to a top man.
Box 512. The Muric Trade Review, 1270 Ave-
nue of the Americas, New York 20, N. Y.
A. L. Atkinson of Merchantville, who
brought technical knowledge to the
company.
Mr. Johnson developed the flat disc
record, and contributed greatly to the
popularity of his device by persuading
the late Enrico Caruso to sing for the
first recording by a recognized musical
star in 1906.
With the adoption of the now inter-
nationally known trade-mark "His
Master's Voice," business began to
flourish. Mr. Johnson remained the
guiding spirit of the firm all through
the years it was struggling for a
place in American industry. He re-
tired in 1927, a short time after the
company was sold to a New York
syndicate for $40,000,000. His son,
E. R. Fenimore Johnson, remained in
the new organization, however, as vice
president.
Mr. Johnson was a trustee of the
University of Pennsylvania. He gave
$800,000 to the university in 1927 to
establish the Eldridge R. Johnson
Foundation for research in medical
physics, and in 1930 he contributed
another $200,000 to further the en-
dowment of the foundation.
He was the owner of the original
manuccript of "Alice In Wonderland,"
which he bought from Dr. A. S. W.
Rosenbach for $150,000.
An active Republican, he was a
Presidential elector from New Jersey
in 1944. He also was a member of
the New Jersey State Republican Fin-
ance Committee for many years.
Mr. Johnson's clubs included the
Art Club, the City Athletic Club of
Camden, the Moorestown Field Club
and the Pen and Pencil Club, the Rit-
tenhouse Club and the Downtown Club,
all of Philadelphia.
He also was a member of the Acad-
emy of Natural Sciences, the American
Academy of Political and Social Sci-
ence, the American Philosophical So-
ciety, the Pennsylvania Academy of
Fine Arts, the Zoological Society and
the Union League of Philadelphia, the
Pennsylvania Historical Society and
the Camden Chahmber of Commerce.
He leaves a widow, Elsie R. Feni-
more Johnson, and his son.
Frank A. Jenkins of Honesdale, Pa.,
well know music merchant, passed
away Sunday morning, Nov. 4, 1945,
after a prolonged illness. He was born
at Prompton, Jan. 25, 1882, and was
aged 63 years, nine months and twen-
ty-five days. He was a member of
Honesdale Presbyterian church; Hones-
dale lodge 208, Free and Accepted Ma-
sons; Honesdaye Rotary Club; Pro-
tection Engine No. 3, Honesdale Fire
department and Liberty Wedge.
Surviving are his wife, Elise
(Krantz) Jenkins; Edward G. Jen-
kins, brother, Hyattsville, Md.; two
nephews, Rev. Stanley Jenkins, Gads-
den, Ala., and Eben C. Jenkins, Hy-
attsville, Md.
Funeral services were held Nov. 7.
Internment was at Glen Dyberry.
Mr. Jenkins had been in business
at Honesdale since 1907. After at-
tending the local school he took a two-
years' course in the New England Con-
servatory of Music, and opened a mu-
sic store.
As business grew he purchased the
former Taubner building.
On Oct. 12, 1935, he bought of
Frank Willard the former Loercher
three-story brick building.
J L. M. SMITH
Funeral services were held Oct. 26, at
Hanes chapel for James L. M. Smith,
49, owner and operator of the Greens-
boro Music Co. Greensboro, N. C. who
died on Oct. 24th, 1945 at Piedmont
Memorial Hospital following a heart
attack. Dr. J. Clyde Turner, pastor
of First Bantist church, conducted the
service and interment was in Stony
Hill Methodist church cemetery, near
Albermarle.
Mr. Smith had been a resident of
Greensboro for 20 years. He was
EDWARD R. BLANCHARD
Edward R. Blanchard, 81, retired
Treasurer of the W. W. Kimbal Co.,
and for many years a resident of
Oak Park, 111., died Sunday, Nov. 11th
at his home in Pasadena, Cal. Ser-
vices were held on Nov. 14th at the
Turner & Stevens Chanel at Pasadena.
When he retired in 1934 he had been
with the W. W. Kimball Co., for 47
ynrs. He is survived by his widow,
Elizabeth; two daughters, Genevieve
and Eleanor; and a sister, Mrs. Lillian
Hull of Oak Park, 111.
prominently identified in business, civic
and fraternal affairs. He was secre-
tary of the North Carolina Music Mer-
chants, chairman of the North Carolina
chapter of the Nat. Music War Council
of America, past commander of the
Henry K. Burtner post of American
Legion, a member of the Masonic order,
Knights of Pythias, Travelers Pro-
tective association and First Baptist
church. He was a graduate of Howard
college and Northwestern university.
Survivors include his father, John
D. Smith, Albemarle; a sister, Mrs.
Letha Surratt, Randleman; four half
brothers, Carl Smith, with the army
in Alabama, Harvey Smith, with the
navy in New Jersey, Roy Smith, Al-
bemarle, and Pearl Smith, New Lon-
don, and four half sisters, Mrs. Esther
Cooper, Albermarle, Mrs. R. D. Blake,
Mt. Gilead, and Misses Ruby and
Velma Smith, both of Albemarle.
Frank A. Jenkins
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, DECEMBER, 1945