Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1920 1757

Page 24 Text:

REITO
24
IMPORTANCE OF PLAYER ROLLS
March 25, 1920.
partment of the Sherman-Clay store in Oakland,
Calif., in charge of the department. It is the plan
of the company to increase the size of the depart-
ment, a decision which is in response to the won-
derful growth of roll sales.
Deserved Prominence of the Goods in Representative Stores Results in
NEW INCORPORATIONS
the Creation of Established Systems for Departments
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
Several years ago the piano trade awoke to the
great importance of the playerpiano music roll and
its potency to make and keep customers. But every
day the piano dealers realize more fully the won-
derful extent of the benefits possible to the house
which brings system to the management of the
player roll department.
System in the management of the playerpiano
roll department involves the expenditure of money.
It means the acceptance of every modern rule for
the dealer who would interest playerpiano owners,
and keep them interested. Interesting the player-
piano owners is not the mere perfunctory an-
nouncement of arrivals of new music rolls at cer-
tain periods. It means the persistent and insistent
publication of information that would familiarize
the player owners with the nature and merit of
the offerings
each month, or whenever they are
v
issued.
The Requirements.
Interesting the playerpiano owners particularly
means providing opportunities for the pleasureable
purchase of the records and calls for the installa-
tion of booths and special rooms where other
activities of the store do not distract the customer.
The dealers who say there is not enough in the
music roll business to warrant any great expendi-
ture of money in special aids to music roll sales, are
fast dwindling into a negligible minority. Kvery
piano store which deserves to be alluded to as
progressive has a special music roll department
and a large stock of rolls. There is a well defined
system there too and the efforts to nnd and serve
the playerpiano owner never relax.
A Thrill for Veterans.
Last week was an exciting one for the old
soldiers of the Confederate army at the Jefferson
Davis Soldiers' Home at Beauvoir, Miss. It was
no less a thrill than the selection of playerpiano
music rolls. Through the activities of Superin-
tendent Tartt of the Home the price of a player-
piano was collected and a player and three dozen
rolls were purchased from the Grunewald Music
Co., New Orleans, La. But when the old soldiers
got a taste of the player music they wanted a
feast and a new movement to create a fund to get
new rolls was started. The entire occupants of
the Home comprise the committee of selection
which is in session all the time.
Civic Plans.
The help of the playerpiano music roll will be
utilized this summer in Indianapolis by Community
Service Inc. and the city park and school boards.
Playerpiano music in schools, rest houses in the
parks and in the community centers will be made
an important part of the musical activities.
Effects in Norfolk, Va.
A noticeable increase in the sales of playerpiano
music rolls is one of the pleasing results of the
recent "Week of Song" in Norfolk, Va. Even the
hopeful George W. found, general counsel of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, who was
one of the principal speakers at the opening move-
ment in the Billy Sunday Tabernacle, would ex-
press surprise at the sales figures that Leon C.
Steele, president of the Music Merchants' Associ-
ation of Tidewater, Virginia, could give him.
Republic Roll Activities.
Additional distributing centers for the Republic
Player Roll Corp. products are in the plans of the
New York manufacturers. The principal business
of L. O. Rogers, in his present trip through the
Middle-West, is to provide means that will facil-
itate the delivery service to the Republic dealers.
William McAllister and William Fitzgerald are
two young men in the traveling sales force of the
Republic Player Roll Corp., whose previous suc-
cesses in the roll sale field ranks them as veterans.
Both men are on the road in a direct-to-the-dealer
campaign. When either of these active ones talk
rolls in a store, the talk ends in a new customer
for the Republic line.
The Hauschildt Music Company, San Francisco,
is adding to the stock of Q R S rolls and has
placed Mrs. Howell, formerly with the Victrola de-
STORE MODERN IN EVERY WAY
New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
Places.
The Hiram J. Smith Jewelry & Music Company.
Racine, Wis.; capital stock, $100,000. Hiram J.
Smith, Flora D. Smith and Louis D. Shaw.
Radio News & Music, Manhattan; $100,000. J. F.
Hubbard, C. S. and P. Thompson, 38 Park place.
The Silk City Music Company, Paterson, N. J.,
sellers and publishers of musical compositions, last
week filed a certificate of incorporation. John T.
Van Rensaller, of 17 Albion street, and William
Baumgarten, of 122 River street, are the owners.
Jesse French & Sons Piano Company, New Castle,
Tnd., increased its common capital stock from $300.-
000 to $550,000.
Anderson Piano Co., Utica, N. Y., $30,000; F.
Smith, R. H. and J. H. Anderson, Utica.
The Yahcling-Rayner Piano Co., Youngstown, O.,
has increased its capital stock from $100,000 to
$200,000.
FURTHERING MUSIC STUDIES
IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA
Formation of State-Wide Association of Teachers
Followed by Adoption of Plan of Campaign.
Standardization of music studies in the schools is
the aim of the Alabama Music Teachers' Associa-
tion, which was formed at the music conference in
Montevallo, Ala., recently. More than a dozen
towns in Alabama were represented by the 40 dele-
gates to the conference, which was held at the
Montevallo Normal School.
The Alabama Teachers' Association was estab-
lished with the idea of the upbuilding of music in
Alabama, and those interested in the musical de-
velopment of the state are enthusiastic over the pos-
sibilities of the association.
Mrs. James Hagan, of Mobile, was named presi-
dent; R. C. Calkins, of Montevallo, vice-president;
Mrs. William Guessen, of Birmingham, second vice-
president, and Miss Love, of Huntsville, secretary
and treasurer.
FRENCH BUY GERMAN GOODS.
Far from supporting any scheme for boycotting
German goods, the French government is doing all
in its power to develop trade with Germany. The
"Journal Official" calls attention to the advantages,
both to the trader and to the rate of exchange, of
buying in Germany and the Rhineland goods that
cannot be obtained in France. An information bu-
reau has been organized at Wiesbaden for the bene-
fit of merchants, and the government recommends
them to apply there, where they will get advice as
to what competition they may be up against, par-
ticulars as to the state of the market, the normal
prices that should not be exceeded, and the condi-
tions of payment to demand from the sellers. In
case of dispute or difficulty, the goevrnment advises
business men to appeal always to the bureau at
Wiesbaden, and its authority, influence and knowl-
edge of German commerce and administration will
be at their disposal.
NECESSITY FOR THE TUNER.
"Get to begin with, the very best piano your
means can afford," is advice given to young piano-
forte teachers by Clarence G. Hamilton, Kalamazoo,
Mich., in his book on "Piano Teaching, Its Princi-
ples and Problems.' The writer further exhorts
that after the purchase of the piano, a competent
tuner be hired to look it over at least once every
three months, "whether it seems to need it or not."
If a piano is not kept in tune, he states, there is
danger lurking for the impairment of even the teach-
er's own sense of correct musical values and pitch.
Also care must be taken as to the sort of instru-
ment the pupil is using at home.
PERMANENT FRENCH FAIR.
The accompanying cut from a photograph shows
the main salesroom of Nace's music store, Han-
over, Pa., which has been renovated recently and
made modern in every detail. Both talking ma-
chines and pianos are here displayed to their best
advantage. The instruments are presented with
a dignified appeal which has been reflected consid-
erably in the increase in the sales of this music
house in the last few months. Nace's music store
carries a full line of Francis Bacon pianos and
they always take pride in the display of these
instruments.
A scheme to provide France with an extensive
market or commercial fair, which is estimated to
cost about £6,500,000, is being considered. A huge
palace is to be built in Paris on the right bank of
the River Seine, sufficiently large to accommodate
5,000 firms. Tt will be interesting to our readers
to note that this is a private enterprise by French-
men, and that there is a possibility of this scheme
being put upon an international basis.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

Page 25 Text:

RESTO
March 25, 1920.
25
THE
TALKING MACHINE
News of the Week in the Phonograph Field
POOR COLLECTORS
It is stated by men. qualified to speak that
most of the failures of retail phonograph deal-
ers are due to the fact that they are poor credit
men and poor collectors. "Insufficient capital"
may be the summary of the condition's report.
But that is only another way of saying it.
What makes capital insufficient is the unex-
pected and constantly increasing burden of the
uncollected back accounts; fatty degeneration
of the collection department. The wise trade
editor, inspired trade orator, or paternal trade
association that could make all the merchants
of the country careful credit men and good
collectors would not only work one of the most
beneficent miracles imaginable to the trade but
would also do wonders in smothering incipient
crops of deadbeats before they pass the chrysa-
lis stage.
The retail talking machine business is essen-
tially a credit one. So the credit sense, as you
might call it, and an expert knowledge of col-
lection methods is as big an asset as a knowl-
edge of machines. Perhaps bigger. There are
hundreds of merchants of genial personality
who can sell the goods but who are as lacking
in the vital elements of business management
as a lamb. So long as they are closing the in-
stallment deals and seeing the goods delivered
they are happy and feel that they must be pros-
perous. In fact they are so busy selling the
goods they fail to note that collections are very
sick and that the Business Health Department
has telephoned for Dr. Sheriff.
Capital, health, intelligence, honesty and in-
dustry are essentials to a start in the talking
machine business. The credit sense is a neces-
sity to sticking in it. This involves the wit
and force of character to collect.
An optimist is a man who makes the best of
the worst of it.
$*
'\<
>fc
The alert man sees an opportunity. The
wise man knows when to let it pass.
* * *
It's a poor profiteer who can't prove that he
is losing money.
* * *
Politeness always pays. But of course it is
hard to be Chesterfieldian if you are trying to
get a woman on the other end of a customer's
party line 'phone from butting into the phono-
graph deal conversation.
COLUMBIA EARNINGS
The Year Just Past Was Most Remarkable One,
Says President Whitten.
The Columbia Graphophone Manufacturing Com-
pany reports for year ended Dec. 31 last a surplus
after excess profits, dividends, etc., of $1,188,801,
against $208,182 in preceding year. The surplus in
1919 is arrived at after a reserve for income and ex-
Cess profit taxes of $3,391,313, while in 1918 no re-
serve was made for taxes.
F. S. Whitten, president, in his remarks says that
the year just closed has been in many respects a
most unusual one, and that the company would have
shown much .larger net earnings were it not for the
unfavorable Federal tax law now in operation which
resulted in over 45 per cent of the company's net
profits in 1919 being paid the Federal Government
as taxes. The income account for 1919 follows:
1919.
1918.
Earnings from all sources
$7,793,044 $1,939,512
Net earnings
7,530,084 1,435,797
Net profits
7,015,515
819,451
Excess profits, taxes, etc
3,391,313
Net income
3,624,202
819,461
Dividends
2,435,401
611,279
Surplus
1,188,801
208,182
Previous surplus
2,396,361 2,188,179
Total surplus
3,585,162 2,396,251
Other charges—
Against surplus
720,616
Final surplus
2,864,546 2,396,261
PROUD OF HIS MAQNOLA
Advance
Agent of World's Greatest
Charmed With Machine.
Shows
W. Al. White, advance agent for Ringling Bros,
and Barnum & Bailey's Combined Shows, is the
proud owner of a style 185 Magnola Talking Ma-
chine, manufactured in Chicago by the M. Schulz
Company. He claims that he never heard a ma-
chine that can equal it. His brothers have choice
machines of other well-known makes, but Mr. White
says the Magnola has theirs "skinned a mile."
Mrs. John Swadling, Mr. White's mother, was 83
years old on February 3, and she was honored at
STYLK 185 MAGNOLA.
her home in Brighton, Iowa, on that occasion with
a big dinner. W. Al. White was chief cook and
seasoned the dinner to suit his mother's taste. It
was a three-course affair. The local paper of Brigh-
ton said of it:
"Music was furnished by their Magnola Talking
Machine, which added greatly to the feast. Many
beautiful presents pleased 'grandma,' including a
100-piece bluebird dinner set."
STUDENTS TYPE TO MUSIC
Marches and Dances from Phonograph Stimulate
Mental and Physical Activity in School.
William Bachrach, supervisor of commercial
work in the high schools of Chicago, has a sys-
tem already in operation at the Hyde Park High
school, wherein all the typewriting classes are
conducted to the rhythm of music.
While the students punch the keys the teacher
keeps a phonograph in operation. Mr. Bachrach's
idea of having them write to music has gone over
with a bang, and the stenography classes have be-
come the most popular in the school. Furthermore,
the other high schools are demanding that the sys-
tem be adopted in them.
"I got my idea," Mr. Bachrach said, "some years
ago from the cigar makers of the South, who work
to music. Since it has been put into practice here
I find that the students develop, first, evenness of
touch, then speed and accuracy. We use march
records for the most part; some dance records.
Another result is that in all interschool contests
the Hyde Park students have won every prize."
ITEMS PROM CINCINNATI
The Druffel vs. Onken Suit Over Ownership of
Stock Interests the Trade.
The suit of Henry B. Druffel against Oscar On-
ken and the Oscar Onken Company, Cincinnati,
manufacturers of phonograph cabinets, involving
claims which Mr. Druffel makes as to his owner-
ship of stock in the company, and his share in its
assets, is on hearing before United States District
Court Judge Weld Peck, in Cincinnati. The suit
alleges that Mr. Druffel was forced out of his posi-
tion in the company and was deprived of his proper
proportion of the accumulations.
During the past week G. E. McCord, phonograph
manager of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Com-
pany in Cincinnati moved his family to that city
from Chicago, and for the present they are residing
in Clifton. Prior to coming to Cincinnati, two years
ago, Mr. McCord was engaged in the piano busi-
ness in Chicago.
P. H. Oelman, manager of the Cincinnati Phono-
graph Shop, and H. W. Schmid, sales promotion
manager, attended the conventions of the Edison
Company at Indianapolis, Ind., and Atlanta, Ga.,
last week.
CHANGES IN THE VICTOR CO.
All Concerned Are Well Known to Trade and of
Long Association with Company.
The places of Leon F. Douglass and Albert C.
Middleton, who resigned recently as directors of
the Victor Talking Machine Co., have been filled
by Calvin C. Child and Edward E. Shumaker. The
former, who were among the original incorpora-
tors of the company, have been appointed on the
newly organized advisory committee which decides
important matters of Victor policy.
Mr. Child, who has long been connected with
the recording laboratory, is a prominent figure in
talking machine circles. Mr. Shumaker, too, is fa-
miliar to the trade and industry. He has been
Victor purchasing agent for the past nine years.
Edward K. MacEwan, another veteran of the Vic-
tor organization, has been elected secretary of the
company, succeeding Ralph L. Freeman, who re-
signed that office in order to devote his entire
time to the problems of Victor distribution.
Other appointments are: Walter J. Staats elect-
ed treasurer, succeeding Charles K. Haddon, who
will devote his entire time to the duties of vice-
president. Eugene F. Haines, Frank B. Middleton,
Jr., and George W. Jaggers have been elected
assistant treasurers.
MEN AND THEIR TERRITORIES.
The following territories and the traveling men
assigned to cover them have been announced by the
Victor Talking Machine Co., through H. A. Beach:
W. E. Witham, Pittsburgh and Western Pennsyl-
vania; T. L. R. Husselton, to North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia and Florida; O. C. Pearson, to
Iowa; E. R. Dunning, to New York City, assisting
Herbert McCreedy; P. G. Roberts, New York state;
W. B. Gannon, Michigan.
PHONOGRAPH NAME CHANGED.
In order to avoid trouble over patented names
the name of the Symphona phonograph has been
changed to the Amphona. The announcement was
made recently by Jos. M. Abrams, manager of the
talking machine department of Kohler & Chase,
San Francisco, which handles the machine in a
wholesale way. The wholesale talking machine
department of the company now occupies the en-
tire sixth floor of the Kohler & Chase building.
LEASE TO PHONOGRAPH COMPANY.
The BurTftg Realty Company, New York, during the
past week closed a lease for a term of years in the
American Law Book building, Flatbush avenue ex-
tension and Willoughby street, to the Grand Talk-
ing Machine Company. The leased space covers a
half of the Flatbush avenue ground floor front and
will be used as a showroom.
OTTO HEINEMAN VISITS CHICAGO.
Otto Heineman, head of the General Phonograph
Corp., who spent several days in Chicago on busi-
ness, left on the Twentieth Century Limited train
of the New York Central lines, Tuesday of this
week, for New York. The Heineman factories are
very busy these days.
W. O. Harris, talking machine dealer, Burling-
ton, N. C, has moved from the Harkins Building
to more commodious quarters in the Development
Building.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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