Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
VICTOR TUNGS-TONE STYLUS.
Important Discovery Announced by the Victor
Talking Machine Co. of a New Needle Which
Has Remarkable Qualities of Tone.
"Victor Tungs-Tone Stylus" is the name of an
important discovery just announced by the Victor
Talking Machine Co., Camdon, N. J., this being an
improved semi-permanent, changeable, reproducing
stylus of tungsten, combining all the desirable fea-
tures of the Victor system of changeable needles,
with the added advantage of playing 50 to 200
records without changing, and which is referred to
in the Victor Co.'s advertisement elsewhere.
The virtue of the Tungs-Tone stylus lies in a
small cylinder of tungsten projecting from the end
of a steel holder, on which it is tightly set. A
novel feature of this stylus is that it automatically
tells the machine owner when to change the needle,
so to speak, for when the tiny cylinder of tungsten
is worn, off it will not play. In other words, you
cannot play the new Victor tungs^tone stylus in a
"worn" condition.
These needles are made in two tones, full and
soft, retailing at 25 cents for a box of ten, or for
a package of four needles, 10 cents.
FAVOR THE STEVENS BILL.
Members of Lyon & Healy Firm, Constituting
State Committee, Expect That Congress
Will Pass Measure for Price Maintenance.
(.Sfiecial to The Review.)
CHICAGO, I I I . , January 10.—Secretary J. F.
Bowers and L. C. Wiswell, manager of the talking
machine department of Lyon & Healy, report that
excellent progress is being made throughout the
State in securing the co-operation of Congressmen
to further the passage of the Stevens Bill, which
provides for price maintenance. They are the
committee of two from Illinois working in favor
of this measure, and have been in close touch with
the work being done by the various State commit-
tees in boosting this bill along. Mr. Bowers calls
attention to the benefit of the one-price system as
illustrated by the talking machine business, and
points out the fact that Steinway & Sons have
rigidly adhered to this system, with consequent
success.
VOCALION CO. OPENS IN BOSTON.
Full Line of Vocalions Shown in Handsome
Quarters at 190 Boylston Street—R. F.
Hibshman in Charge as Manager.
(Special to The Review.)
BOSTON, MASS., January 10.—The Vocalion Co.
of Boston opened its doors to-day at 190-192 Boyl-
ston street, and the attractiveness of the store was
the prime means of drawing hundreds to the place.
Once inside, the admirers of recording instruments
enjoyed a demonstration of the Aeolion-Vocalion,
which is now widely known in New York, where
it has been splendidly exploited 'by the Aeolian Co.,
but which is quite new in these parts. The ware-
rooms are large and flooded with daylight, and ex-
tend quite a distance back to Park Square, where
there is an entrance and large show window. The
interior is finished in rose and gray, the woodwork
being in the latter tone and the furnishings in the
former color. The electric fixtures are in antique
bronze, and the whole interior is as cheery and in-
viting as one could wish. There are numerous
demonstration booths, and the various styles of
Aeolian-Vocalions are attractively arranged about
the warerooms. The manager of this new Boston es-
tablishment is R. F. Hibshman, who comes over from
New York and has 'brought with him several men
from the New York house. It is of special inter-
est that the first day's demonstration resulted in the
sale of many instruments, and the prospects look
most encouraging for a large output.
GREAT YEAR FOR COLUMBIA CO. IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Present Prosperity of Working Classes Due to War, Declares Louis Sterling—Creates Heavy De-
mand for Talking Machines—Record Sales Double Those of Previous Year.
"Nineteen hundred and fifteen was the best year
in the history of the Great Britain division of the
Columbia Graphophone Co.," said Louis Sterling,
general manager of the European interests of the
company, who arrived Sunday on the "Adriatic,'*
accompanied by Arthur H. Brooks, head of the
English recording department. "We not only
closed the best year in point of sales volume, but
also the best in profits, the entire twelve months'
business being satisfactory in every respect.
"This gratifying prosperity, notwithstanding the
European war, may be attributed to a number of
causes, chief of which is the fact that the working
classes of Great Britain are earning more money
at the present time than they ever earned before
and, what is more important, are spending it freely.
Less money is being spent for beverages and sim-
ilar forms of 'amusement' and more money is being
spent on the brightening of the home. The work-
ingmen are buying better furniture for their homes,
together with talking machines and pianos to fur-
nish musical entertainment for the families.
"It should also be considered in referring to our
sales totals that the Great Britain people as a
whole are in no mood to enjoy visits to theatres
and other public places. They have loved ones.at
the front who are ever foremost in their minds,
and they prefer to spend their spare time in their
own homes. As they are all working harder than
ever before, they need some form of amusement
and turn to the talking machine as best suited to
entertain the whole family.
"It is interesting to note that the average ma-
chine sale in 1915 was 30 to 40 per cent, higher in
price than the average sale of the past three or
four years. The people recognize the advisability
of owning a talking machine at the present time
and realize that they may as well purchase a good
one which will give them perfect satisfaction. The
present duty of 35 per cent, levied by the English
Government on talking machine imports has also
decreased the sale of the so-called cheap machines,
as this duty makes a material difference in ma-
chine prices. As we all know, freight schedules
from this country to England have jumped from
100 to 300 per cent., all of which contributes to
the increased price of machines.
"Record sales in 1915 were enormous, and were
practically double those of any preceding year.
Our entire business showed a very large gain over
1914, our previous banner year, and we have
every reason to expect a similar condition this
coming year.
"General conditions in England are excellent,
contrary to the reports in some of the American
newspapers There is a job for every man in
England who wants work, and there is also em-
. ployment for those women who may desire it.
There has been a slight increase in the price of
foodstuffs, which was expected, but even this has
been immaterial. There has been no increase in
rents, or any general advancement in clothing
prices.
"As a matter of fact, the English workingmen are
approaching the American standard of living more
closely than at any time in the past.
"The conscription question has not exercised the
slightest influence on English business activities
and instead of the nation being divided, as some
reports may lead the American people to imagine,
there is a general feeling that the conscription
measure will place every man on the same basis
as his neighbor, and that is exactly what the Eng-
lish people desire."
TALKING MACHINE EXPORTS.
The Figures for October Presented—Exports
Show Falling Off for the Month.
(.Special to The Ktview.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, January 1U.—In the sum-
mary of the exports and imports of the commerce
of the United States foir the month of October,
1915 (the latest period for which it has been com-
piled), which has just been issued by the Bureau of
Statistics of the Department of Commerce and
Labor, the following figures relating to talking
machines and supplies are set forth:
Talking machines to the number of 3,021, valued
at $115,334, were exported for October, 1915, as
compared with 1,751 talking machines, valued at
$50,644, sent abroad in the same month of 1914.
The total exports of records and supplies for Oc-
tober were valued at $59,181, as compared with
$81,032 in October, 1914. For the ten months
22,360 talking machines were exported, valued at
$672,005, and records and supplies valued at
$633,085 were sent abroad for that period.
JOINS SONORA EXECUTIVE STAFF.
L. S. McCormick, prominent in the wholesale
and retail divisions of the talking machine trade,
has joined the staff of the Sonora Phonograph
Corp., New York, where he will occupy an im-
portant executive position. Mr. McCormick has
been manager of the Pathe Shop, New York, since
it opened a few months ago, resigning from this
post to join the Sonora forces.
NEW VICTOR DEPARTMENT.
The A. B. Clinton Co., which has handled the
Victor line exclusively at its New Haven store
for a number of years in conjunction with its
piano business, has opened a new store at 231
Asylum street, Hartford, Conn., where the Victor
line will also be the exclusive talking machine
carried in conjunction with an extensive line of
pianos and players.
APPOINTEDJ^IIEF CLERK.
M. M. Reinhard has been appointed chief clerk
of the offices of the New York Talking Machine
Co., New York, Victor distributer. Mr. Reinhard,
who has been associated with the company for
the past year, will have direct supervision of the
accounting and billing departments.
LANDAY "AD^MANAGER.
Landay Bros., New York, Victor distributers,
have announced the appointment of H. A. Harris
as advertising manager of the concern. Mr.
Harris has had a wide advertising experience and
is well qualified to co-operate with Landay dealers
in developing their campaigns.
NEW INCORPORATIONS.
A certificate of incorporation was issued last
Friday by the Secretary of State, Albany, N. Y.,
to the Fremont Mianufacturing Co. to engage in
the manufacture of talking machines. The capi-
tal is $200,000 and the incorporators are E. M.
Titus, F. S. Gannon and W. H. Seibert, New
York.
• * *
The Sterling Phonograph Co. was granted a
certificate of incorporation last week by the Secre-
tary of State, Albany, N. Y., to engage in the
manufacture of talking machines, devices and ac-
cessories. The incorporators are S. Steinberg,
A. Boyd and R. Goldman, New York.
The Rex Talking Machine Co., of Salamanca,
N. Y., was incorporated this week with a capital-
ization of $10,000 by S. Huff, G. M. Culbertson
and E. P. Vreeland.