Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
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HOFFAY TALKING MACHINE CO.. Inc.
3 Weit 29th St.
New York City
VICTROLA FOR HOSPITAL TRAIN
Machine and Supply of Records Will Entertain
Wounded Soldiers on First of New Hospital
Trains Turned Out by Pullman Co.—The Do-
nation of a Chicago Club
•CHICAGO, 111., May 27.—\ Victrola XI and
Victor records will entertain the wounded sol-
diers on the first hospital train that will be
operated in this country.
The H. Reichardt Piano Co., of 6423 South
Halsted street, this city, has just sold an outfit
to the Englewood Fellowship Club of Chicago,
who are donating it to the Government for use
on this hospital train.
They are now building at the Pullman shops
here twenty-four complete hospital trains which
will operate between the Atlantic ports and the
permanent Base Hospitals.
Train No. 2 is now nearing completion and
will be turned over to the Government within a
few days and this will be the first train put in
operation. It has been assigned to Fort Sheri-
dan and the Great Lakes Training Station, both
located just outside of Chicago.
LONDON PLANT DESTROYED
Columbia Co. Factory in England a Total Loss
Through Fire
Louis S. Sterling, managing director of the
Columbia Graphophone Co., Ltd., London, Eng.,
who has been spending the past six weeks in
New York, received a cablegram last week ad-
vising him that the London plant of the Co-
lumbia Co. had been totally destroyed by fire.
The original matrices, which were stored in a
fireproof building some distance from the fac-
tory, were saved, but the loss is estimated from
$500,000 to $750,000.
The cablegram stated that every building in
the London plant was a total wreck, and in
view of the restrictions placed by the Govern-
ment on the construction of new buildings, Mr.
Sterling has not yet made any definite plans for
the future. He expects to leave for London
next week, and will immediately assume charge
of all reconstruction activities. The disastrous
fire started in a building on an adjoining street,
and quickly spread to the buildings occupied by
the Columbia Co.
J. F. HIGGINS' IMPORTANT POST
Appointed General Purchasing Agent for the
Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Co.
Otto Heineman, president of the Otto Heine-
man Phonograph Supply Co., New York, an-
nounced this week the appointment of Joseph
F. Higgins as general purchasing agent of the
company, with headquarters at the executive
offices, 25 West Forty-fifth street. Mr. Higgins
will also devote considerable time to the pub-
licity end of the new Heineman "OkeH" rec-
ord, in addition to his diversified purchasing and
publicity activities.
Mr. Higgins has been associated with the
talking machine industry for a number of years,
and before joining the Otto Heineman forces
was purchasing agent for the Emerson Phono-
graph Co. He is thoroughly familiar with every
phase of the duties incidental to the office of
purchasing agent, and his previous experience
well qualifies him for his present post.
The Orpheum Record Co., Inc., New York,
has been chartered with capital stock of $10,000
for the purpose of manufacturing talking ma-
chines and records. The incorporators are A.
and K. Poulos and M. A. Stathapoulo.
JUNE 1, 1918
P. A. FUSS JOINS EDISON STAFF
CONDITIONS IN STEEL NEEDLE FIELD
Comes From Toronto to Take Editorship of the
Amberola Monthly—Has Had Wide Experi-
ence in Newspaper and Phonograph Fields
Suggestion Made That Needle Packages Be In-
creased to Two Hundred at Retail Price of
25 Cents—Timely Chat With Adolf Heineman
P. A. Fuss has recently become editor of the
\mberola Monthly, published by Thomas A. Edi-
son, Inc. He has had
a broad experience and
one which fits him well
for the new work he
h a s undertaken. He
started business with a
brokerage h o u s e on
Wall street, later be-
came traveling auditor
P. A. Fuss
for the National Surety
Co., and next was traveling salesman with the
Thomas J. Plant Co., manufacturers of shoes,
becoming subsequently assistant to the adver-
tising manager.
In the talking machine field he has acquired
two kinds of experience, the first with the pho-
nograph department of a well-known trade
journal, and the second, as the Edison sales
manager of the R. S. Williams & Sons Co.,
Ltd., of Toronto, Canada. In addition to edit-
ing the Amberola Monthly Mr. Fuss will serve
as general assistant to the advertising manager
of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., and will specialize
along the line of issuing publicity of general
trade interest.
Commenting on general conditions in the
steel needle field Adolf Heineman, assistant gen-
eral manager of the Otto Heineman Phonograph
Supply Co., New York, who is in charge of the
company's Dean division, remarked to The
Review: "The trade doubtless understands that
we have been leaving nothing undone to co-
operate with our clients in every possible way,
even though this has required the expenditure
of time and money far beyond expectations.
For example, we are using in the manufacture
of Dean steel needles only the highest grade
carbon steel, and, with the tremendous shortage
of raw material the past year, it has been a very
serious problem to secure this steel in sufficient
quantities to fill the requirements of our trade.
"However, we have surmounted these dif-
ficulties until, at the present time, we are pro-
ducing Dean steel needles in far greater quan-
tities than ever before. Our factories in Put-
nam, Conn., and Newark, N. J., are working to
capacity, and we have every reason to believe
that our patrons will be satisfied with our serv-
ice during the coming year.
"One of the many problems that have con-
fronted us during the past few months is the
increased shortage of paper. The use of paper
is an important factor in the steel needle in-
dustry, as our vast output necessarily calls for
the consumption of paper for envelopes in tre-
mendous quantities.
"For many years the standard needle package
in this country has been the envelope contain-
ing 100 needles, but many of our customers
have suggested to us during the past few months
that we inaugurate a plan whereby steel needles
would be merchandised in packages of 200 in-
stead of 100.
"These jobbers and dealers tell us that this
is an opportune time to educate the ultimate
consumer to the idea that the standard package
for needles is a package of 200 retailing at 25
cents. This plan is timely in view of the fact
that many dealers in different parts of the coun-
try are now endeavoring to retail the package
of 100 needles at 15 cents, but would welcome
a standard package of 200 needles at a retail
price of 25 cents.
"From a patriotic standpoint this suggestion
is an excellent one, for, as the trade probably
knows, the Government has already taken steps
to readjust the paper situation in view of the
alarming shortage of this product. In addition
this plan, if generally adopted, will mean a tre-
mendous saving in paper and labor, and will
give the dealer a larger profit on every sale.
"As a matter of fact, the unit of needle ship-
ments in the export trade has for some time
been a package of 200 needles. We are mak-
ing shipments to South America, Australia, and
all points of the globe on a basis of 200 needles
to a package, and we feel sure that this same
unit of shipment could be utilized satisfactorily
in this country, with a material saving of paper
and labor, and increased profits for the dealer."
PLANS FOR JOBBERS' CONVENTION
Sessions to Be Held at Hotel Traymore, At-
lantic City, on July 1 and 2—Program Will
Carry Out the Present War-Time Spirit
Plans for the forthcoming convention of the
National Association of Talking Machine Job-
bers are progressing nicely, although, due to the
uncertainty of existing conditions, the final ar-
rangements will not be announced until just
prior to the convention to avoid possible disap-
pointment.
The business sessions of the convention will
be held at the Hotel Traymore, the official head-
quarters, on Monday and Tuesday, July 1 and 2,
with the annual banquet held on July 2. The
program of the convention, both in the business
sessions and the entertainment features, is
strictly in keeping with the war-time spirit, and
the main object for the jobbers getting to-
gether will be to consider how they may adjust
themselves and their businesses to current con-
ditions, and at the same time render the most
helpful effort in support of the Government and
its work in the~matter of backing Liberty Loans,
Red Cross and other drives, and in other ways.
It is planned to have several prominent speakers
makeaddresses.
The banquet will be a modest affair, devoid
of the usual wines, although the diners may
gratify their individual desires in the matter
of refreshments.
Those planning to attend the convention
should make reservations direct to the Hotel
Traymore management to insure accommoda-
tions when the time comes.
In connection with the convention there will
also be held the annual golf tournament, the
arrangements for which are in the hands of
T. H. Towell, of the Eclipse Musical Co., Cleve-
land. The tournament will be held at the At-
lantic City Country Club, where the talking ma-
chine men have shown their skill, or lack of it,
on previous occasions.
VICTOR DECALCOMANIE POPULAR
The new trade mark decalcomanie recently of-
fered by the Victor Talking Machine Co. to
Victor dealers is proving decidedly popular.
This decalcomanie is slightly over twenty inches
in width and portrays "His Master's Voice" in
the original colors. It can be used on either
glass or wood and therefore is well adapted for
use on store windows, doors, delivery cars,
etc. These decalcomanies cost 18 cents each.
ARGENTINA WANTS PHONOGRAPHS
Manufacturers of Popular-Priced Machines Will
Find Good Market There
According to the New York Times the de-
mand for phonographs in Argentina is reported
by local exporters to be very active. Though
many high-priced instruments are wanted, the
bulk of the trade seems to be in those lines
made to retail for from $5 to $10 each. Business
of the latter kind is said to have increased
materially during the last few years since com-
munication with Germany was cut. It is said
also that the American machines are gaining
such a solid hold on the market in that country
tl-.at the probabilities are they will hold the
trade they have gained, even after Germany is
again able to enter the South American field.