Music Trade Review
Issue: 1920 Vol. 70 N. 1 - Page 39
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JANUARY 3,
1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
39
GENERAL PHONOGRAPH CORP. HOLDS SALES CONFERENCE
THE EDISON NEW YEAR MESSAGES
Fourth Annual Affair Attended by Executives and Salesmen from all Parts of the U. S. and
Canada—Important Topics Discussed—Dinner and Theatre Party Add to Enjoyment
Officers and Department Heads of Thos. A.
Edison, Inc., Contribute New Year Resolu-
tions for Elaborate Booklet Sent to All Rep-
resentatives at the Holiday Time
The fourth annual sales conference of the
General Phonograph Corp., New York, was held
this week at the Hotel Astor, New York, and
was attended by the members of the company's
sales organization from all parts of this coun-
try and Canada, together with the executives
and factory heads. Otto Heineman, president
of the General Phonograph Corp., was chair-
man of the conference, and many vital prob-
lems were discussed at the meetings which were
held on Monday and Tuesday.
On Sunday evening the visitors and the execu-
tives were the guests of Mr. Heineman at an
informal dinner given at the Hotel Majestic.
This dinner was in the nature of a pow-wow
and "get-together" meeting, and gave the mem-
bers of the company's sales organization an op-
portunity to become better acquainted with each
other before starting the serious work of the
conference.
On Monday morning the meetings were of-
ficially opened in the Laurel Room at the Hotel
Astor, when Mr. Heineman gave a message of
welcome to the members of his organization,
and using as his subject "The Past and Future
of the Phonograph Business," presented a clear
and forceful resume of the most important
events in this industry during recent years, to-
gether with a valuable forecast of the future.
Among the other interesting addresses on
Monday were the following: "Labor Democ-
racy," by A. G. Bean, vice-president and gen-
eral manager of production; "The Phonograph
Industry of the Central West," by S. A. Ribolla,
general manager, Illinois Corp.; "The Future
of the Record Business," by John Cromelin, gen-
eral sales manager of the company, and W. C.
Fuhri, general sales manager, record division;
"Recent Decisions of the Courts Affecting the
Phonograph Industry," by J. L. Lotsch, of the
firm of Schechter & Lotsch; "How We Built
Up Our Phonograph Business in Canada," by
C. J. Pott, general manager of sales, Dominion
of Canada; "How the Advertising Department
Can Help," by C. C. Burnham, advertising man-
ager; "The Joys of a Recording Laboratory
Manager," by F. W. Hager, manager of the
OkeH recording laboratory; "The Fine Art of
Correct Recording," by C. L. Hibbard, manager
of the OkeH recording laboratory; "Possibili-
ties in the Eastern Market," by Paul L. Baer-
*\vald, sales manager, Eastern division; "The
Outlook for Phonograph Manufacturers on the
Pacific Coast," by Louis Gruen, manager, Pa-
cific Coast division.
At 6:30 the members of the sales organization
and the executives were the guests of the cor-
poration at a dinner given at the Hotel Astor.
This dinner was marked by a spirit of good fel-
lowship, which was reflected in the impromptu
talks made by Otto Heineman, Adolph Heine-
man, W. G. Pilgrim, A. G. Bean, Jacob Schechter
and others. In a brief address of welcome Mr.
Heineman commented upon the fact that the
orders already booked for 1920 show a sub-
stantial increase over the entire business closed
by the company during 1919, and as a basis for
comparison the sales for 1919 were 250 per cent
greater than the sales totals of 1918. This an-
nouncement was received with enthusiastic ap-
plause, and every member of the sales organi-
zation pledged a business for the coming year
that would double the record-breaking figures
of 1919. At the close of the dinner the party
visited the Winter Garden, where the "Passing
Show" was thoroughly enjoyed.
On Tuesday morning the conference ad-
journed to the new $2,000,000 Newark works of
the company, where the morning was spent in
a trip through this mammoth plant. The sales
organization was greatly impressed with the
wonderful facilities now afforded the Meissel-
bach division, and this factory tour was a revela-
tion in many respects.
After a luncheon at the "Downtown Club" in
Newark the members of the party returned to
the factory, where the following addresses were
made: "Modern Industrial Plants," by Adolph
Heineman, vice-president and assistant general
manager; "My Trip to South America," by R.
C. Ackerman, export manager; "Modern Manu-
facture of Phonograph Motors," by G. Kunkle,
manager, Meisselbach division; "New Devices
and Improvements in Phonographs," by An-
thony Vasselli, superintendent, Meisselbach di-
vision; "Improvements in Tone—Efficient As-
sembling of Machines," by J. J. Scully, man-
ager, experimental laboratories; "Organization
and Bookkeeping," by D. Goldman, accounting
division.
At the close of the conference the members
of the sales organization expressed to Mr. Heine-
man their sincere appreciation of the practical
value of the program which had been prepared
for their conference. Before leaving for their
respective posts in different parts of the coun-
try they assured the directors of the corpora-
tion that 1920 would far surpass any previous
year in the company's phenomenally successful
history.
NEW SCALE OF GRAF0N0LA PRICES
Increased Cost of Production Necessitates Raise
in Retail Prices of Certain Styles
George W. Hopkins, general sales manager
of the Columbia Graphophone Co., New York,
announced this week a new scale of prices for
Columbia Grafonolas, effective immediately.
This scale is as follows:
A-2
$32.50
F-2
$140
C-2
50.00
G-2
150
D-2
75.00
H-2
165
E-2 with racks.. 120.00
K-2
200
E-2 with shelves. 125.00
L-2
250
In this list of prices there has been no change
in price on the C-2, D-2, K-2 and L-2.
In a letter to his organization announcing
these new prices Mr. Hopkins stated, in part, as
follows:
"No one cause brings about a change in
price; combination of causes and circumstances
make it necessary. We have been interested
in tracing the reason for the tremendous in-
crease in cost of everything made from wood.
We find that due to conservatism on the part
of owners of forests, less wood is being cut
at the present time than for many years in the
past. This means a shortage of wood avail-
able for the making of furniture, phonographs
and woodwork of all kinds.
"The shortage naturally is reflected in the
price of anything made of wood and combined
with the increased cost of raw material and
increased wages paid all along the line necessi-
tates our making a change in prices of Colum-
bia Grafonolas.
"Even with the change there has been less
advance in the price of Columbia Grafonolas
than in any product sold in the United States.
It has been our desire not to increase the cost
any further than is absolutely necessary."
Leo. V. Callahan is the manager of the Pitts-
ton Music Shop in Pittston, Pa. This new estab-
lishment was opened a short time ago to do a
general music business.
"The big bunch of the U. S. A. and Canada"
who represent the interests of Thomas A. Edi-
son, Inc., featuring the New Edison with its
Re-Creations and the Edison Amberola, received
a New Year message of a most unusual and in-
teresting character. The message took the form
of a substantial booklet setting forth the New
Year's resolutions at the Edison laboratories
and contained brief messages from the officers of
the company and all department heads, from
Thomas A. Edison himself down the line. At
the side of each message appeared the portrait
of the author, and each statement was signed,
in fac-simile, with the writer's signature. There
were thirty-four resolutions in all, and if only
half of them work out according to schedule
then the Edison representatives throughout the
country are assured of a machine and record
production and a volume of business surpassing
all previous records.
OPENING OF WELTE=PATHE SALON
Christmas Shoppers Attracted in Large Num-
bers to New Pathe Shop—Officials of Pathe
Freres Phonograph Co. Attend
The Monday before Christmas witnessed the
opening of the new Pathe Salon of M. Welte &
Sons on Fifth avenue at Fifty-third street. The
opening was well attended by members of the
trade and large numbers from the usual Fifth
avenue holiday crowds. Officials of the Pathe
Freres Phonograph Co. from the Brooklyn head-
quarters attended. If the auspicious manner in
which this new Pathe Salon was opened is to
be taken as guidance its future is well assured.
As previously announced, this department will
be under the able management of E. Paul Ham-
ilton, who was for many years in charge of
the talking machine department of Frederick
Locser & Co., Brooklyn department store.
PUSHMOBILE PRICES ANNOUNCED
Columbia Graphophone Co. Fixes Prices on
Various Models of Pushmobiles This Week
W. A. Willson, general sales manager of the
educational department of the Columbia Graph-
ophone Co., New York, announced this week
that effective immediately the retail price of the
Columbia Pushmobile is $35. At this price
the company will allow dealers their regular dis-
counts, thereby putting the Pushmobile on the
same merchandising basis as Columbia Grafo-
nolas. Pushmobiles are manufactured in oak
and mahogany to match the Columbia D-2 oak
and mahogany finishes.
With this new price for the Pushmobile the
special school outfit merchandise by the Colum-
bia Graphophone Co. now retails for $110, con-
sisting of the regular D-2 Grafonola at $75 and
the Pushmobile at $35. Columbia dealers are
also in a position to offer the schools an outfit
consisting of the C-2, retailing at $50, and the
Pushmobile at $35, totaling $85.
VICTROLA XIV JN_ WALNUT FINISH
The Victor Talking Machine Co. has recently
announced that the popular Victrola XIV is now
being manufactured in American walnut finish,
and, in limited quantities, will soon be available
to the trade. The instrument is the same in de-
sign and equipment as the Victrola XIV ma-
hogany, and will be catalogued at the same list
price.
857 s : - -
JANUARY 3,
1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
39
GENERAL PHONOGRAPH CORP. HOLDS SALES CONFERENCE
THE EDISON NEW YEAR MESSAGES
Fourth Annual Affair Attended by Executives and Salesmen from all Parts of the U. S. and
Canada—Important Topics Discussed—Dinner and Theatre Party Add to Enjoyment
Officers and Department Heads of Thos. A.
Edison, Inc., Contribute New Year Resolu-
tions for Elaborate Booklet Sent to All Rep-
resentatives at the Holiday Time
The fourth annual sales conference of the
General Phonograph Corp., New York, was held
this week at the Hotel Astor, New York, and
was attended by the members of the company's
sales organization from all parts of this coun-
try and Canada, together with the executives
and factory heads. Otto Heineman, president
of the General Phonograph Corp., was chair-
man of the conference, and many vital prob-
lems were discussed at the meetings which were
held on Monday and Tuesday.
On Sunday evening the visitors and the execu-
tives were the guests of Mr. Heineman at an
informal dinner given at the Hotel Majestic.
This dinner was in the nature of a pow-wow
and "get-together" meeting, and gave the mem-
bers of the company's sales organization an op-
portunity to become better acquainted with each
other before starting the serious work of the
conference.
On Monday morning the meetings were of-
ficially opened in the Laurel Room at the Hotel
Astor, when Mr. Heineman gave a message of
welcome to the members of his organization,
and using as his subject "The Past and Future
of the Phonograph Business," presented a clear
and forceful resume of the most important
events in this industry during recent years, to-
gether with a valuable forecast of the future.
Among the other interesting addresses on
Monday were the following: "Labor Democ-
racy," by A. G. Bean, vice-president and gen-
eral manager of production; "The Phonograph
Industry of the Central West," by S. A. Ribolla,
general manager, Illinois Corp.; "The Future
of the Record Business," by John Cromelin, gen-
eral sales manager of the company, and W. C.
Fuhri, general sales manager, record division;
"Recent Decisions of the Courts Affecting the
Phonograph Industry," by J. L. Lotsch, of the
firm of Schechter & Lotsch; "How We Built
Up Our Phonograph Business in Canada," by
C. J. Pott, general manager of sales, Dominion
of Canada; "How the Advertising Department
Can Help," by C. C. Burnham, advertising man-
ager; "The Joys of a Recording Laboratory
Manager," by F. W. Hager, manager of the
OkeH recording laboratory; "The Fine Art of
Correct Recording," by C. L. Hibbard, manager
of the OkeH recording laboratory; "Possibili-
ties in the Eastern Market," by Paul L. Baer-
*\vald, sales manager, Eastern division; "The
Outlook for Phonograph Manufacturers on the
Pacific Coast," by Louis Gruen, manager, Pa-
cific Coast division.
At 6:30 the members of the sales organization
and the executives were the guests of the cor-
poration at a dinner given at the Hotel Astor.
This dinner was marked by a spirit of good fel-
lowship, which was reflected in the impromptu
talks made by Otto Heineman, Adolph Heine-
man, W. G. Pilgrim, A. G. Bean, Jacob Schechter
and others. In a brief address of welcome Mr.
Heineman commented upon the fact that the
orders already booked for 1920 show a sub-
stantial increase over the entire business closed
by the company during 1919, and as a basis for
comparison the sales for 1919 were 250 per cent
greater than the sales totals of 1918. This an-
nouncement was received with enthusiastic ap-
plause, and every member of the sales organi-
zation pledged a business for the coming year
that would double the record-breaking figures
of 1919. At the close of the dinner the party
visited the Winter Garden, where the "Passing
Show" was thoroughly enjoyed.
On Tuesday morning the conference ad-
journed to the new $2,000,000 Newark works of
the company, where the morning was spent in
a trip through this mammoth plant. The sales
organization was greatly impressed with the
wonderful facilities now afforded the Meissel-
bach division, and this factory tour was a revela-
tion in many respects.
After a luncheon at the "Downtown Club" in
Newark the members of the party returned to
the factory, where the following addresses were
made: "Modern Industrial Plants," by Adolph
Heineman, vice-president and assistant general
manager; "My Trip to South America," by R.
C. Ackerman, export manager; "Modern Manu-
facture of Phonograph Motors," by G. Kunkle,
manager, Meisselbach division; "New Devices
and Improvements in Phonographs," by An-
thony Vasselli, superintendent, Meisselbach di-
vision; "Improvements in Tone—Efficient As-
sembling of Machines," by J. J. Scully, man-
ager, experimental laboratories; "Organization
and Bookkeeping," by D. Goldman, accounting
division.
At the close of the conference the members
of the sales organization expressed to Mr. Heine-
man their sincere appreciation of the practical
value of the program which had been prepared
for their conference. Before leaving for their
respective posts in different parts of the coun-
try they assured the directors of the corpora-
tion that 1920 would far surpass any previous
year in the company's phenomenally successful
history.
NEW SCALE OF GRAF0N0LA PRICES
Increased Cost of Production Necessitates Raise
in Retail Prices of Certain Styles
George W. Hopkins, general sales manager
of the Columbia Graphophone Co., New York,
announced this week a new scale of prices for
Columbia Grafonolas, effective immediately.
This scale is as follows:
A-2
$32.50
F-2
$140
C-2
50.00
G-2
150
D-2
75.00
H-2
165
E-2 with racks.. 120.00
K-2
200
E-2 with shelves. 125.00
L-2
250
In this list of prices there has been no change
in price on the C-2, D-2, K-2 and L-2.
In a letter to his organization announcing
these new prices Mr. Hopkins stated, in part, as
follows:
"No one cause brings about a change in
price; combination of causes and circumstances
make it necessary. We have been interested
in tracing the reason for the tremendous in-
crease in cost of everything made from wood.
We find that due to conservatism on the part
of owners of forests, less wood is being cut
at the present time than for many years in the
past. This means a shortage of wood avail-
able for the making of furniture, phonographs
and woodwork of all kinds.
"The shortage naturally is reflected in the
price of anything made of wood and combined
with the increased cost of raw material and
increased wages paid all along the line necessi-
tates our making a change in prices of Colum-
bia Grafonolas.
"Even with the change there has been less
advance in the price of Columbia Grafonolas
than in any product sold in the United States.
It has been our desire not to increase the cost
any further than is absolutely necessary."
Leo. V. Callahan is the manager of the Pitts-
ton Music Shop in Pittston, Pa. This new estab-
lishment was opened a short time ago to do a
general music business.
"The big bunch of the U. S. A. and Canada"
who represent the interests of Thomas A. Edi-
son, Inc., featuring the New Edison with its
Re-Creations and the Edison Amberola, received
a New Year message of a most unusual and in-
teresting character. The message took the form
of a substantial booklet setting forth the New
Year's resolutions at the Edison laboratories
and contained brief messages from the officers of
the company and all department heads, from
Thomas A. Edison himself down the line. At
the side of each message appeared the portrait
of the author, and each statement was signed,
in fac-simile, with the writer's signature. There
were thirty-four resolutions in all, and if only
half of them work out according to schedule
then the Edison representatives throughout the
country are assured of a machine and record
production and a volume of business surpassing
all previous records.
OPENING OF WELTE=PATHE SALON
Christmas Shoppers Attracted in Large Num-
bers to New Pathe Shop—Officials of Pathe
Freres Phonograph Co. Attend
The Monday before Christmas witnessed the
opening of the new Pathe Salon of M. Welte &
Sons on Fifth avenue at Fifty-third street. The
opening was well attended by members of the
trade and large numbers from the usual Fifth
avenue holiday crowds. Officials of the Pathe
Freres Phonograph Co. from the Brooklyn head-
quarters attended. If the auspicious manner in
which this new Pathe Salon was opened is to
be taken as guidance its future is well assured.
As previously announced, this department will
be under the able management of E. Paul Ham-
ilton, who was for many years in charge of
the talking machine department of Frederick
Locser & Co., Brooklyn department store.
PUSHMOBILE PRICES ANNOUNCED
Columbia Graphophone Co. Fixes Prices on
Various Models of Pushmobiles This Week
W. A. Willson, general sales manager of the
educational department of the Columbia Graph-
ophone Co., New York, announced this week
that effective immediately the retail price of the
Columbia Pushmobile is $35. At this price
the company will allow dealers their regular dis-
counts, thereby putting the Pushmobile on the
same merchandising basis as Columbia Grafo-
nolas. Pushmobiles are manufactured in oak
and mahogany to match the Columbia D-2 oak
and mahogany finishes.
With this new price for the Pushmobile the
special school outfit merchandise by the Colum-
bia Graphophone Co. now retails for $110, con-
sisting of the regular D-2 Grafonola at $75 and
the Pushmobile at $35. Columbia dealers are
also in a position to offer the schools an outfit
consisting of the C-2, retailing at $50, and the
Pushmobile at $35, totaling $85.
VICTROLA XIV JN_ WALNUT FINISH
The Victor Talking Machine Co. has recently
announced that the popular Victrola XIV is now
being manufactured in American walnut finish,
and, in limited quantities, will soon be available
to the trade. The instrument is the same in de-
sign and equipment as the Victrola XIV ma-
hogany, and will be catalogued at the same list
price.
857 s : - -
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