Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
SEPTKMBER 6, 1924
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
33
THE TALKING MACHINE TRADE
Federal Census Shows Talking Machine
Production Increase of 65.7 Per Gent
Report Issued by United States Bureau of Census Shows Heavy Increase During the Past Two
Years—Record Production Decreases by 6.7 Per Cent—Establishments Also Decrease
VyASHINGTON, D. C—An increase of 65.7
" per cent in the number of talking machines
produced in 1923 as compared with 1921 is shown
by figures just made public by the Census Bu-
reau. The production of cabinets and other
parts and accessories, steel needles and dictat-
ing machines also increased from 1921 to 1923,
but the number of records and blanks produced
last year was 6.7 per cent less than in 1921, it
is shown.
The total production of establishments classi-
fied as in the phonograph industry last year
was valued at $107,276,240, an increase of 9.2
per cent over 1921, when it was valued at $98,-
212,784. This production was divided as follows:
Phonographs, other than dictating machines:
The number produced increased 65.7 per cent
from 1921 to 1923, being 981,635 last year
against 592,493 in 1921, while the value increased
44.8 per cent, from $38,361,063 in 1921 to $55,-
551,817 last year.
Dictating machines: The number produced
last year was 15,824, an increase of 347 per
cent over the 3,540 produced in 1921, while the
value increased 509.5 per cent, from $243,676
to $1,485,243.
Records and blanks: Both number and value
decreased last year as compared with 1921, the
number dropping 6.7 per cent, from 105,191,929
to 98,104,279, and the value decreasing 24 per
cent, from $47,843,856 to $36,372,410.
Needles: The production of steel needles in-
creased 59.8 per cent in value, from $739,386 in
1921 to $1,181,794 last year, but that of needles
other than steel decreased 30.5 per cent, from
$394,749 to $274,398.
Parts and accessories: The value of cabinets
produced increased 51.1 per cent, from $1,683,-
290 to $2,544,208, and that of other parts and
accessories increased 64.3 per cent, from $4,-
911,010 to $8,066,929. The value of custom work
and repairing dropped 9.9 per cent, from $452,-
223 in 1921 to $407,498 last year, and the value
of all other products dropped 61.2 per cent,
from $3,583,531 to $1,391,943.
The number of establishments engaged in this
industry decreased 29.2 per cent, from 154 to
109, but the average number of wage earners
increased 14.3 per cent, from 17,938 to 23,194.
That conditions in the industry were better last
year than at the time of the previous census
is indicated by the fact that the number of
wage earners employed in the month of mini-
mum activity (18,358 in January) was 79.1 per
cent of the number employed in the maximum
month (23,194 in November), while in 1921 the
minimum of 14,696 in August was but 72 per
cent of the maximum of 20,408 in January. The
amount of wages paid last year was $24,937,166,
an increase of 14.5 per cent over the total of
$21,773,750 reported in 1921.
Of the 109 establishments reported last year,
24 were located in Illinois, 17 in New Jersey
and 16 in New York. Sixty-nine establishments
surveyed in 1921 were omitted in 1923, of which
40 had gone out of business and ten were idle
during the entire year, and 24 new establish-
ments were added.
The cost of materials, including fuel and con-
tainers, was $45,097,220 last year, against $41,-
057,508 in 1921, an increase of 9.8 per cent, and
the value added by manufacture (the value of
products less cost of materials) was $62,179,020
as compared with $57,155,276, an increase of 8.8
per cent.
Figures collected last year for the first time
showed the industry to have consumed 158,047
short tons of coal, developing 41,604 horse-
power.
In addition to the production of the estab-
lishments classified as in the phonograph in-
dustry, phonographs and phonograph records
and blanks are manufactured to some extent as
secondary products by establishments engaged
primarily in other industries, the value of this
production in 1921 being $1,404,394, or about
1.4 per cent of the value of products reported
for the industry as classified. The value of 1923
production in these plants has not yet been
ascertained.
Cincinnati Conservatory
Series on Gennett Records
Starr Piano Co. Announces New Series of Gen-
nett Records to Be Recorded by Artists of
the Cincinnati Conservatory
CINCINNATI, O., September 2.—The Starr Piano
Co. has announced a new group of Gennett rec-
ords of distinctly high-class music to be known
as the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Artist
Series, and to be made by artists of the Cin-
cinnati Conservatory who are known both in
this country and abroad for their musicianship
and artistic ability.
Robert Perutz, Polish violin virtuoso and
member of the artist faculty of the conserva-
tory, has just completed the production of four
double-face ten-inch records. They are "Ga-
votte" by Mozart-Auer, "Cradle Song" by Tor
Aulin; "Valse Bluette" by Miche, "Zapateado"
by Sarasate; "Valse Caprice" by Wieniawski,
"Swing Song" by Barnes, and "From the Cane-
brake" by Gardner, "Spanish Serenade" by
Chaminade-Kreisler, "To a Wild Rose" by Mac-
Dowell.
Mr. Perutz has been particularly successful
in his recording. His tones are true and big as
well as very beautiful.
The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Artist
Series will be continued by Earl Kirksmith, solo
'cellist of the conservatory orchestra and also
member of the faculty.
Visits Chicago Trade
CHICAGO, I I I . , August 30.—Miss Ruth Mays,
head of the talking machine department of the
W. F. Fredericks Piano Co., of Pittsburgh,
Pa., spent her vacation in Chicago, and while
here visited some of the Chicago music stores,
including friends at C. H. Taylor & Co. Miss
Mays says that she is looking for a big Fall,
which has already been stimulated by the com-
bination radio and talking machine which has
brought a large increase in sales to the talking
machine department.
Hussleman Dies Suddenly
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., August 30.—Friends of
W. E. Hussleman, owner of the Hussleman
Music Co., 1306 West Main street, were shocked
at the news of his death here recently, as the
result of a paralytic stroke. He is survived by
a widow and one daughter, and was seventy
years old.
A. J. Heath New Manager
Philadelphia Columbia Co.
Succeeds H. E. Gardiner, Resigned—Connected
With Columbia Co. for Many Years—Has
Wide Merchandising Experience
W. C. Fuhri, vice-president and general sales
manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co.,
Inc., announced recently the appointment of
Albert J. Heath as man-
ager of the Philadelphia
branch of the company,
succeeding H. E. Gardi-
ner, who has resigned
from the company's serv-
ice. In announcing Mr.
Heath's appointment to
this important post Mr.
Fuhri stated that he is
ideally qualified for the
A. J. Heath
position because of his
wide acquaintance throughout the Philadelphia
territory and the high esteem in which he is
held by the trade everywhere.
Mr. Heath, although a young man in point
of years, is one of the "veterans" of the talking
machine trade, having joined the Philadelphia
branch of the Columbia Co. fourteen years ago.
He was appointed to the traveling staff and
was a material factor in opening many impor-
tant accounts during the year that he visited the
trade in this territory. About a year later he
was transferred to the Columbia executive
offices in New York as a traveling representa-
tive for the general sales department, assisting
salesmen in the various branches in the estab-
lishment of new accounts and in creating dealer
good will.
In 1912 Mr. Heath became interested in the
retail end of the business, operating two large
retail establishments in Brooklyn, N. Y., where
the Columbia product was handled exclusively.
After three years of successful retail activities,
Mr. Heath rejoined the Columbia organization,
accepting the position of manager of the Balti-
more branch, remaining there until October,
1917. At trfat time Mr. Fuhri, occupying the
post of district manager, appointed Mr. Heath
manager of the Philadelphia office, and his inti-
mate knowledge of merchandising conditions
and the problems confronting the dealers en-
abled him to produce exceptional results in this
post.
In 1919 Mr. Heath resigned from the Columbia
organization to organize a wholesale concern
known as A. J. Heath & Co., with offices in
Philadelphia and Baltimore and built up a sub-
stantial and growing business. Mr. Heath, how-
ever, had kept in close touch with Columbia
activities, and was delighted to accept the oppor-
tunity to rejoin his "alma mater" in the phono-
graph industry, particularly in view of the fact
that he numbers among his friends dealers
throughout the Philadelphia territory. Mr.
Heath is recognized generally as a keen student
of wholesale and retail merchandising, and since
assuming his new duties on August 1 he has
received letters and telegrams of congratulation
from dealers everywhere who are giving him a
cordial and hearty welcome upon his return to
the Columbia organization and wishing him suc-
cess in his new post.
New Martin Bros. Branch
FORT SCOTT, KAN., August 30.—The new branch
store of the Martin Bros. Piano Co., at 5 North
Main street, has been formally opened, and was
visited by hundreds of callers on the day of its
dedication.