The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

JOHN HAVILSON, Manager 324WASHINGTON SI,BOSTON,MASS. BOSTON ENGLAND Prominent Residents of Boston Form the Music Lovers' Phonograph Society Monthly Concerts of Recorded Works to Be Given — Wholesale and Retail Trade Enjoyed Good Holiday Business — R. A. Drake Is New Victor Representative — News of the Trade Boston, Mass., January 7. — The year's business with the wholesale houses in the talking machine line has been of a fairly satisfactory nature in most cases. This much, however, is certain : the demand, and this was especially true approaching the holiday season, was for the high-priced instruments, and of course a dealer would rather sell a few of these than a greater number of the lowpriced ones. The record business h^s been uniformly large. As for the radio business jobbers and dealers appear to have had a good year. Quite outstanding are the reports from some companies which have been pushing new models which the public have grasped eagerly; and this has greatly accentuated sales and made both November and December stand out conspicuously. Outlook Bright for Columbia New England Manager Bill Parks, of the Columbia Co., says that his department wound up the year with a very substantial increase of business over 1926, and he adds that altogether he considers it the most satisfactory year in Columbia history, in part because so many new friends and customers were made. That the business was not forced but was the natural result of a good product and fair policies is the way he puts it. "With this kind of foundation on which to build and with the new phonograph and radio combinations soon to be announced we expect that this year's business will reach and possibly top some of our wartime figures," added Manager Parks. The local stock of the Columbia-Kolster model was entirely exhausted before Christmas and the many unfilled orders cannot be filled until the next shipment arrives this month. Phonograph Society Formed A new organization formed during December in this city is called the Music Lovers' Phonograph Society and is made up of prominent men and women. The first concert of the season was held on December 16 at the Fenway School Centre, Teachers' College Building, and was well attended. It is planned to hold these concerts monthly and the program will be made up of the recordings of symphonies, sonatas, quartets, etc., of the new and old masters. James A. Frye in New Post One of the important announcements in the way of news is that James A. Frye, familiarly known to the Victor trade as "Jimmy," has said "goodbye" to the Victor, with which he has been affiliated for a number of years and has identified himself with the Chas. Freshman Co., Inc. "Jimmy" was widely known to the New England Victor trade and had many warm friends. R. A. Drake Represents Victor Line Succeeding Mr. Frye in this field is Robert A. Drake, who in other territories is well-known to the Victor people, as he has been traveling for the factory for the last six years, and has been in the South and Middle West. Lately Mr. Drake has been making his headquarters at Syracuse, N. Y. Mr. Drake, whom local Victor folk know fairly well, has already found himself a home in West Newton, and has plunged into the work with the greatest enthusiasm. Big Holiday Sales of Kellogg Radio The F. D. Pitts Co., at 219 Columbus avenue, this city, reports a very large holiday business, and there were several models of the Kellogg's line, notably 510 and 511, for which there was a big demand. The all-electric no-battery radio receiver seems to be the thing that the Pitts Co.'s patrons find especially desirable, and the product that is sent from the Kellogg Co. in Chicago to the Boston warerooms is disposed of as soon as it gets here. Strong Demand for Atwater Kent December business for the J. H. Burke Co. kept the staff on the jump right up to the eve of Christmas. Most of this demand was for the Atwater Kent product, especially the 37 A. C. model which has only lately been on the market, so that business on this was more or less concentrated toward the end of the month, and even then there was not anything like the number of machines to supply the demand. And speaking of Joe, the popular head of the concern bearing his name was the surprised recipient of a very handsome Christmas gift from all his employes, who gave him a handsome mahogany clock with aluminum face and with a plate on the back on which is inscribed "Presented to J. H. Burke by the Happy Family of the J. H. Burke Company, Christmas, 1927." There was a jolly Christmas party at the J. H. Burke Co.'s showroom on Christmas eve. In one corner was a tall tree from which small gifts were distributed and refreshments served. M. Steinert & Sons Co.'s Christmas Party M. Steinert & Sons Co., Victor distributors, entertained their staff at a Christmas party on the Saturday before, and not only did Alexander Steinert, the head of the Boston business, take an active part in the affair, but also his son Robert Steinert, as well as Alan Steinert, his nephew, who supervises the business of the Eastern Talking Machine Co., at its Essex street quarters. Business of the Eastern (wholesale) and the Steinert warerooms (retail) was unusually large before and during the holidays, and of the sum total much was due in no small degree to the surprisingly large number of high-priced instruments that were disposed of. New England Ass'n to Elect The annual meeting of the New England Music Trade Association is scheduled for the second week in January and already there is interest as to who the next president is to be. Federal Radio Corp. Issues Service Manual for Dealers A new service manual has been issued by the Federal Radio Corp., Buffalo, N. Y., for the benefit of Federal Ortho-sonic wholesalers and retailers. It is a loose-leaf book, furnished with index tabs for easy reference and supplements can be inserted when necessary. Notes and sketches pertaining to the general text have been printed in the margin of various pages. Featuring Victor Line The Cullen Music Store, Rawlins, Wyo., is featuring the new electrical Orthophonic Victrola-Radiola. SITTING PRETTY for 1928 Oliver Ditson Co. BOSTON When have Victor dealers been in a better position to build up great sales totals? Never. The Victor line offers — and has available — instruments to meet every demand and every purse — whether it be the portable or the great combinations — while to go with them are records of surpassing excellence. Ditson Service will keep that varied line complete Chas. H. Ditson & Co. NEW YORK 74