The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

30 The Talking Machine World, New York, February, 1928 William L. Jacoby Discusses Selection of Personnel for a Business Organization President of the Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Co., of Chicago, 111., Outlines Methods of Selecting Men in the Interests of Harmony and Efficiency of Operation sought than individual brilliance," said Mr. Jacoby. "A company may have, as the heads of its various departments, men who are leaders in their respective fields, but unless they are working together for a common cause, they are less valuable than a closely knit organization of more mediocre men." Mr. Jacoby then explained that in building an organization he sought men who regard the progress of a business above personal gain, men who would "mesh in" with other department heads and with members of their own departments. Because of this his judgment in selecting a man is affected by the other men in the department in which he is to work. Character and force are the qualities, in addition to a desire to co-operate which Mr. Jacoby considers most important in selecting a man. Character, while a general term in this instance, means reliability and the keeping of one's word and countless other traits which, while not easily defined, leave a deep impression. By force, Mr. Jacoby means aggressiveness, directed in the right channels. In his business career, Mr. Jacoby has been connected with eight different companies, seven of which he has served as president. These include the Inter-Ocean Steel Co., American District Telegraph Co. and seventy other subsidiaries of the Western Union Telegraph Co. and the Mitchell Motors Co. He has been directing head of the Kellogg organization for less than a year but the soundness of his policies has been concretely demonstrated. Praise Unit Construction of Federal Ortho-sonic The Federal Radio Corp., Buffalo, N. Y., has received many letters of commendation on the so-called "unit construction" method practiced in the manufacture of Federal Ortho-sonic receivers. In these sets each R. F., A. F., and input unit is assembled separately, complete except for the bus system, and they are individually tested. It is therefore a simple matter, where any We take pleasure in announcing that FRANK V. GOODMAN has joined our company as General Sales Manager Radio Division For many years he has been associated with the Sonora Phonograph Co. as General Sales Manager and Director and has established a reputation for sound and well-organized merchandising methods. We feel sure that this announcement will not only be welcome news to his friends in the industry but also an indication of our intentions to still further strengthen our mutually profitable relationship with the thousands of successful dealers already associated with Bosch Quality Radio Products. AMERICAN BOSCH MAGNETO CORP. Springfield, Mass. • New York, N. Y. Chicago, 111. San Francisco, Cal. Detroit, Mich. The selection of a personnel for an organization is, beyond a doubt, one of the most important factors in the success of a concern, whether retail, wholesale or manufacturing. The men who represent a product, whether they are in the production end, in the office or on the selling line, can to a great degree make W. L. Jacoby or break the merchandise they represent. It is important, then, that in selecting men, attention should be given to ascertaining whether or not the applicants possess the proper qualifications to make them valuable members of the organization. William L. Jacoby, president of the Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Co., of Chicago, 111., makers of Kellogg radio, has decided opinions on this important phase of business which he has put in effect in his organization. In an article entitled "Tests for Selecting Men," written by John L. Scott and appearing in a recent issue of Sales Management, Mr. Jacoby outlined his views. "It has been one of my cardinal rules of business that harmony and co-operation between members of an organization are more to be one stage requires service, to replace it by another single-stage unit of similar characteristics, keeping the set in use while the defective stage is repaired. In addition, the liability of these sets to defects is greatly reduced by the fact that each stage is exhaustively tested before the complete chassis is assembled. After assembly the complete receiver is again tested, giving a double check on each unit. The resulting immunity of Federal Ortho-sonic radio to subsequent weaknesses has been praised by many well-known radio men. The following letter from Robert R. Nordstrom, service manager of Silas E. Pearsall Co., New York Federal wholesaler, is typical: Gentlemen : You will no doubt be pleased to know of the ease we are enjoying in our servicing of Federal Ortho-sonic receivers. Although we are maintaining a surprisingly small force of service men, we have no difficulty in keeping the great number of Ortho-sonic receivers in our territory in good working order. I must confess I was quite surprised to find the new Electric sets required service on less than 3 per cent of all those shipped. Allow me to congratulate you on the good engineering, sturdy construction and excellent performance of the Ortho-sonic receivers. Cliff Edwards Is Latest Exclusive Columbia Artist The Columbia Phonograph Co. recently announced its newest exclusive artist in the person of Cliff Edwards, the "Ukulele Ike" of *5i Cliff Edwards radio, record, vaudeville and musical comedy fame. „Mtv Edwards, who was featured in the latest Ziegfeld "Follies," is now making a twenty-six-week tour of the Orpheum. circuit on the Pacific Coast. He is unexcelled as a singer of novelty songs and ballads to his own clever ukulele accompaniment. His first Columbia releases are "After My Laughter Came Tears" and "I'm Cryin' 'Cause I Know I'm Losing You." Testimonial Dinner Given to Col. Henry A. Bellows Minneapolis, Minn., February 1. — A testimonial dinner in recognition of the work accomplished by Col. Henry A. Bellows as a former member of the Federal Radio Commission was given Tuesday, January 24, at the Nicollet Hotel by the Northwest Radio Trade Association. Three hundred members of the Association and friends of Mr. Bellows attended. Addresses were made by prominent citizens and public officials, and R. M. Laird presented a scroll from the Northwest Radio Trade Association. G. P. Hough on Trip G. P. Hough, official of the Allen-Hough Manufacturing Co., is now making an extensive trip into the Eastern territories. He will spend some time in the Lifton Manufacturing Co.'s plant, which is now used for the exclusive production of Allen portables. Mr. Hough will also visit the Eastern trade with the increasingly popular line of Allen portable phonographs.