The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

F. R.T. A. Convention in Milwaukee 250 Delegates Present Discuss Problems of Industry and Take Important Action — Harold J. Wrape Is Again Elected President The Federated Radio Trade Association Convention held in Milwaukee on February 14 and 15 was said to be the most important and most successful convention ever held by the Federated group. Visitors and delegates attending the convention reported that they had never known of so much actual business to have been accomplished in such a short period of time. The Wisconsin Radio Trade Association was an admirable host and provided lavish entertainment throughout the convention. There was an attendance of over 250 delegates present from all parts of the United States. H. J. Wrape Reviews Activities Harold J. Wrape, president of the Association, in his opening address, reviewed briefly the past activities of the organization and the important position which it had assumed in the radio industry during its existence. He requested further co-operation from all jobbers and dealers in attendance to help in perfecting a stronger group which could better fit into its rightful place among the leaders in radio. He pointed out that the plans for the future were such that the Association group should take far more active interest in national affairs and would prove itself as a stabilizing influence so necessary to the trade at the present time. Address by Bond P. Geddes Bond P. Geddes, executive vice-president of the Radio Manufacturers' Association, gave a very comprehensive address on dealer, jobber and manufacturer relations which was enthusiastically received by the entire assemblage. Mr. Geddes stated that the radio industry must and will stand on its own feet, and should not be considered as a part or division of another industry. His address in part follows: "In the RMA there has ever been a deep sense of interest in the Federated Radio Trade Association. It is fortunate that this radio triangle, the three great groups which comprise the framework of the industry — the Federated Radio Trade Association, the National Association of Broadcasters, represented here to-day ' by my good friend, Mr. Baker, its managing director, and the Radio Manufacturers' Association— is thus established. These Associations, from their mutual interests, form the three aids of the industrial triangle which may be taken to represent the entire radio business, the well-linked, closely allied and, we hope, truly fraternal elements of the radio structure. "American industry to-day is organized on a new scale. It is a battle, for the consumers' dollars, of one industry against another. You dealers and jobbers probably often think that your worst competitor is your rival radio dealer down the street, while in fact your hardest adversary is the dealer, representative of another organized industry, competing with an automobile, furniture, refrigerator, sewing or washing machine, or some other necessity or luxury for the dollars of your radio prospect. His industry is strongly fortified and organized; ours can and must be also if we are to maintain, let alone develop, the position of radio as a necessity in American life. And let me remark in passing that radio certainly is a necessary, not a luxury, in the high standards of living it has helped to establish. Close Co-operation Required "The great common interest of the broadcasters, you dealers and jobbers, and we manufacturers in the radio industry never required closer co-operation and stronger organization than to-day when the young radio industry, as an industry, is meeting new challenges and new competition, not only from new, but from old, strongly intrenched and organized industries. Not only for your self-interest and pro tection against rapacious and greedy manufacturers, and to work not for but with us and endeavor to adjust our problems and trade practices in a spirit of friendly co-operation, and also build a real radio industry which will be impregnable in its protection of our mutual industry do we wish your development and seek your friendly hand. "Without efficient and organized distribution (and this can best be effected with the expansion of your Association) our manufacturing interests could not progress as they have and will. While there are many problems of merchandising and manufacturing (necessarily so from the comparative youth of our industry) to be adjusted and solved, the radio manufacturers, as individuals and through the RMA, have had in mind, and sought to improve, the position of you dealers and jobbers. "In developing markets for you to sell radio Harold J. Wrape in, the RMA has just undertaken, through its Merchandising Committee, with the approval of our Board of Directors, a nation-wide survey to facilitate distribution, by finding and cultivating proper markets for the proper type of radio products. The RMA also is engaged in a new enterprise to make the radio a greater agency in education, through equipment of schools and colleges, and also is developing through contacts with women's clubs and other organizations, campaigns to open new American homes to modern radio. RMA Activities "To aid you in selling radio, the RMA also is preparing, through its well-equipped engineering division, to give new and wider services to the public, as well as the trade. One of these, which is to be presented at our next board meeting, is to establish definitions of "socketpower" operation, in which you are all interested. The radio patent problem also is being met by the RMA in a constructive effort to establish a patent interchange plan. Reduction of freight and express rates (in which you as distributors also have a direct interest) with the prospect of increasing the size of the radio consumer's dollar, is another new RMA effort. Another RMA enterprise from which you will directly benefit, is a new plan being evolved for the financing of instalment paper. Also we have just arranged to have our manufacturers provide you with uniform catalogs. "The service problem also is being constructively dealt with by the RMA. Service to the radio purchaser is an outstanding problem and probably everlasting, although now reduced to a minimum with manufacturing improvements. As individuals and through our Association we are taking many steps to help you in its solution. Realizing its importance, the RMA has embarked upon a national enterprise looking to developing a supply of trained service men, not for ourselves, but for you jobbers and dealers. The RMA is encouraging and sponsoring the establishment of vocational training courses for radio service men. Its initial effort, made recently in Newark, N. J., with the co-operation of the Essex County, New Jersey, Board of Education, has already met with success. A Large Industry "The radio industry is an industry. One of the factors in the measurement of an industry is its service to the public, efficient and economical service, in its manufacturing and distribution, volume and efficiency. Surely measured by these standards we have demonstrated our right to regard ourselves and remain a distinct industry. Throughout the world it is estimated that 90,000,000 people are served by radio. There are broadcasting stations in fifty-seven countries, with America at the top of the list in numbers, and way ahead in quality of programs. Over $20,000,000 alone are invested in broadcast stations in this country. Our industry gives employment, it is estimated, to more than 300,000 persons. There are between 40,000 and 50,000 radio dealers and jobbers in our country, and probably 3,000 manufacturers, large and small. In 1927 it is estimated that radio products valued at close to $600,000,000 were produced in the United States, with exports of around $60,000,000." Other Speakers Richard M. McClure, a prominent trade association executive, gave a comprehensive talk on organization and its importance, stressing the fact that it is necessary to co-operate in order to further promote the best interests of the industry. L. S. 'Baker, managing director of the National Association of Broadcasters, presented a very complete paper on broadcasting and the radio trend. M. F. Flanagan, executive secretary of the Radio Manufacturers' Association, presented a paper on the need of a jobber organization. Mr. Flanagan pointed out that the jobber who has been engaged in the radio business from the start has lost many opportunities to help himself and his trade, which could have been avoided through definite organized co-operation. He said in part: "Economic conditions make strange bedfellows, and in the radio industry, those forces that were antagonistically competitive a short time ago are to-day faced with the pertinent situation of protecting their mutual interests, because of the fact that the rapid evolution of this trade has actually made their future progress dependent upon working together. "Nowhere in radio is this so glaringly evident as in the jobbing or wholesale division. The process of evolution among the retailers has reduced the number of outlets that can be truthfully called radio stores from approximately 45,000 in 1925 to approximately 30,000 in 1927, and it is reliably predicted that it will perhaps dwindle to 25,000 in 1929, has drawn the jobbing interests from a competitive standpoint so close together that they cannot well afford to work at variance with each other." Short talks were made by Arthur Haugh and Herbert H. Frost, past-presidents of the Radio Manufacturers' Association, and Ernest Reichmann, of the Radio Protective Association. Alfred Waller, of the National Electrical (Continued on page 72) 70