The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

Gets Volume Sales in Small Town Oil Painting Over Entrance to Phonograph Department THE town of Mayfield, Ky., numbers about 8,000, yet during 1927 the phonograph department of the Rhodes-Burford Co. sold 280 phonographs to residents of the town and vicinity. This satisfactory sales figure was the new Columbia Viva-tonal. He did not ask us to buy a large quantity of the instruments, but to take only a sample. We did, and from that day to this our business with the Columbia Viva-tonal phonograph has been big. Quota Set for 1928 "Although our volume of sales last year was satisfactory, we are plugging along this year to exceed 300, and at the present time the prospects for reaching a bigger volume are good." The Rhodes-Burford Co., which was founded and is operated at the present time by Col. H. C. Rhodes, one of the oldest active furniture men in the country, operates other stores in Paducah, Ky. ; Metropolis, 111., and Union City, Tenn. Some of these stores did not include a phonograph department, but the success which rewarded the efforts of the Mayfield store has led the officers of the company to add the line, and all stores now feature the product. Attracting Public Attention Mr. Gardner has an unusual method of attracting the attention of customers entering the store to the Columbia phonograph department. He did not wish to mar the appearance of the establishment by having an unsightly sign erected, so, instead, he had an oil painting made which depicts a Southern scene with one of the popular excursion steamers coming down the Mississippi. Cotton fields are shown on the bluffs and several negro figures are going about their various tasks. To the right of this scene, is an oil painting of the Columbia Viva-tonal phonograph, model No. 810, and standing before the instrument is a negro pickaninny, dancing the "Charleston" to the strains of the music. $25,340,660 Income Instructions on Use for Union Carbide of Radio Set Tester R. H. Gardner made despite the fact that the department was a new venture, or rather a revival of the department, because for a time the music department was discontinued. The manner in which the establishment decided to return to a phonograph line is described by R. H. Gardner, manager of the music department. He says: Had Discontinued Line "We must thank Mr. Salmon, the Columbia salesman, for our success in the phonograph field. We had discontinued the instrument line when it seemed to have gone to the bad until one day Mr. Salmon called with a picture of The Union Carbide & Carbon Corp., of which the National Carbon Co., Inc., manufacturer of Eveready batteries, is a subsidiary, reports for 1927 a net income of $25,340,660, after Federal taxes, depreciation, interest and subsidiary preferred dividends. This is equivalent to $9.52 a share earned on 2,659,733 shares of no par capital stock, and compares with $24,142,606, or $9.08 a share in 1926. Directors of the corporation have approved plans, it was announced, under which the executives may acquire larger financial interests in the corporation in order to encourage those responsible for determining and carrying out the corporation's business policies. A booklet containing detailed instructions for the use of the Weston model 537 AC and DC radio set tester has been prepared by the Weston Electrical Instrument Corp., Newark, N. J. It explains the general purposes of the instrument and goes on to tell how to test the conditions of batteries and circuits on receiving sets so operated and also AC operated sets The tester has been designed for use by service men and manufacturers. H. J. Rumsey, of the Vesta Battery Corp., gave an interesting talk on "Credit Matters" at the recent meeting of the National Battery Manufacturers' Association in Chicago. The meeting was largely attended. Newcombe-Hawley Washington Jobber The Doubleday-Hill Electric Co, 715 Twelfth street, N. W, Washington, D. C, has recently been appointed a distributor for NewcombeHawley radio reproducers. FOR YEARS THE JEWEL PRODUCTS have been known to the trade for their quality, and the Jewel Reproducer No. S3 adds to their reputation. This reproducer is the result of several years' experimental research and there are certain principles included in its construction which are not to be found in any other phonograph reproducer. The size and weight are scientifically correct to bring out all tones of the electrically recorded records with that wonderful solidity of tone which has great carrying power and eliminates the metallic twang and shrillness which some call volume. There is no jangling distortion no tin-canny noise — nothing but perfect harmony from the rumble of the kettledrums to the high, tremulous tones of the violin and flute; every instrument is distinctly heard yet combined in one glorious, harmonious whole. The most rigidly constructed reproducer on the market. Beautiful in appearance and practically "fool-proof." Costs more but worth it. Prices: Nickel Plate, $7.50; Gold Plate, $8.50. JEWEL PHONOPARTS CO. 24 510 N. Dearborn St. CHICAGO, ILL.