The talking machine world (Aug-Dec 1919)

122 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD September 15, 1919 A NAME-VALUE OF HALF A CENTURY'S STANDING For forty-nine years, the name NEWMAN BROS, has been seen on the fall-boards of very fine pianos. Forty-nine years of the best piano making form a worthy prelude to the entrance of this company into the manufacture of HIGHEST GRADE TALKING MACHINES Announcement is now made of FOUR highly attractive models of NEWMAN BROS. PHONOGRAPHS, each standing upon the same basis of sincerity and technical excellence which has characterized the eminent piano-making of the house. For PERTINENT FACTS "drop a line to" NEWMAN BROS. CO. Makers of Newman Bros.; Pianos, Players and Phonographs Chicago Ave. and Dix St. established isn CHICAGO FROM OUR CHICAGO HEADQUARTERS— (Continued from page 121) and plans to equip his court with one in the near future. Assistant State's Attorney Dooley made the suggestion one day and the Judge signified quick acceptance of the idea. It is said that the testimony of policemen who arrest automobilists will be taken on the instrument. Absolute accuracy will be one of the advantages offered by the use of the machine. Wage Earner Spends Lavishly Who's buying your talking machines? A recent article in the "Chicago Tribune" pictures the workingman of today in the midst of one long orgy of revelry in the matter of luxury purchases. Shoes, clothes, personal vanities, talking machines, pianos, automobiles, etc., are only items in a long list of expenditures of which he will have nothing but the best. Is this true? If we are to take the word of numerous Chicago talking machine men, the question can be answered most decidedly in the affirmative, at least insofar as talking machine purchases are concerned. The class of persons responsible for the big Spring and Summer business, and the class to be responsible, for an undoubted Fall business of unusual proportion, is said to be the affluent workingrnen. However, it being granted that the "workers," whose wages have steadily increased, form the large percentage of talking machine buyers, is it still true that he will have nothing but the best? The talking machine merchant wants to know what way said workingman (a term very much abused, by the way, for are we not all workingrnen) is going to trend in his tastes. A State street retailer (not of talking machines) says: "The workingman is having his revel in fancy toggery, nifty shoes, honest-to-goodness silk shirts and the sportiest of cravats. He will pay $10 to $15 for up-to-date shoes, when he wouldn't pay $2.50 for the same quality in off styles." But the taste of the workingman in shoes and talking machines may be vastly different, especially when he has never possessed one of these instruments. While more high-priced and better quality talking machines are being sold this season than in any previous one, it would be erroneous to claim that they are all being purchased by the workingman. The music lover who has owned a small or inferior instrument is purchasing as well. Speaks at Educational Meeting Mrs. Anne Faulkner Oberndorfer, chairman of the Western Division of the Bureau for the Advancement of Music and author of "What We Hear In Music," of Chicago, made an address at the recent Victor educational conference at Camden, N. J. Her subject was "Americanization Through Music." She told of the plans of the Women's Clubs throughout the country to support this movement in music which will emphasize the part played by talking machines and records. Move Steger Department The wholesale talking machine department of the Steger & Sons Co. in their building at Jackson boulevard and Wabash avenue has been moved from the fourth to the third floor. Roy Hinnian, manager of the Steger talking machine business, has his office located on this floor also. The Steger Co. have been doing some aggressive retail advertising in Chicago daily newspapers of late with excellent results. "Lends" His Catalog The Gulbransen-Dickinson Co.'s Bulletin prints a very interesting article concerning one of their dealers who "lends" instead of "gives" his catalog to customers. The idea as applied was used with pianos, but might be used with talking machines equally as well. In speaking about the retail merchant who conceived the idea, the article says: "He never gives the catalog away; always lends it. He got into the habit some months ago when there was a shortage of Gulbransen catalogs, but is continuing it now because it seems to give better results than the old plan. In lending it he intimates that the catalog has a value greater than the prospect might otherwise attach to it. And also gives himself an excuse for calling at the prospect's home some days later." Plays at Execution In Moundsville, Ya., on the 8th of August, a negro was executed in the penitentiary while a talking machine played "Lord, I Am Coming Home Today." Three selections were played. W hile the prisoner was marching to the gallows "Nearer, My God, To Thee" was played, and as he walked up the scaffold steps "On The Mountain Tops With Jesus" was heard, then as the trap was sprung came "Lord, I Am Coming Home Today." New Platers in the Field Robinson The Plater, a local firm which has been plating talking machine hardware for a number of years past for some of our largest talking machine houses, recently completed the addition of new equipment at its new factory at 420 West VanBuren street. M. J. Decker, manager of the concern, announces that they are now ready to take over additional accounts. This house is said to be the largest in the Middle West doing this kind of work. Advertising the Bliss Reproducer A number of excellent advertisements similar to those which have appeared in The Talking Machine World of the Bliss Reproducer have appeared in Chicago newspapers recently. Evidently Bliss Reproducer, Inc., is going after the retail business with an unusual degree of "pep." The Deferred Payment Plan M. B. Silverman, sales manager of the Mandel Mfg. Co.. who makes the well-known Mandel line {Continued on page 124) TRANSFER NAME-PLATES Wc make the Transfer Name Plates and Trade-Marks for the largest talking machine manufacturers in this country and for dealers in every state. YOUR NAME, Mr. Dealer, on every machine brings the owner back to you for records and his friends to you for a machine. <— ■ " Samples, Suggestions and Sketches Furnished Free THE ME YERCORD COMPANY, CHICAGO Largest Manufacturers of DECALCOMANIA Transfer Name-Plates 3TEjT3j2 SITE'S • ifiSSli iu*5i!*'2j£iL!t" aiOuC^uSuCm