The talking machine world (July-Dec 1922)

August 15, 1922 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 137 ■DOMINO Of (ANAElft INTERESTING WINDOW DISPLAYS AID TORONTO SALES R. S. Williams & Sons Co. Features Edison Machines and Radio in Attractive Window Display — Offer Study Course in Exporting — Getting Business by Phone — Trade Changes Toronto, Ont., August 6. — The large show window of the Ottawa branch of the R. S. Williams & Sons Co., Ltd., recently had an interesting exhibit in the form of a radio-receiving outfit with a female figure seated at the table with the receivers on her ears as if listening to a concert. Another section of the display included several Edison models, and signs referred to the two wonderful inventions, one by Marconi and the other by Edison. Incidentally, Manager Arthur Mandy has been going right after Summer business and has made a special play for sales of portable phonographs for Summer cottages, camps, canoe outings, etc. A short course for those interested in exporting is to be instituted by the University of Toronto at the request of, and in co-operation with, the Federal Department of Trade and Commerce. The course will last two weeks, commencing January 15, 1923. It is being held on condition that Canadian manufacturers will lend their support by making it possible for their export managers to attend in sufficient numbers to make the course worth while. The course will be both theoretical and practical. The proprietors of the West Toronto Music Co., formerly at 2823 Dundas street West, have erected a large new store on the same side of the street, a little farther west, at 2989 Dundas street West, the ground floor of which they are now occupying. The new store, which has been tastefully designed, is under the management of E. D. Lott and carries Columbia, Brunswick, Apex and other lines. Robertson, Pingle & Tilley, Ltd., of Ottawa, known as The Brunswick Shop, are putting the ordinary telephone to a new and unique use. The company has invited the general public to ask to hear selected records over the telephone. When a request is received over the wire for a certain selection the record desired is played on a phonograph immediately in front of the telephone. If the selection is acceptable to the auditor at the other end the record is forthwith delivered to the home. This plan of selling practically goes the radio one better, as the telephone is continuously available for the purpose. The Edison Phonograph Shop, formerly located at 382 Yonge street, Toronto, has moved to new quarters at 12 Queen street East. The new location has been artistically fixed up to meet the needs of Edison phonographs and records. The store is finished in mahogany. Seven sound-proof rooms have been installed for demonstration purposes and record racks that will accommodate 10,000 records form part of the store's equipment. A show window at the front that is convex in shape further enhances the high degree of artistry within. Elliott's Music Store, Vocalion dealers, at 3085 Dundas street St. W., Toronto, had an attractive float in the recent parade conducted by the West Toronto Business Men's Association. A big red Vocalion record eight feet in diameter was the particular drawing card of the float. New Ontario incorporations include Gold Medal Radio Corp., Uxbridge, Ont., capitalized at $300,000. John A. Croden, president of the Starr Co., of Canada, Ltd., who underwent an operation in Victoria Hospital early in July, is recovering very satisfactorily, to the delight of his friends. A big window display that proved to be a selling proposition was presented in the large window of Orme, Ltd., Ottawa, as a demonstration of the use of the new portable Victrola for camping purposes. The whole window was pro vided with a background of evergreen trees and a tent, canoe, logs and other appropriate "props" were added to the life-size setting. In the foreground was a dummy camper in khaki trousers and sweater seated in front of a Victrola model. The firm reported that a number of these phonographs were sold as a direct result of the display. Leach, Clegg & Leach, of the same city, provided an interesting window display for several days recently in the form of a Marconi wireless demonstration set, which attracted much attention, as the radio movement is yet in its very infancy in Ottawa. B. A. Trestrail, of Musical Merchandise Sales Co., Toronto, has survived the first year of married life. To impress the fact upon the minds of his friends, he and Mrs. Trestrail entertained some forty friends on the occasion of their first wedding anniversary at a dance and supper at the Lakeview Golf and Country Club. The stock and shipping department of the General Phonograph Corp., of Canada, Ltd., which has been at the same address at the Toronto office at 172 John street, has been Montreal, August 7. — We understand the Retail Merchants' Association of Montreal, which have in the past accomplished good work in eliminating several evils and remedying others, will shortly convene for the purpose of endeavoring to see what action can be taken with reference to "gyp" dealers handling and selling phonographs from private addresses, thus avoiding the payment of taxes, which legitimate dealers are forced to pay. One of their first actions will be to try to interest the newspapers in having them refrain from inserting advertisements of this nature. Leopold Authier, of Montreal, has secured a Canadian patent on a system of cabinet lighting, for which many claims are made. The cabinet has a plurality of panels of transparent matter, a disc rack in said cabinet, arranged to provide a free space within three sides of said cabinet, and electric lamps suitably secured within said space for the purpose of illuminating the transparent sides of said cabinet. J. A. Bienjonetti, who has had charge of the piano and phonograph departments of N. G. Valiquette, Ltd., has resigned to join the advertising department of La Patrie, Montreal. Miss Faucher, of the phonograph department, and Miss Casselman, in charge of the record department, C. W. Lindsay, Ltd., are on vacation, the former in Edmonton, Alta., and the latter in Ottawa and vicinity. A. W. Landay, of Landay Bros., New York transferred to the firm's Canadian factory at Kitchener. C. J. Pott, the Canadian manager, informed your correspondent that this move would mean even prompter shipments of motors and equipment than in the past. The office mailing address remains 172 John street, Toronto. Manager Arthur Mandy, of R. S. Williams & Co., Ltd., Sparks street, Ottawa, gave a striking demonstration of the use of the special Walter Camp physical instruction phonograph records which carry the title of "Daily Dozen," and offers direction for various setting-up exercises. To explain the use of the record Mr. Mandy secured the services of a local athlete, who gave an exhibition of calisthenics in keeping with the "Daily Dozen" directions. The exhibition was given in the show window of the Ottawa store at noon and just before closing time, so that it would be seen by the maximum number of people. The stunt was such a success, even in the hot weather, that Mr. Mandy intends to repeat the whole thing early in the Fall. E. D. Coots, assistant to the sales manager of the Sonora Phonograph Co.. Inc., of New York City, is spending some time in Canada with the Canadian distributors of the Sonora, Messrs. L. Montagnes & Co., Toronto. This is Mr. Coots' first visit to Canada and he expects to remain here some weeks visiting Sonora dealers. City, was a recent visitor to Montreal. He called upon Layton Bros, and was shown through their warerooms by Armitage Layton. At the recent annual meeting held in Toronto of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, C. W. Lindsay, president of C. W. Lindsay, Ltd., Sonora and Columbia dealers, was elected one of the vice-presidents for the ensuing year. Ernest C. Bray, sales and advertising manager of Layton Bros., Ltd., is spending his vacation at Old Orchard Beach, Me. The Champion Music Co. has made an assignment for the benefit of its creditors. At the St. Denis Theatre, Montreal, next season, will be heard such great artists as GalliCurci, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Kreisler, Rachmaninoff, Geraldine Farrar, Muratore and Heifetz. These bookings have been made. "Going like hot cakes" was the expression of Layton Bros., Ltd., regarding an inquiry as to hcrw Marconi radio outfits were selling. Sousa's Band has just terminated its engagement of a week at Dominion Park. The public never seems to weary of his programs or his music. Naturally, His Master's Voice local dealers cashed in on his appearance in person. "Never to my knowledge have our show windows proved such magnetic drawing power as during the past week," said Leopold A. Poulin, of C. W. Lindsay, Ltd., "when we had on display the attractive nickel-plated demonstration (Continued on page 138) Talking Machine Springs and Repair Parts NONE BETTER IN QUALITY NONE LOWER IN PRICE THE RENE MANUFACTURING CO. MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY MONTREAL MERCHANTS WILL ACT ON "GYP" DEALERS Retail Merchants' Association Calls Meeting to Consider Curtailment of "Gyp" Phonograph Dealers — Movements of the Trade — Dealers Profit by Sousa's Appearance — Other News