The talking machine world (July-Dec 1928)

48 The Talking Machine World, New York, December, 1928 Sees Affinity Between MusicRadio Field and Talking Movies P. A. Powers, Veteran Talking Machine Jobber and Motion Picture Executive, Says Talking Pictures Have Opened Up Lucrative Field for Music Jobbers [P. A. Powers will be remembered as one of the earliest and largest distributors of talking machines and records. He was closely connected with the Edison and Victor companies in the pioneer days of the industry and at one time operated over forty talking machine and record stores in the Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Rochester territories. He organized and operated the Eclipse Music Co., of Cleveland, distributor of Edison and Victor machines and records; Powers & Henry Co., of Pittsburgh; P. A. Powers Co., of Buffalo, and 'the Talking Machine Co., of Rochester. — Editor's Note.] That the "talking movie" has established a merchandising affinity between the talking machine, radio and motion picture industries, and opened a new and lucrative field for distributors in the talking machine trade, is pointed to by P. A. "Pat" Powers, veteran talking machine distributor, motion picture magnate, and president of the Powers Cinephone Equipment Corp., of New York, manufacturer of the motion picture sound device, "The Cinephone." "The talking picture has opened a gap in the merchandising methods of the motion picture industry," says Mr. Powers. "In my opinion," he says, "this gap creates a definite opening for the sales and service forces of the talking machine and radio industries, and I believe that within the next year many of the leading talking machine distributors will be established as important factors in the motion picture business. The film companies all have branches in thirty-two 'key' cities throughout the United States, but their organizations, as a whole, know little about the technical phases of sound devices and are wholly untrained in acoustics. The time of the field forces of the film companies is taken up with the sale of film and an additional force of especially trained men is needed to handle the sale of sound equipment. "This situation presents an unique opportunity for the well-organized talking machine distributors to expand their activities into a new and potentially rich field. The selling forces of the talking machine distributors are exceptionally well qualified to take on the sales of sound picture equipment, and the service men are technically fitted to handle all necessary service requirements. "From the sales angle, there is little difference between marketing an especially con structed sound device to theatres for public entertainment in reproducing the sound accompaniment of a motion picture and the selling P. A. "Pat" Powers of standard talking machines for private home or club use. The talking movie has created an entirely new phase of the motion picture, industry. It has opened up a virgin commercial field. This field at the present time is any man's territory, but in my opinion the talking machine distributors are in the best position for its invasion. "From these facts one naturally draws the conclusion that the distribution of motion picture sound equipment, parts and accessories, and the servicing of the equipment, seems logi Private Label Radio the Answer! RADIO retailing is fast approaching standardization. Let us compare. 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Considering Mr. Powers' long and successful experience in both the talking machine field and the motion picture industry his views and opinions are of exceptional interest. It was "Pat" Powers who introduced Edison's automatic slot machine and started the "Penny Arcade" fad, which proved to be the school for showmanship from which most of the present-day motion picture magnates graduated. Pat himself became, and still is, a motion picture magnate. And once again he is a pioneer. This time in the "talking motion picture" field, which brings together in basic principles his earlier experiences in the field of sound and his later activities in the world of silent drama. Under the trade name of Powers Cinephone, Mr. Powers has perfected two separate devices. One is a recording machine for synchronizing music, dialogue and sound effects on motion picture film in synchrony with photographicaction. This device is used in the studios by motion picture producers. The other machine is a sound reproducer for use in theatres. This reproducer is an interchangeable device which will play all standard forms of talking pictures, whether recorded on the film or on discs. Kolster Mail Campaign Five letters, written to appeal to the person who is considering the purchase of a modern ladio receiver, are being mailed at three-da> intervals to prospects in Canada by authorized Kolster dealers in the Dominion, with the assistance of Canadian Brandes, Ltd., of Toronto, makers of Kolster sets in Canada. Illustrations and descriptions of two of the most popular Kolster models are found on the margins of the letters sent out. WLW Broadcasts Aid Dealers Hudson-Ross, Inc., and the Aitken Radio Co., Crosley distributors in Chicago and Detroit, respectively, report that the broadcasts of WLW, the new Crosley 50,000-watt national broadcasting station at Cincinnati, are being taken as a DX standard by dealers in their cities for demonstration purposes. Dealers in Waco, Texas, and in Michigan and Iowa have informed the Cincinnati office that the daytime broadcasts of WLW are so strong that they are used for demonstration purposes and have had the effect of aiding sales. Pilgrimages to A. K. Plant More than twelve hundred dealers from Greater New York visited the Atwater Kent manufacturing plant in Philadelphia during the week ending November 24. As it was deemed impractical to entertain all of the Metropolitan dealers at one time, the visitation was split into two squadrons, some six hundred being in Philadelphia, Tuesday, November 20, the balance arriving Thursday, November 22. They were accompanied by the New York Atwater Kent distributors,, E. B. Latham & Co., E. J. Edmond Co. and E. A. Wildermuth. Pilot Parts Catalog A new radio parts catalog was recently issued by the Pilot Electric Mfg. Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. This catalog describes and illustrates the complete line of Pilot parts for set building purposes, available to dealers as well as manufacturers. A petition in bankruptcy was filed against the Bosco Battery Corp., New York City, and Catherine Noyes was appointed receiver. Liabilities are listed at $20,000 and assets at approximately $8,500.