The talking machine world (July-Dec 1928)

92 The Talking Machine World, New York, December, 1928 Music-Radio Trade in Buffalo Expects Big Holiday Business Federal Radio Corp.'s Two Plants Working at Full Capacity — New Federal Jobbers Named — Plan Co-operative Campaign on RCA Products — New Stores Opened Our Rapidly Growing Dealer Organization Makes Necessary Increasing Our Sales Force Ever since the first CAPE HART AUTOMATIC ORCHESTROPE was shipped last March, our production has had to be continually increased to keep pace with our rapidly growing DEALER organization. The CAPEHART one-plan, oneprice policy of merchandising exclusively through DEALERS has resulted in the growth of a large DEALER organization stretching from coast to coast. The demand for the CAPEHART AUTOMATIC ORCHESTROPE is growing, owing to its many exclusive features, chief among which are its marvelous tone qualities and its continuous playing automatic record changing mechanism, which plays 28 records — 56 selections — continuously, on both sides, changing and turning the records automatically — and WITHOUT ATTENTION. We will consider applications to join the CAPEHART sales organization from men who have had experience in the piano or phonograph fields selling dealers and who want to be associated with a successful company — and who can also appreciate earning money far in excess of the ordinary salesman. Write fully concerning yourself and your selling experience, enclosing photograph. All replies will be confidential. J. E. BROYLES General Sales Manager CAPEHART AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH CORP. Huntington, Indiana, U. S. A. Buffalo, N. Y., December 8. — With bright prospects for a record holiday business the talking machine and radio trades have enjoyed a very fine Autumn. Federal Radio Corp.'s two Buffalo plants have been working at capacity in an effort to catch up with orders, and while this has not been entirely accomplished Federal dealers will have ample holiday stocks. Federal has added several jobbers to its family recently, giving it increased representation in several territories. These include the W. W. Conde Hardware Co., of Watertown, N. Y. ; Dyke Motor Supply Co., Pittsburgh, and the Rock Island Hardware Co., Rock Island, N. Y. A large number of new Federal retailers also have been enrolled in time to participate in the holiday trade. Victor business for the Christmas season is very promising, according to the local wholesalers, the Buffalo Talking Machine Co. and C. N. Andrews. All retailers look for brisk trade and a very substantial sales volume. Mr. Andrews reports the dealers greatly pleased with advance showings of Radiola 41. An extensive co-operative advertising campaign is planned in this district as soon as this model is delivered in quantity. Howard J. Eynon has purchased the controlling interest in the stock of the Pure Carbon Co., of Wellsville, N. Y., manufacturer of radio batteries. Joe Malott, manager of the Southern territory of the Amrad Corp., is on temporary duty with the H. D. Taylor Co., Buffalo distributor of this line. He will remain here for several weeks aiding in the formulation of plans to obtain wide distribution of Amrad products in this territory and meeting the dealers who are handling the line. G. A. Ellis, proprietor of a large radio busi Los Angeles, Cal., December 3. — The amended ruling of the Radio Commission in regard to the broadcasting of phonograph records, and, at the same time, the announcement that in future many of these records will be manufactured specially for broadcasting with regular broadcast opening announcements, instead of ordinary phonograph records, has been received with anticipatory favor here. There has been a feeling among record department managers for some time that the broadcasting of ordinary, newly released records has been harmful to their sale. "As soon as a new hit is issued by one, two or more of the phonograph companies," said Miss Johnson, manager of the record departments of Piatt Music Co.'s eight stores, "the radio broadcast stations play it, and continue to play it at such frequent intervals, that the average record buyer — -who is often a radio listener-in as well — is utterly tired of it before he has had a chance to purchase it at the music store." Ed. L. Hayes, manager of the phonograph departments of the Fitzgerald Music Co., announced that the Edison line of phonographs and radios has been installed. The Splitdorf radio will, of course, be discontinued, due to the fact that manufacture has been taken over by Thos. A. Edison, Inc. ness in Bridgeburg, Buffalo's principal Canadian suburb, has purchased a building at Central avenue and Dufferin street in that place and will remodel it for opening as a radio store. Thomas H. Endicott, general sales manager of the Zenith Radio Corp., was a recent visitor at the Joseph Strauss Co., Buffalo district distributor. He later spoke at a largely attended meeting of Zenith dealers in western New York and northern Pennsylvania, in Erie, Pa., being accompanied to the Pennsylvania city by E. T. Ball, sales manager of the Strauss Co. The Medo Electric Corp. has just opened a fine branch store at 1234 Jefferson avenue. It features Columbia phonographs and radio combinations as well as a general radio line, including several popular makes. The company's main store is at 18 East Chippewa street, in the downtown section. Burchard Radio Sales Co. has opened a new radio store at 307 West Third street, Jamestown, featuring the Sparton line. The remodeled store of the Buffalo Radiophone Co., at 260 Main street, is attracting much attention. The interior has been refurnished to resemble a broadcasting studio with heavy drapes, fine Oriental rugs and other appropriate furnishings. Atwater Kent, Kolster, Majestic and Peerless sets have prominent place on its shelves and in its displays. Columbia record sales have been very large during the past month. Columbia's Schubert week was well advertised here and brought heavy sales of the records of this great composer, while the personal appearance for two weeks at the Arcadia ballroom of Charlie Boulanger and His Georgia Melodians, of Columbia and Edison record fame, also helped dealers handling these lines. Columbia franchise holders also report a fine pre-holiday business. Otto May, president of the California Victor Distributing Co., arrived in Los Angeles early in the last week of November, spending Thanksgiving Day here. He reports splendid business at both headquarters and anticipated the greatest sales in history for the month of December, he said. O. K. Smith, well-known phonograph and radio man, has been appointed manager of the radio department of the Broadway store of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. With assets of over four and a quarter-million dollars, including lease contracts of $1,800,000, and with liabilities of about half a million dollars appearing in the auditors' statement, the Piatt Music Co. has offered, through the 'wellknown brokerage house of Alvin H. Frank & Co., additional stock of $1,000,000, which was oversubscribed in a few hours. The stock, when issued, will appear on the exchange, it is said, at $27.50 per share. Following the fashion set by the Radio Trades Association of Southern California, which holds its regular meeting at the Breakfast Club once each month, the DownTown Radio Dealers' Division met at the City Club, November 18. George H. Nicholson, manager of the phonograph and radio departments of the Birkel Music Co., presided and a number of interesting subjects were discussed. The matter of fair and reasonable trade-in allowances was also debated, and the more general use of the Radio Trade-in Book, as issued by the publishers of that name, was urged by the Association. Kierulff & Ravenscroft, Crosley distributors in California, in wiring H. Curtiss Abbott, general sales manager, for more Gembox and Showbox receivers, state that Pacific Coast sales have been stimulated by the reports of excellent reception of the new 50,000-watt transmitter of WLW, the Crosley station in Cincinnati, which is featuring fine programs. Miss Elsa Meiskey Scores in Town Hall Recital Miss Elsa Meiskey, soprano and recording artist, made her debut in a recital on December 3 at the Town Hall, New York, where she >ang in Italian, German, French and English. Miss Meiskey's recital received favorable comment from metropolitan music critics, and an audience of good, size was cordially disposed. The following extracts from the New York Times are typical of the way in which the music critics reviewed Miss Meiskey's concert: "What showed forth and promised pleasantly for the future was the inherent loveliness of the voice and certain phrases that were sculptured with a fine feeling for line and a true emotional expression. Miss Meiskey has vocal capacity and talent. She is a pupil of Mme. Sembrich. and it is evident that this singer has material with which to build and the benefit of distinguished guidance in her studies." Thomas H. Endicott, general sales manager of the Zenith Radio Corp., Chicago, recently addressed a sales meeting of the Indiana Zenith dealers at the Severn Hotel, Indianapolis. Fitzgerald Music Co. Adds the Edison Phonograph-Radio Line New Piatt Music Co.'s Stock Issue Oversubscribed in Few Hours — Record Managers Favor Radio Commission Action Regarding Broadcasting of Records — Other News