The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1909)

V THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 31 TRADE NEWS FROM BOSTON. The Hornless Era Has Arrived — Single vs. Double Faced Records Discussed — Murphy with Eastern Talking Machine Co. — Enjoyable Reunion — Ditson's Big Victrola Business— Columbia Grafonolas in Demand. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., Nov. 15, 1909. "Everything is to be hornless in a short time" was the prediction along Talking Machine Row this week by one of the astute salesmen, and talks with other men familiar with the trade show that there is a falling off in the call for the old style of "with-a-horn" machines, while the demand for the hornless variety is very much on the upward jump. The great variety of styles in which these can now he hought is a factor in their favor, and the price does not seem to cause any delay in sales. In fact, the cost of the really good instruments is in their favor, for people are willing now to believe that the talking machine is worth considering, because it costs enough to attract their attention. There is quite a little feeling manifested by the jobbers of this section of the country over the evident intention of the record-makers to eliminate as mucn of the single-faced record business as possible and concentrate on the doublefaced records. But the increase in the sale of the double-faced records and a falling off in the sales of the single-faced may operate to make them change their minds. They object to the necessity of being obliged to carry a double stock. The Eastern Talking Machine Co. did a very good stroke of business this .week when it securred the branch office of the Boston Grand Opera House for its store at 177 Tremont street. Thomas J. Murphy, a very popular and very efficient ticket-seller, formerly connected with one of the local theaters, has been established in this office, and the business that it attracts has already proven to be a very good thing for the talking machine departments of the store. The employes of the Eastern Talking Machine Co. had a very enjoyable dinner at the Lombardy Inn on October 28. and a feature of the meeting was a lecture by T. D. Duncan, of the Business Phonograph Co. The Eastern Talking Machine Co. is having fine new electric signs placed on the front of its building, and is featuring the grand opera records in its windows. General Manager Taft was recently presented with the head of a fine bull moose shot by a friend in the Maine woods. It will be given the place of honor on the wall of the store. Mr. Taft spent several days this week in New York. A. W. Winkelman, manager of the talking machine department of the Oliver Ditson Co., was in New York during the past week, spending much time at the Ditson Co.'s store there and then going over to the Victor factory. Business in his department is reported as big, especially on the Victrola 12 and 16. The local trade was greatly pleased this week to receive a visit from "Doc" O'Nell, who is just back from China. He says he is going back to the land of the poppy soon. The Grafonola library table style just brought out by the Columbia Phonograph Co. is having everything its own way at the new warerooms of the company here. The salesmen make it a point to call the attention of everybody to it, whether the person buys a package of needles or a big instrument. The result is a rapid spreading of its fame. At the Osgood Co. this month an especially big business on Victor records is reported and a corresponding big increase in the sale of Victor machines. SCHUBERT'S EXTENSIBLE RECORD. G. H. Schubert, 818 Madison street. Chicago, 111., is having quite a demand for his extensible record rack, which is referred to in his advertisement elsewhere. He is sending out some interesting literature which can be had for the asking. FREDERICK'S IMPORTANT MOVE. Will Place a Line of Talking Machines in His Several Branches. W. F. Frederick, the well-known Pennsylvania dealer, who has branches in many cities throughout Pennsylvania, has been investigating the talking machine business and proposes to take on talking machines in his great chain of stores. Splendid exhibit rooms will be fitted up in the magnificent new Frederick building in Pittsburg, where the Victor and Edison lines will be fittingly displayed. Mr. Frederick has made his arrangements with the Standard Talking Machine Co., of Pittsburg, and without doubt this new move will prove a successful one. Trained talking machine men will be placed in charge, as it is not Mr. Frederick's intention to give any of his personal time to the development of this branch of the business. It will be seen at a glance, however, that he is in a splendid position to build a talking machine trade of commanding proportions. LYLE SUCCEEDS WILLSON ^s Assistant to Geo. W. Lyle, General Manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co. Merwin E. Lyle, a nephew of Geo. W. Lyle, general manager, and for the past two years manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co.'s office in Baltimore, Md., has been called into headquarters as an assistant to his uncle. Mr. Silverstein, previously in charge of the company's Louisville (Ky.) office, is now in charge at Baltimore, Md. Mr. Lyle has been in New York for a couple of weeks, making himself familiar with the duties formerly looked after by H. L. Willson, who vacates the position of the general manager's assistant to embark in another line of business in Philadelphia, Pa. Merwin E. Lyle formally assumes Mr. Willson's place on the 15th, when the latter's resignation takes place. The future of Mr. Willson will be followed with considerable interest by his associates in the Columbia service, as his rise in the company has been rapid and on merit. About five years ago Mr. Willson became private secretary to President Easton. In twelve month's time he was sent to Chicago as a clerical assistant to John H. Dorian, then manager. When Mr. Dorian was drafted to New York and given charge of the chain of Columbia stores in the greater city, Mr. Willson succeeded him as the Chicago manager. Subsequently he was called to the executive office as assistant to General Manager Lyle, a post he filled with brilliancy, showing unusual executive ability for a young man with a decided inclination toward organization, and in a short time he would have been made assistant general manager of the company. Mr. Willson, however, has aspirations of his own elsewhere, and he embarks in business with a brother in Philadelphia with a concern interested in coal securities, developing a new field in the anthracite section of Pennsylvania, taking hold of the promotion end. TO MAKE ARGENTINE RECORDS. Messrs. Freiberg and Forbush Sailed Recently on This Mission. William Freiberg, of the Columbia Phonograph Co.'s laboratory recording staff, accompanied by Gus Forbush as an assistant, sailed from New York October 20, via the Lambert & Holt line, for Buenos Ayres, Argentine, S. A., where they will arrive on November 20. They will make a line of Argentine records, vocal and instrumental. Mr. Freiberg will be in the most progressive South American republic about a month. The records are intended only for the export department list. The company's export department recently issued their new catalog of "Discos Dobles Columbia Neuvas Selecciones Puerto Riquenas," about 60 or 120 numbers altogether. VICTOR=COLUMBIA LITIGATION. Victor Co. Brings Suit Against the American Graphophone Co. for Infringement of Patent — Columbia Co. State They Will Defend Suits and Protect Dealers — Letters issued to the Trade. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 9, 1909. The Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., yesterday mailed an "Important Letter to the Trade on the Subject of Victrola Infringement." It is an interesting document, as it recites and summarizes the history of the company from 1895, when the "United States Gramophone Co. started, in a small way, to manufacture gramophones," to the company of to-day, which "now control the original Berliner basic patents, and have the gramophone developed to its present condition." Then they say, "We chose to invade the field of no one, but have created an entirely new line of talking machines and records with new and distinctive features." This leads up to the invention of the Victrola, the history, purpose and success of which is given with considerable detail, concluding with the following announcement of a suit brought against the American Graphophone Co.: "Our suit against the American Graphophone Co., on the said reissue patent was filed on October 5, 1909, in the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York. * * * Also to make the situation clear to the trade that all negotiations between the Victor Co. and the American Graphophone Co. towards the matter of licensing the latter company to manufacture the 'Victrola' type are at an end." When this matter was brought to the attention of C. A. L. Massie, of the legal department of the American Graphophone Co. (Columbia Phonograph Co.) in New York, he said: "Oh, yes, we made our appearance on the first Monday of November, and will file our answer the first Monday in December. There is nothing to it. We expect to win out." The Columbia Phonograph Co. have quickly met the issue by publishing a reply, which, although its principal message is protection to dealers, also contains some extraordinarily interesting history. The letter closes with the statement that "We will defend 'successfully and at our own expense' any patent suit brought by the Victor Co. against our Grafonolas." To assist Victor dealers in bringing the Dr. Cook North Pole record to the attention of people of their community, the Victor Co. have designed a special Dr. Cook window display that is bound to attract considerable attention. This display is a fac-simile, in miniature, of the John R. Bradley, the boat on which Dr. Cook left on his North Pole expedition. The ship is dressed in the colors of all nations, and on one of the masts appears a picture of the hemispheres, above which hangs Dr. Cook's Victor record. On the sails of the ship are invitations to come in and hear Dr. Cook tell how he discovered the North Pole. This display is sent to dealers at a nominal cost, and certainly should be taken advantage of by every dealer who desires to be up-to-date in the matter of window display. DISC RECORD STOP The Chambers Automatic Stop for Disc Records Stops the Talking Machine instantly as soon as the record is finished. Simple in construction— Perfect in action. Fits any record — No springs or strings to get out of order — Absolutely guaranteed. ASK YOUR JOBBER FOR IT CHAMBERS AUTOMATIC STOP CO. 3. R. LYNCH, Mgr. Room 622, Tribune Bldg., New York