The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1912)

10 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Editor and Proprietor. J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor. Trade Representatives: Glad. Henderson, C. Chace. L. E. Bowers, B. Brittain Wilson, A. J. Nicklin, August J. Timpe, H. E. Jamason. Boston: John H. Wilson, 324 Washington Street. Chicago Olflce: E. P. Van Harlincen, 87 So. Wabash Ave. Philadelphia: K. W. Kauffuan. Minneapolis and St. Paul: Adolf Edsten. San Francisco: S. H. Gray, 88 First St Cleveland: G. F. Phbscott. St. Louis: Clyde Jennings. Cincinnati: Jacob W. Walter. London. Eng.. Olllce: 1 Gresham Building, Basinghall St. W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager. Sole Representative for Germany and Austria: Karl E. Diesing, Berlin, S.W., 68, Kitterstrasse 72. Telephone Amt. IV, 11754. Published the 15th of every month at 373 Fourth Ave., New York. SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Mexico, One Dollar per year; all other countries, $1.25. England and her colonies, five shillings. ADVERTISEMENTS: $2.60 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special discount is allowed Advertising Pages, $76.00. REMITTANCES should be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill by check or Post Office Order. ty NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. — Advertising copy should reach this office by the first of each month. By following this rule clients will greatly facilitate work at the publication headquarters. J Long Distance Telephones — Numbers 5892-5893 Madison Sq. Cable Address: "Elbill," New York. NEW YORK, JULY 15, 1912. A COMPLETE report of the Convention of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers at Atlantic City will be found elsewhere in this issue. More than ordinary interest was manifested in the talking machine meet this year because it was expected that on account of pre-Convention agitation considerable bitterness might be injected into the various gatherings on account of the feeling engendered by the canvass for votes previous to the gathering of the forces at Atlantic City. However, the association gathering passed off quietly in direct contrast to the two great political conventions which have recently been held in Chicago and Baltimore. It only shows that while business men may have differences regarding men and methods, when they get together for serious consideration they can carry on convention work without resorting to personal abuse and bitter invectives. IN his address, Lawrence McGreal, the retiring president, said that there had been but one meeting of the executive committee during the year and that this fact indicated a most satisfactory condition between the factory and the jobber, and he felt that the less agitation created on matters except those of vital importance, the better it was for all concerned. He emphasized the point that it was easy to start agitation on things of minor importance which might lead simultaneously to misunderstanding and clashes between manufacturer and jobber. He urged that the members of the association' should discard all personal interests and forget all personal likes and dislikes and to stand together for harmony, and he urged united association. IN Secretary Roush's report he said that at the meeting of the executive committee a number of important matters were discussed, and one was the question of charging interest on instalment accounts. The vote of charging interest on talking machines sold on time was 38 for and five against. The vote for increasing the initial order from three to five machines and from 100 to 150 records was 39 for and nine against. The report of the traffic committee appears elsewhere and should be carefully perused as well as other matters in relation to the association work. Resolutions against the Oldfield Bill were passed at the business session. One of the most interesting addresses made at the open meet was by Mrs. Frances E. Clark, who has charge of the Educational Department of the Victor Talking Machine Co. Mrs. Clark outlined the object of the educational campaign and showed the great progress which had been made. One point which she emphasized particularly was the necessity of the dealers' co-operation in this campaign if the best results were to be obtained — the necessity of keeping in close touch with the work done in their local fields'. The address of Mrs. Clark is reprinted elsewhere in this publication, and it is worthy of the closest perusal. THERE were two tickets in the field and there was considerable speculation as to who would come out the victor. Naturally, every effort was made to change the views of delegates, and the contest was a very warm one, resulting in J. Newcomb Blackmail being elected president for the year 1912-1913. Mr. Blackman, in his address at the banquet at the Marlborough-Blenheim, pledged his earnest support to all trade movements conducted along progressive lines having for their object the best interests of the industry. He agitated warm and hearty co-operation in all matters and said that it should be his aim to cultivate the most cordial relations between the factories and the distributors. THE closing event of the Convention was the entertainment given by the Victor Talking Machine Co. to the visiting delegates. The delegates' left Atlantic City in two special cars provided by their hosts and upon arrival at Philadelphia enjoyed a buffet luncheon at the Bellevue-Stratford and then were placed in about thirty automobiles, visiting many of the historic spots in Philadelphia, after which a run to Valley Forge was made ; here some time was spent in going over the ground made sacred by the suffering of Revolutionary heroes, and later a splendid banquet was served at Fort Side Inn. In the dining-room a special stage had been erected and vaudeville talent of the highest order was provided. After the banquet the guests repaired to the lawn, which had been specially decorated by myriads of electric lights, where the vaudeville entertainment was continued. The report of this, which appears elsewhere, will show that the officers of the Victor Co. lived well up to their established reputation as royal entertainers in this finale of the Convention meet of 1912. THE address delivered to Louis F. Geissler at the banquet at the Marlborough-Blenheim is deserving of the closest reading by the talking machine men everywhere, and through the mediumship of The World his splendid essay is carried to many thousands of men in all parts of the earth. His optimistic views should inspire every talking machine man whether in America or in foreign lands. It shows how a great company perfectly organized is moving ahead at enormous strides and yet at all times is considering the welfare of its business constituency. Mr. Geissler figures that politics will have less effect upon commercial affairs than ever before, and he does not anticipate the slightest interference with prosperity by reason of the coming Presidential election. In other words, with bumper crops practically insured, industries active, labor well employed, he rightly figures that men can go ahead and do business with a reasonable certainty — that they are on safe ground. INSTEAD of slowing up in advertising and publicity, the Victor Co. will spend more money than ever this year. Mr. Geissler said, regarding advertising: "The year 1912 was again launched with the largest advertising appropriation in the history of the company. I hope that our enlarged newspaper campaign is appreciated and that it will prove effective. In connection with this increased advertising a man said to me : 'Geissler, you are foolish. You're now always advertising goods before you