The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

tin: talking machine would 35 ANNUAL DINNER OF TALKING MACHINE DEALERS' ASS N Held at the New Grand Hotel on April 9 — Dealers Have as Their Guests Prominent Manufacturers, Representatives, Jobbers, Attorneys and Men in Other Walks of Life Addresses of Particular Interest Delivered — Affair a Credit to the Association. The Eastern Talking Machine Dealers' Association added to its laurels on Wednesday evening, April 9, with its third annual banquet at the New Grand Hotel, New York, when it had as its guests talking machine manufacturers, jobbers, dealers and men prominent in other walks of life to the number oi eighty. The gathering indicated that the dealers' organization was a live body with a real purpose, and that the members were starting on their fourth year full of purpose and enthusiasm. Election of Officers. Previous to the arrival of the guests of the evening the dealers held their annual meeting for the election of officers, and the following gentlemen were chosen to preside at the head of the organization for the ensuing year: J. G. Brenner, New York, president; R. Montalvo, Jr., New Brunswick, N. J., vice-president ; F. L. Steers, New York, secretary, and Henry Rati, Jersey City, N. J., treasurer. Henry C. Brown's Interesting Address. The office of toastmaster at the banquet was assigned to V. W. Moody, of the New York Talking Machine Co. He opened the feast of reason by introducing Henry C. Brown, the popular advertising manager of the Victor Talking Machine Co.. who gave the talking machine men assembled some excellent points regarding advertising in general and that of the talking machine business in particular. Mr. Brown emphasized the desire of the Victor Talking Machine Co. to co-operate with the dealers throughout the country and to receive on his part the co-operation of all the dealers on matters pertaining to the development of all branches of the talking machine business. He commented upon the enthusiasm of the dealers regarding new types and features introduced in the Victor line, and said that though the company was constantly spending millions of dollars increasing its facilities to take care of the demands of the trade, those demands increased in the approximate ration of three to two. In closing his address Mr. Brown referred to his own particular department, that of advertising, saying that there was no deep mystery about the science of advertising and no real necessity for being familiar with an abundance of type faces or other details of the printing trade. Advertising, he said, was simply a practical application of ordinary common sense in the exploitation of certain products. Wm. C. Freeman on Co-operative Publicity. The next speaker was William C. Freeman, advertising manager of the New York Evening Mail, whose advertising talks are read and advertising policy looked up to and admired throughout the country. Mr. Freeman was present at the invitation of President Brenner, of the association, for the purpose of outlining a plan whereby the talking machine dealers of Greater New York could cooperate with a view to securing the greatest amount of effective newspaper publicity at a minimum amount of expense to the individual. Mr. Freeman handled the subject in a concise and non-technical manner and suggested several plans for using the daily papers, morning and evening, with a view to reaching as many distinct sections of the population as possible. Mr. Freeman suggested that about seventy dealers should combine and take a space of five columns in the daily papers under a special heading, the center of the large space to be taken up with a snappy talk on talking machines in general and to be surrounded with uniform announcements of various dealers. Mr. Freeman drew some interesting comparisons between honest and dishonest advertising and told of the ideals of the clean advertising man in a manner that made a strong impression on his audience. It is the desire of the officers of the association to have as many dealers as possible join in an advertising campaign, to be supported on a pro rata basis and with the object of benefiting the local trade as a whole. Oldfield Bill Still a Menace. Walter B. Raymond, a prominent attorney and the legal representative of the L. E, Waterman Co., the fountain pen manufacturers, was the nexl speaker, and had for his subject the Oldfield bill, with which he is particularly familiar through liis active work in Washington in opposition to the measure before the sub-committee on patents. Mr. Raymond explained the nature of the Oldfield bill, what it claims to accomplish for the benefit of the public in the matter of reduced cost of living, ami what its passage would mean to dealers in articles the selling price of which is fixed. He brought home to many of those present for the first time the true significance of the bill and the danger that lurked in it for every established dealer of patented and standard priced articles, should the measure become a law. As for the dealers themselves desiring freedom in the matter of making their own prices, Mr. Raymond stated that the Waterman Co. had received replies from nearly 13,000 dealers in answer to a query regarding their desire in that matter, and, with the exception of only five, they were all in favor of fixed price maintenance. The attorney emphasized the fact that at the last hearings on the bill members of the committee were for the most part hostile to the fixed price system, being thoroughly familiar with neither the patent laws nor the business of manufacturing. He stated that to influence legislators against the bill, provided it came up again, it would be advisable for dealers in articles of fixed price to rouse public sentiment against the bill and push that sentiment' to the fore in place of their own desires in the matter, with a view to avoiding any charge of selfishness. Mr. Raymond in closing sounded a warning regarding the probability that the "Seven Sisters" bills of New Jersey, President Wilson's pet legislation, would be placed before Congress for transformation into federal statutes. The drastic nature of several of the bills, especially the second one, would prove ruinous to owners of patents -and manufacturers in all lines. A Message from George W. Lyle. The toastmaster next read a letter "from George W. Lyle, general manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co., regretting his inability to be present, and enclosing an optimistic message to the dealers regarding the progress made in the manufacturing and selling of the Columbia graphophones and Grafonolas and the bright future of that line. Mr. Lyle particularly emphasized the recent Columbia advertising, which was calculated not only to arouse the interest of the prospective purchaser, but to actually bring-him into the dealer's store. George P. Metzger Outlines Publicity Campaign George P. Metzger, advertising manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co., next addressed the dealers, and outlined in a general way the advertising campaign of that company and what it was intended to accomplish. He stated that it was the desire of the company to make the campaign reach directly into the home town of the dealer, not only through national advertising but through especial assistance rendered the dealer in his advertising in his own territory. For this service the dealer can demand expert advice, tested copy, advertising experience of the members of the Columbia Co.'s advertising staff, while still free to operate his local campaign in the matter of space and general arrangement to suit his own special requirements if he desired. J. Newcomb Blackman's Lively Speech. The next speaker of the evening was J. Newcomb Blackman, president of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers, who in his usual direct iand forceful manner emphasized a number of the points made by previous speakers regarding the benefits derived from fixed prices, and made some suggestions as to methods for successfully opposing legislation calculated to nullify that privilege. Mr. Blackman stated that much of the opposition to fixed prices and so-called "patent monopolies" arose from the fact that the opponents did not take the trouble to study the situation and did not really understand it. He recommended strongly that the position of the farmer and mechanic and other divisions of the public should be closely studied if those bodies were to be convinced that it was to their benefit to pay fixed prices for fixed and known values in merchandise. He stated that the natural selfishness of many people would have to be overcome if they were to be convinced of the real benefits of price maintenance. Clarence Axman next read a clever and humorous paper describing the sorrows and joys of the talking machine dealer, following which the guests were dismissed by the toastmaster. Mr. Blackman, as did the other speakers of the evening, illustrated his remarks with pointed stories of humorous character, and as a result the speeches did not lack interest for a moment. The success of the banquet arrangements reflects great credit upon ex-Secretary J. H. Dodin .and the other officers of the Dealers' Association, who put forth strong personal efforts to secure the attendance of the desired ones, and who saw to it that everything ran along smoothly from the opening of the attractive menu, with the Victor and Columbia trade-marks on the. cover and fastened together with a talking machine needle, to the toastmaster's words of dismissal. Those Present. Among those present or represented at the banquet were : W. C. Freeman, Walter B. Raymond, J. Newcomb Blackman, Geo. P. Metzger, V. W. Moody, Marion Dorian, R. G. Caldwell, New York; Henry C Brown, Camden, N. J. ; J. G. Brenner, Isidor Zion, New York; T. Avon Entress, Union, N. J.; Frank C. Storck, Red Bank, N. J.; F. L. Steers, New York; Henry Rau, Jersey City, N. J.; H. Phillips, Greenwich, Conn. ; M. J. Roth, New York ; J. B. Cohen, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; O. Pagani, New York; Irwin Moses, Hampden, N. J.; Geo. W. Morgan, New York; H. P. Low, New York; Sol Lazarus, New York; A. Lasus, New Rochelle, N. Y. ; H. Jaffee, Hoboken, N. J. ; J. Hunt, White Plains, N. Y. ; M. Goransky, Yonkers. N. Y.; Albert Galuchie, Jersey City, N. J. ; J. J. Cavanaugh, 'Brooklyn, N. Y. ; August Bauer, New York ; Chester I. Abelowitz, .New York; W. O. Brown, Dover, N. J.; Henry Mielke, New York; J. E. Cocker, Elizabeth, N. J.; M. W. Gibbons, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Chester H. Hoffman, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Theodore Lohr, New York; Mr. Loeffler, Union Hill; David Switky, S. A. Sherman, New York; Jas. T. Coughlin, New York; C. J. Iannell, New York; Fuller, 'Bagley & Beers, New York; R. Montalvo, New Brunswick, N. J.; A. H. Dodin, New York; Hornluck & Newcomer, Elizabeth, N. J.; Leon L. Gumbiner, A. H. Jacot, Saul Birns, S. B. Davega, Lipman Kaiser, R. F. Bolton, Joseph F. Collins, New York; E. Paul Hamilton, R. H. Morris, Brooklyn, N. Y.; E. G. Schloss, New York; Mr. Goldsmith, N. Goldfinger, Emanuel Blout, I. Davega, New York ; C. F. Bruno, Chas. Bobzin, New York. EXHIBITING AT WOMEN'S CLUBS. Edison Disc Phonographs Securing Splendid Publicity in This Way. In the new plan of publicity for the Edison disc talking phonographs and records F. K. Dolbeer, general sales manager, has adopted a new policy, and that is of exhibiting at various women's clubs throughout the country. At the head of this department is Mrs. Ilsen, and at the present time she is in Washington giving Edison concerts at club meetings. A recital was held recently by her at the Willard Hotel in Washington, over 1,000 people being seated in the ballroom to hear the new products. As this article is written, the Sorosis Club is being entertained by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., at its New York offices, 10 Fifth avenue.