The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

4 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. BROADEN ASSOCIATION SCOPE. Employes of Members of Eastern Talking Machine Dealers' Association Can Now Join — President Bremner's Interesting Talk — To Agree on Uniform Interest on Instalments — To Organize an Employment Bureau. A general meeting of the Eastern Talking Machine Dealers' Association, the first since the election of the new board of officers, was held at Keene's chop house on West Thirty-sixth street, on June 19, and the members present appeared to be well pleased with the manner in which the new executives have mapped out the work for the future. The following amendments to the by-laws were offered and carried : First. — That any employe of an active member of the Eastern Talking Machine Dealers' Association be eligible to become an associate member of said association. Second. — That any dealer in the Eastern States, outside of a fifty-mile radius of New York City, be eligible to become an associate member of said association. It was also voted that the Executive Committee work up a plan for the formation of an employment bureau for the benefit of both employe and employer. It is hoped that some means may be found to have a complete register of capable talking machine sales people, with records of their honesty and efficiency. President Bremner gave an interesting talk on the subject, "The Effect of the Recent Supreme Court Decision on the Retail Trade." The talk was essentially one to inspire confidence, the whole tenor of the discourse being optimistic, bringing great stress to bear on the idea that the retailer's future was the manufacturer's future. The fact that the manufacturer was spending hundreds of thousands on factory improvement would be the keynote for the dealer's enthusiasm. A committee will shortly take up the work of having the dealers come to some sort of an agreement whereby a uniform interest may be charged on instalments. The dealers of New York and vicinity were sounded on this subject about one year ago, and the association has replies from about 150, all in favor of a ten per cent, increase on instalments. Inasmuch as the Victor Talking Machine Co. cannot see their way clear to incorporate the double set of prices in tl eir dealers' contracts, it behooves all dealers, including the large department stores, to get together on this arrangement, in order that cash sales may be increased, and on instalment accounts the dealer at least get interest on the money outstanding. The new members of the Executive Committee are: J. E. Hunt, of Hunt's Music House, White Plains, N. Y. ; Albert J. Beers, of Fuller, Bagley & Beers; G. W. Morgan, of Gimbel Bros. It is stated that the officers of the association would be pleased to get in touch with similar associations throughout the country for the interchange of ideas for the betterment of the industry. Communications may be addressed to Francis F. Steers, secretary, 3496 Broadway, New York. SOMETHING OF AN INNOVATION Is the Establishment of a Harp Department by the Grafonola Co., Rochester, N. Y. An innovation in talking machine circles is the establishment of a harp department by the Grafonola Co., Rochester, N. Y. The display and demonstration of the Clark Irish harp and the larger concert harp was a feature of this progressive company's recent successful opening. The harp has certain individual ornamental qualities which make it a very artistic addition to an attractive salesroom. In addition to this it has attained such popularity of late that many musical establishments, alert to its commercial possibilities, are successfully undertaking its exploitation. The Grafonola Co., however, has the distinction of being the first talking machine dealer to inaugurate a harp department, and the intense interest displayed at its opening, especially in the small Irish harp, gives indication that this will be a very profitable department. TALKER AS A VOICE TRAINER Enables Singer to Judge Work of Great Artists and Discover Own Faults. "My advice to a young woman who aspires to become a great singer is to buy a talking machine and listen to the songs of great singers. I find a lot of satisfaction even in hearing my own songs. It gives me an opportunity to judge myself and shows me my errors." Mme. Schumann-Heink was so quoted in the Minneapolis Tribune last October, and anyone who has the least acquaintance with Schumann-Heink and her monumental earnestness will realize how much a statement ol that kind means. AN ENTERPRISING NEW JERSEY TALKING MACHINE DEALER by means of artistic warerooms, but utilizes the local papers to good purpose. He points the way One of the most enterprising talking machine dealers in New Jersey is Frederick G. Loeffler, who is a great believer in up-todate sales methods. This is demonstrated in his attractive establishment and his always well-arranged windows. An idea of how artistically arranged is his store at 200 Bergenline avenue, Union Hill, N. J., may be gleaned from the illustration which appears herewith, and which, by the way, shows Mr. Loeffler himself in the doorway. This is the Victor room, and an exceedingly h a n d some room it is. F G L°effler's Victor Room on Bergenline Avenue, Union Hill, N. J. Mr. Loeffler handles the Victor and Edison line, to others within the metropolitan area to be up and has built up a very large following in his ter and doing if they wish to attain a larger measure ritory. He not alone displays his progressiveness of success. INCREASED WHOLESALE BUSINESS During the year 1912 our wholesale business showed an increase over that of 1911 of 68%. Of this increase 28% was on what we are pleased to call "our dealers' " accounts, and the balance of 40% was from new accounts, about evenly divided between newly established dealers, and dealers who formerly purchased from another distributer. Increased demand accounts for 48% of this increase. Efficiency and the Eastern Service is responsible for 20%. If dealers realized fully the manifold advantages of Eastern Service the increase this year would double from this source. A good thing is worth trying — take our word for it that Eastern Service is exceptional— and try it. •• EASTERN TALKING MACHINE COMPANY 177 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON, MASS. FOR NINETEEN YEARS TALKING MACHINES EXCLUSIVELY