The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

The Talking Machine World Vol iU No. 8. New York, August 15, 1 9 15. BALTIMORE TALKING MACHINE MEN ORGANIZE. Association Formed with Henry Eisenbrandt as Temporary President — Special Committees Appointed to Take Action on a Number of Matters — Constitution to Be Adopted at Next Meeting of Association Scheduled to Be Held During First Week of September. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Baltimore, Md., August 7. — After many months of hard work a group of talking machine dealers of Baltimore gathered at the New Howard Hotel this week and formally organized an association, with temporary officers, and made plans to bring into its fold all of the dealers and distributers in Baltimore and vicinity. The association is to be known as the Associated Talking Machine Dealers of Baltimore. Henry Eisenbrandt, of R. H. Eisenbrandt & Sons, Inc., Victor distributers, was chosen as temporary president; Elmer Greensfelder, of Cohen & Hughes, Inc., Victor distributers, was chosen vice-president, and J. O. Gibbons, manager of the Victrola department of Stewart & Co., was selected as secretarytreasurer. The officers will remain in charge until the organization is in shape to adopt its constitution and working agreement. The next meeting of the association will be held the first week in September, at which it is hoped that every dealer of note and distributer in the city will attend. Last night's representation included besides the above mentioned : William Reiser, of E. F. Droop Sons & Co.; Joseph Fink, of the Kranz-Fink Talking Machine Co.; J. C. Sauer, of R. H. Eisenbrandt & Sons, Inc.; Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Hentschel, L. A. Wilson, manager of East Baltimore street branch of Cohen & Hughes, Inc. ; E. H. Gretzner, of William Knabe & Co.; J. Ichelson and M. Bogash, of A. Burdwise; Joseph A. Kunkel and George L. Becker, of the Kunkel Piano Co.; R. Ember; A. J. Oldewurtel; H. Doeplitz, manager Victrola department of M. C. Hecht ; George A. Rether, manager of music department Hecht Bros. & Co., and M. Greenwald. W. W. Gibson, manager of the McKee Co., Inc., Edison distributers, sent a letter showing sympathy with the organization, but was out of town. A. J. Heath, manager of the Columbia Co., was unable to be present, but also notified the organization that it could count on his support. Tn calling the meeting to order Mr. Eisenbrandt said: "There is little use of wasting words and we might as well get down to business. Our purpose of gathering together must be one of unity, and above all there must be a confidence to each other and not any petty sign of meanness. There must be a spirit of freemasonry to one another and let our obligations to each other be open and fair. We must remember that we are all in the same boat, and that if one of us rocks the boat the damage will result. To be successful we must look upon our contracts as binding and one which cannot be violated." After a general discussion of the plans and suggestions by Messrs. Fink, Doeplitz and Eisenbrandt, the name of "Associated Talking Machine Dealers" was adopted. Mr. Eisenbrandt, who appeared to be the right man in the right place, then aroused the gathering by another address, in which he spoke of the errors that have been made especially in the terms under which the machines are sold. "The one price system of the factories is the only thing that has held the business up," continued Mr. Eisenbrandt, "and unless we have unbounded loyalty we might as well stop right now. For as Shakespeare said, 'This above all to thine ownself be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.' "The piano business is in bad shape, and we all have to acknowledge it is in a demoralized condition, and it is just because the factories and the dealers didn't hold up the prices and the terms. One of the biggest piano manufacturers in the country told me only the other day he regretted that he did not close out fifteen years ago and go into the talking machine business. We must impress on ourselves the necessity of loyalty, and if we are not going to abide by that decision to uphold one another there is no use going any further." Mr. Eisenbrandt then said that he already saw the rumblings in the municipalities and the time was coming when laws would be put into effect specifying the hours of playing machines, just as is now done in certain parts of Germany, in the great student centers. He said the trouble was caused MAKING SALES IN THE SUMMER. Early Music House, Fort Dodge, la., Adopts New Methods for Exploiting the Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph and Records in Public and Gets Most Sat sfactory Results. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Fort Doege, Ia., August 6. — The Early Music House, of this city, which for some time has been included among the most energetic representatives of the Edison Diamond Disc phonograph, is not to be included among the concerns which relax their sales efforts during the summer months and believe in resting and complaining during that season instead of hustling for business. During the past couple of months the Early Music House has been conducting a series of free demonstrations of the Edison diamond disc phonograph in various newsstands, restaurants and candy kitchens in the busy sections of the city. In speaking of the demonstrations a member of the company said : "We find the plan is working very well in making one-night demonstrations and getting personal interviews with those who stop to look at and listen to the machine. Already several sales have been closed as a direct result of this special work. We are now contemplating a series of twilight conceits in the small parks and also in the small outlying churches. This work is being done by a young college man who is particularly fitted for it, and, therefore, it does not in any way interfere with the activities of our regular sales force." PLANS ADDTriONJOOUARTERS. One-Story Extension in Rear of Present Stores of Emanuel Blout to Afford Him Much Needed Storage Space for Victor Goods. Emanuel Blout, the well-known Victor distributer, 2799 Broadway, New York, has just had plans drawn for one-story and basement addition to the quarters at present occupied by him, and which take in four store fronts directly on Broadway. The new addition will give Mr. Blout nearly 20,000 square feet of additional space for the storage of machines and records, increased facilities that are badly needed to handle his present business demands, for in addition to his wholesale trade Mr. Blout draws an extensive retail patronage from the exclusive residence section in which he is located. Being a believer in the theory of mixing business with pleasure, Mr. Blout recently made the ideal tour through New England in his automobile, accompanied by Mrs. Blout and the Misses Blout. He also breaks the monotony of business by weekend trips to Atlantic City and other popular shore resorts. Have you a smile for everybody, bar none? Don't you like to meet smiling people? Don't they help you, encourage you a whole lot? And as the other fellow's smiles encourage and help you, so will yours, in turn, help many another fellow. Worth thinking about, isn't it? Price Ten Cents by the low-priced machine, some as low as $1 having appeared, and it is these machines, he said, cause the trouble. A standard price for Victor machines was then submitted, and they will be discussed at the next meeting. A committee to take up membership includes Messrs. Reiser, of Droop; Greensfelder, of Cohen & Hughes; Sauer, of Eisenbrandt; Heath, of Columbia; Gibson, of Edison, and Jesse Rosenstein, of Pathe. This committee includes all distributers, all of whom1 have already signified their intention to become members, with the exception of Mr. Rosenstein, who has not been communcated with. Another committee to introduce by-laws, constitution and general price scale includes Messrs. Greenwald, Boucha, Wilson, Becker and Fink. Refreshments were served at the close of the business session. LEASES NEW BUILDING IN DETROIT. Phonograph Co., of Detroit, Will Occupy Building at 258 Woodward Avenue When Alterations Are Completed About October 1 — Will Give Needed Additional Room. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Detroit, Mich., August 5. — The Phonograph Co., of Detroit has leased the building at 258 Woodward avenue, Detroit, now occupied by the Amerincan Express Co. It is a four-story building and has a basement. It will take possession August 16, and alterations will start at once, same to be completed by October 1, or earlier. The company will then move from its present quarters in the Liggett building. The Woodward avenue building will be used as a retail store as well as for State distribution of Edison talking machines, he company being sole Michigan representative. From what can be learned the first floor of the new building will he used as a recital hall ; the second floor will have booths for demonstrating machines and records ; the general offices will be on the third floor, while the fourth floor and lasement will be for storage. Approximately ?"),000 is to be spen: to make this store one of handsomest Edison shops in the country ; it will even surpass the Chicago store. R. B. Ailing, manager of the Phonograph Co., of Detroit, would not give out any details, saying that negotiations were not quite closed, although he frankly admitted that there wasn't the least question of the deal going through. TO STUDY VICTROLA MAKING. Jack Scofields, of Toledo, to Spend Part of Vacation Period at Victor Factory. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Toledo, O., August 5. — One of the active and popular members in the talking machine business in this city is Jack Scofields, a member of the staff of the talking machine department of the Cable Piano Co., of which F. D. Moran is manager. Mr. Scofields has been a member of the trade for some time, and has accomplished some unusual results as a salesman. He is now Jack Scofields. in the East on his vacation, and after spending some time with relatives in Connecticut will pay a visit to the factory of the Victor Talking Machine Co., in Camden, N. J., and there study the mysteries of talking machine and record manufacture at first hand — a valuable aid in salesmanship. Take the situation by the horns — go the limit with ' your selling plan and your campaigning. Half way is half lost.