The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. CONVENTION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TALKING MACHINE JOBBERS— (Continued from page 21). ington and Misses O'Connor and Arnold. This was followed by the classic dances on the lawn, under the direction of Mile. Louise La Gai, to Victor music. On Sunday, July 25, the jobbers and their friends, numbering about 150, were the guests of the Victor Talking Machine Co. for a day, which will be long remembered on account of its delightful experiences. The program consisted of a trip to Mt. Tamalpais, an al fresco luncheon in Muir Woods and a trip on San Francisco Bay through the Golden Gate at sunset. A special train conveyed the talking machine delegation up the heights of Tamalpais, and at every turn of the winding railroad new vistas of surpassing beauty became revealed. From the top of the mountain a panoramic effect was obtained which was entrancing. Far below lay the city of San Francisco with a wall of fleecy clouds between, while on the other side were continuous waves of hills exhibiting the most beautiful California scenery. The luncheon in Muir Woods, amid the wonderful giant redwood trees, was a wonderful revelation. Leaving the railroad, a footpath was taken down the mountain, where trees, thousands of years old, towered hundreds of feet in air, their trunks rising from a mass of moss and ferns. Here, with the sunlight glinting through the foliage, a most enjoyable luncheon was served. At this time Leon F. Douglas motored over from San Rafael and joined the party. Thus were present on this memorable occasion Messrs. Johnson, Geissler and Douglas. Then a special train conveyed the party to Sausalito, where a special chartered steamer awaited them. The steamer trip gave an opportunity to obtain an unsurpassed view of San Francisco Bay and harbor, and while on this trip refreshments were served continuously. Shortly after 7 o'clock the party were landed and special conveyances awaited them to carry them to the St. Francis Hotel, which had been the headquarters during the convention. Thus was brought to a close the most remarkable event in the history of the association. THE BUSINESS SESSION. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, Cal., July 23. — Shortly after ten til is morning the members began to assemble for the business session in the Red Room of the St. Francis Hotel. There were present the following members, representing thirty-three firms covering the territory from the Atlaniic to the Pacific, and the country as a whole was splendidly represented : Members Present at Convention. H. A. Winkelman, Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, Mass.; J. F. Bowers and L. C. Wiswell, Lyon & Healy, Chicago, 111. ; F. Sieman, Rudolph Wurli'tzer Co., Chicago, 111. ; W. H. Buescher and C. F. Buescher, W. H. Buescher Co., Cleveland, O. ; W. H. Reynalds, W. H. Reynalds Co., Mobile, Ala.; H. F. Miller, Penn Phonograph Co., Philadelphia, Pa.; J. C. Roush, Standard Talking Machine Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. ; W. H. Parmenter, Whitney-Currier Co., Toledo, O. ; C. B. Andrews, W. D Andrews, Buffalo, N. Y. ; T. H. Towell, Eclipse Music Co., Cleveland, O. ; L. Burchfield, Sanger Bros., Dallas, Tex. ; G. E. Mickel, Nebraska Cycle Co., Omaha, Neb. ; E. C. Rauth and V. B. Taylor, Koerber-Brenner Co., St. Louis, Mo.; A. A. Trostler, Schmelzer Arms Co., Kansas City, Mo.; W. A. Eisenbrandt, H. R. Eisenbrandt & Sons Co., Baltimore, Md. ; M. C. G. Campbell and R. A. Bryant, Knight-Campbell Co., Denver, Col. ; W. G. Walz, W. G. Walz & Co., El Paso, Tex.; C. A. Grinnell, Grinnell Bros., Detroit, Mich.; T. H. Regon, Thomas Goggan & Bro., Galveston, Tex. ; C. F. Bruno, C. Bruno & Son, Inc., New York ; A. D. Geissler, New York Talking Machine Co.. New York ; L. J. Gerson, John Wanamaker, New York ; A. Hospe, A. Hospe & Co., Omaha, Neb. ; B. J. Pierce, J. W. Jenkins' Sons Co., Kansas City, Mo.; A. G. McCarthy, L. S. Sherman, C. S. Ruggles, P. T. Clay, G. R. Guppy, W. F. Morton, C. P. Little, R. M. Bird, C. H. Carder, E. Hunt and J. Dundore, Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco; L. V. B. Ridgway, T. B. Stone, A. R. Stone and E. P. Bliss, Lyon & Healy, Chicago, 111. ; G. B. Wiswell, Joliet, 111. PRESIDENT MICKEL'S ADDRESS. President Mickel, in opening the business session, remarked : "In opening the ninth annual meeting of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers we are to be congratulated on the unity of the organization. Never in our history has there been such a feeling of good-fellowship among the members ; never was the industry which we represent more prosperous. "When the association was organized there were about forty-five members. To-day we have a membership of eighty-eight, which comprises every individual and company that is interested in the distribution of Victor talking machines and records, with few exceptions. "With our organization, comprising practically everyone interested in the distribution of Victor goods, and with a united .membership as we now have, our association can continue to be of more practical benefit to every individual member than it has ever been before. "With the industry growing as it is, new issues will be continually arising where we, by co-operating with the Victor Co., can be of vital importance to the talking machine trade. "We are again to be congratulated that we are interested< in a product in which there is such a growing interest. Doubly congratulated that we George E. Mickel, Retiring President. are associated . with the Victor Talking Machine Co., whose farsighted policy, both constructive and initiative, has made the talking machine business what it is. "During the past year the executive committee held one meeting in Chicago in January, at which a number of matters of interest to the membership Officers of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers for 1915-1916. President, Andrew G. McCarthy, San Francisco, Cal. Vice-President, H. F. Miller, Philadelphia, Pa. Treasurer, W. H. Reynalds, Mobile, Ala. Secretary, E. C. Rauth, St. Louis, Mo. were taken up and arrangements started for the holding of this convention. The details of this meeting will be given by the secretary. The arrangement committee held one other meeting at Chicago, in May, at which I was present, when plans were perfected as to the details of this convention. Next Convention City Atlantic City "In February Mr. Wiswell, chairman of the traffic committee and Secretary E. C. Rauth and myself were called to the factory by a telegram from Mr. Fulghum. Of course you are all aware that the rate on records has been changed by the Southern classification committee, and Mr. Fulghum wished to have us come down to formulate some plan to protect the interests of the members of the association. "The freight rate proposition is one that requires the very careful attention of the association The details of what has been accomplished will be submitted by the report of the chairman of the traffic committee. "While you will be gratified to learn the result, it but emphasizes the necessity of our organization and shows us what can -be accomplished by cooperation. "The finances of the association need adjustment, and I trust that at this meeting ample provision will be made, so that the officers who are elected for the coming year will have sufficient funds on hand to take whatever action may be necessary to protect our interests." Many Important Topics Discussed. A number of important topics were discussed, and brought out a free expression of opinion from the members present. Various committees rendered their reports, and the reading of the report of the traffic committee was greeted with prolonged applause. It will be seen that this committee has accomplished excellent results, which will be of material benefit financially to jobbers throughout the country. It is believed, indeed, that if this committee had not won the reduction from the Southern classification committee the move would have been an entering wedge, with the object of increasing rates in all parts of the country. REPORT OF TRAFFIC COMMITTEE. The report of the traffic committee, made by L. C. Wiswell, the chairman, was as follows : "From a committee of seemingly minor importance your traffic committee has, during the past year, grown to be one of the most important committees of our association. "We all realize that the expense item of our business is the one that should be carefully watched and, as transportation is entirely an item of expense, it is therefore necessary that this feature of our 'business be diligently looked after. "As you all know, your committee has during the past few years appeared before the official and Western classification committees and successfully convinced them as to the reasonableness of the classification, first class, that we were enjoying on talking machines and records; hence the classificati >n of first class on talking machines and records throughout the jurisdiction of the official and Western classification committees. "Up to a year ago we were enjoying a uniform classification throughout the United States. However, at Hie June, 1914, meeting of the Southern classification committee, held at Chattanooga, Tenn., the committee, without knowledge on the part of talking machine manufacturers or your {Continued on page 24.)