The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 39 CONVENTION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TALKING MACHINE JOBBERS— (Continued from page 38) "It seems very encouraging for our bill to be presented to Congress at this session, and I am sure that all those who attended the hearing feel very optimistic as to the result. "It is now essential that all those interested in the Stephens-Ashurst bill keep right after their Senators and Congressmen, particularly since the election is drawing nigh." In Memory of Col. Bill James F. Bowers then presented a resolution of regret at the death of Col. Edward Lyman Bill, founder and editor of The Talking Machine World. The members of the association rose and stood in silence for a moment in memory of the departed editor. Ladies Attend the Theatre Owing to the rain on Monday afternoon, the auto trip planned for 'the ladies had to be abandoned, and they were taken to Keith Theatre where, to the number of fifty, they were the guests of the Victor Co., at an excellent vaudeville show. The trip to and from the theatre was made in rolling chairs, and the ladies made quite an imposing parade. New Officers Elected Tuesday Afternoon The final business session of the convention was held on Tuesday afternoon, the most important feature being the election of offices as follows: President. Edwin C. Rauth, Koerber-Brenner Co., St. Louis. Vice-President, Henry A. Winkelman, Oliver Ditson Co., Boston. Secretary, L. C. Wiswell, Lyon & Healy, Chicago. Treasurer, W. H. Reynalds, Mobile, Ala. The Executive Committee will consist of the four new officers and the three junior past presidents, namely, A. G. McCarthy, George E. Mickel and J. C. Roush. Chamber of Commerce Plan in Committee During the session the plan advanced by Paul B. Klugh for the formation of a Music Industries' Chamber of Commerce, which was discussed at the Monday session, again was brought to the attention of the jobbers and the report of the committee which attended the meeting held in New York in February of all representatives of the allied music trades, to act in the matter, was received and accepted. The matter was finally left in the hands of the Executive Committee of the association with instructions to report at the next convention. Grave Charge Against J. F. Bowers One of the bright spots of the meeting came when President McCarthy notified James F. Bowers that he had grave charges to present against him. The charges proved to be a gift in the form of a handsome morocco bound set of the Encyclopedia Brittanica, in a mahogany stand and stamped with Mr. Bowers' name in gold. The gift was accompanied by the follow tion for the excellent services and earnest zeal devoted to this organization." On the inside page of the testimonial, engrossed in the center of an Irish harp of gold, appeared the words: "To all you have been a source of inspiration for your activities in the events that have marked our social and business period. Each yesterday with you was a happy day. May the rememberance of it always stay. (Signed) Perry B. Whitsit, Lester Burchfield and Arthur A. Trostler. When it came time to select a meeting place for the 1917 convention, Max Landay came out strong for New York, but James F. Bowers said that there was no need for a vote because he had already decided upon Atlantic City. Atlantic City, therefore, it will be, the date and place being left to the Executive Committee. A number of other matters of direct interest Newly Elected Officers of the Association From Left to Right — E. C. Rauth, President; H. A. Winkelman, Vice-President; L. C. Wiswell, secretary; W. H. Rey-'J nalds, Treasurer f ing testimonial handsomely engrossed: to the association members alone were also "Presented to James F. Bowers as a token of discussed at the session which brought to a appreciation from the members of the associa close the official activities of the convention. Important Papers Read At Wednesday's Session The Victor Co., formally took charge of the destinies of the jobbers and the other conventioners on Wednesday and acted as host during the balance of the convention period at Atlantic City, Camden and Philadelphia. The first section of the Victor Co. program was the open meeting in the Belvidere room at the Traymore on Wednesday afternoon at which papers prepared by several of the department heads at the Victor factory were read and addresses made by those in charge of the great advertising and exploitation work being carried on by the Victor Co. Advertising Manager H. C. Brown called the meeting to order and declared during the course of his opening remarks that the already great advertising appropriation of his company had been increased by between $650,000 and $700,000, a statement which was met with much enthusiasm. Mr. Brown thereupon introduced Louis F. Geissler, general manager of the Victor Co., who, on the subject of "1916 and What it Brings," had the following to say as the formal introduction to the list of addresses: LOUIS F. GEISSLER'S ADDRESS "1916 and What is Brings" has been suggested as the title for a talk by myself. I have prepared only a short essay on the subject and, in view of the number and excellence of the papers which are to be read this afternoon before you, it behooves me to make my remarks as brief as possible. The uppermost thought in the mind of all merchants as applied to the query, "what does 1916 hold for you?" will be, how much money; how much more profit will I make as a Victor merchant in this year than last? The answer will be made by three kinds of merchants which I have in mind. The first merchant is he whose profits will be increased just that proportion in which shipments from the Victor Co. exceed the shipments of 1915; I mean the merchant who will figuratively sit down — and there are a number ol such among the dealers — who will practically be content with that solution and satisfied with that advancement. He is the least enterprising of our representatives. The second merchant is he who adopts that policy in so far as Victrola shipments are concerned, who will dispose of all Victrolas that he will acquire from the factory, but whose grasp of the possibilities of increasing record business is better than merchant number one and who in consequence devises ways and means and concentrates upon the development of the record trade, thereby increasing his record output and consequent profits probably 20 per cent, over those of merchant number one. The third Victor merchant is he who is both thoughtful and further seeing than either of the other two, and who will make 1916 serve 1917 in advance by his hard work and closer study of his business by better advertising, more liberal advertising. By practically following the Victor Co. tactics which are ever to keep the demand for Victrolas far in advance of the supply— he makes 1916 serve 1917. He will enter 1917 with a greater quantity of unfilled orders, consequently guaranteed business and a clientele which keeps him in the front rank with our leading distributers. 1916 has brought and will bring a rush of inexperienced men into our field of manufacturing; developments of interest if not of menace to your trade are growing. Already several wouldbe competitors have fallen by the wayside, and it is my opinion that the future will see many more expire and many others who will not meet with any marked degree of success. I am very positive in the opinion that your trade during the fall and winter months will surpass that recorded in any past season. I am equally certain that notwithstanding our increase in output, the buying abilities and demands of our country will be no better met proportionately, than they have been in the past. While this is proving and will prove annoying, it is certainly a healthy annoyance. There is no necessity for my quoting statistics. The prosperity and wealth of our country have been so thoroughly exploited by our journals that its wonderful financial condition from coast to coast is equally well known to you. (Continued on page 40)