The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 91 2 GRESHAM BUILDING, BASING HALL STREET E. C, LONDON, W. LIONEL STURDY, MANAGER. General Feeling of Financial Insecurity Has Effect on British Talking Machine Trade — Scarcity of Competent Workmen a Factor — Increase in Imports Reported — Planning for Active Trade Campaigns After the War — New Russian Records Listed by British Houses — What the Newest Record Lists Contain— Court Asked to Decide on Standard Record — Enterprise Shown by Certain Concerns in Face of Adverse Conditions — Records to Instruct in Wireless Operation — More German Firms Ordered to Liquidate — Shortage of Packing Boards Announced London, E. C, England, July 26. — In the gramophone and musical instrument domain general trade conditions are not overbright at the moment. Except perhaps in particular centers, sales have fallen off considerably all over the country, mainly we should imagine in consequence of a widespread feeling of insecurity as to the effect of calling-up wage earners and business men generally for military service. These days money is not so freely spent on things-one-can-do-without, and there is now a more general desire to invest in war loans, or otherwise earmark surplus earnings for deposit in the bank. All men up to the age of fortyone not yet in khaki or exempt come under the military service acts, and this gigantic domestic upheaval obviously is going to turn things inside out. Dealers therefore fear to add to their stocks or otherwise tie up capital. The trade has reached a kind of ragtime stage when orders are placed piecemeal as conditions demand, though in bulk, quite a fair business is being done. Of the prospects for the season, I feel sanguine that trade will not be unsatisfactory, conditions and difficulties considered. Once we reach a level and know, or rather be, in a better position to estimate possibilities and probabilities at their true value, definite plans of campaign and expenditure can be more safely embarked upon. As it is, one is shy of taking action, though necessity has compelled in certain quarters commitment to confirmation of contracts. Despite little individual forebodings, which happily find only secret expression, there is, broadly speaking, an unshaken confidence in the industrial and political future. The war has reached a stage when reasonable optimism is more than ever justified. But in the present stage of the conflict it were foolish to indulge in estimates of an early peace, and we have therefore schooled ourselves to look both ways determined to make the best of things as they are, proceed cautiously, and be ready for anything that may eventuate. A Glance at Trade Conditions A glance at the inner workings of the gramophone trade in relation to official prohibitions, etc., may be of interest. The question which takes precedence of all others is that affecting the right of the trade to import certain necessary parts and accessories. Although the position in this respect is still a little uncertain it is becoming clearer each day, and is by now pretty well known that the Board of Trade has conceded the music trade permission to import under license a specified portion of its annual imports. France and Switzerland, I understand, may be authorized to sell us goods up to about 50 per cent, of the total value we imported during twelve months prior the prohibition order. These goods represent articles required by the whole music industry, as for instance, piano actions, and certain metal parts; gramophone motors, tone arms, sound boxes, horns, etc. In regard to imports from America, the position is somewhat better than was at first thought possible. Official restriction, which for a long time held just against all argument, has at last been removed to the extent of permitting the importation of metal parts up to 140 tons per month. Being perhaps the freest and most flexible center of the world's metal markets at the present period, American foundries are in the best position to look after our small musical requirements promptly. The weight allowed is a mere fleabite, yet so urgent are our requirements on shipping capacity — every available foot of space being required for the transport of other or more necessary merchandise — that it was only after very considerable difficulty and argument, our officials were moved to make the concession of this small amount of tonnage. Small, yes! — but withal vital to the existence of the music trade industry, vital out of all proportion to the other interests at stake? This 140 tons will not go far. It has to be spread over the pianoforte, player, organ, gramophone, and every other section of the trade. Still, we are grateful under the circumstances, because it will enable us to keep things going pending a return to the good old times, of now, it seems, so long ago! Planning Post Bellum Campaigns So far as is possible under the present difficult conditions it is pleasing to note that quite a number of British gramophone firms have prepared a plan of campaign to go into effect as soon as the war is over. These plans in the main are, by the exigencies of the situation, (Continued on page 92) 'His Master's Voice' — the trade-mark that is recognized throughout the world as the HALL-MARK OF QUALITY Branches Agencies 'His Master's Voice" Copyright This intensely human picture stands for all that is best in music — it is the " His Master's Voice " trade-mark, and it brings to you, no matter where you are, the very best music of every kind, sung and played by the world's greatest artists — the greatest singers, pianists, violinists, o r. chestras and bands — all enshrined in the unequalled " His Master's Voice " records DENMARK: Skandinavlsk Grammopbon-Aktleselskab, Friharnen, Copenhagen. FRANCE: Cie. Franchise du Gramophone, 115 Boulevard Richard Lenoir, Place de la Republique, Paris. SPAIN: Compafiia del GramOfono, 56-58 Balmes, Barcelona. SWEDEN: Skandinaviska Grammophon-Aktiebolaget, Drottnlng Gatan No. 47, Stockholm. RUSSIA: The Gramophone Co., Ltd., 45, Nevsky Prospect, Petrograd (Petersburg) ; No. 1 Solyanka, Solyanol Dvor, Moscow; 9, Golovlnsky Prospect, Tlflls; Nowy-Swlat 30, Warsaw; 33, Alexandrowskaya Ulitsa, Riga ; 11 Mlchallovskaya Ulltsa, Baku. INDIA: The Gramophone Co., Ltd., 139, Balliaghatta Road, Calcutta ; 7, Bell Lane, Fort, Bombay. AUSTRALIA: S. Hoffnung & Co., Ltd., Sole Concessionaries of The Gramophone Company, Limited, 163, Pitt Street, Sydney. NEW ZEALAND: Gramophonium, Ltd., 118-120 Victoria Street, Wellington. SOUTH AFRICA: Darter & Sons, Post Box 174, Capetown; Mackay Bros., Post Box 251, Johannesburg; Mackay Bros. & MeMahon, Post Box 419, Durban ; Ivan H. Haarburger, Post Box 105, Bloemfontein ; Franz Moeller, Post Box 108, East London; B. J. Bwins & Co., Post Box 86, Queenstown; Handel House, Kimberley; Laurence & Cope, Post Box 132, Buluwayo; The Argus Co., Salisbury. EAST AFRICA: Marques. Bayley & Co., Lourenzo Great Britain : HOLLAND : American Import Co., 22a, Amsterd Veerkade, The Hague. ITALY: A. Bossi & Co., Via Oreflci 2, Milan. EGYPT (Also for the Soudan, Greece and the Ottoman Empire) : K. Fr. Vogel, Post Box 414, Alexandria. The Gramophone Company, Ltd. HAYES MIDDLESEX ENGLAND