The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1917)

24 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD OHIO DEALERS AND JOBBERS TO ORGANIZE STATE BODY Talking Machine Men Expect Organization of This Kind Will Shortly Materialize — Local Association Favors Idea — Deferred Payment Plan Now in Effect — Eclipse Window Displays Admired Cleveland, O., June 4. — The biggest interest in the talking machine field here at this time is the movement on foot to organize a TalkingMachine Dealers' and Jobbers' Association of the entire State of Ohio. If plans go through as outlined such an organization will be a reality before many months. For the past few weeks representatives of the talking machine jobbers of this district who travel through Ohio have been sounding the dealers regarding the practicability of such an association. Thus far many replies have been received which look upon the scheme favorably. It is believed by those in the trade here that an organization of such a character would unite the interests of talking machine men of Ohio as could nothing else and that greater, more farreaching sales would be the outcome of the project. This is said to be the first step of its kind in the United States to form a state organization of talking machine jobbers and dealers and if the scheme goes through the entire credit for it will go to Cleveland men of the trade. Under the plan outlined the headquarters of the big association would be in Cleveland and the present Cleveland Talking Machine Dealers' Association would likely merge with the statewide larger body. Officials of the Cleveland association look with great favor~ on the proposed new association of Ohio. Louis Meier, president of the local body, is very enthusiastic over the undertaking. He thinks that it is the best possible idea in which to harmonize all the varied branches of the trade into one smoothly working association, a plan that would bring together in a new way all the representatives of the Victor, Edison and Columbia companies for the general betterment of the industry and at the same time fatten the purses. F. W. Buescher, the Victor jobber, also looks upon the idea with no little favor. He says that talk of such a plan has been in the air for some time in Cleveland and elsewhere in the State. This, of course, is only a start of the great movement, but it is believed time only will serve to place the plan on a substantial basis and that sooner or later between 500 and 600 talking machine men of Ohio will join hands together in one association "for the good of the trade." Hundreds of pedestrians lately have stopped to admire the display window of the Eclipse Musical Co., 1130 Euclid avenue. It is surely one of the attractions of the upper avenue. The general decorative scheme represents a military training camp for sailors on the coast. There are tin soldiers, pasteboard tents, sand, a lighthouse, plenty of flags and bunting and a bay where is anchored a miniature battleship on which is the sign, "the choice of the navy, the Victrola." It is one of the most original window displays ever seen in Cleveland. Manager Savage of the Eclipse Co. is also planning a series of porch window display features for the summer. They will represent the porches of summer homes, the family sitting around listening to airs from the Victrola. The display is intended to feature the sale of the more popular priced styles. The new interest deferred payment plan on the sale of talking machines went into effecthere yesterday. It is too short a time for the dealers to get any definite line on whether the public is going to receive the scheme with favor but it is the opinion of the merchants that no objection will be made by the patrons to a system which is in vogue in about every other line of business in the country, that of paying interest on goods that are not sold for cash. In fact, it is felt by dealers that from the start the idea will meet with the instant approval of the public. At all events, it is adopted and will be carried out by all the merchants without exception here. Patriotic records continue to have a big sale. Dealers cannot get enough of certain records in this line. John McCormack's latest one, "The Star Spangled Banner," has been selling with a rush ever since it struck the city. "Dixie," by Alma Gluck, is another tremendous favorite here, as is also the "Marseillaise" as rendered by Calve. Some of the month's most popular talking machine records were: Victor — "America, Here's My Boy," "Poor Butterfly," "Little Boy Blue," "Fse Gwine Back to Dixie," "Lakme." Columbia — "I'll Make You Want Me," "Follow Me," "The Century Girl," "A Perfect Day," "The Invincible Eagle March," "I'm Proud to Be the Mother of a Boy Like You." Pathe — "My Lonely Lola Lou," "Where the BlackEyed Susans Grow," "There's a Long, Long Trail." Starr — "If I Had a Son for Each Star in Old Glory," "Somewhere on Broadway," "Marseillaise." Edison — "I'm So Busy," "I'd Be Happy Anywhere With You," "I Wonder Why," and "Have a Heart." All talking machine retail dealers will keep open Saturday afternoons during June but will close at that time in July and August. Hereto fore they have always closed Saturdays at noon from June 1 to September 1. According to Manager Roos of the Columbia wholesale agency the Columbia business in this district during May has excelled all previous months this year in volume of business to retailers and jobbers. The business went far ahead of his anticipation at this season of the year. S. H. Nichols, Columbia agent in the Pittsburgh district, visited the Columbia headquarters in Cleveland this week. Retail merchants are a bit unsettled owing to the registration last Tuesday when a number of their employes will possibly be called to the colors in the near future. The Victor and Columbia agencies expect to lose quite a number of men by the draft. EDISON BATTALION ORGANIZED Four Companies Representative of the Various Departments of Thos. A. Edison, Inc., Now Drilling Under Command of Major Boykin The Edison Battalion consisting of four companies have been formed with Edward C. Boykin, sales promotion manager and Editor of Edison Diamond Points, a West Pointer, as Commanding Major. John Constable is captain of the Laboratory Company; N. L. Green of the General Office company and C. W. Homer ol the Phonograph Works company. The Disc Record company will elect its captain later. Recognizing the prime need of military preparedness the Edison Battalion was organized for two essential reasons, to give military enthusiasts a chance to organize and to impart to the men in the Edison organization a practical knowledge of military work in general. A number of the men are of an age which will bring them within the Selective Draft law through which hundreds of thousands of American youths will be called to the colors to fight. Another reason is that, in a large organization, •a body of men trained as a home guard is considered almost indispensable. Thomas A. Edison has taken a lively interest in the new organization. A part of the company time is allowed the men to drill on Tuesdays and Thursdays when an hour is given each day to military tactics. On Saturdays the men drill from 12:15 to 1 o'clock. Commander Edward C. Boykin says the men will soon be uniformed and when they give their first public drill shortly as a battalion they will be considered among the best drilled military organizations of Northern New Jersey. A new concern known as the Leominster Victor Talking Machine Co., has opened a store at 5 Main street, Leominster, Mass. i ECLIPSE 1 f Eclipse Victor Service-All that the Name Implies The best grade of watches work on a twenty-four jewel basis. Eclipse record and machine service puts a twenty-four jewel movement into the retail merchandising of Victor goods. Our new equipment, our enlarged facilities, our complete stocks of foreign and domestic records and our business-building sales ideas comprise the main pivot jewels in our service. ECLIPSE MUSICAL COMPANY Victor Distributors CLEVELAND, OHIO