The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1917)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 59 THE VITAPHONE CO. BANKRUPT Talking Machine Corporation Is Said to Have Liabilities of $90,000 and Assets of $50,000— William D. Newcorn Is Appointed Receiver Plainfield, N. J., June 4.— With $388,960 of preferred, and $679,940 of common stock outstanding out of a total authorized capitalization of $1,500,000, the Vitaphone Co., a Delaware corporation engaged in the manufacture of talking machines, went into the hands of a receiver on allegations that the concern has liabilities in excess of $90,000 and assets of only $50,000. Vice-Chancellor Lane, before whom the matter came on the return of a rule to show cause, named William D. Newcorn of Plainfield as receiver and fixed the amount of the bond he is to give at $40,000. While the receiver was appointed on a bill filed by Ames & Crane of Plainfield, representing William C. Simpson of this city, factory manager and purchasing agent for the alleged insolvent concern and a creditor in the amount of $1,070.08 for labor, etc., another insolvency bill was filed by Furst & Furst in behalf of Venino Brothers & Co., electrical contractors, at 65 Hamilton street, and James Coe & Co., both concerns merchandise creditors in relatively small amounts. The bill filed by Ames & Crane tells that the Vitaphone Co. was incorporated in Delaware March 1, 1907, and licensed to do business in New Jersey in the following year. Its officers are: President, C. B. Repp of Plainfield; first vice-president, A. M. Lowden of Elmira, N. Y. ; second vice-president, G. A. Frisbie of Plainfield; secretary and assistant treasurer, W. F. Heineke of Plainfield. In the bill the company's plant is valued at $30,000, against which there is a $10,500 mortgage, while realty owned by it in the borough of Manayunk, near Philadelphia, is valued at $15,000, but mortgaged for $9,000. The bill gives as part of the liabilities outstanding commercial paper amounting to $51, 000, promissory notes aggregating $28,000 being held by Elmira creditors. On account of salaries, wages, etc., the company is said to owe $15,000, and for merchandise $12,000. In an affidavit it is told that when an employe importunately demanded that he be paid, he was told by an officer of the company that Mr. Repp was in the South trying to sell stock tc raise money. United States District Court Judge Haight, sitting in Jersey City, denied an application for the appointment of a receiver in bankruptcy for the company, made by Winfield S. Angleman in behalf of three employes of the company. The Vitaphone Co. was not represented at the proceeding before Vice-Chancellor Lane. behalf of and under the name of the local Hoffay dealer. There will be many new ideas and features incorporated in the campaign, and special emphasis will be placed on the Hoffay airtight reproducer, which has been chiefly responsible for the success of the company's product. EDISON DEALERS CONVENE IN DALLAS Retailers in Texas-Oklahoma Territory Hold Interesting Business Meetings, Listen to Talks by Officials and Enjoy Tone Test HOFFAY CO.'S NEW SELLING PLAN Local Advertising and Exploitation Campaigns in the Direct Interests of Hoffay Dealers Will Be Inaugurated in 150 Towns in Three States The Hoffay Talking Machine Co., New York, announces that there will soon be put into effect a new plan of promotion designed to aid directly, and in their own territories the various dealers handling the Hoffay talking machines. "The remarkable distribution of Hoffay machines," said one of the company's officials, "which has been accomplished through The Talking Machine World, necessarily brings, us to an immediate development of the consumer idea. We have pledged ourselves to a strenuous campaign of promotion among the ultimate consumers, and we purpose to back up our new agents in a formidable way. The company, in its new policy, does not propose to confine its advertising to the national publications, but will carry it into the dealer's own town and tie his name to it for the purpose of the direct appeal. During the next six months the company states that local campaigns will be carried out in 150 cities and towns of 10,000 and over in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, and in each case will be done in Dallas, Texas, June 4. — The second annual convention of the Texas-Oklahoma Edison Dealers was held in this city on May 28 and proved to be one of the most successful conventions held in this part of the country. A large number of dealers were in attendance and listened to' business talks by A. H. Curry, president of the Texas-Oklahoma Phonograph Co., the local Edison jobber, and T. J. Leonard, general sales manager of the musical phonograph division of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., who dropped off at the convention while on a Southern trip. V. E. B. Fuller, general supervisor of the musical phonograph division, also delivered a stirring address before the dealers and staged a tone-test at the Dallas Opera House, which served to attract an overflow audience. Mme. Rappold and Ciccolini were the featured artists and both were in splendid voice. Arthur Walsh of the Edison reporting laboratory staff also played the violin in contrast to Albert Spalding, violin obligato. The tone-test resulted in many dealers making prompt subscriptions for similar recitals in their own locality. The dealers themselves spent much of their time in the meetings in discussing the trade situation and threshing out .various problems. R. K. Moses, sales manager of the Amberola Division of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., has enlisted in the National Guard of New Jersey and expects to be doing his "bit" in the near future when the troops are called out for action. Parr Magnetic Reproducer (PATENTED) Just compare its tone with that of any other sound box. Test it on a piano record for instance. Observe the clearly defined notes in the rapid runs — no blurring or slurring. Even the most delicate overtones of the record are brought out with clearness and fidelity by the Magnetic Reproducer. Just as simple as it. is scientific. The magnetic attraction acting on the one-piece Stylus Bar is far more sensitive than any metal spring can possibly be. Besides, springs will invariably weaken, but the magnetic attraction is uniform and permanent. The Parr Magnetic Reproducer will play all makes of disc records and can be used on any phonograph. Also — A Diaphragm More Responsive than Mica — of a composition permanently resilient and uniform in thickness. Being non-porous it will not absorb moisture. No bubbles, no blisters, no wavy places. With this Diaphragm the customer is sure to get as good results at home as in the demonstration booth. Apply, every mica test you can think of — there is no comparison. We are sincerely enthusiastic about it and not one unfavorable comment has been received. To Manufacturers — Send for Samples of Magnetic Reproducer with either mica or composition diaphragm. Any machine not equipped with Magnetic Reproducer is completely^ out of date. Large discounts to manufacturers in quantity lots. Parr Manufacturing Corporation 1 UNION SQUARE NEW YORK At Fourteenth Street