The talking machine world (Jan-June 1918)

February 15, 1918 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 95 DEALERS' ASSOCIATION IN LOS ANGELES JUST ORGANIZED Herman Beck Elected President of Organization at Recent Meeting — Association to Try for Trade Betterment — To Take Up Question of Approvals and Time Sales Los Angeles, Cal., February 7. — One of the most important happenings that has taken place in the talking machine business in Los Angeles for some time was the organization recently of the Retail Talking Machine Dealers' Association of Southern California. The meeting was called at the Hotel Clark and was attended by twenty-six dealers, or their representatives. The following stores were represented: The Vernon Music Co., Mr. Hollands, proprietor; the Hollywood Music Co., Messrs. Chamberlin and Tilden; Southern California Music Co., George Marygold, vice-president, and William Hobbs Richardson, manager, talking machine department; Zellner Music Co., Mr. Patten; George J. Birkel Music Co., Messrs. Geissler and Beck; Colyear's Furniture Co., Curtis Colyear; Bartlett Music Co., Frank Salyer, manager; Glockner Music Co., Mr. Glockner, proprietor; Piatt Music Co., Mr. Gallagher; Overell's Furniture Co., Mr. Stoll; Eastern Outfitting Co., Mr. Brown; Lyon-McKinney-Smith Co., Howard Brown; Shireson Bros., Mr. Shireson; Holmes Supply Co., Mr. Gibson; Fitzgerald Music Co., Mr. Earl Dibble, manager; Barker Bros., Mr. Boothe; Wiley B. Allen Co., Mr. Tucker; Andrews Talking Machine Co., Irving Andrews; Barnes Music Co., George Barnes. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Herman Beck, president; Curtis Colyear, first vice-president; C. B. Boothe, second vice-president; Earl Dibble, secretary; George Barnes, treasurer. The object of* the association is for the betterment of the trade in general and to try to regulate the approval system on records, and also fix a limit to the time for contracts to run. This is to be strictly a business organization to meet once every month at the different stores. It is the intention of the officers to have three or four open meetings during the year when all employes in the trade will be welcome and a special program is to be provided for their benefit. SEEK SPY EVIDENCE ON RECORDS U. S. Secret Service Operatives to Examine Many Discs Brought in by "Nieuw Amsterdam" for Dangerous Messages From Enemy One thousand phonograph records brought to an Atlantic port last week aboard the HollandAmerican liner "Nieuw Amsterdam" are to be tested by United States Secret Service operatives, who believe the discs may bear code messages for German spies. The records are in several languages, and none will be passed until it has been translated, read backwards and forwards and sidewise, tested for acrostics and musical note alphabets and examined microscopically for marks that might be messages. Many messages have been cleverly concealed among the words and the apparently meaningless "tra-la-las" of song records. And frequently messages have been hidden under the labels of discs. MARCH VICTOR RECORD SUPPLEMENT Little Volume Is as Usual Full of Interesting Text and Illustrations The Victor record supplement for March is a most interesting volume gotten up in the usual elaborate form and with pictures of unusual character. The cover design illustrates the Barcarolle from "Tales of Hoffman," with descriptive text on the first inside cover. Then there is a full-page portrait of Jascha Heifetz, the latest Victor acquisition, pictures of DeLuca engaged in the popular pastime of knitting, a view of John Philip Sousa leading the band of the Great Lakes Naval Station, and a picture of Lieut. Gitz-Rice in the trenches leading a group in song. The two center pages tell of the Victrola's service to the nation, and quotes from the comments of Walter R. Creighton, son of the late Lord Bishop of London, on the value of talking machine music in the trenches. TALKING MACHINES FOR SOLDIERS Talking Machine and Record Committee for Army and Navy Base Hospitals Doing Good Work in Getting Outfits for Sick Soldiers An important war work is now being conducted by the Talking Machine and Record Committee for Army and Navy Base Hospitals, which is headed by Arthur L. Lawrason, of the Nevada Apartments, Broadway and Sixty-ninth street, New York. The object of the committee is to get talking machines of all makes with disc records and needles to provide for the amusement and diversion of our soldiers when they return wounded or invalided, as well as for the sick already in camps and hospitals. Mr. Lawrason is a Canadian who is unable to serve in the army, but has done excellent work both in that country and the United States for the comfort and welfare of the fighting men. Those who have no machines or records to donate are appealed to for cash donations for the purchase of same. Stracciari, the baritone and Columbia artist, scored a big success with the Chicago Opera Co. at his debut last week. Standard Stock With Leading "Victor" Dealers The Lundstrom Patented "Converto" Cabinet, now in its second year, has experienced an unusually rapid growth in sales and popularity. Convertos are now carried as standard stock by a large number of the leading Victor dealers and distributors. In spite of the increased facilities it is and always Patented Dec. 11, 1917 Talking Machine Cabinet has been difficult to keep supply up to demand. This is due to the distinct advantages of the Converto for user, dealer and distributor. It houses a small Victrola — converts it into a handsome cabinet type, completely encloses the machine, takes the place of a stand, provides dust-proof record rack; it revives interest in records, helps dealers meet lowpriced competition in cabinet machines; it costs no more than a good stand and gives dealers a good profit. Prices and Particulars on Request The C. J. Lundstrom Mfg. Co. LITTLE FALLS, N. Y. Branch Offices: Flatiron BIdg. New York City Setting Victrola into Cabinet Sound Doors Openfor .Playing Completely Closed