The talking machine world (Jan-June 1918)

March" 15, 1918 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 99 WHY NOT A TALKING MACHINE MEN'S CLUB IN NEW YORK? Strong Movement Under Way to Establish a Social and Business Center for the Trade at Large — Plan Would Present Many Genuine Advantages — Piano Men Already Have Club Why not a talking machine men's club in New York — a social center where members of the trade can meet their friends, and where out-of-town visitors may make their headquarters? There is a strong sentiment in the trade at the present time for the organization of a talking machine men's club, along the lines of clubs organized in the piano and other trades, and which have proven so successful. It is felt that this industry has reached the point where such an institution would prove most desirable, and that the trade is big enough to assure the support of such a move without any difficulty. As one well-known talking machine man said to The World: "What the trade wants just now is a permanent meeting place where the members of the industry and their friends may gather for luncheon, for dinner, for a social hour or two, to chat, smoke, or otherwise entertain themselves, or to listen to valuable addresses on business topics delivered by men prominent either in or out of the trade. At the present time our industry is one of the few of its size in the city that has not such headquarters, and the fact is to be regarded in the light of a handicap. "The piano trade some years ago organized the Piano Club of New York, with headquarters in the Bronx, and the club has proven most successful, there being a representative showing for luncheon each day and some big turnouts at special events. One can drop in there most any hour of the day and find somebody, and it proves a most welcome center to which to take piano men from out of town for luncheon or a chat. If the piano men can do it why cannot the talking machine men, who are far more numerous?" Although the club plan is still in a purely embryonic state, it has already attracted the at tention of some active lights in the industry, and one prominent furniture man who conducts a talking machine department in his store has volunteered to provide the furnishings for any quarters that may be selected for. a clubhouse, whether simply a floor or an entire building. It is believed that a logical location for a talking machine men's club would be in the forties, somewhere between Fifth avenue and Broadway, convenient to the hotels, theatres and railroad terminals, and within easy reach of trade centers. It is felt that many speakers could be prevailed upon to address the trade if some place were provided where a fair size audience could be gathered. Then, too, there would be a genuine advantage to the trade in the social intercourse of its members through such a club. Out-of-town visitors, and there are a goodly number of them, would find a talking machine men's club a congenial place in which to spend their leisure moments, and to receive their mail. Those who have advanced the club plan emphasized the fact that such a movement might well be fathered by the Talking Machine Men, Inc., who with their present organization, representative of the trade at large, could do much to develop interest in the idea. It is pointed out that there are several hundred manufacturers, jobbers and dealers in the metropolitan district who could be depended upon to supporta club, a sufficient number in fact to insure the financial success of the venture, if conducted along conservative lines, at a minimum of expense to the individual. As has already been stated, one advocate of the club idea has volunteered to provide the furnishings for the clubrooms, and this is to be recognized as eliminating one of the big, initial expenses. With the furnishings taken care of, the club members would be called upon to pay only the rent and the operating expenses, with a return revenue being realized upon any restaurant or refreshment privileges that might be incorporated. The World would be glad to receive any expressions of opinion from the trade in reference to the club idea. SONORA CO. ELECTIONS FOR 1918 George E. Brightson Again Heads That Concern for Coming Year — The Other Officers The officers and directors of the Sonora Phonograph Corp. for the ensuing year, as elected at a recent meeting of the stockholders, are as follows : George E. Brightson, president' and treasurer; J. N. Beach, vice president; Joseph Wolff, secretary; W. J. Farquhar, assistant treasurer, secretary American District Telegraph Co.; William Varin, comptroller. Directors: J. N. Beach (president of Lord's Court Realty Co., director Equitable Life Assurance Co., director Atlantic Mutual Marine Insurance Co.); George E. Brightson, H. P. Chilton (member of banking house of Moore & Schley), Waldo G. Morse (vice-president State Bank, Seneca Falls, N. Y.), Joseph Wolff. The officers and directors of the Sonora Phonograph Sales Co., Inc., for the ensuing year, as elected at a recent meeting of the stockholders, a,-e as follows: George E. Brightson, president; Lewis Cruger Hasell, vice-president; J. Schechter, secretary; Joseph Wolff, treasurer; E. H. Jennings, assistant treasurer (formerly manager credit department, Bank of the Manhattan Co.); Frank J. Coupe, manager sales and advertising. Directors: George E. Brightson, John A. Eckert (John A. Eckert & Co., insurance, New York); L. C. Hasell (general manager William Iselin & Co., New York), Waldo G. Morse, Jos. W. Stinson (formerly managing partner, Downing, Clark & Co.), J. Schechter (attorney), Joseph Wolff. Six Beautiful Period Models $60 to $300 ^ me Cheney PHONOGRAPH 'Plays all records -belter The success of the Cheney, from a selling standpoint, is a tribute to the public's appreciation of real musical and artistic worth. The serene purity of Cheney tone and its perfect renditions of all makes of records result from entirely new applications of acoustic principles. It puts the real artist into the record ! The Cheney is an artistic creation and as such it commands prestige and the subtle, but powerful "word of mouth" advertising that goes with the best. Each sale becomes a permanent advertisement for your store. Cheney cabinets cannot be excelled in beauty of design and quality of workmanship. Cheney sales and advertising co-operation is in keeping with the high quality of the instrument. Correspondence with dealers invited CHENEY TALKING MACHINE CO. 24 N. WABASH AVENUE, CHICAGO