The talking machine world (Jan-June 1918)

104 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD March 15, 191S RECORDS BY NOTED MEN MUSIC "SOMEWHERE ON ATLANTIC" To Be Used by the "Nation's Forum" in National Propaganda St. Louis, Mo., March 8. — As announced recently in The Talking Machine World, Guy Golterman, a prominent attorney of this city, is the director of a new organization to be known as the "Nation's Forum," which has been formed to introduce records made by some of the most prominent men in public life. This Guy Golterman forum has already secured an imposing list of names, and several well-known men have already made records which are meeting with considerable favor. At a recent meeting of the Chamber of Commerce at the Planters Hotel, in this city, a record made by exAmbassador Gerard was presented, and proved such a signal success that Edward Buder, chairman of the meeting, wrote the following letter to Mr. Gerard: "Please accept my thanks for yours of the 27th inst. You will be pleased to know that the Gerard talk made a decided hit at the meeting yesterday, and I take this opportunity of thanking you for the use of the machine and the record." IMPORTANT CHANGE IN EL PASO El Paso,. Tex., March 9.— The Tri-State Talking Machine Co. has been consolidated with the talking machine department of the El Paso Piano Co. However, the firm name of "TriState Talking Machine Co." will be retained, J. M. Spain and W. R. Schutz being the sole owners. The piano department of the El Paso Piano Co. will continue as usual and under its present name. W. R. Schutz is proprietor. The entire business will be concentrated and conducted in the El Paso Piano Co.'s beautiful new location at 215 Texas street, formerly Everybody's Building, in a few days. Richard S. Thompson, formerly of the advertising department of the Victor Talking Machine Co., is now a second lieutenant of infantry. He is a graduate of Plattsburg officers' training camp. Naval Officer Writes Interesting Description of the Playing of Phonographs on Transport Bound for "Over There" — How Various Kinds of Music Affect the Fighting Man San Fraxcisco, Cal., March 7. — Is the musical, instrument a necessity or a luxury? Ask the boys in the cantonments, on the transports or in the trenches. George McConnell, of Fraser & McConnell, piano dealers of this city, is satisfied that at least on the transports music is a very real necessity. In evidence thereof he cites a letter he recently received from a captain, formerly of San Francisco, written while the officer was "somewhere on the Atlantic" headed for "somewhere in France." In the opening paragraph the officer said: "A phonograph is playing in the distance, sometimes a classic and sometimes a love song." And as he proceeds with his letter he interrupts himself from time to time to tell what the machine is playing. Now it is "A Little Bit of Heaven." And this brings to the soldier's mind visions of dear old San Francisco, as it was there he had a friend who loved to sing the song. Then comes the Largo from Handel and the sadness makes the boys feel that it is very hard to keep a stiff upper lip. But the lighter things of life constantly bob up in youth and the captain refers to one of his comrades who is lying in his bunk, where he "Just Can't Make His Stomach Behave." Towards the end of the letter he says: "Now we are going to have a march and then perhaps a rag," and his friendly communication takes on a sprightlier tone at the prospect. Truly, he says in conclusion, if it were not for the music it would be hard to keep up a fellow's spirits. Can you not picture the young officer sitting apart from the group about the phonograph, holding commune with his friend by means of the written word, but his every thought dominated by the music that flows from the overworked phonograph? Can you picture such a scene and say that the musical instrument is not a necessity of warfare? 1918 METHODS OF ADVERTISING Boston, Mass., March 5. — George W. Hopkins, general sales manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co., New York, was one of the speakers Saturday at the monthly dinner of the Pilgrim Publicity Association. Mr. Hopkins chose for his subject "1918 Methods of Advertising," and gave one of his usual effective and inspiring addresses. He told the advertising men present that it is up to them to make business earn more dollars than ever, so that these dollars may be used in supporting the Liberty Loans. "There never was such a time in history," he said, "for the making or breaking of men in business. I'm not at all pessimistic, but the American business man must get his affairs into such shape that he can take advantage of the 57,000,000,000 that will be spent by the Government in prosecution of the war. The rich man, too, has less money to spend than he ever had before; and the poor man has more. You must accommodate your business to these changed conditions or you will go down rather than up." The "INVINCIBLE" A New and Better Sound-Box <I Plays all makes of records, •fl Pure, clear and sweet tone. •I Constructed to give service and absolutely guaranteed. ^ No superfluous parts, and production uniform — no seconds •I Supplied with mica or composition diaphragms. WRITE TODAY FOR SAMPLES AND PRICES NEW JERSEY REPRODUCER CO. 847 Broad Street NEWARK, N. J. He outlined the various selling appeals in the vending of merchandise. Concerning one change in the psychology of the buyer, he said that the draft has made a Beau Brummel of the private, and this change is reflected in the average man. NEW H0FFAY CABINET MODEL A new style of cabinet has been adopted by the Hoffay Talking Machine Co.. Inc., and in the future all their models will be produced in this new style, which will make the Hoffay distinctive. A photograph of the new model is reproduced herewith and will give some idea of its attractiveness. The Hoffay Talking Machine Co. are celebrating this spring their "three years of progress." Announcement of the accomplishments of the firm in that time appears elsewhere in this paper. The recent New Hoffay Style decision of the Hoffay Co. that they would release their two reproducers, the "Resurrectone" and the "Half-fork-tone." for general use to all manufacturers making the necessary arrangements, has brought a flood of requests for these reproducers to the Hoffay offices during the past four weeks. MAKING IMPORTANT INSTALLATIONS A. L. Van Veen & Co. Equip a Number of Important Stores With Their Booths In a chat with The World this week Arthur L. Van Veen, head of A. L. Van Veen & Co., manufacturer of Van Veen bed-set booths, commented upon the fact that the company had been making unusually satisfactory progress in closing important installations in Brooklyn. At the present time, Van Veen booths are being installed in the establishments of several prominent Brooklyn talking machine houses, and in all parts of this territory the company's booths are rendering splendid service. Mr. Van Veen attributes this progress to the satisfaction his booths are giving the dealers, for many of these installations have been repeat orders. In current literature issued by the company Mr. Van Veen called attention to the fact that in a recent advertisement used by the Columbia Graphophone Co. on the back cover of the Saturday Evening Post an illustration was used that portrayed the Van Veen booths. The illustration in question was the interior of the store of Hardman, Peck & Co., Brooklyn, N. Y.. which ordered a Van Veen installation after thoroughly investigating the merits of these booths. As this back cover advertisement costs $9,000, Mr. Van Veen is naturally gratified to feel that a store with a Van Veen installation was selected for use in this advertising. Among the recent Van Veen installations in Brooklyn are the following: Ridgewood Grafonola Shop. Frederick Becht, Kirsner Bros.. Stultz & Rauer. and a complete installation for the piano and talking machine rooms of Frederick Loeser & Co. SHELTON ELECTRIC PHONOGRAPH MOTOR We have increased our factory facilities to handle the demand for the Shelton Electric Motor, and are now ready to make prompt deliveries. Write for oar Special Agency Proposition SHELTON ELECTRIC CO. 30 East 42nd Street, NEW YORK