The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

(18 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD JANUARY 15, 1919 KEEPING INSTALMENT ACCOUNTS ON RIGHT SIDE OF LEDGER iContmued from page 15) neat card, in a small envelope, showing the date of the next paj^ment (in the manner of a bank savings card for one of the popular Christmas fund accounts) and on the back of the card is printed a list of popular records for the customer to pick from. Enclosed with this card is a letter that says: "We are verj^ much pleased to have you for a customer for one of our Blank talking machines, and we feel sure j'ou will derive much pleasure from it. "Herewith we enclose for your convenience a little card containing a list of some records you might care to own, and showing when your next payment is due. When you come in to make this payment, we will be glad if you would bring the card along." The customer brings this card along, each payment is entered upon it, and hence the customer has a real pride in watching these payments "total up" just as if it were a bank savings account or anything of the kind. Where you have to send out a collector on a "bad" account, always try to get a promise, at least, out of the delinquent customer. If this promise is broken, have the collector get another promise and call attention to the pre N. B. JOHNSON VICTIM OF ACCIDENT Representative of Texas-Oklahoma Phonograph Co. Dies of Injuries Received When Struck by an Automobile While Boarding a Car D,\i.LAS, Tex., December 28. — N. B. Johnson, a prominent member of the Texas-Oklahoma Phonograph Co., Edison jobbers in this territory, died several days ago as a result of injuries sustained in attempting to board a street car on December 8, when he was struck by an automobile. Mr. Johnson's former duties will be taken care of by A. H. Curry, general manager, and F. C. Beattie, secretary and treasurer of the company, until his place in the' organization can be filled. NEW INCORPORATION The Phonograph Improvement Co., Ft. Washington, Wis., has been incorporated with capital stock of $300,000 to manufacture phonographs. The incorporators are Wm. H. Thommen, Harry \N. Bolens and Olaf Elton The new concern will start in business in the near future. vious one that was broken, because nearly everyone in moderate circumstances owes, at least at certain periods, more money than he can pay. But if a certain firm has extracted from him a definite promise to pay a certain amount on a certain date, he will nine times out of ten pay that firm ahead of any of the others whom he had been able to "stall ofif" without giving them a promise. In concluding I want to quote the "credit rules" given by a large mid-west furniture store to its talking machine department, and to other departments too, for that matter, rules that have resulted in bringing unusual success to the store in doing a time-payment business. Here they are : 1. Be sure of the customer's honesty, then his ability to meet the terms you make. 2. Make a definite agreement and have it signed. 3. Watch the payments regularly and call attention to any delinquency promptly. 4. If the delinquency .becomes serious, never threaten, but call attention to the broken promises and make a new agreement. 5. Finally, get the money or the machine, the latter only if the balance warrants it. VICTOR JAN. RECORD SUPPLEMENT Cover Design Featuring Return of American Troops Is Significant and Timely The front cover design of the new January Victor record supplement is of particular and timely interest, inasmuch as it illustrates most graphically the sentiment back of George M. Cohan's latest song, "When You Come Back," and shows some soldiers from overseas being welcomed by their friends upon their return as victors. The record of the song incidentally is included in the January supplement and is sung by no other than John McCormack. There are a number of e.xcellent and timely features in the January list, of which due announcement will probably be made by the manufacturers. One of the features is the singing of "Onward Christian Soldiers," by Mme. Schumann-Heink. In addition there is a goodly selection of timely and popular numbers. Remember that there is som-ething to be considered besides pattern in the fabric of life. There is fiber. MERCHANTS LOOK FOR BIG TRADE EXPANSION Answers to Questionnaire Sent Out by Merchants' Association Demonstrate That Foreign and Domestic Trade Will Grow With cancelation of war contracts and uncertainty in the labor problem mentioned as chief factors in the readjustment of business and manufacturing, all companies questioned by the Industrial Bureau of the Merchants' Association of New York recently reported that they expected an immediate expansion in domestic and foreign trade, according to an announcement made by the association. In explaining that the query particularly "asked for a statement of the obstacles which are retarding the return to normal conditions," the report said that "optimism was dominant in replies from the manufacturing members in response to a request for their opinions regarding the industrial outlook." The query drew replies "from manufacturing plants in practically every field of importance in the metropolitan district." "A few of the factories have not been disturbed at all by the war," says the report. "Others have been devoting their entire capacity to the production of munitions and war supplies. Still others have been working on war contracts and at the same time filling civilian orders. The withdrawal of the Government from the market, which is now in progress, is the largest single factor affecting industry, and practically all manufacturers speak of the effect of the cancelation of Government contracts. It is therefore encouraging that the Government departments having large contracts in this district have practically completed their plans for adjusting canceled contracts and are ready now to operate with promptness." In outlining the work of the cancelation and in giving the list of the bureaus doing the work the report says that final decision on most of the settlements is made in Washington, and that so many readjustments have been made that it has been impossible to estimate the probable length of time for settlement of all contracts. Most of the manufacturers who replied to the query discussed the labor situation, the report says, and expressed doubt about future conditions. All of them expressed the hope that the perplexities would be cleared up soon, so that they could make plans for expansion. "The shifting of great masses of workmen, development of new industries and new industrial sections, present high wages, the demand for overtime work, and many similar conditions resulting from the war period, make the labor situation very complex," says the report. "In some case there is an actual labor shortage of all kinds, while in other cases there is simply a shortage of skilled labor, or even a surplus. It is obvious that in many lines of industry there must be a readjustment of the labor supply. "In many cases manufacturers expect that wages will remain at their present high level for a considerable period, while in other cases it is claimed that former markets cannot be developed again until wages have fallen somewhat, because of the high prices resulting from high cost of production, which, in turn, is due largely to high wages. "In this connection it is interesting to note that recently in many cases production has fallen off materially, thus making very high prices necessary for the product unless the cost of production is again decreased, either by decreasing wages, increasing productivity of labor, or by both. A number of manufacturers still complain of the difficulty of obtaining competent labor, irrespective of wages offered." 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