The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

The Talking Machine World Vol. 15. No. 5 MAJOR PAILLARD IN NEW YORK Prominent Manufacturer of St. Croix, Switzerland, Given a Dinner at Waldorf-Astoria by Geo. E. Brightson, President of Sonora Co. — Interested in Talking Machine Progress A recent visitor to the executive offices of the Sonora Phonograph Sales Co., New York, was Major Paillard, of E. Paillard & Cie, St. Croix, Switzerland, one of the largest manufacturers of musical instrument parts in the world and the producer of motors for the Sonora organization. Major Paillard manufactured the first motor for Sonora many years ago, and since that time has had occasion to be astounded frequently at the remarkable growth of Sonora sales in the United States. Quite often the large orders which were cabled to Switzerland seemed so gigantic that to the Swiss factory officials they were almost beyond belief, and confirmation cables were requested before they could be accepted as true. At a dinner given at the Waldorf-Astoria by George E. Brightson, president of the Sonora Phonograph Sales Co., to Major Paillard and a number of visiting Sonora dealers the visitor fiom Switzerland gave some interesting information regarding conditions at home. Great difficulties were confronted and overcome by his house during the last two or three years of the war, as raw materialswere extremely difficult to secure, and coal, even at the present time, costs $60 a ton. Major Paillard explained that it cost him about $500 a year to heat his own home, and naturally the cost of fuel for factory purposes runs into formidable figures. As is the custom in Switzerland, every citizen has to perform military duty, and, starting in an officers' training school in 1902, Major Paillard was successively a cadet, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain and in 1917 was commissioned to his present rank as major in the artillery, his long experience on mechanical devices being of great service to the army. With the signing of the armistice the Paillard factories began to make arrangements to increase their output materially. The raw material situation is constantly improving, and within thirty days it is expected that there will be an increase of motor production for Sonora of over 100 per cent. While in this country Major Paillard visited the immense Sonora factories at Saginaw and other points, and made a careful study of general business conditions. A salesman with a good record behind him usually is the one who has a good record to show his customer. A cure for the ills of the instalment business has been suggested by many writers upon the subject. The likelihood of an evolution from unwelcome to desirable conditions in the "part payments" field of the talking machine business is remote. Individual efforts at reform and dealers' meetings and conferences held for the same purpose invariably bring to light only divided counsel. Delinquent accounts receive the same anxious study from the ignorant, impractical, unethical, piratical dealer (and every community has such) as from the well-meaning, conscientious business man. The cry for relief and betterment comes as loudly from the undeserving as the deserving. It is the unscrupulous dealer that stands in the way of reform. Control him, and you will find your cure. "But how control him?" I can almost hear New York, May 15, 1919 TYPEWRITING TO "TALKER" MUSIC Syracuse High School Uses Talking Machine in Commercial Department to Help Beginners — Plan Has Proved Very Successful The West High School of Commerce, Syracuse, N. Y., has now added the talking machine to its typewriting department and has found the experiment very successful. When the bell for classes rings the pupils sit down at their machines, the record is started and the keys click to the music. Under this system there is a great increase in accuracy and there are no cases of "typewriter nerves" so common to beginners. J. A. Curry, an instructor in the West High School, says: "One needs rhythm in typewriting. It is easy for beginners to develop typewriter nerves before they become accustomed to the click of typewriters all about them. At first there is a slight decrease in speed, but there is far greater accuracy, and the pupils are much less tired after an hour than they would be without music. It is really a method of psychic control that is most effective." THE VICSONIA FOR AUSTRALIA Sales Rights For Vicsonia Reproducer in Australia and New Zealand Placed With Prominent Talking Machine Dealer in Melbourne Through a deal recently closed by James W. Greene, export manager of the Vicsonia Mfg. Co., Inc., New York, the exclusive sales rights to the Vicsonia reproducer in Australia and New Zealand have been placed with one of the largest talking machine dealers in Melbourne, Australia. The export business of the Vicsonia Co. is also expanding in other directions. Although the Vicsonia Co. has expanded its manufacturing facilities considerably during the past six months and has been able to get supplies in larger quantities, the demand for the Vicsonia reproducers still keeps somewhat ahead of the output, but the company is contemplating steps to still further increase production. NEW KENTUCKY MUSIC STORE The Hardwick Jewelry Co., Owensboro, Ky., has opened a music department in the store and has installed several booths for demonstrating the Victor talking machine and records. At present there are very few machines in stock, as they are placed as soon they arrive. A large record library has been added and sales are very large. the question! That is up to the manufacturers. The producer has a property right in his dearlybought reputation — a financial interest in the solvency of dealers. The first step for manufacturers in co-operation and regulation is to stipulate a 10 per cent, cash discount and make this discount bearable by advancing the list price and increasing the dealer's discount. By that method the cash customer will buy at the present price and the dealer make the present profit. In an instalment transaction the customer pays for the accommodation and the dealer is assured of obtaining substantially his interest charges. This is fair to both parties concerned and is along the line of good business methods. Dealers who violate their implied though well understood obligation toward the trade should be summarily dealt with (there are ways) for the good of the industry. What's good for one is good for all. Price Twenty-five Cents NEW VICTOR WHOLESALER IN TOLEDO Toledo Talking Machine Co. Organized to Take Over Wholesale Victor Business of the Whitney & Currier Co., That City Toledo, O., May 1. — The wholesale Victor department of the Whitney & Currier Co., the prominent music house of this city, has been taken over by Ludwig & Co., who have organized the Toledo Talking Machine Co. to take care of the business. The new company will wholesale Victor products exclusively and will have no connection with any retail store. Charles H. Womeldorff is manager of the company, and Warren L. Kellogg has been appointed traveling representative. KIESS BECOMES FIELD SUPERVISOR Assumes This Important Post With the Pathe Freres Co., With Headquarters in Brooklyn H. N. McMenimen, managing director of the Pathe Freres Phonograph Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., announced this week that O. M. Kiess had been appointed field supervisor for the company, with headquarters at the executive offices, 20 Grand avenue. Mr. Kiess will keep in close touch with Pathe jobbers throughout the country, devoting his time to practical co-operation with the sales oi ganizations of the various Pathe distributors. O. M. Kiess has been identified with the talking machine industry for a number of years, having been manager of the Buffalo branch of the Columbia Graphophone Co. for several years. He joined the Y. M. C. A. service during the war, and his thorough knowledge of phonograph merchandising makes him a valuable addition to the Pathe organization. RECEIVES "WORLD" AT THE FRONT Eclipse Music Co. Man Received the Talking Machine World Every Month — Kept in Touch With All Trade News and Events The high esteem in which The Talking Machine World is held by all those interested in the trade and its value as a means of keeping in touch with the progress of the industry is shown by the great number of copies sent to soldiers at the front, who, even during the stress of war, wanted to keep themselves informed about the business they had left behind them. Corporal Earle Poling, formerly connected with the Eclipse Music Co., of Cleveland, O., writes the following letter from A. P. O. 757, France, under date of March 25: "Have been getting your paper in due time each month and I want to assure you that The Talking Macliine World is a great comfort to a talking machine salesman who is a member of the A. E. F. and has no other way to keep in touch with the trade events." EFFECTIVE USE OF MOVIE PICTURE The mutual benefit to be derived from co-operation of members of the trade and motion picture men is illustrated by the following story from the West: C. D. Easton, of Kelso, Wash., an Edison dealer, took advantage of the fact that there was to be shown at the local theatre a picture called "Bonnie Annie Laurie," and on the night of the show a notice was flashed on the screen announcing the song as sung by Anna Case. The stage was darkened during the selection, and when the song ended the lights were turned up, disclosing a phonograph at the side of the stage. This made a great hit. Looking inward gives you mental strabismus, a peevish personality and an ingrowing disposition. Look out. CO-OPERATION AND REGULATION ANENT INSTALMENTS Interesting Analysis of a Very Important Matter by Samuel Klugherz of The Home Music Co., Lancaster, Pa. — Would Control Unscrupulous Dealer — Manufacturer Should Make First Step See Index of Advertisers on Last Page