The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

June IS, 1919 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 79 Happenings in Dominion of Canada MONTREAL ONE OF OUR LIVE TALKING MACHINE CENTERS T. R. Crayson Lectures on Evolution of Talking Machine Industry — Victor Agency for Mulhollin — Twilight Recitals Popular — Layton Bros. Expand — Views on Advertising — News of Month Montreal, Can., June 1. — An interesting talk upon the inception, growth and development of the talking machine industry in America and Canada was deHvered last week by T. R. Crayson, sales manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co., at the regular luncheon of the Kiwanis Club at Queen's Hotel. Mr. Crayson traced the first ventures in the field from 1850, when the initial attempt to record sounds by means of smoked glass was made, up to the present time, when gramophones and dictaphones had become one of the most important factors in the social and business life of the community. Mr. Crayson dealt at length on the remarkable strides made of late years by the dictaphone in supplanting the shorthand systems in business, and of the inestimable value of this instrument to the blind — in particular to blinded soldiers, who through it were enabled to earn their living. In conjunction with their ever-increasing business the Mulhollin Piano Co. have remodeled their present quarters at 786 St. Catherine street West, and the same now presents comfortable and modern talking machines and piano parlors. They have lately been assigned the Victor agency and with increased facilities at hand for displaying and demonstrating machines and records they anticipate big results. Foisy Freres, Inc. (O. Paquette manager), are handling a large number of Victrola sales, and the past month the greater proportion was of a cash natur'e. In records they have enjoyed a phenomenal run on the popular hits in vocal and instrumental and dance records. In the hands of the Phonograph Shop of Montreal, Regd., the McLagan and Pathe lines are making rapid strides and are making new converts every day. The final twilight recital in the piano salon of the N. H. Phinney Marble Building, Halifax, N. S., took place last week. To the regular numbers, which ha^ve always consisted of Edison diamond disc records, were added instrumental solos by local artists. These twilight recitals held weekly during the winter and spring months have proved a genuine success. They will be resumed in the fall and several new features will be introduced. Owing to the rapid growth of their business. Layton Bros, are forced to extend their Edison and Columbia department to their own adjoining property, 552 St. Catherine street West. After extensive alterations have been made they will have ten additional record booths. Special care is being exercised in the appointments, so that they will be quite restful and comfortable. Their show windows will also be increased by an additional twenty-five feet frontage on St. Catherine street. One representative local dealer who is noted for his particular style of advertising remarked that the average talking machine manufacturer in his advertising ran altogether too much copy to make an impression on the consumer, and in his opinion it should be devoted more along the lines of educational copy telling the public why their particular machine excelled other makes, and by so doing would greatly facilitate and help the selling of their line, as the consumer would know some of the selling and salient points of the machine when he came in to buy or look around. Charles Culross reports a big business in Sonoras and Aeolian-Vocalions. Anna Case, the Edison artiste, completely won the hearts of all at her brilliant recital in St. John, N. B., the past month, and while in that that was appreciated more than it is possible to express. After visiting the various hospitals, including the military ones, a reception was held in her honor. New incorporations in the Province of Quebec city expressed a wish to sing to the soldiers in include the Cassavant Phonograph Co., Ltd., St. the hospitals, a kindly and thoughtful attention Hyacinthe, Quebec, capitalized at $75,000. PROTEST FEATURES OF PROPOSED COPYRIGHT ACT TRADE Talking Machine Interests of Toronto Object to Proposed Measure, Particidarly to Retroactivity and Percentage Basis of Fixing Royalty Charges on Records — ^^Confer With Senate Committee Toronto, Ont., May 30. — Following the conference with the Senate Committee at Ottawa in regard to the proposed copyright act, the talking machine interests had a second session with the committee. A strong brief was presented and the objections of the industry to retroactivity and to the percentage basis of fixing the royalty charges on records were again impressed upon the committee. At this date it would appear that a copyright act for Canada is temporarily in abeyance. The Starr Co. of Canada, London, Ont., are out with a list of lateral cut records in addition to their catalog of the hill-and-dale type. For months there has been considerable speculation in trade circles regarding the possible appearance of lateral cut records, of which type the Victor and Columbia have been the sole exponents for many years, both in Canada and the United States. In addition to the list announced by the Starr Co., other selections will be available at an early date. Already the firm report a remarkable business in their new records and have booked orders for regular monthly shipments. The Starr Co. have received some very encouraging letters and wires from dealers who. in sending in repeat orders, have complimented the firm on the quality of the recordings and the records, which are made in Canada. George Madden, for the past few years with the Rymal music store, is now connected with the Hamilton Piano & Music Co., 267 King street. East, in the capacity of assistant manager. This firm specializes in Columbia Grafonolas, Edison phonographs, and other lines. The Virgil Phonograph has been put on the market by a concern in Oshawa, Ont. Arthur K. Kempton, Montreal, P. Q., "the specialty specialist" for the talking machine trades, after a visit to a number of Ontario centers, passed through Toronto en route to Winnipeg. WINNIPEG DEALER DISCUSSES DAILY PAPER PUBLICITY Robert Shaw Tells of "Tie-Up" Campaign on Photo-Play "Mickey" — Tone-Test Concert Attracts Crowds — J. H. Ashdown Makes Some Interesting Points Regarding Publicity — Other News Winnipeg, Man., June 6. — Robt. Shaw, of Cassidy's, Ltd., Columbia distributors, was very enthusiastic over the "tie-up" preparations for the photo-play, "Mickey." The following firms each gave a window for the display: Ashton's, Banfield's, Murphy Bros., the Phonograph Shop, T. Eaton Co., Hudson's Bay Co. and the National New Agency. In the Province, Bijou and Gaiety Theatres a Columbia Grafonola was placed on the stage playing the "Mickey" record, A2662, while in the entrance other machines were playing the "Mickey" fox-trot. Cards calling attention to the records had been hung in the entrance; 25,000 circulars were distributed containing a reproduction of the picture which appeared in the October Columbia record, giving the names as well of the firms who furnished the windows, and stating where "Mickey" records could be purchased. The billboards were taken up with "Mickey" posters, the daily papers with "Mickey" advertisements, and on the surface Winnipeg would appear to be "Mickey mad." F. G. Schrafield, who has returned to Winnipeg to take charge of the Western Gramophone Co.'s business here, has taken off his coat and got down to brass tacks. Mr. Schrafield is looking forward to a busy season in "His Master's Voice" products, all indications pointing to an unusual summer demand for really good music. The Winnipeg Columbia Dealers' Association, which aims to entertain all Columbia stars who visit Winnipeg, recently gave dinners to Percy Grainger, the noted Australian pianist, and Morgan Kingston, grand opera tenor, both of whom were here with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. The association also entertained the celebrated Deiro, original master of the pianoaccordion, here on the Orpheum circuit. Lieut. W. A. Albert, who returned from overseas a few weeks ago, is now on the staff of the Phonograph Shop. Lilian Durkin, Winnipeg operatic singer, figured in a tone test concert in the Phonograph Shop, 322 Portage avenue, Saturday evening, which was unique in musical annals in Winnipeg. Taking phonograph records of the five better known makes, she sang in accompaniment to them indiscriminately, all being played on the same machine. Perhaps the most searching test was when she sang with a record of her own, "In the Land of Sky-blue Waters." The quality of tone which has made her voice could be caught with equal distinctness when she sang and when the machine reproduced her singing. Which is the best way to produce results when (Confiniied on page 82) Talking Machine Supplies and Repair Parts SPRINGS, SOUND BOX PARTS, NEEDLES THE RENE MANUFACTURING CO. MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY