The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

136 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD June 15, 1919 GRAND RAPIDS A CABINET CENTER BECOMES ADVERTISING iVlANAGER Over 225,000 Cabinets Now Contracted For With Factories In That City— Machine Shops Planning to Manufacture Parts Grand Rapids, Mich., June 7. — This city has become without question the leading talking machine and phonograph cabinet manufacturing center in the United States, and this direction is gaining a reputation that is measuring up with its reputation as a furniture manufacturing center. At the present time local manufacturers are holding contracts for over 225,000 cabinets for some of the best-known talking machines on the market, as well as for some machines not so well known. At the same time agents for other leading manufacturers have been endeavoring to place further contracts for cabinets and will probably be successful as other local factories begin to take up the work. At the present time the wholesale value of phonograph cabinets turned out by the local plants is over half the value of the furniture output, and it must be remembered that Grand Rapids has for years been recognized as the furniture manufacturing center of the country. Just now there' are .some interesting developments promised. There are a number of magnificently equipped machine shops in and about the city, and several of these have made plans to engage in the manufacture of talking machine parts, such as motors, tone arms and sound boxes. When these shops begin to produce parts in substantial quantities we may expect to see Grand Rapids develop into one of the leading, if not the leading, talking machine producing districts of the country, turning out the complete machines ready to play. TUSTING PIANO CO. CELEBRATES Asbury Park Piano House Holds Successful Reception to Mark Fourth Anniversary Asbury Park., N. J., June 6.— The Tusting Piano Co. of this city gave an interesting and successful reception at its warerooms June 2, to mark the fourth anniversary of the opening of its present handsome establishment at 609 Mattison avenue. For this occasion R. A. Tusting secured the services of a group of popular Hawaiian singers and instrumentalists, who appeared in costume. This sextette of musicians included Ben Aeko, the wonderful steel guitar player; David Kaili and other well-known Hawaiian artists, who presented a program selected from the Victor catalog by the guests. This event was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present and the audience included music lovers from many surrounding towns. The Tusting Piano Co. had taken care of the incidental details in its usual satisfactory way, and its fourth anniversary was fittingly observed. One of the features of the day was the receipt of handsome flowers and other appropriate gifts from Victor jobbers in the East, who are keenly interested in the activities of this house. L. M. Robinson, for Seven Years Connected With Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., Takes Charge of the Advertising Department of the Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Co., New York John Cromelin, general sales manager of the Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Co., New York, announced this week the appointment of Li M. Robinson as advertising manager of the company, with headquarters at the executive offices, 25 West Forty-fifth street. New York. For the past seven years Mr. Robinson was associated with Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., publishers of The Talking Machine World and The Music Trade Review. According to the Otto Heineman Co.'s plans, jobbers and dealers handling the popular OkeH L. M. Robinson record line will receive enhanced co-operation from the Heineman advertising division during the coming year. The OkeH record has achieved phenomenal success during the past few months, and jobbers and dealers throughout the country report an ever-increasing demand. The Heineman advertising department will work in close co-operation with every member of the OkeH distributing organization, and judging from present indications nothing will be left undone that may assist the jobbers and dealers in developing and stimulating business in their territory. Special attention will be given to the issuance of literature that will enable OkeH dealers to take advantage of every possible opportunity to increase their business. During the seven years in which Mr. Robinson has been associated in an important capacity with The World and The Review he has had an opportunity to acquire an expert understanding and knowledge of the talking machine business from almost every angle, but The new Hoffay "AIRTIGHT" Tone-arm, Exclusive Equipment of the HOFFAY In Position lo Play Victor Type'of Records. Weight on Stylus, 514 Ounces as Required The wonderful Reaurrectone Makes a Machine Stay Sold. In Position to Play Eldison Type Records. Weight on Stylus, 4 Ounces as required The beat toned machine on the market Hoffay Talking Machine Co., Inc. 3 West 29th Street Established 1915 New York especially with respect to problems of merchandising. Under his able direction, therefore, the advertising department of the Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Co. will undoubtedly afford OkeH dealers a very practical and worthwhile co-operative service. * * * On Thursday evening, June 12, just prior to Mr. Robinson's taking .up his new duties with the Heineman organization, he was the guest of honor at a dinner at Mouquin's, tendered him by his associates on the staffs of The Talking Machine World and The Music Trade Review. Following some appreciative remarks, Mr. Robinson was presented wath a beautiful gold watch, of Tiffany make, suitably inscribed. MAKING IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Emerson Phonograph Co. Furnishes Details Regarding Its Plans In Connection With the Issuance of 9-Inch and 10-Inch Records The Emerson Phonograph Co. made an important announcement this week relative to its future plans regarding the issuance of its 9-inch and 10-inch records. According to these plans the fixed policy hereafter will be: First — -All popular song hits of the day will be recorded as heretofore on the, Emerson Gold Seal 9-inch records only. Second — Dance, band and standard instrumental music will be recorded on Emerson Gold Seal 10-inch records. Third — All religious, standard and semiclassical music will be recorded on Emerson Gold Seal 10-inch records. Fourth — -International Emerson label records of folk songs, marches, instrumental, semiclassical and operatic records will be recorded on 9-inch and 10-inch records. In future the Emerson Gold Seal 9-inch and 10-inch records will be listed on the same bulletins, display cases and catalogs. The company has adopted this policy because it believes tliat it is exactly in harmony with the demands and wishes of its clientele. AN INTERESTING DEMONSTRATION Pathe Dealers Given Actual Demonstration in Cleveland Under Auspices of the Fischer Co. Cleveland, Ohio, June 7. — A total of about 219 dealers, who conduct a retail business in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, visited Cleveland this week for the purpose of hearing a demonstration of the new Pathe Actuell, which was given by W. W. Parsons, general representative of the Pathe Freres Phonograph Co. of New York. The demonstration was given in the handsome quarters of the Fischer Co., wholesalers of the Pathe line, located in this city. The visiting dealers were greatly impressed by the Pathe Actuell. M. Saunders, wholesale manager of the Fischer Co. in Cleveland, and R. J. Jameson, wholesale manager of the B'ischer Co. division in Cincinnati, were responsible for the entertainment end of the affair, which included special dinners at the Rathskeller and at Peter Schmidt's famous chicken dinner resort. When it was learned that Prof. B. W. Snow, of the University of Wisconsin, has in his possession an exact replica of the first Edison talking machine, Thomas A. Edison sent him as a personal gift the latest model Edison. Sole Distributors of the Hoffay Airtight 1 — -a really wonder H ful machine — H for the States of Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, W^m and Colorado. J i Geo. A. Lowe Co. i Ogden, Utah *