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THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD
March 15, 1920
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President J. B. Spillane 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor RAYMOND BILL, B. B. WILSON, Associate Editors L. M. ROBINSON, Advertising Manager
Trade Representatives: Wilson D. Bush, C. Chace, Edward Lyman Bill, V. D. Walsh, E. B. Munch, Chas. A. Leonard, Scott Kingwill, L. E. Bowers, A. J. Nicklin
Western Division: Republic Building, 209 So. State Street, Chicago, 111. Telephone,
Wabash 5774.
Boston: John H. Wilson, 324 Washington Street London, Eng-., Office: 2 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St. W. Lionel Sturdy, Mgr.
The Talking Machine World has regular correspondents located in all of the principal cities throughout America.
Published the 15th of every month at 373 Fourth Ave., New York.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage): United States, Mexico, $2.00 per Year; Canada, $3.00; all other countries, $4.00. Single copies, 25 cents.
ADVERTISEMENTS: $5.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $150.00.
REMITTANCES should be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., by check or Post Office Money Order.
t®= NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS— Advertising copy should reach this office before the first of each month. By following this rule clients will greatly facilitate work at the publication headquarters.
Long Distance Telephones — Numbers 5982-5983 Madison Sq. Cable Address: "Elbill," New York.
NEW YORK, MARCH 15, 1920
| EDISON'S ANALYSIS OF LABOR CONDITIONS
THERE are few figures in the public eye to whose natal day is accorded such universal recognition as that of Thomas A. Edison, whose seventy-third birthday occurred recently. From President Wilson, members of the Cabinet and public men in all walks of life, as well as from his associates and fellow-workers in the great Edison plant he received the most cordial testimonials of affection and esteem. The leading papers of the country also discussed in a very interesting way Thomas A. Edison's comments upon labor conditions, which formed the basis of an interview which he gave out in connection with his birthday festivities.
The present trend in labor circles toward shorter hours and less production was pertinently covered by Mr. Edison, who said : "To-day I am wondering what would have happened to me by now if fifty years ago some fluent talker had converted me to the theory of the eight hour day, and convinced me that it was not fair to my fellow-workers to put forth my best efforts in my work. I am glad that the eight .hour day had not been invented when I was a young man. If my life had been made up of eight hour days I don't believe I could have accomplished a great deal. I am not against the eight hour day, or any other thing that protects labor from exploitation at the hands of ruthless employers, but it makes me sad to see young Americans shackle their abilities by blindly conforming to rules which force the industrious man to keep in step with the shirker."
Mr. Edison further pointed out that the present conditions make it difficult for the working man to improve his condition and station in life by his own efforts, and dwelt upon the fact that one of the principal reasons why American progress in the past was possible was that every man had a chance to become whatever he wanted to be. "It used to be fashionable to be ambitious," further remarked Mr. Edison. "The employe planned to become an employer; the unskilled man sought to become more skillful ; the young man was not well thought of if he was not striving for a higher place in life. There appears to have been a change within recent years. The present disposition is seemingly to say in effect : 'I am what I am and so shall I remain. I aspire to nothing better than my present job. I ask for nothing except larger wages and shorter hours.' "
In this analysis of conditions Mr. Edison goes right to the
bottom of things and affirms what is a trusim — that work makes success. No individual or business can prosper by accident. There must be determination, concentration, to win out, and this calls for work, enthusiasm, efficiency.
Mr. Edison sets forth in this timely sermon the old American ideal that has made our nation what it is to-day and his remarks should form the basis of lectures and discussions in our great educational institutions — they merit the closest consideration of every American, no matter what his station in life.
GREAT INCREASE IN FOREIGN TRADE
T N the figures bearing upon the exports and imports of talking 1 machines and records which appear elsewhere in The World, it will be noted that there has been a steady increase in all branches of our foreign trade. Exports of talking machines for the twelve months ending December, 1919, were valued at $2,490,719 as against $1,906,052 in 1918. The greatest increases in exports were in records and supplies, which for the twelve months ending December, 1919, were valued at $3,702,668 as compared with $2,276,357 in 1918. Records of American manufacture are undoubtedly growing in favor throughout the world, and in South America particularly they have obtained quite a market, which is destined to increase as the merits of these products become more widely known.
The imports of talking machines, records and parts continue to be small, comparatively speaking, the twelve months total ending December, 1919, being placed at $558,253 as compared with $312,966 in 1918. The closing months of last year, however, have been showing a steady increase in imports, and in December alone the imports of talking machines and parts were valued at $67,843 as compared with $15,542 for the same month of 1918. This, of course, can be attributed to the fact that shipments to and from Europe are now being made with more regularity than just after the war, and this satisfactory condition is being felt in both domestic and foreign trade.
CONCENTRATING ON THE WHOLESALE END
THE general tendency among talking machine jobbers to discontinue such retail departments as they have maintained with a view to concentrating their efforts on the wholesaling of machines and records has been viewed with satisfaction by dealers generally who for several years have been advocating such a move. Under ordinary circumstances, with goods plentiful, the retail department of the jobber's establishment represented simply one more retail competitor, and in most cases not a very active competitor. With the serious shortage of stock, however, both in machines and records, the jobber's retail department appeared to grate more and more on the nerves of the retailer who felt that no matter how fair and just the wholesaler might be in the allotment of goods to his own store, machines and records were being placed therein that might have served to relieve one or more dealers of embarrassment, temporarily at least.
There are, of course, a number of cases where wholesalers conduct tremendous retail musical establishments, handling musical goods of all kinds from pianos down to sheet music. In such cases the retail talking machine department is an essential factor not alone for the volume of retail business that might be done in comparison with general business, but as bearing out the company's advertised statements that it handles everything in music. It has been noticeable, however, that during the shortage even these big houses kept in their departments only a sufficient stock to give some indication of what the department was intended to carry, but did not endeavor to stock up at the expense of their dealers.
Where feasible the "wholesale only" idea is spreading rapidly and is in a sense a form of preparation for the future. When production catches up in some measure with the demand, the wholesalers who have no retail business to worry about will find plenty of opportunity for keeping goods moving from the factory to the dealer's shelves.
CAPITALIZING CONCERTS OF RECORD ARTISTS
THAT the talking machine has proven a powerful factor in developing a wide appreciation for music of all kinds, and particularly of the better sort, is undisputed, and the manufacturers of records generally are proceeding along proper lines to capitalize this increased interest by hooking up their advertising with the appear