The talking machine world (Jan-June 1923)

April IS, 1923 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 161 BUSINESS REMAINS BRISK IN THE TORONTO TERRITORY Canadian Phonograph Manufacturers' Association Holds Annual Meeting and Elects Officers — Dealers Push Health Records — Interesting Demonstration at Made-in-Canada Exhibit — The News Toronto, Ont., April 7. — Miss Helen Ames, who is in charge of the phonograph department of R. S. Williams & Sons Co., Ltd., this city, gives a very good report on the recent sale of Victrolas. Sales were particularly active in the higher priced machines. Miss Ames is assisted in her department by Miss W. LeRoy and Miss Mae Guy, to whom has fallen the distinction of making the first sale of a Victrola 230 in Canada. L. W. Boothe, manager of the record department of this house, and formerly a traveler on the staff of His Master's Voice, Ltd., has just made another addition to his many service aids. He has rearranged his stock and has placed strips of varnished wood down the sides of the bunks. On these slips he has placed the number of each record in figures large enough to be read very quickly by the staflf, and in this way has been able to speed up service to his customers. The annual meeting of the Canadian Phonograph Manufacturers' Association took place here recently. The chair was occupied in the absence of the president by S. J. Cook, vicepresident. Occasion was taken at the meeting of welcoming to Canada and to the Association fold A. C. Valeur, who, as already mentioned in these columns, has taken up the managing directorship of Sonora Phonograph, Ltd. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President, S. J. Cook; vice-president, A. C. Valeur; secretary-treasurer, Jas. G. Merrick. Exhibition committee: W. B. Puckett, chairman; E. C. Scythes and W. D. Stevenson. Finance and membership committee: Thos. Nash, chairman; A. L. Robertson and F. A. Trestrail. Legislation committee: W. D. Stevenson, chairman; C. H. Weicker and O. C. Doi-ian. Nominating committee: F. A. Trestrail, chairman, Thos. Nash and O. C. Dorian. On a recent Saturday afternoon and evening Mr. Mullen, manager of Gerhard Heintzman, Ltd., His Master's VoiceVictor dealer in Kitchener, put on a practical demonstration of the Victor Health Exercises. Two girls and two boys went through the exercises in the large window of the store and, in order that the public might get the full benefit, a Magnavox was used. In conversation with A. C. Valeur, whose appointment as manager of Sonora Phonograph, Ltd., King and Bathurst .streets, was reported in a recent issue of The World, he remarked that there are indications of a steady return to a better volume of sales for Sonora dealers throughout Canada. Mr. Valeur pointed out the pressing necessity for concentrating sales effort on short terms. "The average man of the consumer class," said he, "does not desire to continue in debt for a long period of time, but is rather desirous of getting instalment accounts wiped ofif when he is given the right encouragement by the salesman to do so." Probably the most interesting attraction at the Made-in-Canada demonstration sale recently held by the T. Eaton Co., Ltd., was that of pressing His Master's Voice-Victor records in a space adjoining the company's phonograph department on the fifth floor. There the public saw a completely fitted up made-in-Canada hydraulic equipment pressing records. Two men in white suits, with the His Master's Voice trade marks across their shoulders, were in charge. It was only a few issues ago that The World announced that the Starr Co. of Canada was bringing out a series of special 8S-cent records, to be known as the Gold Seal series. A few of these have already made their appearance and are creating many friends among the phonograph owners of Canada. For some months the Starr Co. of Canada, Ltd., London, has been marketing the "Pal" portable phonograph in Canada with remarkable success. It has now secured the sole distribution rights for all Canada for this instrument. B. R. Law, for seven years connected with the house of Heintzman & Co., Ltd., latterly as assistant manager, has been appointed man ager of Brunswick Hall, on Yonge street, this city. E. A. Rea, Woo'dstock, Ont., put on a drive recently on His Master's Voice-Victor Health sets and disposed of twenty sets in very short order. Mr. Rea's plan was to get after the business men of the town, particularly those who belong to the Y. M. C. A. D. A. Tait, of Oshawa, has arranged with the management of the Regent Theatre, in Oshawa, to lend the theatre a Victrola, in return for which the theatre shows slides advertising His Master's Voice-Victor records. The Victrola is used in the theatre every night. In addition Mr. Tait has a record booth in the lobby of the theatre for the sale of records. LATEST NEWS HAPPENINGS IN MONTREAL AND VICINITY Berliner Company Holds Annual Carnival — Co-operation of Talking Machine Trade in Music Week Felt in a General Stimulation of Business — Aggressive Tactics of Dealers Win Montreal, Que., April 9.— A very enjoyable affair recently took place here when the employes of the Berliner Gramophone Co., Ltd., with their friends, held their annual dance and euchre at the company's factory. Those who preferred dancing found plenty of floor space and a good orchestra to provide the music. Those who preferred the less active amusement of euchre were to be found grouped at the long rows of tables, where there was keen competition for handsome prizes. J. R. Hall, manager of Revillion Wholesale, Ltd., of Edmonton, accompanied by Messrs. Frank Pepper and Harper, has returned to the West from a business visit to Toronto, Montreal, New York and other Eastern centers. The Revillion firm are •exclusive Starr dealers in phonographic products, and while East visited the Compo Co.'s laboratories and saw howmusic is transferred to Starr records. On the day of the Provincial elections in Quebec Province M. L. Dohan, Edison agent in Quebec City, ran the following appropriate copy: "Elected by acclamation — Edison — King of Phonographs. Among all the candidates for public, favor there was developed very little opposition to the election by acclamation of the Edison as phonograph par excellence in the house of the majority of music lovers," etc. A. B. Pollock, manager of the General Phonograph Corp. of Canada, Ltd., Kitchener, Ont., was a recent trade visitor to Montreal. "New dealers are being established at a good rate for the Clarion phonograph," said Mr. Heavysege, manager of the R. S. Williams & Sons Co., Ltd., "and we are delighted with our prospects in this direction. Wholesale business in Edison phonographs and re-creations has been most encouraging during the past two months." A Columbia artist of note coming to Montreal shortly is Leon Rothier, who has made some excellent Columbia records. On the back cover of every monthly supplement sent out by the various His Master's Voice dealers in Canada, under the caption "A Suggestion," appears the following: "Somewhere in your vicinity there is a hospital, orphanage or some other institution that would gladly have your old records. There are many records in your list that may be old to you, but would be new to the inmates of these institutions. Why not clear out your old records to-day and send them to one of these institutions?" Lavigeur & Hutchison, the big piano house in Quebec City, recently joined the ranks of His Master's Voice dealers. Music Week, March 11-17, was duly acknowledged by the trade and good results have followed. His Master's Voice stores held daily recitals (free to all) in their main concert hall from 3 to 4:30, where splendid programs, embracing selections by leading Victor artists, were given to overflovyng audiences. Other local dealers likewise observed the Week by giving derhonstrations and recitals to large audiences. The Melody King's Dance Orchestra, featuring His Master's Voice record No. 216397, "Music" and "Burning Sands," recently appeared in person at Brown's Talking Machine Shop. Upwards of 400 persons were present with standing room at a premium. TRADE ACTIVITIES IN WINNIPEG, MAN. New Departments Opened — Local Appearance of Artists Boosts Record Sales — The News Winnipeg, Man., April 7. — Manager Walker, of the music department of the Hudson's Bay Co., has recently had a radio department installed under his supervision. A head set has been fitted to the tone arm of a Victrola No. 25, with the result that the customers on the third floor are regularly treated to splendid concerts. The visit of Captain Plunkett's "Dumbells" revue to Winnipeg occurred simultaneously with the release of Al. Plunkett's record "Shuf(Contmued on page 163) Talking Machine Springs and Repair Parts NONE BETTER IN QUALITY NONE LOWER IN PRICE THE RENE MANUFACTURING CO. MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY