The talking machine world (Jan-June 1925)

April IS, 1925 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 143 ie o/ra< JOHN H.WILSON, Manager 324 WASHINGTON ST., BOSTON, MASS. BOSTON ENGLAND New England Retail Trade Is Looking for Steadily Increasing Sales Growth Improvement in the Sale of Records Is Especially Noticeable — Plans for Second Annual Music Week Nearing Completion — Distributing Plan of Steinert-Eastern° Interests — The News Boston, Mass., April 9. — There is some improvement noticed in the sale of records these past few weeks, but the demand for machines and radio has shown little strength. The record demand is about equally divided, so say dealers and jobbers, between the work of the great vocal and instrumental artists, whose reproducing is of the higher standard, and the dance numbers and ballads by the popular artists. The trade looks for an increasing demand as the Spring comes along. Music Plans Near Completion Everything is working out nicely for the proper observance of Boston's second music week, from May 3 to 9, to be staged under the direction of the Boston Civic Music Festival. Percy Lee Atherton has been made general chairman and on the committee are Governor Fuller, Mayor Curley, the Governor's Council and the City Council, John P. Marshall, of Boston University, Professor Walter R. Spalding, of Harvard University, Mrs. William Arms Fisher, members of the Vincent Club and the Junior League and prominent business men of the city. On this year's program are a band parade and conclave at the Arena by bands from all over New England; a concert at Symphony Hall, to be participated in by 2,000 children, a public banquet at the Boston Chamber of Commerce, a production of "Aida" at the Boston Opera House, a choir conclave in which churches of Greater Boston will have part. Contributions to defray incidental expenses are coming in generously, and the City of Boston has made a good appropriation to purchase instruments for the founding of new school orchestras, or to enlarge those already existing. Steinert-Eastman Distribution Plan The latest chapter in the M. Steinert & SonsEastern Talking Machine Co. arrangement relative to the wholesaling of the Victor product is that the Eastern Co., with its efficient machinery, will hereafter handle the wholesale end of the business and the Steinert house, while still being the holding company, will retire altogether from this end of the business. This new arrangement is made largely in the interest of economy and efficiency and Henry Shoemaker, who has been manager of the Eastern Co.'s business almost since it was located at 85 Essex street, continues in this post. The Steinert wholesale Victor account has been transferred to the Eastern Co. and all stock of machines and records now at 35 Arch street were shipped to the Essex street headquarters within the past week. The Arch street store will continue as wholesale radio headquarters. Meanwhile the officers are the same as already announced a few weeks ago. Both the Steinert and the Eastern companies have sent out notices to the trade announcing this new arrangement which went into effect the end of March. The Steinert company will continue to retail Victor merchandise from its Boylston street store as heretofore and also is handling radio outfits. Now associated with the Eastern Co. in its new atmosphere is Herman Fleischman, formerly of the field staff of the Steinert Co., who will cover Rhode Island, northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Edward P. Johnson, who has been with the Eastern Co., has had his territory somewhat rearranged, and will look after western Massachusetts, Hartford and neighboring places, and Springfield. Another who has gone from the Steinert forces to the Eastern is Charles Von Euw. One of the unfortunate features attendant upon the retirement of M. Steinert & Sons from the wholesale Victor field is the resignation of Kenneth E. E. Reed, who for fifteen years has been identified with this house and in that time has become widely known. Mr. Reed has been sales manager for the house for the last eight years. The trade with which he was so long pleasantly associated will be glad to know that he has several business offers under consideration which may eventually place him in a posi tion where he can still continue to serve his old associates in some line. Improvement in Columbia Business It is pleasant to record the fact that the Columbia Co. is getting back a goodly number of its old accounts and Manager Parks, of the New England department, is regularly in receipt of letters and personal calls which are in the nature of overtures for a resumption of relations. The Columbia Co. has just had some Portuguese recordings made and these records are proving good sellers, especially in the mill cities such as Fall River, New Bedford, Lowell, etc. Mr. Parks has just returned from a trip to points in Maine such as Portland and Lewiston, and he is greatly pleased with the turn business has taken. B. R. Hassler a Visitor B. R. Hassler, sales manager of the Kennedy Radio Corp., was a Boston caller a few days ago, making his headquarters at A. C. Erisman's Tremont street establishment. While here he told his friends some vivid stories of the tornado, which it seems came within a few miles of Salem, Ind., where the Strand machines are made and which are carried by Mr. Erisman. Mr. Hassler, on his return, planned to make stops at Cleveland, Chicago and other places before reaching St. Louis. George W. Lyle a Visitor George W. Lyle, president of the Manufacturers Phonograph Co., which makes the Strand, was a Boston visitor for a few days the latter part of March. He spent most of his time with Mr. Erisman. Boston Radio Exposition in November The growth and stabilization of the radio industry is well indicated by the progress of plans for the fifth annual Boston Radio Exposition, to be held in the Mechanics Building, during the week of November 30. Already a great deal of space has been booked by exhibitors. The exposition is under the direction of Sheldon Fairbanks. Henri DuQuesne With Steinert One of the newcomers to Boston to become attached to the wholesale radio department of M. Steinert & Sons is Henri DuQuesne, of Montreal, Canada. In the latter city he was the managing director of Radio, Ltd., for two years. His duties here will comprise the terri(Continued on page 144) Prepare for Vacation Time In a few weeks the annual vacation season will begin with its demand for portable Victrolas and supplies of records of lighter music for cottage, bungalow and camp. Are your stocks in proper shape to meet this summer demand? OLIVER DITSON CO. BOSTON, MASS. CHAS. H. DITSON & CO. NEW YORK