The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

Last-Minute News of the Trade Wide Interest Displayed in QRS Motion Picture Camera Apparatus Appeal of Instrument and Unlimited Market Make Line Ideal for Talking Machine Dealer — Leading Pacific Coast Music Houses Install Departments The announcement of the QRS movie camera and projector by the Camera Division of the QRS Co., of Chicago, which appeared in The QRS Camera, Front View Talking Machine World last month, has interested the talking machine trade throughout the country, and inquiries are pouring in to the QRS headquarters. The popular price of the product, bringing it within the means of the masses, without a sacrifice of quality, provides the retailer with a new line of vast sales possibilities; merchandise that should be instrumental in eliminating the Summer "slump" and at the same time increase Victor and RCA Merger Rumors During the past few weeks newspapers throughout the country have printed rumors regarding a proposed merger between the Radio Corp. of America and the Victor Talking Machine Co. Some of the papers have given skeleton descriptions of the manner in which this merger will be accomplished, but at this date (April 10) the rumor has not become an established fact and the executives of both companies have declined to issue any statement for publication. Appointed Fada New England Sales Agent T. Norman Mason has been appointed New England sales representative of Fada radio with headquarters in Boston. Mr. Mason's experience includes many years with the Columbia Phonograph Co., Splitdorf Electrical Co. and A. C. Erisman Phonograph & Radio Co., wholesale distributors in Boston and he is well known to the trade. J. V. Cremonim, New York City, has been appointed exclusive jobber for the line of radio tables and cabinets produced by the Watsontown Table & Furniture Co. of Watsontown, Pa. This line is growing in popularity. sales volume of retail dealers in all the other seasons of the year. Both the QRS Co. and the men behind it have long been outstanding trade figures. "Tom" Pletcher and Albert Page, president and vice-president and treasurer, respectively, know the trade and its problems, and they have a reputation for successful achievement in the production of quality merchandise. H. H. Roemer, manager of the Camera Division, and Charles E. Phillimore, chief engineer in charge of production, through their wide experience in the amateur motion picture apparatus field and their knowledge of the trade in general, are ideally qualified to make this product a profitable one for retail talking machine merchants to handle. The simplicity of the QRS camera and projector, the projector being provided merely by attaching a lamphouse and electric motor to the camera, is one that commends itself to the trade for several important reasons. First the public is more easily sold on a mechanism that is not complicated. Second, simplicity of operation makes for less trouble in handling and creates consumer satisfaction. The talking machine merchant is completely equipped to make a success of a department devoted to the sale of cameras and projectors. The investment required is not too large for the average dealer, and the space needed for such a department is comparatively small. Another factor of the greatest importance from the standpoint of the retail merchant is that the consumer market for this product is the same as for talking machines and radio receivers. The customers already on the dealers' New Victrola 2-55 Portable Announced A new portable, Victrola 2-S5, has been announced to the trade by the Victor Talking Machine Co. Among the features said to be embodied in this latest Victor product are an Orthophonic type sound box, tone chamber, automatic stop and combination record carrier and lid-closing arrangement. It plays three records without rewinding, has gold-plated or gold-lacquered metal parts, a cabinet of tempered steel, is covered with leather fabric and has a genuine leather carrying handle and tab, with combination record container for ten records and lid release. Strikingly attractive folders in full color carry the complete details of this new Victor portable. J. G. Keech Transferred to Southwest J. G. Keech, who has been connected with the Atwater Kent Mfg. Co., Philadelphia, Pa., for some time, has been appointed assistant Southwest territory manager, assisting M. T. Stockholm. "Gibb," as he is familiarly known, recently completed a six weeks' study of the territory, traveling through Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. He found dealers enthusiastic over their sales of the Model 37. books are prospects for the sale of cameras and projectors. The contact which the dealer has had with these people should make sales easy and put the department on a substantially profitable basis immediately. That the music merchant has already grasped the importance of the QRS cameras and realizes the close sales appropriateness of this product in relation to other lines handled is evidenced by the fact that among the great number who have already placed their orders are Sherman, Clay & Co., of San Francisco and the Southern California Music Co., of Los Angeles. With Summer at hand the time is ideal for the installation of such a department. When there is a normal slowing down of sales of QRS Camera Assembled for Projecting talking machines and radios the dealer who can make up the slack by getting behind a product that enjoys its greatest natural demand during that period is on the right road to a profitable year. Because of lack of competition the dealer who is wise enough to get an early start will have the field to himself and will be able to cash in to the greatest extent. The amateur moving picture camera and projector provides an added line that stands second to none as a profit-producer for the retail talking machine dealer. Buys an Interest in the Willett Patents Henry C. Forster, treasurer of the Utah Radio Products Co., Chicago, recently announced the acquisition of a third interest in the Willett patents held by Guy E. Willett, Louisville, Ky. The Willett patents cover certain suspension features employed in the manufacture and construction of phonograph and radio reproducer diaphragms. Mr. Forster recently stated that arrangements have been made with Schechter & Lotch, New York City attorneys, to start proceedings against any concern infringing the Willett patents. M. J. Adler Is FreedEisemann Ad. Manager M. J. Adler has been appointed advertising manager of the Freed-Eisemann Radio Corp., Brooklyn, N. Y., succeeding Ray L. Speicher, who has been assigned to sales promotion activities in the Freed-Eisemann organization. Mr. Adler brings to his new position a wellrounded background of experience obtained in advertising agency and other publicity work. B. E. Bensinger, president of the Brunswick Co., Chicago, states that the company's first quarter earnings totaled about $450,000, a decided increase over the same period of 1927. 34/