The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

JOHN H.WILSON, Manager 324 WASHINGTON ST.,BOSTON,MASS ^BOSTON ENGLAND New England Trade Is Stocking the New Majestic Radio Sets J. H. Burke, Atwater Kent Jobber, Honored by Dinner — F. D. Pitts Co., Distributor, Reports Granting More Than 200 Franchises in Short Period — Other News Boston, Mass., June 6. — Business along the lines of talking machines and radio is distinctly picking up, and the trade is correspondingly encouraged. Almost every dealer is looking for a good Summer phonograph and radio business. Tender Dinner to Joe Burke The New England representatives of the Atwater Kent Co., who work out of the J. H. Burke Co., 219 Columbus avenue, held an enjoyable get-together at the Copley-Plaza the middle of May, on which occasion the group tendered a dinner to Joe Burke, head of the organization that handles the Atwater Kent product. In addition to the social side of the gathering, the occasion resolved itself into a business conference, and while there were no set speeches there was a mutual exchange of opinions touching the present and the future of the business along radio lines. Present at the dinner as representing the Atwater Kent organization were H. A. Arany, New England sales manager; William E. Richards, New England field manager, and Field Representatives L. Dopkins, W. L. Gait, H. E. Eickert and Frank Dewey. The J. H. Burke Co. organization was represented by Joseph H. Burke, himself; Thomas E. Burke , John F. Burke, William A. Burke, Ray L. Burke, Richard V. Keyes, John R. Fales, Daniel Lynch and Jack Walton. In a way the gathering anticipated the fifth annual Atwater Kent convention to be held June 7, 8 and 9 at the Congress Hotel in Chicago, to which all the company's distributors and sales executives and their wives have been invited. Many Dealers Add Majestic The F. D. Pitts Co. has been meeting with the greatest success in handling the Majestic line, and in three weeks has placed more than 200 franchises within the territory in which the Pitts Co. operates; and Francis D. Pitts himself says that he never before had a franchise for which there was such immediate acceptance. Thus with the Majestic and the Kellogg line the Pitts Co. has about all the radio business it can reasonably attend to at present. Mourn Death of Caleb S. Spencer Harry L. Spencer, now allied with the Sonora Phonograph Co.'s product and formerly New England representative for the Brunswick Co., has the sympathy of his friends in the loss of his father, Caleb S. Spencer, with whom the son was long associated in business before the firm of Kraft, Bates & Spencer took on the Brunswick line. When the Chicago firm of Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. decided to job his own line here, Mr. Spencer, senior, retired from the music business, Harry Spencer continuing as the New England representative for the Chicago house. Columbia News Manager Bill Parks says that there is marked interest in the three new models, just announced to the trade, one a combination radio and phonograph, another a cheaper dynamic reproducing Columbia-Kolster, both of which are going big. There also is a lively call with the approach of Summer for the portable line. Many letters and telegrams of congratulations have come to Manager Parks over the recently announced contract with Paul Whiteman to play as an exclusive Columbia attraction, and it is of more than passing interest that this news "broke" while Whiteman was here in this city at the Metropolitan Theatre. The Columbia business in this territory has been considerably stimulated by the release of the latest Moran and Mack records, "The Two Black Crows," the initial orders for which were exceptionally large. Meanwhile there is a heavy call for the Masterworks sets which are beingpurchased by the most musically discerning people. This is particularly true of the latest set, the Baireuth festival, which, though rather high priced, is finding ready patrons. Through the Boylston street warerooms of the A. M. Hume Music Co., Boston University has lately purchased two Columbia-Kolsters for use in the halls of the school. A Columbia-Kolster was used a few days ago at Symphony Hall when the school children of the city were heard in a monster concert as a feature of Music Week. Professor John O'Shea was full of enthusiasm over the results achieved. Alexander Steinert, head of the Boston establishment of M. Steinert & Sons, is back home from his long trip taken to the Mediterranean and Northern Africa, on which trip he was accompanied by Mrs. Steinert. Represents Carryola on the Pacific Coast E. Lindell has been appointed Pacific Coast representative of the Carryola Co. of America, Milwaukee, Wis., manufacturer of Carryola portable phonographs. Mr. Lindell maintains headquarters in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and represents the Carryola organization on the entire Pacific Coast as well as in the states of Utah, Nevada and Arizona, working closely with the Leo J. Meyberg Co., recently appointed Carryola distributors of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Mr Lindell was formerly connected with the Talk Back Phonographic Recorder Co., of Los Angeles, and has a wide acquaintance in the music field. Big First Quarter for Fada Radio, Ltd. In the first three months of 1928, Fada Radio, Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary of F. A. D. Andrea, Inc., did a greater volume of business than during the first six months of 1927. This announcement was made by Homer J. Zopf, manager of Fada Radio, Ltd., on a recent visit to the Long Island City plant and executive offices. A staff of specialty salesmen is now covering the nine provinces of the dominion. Mr. Zopf stated that the leading music stores of Canada are handling radio in increasing quantities. Victor Factory -f Ditson + You Makes a merchandising combination that functions steadily, intelligently and consistently. Ditson Service to Victor Dealers goes far beyond the matter of supplying the goods — it offers real co-operation of the sales help sort. | Oliver Ditson Co. Chas. H. Ditson &l Co. m Boston New York H 136