The Voice of the Victor - May 1916

[novkev24]

You all are welcome. I would have to think there are other editions out there. Ask your phono friends if they have copies to share. It would be great if we can compile a resource on the net for the VOTV!

[dennman6]

So far I've tried downloading this file 4 times on two different days, and I either get that constantly spinning blue ball in upper left of browser that never does anything or I get an internet connection problem screen. I have a Comcast high-speed cable modem, never had this continuing problem before. Is anyone who has downloaded this file willing to e-mail it to me? That would be appreciated, thanks.I am at [email protected]

[Retrograde]

be sure to check out page 17, Interesting picture in right side column.

[dennman6]

I just got this file downloaded, thanks to Kevin Novak. Thanks Kevin. Also on page 17(97 of the Voice of the Victor) is an interesting picture on the left side of the page. Notice the new dance floor installed in the showroom by L.L. Haight of McGregor, Iowa. Notice also that the fifth machine from the left is a higher end Columbia Grafonola, right next to a VV-XVI. How did this picture get past the editors? Apparently Mr. Haight was not an exclusive Victor dealer-he may even have a couple of Brunswicks lurking about. Or possibly he just hauled in the Grafonola til his special order VV-XX arrived from Camden

[phonogfp]

Notice also that the fifth machine from the left is a higher end Columbia Grafonola, right next to a VV-XVI. How did this picture get past the editors? Apparently Mr. Haight was not an exclusive Victor dealer-he may even have a couple of Brunswicks lurking about. Or possibly he just hauled in the Grafonola til his special order VV-XX arrived from Camden

It was reasonably common practice for talking machine retailers who carried one line exclusively to have a machine of a competitor on display. In this way, the competitor's weaknesses could be pointed out/demonstrated, and the exclusive line's strengths could be touted. I seem to remember something in period Victor literature encouraging dealers to engage in these comparisons. Edison literature of the late teens certainly encouraged such comparisons in Edison dealerships. The editors of VOTV would have had no problem with this photo.

There's a well-known photo of the Music Room at the Edison Laboratory from the mid-teens that shows a Victrola and a Grafonola (and the newly-recreated Music Room has duplicated virtually everything in that photo). Whether at the factory or in the dealership, it was good practice to "know thine enemy" and point out his faults to prospective customers.

As for Brunswicks, I don't believe they were on the market quite yet in May 1916 (or whenever the photo was taken prior to that date), but the VV-XX hadn't been available since early 1909!

George P.