The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar 1903-Feb 1904)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. 9 A DEALER TO BE PROUD OF. One of the most enthusiastic Dealers in Edison Phonographs and Records is the Keely Phonograph Co., H. P. Keely, manager, 6109 Pcnn avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Keely never sells any other make of talking machines or records if by any means he can avoid it. Edison goods have not Dealers more loyal than he. One of his many unique ways of advertising is a rubber stamp with which he prints the following on all his mail matter: EDISON RECORDS (The Only) 50c each, $5.00 Doz. Records (Indestructible) 25c each, $3.00 Doz. Records, X P ANY OLD PRICE. If you cannot buy good ones, we sell the imitation Hard Brittle and Easily Broken Super Hardened. We asked Mr. Keely if he objected to a mention of his rubber stamp in these columns and received the following characteristic letter from him: In regard to my "ad" you are very welcome to use the same and also use my name. In reference to my experiences in handling disks will say that the disk machine, no matter who makes it, is a "dead one," and should be treated the same as any other public nuisance. Any one selling or using same should be fined or given ninety days in the workhouse. I have sold every make of disk records in the market for one cent an inch (this means diameter, not circumference), and consider myself well rid of such truck. I will never be found with the evidence on me again. I have sold over 3,000 Edison Phonographs which have made me famous as Keely's Talk and seven disk machines, for which I hope to be forgiven in the hereafter. I have seven enemies. They bought the disk machines. This does not include their families who were tortured by them. The disk machine carrying cases are not in demand, as nearly every house has an attic which answers the purpose very shortly after the disks are purchased. The most novel use for a disk machine is that made by a farmer who feeds his poultry corn with a lavish hand and then starts his disk machine and they take to the woods hungry rather than eat in such torture. The^ trolley cars in Pittsburg are very musical in a disk sense when they are climbing the hill ; if anything, they make sweeter music. The growl and grind is there without the trouble of changing the needle. I have several disk machines on hand, but shudder when compelled to play one, as all musical customers leave at once. The X. P. (X poor), hard, brittle and easily broken record is not much in demand, as they are cheap in price, cheap in sound and made by a cheap concern, who employ only men who use cheap and slippery methods to dispose of this junk. Mr. Keely's reference to selling disk records at one cent an inch is an actual fact of almost daily occurrence. When asked the price of disk records he replies: "One cent an inch," and actually sells them for seven or ten cents* according to diameter. Another of his unique methods of advertising is to announce a sale of the cheap cylindrical records at ten cents a dozen, and he carries out his pro nise. He had been holding a sale of this kind one day each week and disposing of cheap cylindrical records at twenty-five cents a dozen. The manager of the branch store of the manufacturers of these records was skeptical concerning the sales and sent a boy with twentyfive cents to the Keely store to buy a dozen. The boy returned with the dozen records and fifteen cents in change, saying: "They're selling them for ten cents a dozen to-day." With all this Mr. Keely is a staunch upholder of the Edison Agreement and prices. EXTRACTS FROfl TRADE LETTERS. "You may depend we will co-operate with your text to the letter." — Pierce & Quinn, Northport, Wash. "I have never seen any occasion for price cutting on Edison goods, therefore you can rest assured of my hearty co-operation. — E. S. Harper, Moons, Ohio. "We are very much pleased with new Records which have orchestra and band accompaniments. In our little town more interest is being taken in the Edison Phonograph. We have sold to pleased customers nine Home Phonographs. — Thos. Coatcs, Prescott, Ariz. "In looking over the Monthly I see a great talk about the 'steen cent* records. They remind me of a corner band when most of the players are out collecting the pennies. The best story I have is this : We were playing November Records for a couple of customers when in came one of our cranks with two 'steen cent' records. He told me he had Laughing Water (No. 8532 on our list), and asked to hear ours. I played steen and ours and sold three of ours on the spot, one of them to the crank. — Howard T, Tripp, Brooklyn, N. Y. "We wish to thank you for postal received a short time ago stating the name of a party that wrote you for catalogues. We called on them and got an order for some Edison Records and he has bought eight Records every week, and last Saturday we sold him a Triumph and a 42-inch horn. This is only one case of your great help to dealers of Edison goods." — 5". D. LaRoe & Son, Woonsockct, R. I. "December Suspended List received. I think you are doing a noble act with these cutters, and hope the good work will go on."— W. M. Henderson, Port Chester, N. Y. Am handling nothing but Edison Machines and Records. My customers say they are the best and the cheapest in the long run, and I know they are. I will uphold the Dealers'