The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 11 EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Editor »nd Praprietor J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor. Trade Representatives: Geo. B. Keller, F. H. Thompson. W. T. Dykes, L. E. Bowers, B. Brittain Wilson, A. J. NicKLiN, L. J. Chamberlin. Boston Office: Ernest L. Waitt, 278a Tremont St. Chicftjo Office: E. P. Van Harlingen, 195-197 Wabash Ave. Telephones: Central, 114; Automatic, 8643. Phil«.delDhia Office : Minneapolis and St. Paul : H. F. Thompson. Adolf Edsten. St. Louis Office : San Francisco Office : Chas. N. Van Burkn. S. H. Grax. 240 Sacramento St. Cleveland Office: G. F. « kscott. London, England, Ot.<ce: 60 Basinghall St., E. C. W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager. Berlin, Germany, Chas. Robinson, Breitestrasse 6. Published the 15th of every month at I Madison Ave. N.V SVBSCRIPTION (including postage). United States, Mexico, One Dollar per year; all other countries, $1.25. England and her colonies, five shillings. ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, pet insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis count is allowed. Advertising Pages, $60.00; special position, $75.00. REMITTANCES, should be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill by check or Post Office Order. ^P~IMPORTANT.— Advertisements or changes should reach this office by the first of each month. Advertisements arriving too late for insertion in the current issue will, in the absence of instructions, be inserted in the succeeding issue. Long DistOLnce Telephones — Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramercy. Cable Address: "Elbill." New York. NEW YOR-K, JANUARY 15. 1908. Y Q/^O welcomed a couple of weeks ago ^ yyjKJ and according to some of the best business and trade experts in the country the year will render an excellent account of itself before its final ushering off the stage next December. Conditions in the financial world have grown steadily better since the last appearance of this publication and there is every belief that business will continue to improve until we have reached a normal state. Reports from all over the country show that large numbers of workmen have been reemployed and that factories which closed down have started up again, many of them on full time. All of this presages well for the New Year, for the workmen after all are the best mediums for the distribution of .money. When the mills and factories are closed down it means that the great distrilbuting medium has ceased and until men are employed business stagnates. PROBABLY talking machine dealers have felt the closing down of industrial establishments in their various localities more keenly than almost any other line of men, because it is known that American workmen are large purchasers of talking machines and records. Of course the higher priced records are sold to people of more extensive means but the workmen, most of whom draw excellent wages, have been and will continue to be, when employed, large users of talking machines and accessories, hence the statement that factories which were closed down are opening up in every section of th3 country is the best kind of news which we could give to our readers in the first issue of the New Year. If factories close then the workmen stop purchasing supplies and in a little while more establishments close. In other words, we are close to the great producing masses all the time and upon them we depend largely as great factors in our industrial progress. When they quit work they stop consuming and they constitute an army of consumers when well employed. A3 we stated in the last World, Christmas trade was disappointing and still it is surprising what a vast number of talking machines were sold for holiday presents throughout the broad land. As yet no exact or definite statement is possible regarding the returns for the year 1907. We have been collecting some rather interesting data and it is safe to say with the majority of talking machine dealers the year's final results will bear comparison with those of that remarkably prosperous year 1906. Up to the end of October when the late financial stringency first became acute the general opinion was that 1907 would be a record breaker, and despite cer tain drawbacks such as cold spring and other conditions which militated against business, the first ten months of the year bore out these predictions. DURING the greater part of the year conditions were such as to convince retailers that unless they were prompt with their orders they would be unable to get talking machines and accessories as they might require them. As a result large quantities of machines were ordered in the anticipation that the manufacturers' inability to deliver all that were booked would prevent the retailers from being surcharged wun goods at the end of the season. As a result of heavy orders throughout the early summer many jobbers had large stocks on hand upon which to draw for the holiday trade, and a good many of them have thus far stock suflicient to carry them through the season and to be in pretty good shape for the beginning of the year. THE present situation would seem to indicate that jobbing trade will be pretty light during January. That is to be expected even in normal times, but it is surprising how good the retail business was during the past month. Some of the reports which have reached us from retail merchants show an unusually large distribution of talking machines. These conditions show that the great masses of purchasers throughout the country had money to spend and they were willing to spend it for modern creations such as talking machines. It would seem to us therefore as we view the trade that the New Year will render an excellent account of itself and no good reason can be advanced why men should not go ahead and conduct their affairs along sound business lines. It is not perhaps the time for splurging, but it is time to exercise good sound judgment and plenty of progressive spirit in the conduct of one's affairs. The country is not going to the dogs and the more the pessimistic spirit is cultivated the worse it will be for legitimate business interests. This country is too rich in everything to remain in a state of uncertainty and inactivity. The wheels must go forward not backward. The general condition does not form the correct setting for a long continued depression, and the quicker 'business men, manufacturers, jobbers and retailers take this view of the situation the better it will be for them. Talking machines will be made and sold in large quantities during 1908 and it is pretty safe to predict that the most progressive men will take advantage of the situation to forge ahead in their various localities. Many of the far-sighted men will not hesitate to prosecute their business with vigor and determination. They will be liberal in their advertising appropriations and at the round up at the close of the year they will find that their outlay will have brought them excellent returns. THE announcement made by the Columbia Phonograph Co; in an advertisement ap. pearing in another portion of this paper will draw forth a good deal of comment in all sections of the country. The statement is made by this concern that no more Columbia monthly lists of new records will be issued. The regular es-' tablished form of issuing monthly bulletins will be replaced by a plan, whereby supplements will be issued quarterly, and it is the intention of the Columbia organization to bring out only "hits" between times. Surely such an iconoclastic move as this by a great creating and distributing concern will at once cause keen comment everywhere and much speculation as to the resultant effects of such a move upon the general business. The Columbia plan boiled down is this — to cut out monthly lists of records; issue a condensed list every three months and large catalogs twice a year. Emphasis is place'd upon the fact that new records will appear at irregular intervals. Announcements of new records will be made as soon as successes are scored, perhaps several times a month. In other words, just as soon as there are any big "hits" the Columbia people propose to place them in the hands of their dealers with the least possible delay. The Columbia's announcement is arranged in a forceful and entertaining manner, and tells the story of a new policy adopted by one of the great talking machine concerns. WE take this opportunity of returning our thanks to our friends and readers everywhere for the many good wishes for the New Year which have (been sent to our office. In the conduct of an institution such as this it is necessary in order that a fair degree of success may be attained, to have the support not merely financially, but morally of a large number of people. There must be sympathy between this enterprise and those whose interests it seeks to serve. When this paper was launched on the 15th of January three years ago the statement was made by the editor that he should endeavor by conscientious advocacy of trade interests to win the support of the trade, by producing a publication which should be a helpful adjunct to the industry. How we have succeeded is well known to our readers, to whom we extend hearty thanks. May the New Year be one of prosperity for all those whose interests are interlocked with the talking machine affairs. And may we all be ever mindful of the fact that each individual can contribute something towards the restoration of confidence, while we may be separated tiny human atoms, yet together we form a gigantic unit of strength sufficient to demolish every obstacle which olhstructs the path of prosperity. Let us then stand shoulder to shoulder. SOME of the views expressed by leading members of the western talking machine trade anent business conditions appearing in another portion of this issue will be of interest to readers everywhere. The more optimistic the rays that can be disseminated in the spots where the dark shadows still linger the better it will be for all. JUDGING from information which reaches us there will be a number of specialties placed on the market this year which will greatly interest talking machine dealers. It is stated on excellent authority that there are several business moves to be made on the trade chess board which will create comment when announced.