The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 29 TRADE NOTES FROM ST. LOUIS. Good Demand for High Class Goods, Both Machines and Records, a Feature of the Trade During the Holidays — January Has Opened Up Satisfactorily — General Feeling Is That the Future Is Ripe for Better Things — C. W. Long's Cheery Report — Koerber-Brenner Well Pleased With Year's Business — A Run Around the Trade Shows a Cheerful Disposition on the Part of All the Leading Talking Machine Jobbers and Dealers. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 6, 1908. The general trade conditions for the month of Decemher were much better than could he expected under the conditions that existed during that time. The Christmas trade brought a fairly good demand for high class goods and the record business was quite good. The wholesale trade was somewhat backward, but fairly good reports are made by all the jobbers. D. C. Malin, formerly assistant manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co. here, has been appointed manager of the same concern at Peoria, 111. P. E. Conroy, president of the Conroy Piano Co., reports that their retail trade was active during December. He looks for a good year's business this year. C. W. Long, manager of the St. Louis Talking Machine Co., reports that their trade for December was fairly good. A visit to this estaiblishment finds a lively degree of activity, which indicates that the trade in the Mississippi Valley territory is moving in a good volume, and that the effect of the stringency is not being felt to any considerable extent in that region. The Koerber-Brenner Music Co. report that things are moving along with them in a very satisfactory manner, and that they are well pleased with last year's busines. W. A. Brenner, of this firm, recently spent several days in Chicago. Manager Walthall, of the Columbia Phonograph Co., reports a nice holiday business and that he sold a number of very high class outfits. D. K. Myers, jobber of Zonophones, states that he has had a nice trade recently, that business is picking up and he looks for a good year in 1908. Marks Silverstone, president of the Marks Silverstone Talking Machine Co., reports a fair business for December. He leaves shortly on a two weeks' trip through this territory. Manager S. R. Brewer, of the talking machine department of the Thiebes-Stierlin Music Co., reports a good business for the month of December. Mr. Brewer spent New Year's with his folks at Terre Haute, Ind. H. L. Brewer, of the same department, spent Christmas at the same place. Miss Sadie Rosenblatt, manager of the talking machine department of May, Stern & Co., reports that ibusiness in this department has been quite active recently. THE WINNING OF GROUCH. A Story Illustrating the Fact That a Bluff Works Sometimes, and When and How It Is Excusable — Not Fiction But Fact. "The old man wants to see you in the oflBce, kid," cried the assistant manager to me as I entered the store on my return from a trip up the State. I v/as glad that the opportunity for an interview with the head of the firm was coming my way so soon, for I had "made good" and I felt that my reputation as a talking machine salesman was about established. I do not wish to blow my own horn too loud, but when a fellow, and the youngest one on the force at that, comes back from a month's campaign among the out-of-town dealers with a big wad of orders in his note book, it makes him feel — well, just about as kittenish as when he has imbibed three or four stiff "Wilson, that's all" high balls, but without the headache effect. Therefore, I entered the sacred sanctum of our president with more than my usual eagerness, and in reply to his question, "How did you make out with our rural friends, young man?" I poured into his ears the nectar of my success. It evidently pleased him, for he smiled and held out his hand in a fatherly sort of way that showed his affection for me, or for the work' I had done, at any rate. I did not reciprocate, but more to the point, I thrust into his outstretched palm my note book bulging with good big orders. He scanned its pages hurriedly and his eyes glistened. Then he sat looking me over, taking me in from crown to toe for what seemed to me an eternity. Then, apparently satisfied with his inspection, he told me that he contemplated raising my salary, but first I was to prove my worth by obtaining a liberal order from Jabez Grouch, the greatest department store man in our city. "Every salesman I have in my employ," said the president, "has tried and failed. Now, I want you to have your turn, and if you succeed — well, there will be something good coming your way, do you understand?" I understood, all right, and tofd him so. An hour later I had passed through the imposing portals of the Grouch & Co. department store, and reaching the offices, sent in my card to Mr. Grouch. I knew what I was up against, for "Old Grouch," as he was called by his employes and business associates, was a terror to salesmen, and talking machine salesmen in particular. Owing to some fresh youngster making a scene in his office by refusing to be called an ass, and his goods rot, and telling Grouch in words that were far from polite that his skull was too thick for a Winchester bullet to penetrate, let alone an argument on the talking machine subject, the old gentleman had taken a violent dislike to everything pertaining to "graphs" and "phones," and it was a well-known fact that to go to Grouch with a "talker" proposition was to risk being flayed alive. You can imagine my state of feeling, therefore, gentle 'reader, when the office boy, the juvenile member of the Society for the Prevention of Talking Machines, came to me with a grin upon his crafty countenance, and bowed me into the chamber of horrors. "So you are a talking machine salesman," cried Grouch with biting sarcasm as I drew up in front of his fort-like desk. "I thought by this time that you fellows knew my attitude toward the "squawker" industry. I admire your nerve, but really I must stop there. Show the gentleman out, Tom." The office boy's grin had spread to wonderful proportions by this time as he realized, I suppose, how funny it was to see a "squawker" representative squelched. However, I did not squelch, but instead, with all the force of dra matic elocution at my command, coupled to a strong baritone voice, fired this challenge into his very teeth (they were false, too, I think) : "Mr. Grouch, if you will give me five minutes' time, I can prove to you conclusively that the talking machine will help your business. If at the end of the five minutes you do not agree with me, I give you my word of honor to slink away like the beaten cur, that I will be, and never trespass upon your valuable time again. What is your verdict?" "I think I remarked when you came in that I admired your nerve," he answered, grimly; "fire away." Well, I started in, and as every live talking machine dealer knows, a convincing talk oh the subject nearest his heart is a cinch, because it is full of good points, and they all fit together so nicely that when the structure is finished, there is no tumbling it down; it is up to stay. I built the structure for "Old Grouch" about ten stories high, and something like this: Saint Louis Talking Machine Co. JVIILLS BUIUDINO 7th and St. Charles Streets, ST. LOIIS, MO. The Only Exclusive Victor Distributors In Missouri