The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 55 TRADE IN THE CAPITAL CITY. Holiday Business Reported Satisfactory — Year's Average Fair — Columbia Sales Good — Commercial Graphophones in Demand by Government — Excellent Report from E. F. Droop & Sons Co. — 1907 a Good Year for Sanders & Stayman — Percy Foster on Mechanical Musical Instruments — What Other Dealers Have to Say. (Special to The Talking Maehlae World.) Washington, D. C, Jan. 7, 1908. The talking machine trade in the National Capital, generally speaking, has not been up to the standard. December started off quietly, but warmed up towards Christmas and ended with good colors. With a few exceptions, the year as a whole has been fair, but not as bright as it should have been. The summer and early fall were dull, so that the final figures are not very encouraging. The Columbia Phonograph Co. did an excellent business the last half of the past month and starts off the new year well. A good record sale has been maintained, but the sale of machines has not been lively. As a whole the year has been a successful one. The commercial graphophone department of this company has passed an exceptionally fine year. The value of these instruments is becoming more widfely known and the number used in the National Departments of Government has greatly increased. Lawyers, courts and commeTcial houses are demanding these machines, so that the local agency is kept quite busy. Smith & Huls and Pechin & Johnston are two large legal firms that have recently placed a large order for the commercial graphophone with the Columbia Phonograph Co. The talking machine department of E. F. Droop & Sons Co. has done a big business during December. "We were rushed to death at Christmas," said Manager Grouse, "and we are still rushed. We have had good sales in both records and instruments. The enlargement of this department has certainly enlarged the business. We are arranging to have a series of afternoon concerts on the Mignon player and the finest talking machines. Sanders & Stayman passed an excellent month in the talking machine department and consider In closing 1907 that a great success has been made in this line of work during its half-year life. In speaking of mechanical devices for music Percy S. Foster, the local manager remarked, "Years ago it was the music box that was demanded, but now this instrument has been relegated to the corner and the talking machine with its excellent production of voice, speech and instruments holds the public attention. Why, I remember, less than a decade ago, ordering music boxes to the extent of making a huge pyramid in the window and filling every counter and available space in the first floor of the store with these instruments, and I disposed of everyone of them at Christmas. Elated over this success, I made a similar order the following Christmas,, and I have at this late date one music box left of that consignment. The talking machine came and swept everything before it. It has even reduced the sale of small instruments as banjos, guitars, violins, etc. People do not feel that they have to learn an Instrument when they can hear such a good imitation." J. E. Whitson reports a good December and an average sale for the year. The past two weeks have been particularly busy ones in the repair department of this establishment, as Mr. Whitson is one of the few men in the city who do this work, and everyone who had a machine out of order suddenly remembered that they wanted to use it for Christmas. There was a good sale of records at John F. Ellis Co. during December, and an especially fine sale in the "Lyra" for Christmas. Owing to the poor sales in the talking machine department of S. Kann, Son & Co., for the past few months, the entire stock on hand in this department has been turned over to Powers & Henry, of Pittsburg. The agents of this firm are now in Washington disposing of the goods at remarkably low figures, which is bringing many customers to the sale. It is expected that two weeks will suffice to close out the stock. A compact "has been entered into by the talking machine dealers here by which partial payment goods are sold at an advance of ten per cent, on the original price. This is done to encourage cash payments, as well as to make the man with the ready money feel that he secures some privilege over his tardy brother. Owing to manufacturing conditions, no reduction can be made in the sale price of talking machine goods, so the only thing left to do is to make the "on time" man pay for the dealer's time in waiting. Already this has shown satisfactory results, by the increase in cash customers and by an increase in business. OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS. Amount and Value of Talking Machines Shipped Abroad from the Port of New York. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Washington, D. C, Jan. 6, 1907. Manufacturers and dealers in talking machines will doubtless be interested in the figures showing the exports of talking machines for the past five weeks from the port of New York: DECEMBER 9. Amsterdam, 9 pkgs., $270; Berlin, 174 pkgs., $1,137; 2 pkgs., $120; 188 pkgs., $2,472; Buenos Ayres, 95 pkgs., $3,565; Calcutta, 5 pkgs., $164; Colon, 9 pkgs., $809; Cienfuegos, 8 pkgs., $266; Glasgow, 29 pkgs., $572; Havana, 7 pkgs., $363; Havre, 15 pkgs., $621; Kingston, 5 pkgs., $362; Limon, 5 pkgs., $165; London, 5 pkgs., $375; Macoris, 4 pkgs., $100; Para, 4 pkgs., $338; St. Petersburg, 7 pkgs., $219; Savanilla, 20 pkgs., $1,082; Vera Cruz, 137 pkgs., $2,038; 7 pkgs., $353; Vienna, 3 pkgs., $213. DECEMBER 16. Antofagasta, 50 pkgs., $1,969; Belfast, 82 pkgs., $540; Bradford, 665 pkgs., $405; Callao, 13 pkgs., $370; 3 pkgs., $437; Colon, 12 pkgs., $1,032; Cardiff, 5 pkgs., $352; Dublin, 54 pkgs., $401~f Guayaquil, 2 pkgs. $158; Leeds, 85 pkgs., $593; London, 1,466 pkgs., $13,586; 17 pkgs., $408; Liverpool, 198 pkgs., $1,187; Limon, 7 pkgs., $333; Manchester, 314 pkgs., $1,939; Montevideo, 31 pkgs., $3,125; Newcastle, 57 pkgs., $427; Manila, 11 pkgs., $781; 265 pkgs., $8,923; St. Lueia, 8 pkgs., $102; Tampico, 3 pkgs., $137; Vera Cru^, 47 pkgs., $880. DECEMBER 23. Auckland, 67 pkgs., $238; Bradford, 44 pkgs.. $282; Buenos Ayres, 20 pkgs., $2,307; Berlin, 75 pkgs., $1,244; Brussels, 57 pkgs., $1,850; Callao, 4 pkgs., $160; 8 pkgs., $275; Cartagena, 10 pkgs., $828; Colon, 22 pkgs., $346; Corinto, 15 pkgs., $648; Guayaquil, 4 pkgs., $2,810; Leeds, 75 pkgs., $473; Liverpool 21 pkgs., $104; 40 pkgs., $264; London, 1,740 pkgs., $13,480; 37 pkgs., $1,228; Manchester, 84 pkgs., $527; Melbourne, 466 pkgs., $14,235; Newcastle, 56 pkgs., $415; Pernambuco, 37 pkgs., $178; Santos, 11 pkgs., $361; Sheffield, 40 pkgs., $264; Vera Cruz, 20 pkgs., $399. DECEMBER 30. Bristol, 75 pkgs., $472; Colon, 6 pkgs., $553; London, 11 pkgs., $527; 1,362 pkgs., $10,885; Melbourne, 138 pkgs., $2,549; Rio de Janeiro, 57 pkgs., $2,590; Yokohama, 2 pkgs., $100. JANUARY 7. Berlin, 17 pkgs., $1,092; Buenos Ayres, 155 pkgs., $6,476; Cardiff, 53 pkgs., $352; Havana, 16 pkgs., $367; Karachi, 6 pkgs., $196; Leeds, 75 pkgs., $472; Liverpool, 40 pkgs., $283; London, 1,428 pkgs., $14,077; 7 pkgs., $569; 25 pkgs., $708; Manchester, 60 pkgs., $387; St. Petersburg, 1 pkg., $150; Sheffield, 40 pkgs., $264; Tampico, 8 pkgs., $131; Trinidad, 9 pkgs., $173; Vera Cruz, 65 pkgs., $3,278. REGARDING EDISON'S PHOTOGRAPH. The National Phonograph Co. have notified the Edison jobbers and dealers as follows: "During the past four months there has been a tendency among some of our jobbers and dealers to use pictures of Mr. Edison for advertising purposes in a manner objectionable to Mr. Edison and ourselves, and so as to make it appear as if Mr. Edison was doing the advertising personally. Consequently we have decided not to permit the use of Mr. Edison's photograph by the trade in any way whatever different from the use to which we put it ourselves. ■ That is, the use of the standard bust picture. As to the trade-mark signature, we will permit its use only in a way to call attention of the public to the fact that genuine Edison phonographs and records bear this trade-mark signature. We will not permit the use of this signature in advertising in a way to make it appear that the trademark is a signature to some statement purporting to come from Mr. Edison or this company. The use heretofore made" of the full-size or threequarter photograph of Mr. Edison does not meet with either the approval of Mr. Edison or this company; and, in order to prevent repetitions of the uses heretofore made, we are obliged to draw the line and prohibit the use of such photographs in any form." Wc Know grr That we can supply the dealers of Northern Ohio and Indiana and all \jj Michigan, both promptly and to the very best monetary advantage. (If That there is going to be a good steady demand for Edison Phonographs, Gold Moulded Records, Horns, Cranes, Repeating Attachments, and all sundries, That we have put in and will keep up full lines every day in the year and thus be prepared to fill all orders immediately. ^ That we can, and do, ship orders the same day we receive them — no room nor time for delay or disappointment here. <][ That you can wire or 'phone orders to us and be assured we have the goods in stock when you want them. <|f That we are giving the "bargains of the age" in Record Cabinets — let prices talk — just ask prices from us. <If That prosperity has not deserted these United States — those who think so are dyspeptic doubters — and doubters always suffer. <lf That we earnestly solicit your trade — try us and see how joyously we do business. American Phonograph Co. 106 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Mich.