The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 7 WITH THE TRADE IN MILWAUKEE. Strong Reaction in the Trade After the Lenten Quietude — Business Good Throughout the State — What the Various Houses Have to Report — Metropolitan Grand Opera Season Helps Sales of Red Seal Records — New Edison Records Selling Well — Wisconsin Dealer in New Quarters — Other News. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Milwaukee, Wis., April 11, 1910. A genuine reaction has taken place in the talking machine trade after a quiet business during the Lenten period. Retail dealers say that the spring trade has opened with a rush, and that indications are that conditions will be highly satisfactory from now on. Machines, records and supplies are selling well, a feature of the local business still being the excellent demand for high-grade machines. Retail business in the larger cities and towns about the State is exceptionally good, but it is a little quiet in the smaller places as a result of the busy times that the farmers are experiencing. Spring put in an appearance in "Wisconsin earlier this season than in many years, and while it has curtailed sales in certain districts, it has boosted business in other sections. Wholesalers are entirely satisfied with the business that they are rounding up, although sales might be larger. Dealers about the State have been restocking since the first of the year, but wholesalers believe that they can see plenty of good times ahead. "The wholesale business is very good," said Lawrence McGreal, the well-known talking machine jobber. "Dealers are well pleased with the proposition made by the Edison people, whereby customers get ten Amberola records with an Amberola attachment. The only trouble is that we cannot keep enough stock on hand to satisfy the demands of the trade." Mr. McGreal has just returned from an enjoyable ten days' outing at French Lick Springs. The appearance of the Metropolitan Grand Opera Company in Milwaukee, April 17, 18, 19 and 20, under the local management of Mrs. Edwina Kellenberger, is expected to boom the business in the Red Seal records and in the higher class of machines. Caruso himself will appear, and it is expected that the Auditorium will house audiences of 10,000 at each performance. "Parsifal," "Aida," "Lohengrin," "Hansel und Gretel," "Pagliacci" and "Tannhauser" will be presented. The HoeffJer Mfg. Co. are making the most of their opportunities and are displaying a fine line of grand opera records in their windows, while under the direction of Manager J. H. Becker, Jr., special afternoon concerts are given, at which grand opera selections are featured. "During the next month we expect to meet with the greatest sale of Red Seal records in our history," said Mr. Becker. "The coming appearance of the Metropolitan Grand Opera Company has already stimulated an unusual interest, but we are looking for even greater things." Roy Keith of The Talking Machine Co., Mr. Gibbs of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. and Mr. Pribyl of the Universal Talking Machine Co. were recent visitors at the Hoeffler Mfg. Co. The new Edison records for April are meeting with an excellent sale in Milwaukee. Two of the most popular seem to be "The Cubanola Glide," sung by Collins and Harlan with the New York Military Band, and "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," by Ada Jones and chorus. Both selections are now at the height of their popularity. William J. Voss, the well-known talking machine dealer of Appleton, Wis., has moved into new and larger quarters in the Lyons building, on College avenue, of which he has secured a fiveyears' lease. Mr. Voss announces that he will enlarge his present stock of machines and supplies. During the three years that Mr. Voss was located at his former stand on Oneida street he built up a business that of recent date had assumed such large proportions that he was forced to look around for a new location. Alfred Hille, manager of the talking machine department of the Joseph Planner Music House of Milwaukee, recently made a record for long distance sales by disposing of a Victrola to a resident of Texas. Mr. Hille reports that the spring business is taking on a most satisfying outlook. "The arrangement just announced by the Edison company, that customers will get ten Amberola records with the purchase of each attachment, is one of the finest schemes that the company has ever evolved," said J. H. Becker, Jr., manager of the talking machine department of the Hoeffler Mfg. Co. "People are quick to take advantage of an offer of this kind, and there are a number of our customers who are hurrying to exchange their old machines." W. J. Augustine, the "talker" dealer of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, Wis., and Bert Fort, of Waterford, Wis., were recent visitors at the wholesale establishment of Lawrence McGreal. A. G. Kunde, new owner of the downtown Columbia store at 516 Grand avenue, is considering the erection of a handsome new front at his establishment, having unusual display facilities. He has just completed the work of redecorating his new quarters. "One of our biggest sellers at the present time is the 'Improved Royal' Columbia, the new BNW model," said Mr. Kunde: "General business is very good, and we are looking for a satisfactory spring." William P. Hope, traveling representative of the National Phonograph Co., was in Milwaukee for a few days after meeting with an excellent business in his territory. A new disc record cabinet, embodying new and striking features, has been devised and patented by William Schmidt, traveling wholesale representative of Lawrence McGreal, and will be placed on the market at once by Mr. McGreal. The new cabinet, which is provided with a changeable top to match any machine and is equipped with new sliding files, is something entirely new, and has been creating no end of interest among the dealers of the State who have inspected it. "We have received orders from every dealer who has seen the new cabinet, and I predict that we will meet with a wonderful demand for the cabinet when it is placed before the trade," said Mr. McGreal. "We intend to interest jobbers as well as the retailers." Miss Gertrude Gannon, present owner of the McGreal retail store, is enthusiastic over the manner in which the spring trade has opened in Milwaukee. "The remarkable demand for Amberolas and Amberola records is one of the leading features of the trade," said Miss Gannon. "I find it almost impossible to keep enough stock on hand to meet the demands of the trade in this line." Gimbel Bros.' new talking machine headquarters have been opened to the trade. With handsome parlors, having unusually good acoustic qualities and the best of modern facilities, the new department on the second floor is among the finest in the city. The "Lawrence McGreals," one of the leading baseball teams in the Milwaukee City League, has entered upon its present season with Arthur Dunn as manager. Last season the team secured third place; the season before it came out second in the race, and so Lawrence McGreal, president of the club, believes that the organization will be in line to capture first place this year. SPRINGTIME FANCIES. Summer shower come passin' by; rainbow yonder in de sky; sort o' strikes dese eyes o' mine like a slice o' melon fine! When, dem drops come sof'ly down, flowers blossom all around; satisfaction seems complete. Sho'! Dat melon juice am sweet! 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