The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

THE TALKING 1UACIIINK WORLD. 37 All the way from Walter Wheatley on the front to the Columbia Grafonola "Colonial" and the "Baby Regent" on the back the Columbia January list will be as sure a money-maker as the mint. (Write for "Music Money," a book "full of meat" for those dealers interested in quick and frequent turnover of capital.} Columbia Graphophone Company Woolworth Building, New York BUSINESS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE IN PHILADELPHIA. Several Talking Machine Houses Have Far Surpassed 1912 Record in Volume of SalesPlentiful Supply of Machines Reported — Christmas Decorations Make Their Appearance— Dealers Signing Association Agreement — Call for High-Priced Machines. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Philadelphia, Pa., December 9. — This is certainly a period of good cheer in Philadelphia. The talking machine trade has just passed from its greatest November into what it expects is going to be its biggest December. November was far in excess of last year with all the firms, and two months ago the aggregate amount of business in Philadelphia was as much in 1913 as it was during the entire year of 1912. With three months to their credit, and with these months running wonderfully ahead, there is no wonder that there is "peace on earth and good will to men" in the hearts of the talking machine dealers. There is an absence of any efforts to kick against the manufacturers this year, for they seem to be fully meeting all requirements. The dealers seem to have gotten a better grasp on the situation and know better how and when to stock themselves than in previous years and for this reason I find that there are prospects of a shortage on a very few machines. Probably the new No. 10 Victor is the only one on which the factory is going to fall down. This is no fault of the factory, for they had no idea that this $75 machine was likely to be so big a seller as it has proven itself. All the talking machine places have decorated with the handsome Christmas placards, signs and strips that have been furnished them by the Victor Co., and to these they have added decorations of their own. Everything looks like the holiday period but the weather. Louis Buehn reports that their business in November has been very big, in fact their business has been very big all the year. Mr. Buehn says: "The prospects for this month are very large and I think our business will only be limited to what we get from the factory. The conditions at the factory indicate that most everybody will be taken care of on all types of machines with the possible exception of the No. 10. On this machine there will probably be a shortage. The new model is a winner." The business on the Edison Dictating Machine has eased up a little the past few weeks, and it looks as if there would not be much doing in that line until after the holidays, for the reason that the many firms which are contemplating taking on and adding additions are inclined to wait until after the first of the year and they get their business in the new year started again. A. C. Ireton, assistant general salesmanager of the Edison, was here the past week as was also J. Newcomb Blackman, the New York distributer. A new firm, the Philadelphia Talking Machine Co.. has established a very attractive store at Franklin and Poplar streets. It is in a thickly populated neighborhood, where this new firm will no doubt do well. The Strawbridge & Clothier talking machine department has been growing so rapidly that it has been compelled to make a number of improvements. The large demonstration room has been divided into two, and a number of new booths added. New salesmen recently added include Walter Winslow and James Blee. This concern now has six men in this department, with J. E. Priestley as the manager, Frank Butler being the general manager. John Murphy has been transferred to the piano department. There is nothing new in the Retailers' Talking Machine Association which was started several months ago and with such good prospects of success. The petition, or rather agreement, which was placed in the hands of all the retailers for a signature, still remains unsigned by two or three of the large firms, but Daniel O'Neill believes that they will all have signed before the first of the year, so that the association will be established with the arrival of 1914 and accomplish much good during that year. Conner & O'Neill report an excellent business, with the past four weeks very much better than last year. They refurnished their front reception room in a most attractive way, and after the busy holiday season they expect to make a number of changes. The Talking Machine Co. had its South Broad street store attractively decorated for the holidays, and is displaying an unusually large line of instruments. It expects to open more stores in Philadelphia shortly after the beginning of the new year. This concern is having a large sale of Tango records among fashionable people. The management told me that it is not unusual to have wealthy people stop in and purchase a $200 machine for use only at some little Tango affair they may be giving. Manager Elwell, of the Heppe Talking Machine Department, tells me that sales on high-priced machines for holiday presents has already started. A big stock is on hand, but there is a big run short on Victor 6s, 8s, 9s and 10s. The Schubert Piano Co., on Walnut street, have been doing quite a business with the Keen-o-Phone, and the Powers Piano Co., at 52d and Chestnut streets, are having a fine business on the Columbia. They have just placed on the street a very attractive automobile truck for the delivery of pianos and talking machines. ENTHUSIASTIC NEW ENGLANDER. G. W. Lord, an enterprising Columbia dealer of Lynn, Mass., was a visitor last week at the executive offices of the Columbia Graphophone Co., in the Woolworth Building, New York. Mr. Lord spoke optimistically of business conditions in his particular territory, and stated that the talking machine business is enjoying its greatest prosperity at the present time. He was enthusiastic over the many merits and qualities of the Columbia line, remarking that the higher-priced models are growing in popularity beyond all his expectations. NINE SILENT SALESMEN Are the New Record Lists Sent Out by the New York Talking Machine Co. The New York Talking Machine Co., 81 Chambers street, New York, the prominent Victor distributer, recently sent out to the trade samples of three new additional record advertising lists printed on the record bags which the company has featured for some time with marked success. These three new lists complete a series of nine which the company states in a letter sent out to the jobbers act as nine silent salesmen for the sale of Victor records. These nine lists are all different, and present lists that were chosen carefully and with full consideration of the most important and popular records featured in the Victor catalog. One of the lists under the heading of "Review of 1913," lists 43 different records ranging in price from 75 cents to $4 a piece and from college songs to "Ave Maria" by Caruso and Elman. The lists are displayed in a very attractive scroll design on the backs of the various bags, and those members of the trade who have placed orders for the first six lists are. enthusiastic in their expressions of approval regarding the real value that these silent salesmen on the record bags are rendering. Simplex Automatic Starts Stop Device LISTED BY 95% OF VICTOR JOBBERS WHY? STANDARD GRAMAPHONE APPLIANCE CO. 1 73 Lafayette Street, New York, N. Y. Stop /Start At?