The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 43 All the music of all the world can be heard on Columbia instruments. And can be heard to the best possible advantage. Why? Columbia TONE. Note' C Write for "Music Money," a book "full of meat" for those Columbia GraptlOpIlOnC Company dealers interested in quick and frequent turnover of capital.) Woolworth Building, New York HOLIDAY BUSINESS SHOWING UP WELL IN CLEVELAND. Jobbers Report that Dealers are Prepared to Handle Record Volume of Sales — Edison Lecturer Makes Strong Impression — General Expansion the Rule — Additional Store Room for Columbia Branch — Big Demand for Union Specialties — News of Interest. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cleveland, 0., December 10. — During the past month the talking machine trade has continued satisfactorily, almost without exception, to everyone in the business. Many sales of all grades of instruments, from the cheapest to the most expensive, have been made and the dealers generally are joyfully looking to the conclusion of a more than usually prosperous holiday traffic. The jobbers have been, and still are, very busy filling orders of considerably larger than usual -seasonable proportions. It is quite evident the retail dealers throughout this section are fortifying against the shortage of last season. Ida Maude Ilsen, club woman, lecturer and social service worker, representative of Thos. A. Edison, Inc., spent several days in Cleveland recently, and appeared before several of the leading women's clubs as lecturer on "Edison, the Man," with interpretations on the new diamond disc phonograph. Helen Keller, stopping at the Hotel Stattler at the time, was entertained by Miss Ilsen, with a phonograph and records furnished by The Phonograph Co., and for the first time in her life heard the delicate beauties of music from the Edison disc instrument. Among a large number of out-of-town visitors at the store of The Phonograph Co., the past week, were C. H. Yaeger, of C. H. Yaeger & Co., Akron, O., and C. Yahrling, of the Yahrling & Raynor Co., Youngstown, O. C. M. Robinson, manager of the Graphophone department of the Marks Co. said business was very good and had been increasing ever since the opening. The company is having a fine holiday trade. Chas. I. Davis reports trade is satisfactory in both the Victor and Edison departments. He anticipates the largest holiday trade he has ever had. Since the opening at its new quarters at 1240 Huron Road, the business of The Phonograph Co. has exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the management. The manager stated crowds of visitors were daily attracted to the rooms, and that the list of Edison dealers throughout the State was constantly lengthening. December 1 the company gave its first private musical recital "under the" auspices of Mr. Thomas A. Edison, inventor of the new Edison diamond point disc phonograph." The program included selections from the latest Edison records, and the large audience gave expression to genuine pleasure with the rendition of each number. The large and prosperous business of the Eclipse Musical Co. is of the most satisfactory character. T. H. Towell, president, said "business is great, and gives promise of greater things." His brother, P. J. Towell, is stocking up the dealers in this territory, and he believes everyone in the talking machine business will enjoy a prosperous season. A talk with Fred E. Lane, manager of the retail department, impresses one very decidedly that the Eclipse is doing a splendid retail business. Mr. Lane gets out a very interesting program each month, in connection with the monthly concerts given at the store and which are always well attended. The concert for this month was given on the evening of the 4th. H. B. McNulty, general sales manager of the Union Specialty & Plating Co., manufacturers of the Union Phonograph Specialties, says the business is growing to magnificent proportions. The company is in daily receipt of orders, and duplicate orders, from all sections of the country, and the business is growing nicely. The plant is being enlarged and the force increased, in order to promptly meet the increasing demand. Increasing business has compelled Mr. Madson, manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co. store, to lease the adjoining storeroom, and largely increase the force. The large and constant increase in sales of both instruments and records, is manifest evidence of the public favor in which the Columbia's wares are held. Activity prevails in all departments— wholesale — retail and dictaphone. Mr. Madson says the business of the local company has increased over 100 per cent, during the past year. A prosperous holiday trade is under way. The new adjoining building now being erected by the May Co. will add some 5,000 additional feet of floor space to the already large store. When this additional room is available, the talking machine and music departments will be extended, affording ample space for the better display and the handling of instruments. Miss Vokes is delighted with the large number of sales of both Victor and Edison instruments. She said:. "We are very, very busy. We already have a large holiday traffic, which promises to exceed any previous year, and our business couldn't be more satisfactory." Victor sales were reported fairly good by the manager of the Caldwell Piano Co. He said the prospects of a larger holiday trade were very bright and that he had a number of orders booked for Christmas delivery. Expansion of the talking machine business seems to be the rule. The W. H. Buescher & Sons Co. has increased the force in both the wholesale and retail departments and largely amplified the repair department. Concerning trade, Mr. Roberts said: "We have been doing a holiday business of goodly proportions, ever since Thanksgiving and prospects are fine. We are doing a large jobbing business and have an ample stock of Victor goods to supply the demand." The B. Dreher's Sons Co. is doing an excellent business in the Victor talking machine line. The manager said a prosperous holiday trade was under way and that prospects were fine. Not a note of disappointment is to be heard regarding the talking machine business at the store of the Bailey Co. "From early Monday morning," said Mr. Friedlander, "until Saturday night, our large force is kept constantly busy waiting on the stream of customers. Our ample stock of Victrolas, Grafonolas, Edison Disc and Amberolas, is such as to meet every requirement of the most fastidious customer. Conditions are entirely satisfactory, both as to sales and collections, which are much better than a year ago." W. C. Troth, manager of the Taylor Arcade branch of the Phonograph Co. is having a splendid trade. He has a number of holiday prospects, and says everybody is pleased with the Edison disc instrument. Phil Dorn, manager of the talking machine department of the Collister & Sayle Co., is enthusiastic regarding trade. He said business was good in both the wholesale and retail departments, and that the demand for Victrolas was increasing as the holiday season advanced. He stated the retail dealers in Northern Ohio were placing numerous orders and laying in ample supplies. The H. E. McMillin & Son Co. are busy in "everything musical," and particularly in the talking machine department, where a fine display of Edison and Victor instruments are displayed. Mr. Kellogg, manager of the department, expressed himself delighted with the present and prospective holiday season's business. Norman H. Cook, manager of the talking machine department of the W. F. Frederick Piano Co. said business was good, and that November showed a large increase, while the holiday prospects were looming up most satisfactorily. He started the store at Canton under the management of Victor Miller, a native of that city, and the store at Youngstown, under the management of A. S. Hawks, formerly of the Pittsburgh store, were both doing a fine business. Mr. Goodman, of the Goodman Piano Co. reports a very good trade in the talking machine department, together with a satisfactory piano business. The Cincinnati branch of The Phonograph Co. located at 418 Main street under the management of E. O. Peterson is doing well. Mr. Peterson was for a long time in charge of the Edison businessin Cleveland. One of the most enterprising and successful talking machine dealers in the city is R. Suchla 1831 West 25th street and 4814 Broadway. He is the exclusive West Side Columbia representative. He has a large foreign record patronage. The Brainard Piano Co. 6525 Euclid avenue is building up a large and profitable Columbia business. The company reports good sales of Grafonolas and records with a continual increase in the volume of business. A GROWINcTcHAlN OF DEALERS. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., December 8. — Pardee-Ellenberger Co., Inc., reports a pleasing growth in the volume of their shipments in this territory. Its chain of dealers extends clear to the Canadian line in New Hampshire and as far west as Burlington, Vt. Many dealers who have not seen either a jobber's representative or a man from a factory in months — in some cases years — are loud in their praise of the service and assistance they are getting in building up their trade.