The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

T1IF, TALKING MACHINE WOULD. 4<) TALKING MACHINES FURNISH DANCE MUSIC IN DETROIT. Live Dealers Taking Advantage of Craze for Fancy Dances Good Holiday Stock on Hand — Higher-Priced Outfits Have (lie Call Grinnell Bros.' Department Kxpands Charging Interest on Instalment Sales Favorite Christmas Records. Other News and I (ems. (Spi-cir.1 to The Talking Machine World.) Detroit, Mich., December 9. — A new feature of the talking machine trade in Detroit is a demand for machines to be used especially for dancing purposes, and an ensuing tremendous demand lor dance records. This demand is not confined to any single strata of society. It prevails among all classes of people who desire to dance. Max Strasburg & Co. recently sold to James Couzens, treasurer of the Ford Motor Co., and who holds more stock in the gigantic concern than any other single individual except Henry Ford himself, a $500 Columbia Grand for his music room. He has a $200 Victrola in his ballroom to be used for dancing parties. "Apparently people are just beginning to learn what a useful thing the talking machine is in this respect," said Mr. Strasburg. "And now that they are realizing it, they seem to have gone dance crazy. "The $100 Victrola XI seems to be the favorite for these at home dancing parties, though we sell many of the higher and lower priced ones. We are ordering about five times as many dance records as we did a year ago." Mr. Strasburg's brother and sister conduct the largest dancing academy in Detroit, and through them he is thoroughly familiar with dancing conditions in the city, considered from the standpoints of both art and profession. Well Supplied with Stock. Victor dealers are still well supplied with stock, of all prices, and it is a practical certainty now that there will be no repetition of the. shortage which has lost money for all of them in the holidays of the past several years. But the Columbia branch store here is in worse shape than last year. "Generally we have begun to be afflicted with a really embarrassing shortage about December 15," said Manager K. M. Johns. "This year the unwelcome conditions put in an appearance a month earlier. We have been short of all styles since November 15, especially of the $25, $50, $75 and $100 machines. In the cheaper machines we have a few $35 ones, but not enough to make a showing. We send them out to dealers as fast as they come in, as we have waiting orders from nearly every Columbia agent in the city and State. That leaves us always short of stock here, and it is getting to be a question of whether it pays to keep the Detroit store open, or whether we had not better close up and send the keys to New York. "At that, we are getting more goods than we did a s eal' ago, which i-. I lie l>csl kind of proof of I he increase of our business in (he last Iwelve months. Shipments of certain styles arc slow, though. Some that we ordered last August have not arrived, and others ordered in October are slill 'on their way.' " Higher-Priced Machines in Demand. The demand trends more markedly to the higherpriced machines than ever, a condition which extends to the suburban stores as well as to the city. S. E. Lind, city sales manager of the 'Columbia branch, advances a new and interesting reason for it. "It seems as though each purchaser desires to get one just a little better than his neighbors," he said. "Men and women will see a machine at the home of a friend, and like it so well they will go down town to buy one. Of course, expecting visits from said friends, they would not think of buying a lower priced one. And human nature dictates that they go one notch higher, especially when the terms are so easy. "One reason the small suburban stores are selling more high-priced machines than they formerly did is because they are not afraid to order them. They used to be afraid of the expense and buy largely the cheap grades. But they have found, -through experience with the one or two high-priced machines they put in, that it is just as easy to sell a $200 machine as any other. Even poor people have pianos, costing from $150 to $200. From them they can get only piano music, and they have to be able to play to get that. So why balk at paying the same amount for a Grafonola, from which they can get any kind of music they desire? The argument is catching on strong." The advertising of Grinnell Bros, undoubtedly has done a good deal to popularize the $200 Victrola Their publicity is constant, and they rarely mention anything except the high-priced machines. In this way the public is educated to think in large figures instead of small ones when they think of going to buy a talking machine. When a prospect once is in the store, it is a comparatively easy matter to prove that the high-priced machines are the best investment, for they will last a lifetime, and the tone will be better throughout all of said life time. More Room for Grinnell Bros. Grinnell Bros.' additional space in the Fischer Building, adjoining their own, has been so useful that it is now a mystery how the company last year got along without it. Week after week the talking machine business of this corporation is double thai of the corresponding week of last year. The significance of this lies in the fact that when a business concern has been steadily developing and increasing its business for more than thirty years, it means something to double I he business again. Last New Year the company set a mark, in figures, to shoot at in 1913 — a mark so high that all laughed at the idea of ever reaching it. But to aim at an easy mark is no fun. So the high one was let stand. It has not yet been touched, but it is so nearly in sight that Manager Rupp and the directors are surprised. If the holiday trade should be exceptionally heavy, the mark may yet be passed before the month ends. The new department gives the Grinnell store twenty-six demonstrating rooms, and it is believed that the entire store, in point of size and elegance, and convenience to patrons, is unexcelled by any talking-machine establishment in the Unite d States Charging Interest on Instalment Sales. The plan of charging interest on instalment sales has worked out so finely that there no longer is any doubt of its permanence and success. There is less argument with customers now than formerly. Under the old plan, people were surprised to learn that there was no interest charged on time purchases. They expected it as a matter of course. When told there was none, many of them thought there was something wrong with the prices, or the machines, and it took considerable argument to satisfy them. The 6 per cent, interest charge appeals to their sound business judgment. Oak Cases Popular. A preference for oak cases is becoming very manifest in Detroit. Detroit always was a pretty good "oak city," though mahogany always has sold well. But now it seems that mahogany is being crowded out. Probably a revival of the popularity of oak furniture accounts for it. Talking machine buyers desire to match their furniture. Christmas Music in Demand. Christmas music is a good deal in demand. So are the "popular" pieces, so-called. The last are a very profitable commodity, because people tire of them so quickly that they have to buy something else. Unusual records, with the exception of an occasional piccolo or xylophone piece, are in slow demand, the general trend sticking to the vocal and orchestral numbers. Dialect dialogues and discourses have largely lost their vogue. The combination of violin, flute and harp is popular. Saturday Night Closing Problem. The Saturday night closing problem is just where it was last month, and it now seems that it will stay there. The two small stores which resumed Saturday night business have not bankrupted the big ones which give their help a rest on the evening under discussion, nor have they even made an impression on their business. So the scare is over. wr,«„mT,H.TT™,:lr,-r.f.~.ir^T^ ■ iHnTi 7Tf,'|'im IjN the clinches you can rely upon the Ditson Victor Service. Profits are contingent upon our fast work — and we know it. CTOP saying to your customers: "We ^ haven't got it," because you can get it from DITSON. T^AST Victor service is our aim, and that we hit the mark is proved in our rapidly growing clientele of dealers. ALL Victor Styles, records and parts, with a complete line of albums, cabinets and needles. E specialize upon Victor goods exclusively, and correspondence with dealers desiring the best in Victor service is invited. w Oliver Ditson Company, Boston, Mass.