The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

Qrom Oo ssCIKftS REPUBLIC BIOG., 209 SOUTH STATE ST TELEPHONE WABASH 52tt LEONARD P. CANTY Home Entertainment Products Enjoying Good Demand in Middle Western Area Radio Sales During January and Early February Were Gratifying — Portable Demand Heavy and Cabinet Phonographs Selling Well — Record Sales Continue Consistently Good Chicago, III., February 9. — The music-radio trade throughout the Middle West is experiencing good business in home-entertainment products. Record sales continue to be good, and one of the reasons advanced for this condition is the fact that there are now on the market so many songs and ballads of the popular type, "which one may whistle," instead of the jazz composition with little or no melody. A dozen songs have caught the popular fancy in a way which has not been witnessed for a long period, and as a result the recordings are in heavy demand. Heavy portable phonograph sales are another underlying cause, for the sale of a portable machine means, in nine cases out of ten, an enthusiastic record buyer of dance and popular selections. The demand for cabinet phonographs is fair in the larger centers with greater interest in the smaller communities and farming sections. The interest in electrical reproducing instruments is increasing, and it is predicted that in 1928 there will be a far greater number of combination radio-phonographs on the market bidding for public favor. Radio sales during January and the early part of February were very gratifying at a season when excessive dumping and a sharp decrease in business have been experienced in the past. Many radio manufacturers, whose plants ceased producing late in December, experienced heavy demands from the trade for radio receivers early in January, with the result that their factories are again operating. The demand for AC receivers continues, with a shortage of several popular makes, and in the smaller and unwired communities battery-operated sets continue in good demand. A development of interest to distributors and dealers during the last few weeks was the introduction of transformers and power packs, which, when used with an adaptor harness, convert the battery-operated set to AC operation. This device has opened up new avenues of sales for converting the sets now in stock and furnishing a new product to sell old customers having battery operated sets in their homes. Becker Bros. Pushing Kellogg Radio Becker Bros. Electrical Corp., Chicago, exclusive Kellogg radio distributors in northern Illinois and northern Indiana, report that the company is in the midst of a very successful radio season. B. F. Wallace, secretary of the company, and W. F. Becker, president and treasurer, after checking over results for 1927 have reported a very satisfactory year from the profit standpoint. Under the leadership of W. L. Neil, sales manager of the company, Becker Bros, have organized a very efficient sales force which covers the territory very effectively. W. C. Fuhri a Visitor W. C. Fuhri, vice-president and general sales manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co., spent a few days at the Chicago office of the Columbia organization late in January on his way to the Pacific Coast. The Chicago branch office of the Columbia Phonograph Co. reports that record sales in this territory for the month of January were greater than in any January for the past six or seven years. The three releases of "The Two Black Crows" recordings were given added impetus with the opening at the Illinois Theatre of Earl Carroll's "Vanities." A few days after the show opened the Chicago Evening American carried a page of Columbia tie-up advertis ing. Several feature stories dealt with George Moran and Charles Mack, the "Two Black Crows," and among the Chicago establishments which co-operated in the advertisement were the W. W. Kimball Co., Columbia record distributor, Adam Schaaf, the Broadway Sheridan Radio Music Co., the Rialto Music House and about fifteen other Columbia dealers. Unusual Exhibit of Atwater Kent Radio The process of manufacture of Atwater Kent alternating current radio receivers was recently on exhibition in Chicago. Beginning January (Continued on page 98) KIMBALL Phonographs The Latest Announcement New 1928 Model 275 An Outstanding Value STYLE 275 WALNUT Beautifully Blended High-light Finish. 44J4 in. High— 29 in. Wide— 22]/2 in. Deep. IF YOU CAN SELL PHONOGRAPHS THIS WILL INTEREST YOU "The Best in Music Whenever You Want It" ■ . Write or wire for particulars W. W. KIMBALL COMPANY Established 1857 306 So. Wabash Ave. Kimball Bldg., Chicago 97