The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

56 The Talking Machine World, New York, March, 1928 Talking Machine Sales NormalRadio Demand Brisk in Pittsburgh Esenbe Co., Atwater Kent Jobber, Is Host to 150 Dealers— Thomas E. McCausland, Trade Veteran, Dead — Frederick Co. Store to Move May 1 Pittsburgh, Pa., March 10.— Talking machine sales are reported to be about normal, with sales of records much better than for the same period a year ago, while business in radio sets is very brisk. Nearly 150 members of the dealers' organization associated with the Esenbe Co., local Atwater Kent distributor, were guests of the latter concern at a dinner meeting at the William Penn Hotel, when the details of a new Spring sales campaign were outlined. The speakers were A. A. Buehn, president, and H. M. Swartz, secretary-treasurer of the Esenbe Co., and Harry Humphries, special representative of the Pooley Cabinet Co. Thomas E. McCausland, one of the bestknown music dealers of Pittsburgh, engaged in the piano and talking machine trade here for more than thirty-five years, died at a local hospital on February 24 after a long illness. Chas. M. Stieff, Inc., Victor dealer, has announced that the local store at 819 Liberty avenue will be discontinued very shortly, as the policy of the company hereafter is to devote its business entirely to the wholesale trade. D. L. Aaron, piano and talking machine dealer, will locate in his new place of business in the new Loew-Penn Building, corner of Sixth street and Penn avenue, on March 10. The Reliable Home Furnishing Co., Inc., at 1213-1215 State street, Erie, Pa., has added the Atwater Kent radio line. The Lake Erie Radio Service at 1304 State street, Erie, reports a brisk demand for the Sparton, Bosch and Freed^Eisemann radio sets. The Joseph Home Co., the last week of February, observed the seventy-ninth anniversary of the founding of the store. With the close approach of Easter the local talking machine dealers are stressing the suitability of presenting as an Easter gift a talking machine and a number of records. Brunswick, Columbia, Victor, Sonora and Edison dealers are circularizing their patrons. The W. F. Frederick Piano Co., Victor distributor and dealer, is to move to a new loca tion about May 1, according to E. B. Heyser, vice-president of the company. The firm is the owner of a large business building on Liberty avenue, but will not be able to obtain possession of it for a year. In the meantime an effort is being made to obtain a suitable location in the downtown section. I. Goldsmith, president and general manager of the Player-Tone Talking Machine Co., with offices and salesrooms at 632 Grant street, reports a decided increase in business last month, with the outlook for Spring sales of the PlayerTone line as "exceptionally good." Fifteen popular-selling models, consoles, consolettes, and uprights, are manufactured and distributed to practically every State in the Union. A number of the models are equipped with a motor that has a playing capacity of five records. Trade Activities in Cincinnati District Increase in Demand for All Lines Creates Optimism Throughout the Territory Cincinnati, O., March 8. — Talking machine dealers in the city and suburbs report a substantial increase in the demand in the past two weeks and state that sales are at a higher level than they were in the corresponding period of last year, good reason for optimism. The store of the George P. Gross Co. has been rearranged under the direction of Carl J. Rist, who recently became manager of the business, in order to display the different lines to better advantage. Besides rearranging the Gross store, Manager Rist has entirely reorganized the sales department, eliminating men who could not or did not produce business, and adding a number of new salesmen. Among the changes just made by the Starr Piano Co. is the removal of its record and roll department to the third floor of its building, CHECK these FEATURES. 7 TYPE 12 Supplies up to 8-226, 2-227 and 2-171 tubes. Price 1 — No Separate Center Tap Device Necessary. 2 — "B" Eliminator Plug-In. 3— Wire to Panel Switch. 4 — Absolutely Correct Voltage. 5 — Compact Size. — and you'll choose the KARAS A-C-FORMER to CON VERT to AC! Check these features — note the amazingly low price made possible by volume orders — and you will choose the KARAS A-CFORMER to convert your customer's bat Write for Complete Details to tery sets — and your own — to AC tube operation! Operates in conjunction with Carter, Eby and other makes of cable harness for 4, 5. 6 and 7 tube sets. No rewiring necessary. KARAS ELECTRIC COMPANY, 4041C N. Rockwell St., Chicago where it has installed a number of fine booths for demonstration purposes. In this store there are two separate talking machine stores, the Starr controlling the Gennett line, and Biddle's Brunswick Shop, which has the Brunswick line and the RCA radio. The C. H. DeVine Co., dealer in pianos and talking machines, which occupied a portion of the second floor of the Starr Piano Sales Corp Building, has retired from business. The William R. Graul Co. has resumed the sale of talking machines and is now energetically pushing the Columbia-Kolster electric reproducing line of instruments. "Put me down as a most decided optimist," said Morris Fantle, head of the M. W. Fantle Co. 'At the end of our fiscal year, March 1, the closing of our books showed that we had done two and one-half times as much business as in the previous year. We are making plans to add some new lines, but we cannot give details at this time." A recent visitor to the Fantle establishment was Don Allen, who was in the city in the interest of the Allen-Hough Mfg. Co., of New York City, maker of portable phonographs. A voluntary petition in bankruptcy has been filed in the U. S. Court by C. L. Mulli nix, who formerly did business as the Norwood Radio Shop. Assets are placed at $150 and liabilities are stated to be $1,661. "Just now the demand for portables is exceptionally good, it being so great that we find it difficult to supply the demand," stated H. H. Sellers, assistant to E. B. Daulton, local Brunswick branch manager. "The Valencia console, which has been offered at a new price, is also moving rapidly, and the more expensive models and combinations are moving well." At the local branch of the Columbia Phonograph Co. it was reported by Miss Rose Helberg, manager, that they are having a truly wonderful demand for the new Columbia-Kolster electric reproducing machine. Records, it was stated, are moving exceptionally well. "The Victor 420 continues to be in good demand, and all of our line is moving well, especially the more expensive instruments," said C. H. North, vice-president of the Ohio Talking Machine Co. "Records are in fine demand, and business seems to be on the up-grade." F. D. Williams on an Extensive Tour Fred D. Williams, president of the Dubilier Condenser Corp., is on an extensive tour, visiting many sections of the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The main purpose of the tour is to study radio conditions with a view to gauging the growing interest in socket-power operation and preparing for the condenser requirements of the near future. Mr. Williams will be away from his desk for at least a month and a half on the present tour. William Dubilier, who needs no introduction to the radio industry, is at present in Europe on his usual annual trip. Mr. Dubilier is studying the radio situation in the leading European countries, and, as usual, it is expected he will return with many ideas, observations and samples of what European radio men are doing. After every European visit Mr. Dubilier's laboratory is virtually a museum of international radio affairs. He generally returns with various types of radio receivers, loud speakers, tubes and other devices, which he takes pleasure in demonstrating and comparing with our American equipment. Opens New Offices The Doehler Die Casting Co. has rented the entire nineteenth floor at 386 Fourth avenue, New York City, for executive offices. The present offices of the company are in Brooklyn.