The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar 1905-Feb 1906)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. COIN-SLOT CATALOGUE. Copies of our new Coin-Slot Catalogue have just been mailed to all Jobbers, and copies will be mailed to Dealers in a few days. Under the new discounts on Coin-Slot Phonographs only Jobbers and Dealers who can buy in quantities can handle them to advantage. The trade has already been advised that the National Phonograph Company has decided to adopt an entirely new plan in selling the new Windsor and Majestic types of Coin-Slot Phonographs. It has been found that to instal Coin-Slot Phonographs and keep them in satisfactory operation requires more attention than the average Dealer can afford to give them. It was therefore decided that the proper exploitation of coin-slot machines could only be secured by having them handled by the company direct and a special department has been organized for that purpose. The company will solicit this class of business direct, will instal machines with its own men and will see that they are started in a proper manner. While it will not be formally responsible for the machines after they have been thus installed, and proper instructions given concerning their care and operation, it will always stand ready to remedy any serious trouble that may arise. It is intended that Edison Coin-Slot Phonographs shall have the attention that their merit warrants and the growing demand for them demands. At the same time it was decided not to take the matter out of the hands of the trade 'entirely, but to allow discounts that would enable the larger Dealers to still handle them. The Windsor type is operated by battery current and will be sold at $80. The Majestic type is equipped for no volt direct current and will be sold at $90. These prices will be subject to discounts as follows: Less than 10 machines. . .no discount 10 machines 10 per cent, off List 25 " . . : 15 per cent, off List 50 " 20 per cent, off List 100 or more machines. .. .25 per cent, off List Discounts on Windsor and Majestic types are not confined to Jobbers or Dealers, but are open to any purchaser. They are not cumulative nor does one purchase establish a discount on future orders. In each and every case orders must be placed for quantities above specified or discount quoted cannot be allowed. Bijou and Excelsior Coin-Slot Phonographs, both of which are spring-motor types, will be sold at the same prices and same discounts as before. In Canada an amount equal to the duty must be added to the selling prices of Coin-Slot Phonographs, as well as to those of all other goods. Since but few Jobbers and Dealers can handle Coin-Slot Phonographs to advantage, only a small edition of catalogues has been printed, and only a limited number of extra copies can be supplied. SIGN YOUR ORDERS! The Sales Department complains that it has recently received several orders for Records from Jobbers that were not signed and the only identifying mark has been the envelope containing the order. When the envelope has been lost before the omission was discovered it has been necessary to call in the Sherlock Holmes of the department. Even he found one order too much for him last month. This order called for 2,525 Records and for the want of a clue the Sales Department was unable to acknowledge or execute it. The Jobber sending it is asked to "prove his property."' Others are asked to see that their signatures are affixed to all orders before mailing them. LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT YOU CARRY EDISON GOODS. The advertising of the National Phonograph Company is now occupying full pages in most of the prominent magazines and proportionate space in a number of other publications of wide circulation. It is the most expensive and at the same time the most profitable advei • tising that we have ever done. We fully believe that it has had much to do with the great growth of the business in Edison Phonographs and Records in the past six months. Since the object of this advertising is to direct the attention of the public to the stores of our Dealers the latter will find it profitable and good business judgment to do such local advertising as will tell the people of their cities or towns that they are "the Dealers" and have the goods. This is now being done by many Dealers and they report that it is constantly increasing their business ; others should lose no time in following their example. In most places, space in local papers is not expensive. It is not always necessary to advertise in newspapers. Many Dealers get excellent results from mailing lists, sending out regular copies of the Record Supplement or the Phonogram. Others make up a list of prospective customers and mail them letters and printed matter until they get them interested. All of these methods are genuine advertising and. all will be found profitable. No one nowadays disputes the statement that advertising pays. PRICES OF EDISON RECORDS. Edison Gold Moulded Records, standard size, are sold in the United States at 35 cents each, and in Canada at 40 cents each. The Canadian price is higher because of the duty. Edison Concert Records are sold at 75 cents each in both countries.