The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar 1906-Feb 1907)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. i5 A PACIFIC COAST PHONOGRAPH STORE. In the group of Jobbers' and Dealers' stores on the opposite page is a view of the rear half of the store of the Portland Phonograph Agency, E. B. Hyatt, proprietor, Portland, Oregon. Mr. Hyatt accompanied the photograph with a description of his store that will be interesting to the trade in general, for it includes some novel features. Mr. Hyatt said : The table immediately in front has a larger top revolving on the under top, the former having a quarter-inch thick strip extending one inch above the top of table which keeps Records or machines from slipping off the table. This top will readily accommodate 1 Gem, 2 Standards, 2 Homes and 1 Triumph. The horn in front remains stationary but can be instantly raised or lowered or extended outward to accommodate a 48-inch horn. You can readily see the great advantage of this table, as you can show the different styles without lifting a single machine, horn or stand. The legs are made of i^-inch gas pipe, joined together in the centers of each leg with 34-inch gas pipe threaded. On the top and bottom of the legs are 4-inch flansres screwed on. This gives stability to the table. The upper top is veneered and then shellaced, which virtually makes it one piece. Immediately to the right in the picture is a better view of one of the Record cases — the one on which is tacked the "Records made to order" sign. You can readily see the general plan of these cases. Each one holds 800 Records, each Record always forward and showing an empty space when a Record is out. The case holds six deep, all Record roll, the case in front being labeled with Rapke's labels with titles. Each case is portable and I find it in my estimation the greatest time saver I have ever used. On the right I put the slow sellers in wooden boxes I had made. These boxes hold 12 Records, or two each of six different selections. On these boxes I use the numbers without titles but had the boy cut the names from the catalogue and paste them immediately beneath the numbers. This rack holds 2,400 Records, while the cases on the opposite side hold 4,800 Records, giving me a total of 7,200 Edison Records, every one within reach and always able to know when the stock is getting low. In the room behind the partition I have another large row of shelves on which I can place in boxes about 3,000 additional Records. Here is where I have my surplus stock, excepting the ones I carry from 25 to 50 of. I have made the Phonograph business a study and really believe I cannot at present improve in any way whatsoever on the keeping of the Records in the display, saving of time andthe fact that all stock is within reach. In the window I have 16 Edison Phonographs, antf that fact alone will cause a passerby to believe I have some faith in the Edison product. If these facts, or rather suggestions, meet with your approval you are certainly at liberty to use them in any way you may see fit. The entire number of racks, shelves, boxes, labels, etc., complete cost about $100, but the saving in breakage, time and other advantages more than pay the difference of a cheap rack. The table costs about $14. STIMULATES MUSICAL TASTE. I have often seen it stated that the Phonograph is a means of cultivating a taste for the better class of music among the people, and from experience I have found this to be a fact. Only a few years ago, when the price of talking machines was not within the reach of people of ordinary means, I noticed that most especially in the smaller towns and hamlets, a traveling musician, an organ grinder or a "barn-stormer" show proved a great attraction and was received with the warmest of welcome. The people, most in particular those of the rural class, were anxious to hear music, regardless of quality — anything, just so it had some of the characteristics of music about it. But there has been a decided change since the talking machine has made its way into many of the homes. The Italian organ grinder and his cunning friend, the "monk," are a thing of the past. The traveling musician is now rarely if ever seen, and poor class shows are getting scarce. People have been culitvated to the best class of music and entertainments through the marvelous little entertainer— the Phonograph — and the abovenamed class of vendors could now hot get a hearing, to say nothing of a recompense for their labor if they put in an appearance. Some time since, a gentleman who is somewhat of a musician himself, remarked to me : "These talking machines, I tell you, have spoiled matters for the average musician. One cannot get any appreciation from the people now unless he is a first-class performer on an instrument." And it is true. Another evidence of the Phonograph's power as an educator to the better class of music is that many people, especially of the rural class, who possess less knowledge of the musical art than their city brothers, when they first purchase a talking machine their selection of records will be composed of popular music, but after they own a machine for a time they begin to pick on some of the classic selections. It is evident that the Phonograph has a great future before it, and will replace many other instruments of amusements, as" I believe it has a wider scope of usefulness than any other musical device. All that remains necessary is for the manufacturer to keep pace with the times in its improvement, and from present indications they have in the past year certainly put forth every effort to this end. To state that the present products of the best manufacturers in this line are wonderful, is not expressing it, but I candidly believe that another twelve months will lay present results deeply in the shade. And as a gentleman who had listened to one of the latest makes of machines, I was playing for him the other day, remarked : "Wonderful ! wonderful! Where will this end?"— Wm. F. Hunt in the Talking Machine World.