The talking machine world (Oct-Dec 1921)

150 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD October 15, 1921 CONDITIONS IN PORTLAND TRADE STEADILY BETTERING Shipping, Building and Banking, as Well as Talking Machine Business, Show Improvement — Many New Victor Agencies — Dealers Furbishing Their Stores — Budget of News Portland, Ore., October 5. — September was a top-notch month for Portland in shipping, building and banking. Wheat exports were 150 per cent greater in volume than in September of last year. Building permits exceeded those of the corresponding month of last year in number, and in spite of the decline in the cost of construction the total value was greater and the total bank clearances were the largest of any month this year. This condition gives the talking machine merchants a demonstration that industrial affairs in the Paciiic Northwest are turning the corner toward normally good times. All Portland music houses have been feeling this condition throughout the month of September and more activity in buying musical instruments is going on than for some time. J. H. Dundore, manager of the Sherman, Clay & Co. store, reports a good steady business and is planning to resume the monthly Victrola concerts in the company's concert hall, which proved so popular last Winter. Frank M. Case, manager of the Wiley B. Allen Co., sees a marked improvement in business and reports many more sales coming in from the country, which shows that the farmers are getting back on their feet once more. Mr. Case made a business trip to Walla Walla, Wash., and to Pendleton, Ore., where he incidentally took in the Pendleton Round-up, September 24. Many changes have been made in the personnel of the Portland Remick Song Shop since the arrival of Clyde Freeman, the new manager. William Maxwell, who had charge of the Columbia Grafonola department, has been made assistant manager; Paul Kuhl, for seven years with the Ling Piano Co., has been put in charge e'""""""""""""" '"''''''''''>"ii"iiiiiii<i<N>iiiiinii)iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin The slogan of the Buying Public today is Be Sure Your Walnut is ALL Walnut." f American "The Cabinet-wood Superlative." "A Trade Winner" must be keyed to the trend of the times. The powerful appeal which a genuine American Walnut phonograph cabinet exerts upon the trade is the big reason for the steadily increasing use of this superlative Cabinet-wood by all leading manufacturers. Write for data for makers or data for dealers — and the "Brochure de Luxe" for your salesmen. Address the responsible producers of American Walnut lumber and veneers, the American Walnut Manufacturers' Association Room 1022, 616 South Michigan Boulevard Chicago, U. S. A. ;r.iiiiiuiiiuiiiiiiuiiiiuuiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiijiiiiiiiiiiiimiiii i m mu mi niiiiiiiiu luiiiiiiuiuni iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnii i i iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiini iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiijijiiiiuiiujiiijiiiiiiiijij]! of the record department; Mrs. Minette Elliott has been added to the sales force in the Columbia record department, and May Shurr, foseven years the manager of the sheet music department, has gone to San Francisco to study the pipe organ. Elmer B. Hunt, manager of the Sherman, Clay & Co. wholesale department for this district, reports that during the past month he has installed new Victor agencies in four of the following Oregon and Washington towns: Monroe, Ore., A. Willhelm & Sons; Brownsville, Ore., Dunlap Drug Co.; The Dalles, Ore., Service Drug Co.; and at Goldendale, Wash., L. E. McKee. Mr. Hunt expects to move the wholesale department of Sherman, Cla} & Co. into new quarters and expects to have things in shape inside of a month at 487 Glisan street, where equipment is being installed and where more room is available for the firm's goods. W. G. Gaston, Jr., field representative of the Victor Co., spent a week in Portland looking over the field with Mr. Hunt. Robert Porter, of New York, sales manager of the Columbia Co., visited Portland and, with Wm. H. Lawton, of Seattle, visited the Portland branches and Oregon district with Carl W. Jones, Portland's representative. Mr. Porter was greatly pleased at the conditions he found throughout the Pacific Northwest. J. J. Collins, vice-president of the Reed. French Piano Co., reports sales for September far exceeding his expectations, with sales of Edison machines, v/hich the firm handles exclusively, showing a big improvement. Edison records also are growing in popularity, with the "Flash records" being asked for persistently by an increasing number of customers. At the last weekly meeting of the officers of the Oregon Music Dealers' Association J. J. Collins, vice-president of the Reed, French Piano Co., was elected secretary to take the place of H. H. Thompson, who recently retired from the music business. D. C. Peyton, manager of the talking machine department of the Meier & Frank store, with the assistance of Evelyn McFarland McClusk}', educational director of Sherman, Clay & Co., staged a most successful demonstration to over 400 children with Victor records and instruments in the auditorium of the store, which adjoins the talking machine department. Mrs. McClusky talked on musical appreciation and children from the audience were used to demonstrate games and dances. Over 400 children were made happy by being presented with a Victor dog before leaving. Mr. Peyton expects to continue these affairs every Wednesday afternoon during the Winter. Mr. Peyton reports a big sale of machines in both period and conventional models and says he is doing a lively business in the Victor 80 and 90 models. Each week the ninety-odd buyers of the Meier & Frank firm meet and Mr. Peyton demonstrates with the new records talking machines of different models at each weekly meeting. Mr. Davis, sales manager of the Brunswick wholesale department, attended the Oregon State Fair at Salem, Ore., and assisted the MooreDunn Co. and the H. L. Stiff Furniture Co., of Salem, with their Brunswick exhibits, which attracted a great deal of attention. Theo. Karle, the American tenor, who sings exclusively for the Brunswick, visited the various Brunswick shops during his recent Portland visit, accompanied by Mr. Davis. The G. F. Johnson Piano <Co. had a most attractive Victor and Cheney talking machine display at the Oregon State Fair. H. L. Stoner was in charge of the exhibit. R. S. McDougall, of the McDougall Music Co.. has sold out his interests in the firm to the Conn factory, of Elkhart, Ind. The McDougalls recently opened up a fine new store on Tenth street and are exclusive Columbia dealers, with C. H. Williams in charge of this department. Mrs. C. E. Gribble, manager of the Columbia department of the Applegate Furniture Co., of Eugene, Ore., spent her vacation looking over and getting ideas from the various Columbia agencies in Portland.