The talking machine world (Oct-Dec 1921)

November 15, 1921 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 105 TRADE NOW NEARLY NORMAL IN BALTIMORE TERRITORY Business Continues to Show Steady Improvement, According to Jobbers and Dealers — Victor Dealers' Association Activities — Noon and West to Open Store — News of Month Baltimore, Md., November 7. — The talking machine business here is improving right along and each week shows an improvement over the corresponding week of last year, and this report is general from both the wholesale and retail trade. Dealers generally have started to advertise liberally in the daily papers and confidently look forward to a good business from now on until the end of the Christmas buying. Quite a number of new places are either opening up or preparing to open; in fact, as Manager Parks, of the Columbia Co., said, "We are receiving more applications for agencies than we can take care of." The trade generally is now back to normal, or as near normal as is possible under existing conditions, and dealers are again buying in quantities so they will be able to show a complete line. "The retail trade is in a very healthy and flourishing condition right now," said H. T. Bosee, manager of sales for Cohen & Hughes, Victor wholesalers for this section, "judging from the number of orders that we are receiving for machines and records. Every man in the business either now has a complete line in stock or has ordered what is lacking. Collections are better and every dealer that I have talked with is enthusiastic over the outlook for business this Winter." The Victor Dealers' Association resumed its n;onthly meetings on the 26th of last month with a dinner at the Southern Hotel. F. A. Delano, of the Victor Co., was present and gave the dealers a very instructive talk on new selling methods, giving many valuable points on how to attract new business and the best methods of following up prospective customers. Mr. Delano's talk was followed very closely by those present and every dealer left ifeeling very enthusiastic over putting into effect some of the plans which he outlined. In this connection Cohen & Hughes have sent L. A. Randall, of their staff, to the factory for a course of instruction and when he returns he will devote his entire time with the retail dealers, spending a certain number of days in each store explaining and giving demonstrations of sales promotion schemes. General Sales Manager Hopkins, of the Columbia Co., visited the local branch last week and attended the meeting of the salesmen of this territory. All the men made very encouraging reports of the business outlook in their respective sections and Mr. Hopkins announced that the company was going to inaugurate a national campaign of advertising that would be of great benefit to every Columbia dealer. H. L. Tuers, manager of the dealers' service bureau of the Columbia, was also a visitor to the local branch for a few days last week for the purpose of getting in direct touch with the local trade in order to give the dealers full benefit of the service plans which are shortly to be put into operation throughout the country. W. K. Stalling, formerly manager of the Graphophone department of the Graphophone Co., of Richmond, is now with the Graphophone Shop, of Norfolk, Va. Walter B. R. Wright, managing director of the vigilance committee of the Advertising Club of Baltimore, Inc., who has been making a campaign against false and misleading advertising in the daily papers, has been invited and will make ACME-DIE ■CASTINGS AEDMINUM-ZINC-TIN SLEADiVlIPTS AcmeDie-Cajstin^Corp. Benton Bodietter Srookfyn'N.Y. De&sit CHOegs an address before the next meeting of the Victor Dealers' Association, in which he will tell what has been done toward making "the truth in advertising" a success and what plans he has for the future. Lester B. Harvey, of Oakville, Va., recently exhibited a Magnavox machine at the Appomattox Fair and made a big hit with it, as it was the first time the people of that section had ever seen anything like it. The managers of the fair were so pleased with it that they asked to announce the results of the races on it. Mr. Harvey, who, although a cripple and compelled to have an attendant with him at all times, is doing an excellent business, according to the local Columbia branch, his business so far this year being considerably ahead of the same period for 1920. Visitors the past week included L. M. Howell, of Portsmouth, Va. ; Dr. Daniels, of Zebulon, N. C. ; William Anderson, of Wilson Co., Wilson, N. C, and Turner & Bishop, Lewis & Co., William McFarquer and J. Davis, of Washington. John Steele, one of the Victor artists, appeared here at one of the vaudeville houses a couple of weeks ago, and while here visited a number of the stores and sang selections of his records that the dealers had in stock. This made quite a hit with the dealers and resulted in a large increase in sales. C. B. Noon, formerly with the Smith-Kranz Piano Co., and George P. West, former manager ol the music department of Hecht & Bros., have formed a partnership and will shortly open a store here, carrying a line of both pianos and talking machines. Meyer Goldman, well known to the trade of this section, has just been appointed supervisor of the United Graphophone Stores, Inc., of Washington. Thomas A. Caulfield, of Owingo, Md., has just been appointed a Victor dealer for that territory. New Prices for LONG Record and Roll Cabinets Effective Nov. 1st, 1921, a new price list for LONG Disc Record and Music Roll Cabinets was announced to the trade. This new price list represents a 15% reduction from our price list of April 1st, 1921, and is offered to the trade with the assurance that we are giving it full advantage of every possible form of reduction. For November only we offer the LONG Cabinet No. 87 (illustrated) at the special prices listed below. This cabinet is ideally adapted for holiday trade, and is one of the most attractive models in our line. In order to cooperate with our trade and stimulate holiday business, we offer this cabinet at special prices for November only. Our stock of the No. 87 model is limited, and when it is exhausted the special prices will be withdrawn. We, therefore, suggest that you place your order now. For November Only $ 1 0-50 With Flat Top Shelves (for Columbia D-2 and other flat base models). After Nov. 30, 1921, the price of this cabinet will be $14 For November Only $12.50 With Top Moulding Shelves (for Victrola IX only as shown). After Nov. 30, 1921, the price of this cabinet will be $15 Geo. A. Long Cabinet Co.^ Hanover, Pa