The talking machine world (July-Sept 1921)

August IS, 1921 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 73 Hulda Lashanska's sweet soprano in "Mighty Lak' a Rose" is a voice Americans love in America's most popular lullaby. Stock up with? this record tor splendid sales. Columbia 77989. Columbia Graphopnonc Co, NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO TRADE REPORTS A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT Activity, However, Is Much Below Normal — Wurlitzer Buys Mauzy Interests — Victor Artists to Visit Coast — Columbia Branch Managers in Conference — Period Models in Favor — Other News San Francisco, Cal., August 3. — Sonic of the San Francisco talking machine dealers report a slight improvement in business the last week or so, but on the whole the activity is much below normal. The merchants., realizing that at this time it is useless to expect the people to buy liberally, have cut down on advertising in many instances and arc simply marking time. Overhead expenses have been reduced as much as possible by the average dealer, and it is not likely that many will encounter serious financial embarrassment by reason of the dull Summer. The season's demand for small machines, especially the portable types, has been fairly good, and the call for dance records is holding up well. A few concerns have been able to stimulate business somewhat by price reductions, hut the majority holds that price-cutting is no solution to the problem. The market is sleeping for the time being and it will take a decided revival of commercial and industrial activity to make things hum again. Wurlitzer Co. Takes Over Mauzy Stores The most important business change in the San Francisco music trade for a long time is the purchasing of the Byron Mauzy music interests here by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. The transfer was made on July 10 and includes the sale of both the San Francisco and Oakland establishments. Charles Mauzy, son of Byron, has been retained as manager of the newly organized concern, but Byron Mauzy will retire from active business here. He will, however, it is reported, represent the Wurlitzer Co. and other music interests on a trip which he will shortly make to the Orient. Mr. Mauzy has been in the music business in San Francisco for thirty-eight years, his first store being located at 107 Post street. He has earned fame as a piano manufacturer as well as a merchant, being the maker of the Mauzy Gold Medal bungalow style piano. The best known lines handled at present by the company arc the Cbickering piano, the Ampico and the Viclor talking machine lines. Mr. Mauzy is a member of numerous local and national business organizations and is a member of several well-known clubs and lodges. At one time he served as a San Francisco supervisor. To take care of private business interests Mr. Mauzy will maintain an office in the Phclan Building of San Francisco. Eight Victor Artists to Visit Coast P. W. Simon, representing the Eight Famous Victor Artists, has just been in San Francisco making preliminary arrangements for a scries of star concerts which will be held next Fall and Winter. The concerts will be sponsored by Sherman, Clay & Co. and others who handle Victor merchandise on the Coasl. On his return East Mr. Simon attended the Victor Jobbers' Convention at Colorado Springs. Blue Front Shops Are Popular Blue front shops seem to be making a hit on the Coast. Several new ones have been opened in northern California recently and there are now three blue front establishments in San Francisco — the Remick Song Shop, the Harmony Shop and the W. W. Elkins Shop. Columbia Branch Managers Confer L. C. Ackley, San Francisco manager for the Columbia Graphophone Co., has returned from a business trip to Los Angeles, where he held a conference with the Los Angeles manager, W. F. Stidham, and W. H. Lawton, the Seattle manager. Mr. Ackley was accompanied on the Southern trip by his wife and B. F. Church, manager of the San Francisco Dictaphone department. Plans are maturing for some new and novel co-operative advertising by the California Columbia dealers. Community advertising has proved a good success in the past and it will no doubt do much to revive interest in talking machine merchandise this Fall. Horace M. Hull, manager for the Aeolian Co. of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast, is making a business trip to Portland and the Northwest. Otlo Rothhn, of the wholesale Victor department of Sherman, Clay & Co., is back from a vacation spent in Lake County. His place during his absence was taken by R. E. Kane, of the Sherman, Clay & Co. traveling sales force. Mr. Kane says the new Victor record, "I'll Keep On Loving You," is going well here. Featuring Period Models J. M. Abrams, general manager of the phonograph division of Kohler & Chase, says that the company is featuring with good success the new William and Mary Style L Burnham machine. This style seems to be the most popular of the period models, Mr. Abrams lias given the exclusive selling rights of Okeh records to a nunv bcr of new dealers in northern California recently and good sales arc reported. New Sonora Agency The Sonora agency has been placed in the Wesley Webster music store on Fillmore street, San Francisco. H. C. Hanson, on Powell street, and the City of Paris, also carry Sonora machines now. News of the Vacationists Billy Morton, manager of the retail Victor department of Sherman, Clay & Co., has returned from a vacation spent on (he Russian River and in an ark near Escalles in Marin County. George Hughes, of the Wiley B. Allen Co,, has returned from his annual fishing trip to the Klamath River in Oregon. F. P. Corcoran, manager of the Wiley B. Allen talking machine department in San Francisco, is spending his Summer vacation at Mill Creek Canyon with his family. M. A. Fox, formerly with the Bcrgstrom Music Co., Honolulu, has joined the San Francisco sales force of the Wiley B. Allen Co. H. A. Beach, vice-president of the Unit Construction Co., of Philadelphia, manufacturer of the Unico system of record booths, has been visiting the Coast cities. He has made several Important installations in southern California recently. P. T. Clay, president of Sherman, Clay Sc Co,, is taking a vacation at Lake Tahoc with his family, stocking up energy for a great campaign the coming Fall. PHONOGRAPH CASES Reinforced 3 -ply Veneer The Standard Case for Talking Machines and Records Let tiB figure on your requirement* MADE BY PLYWOOD CORPORATION, Goldsboro, N. C. Milh in Va., N. C. »nd S. C. U. S. Player Rolls At Your Own Price We are confining our business strictly to Talking Machine Accessories and have several thousand rolls to sell at auction by mail. Will gladly send you a list of numbers on hand. Make your bid. WALTER S. GRAY CO. 942 Market Street, San Fraociseo