The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

20 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. makers^ sellers of macjynes EDWARD LYMAN BILL. Editor and Proprietor. J. B. SPILLANE. Managing Editor. Trade Representatives: Geo. B. Keller, F. H. Thompson, W. N. Tyler. Boston Office : Ernest L. Waitt, 173 Tremont St. Chic&^o Office: E. P. Van Harlingen, 195-197 Wabash Ave. Telephones: Central, 414; Automatic. 8643. Phila.delphia Office: Minneapolis and St. Paul: R. W. Kauffmah. E. C. Toeeey. St. Louis Office : San Francisco Office : Chas. N. Van Bueen. Alfezd Metzgee, 425-427 Front St Published the I5th of every month at I Madiion Ave. N. Y SVBSCRIPTION (including postage). United States, Mexico and Canada, 60 cents per year; all other countries, $1.00. ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single coluinn, per insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $50.00; opposite reading matter, $76.00. REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill. ^^IMPORTANT.— Advertisements or changes should reach this office not later than the 9th ot the month and where proofs are required, by the 7th. Advertisements arriving too late for insertion in the current issue will, in the absence of instructions, be inserted in the succeeding issue. Lon^ Distajvce Telephone— Number 1745 Gramercy. NEW YORK. FEBRUARY 15. 1906. A PERSONAL, survey of the talking machine field in the principal cities East and West during the past two months has furnished indisputable proof of remarkable trade conditions which exist in this industry. The business Is going ahead by leaps and bounds, and the manufacturers, notwithstanding their enormously increased plants, have been unable to keep up with the avalanche of orders which have been pouring in upon them from every quarter of the globe. They are doing their utmost to relieve the situation by working overtime, and some are preparing for substantial additions, in order to more promptly meet with the requirements of the trade. BUSINESS in the Middle West in all lines is unusually brisk, and the talking machine jobbers and dealers are enjoying their full share of business prosperity. Big orders have been placed for machines and supplies, and probably the largest orders for records ever taken have been given out to leading houses within the past sixty days. It would seem from present indications that the cut in record prices has stimulated an unprecedented demand, and it is no longer the vogue to take orders for a few records, for the quantity orders run up into big figures nowadays. The leading manufacturers have taken liberal space in periodicals of wide circulation, and in this manner they have helped the jobbers and dealers in their respective sections. ONE of the largest manufacturers, while discussing business conditions with The World, predicted an unprecedentedly brilliant business for 1906. Certainly, proof of the unusual demand for everything in the talking machine line is furnished by the fact that ample as have been preparations for increased trade, the manufacturers are still unable to cope with all the business which is being turned their way from every section of the country. Another encouraging trade sign may be seen in the fact that from all over the country orders are being placed for some of the most expensive talking machine products. This emphasizes the fact that the talking machine men have good reason to be optimistic and enthusiastic as regards the outlook for the new year. THE majority of talking machine men find conditions most encouraging, and there is no reason why the new year should not result in as substanital an increase as 1905 exhibited over the preceding year. The country has plenty of money, and people are inclined to buy more liberally in all lines. Collections, too, which are always a pretty exact indication of the state of affairs in the business world, were never better than at the present time, therefore to sum up the business situation, we may say that there never was a year in this industry which opened amid more favorable circumstances than those which surround the inception of 1906. Ir is the unanimous opinion of many talking machine men everywhere that great and widespread as was the prosperity of 1905, it will be far surpassed during the present year. Nor Is it difficult to find a sound basis for this optimism. Wherever we turn our eyes we find evidences of prosperity; crops have been unusually large and prices for farm products have been high. The iron and steel industry never was more active than it is at present. The railroads are even now having more freight than they can carry with any degree of promptitude, and ihey are spending vast sums for improvements. THE bank clearings of the country show a large increase, and merchants in general, as well as the majority of manufacturers, are extending their facilities as the result of increased business, and in the conviction that the demands upon them will be greater than ever. Politically and financially, the country is on a safe basis. In fact, the signs of prosperity due to the natural healthy growth in expansion are many and varied, while the pessimists must seek in vain for untoward conditions. LAST month there was a meeting of talking machine jobbers in Cincinnati, and in March another meeting will take place in Pittsburg. This will be the third meeting which has occurred in the West within the past few months, and these meetings show that there is a steady trend among the talking machine people toward organization of some kind. Jobbers and retail associations in other lines have accomplished some excellent results, and there is no reason why the talking machine people cannot also win some good things through united effort. It is to be hoped, however, that at the start they will not attempt to accomplish too much. The great trouble with the promoters of organized work is that at the start they try to do too many things, and as a result usually fail in accomplishing anything. NOW, if one definite object is held up as worthy of accomplishment, and all others are sidetracked until the one most desired point has been won. then it is safe to say an organization is on the right trail, and one which will lead ultimately toward better things. It is a very nice thing to have a lot of pet theories on easy tap; they are mouth-filling and pleasant to discuss with one's friends, but getting right down to solid business, there are really only a few business matters upon which competitors may act in concert. The moment arbitrary rules are adopted, or ironclad agreements made regarding sales, there comes a break, because the American business man will not submit to fettering his own possibilities. He wants freedom of action, and he will have it, and the talking machine jobbers might take a lesson from other trade associations, and not attempt to accomplish too much at the outset. If they do they will be liable to fall down, and falls usually injure. SOME well-known talking machine manufacturers have been taking up actively a matter which is of the most vital interest to the entire trade, one which affects not only manufacturers but jobbers and dealers everywhere. Quiet but effective work has been carried on, and through concerted action the talking machine men have been enabled to secure a reduction in freight rates for talking machines through a reclassification of machines and records. This new rate will be placed in effect on April 1, and there will be but one classification for talking machines and records throughout the United States and Canada. This new rate will insure a reduction from one-and-one-half first to first classification in less than carload lots, and to third class in car lots. RAILROAD men for a number of years have placed a high classification on talking machines on the ground that the talking machine was a novelty and a fad. and the rates on records was double first in some sections of the country. Naturally this high freight tariff interfered seriously with the business, particularly in the far West, where the exorbitant tariff made the profitable handling of talking machines almost out of the question. Great credit is due the talking machine men who successfully won out in this freight rate fight. They have fought the matter persistently for more than two years, as at first the railroad officials were not inclined to grant a lessening of freight charges. But after various discussions a reduction was secured which will take effect as we have stated. THIS new freight rate will mean the saving of a good many dollars to talking machine dealers in every part of the Union, particularly Those on the Pacific Coast. This new condition shows how completely the old ideas regarding the talking machine being a fad have become extinguished. When selfish business institutions like railroad corporations concede to an industry its just demands in such a manner, it is at once a compliment to it, and is as well a splendid indication of how radically public sentiment, has changed toward the talking machine. It is not only a good illustration of a recognition of changing conditions, but it is the kind of recognition which means added profits to merchants, for the members of this trade will save a good many dollars at the end of the year through the inauguration of the new freight tariff. WE wish to make The World the forum of the trade in the truest sense, and would suggest to the readers everywhere to send in specimens of their advertising, as we desire to feature this in future issues. Also we will take up trade discussions regarding selling points, business methods to develop trade, and other essentials in which the talking machine men are directly interested.