The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 21 Sharfman is iit charge there, while M. Wolf remains at the main store. They carry the Edison, Victor and Zonophone, and Mr. Wolf declares that he has the smartest record salesman in the country in little Miss Marion Silva. "Don't talk to us about supply and demand," is the word from Iver Johnson Co., where Mr. Boyd is getting gray in trying to fill orders. "If we fill half of the orders we receive we call it well done." E. A. Hawthorne and William McArdle, of the American Record Co., were visitors to the trade this week. At the wholesale office of M. Steinert & Sons Co., Victor jobbers, Manager Cornell reports an exceedingly good business. The list of branch stores is increasing each month, and there are still more to follow. The list is intended to total B6 before it is finished. A decided increase in the demand for highgrade instruments is noticed in all the stores, and the month of April is looked upon as sure to be a record breaker. . BENTEL GETSBEST OF FIRE. Cleaned Out of Old Quarters — Damage of $25,000 With Ample Insurance — In New Store at 435 Wood Street. (Special to The Talking Mactiine World.) Pittsburg, Pa., April 9, 1906. The Theo. F. Bentel Co., the well-known dealers in talking machines and supplies, who were in process of moving to their new quarters at 435-437 Wood street, suffered a loss of $25,000 by Are on Saturday of last week, with ample insurance to cover loss. The flre started on the second floor and was caused by crossed electric wires. About 35,000 records, comprising Edison, Victor and American goods, were destroyed. They had just received $5,000 worth of grand opera records, which were also lost. Fortunately before the fire occurred a great deal of stock had been removed from the old to the new quarters. There will be no delay in business, as stock was at once ordered by wire, and is reaching them this week. So they will be in full swing without any great delay and able to cater to all orders as of old for machines, records and supplies. TALKING MACHINE JOBBERS MEET In Pittsburg and Transact Much Important Business. (Special to Tlie Tallsing Macliine World.) Pittsburg, Pa., March 30, 1906. The Central States Talking Machine Jobbers' Association held a meeting at the Fort Pitt Hotel during the closing days of last week, and transacted much important business relating to their interests. The last meeting of the Association was held at Cincinnati. The officers of the Association are: George Hsen, Cincinnati, president; E. T. Ashton, Detroit, vice-president, and P. B. Whitsit, Columbus, secretary and treasurer. Following the meeting there was a banquet which was attended by about twenty jobbers. According to the officers there is a growing interest in the Association and the membership is steadily increasing. They expect to accomplish much not only for their own interests but for the betterment of the industry, which is rapidly becoming an important one. C. H. Wilson, of the National Phonograph Co., and Mr. Hawthorne, of the Hawthorne & Sheble Co., were present, and the former entertained the assemblage with a long talk on the past and present conditions of the talking machine business, and outlined as far as possible the possibilities for the future. The association decided to invite every talking machine jobber throughout the United States to join, as they figure that the object of the association could be better achieved by a larger membership. The meeting throughout was a very enthusiastic one, and those present felt they had a great deal to be proud of in having secured the twenty jobbers they first started out to get for members. At the close of the meeting Mr. Wilson enter tained all present, ladies as well as gentlemen, at a splendid banquet, which was a most delightful affair in every respect. The next meeting of the association will be held in Cleveland, O., on May 22, when a large attendance of jobbers from all parts of the United States are expected to attend. VIM COMPANY FOUND GUILTY Of Violations of Injunctions Against Price Cutting Brought Against Them by the Victor Company — Punishment to be Fixed. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) World Office, 195 Wabash Ave., Chicago, April 10, 1906. Master in Chancery Sherman of the United States Circuit Court has filed his report in the contempt proceedings instituted by the Victor Talking Machine Co. against the Vim Co. and L. A. Olmstead, of Chicago. The master finds the Vim Co. guilty of all three violations of the injunction against price cutting, as charged by the complainant. The hearing was begun last October, and the matter has been bitterly contested by the defendants, who had tried, it is claimed by the complainants, to cover up violations of the injunction. This was done, it is alleged, by the Vim Co. selling an old record for eight cents and then immediately receiving it in exchange and allowing 35 cents on it. The Victor Co. has given proof that it intends to continue its policy of protecting its dealers and patrons against price cutting regardless of cost. The policy of maintkining prices has worked out to the advantage of thd public as well as the dealers, as it has permitted a constant improvement in records and appliances and has given the whole public the benefit of a forty per cent, reduction in the price of records. The punishment of the Vim Co. will be fixed by one of the United States Circuit Court judges. The Victor Talking Machine Co. was represented by its general counsel, Horace Pettit, of Philadelphia, and by Attorney C. N. Goodwin, of Chicago. PRIZES FOR EASTER WINDOWS. Victor Talking Machine Co. Offer Prizes Running from $10 to $50 — Competition Closing April 20th. The Victor Talking Machine Co. are offering prizes for the best dressed Easter windows — $50 for the first award and $10 each for five of the next best. The competition closes Friday, April 20. The following prizes were awarded in the second competition of Victor windows: Fifty dollar prize window, dressed by Ellis Hansen, with Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, Cal. ; "Evening Star" window, dressed by F. J. Collingwood, with C. J. Jackson & Co., Findley, O. ; "There's Music in the Air," dressed by Geo. J. Mauch, with Saunders Music Co., Ottawa, Kan.; Valentine window, dressed by George C. Silzer, with Harger & Blish, Dubuque, la.; "Kubelik" window, dressed by Brown, Page & Hillman, Peoria, HI.; "The Victor Family," dressed by Antone Heindl, with Powers & Henry, Pittsburg. Pa. UNIQUE TALKING MACHINE CO. On account of increased business, the Unique Talking Machine Co. have closed a lease for the next three years on the three-story brick store building. No. 1016 Prairie avenue, Houston, Tex., and are now doing business there. They have installed the Hawthorne & Sheble unit record system. It is claimed this concern hold the record as "the pioneer talking-machine house in Texas." They became interested in them as far back as 1890, when they used the old-style machines in connection with court reporting work, and from that graduated into the first Houston (if not Texas) dealers. Their present store is 30 feet front by 100 deep, and is devoted exclusively to talking machines. They handle the Victor, Edison and Columbia machines, and the American and Zonophone records. It's the Easiest Thing in the World" to Sell Hohner Harmonicas Accordeons BEST MAoFf.L jCSCIESnc;; The Lyre Harmonica Asso tfneni A Good Side-Line for Talking Machine Dealers Small Stock Little Capital Required Big Demand Big Profits Mr. Ta^lking Machine Dea^ler : You have the facilities, why not handle Harmonicas and Accordeons and make an extra profit '.' There's a demand for these goods everywhere and it will require but a small investment to get a share of the business. The Hohner Harmonicas have been on the market for half a century during which time they have satisfied the desires of the most critical. The name "Hohner" is now a household word amongst the harmonica and accordeon playing public, and the mere announcement of the fact that you have these goods for sale will be sufficient to bring you numerous inquiries for them. ANY JOBBER CAN SVPPLY YOV A Postal Will Bring You the Latest Catalogue M. HOHNER 475 Broadway, New York