The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

r, THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. THE QUAKER CITY NEWS BUDGET. riess for Month Uneven — Progressive Institutions Make All Seasons Active — Victor Co.'s Excursion Musical Echo Co.'s New Quarters — Heppe's Selling Plan— Keen Co. Organized Phonographs as Furniture and Toys — Combines Are Dangerous — Talking Machine Development— Circulating Record Bureau — "Talker" Men to Play Ball— Views of Talking Machine Music — Abuse of the Machine by Well-Meaning But Thoughtless People. (Special to The Talking Machine Woi-ld.) Philadelpliia. Pa., August 10, 1906. So far as trade in local talking machine circles is concerned, it is as one wholesaler put it, "in a betwixt and between season condition." He meant that while business was pretty good it was by comparison with other months rather quiet. The fact is, reports differ as to state of trade; some of the dealers are busy, some fairly so, while others are merely doing a seasonable business. Unquestionably dealers themselves have much to do in making trade good or dull. The aggressive dealer, with good ideas and a determination to push sales, is not complaining. The less said about the other sort of fellow the better. Good fall trade is predicted. The usual complaint, viz., "We would be doing more business if we could get the records we want," is heard. Sales at Jersey seaside resorts are reported good, records and supplies especially being in good demand. The Chancery Court of New Jersey the past month made perpetual the injunction sued out by Tabacconist Seligman against the Victor Talk ing Machine Co. This injunction restrains the company from operating this power plant after 10 o'clock p. m. and before 6 a. m. The court's order really imposes no hardship on the Victor Co., because they can easily construct additional buildings and enlarge output capacity to meet all requirements, and it is quite likely they will do so. The fifth-story addition to the North Front street factory has been completed, and work on the Cooper street addition is being vigorously prosecuted. The employes of the Victor Co. gave an excursion to Atlantic City the past month. It was enjoyable and successful in every way. A small fire occurred at the works the past month, but was "put out" by the Victor fire' company long before the Camden firemen reached the works. A baseball nine, composed of Victor Co. employes, crossed bats recently with a nine from a nearby industrial plant. The Victor boys went down — ^failed to make a record, and now they want another game and satisfaction. The entire Victor plant is running steadily, and there seems some chance now of catching up with back orders. Vice-President Douglass is enjoying tetter health. Comfortably ensconced in new and larger quarters at 1217 Chestnut street, the Musical Echo Co. are in excellent shape to successfully handle the increasing business which is coming into both retail and wholesale departments, Manager H. D. Marschalk and his assistant, L. J. Gerson, are a strong selling team, having had ample experience and being possessors of "snap" and hustling ability. The new quarters are tastefully furnished and attractive, and "pull in" buyers from the most fashionable promenade in the Quaker City. C. J. Heppe & Son, who originated the "Junior Club" plan of selling talking machines, report that it has proven very sucessful. Phonographs are sold on a basis of $1 down and $1 a week. Boys are led to be careful in the way of saving their money with which to mal^e payments, and even bankers have instructed their boys to join the club to the end that they would learn "real lessons in business." The fact that they earn money to pay for a machine also leads the Juniors to take pride in their work, and also teaches them to take good care of their machine, too. A large number of sales have been made by Heppe & Son. The application of the Keen Co. for a State charter empowering them to manufacture and deal in talking machines, etc., was duly granted by Governor Pennypacker. It is capitalized at $5,000, and the incorporators are B. Silver and David and M. N. Keen, Since opening parlors and warerooms the Keen Co. have met with good business success, and established a solid trade. David Keen is giving close personal attention to sales, and is pushing business in several original ways. Said a Market street jobber; "At Washington the Comptroller of the Treasury decided that a phonograph is furniture. At New York the board of United States General Appraisers decided phonographs are not toys and must pay an entry duty of 4.5 per cent, as manufactures of metal, and not 35 per cent, as toys. This latter decision will help keep out foreign-made goods, which will benefit domestic manufacturers, jobbers, etc. The Washington decision, which classifies phonographs as 'furniture' favors us also, because it stamps the machines as being necessary office adjuncts. All these things are sure to make trade better." Members of the trade here who attended the meeting of Edison jobbers at New York last month are warm in their praise of the treatment received, and all report having had a splendid time, and, in addition, picked up good trade tips and pointers. Any attempt by a "combine" or "association" of jobbers to "fix" or "set" prices on machines, records, etc., will be fraught with danger here, as Pennsylvania laws against "trusts," arbitrary prices, etc., are very rigorous. "I have been connected with the talking machine trade about ten years." said a Ninth street jobber in a chat with The World, "and the fact that important developments and advancement have t'sen made in the past few years impresses itself daily on my mind. I presume I could mention a dozen men here who, like me, went into the business thinking it was a transient fad, and that in due time we would turn to something else. Ten years ago the talking machine was looked upon as a toy — and, to an extent, some of the primitive talking machines turned out in those days were toys — and even worse. Ten years ago talking machines were liandled as a 'side line.' Exclusive houses, such as we have all over the country to-day, did not exist; in fact, men with money were afraid to go into the thing on an exclusive basis; But as improvements were made, inventions perfected and new companies organized, a steady change for the better came, and the business has now reached its present remarkable proportions. To predict its future is quite impossible, but with the talking machine fast becoming a necessary and a useful adjunct in ofHce and commercial work, a decidedly solid, substantial business is being founded, which, in my opinion, will last as long as men carry on commerce and trade." A talking machine circulating record bureau is among the probabilities of the near future, according to rumors circulating here. It is said Philadelphians have discussed the plan of placing large cabinets, containing disc and cylinder records, in prominent drug stores in principal cities of the United States. People owning phonographs, upon paying a membership fee of $2, would be allowed to take out from one to ten records for two weeks, paying 5 cents apiece for them. The plan closely follows the Tabard Inn Library scheme, originated by the now defunct Book Lovers' Co. Members of the Phonograph Record Bureau would be in a position to hear the latest records as well as old ones, at a mere nominal cost. It is said it would take $500,000 to get the plan started. The World's correspondent has only secured meager news of the talked-of scheme, and cannot say whether it is really going to be consummated or not. Later he will give more particulars. It is rumored, however, that several substantial men of means are willing to finance the scheme. Assuming that record manufacturers will not sell the proposed new bureau corporation its records, it will, if started, prove a good thing for jobbers and, indirectly, for retailers, because it is figured members of the bureau, hearing so many new records, would turn in and buy their own. Dame Rumor has it that the wholesalers and jobbers are seriously thinking of challenging the retail talking machine dealers to a red-hot game of baseball. The game, it is understood, will be "pulled off" on a lot convenient to an uptown hospital and handy to a brewery. H. T. Lewis, of the Lewis Talking Machine Co., is mentioned as pitcher on the jobbers' "battery," but he won't pitch, he will simply flre the baseball from a small cannon. If "Ed" Buehn, of the Wells Phonograph Co., as catcher, manages to stop the "sphere," well and good, otherwise it seems likely the balls will go through him. The retailers will probably put W. Beckhardt, of the Eastern Phonograph Co., and "Charley" Robertson, a genial Lancaster avenue hustler, in the "box," and a hearse will be around the corner until after the game's over and the battlefield is searched. A detail of marines from League Island, it is asserted, will maintain order, while the Superintendent of Police, clad in armor, will do any umpiring that is allowed. Talking machines, mounted in all parts of the "diamond," will encourage the victims to "make second!" "slide for home!" "back to the woods with you!" "slug him. Bob! he's doing you out of a run!" etc. Signs that talking machine "music" is not wholly popular with some people are not wanting. The Rev. J. R. Jordan, Burgess of Prospect Park, a nearby village, recently issued an edict that only "sacred music" could be played on talking machines on Sunday, and a iKilice ofiicer has teen enforcing the order. In Chancery Court at Camden, N. J., the past month, on complaint of J. Albert Harris, a rule to show cause why an injunction should not be issued against O. J. Leigh, of Wildwood, N. J., from operating a phonograph, was granted. Reuben Goldberger, an Eighth street merchant, Philadelphia, complained to Judge Martin, of Common Pleas Court, that a talking machine operated by J. W. Himebaugh, an amusement palace man, opposite his place of business, so annoyed and distressed clerks, etc., that it had become unendurable. Finally the matter was compromised by Mr. Himebaugh agreeing to have the music operated on a p. p. basis, with the phonograph moved away from his front door back to the rear. A number of laborers, near Bridgeton, N. J., annoyed becatise a phonograph kept them awake when they wanted to sleep, took the law -into their own hands, and descending upon the offending machine, kicked it to pieces and threatened to do the owner bodily harm. The foregoing facts are mentioned to emphasize the points made by a local dealer in talking machines, etc., who, in an interview, chatted on the subject of "Use and Abuse of Talking Machines." He said, in part: "To the right use of talking machines by considerate people no sane person will object, but certainly when foolish people operate them in such a way as to cause annoyance and distress, it is time such people were called to order. The talking machine itself is not a nuisance; but it can be made one, of course, by thoughtless, foolish people who set it going at unreasonably late hours, or who set them going in wrong places, such as near a church during service hour, or who keep a machine going so continuously that what was enjoyable or amusing at first is, by monotonous reiteration, turned into annoyance and distress. Common sense must be exercised by owners of talking machines if they wish to avoid being called 'nuisances.' Talking machines are no worse than dozens of musical instruments so far as abuse is concerned. A clarionet or violin played at 2 a. m. by an amateur is enough to make a well man frantic. And a talking machine operated under wrong conditnons by a person with more enthusiasm than discretion is apt to stir up bitter feelings. There should be moderation in all things, and in phonographs people should consider other people's feelings." Harris Master, who recently opened talking machine and piano salesrooms at 239 Market street, is meeting with deserved business success. He