The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

6 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. THE QUAKER CITY NEWS BUDGET. Reasons Why October Business Was Backward — Jobbers Rushed, However, and Can't Get Stock Enough — Great Activity at Victor Plant — Penn Co. Bring Suit for Violation of Contract — Jobbers Say Development of Business Will be Great Along Commercial and Public Amusement Lines — Musical Echo Expansion — Snellenberg Opens Regular Department— Opera Records in Great Demand— The World Visits the Principal Dealers. Mr. Butcher, while (Special to The Talking Machine World.) . Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 8, 1906. October business was more or less backward, retail dealers say; but they add that the past two weeks has seen a change for the better. Disagreeable weather, the election campaign and minor reasons were given to explain why trade was quiet during a part of October. Retailers seemed agreed that business was behind that of a year ago at a similar period. "I can't understand it," commented one dealer. "Everybody is working and trade generally seems very good." The jobbers and wholesalers tell a different story. Almost all of them report October business to have been very good, and so far November trade is also brisk. The usual complaint, inability to get talking machines and records from manufacturers, is beard, and doubtless trade would be far more active in jobbing circles if jobbers could get goods with which to fill orders. Inability to secure records and supplies so worked upon one jobber that he went into a poetic trance and sent the following effusion to one of the manufacturers: "Everybody works but the factory. And they sit around all day. Always writing letters, 'Expect to ship next day' ; Customers keep on calling. New stories we must tell ; Everybody works at the factory. Yes, they do, like !" The familiar story, "rushed night and day," quite aptly describes conditions at the plant of the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J. All hands continue very busy and, so far as the company, with present facilities, can fill orders, it is doing so. Manufacturing facilities are being steadily enlarged, new buildings are being erected, and vigorous efforts are being made to meet the demands of the trade; which is all any one can do, it should be added. The concrete pavements adjoining the Victor Co.'s plant on Cooper street have been finished, the grass plots are enclosed with neat iron fences, and the whole premises now look enticing and attractive. Work on the new office and laboratory building, opposite the main plant, was started the latter part of October, and already good headway has been made. Secretary A. C. Middleton, of the company, has abiding faith in reinforced concrete construction, and the "unit" system is being used in both the office building referred to and the new warehouse addition at Front and Linden streets. At almost every place visited by The World's correspondent good words were spoken by jobbers and dealers of the horns and supplies made by the Hawthorne & Sheble Co., of this city. The horns are popular with the public and give the utmost satisfaction. At the North Eastern Phonograph Co.'s store, Manager Silverman stated that business was improving. ''We sold, we believe, the first Victor Victrola," said Mr. Silverman, "and could no doubt sell others if we could get them." The company have added to their stock of Zonophone, Victor and Edison records and machines, and are well prepared to meet fall and holiday demands. Cheap talking machines are being used as premium gifts by a local spice and flavoring house. As the cheap instruments almost always lead the owners to purchase good talking machines, the work being done by the spice house is to be commended. A. B. Butcher, retailer of talking machines, Broadway and Spruce street, Camden, N. J., visited New York the past month. He was accompanied by Mrs. Butcher, and they visited the Edison plant at Orange, N. J., and were shown through the entire works, in New York, ordered a full line of machines and records for winter trade. He is vigorously pushing sales and building up a solid business. Said David Keen, of the Keen Co., 132 North Eighth street: "Business is improving. We have just added a line of Columbia records; we carried n fair-sized stock, but have now enlarged it. Trade has been rather quiet, but is becoming better every day." The amusement parlor at Ninth and Market streets is being altered and remodeled at a cost of $4,000. Dawson & Adams are having the building at 2618 Germantown avenue altered into an amusement parlor and will install slot machines, phonographs, etc. The Penny Arcade at 127 North Eighth street, recently opened, has made a number of improvements and added additional phonographs and slot devices. "Business is fair," reported the manager of the Eastern Phonograph Co., 143 N. Eighth street, owned by Futernik & Silverman. "We have put in a complete line of Victor talking machines and records. I look to see a good holiday trade — in fact, it ought to be a booming year." The Keystone Phonograph and Camera Co., 148 North Eighth street, make a feature of handsome and attractive show window displays, and their present exhibit is very creditable. "Business is pretty fair," said Mr. Abrahams, "but it is not up to the same period a year ago." The company have added a line of Weymann musical instruments to their business, and will also handle pianos. A large stock of sheet music is also carried. In the local courts the past month the Penn Phonograph Co. instituted suit against Ruane & Bayley as a firm, and John F. Ruane individually, for alleged violation of contract. Ruane & Bayley dissolved partnership about two months ago, and both now conduct retail talking machine stores. ' Said a jobber: "Between you, me and the lamp post, do you know that I believe the talking machine business has about struck its level in Philadelphia? There's just about so much business to be done, you know, and it seems to me there are now enough jobbers and dealers to take care of it. Maybe there's too many, and if so it accounts for some of the quiet business stories you hear." Said Benjamin Futernik, of the Philadelphia Phonograph Co., 156 North Eighth street: "We confine our business strictly to talking machine lines. Trade is going along all right, and we expect a good fall and holiday trade." Benj. Futernik is a pioneer in the business, being one of the first merchants who opened talking machine stores on Eighth street. "I suppose we made so much money when we first opened," remarked Mr. Futernik, "that others concluded it was a good field. Well, there's room for all, I guess, even if all of us do not acquire millions." The Philadelphia Co. carry complete lines of Victor, Edison and Columbia goods. In a trade chat, one of the large jobbers made a few points as follows: "It seems to me that talking machine trade from now on will develop quite strongly along two lines — commercial and public amusement. The household trade ought to increase, of course. While not wanting to criticise the record manufacturers, it seems to me they should bring out less new pieces and go heavy on stock numbers for a while, in order to fill the demand. Dealers who sell on the instalmentplan at cash prices forget they are getting nothing for their tied-up money. A needleless talking machine would be a great comfort. Daily experience proves that talking machines lead people to higher musical tastes and stimulates sales of many other musical instruments." Getting inspiration from a street organ grinder, two Philadelphia lads mounted their "talker" on an express wagon, took to the street and were gathering in many pennies until a non-sympathetic policeman demanded their license. Will street talking machines join the piano and organ caravan? "Boss!" said a colored man to one of the Musical Echo Co.'s sales clerks, "hav' ya got a record wid de 'de'd ma'ch ob Saul' on it?" "Yes, we have one." "Well, I wants hit. Dar's gwine for to be use fob hit if Sam Johnson doesn't quit foolin' wid my 'Liza!" And he paid for the record and disappeared. "Our October business," reported the Wells Phonograph Co., jobbers, "was the best October business we have had since entering business. The outlook for trade is very good. We are featuring Tea Tray and H. & S. horns. The Searchlight horns are selling well. We have a very fine line of disc and cylinder record cabinets which we are exploiting carefully. Edison business, in particular, has been exceptionally big." At H. A. Weymann & Son's, 923 Market street, Mr. Weymann said: "We have had very good business in our talking machine department, due to the fact that having the goods we have been enabled to fill orders and satisfy all demands. We have found that to get business we must have the goods on hand. Where formerly we lacked room we now have it and carry a large and complete stock of Edison and Victor goods." Mr. Weymann said trade in pianos, musical instruments, sheet music, etc., was also very satisfactory. "Business has been improving and is better than It was," reported the Lewis Talking Machine Co., South Ninth street. "We have had good success in selling Petmecky needles — so much so that we had to take them from our display window. The outlook for business is promising, and beyond this there is little news to report." "Business is gradually picking up," reported the Penn Phonograph Co., South Ninth street. "We now have the largest stock we ever car-' ried ; as you see we have carpenters at work on additional record racks. We occupy two large storerooms, basements, etc., and are in excellent shape to meet all trade demands." Salesman Wilson, of the Edison Co.'s forces, was a recent visitor. At the main local office of the Columbia Phonograph Co. it was stated that business is going along in a steady, satisfactory way. The company's several retail branch stores in this city are putting out many machines and records, and the same thing is being done by the Camden, N. J., and Easton. Pa., branches. Harry A. Matthews, C. C. Hildinger and Chas. W. Klag, of Trenton, N. J., have organized the Dream Amusement Co., and will operate an amusement parlor equipped with motion pictures, etc. Said H. B. Rouillot, manager of the talking machine and piano player department of James Bellak's Sons: "We are doing very nicely, all things considered; of course, there's considerable competition to be met. but we are getting our share of trade. " The Hardman and Harrington autotones and Hardman piano player are exploited, as well as music rolls for all players. Said Manager Marschalk, of the Musical Echo Co., Chestnut street: "Trade with us is limited to our ability to get in goods. There's no trouble in selling — it is getting what we want that bothers us." An unusually large order was recently placed by the company with the Victor Co. The Musical Echo Co. have supplied Snellenberg's phonograph department with Victor goods. They have also supplied the wants of Fred W. Lindig, a retailer, at Louisberg. Pa. The concerts given in the company's concert hall continue to attract pleased audiences. Inquiry shows that there has been a good demand for the Victor Co.'s records of Verdi's "II Trovatore." One dealer alone has taken orders