The talking machine world (July-Dec 1918)

July 15, 1918 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 63 WAR HAS LITTLE EFFECT ON PACIFIC COAST BUSINESS Public Still Shows Great Desire to Own Talking Machines and Records — Stock Question the Only Problem — New Concerns Enter the Field — General News of Interest San Francisco, July 3. — The talking machine business seems less affected by the war than any other branch of the music industry. Liberty Loan drives, Red Cross appeals and War Savings Stamps subscriptions have followed each other in rapid succession, but they are unable to halt the buying of talking machines and records. The trade has done its duty in each of these money demands and the people of San Francisco have gone way over the top in every event, yet there is always plenty of money for talking machine music which appeals to the public, perhaps more than music in any other form. It may be because the talking machines make their appeal to the so-called common people that their popularity shows such steadiness amid the falling off in the demand for so many articles which were previously considered perhaps even more essential than they. This is the era of the common people. The man with the hoe, the hammer and drill, in other words, the mechanic is now the man who has the money, and he is buying what he wants. San Francisco mechanics are making more than ever before in history and the ranks of well-paid laborers are being constantly swelled by accessions from other ranks of life. . With' the multitude receiving high wages what is to prevent the continued success of the talking machine? Manifestly, only one thing is going to keep down future sales. That is the lack of stock. This is more or less a ticklish question with the dealers, and some makes of machines are being restricted seriously, but as yet in the gross there has been no shortage of talking machines in this market. Some of the dealers are very enthusiastic over their June business and none of them has found the month's sales to show a less volume than a year ago at this time. Conditions Good in Northwest Andrew G. McCarthy, treasurer of Sherman, Clay & Co., and manager of the wholesale distribution of talking machines, has recently returned from the Northwest, where he visited the company's branch stores at Portland, Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane. He found that business was in good shape in that territory, especially in the cities where a great deal of shipbuilding is in progress and large payrolls prevail. Increased Business on First Floor Edward Humphreys, in charge of the record department of Byron Mauzy, reports that there has been a large increase in the sales of records since the talking machine department has been moved to the first floor. Mr. Humphreys has had to bring in a number of records by express from the East in order to keep up with the demands of his customers. F. B. Travers, manager of the Phonograph Shop on Stockton street, has just returned from the southern part of the State where he signed up several new agencies for the Sonora machine. He feels that this section of the State is pretty well covered with agencies for the Sonora, and with the prospective shortage in supplies he will probably not make further effort to appoint agents in that section. Fred A. Dennison, district manager for the Columbia Graphophone Co., says that his stock of machines is about exhausted. However, he has a good stock of records and more are constantly arriving and this is keeping business lively for him. Large Shipment of Pathe Machines Tiie Stern Talking Machine Corp. has recently received a large shipment of Pathe machines, and a number of other machnies are on the road to this company. A demand has arisen for the higher grade Pathe machine at this shop and a number of the cheaper grades were exchanged this month for better instruments. The Oakland and Richmond branches of the Stern Talking Machine Corp. both report very satisfactory business for the month. C. E. Goehr, Western branch manager for Pathe Freres, visited the Stern shop this month and later went to Los Angeles, where it is understood he is about to close a number of Pathe agencies. Sherman, Clay & Co. say that both the wholesale and retail talking machine departments made a much better showing during the month than might be expected under the general condition of trade and the many demands being made upon the purses of the public. Attractive Edison Window Display The Edison Phonograph Shops, where the Edison is retailed in this city, frequently have very attractive window displays. The most recent of these displays was a large picture of a concrete viaduct of the Lackgannock railroad. The window dresser compares this striking engineering feat to the Edison machine. Both are masterpieces of skill. James J. Black, who is one of the directors of the Wiley B. Allen Co., and has charge of the talking machine department for that music company, recently took a trip through the southern part of the State in his machine. He was joined on part of his trip by Mrs. Allen and party. Adds New Phonograph Department The Irvine Music Co., which was formed by R. S. Irvine, formerly connected with the Eilers Music Co. in this city, has just added a phonograph department, which Mr. Irvine predicts will be a winner. Mr. Irvine has many friends both in and out of the music trade in this city and his new music house is establishing a reputation for reliability. The Clark, Wise Music Co. has been featuring a small phonograph for vacation purposes and says that business has been especially brisk in this machine. Mr. Wise has just returned from his own vacation, which he spent in Portland, and while he was glad to get back to San Francisco, which has been his home for so many years, he was full of praise for the northern city and said that the music business was booming in the "city of roses." The Emporium, which is San Francisco's largest department store, has been conducting a birthday sale, and although there were no reductions made in prices in the talking machine department, the store reports that the large crowds attracted by reductions elsewhere purchased heavily of phonograph goods, especially of records. The sale of machines was also larger than usual for the period. Plans for Allied War Exhibit At the Allied War Exhibit, which is to be given in this city July 7-28, is expected to draw great crowds from the entire Bay region, and the talking machine men are preparing to attract the attention of the crowds by their window displays and meetings, a number of which have been scheduled during the progress of the show. The occasion is expected to attract greater crowds to San Francisco than any other event planned for the year and the music dispensers are going to take full advantage of it. NEW QUARTERS FOR CRAFTS=STARR Richmond, Va., July 8. — A. B. Seigel, of Brooklyn, N. Y., has been appointed a member of the traveling staff of the Crafts-Starr Phonograph Co., of this city, factory distributors for Starr phonographs and Gennett records. Mr. Seigel assumed his new duties last month, and has already achieved pleasing success in his visits to the dealers in this territory. The Crafts-Starr Phonograph Co. has leased for a term of years a three-story building at 414 East Marshall street, which will be utilized for storage purposes. This building is a new one, which has just the right kind of equipment to make it ideal for warehouse use. Stocks are being accumulated rapidly, and the company feels sure that it will be able to render its dealers reasonably satisfactory service the coming season. MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW Do not wait until the Fall season is here to secure your stock. If you carry our line, place your order NOW. If not, NOW is a good time to investigate. Send for particulars. 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