The talking machine world (July-Dec 1918)

August 15, 1918 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 86^ PROSPERITY PREVAILS THROUGHOUT PORTLAND TRADE Growth of Shipbuilding Industry Has Increased the Purchasing Power of the Masses — Talking Machine Merchants Feeling This Influx of Wealth — General News of Interest Portland, Ore., August 6. — Trade has been especially good in the talking machine field and dealers are looking forward to means to augment the stocks depleted by the heavy buying which they attribute to the unwonted prosperity of the city where shipbuilding has sent wages soaring, where the payroll has been increased by hundreds of thousands of dollars each week with an influx of 35,000 shipbuilders and other workers due to the sudden increase in population and labor. Perhaps no store in Portland has benefited more by the business revival than has the Wiley B. Allen Co., which is not only doing a greatly increased piano business, but which has more than doubled its normal summer talking machine and record trade. Edison and Victor machines have been featured at this house, which has had an especially attractive window display built around a portrait of Thomas A. Edison, painted by a Portland artist. A number of Cowan Classiques, recently added to this firm's list, have been on display also. Ten Victrolas were shipped to the spruce division by the Wiley B. Allen Co. this week. Paul B. Norris, in charge of the talking machine department, says the order for the Victrolas came directly as the result of a patriotic window display. Mrs. Olga Binder, in charge of the record department for Wiley B. Allen, says she is busy getting stock in shape for fall when a big business is expected. The Hyatt Talking Machine Co. will move into new quarters September 1. The present store has been taken by the Northwestern National Bank, which has purchased E. B. Hyatt's lease. Mr. Hyatt has leased for a period of two years a store 25 by 100 feet in the new Rialto Building. The new store has a fine basement and mezzanine floor. Eight demonstrating rooms will be installed and three machine salesrooms in addition to the office. Los Angeles, Cal., August 6. — July has fully lived up to expectations and business has been very good in Los Angeles. Of course, there i's generally a slowing up in sales during the summer months and this year has been no exception. The many outfits being sent to the soldiers and sailors by the Red Cross, etc., have been a great help to the trade in general and large orders for records are being received now from the various cantonments who have already purchased or been given a machine. The sale of small machines has been very gratifying so far as many of these are traded in later for larger models. Most of the local dealers are still having trouble in getting enough records. In fact, lots of selections, especially the older recordings, cannot be obtained from any jobber. Some uneasiness has been felt in trade circles over the report from Washington, D. C, that a considerable revenue tax was to be levied on all future purchases of talking machines, but most of the merchants realize that this is a matter that cannot be helped and which will work itself out to the satisfaction of all and be of great financial benefit to our Government during the duration of the war. The demand for music of German origin, even the compositions of the older masters, has been decreasing steadily in Los Angeles since the U. S. entered the world war, and the local Musicians' Union has even gone so far as to place a fine of $50 on any orchestra playing a piece of music composed by a German or having a German title. Charles Moore, traveling representative for the Ross P. Curtis Co., Victor jobbers at Lin The Wakefield Music Co., which sells the Brunswick talking machine and Pathe records, has been doing a good summer business. C. Guy Wakefield, manager, says many shipbuilders are buying Brunswicks as a result of his sending to the shipyards 16,000 circulars advertising this machine. Miss Flora M. Wakefield, daughter of the manager, has taken charge of the record department. Large sales of Columbia and Victrola machines are reported from the Meier & Frank Co. J. H. Matney, proprietor, sold $1,026 worth of machines the other day. Miss Ruth Le Van is now connected with the record department of the Meier & Frank store. Harold S. Gilbert, of the Gilbert Piano Co., is selling quite a number of Columbia Grafonolas. The new non-set machines have proved very popular and have sold readily. The Columbia Co.'s Portland branch is also having a big run of the new machines, which are being displayed to dealers and customers who manifest great interest. Sonora machines are selling unusually well at the Bush & Lane store. James Loden, manager of the talking machine department, is busy rearranging his stock. He expects a shipment of Sonoras of period designs in the very near future and anticipates a large sale. The phonograph department of the G. F. Johnson Piano Co. will be enlarged and improved in the near future. Larger display rooms on the mezzanine floor and more record rooms will be added. Robert T. Callahan is manager of the talking machine department. L. E. Gilham, manager of the Stradivara Co., says that business is splendid with the trade unusually satisfactory. He has just sold a handsome Stradivara grand for $250 to a prominent Portland family. Mr. Gilham is establishing a lot of new agencies through the country and is putting new men on the road. coin, Neb., has been stopping in Los Angeles for the last week. William Hobbs Richardson, manager of the talking machine department for the Southern California Music Co., reports an incident that may be of interest to the trade in general. They received an order for records from Mexico; the order was filled and sent out by parcel post in the usual manner, but was held up by the Customs Censor, who declared he would not pass on them until he had heard them played. One of the clerks took a Victrola to the Federal Building and played the records for the official and when finished was charged 35 cents, being for the time it took the censor to listen to them. This shows how particular the Government is in examining everything before it leaves this country. H. N. McMenimen, managing director of the Pathe Freres Co., is on a trip of inspection to the Coast and spent several days in Los Angeles looking over the situation here. He is very enthusiastic over the future of the Pathe products and expects to establish many new agencies in this section of the country before returning East. MUSIC AND THE FIGHTING MAN J. K. Nichol, formerly connected with Thomas A. Edison, Inc., and now in the United States Navy, in a recent letter to the Edison people points out the wonderful value of the phonograph in navy and army camps, and says that there should be a machine in every one of the ship's quarters, as well as in training stations, and says that the phonograph is a tremendous educator and stimulator of patriotism. "A W0NDERB0X OF MUSIC" British Correspondent Thus Describes the Talking Machine at the Front — An Excellent Editorial on Important Subject ' In connection with the accompanying expressive cartoon, the Evening Express, of Los Angeles, Cal., recently published the following editorial comment that should prove of more than usual interest to members of the trade generally, as indicating a new attitude toward the talking machine: "Whether the phonograph is regarded as a HELP ROUT HIM toy or a nuisance, it has found a place of honor in the army. Every center of recreation behind the front has its instrument and assortment of records. The canteens, the hospitals, the Y. M. C. A. huts and kindred auxiliaries all rejoice in their phonographs. "A correspondent of the London Mail reports: " 'To-day the phonograph at the front is a wonderbox of music, an inexhaustible source of good cheer and melody. Not merely that, but any padre will tell you that it is one of the greatest influences for good that can be found. It gives the boys a musical home. Never mind whether it be standard ballad or overture or the latest comic song. It is sunshine music and brings with it thoughts of home.' "There is good reason for the appeal the American Red Cross is making for contributions of talking machine records of all sorts. Not only that, but phonographs of every make are in demand and small musical instruments of every kind. "The local organization is active in this campaign and has received the co-operation of Los Angeles music houses, that have volunteered to repair all machines or instruments and pack, with records, for transportation. "There must be hundreds of homes in Los Angeles that can give helpful aid to this meritorious campaign. The talking machine department of any of the principal music stores will receive phonographs, records or musical instruments or they may be sent to Red Cross headquarters at 956 South Main street." QUALITIES WORTH CULTIVATING Professor Walter Dill Scott says that most difficulties are difficulties because complete information is not at hand to be worked on. A habit of close observation oftentimes enables one to get necessary information which, put down on paper, is then before him for reference. After securing complete information, concentration is the proper method of attacking the problem. To develop concentration do one thing at a time — the right thing. Don't allow several items to crowd the main issue. Regularity is a secret of forming habits of concentration. Do the same kind of thing in the same place at the same time each day for a period and less effort will be required to concentrate upon it. Will power is a matter of inheritance and environment, largely of environment. It can be developed. Educate it. Have you bought a Thrift Stamp to-day? LOS ANGELES DEALERS FIND IT HARD TO GET RECORDS Growth of Patriotic Sentiment Has Stimulated Sales of Records Tremendously — Small Machines Also in Favor — Taboo on Music of German Origin — H. N. McMenimen a Visitor — About Exports A Timely Cartoon