The talking machine world (July-Dec 1918)

October 15, 1918 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 25 BUSINESS IN SAN FRANCISCO IS GOVERNED BY SUPPLIES Complaints Continue Regarding Shortage of Machines and Records — Mrs. Howard Promoted — California Men in the War — Western Phonograph Co. Expand — New Columbia Manager San Francisco, Cal., October 3. — Several extra holidays, rainy weather and the shortage of standard stock mitigated against business on the Pacific Coast during the month of September, yet the average for the month is fair. Unless supplies come in faster than they have been there will not be as big a fall business as was hoped for. Victor goods cannot be obtained to the full requirements no matter how far ahead the dealer orders. Other lines are not always easy to secure either. The record situation is about on a par with the machine situation. Under the circumstances no special selling campaigns can be inaugurated. There is plenty of money in circulation and no doubt the talking machine business is getting a fair share, but with judicious advertising a much greater business could be done, provided the dealers had complete stocks of machines and records. For a few weeks at least the new Liberty Loan drive will probably have the effect of curtailing purchases. San Francisco will make a great effort to go over the top in record time. Romance is not a stranger to the business world, not business romance. The elevation of Mrs. Helen Plummer Howard, formerly manager of the talking machine department of the Hauschildt Music Co., Oakland store, to the managership of the whole store does not come as a surprise to those who know Mrs. Howard's special abilities as a business woman. She is said to be the only woman manager of a large music house in the West. Byron Mauzy, who recently returned from an Eastern trip, and Charles Mauzy, both of whom are loyal Shriners of Islam Temple, marched with their order in the big Liberty Loan parade last week. Byron Mauzy is on the committee of directing captains for the Bond drive, and Charles Mauzy is doing his share on one of the teams also. The Irvine Music Co. has just received large shipments of Stradivara and Pathe machines. Mr. Irvine says he is pretty well supplied now for the fall trade, but will continue to get new stock in anticipation of the holidays. The latest representative of the California trade to distinguish himself at the front in France is John MacArthur, who is a lieutenant in the American Aviation Corps. He chased a flock of German flyers who were attacking three American airplanes and succeeded in returning without mishap. He was honored with a medal and the congratulations of General Pershing. Lieut. MacArthur was formerly connected with the talking machine department of the Oakland establishment of Sherman, Clay & Co. R. E. Wolfinger, formerly of the Emporium talking machine department, has joined the sales force of the Wiley B. Allen talking machine department. D. Creed, of the Chicago Talking Machine Co., has been visiting his brother at Camp Fremont the past week and has called on some of the local trade. One of the most popular records in San Francisco at present is Caruso's "Over There." Patriotic records head the list for popularity, yet classic selections are holding their own. Walter S. Gray is laboring assiduously toward securing needles for his trade. He left last week for a business trip in southern California. Sinews of war in the form of a quarter of a million of dollars have been secured by the Western Phonograph Co., of San Francisco. This company is now incorporated and will carry on as usual the business of distributing Pathe merchandise to the trade of California, Nevada and Arizona. The new capital will enable the concern to do business on a far more efficient and extended scale than heretofore, though as it was no grass was growing under the feet of Omer N. Krutsche, the manager. No change in the management is reported, though probably the force will soon be increased. H. N. McMenimen, managing sales director for the Pathe Co., was in San Francisco during the month on business in connection with the reorganization of the Western Phonograph Co. The Sonora Phonograph Co. has been much handicapped by employes leaving for the army or war industries. F. B. Travers, the manager, expects to spend some time in the East visiting the factories this month. Conditions at the store have delayed his trip time and again. Between trying to conciliate customers clamoring for Victor goods and serving on the federal grand jury, Andrew G. McCarthy, treasurer of Sherman, Clay & Co., and manager of the company's talking machine business, is having his hands full. Goods are reshipped as fast as they come from the factory, but the wholesale trade on the Coast is large and the supply is always inadequate. W. E. Henry, formerly a popular figure in the San Francisco trade, has just been visiting the city. He is now in the foreign record department of the Columbia. The trade learns with regret that Fred Dennison, Pacific Coast manager of the Columbia Co., is leaving San Francisco. As manager of the company's office at Buffalo he will undoubtedly shed new light and exude vital energy in that quarter as he has done on the Pacific Coast. Nathan Millner, general sales manager of the Dictaphone department, has taken Mr. Dennison's place here. SHIPS A GRAFONOLA TO AFRICA B. G. Harriott, a music dealer of Concord, N. 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