The talking machine world (July-Dec 1918)

42 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD November 15, 1918 "Send for Catalog" More sales are snared by that phrase than any other trick in the ad-man's bag. Are you featuring your new catalogs with your trade? Columbia Graphophone Co. NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO TRADE IS ACTIVE DESPITE CONDITIONS Brighter Outlook Held for Business Now That Epidemic Is Conquered — Welcome for N. F. Milnor — New Machine Makes Its Debut — California Phonograph Co.'s New Quarters — Other News San Francisco, Calv October 28. — Business has not been all that might have been desired here during the month of October, but sales are considered well up to expectations in view of the circumstances. During the first half of the month, or, to be more exact, during the period of the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign, the selling of talking machines, records, etc., took secondary place to the securing of bond subscriptions, and then the Spanish influenza came along, causing business generally to slump even more than it had under the pressure of the loan drive. All schools, theatres and other public meeting places were ordered closed, people were advised to avoid crowds, and when appearing away from home to wear masks, all of which has had a strong tendency to keep people off the street and out of the stores. From present indications the ban will soon be lifted, however, and then the music stores, as well as other lines of business, hope to make up for lost time. New Columbia Manager Welcomed The Western trade bade farewell to Fred A. Dennison as Pacific Coast manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co. during the past month, and welcomed his successor, Nathan F. Milnor, into their midst. Mr. Milnor has, as he puts it, just been getting acquainted thus far, and incidentally putting some finishing touches on the company's handsome new offices and salesrooms on the second floor of the Daylight Building in Sutter street. Lack of stock has a tendency to curb aggression, he says, in seeking new business. George W. Lyle a Welcome Visitor A welcome visitor to the local trade about the middle of October was George W. Lyle, general manager of the Pathe Freres Phonograph Co., while making a tour of the country. He had visited in southern California before reaching the Golden Gate City, and after spending a few days in this vicinity continued his travels to the Pacific Northwest. With the introduction of new capital into the Western Phonograph Co. and the incorporation of the business Mr. Lyle expects "big things" in this territory in the way of increased business for the Pathe line. This company has the distributing agency for Pathe machines and records in the States of California, Arizona and Nevada, and is branching out in a very promising manner. New Wholesale Quarters Opened A new talking machine has just made its appearance in San Francisco. It is The Lois, offered by the United Talking Machine Co. R. F. Bowles is manager. He has opened an office and sample room at 417 Montgomery street, and from here will cover the territory west of Denver. In addition to The Lois line of talking machines Mr. Bowles has the Western distributing agency for Operaphone records, also a new line here. The two in his estimation make a very strong combination. G. E. Morton Joins the Colors Another San Francisco talking machine man has given heed to the call for men to serve the colors. G. E. Morton, manager of the Emporium talking machine department, is the man in question. He has made arrangements to enter the Artillery Officers' Training Camp at Camp Taylor, Ky., and expects to be called very shortly. Meanwhile he is continuing his regular duties, and a successor has not been named to take his place. Larger Quarters for California Phonograph Co. The California Phonograph Co., of which F. A. Levy is president and general manager, has fitted up extra space in the basement of its store on Market street, above Sixth, in order to take care of a larger reserve stock of records. Other facilities have been improved also, tending to keep pace with the growth of the business. Mr. Levy comments particularly on the big gain in the demand for records in the last few months, which he attributes largely to the increased interest in patriotic music. At present things are quiet, but Mr. Levy looks for normal selling to return as soon as the epidemic passes over. Muratore Records Help Loan Drive The Stern Talking Machine Co., according to Frederick Stern, has experienced a tremendous CRYSTAL EDGE MICA DIAPHRAGMS M I C A Let us send you samples today of our diaphragms and you will readily understand why the best talking machines are equipped with Crystal Edge Mica diaphragms exclusively. We use only the very finest selected mica, the best diaphragm material in the world. PHONOGRAPH APPLIANCE CO., 109 West Broadway, NEW YORK call for the records of Lucien Muratore, since his appearance here during the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign. The attractive advertising done by the Pathe Co. has helped out wonderfully, he says. Mr. Stern is now anxiously awaiting a large shipment of Pathe records. Now Comes the Lady Traveler In keeping with the spirit of the times Walter S. Gray, jobber of talking machine trade accessories, has employed a lady traveler. She is Miss Hazel Layton, who has had quite a bit of experience in the retail end of the game, and is making a very good initial showing in booking wholesale orders. At present she is out on a Southern trip. To provide more office space and also more room for displaying his lines Mr. Gray has taken another office in the Chronicle Building, and is using his old quarters for showing bulky goods only. Brunswick Line for Wiley B. Allen Co. The Wiley B. Allen Co. has put in a stock of Brunswick phonographs and is conducting a strong campaign in their behalf, which George W. Hughes says is bringing very good results. Kohler & Chase have again added talking machines, after confining their attention to pianos, players and sheet music for some time. The Pathe lines is featured. PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IN DALLAS Music Dealers Combine in Advertising Drive in Which the Talking Machine is Featured The Dallas Music Industries Association has been conducting a very active campaign in the daily newspapers of that live Texas city in which page ads have been used to splendid advantage. In this publicity the talking machine has come in for a large share of consideration, and one advertisement in particular shows the value of music in the workroom and factory, as well as in the home. It points out that talking machine music is a tonic and relaxation and eases the load and increases the pleasure of every human being — man, woman or child. The concerns jointly interested in this campaign are the Bush & Gerts Piano Co., Brooks Mays & Co., Field Lippman Piano Stores, W. A. Green Co., G. H. Jackson, Leyhe Piano Co., The Edison Shop, Sanger Bros., Thos. Goggan & Bros., Titche-Goettinger Co., Will A. Watkin Co., Western Automatic Music Co., and the Adam Schaaf Piano Co. A MUCH TRAVELED GRAFONOLA Concord, N. H., November 5. — The Harriott Music Co., Columbia dealers here, recently made a sale of a Columbia Grafonola which Mr. Harriott believes will establish a record. The sale was made to a missionary who is stationed at Monteaba, Africa. The Grafonola will travel from Concord and New York to the West Indies, thence to Cape Town and Mombasa, thence inland 1700 miles, the greater part of this distance being covered by native porters. It is expected that the Grafonola will not reach its destination for nearly six months.