The talking machine world (Aug-Dec 1919)

September 15, 1919 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 113 PORTLAND CONTINUES ONE OF OREGON'S LIVE CENTERS August Business of Notable Volume — Allen's New Record Department — Displays During "Buyers' Week" — "Tone Clear" in Demand — McCormick's Fine Store — New Sherman-Clay Manager Portland, Ore., September 6. — While many of the talking machine dealers say that business was quiet during August, an inquiry into the facts of the case does not seem to justify this opinion. A great many talking machines have been sold this summer, more in fact than dealers were prepared to deliver. Last winter's and last spring's business was of such an unusual volume that the summer sales appeared small in comparison. Many of the people who went on vacations, however, took portable machines with them. There was hardly a camp that was not provided with an instrument of some kind. Nearly every automobile party had its talking machine along. These visitors have been buying records in large quantities. While some dealers have been fortunate enough to have almost an adequate supply on hand, many of the record departments have been quite unable to meet the extraordinary demand. No more beautiful record department can be found on the coast than the one just completed in the store of the Wiley B. Allen Co. The floor space is 60 by 100 feet. Record racks are conveniently arranged between the rows of demonstration rooms, leaving wide aisles on each side. The good taste displayed in the whole arrangement reflects great credit upon the manager. Frank M. Case, whose ideas have been carried out in every particular. During the "Buyers' Week" the new Stradivara plant at Thirty-third street and 'East Broadway was open for the inspection of the visiting merchants. Visiters were most hospitably received and were shown the many features of the new Stradivara instrument. The company, which had been making Stradivara machines for about a year, was recently reorganized and the new plant at Thirty-third and East Broadway acquired. The plant, which was formerly occupied by the Jeffrey Airplane Co., has been completely overhauled and equipped with machinery for turning out the instruments. A branch office has been opened in San Francisco, under the management of Charles Soule. Harry L. Marshall, local manager of the Edison Co., motored over eastern Oregon, Washington and Idaho. He found conditions exceptionally good. The farmers are having wonderful crops; the best wheat belt averaged 50 to 60 bushels an acre, and the crops throughout the entire section were generally good. One of the traveling men and a mechanic accompanied Mr. Marshall. The mechanic gave instructions to the dealers. The Victor agency in Corvallis, Ore., has been transferred to the Warren Sharpe Furniture Co. During Buyers' Week in Portland Mr. Hunt was called upon by C. B. Sampson, Sampson Music Co., Boise, Idaho; Mr. Reed, Reed Bros., Burns, Ore.; Mr. Botkin, the Botkin-Joy Drug Co., Caldwell, Idaho; Mr. Huntly, Huntly Drug Co., Albany, Ore.; Mr. Johnson, Logan Music Co., Twin Falls, Idaho, and Mr. Swartz, Roseburg Furniture Co., Roseburg, Ore. C. Guy Wakefield, of the Wakefield Music Co., is at present visiting the towns of the Willamette Valley, establishing Cremona agencies. Edison talking machines are selling fast in the phonograph department of Eilers Music House. Columbia Grafonolas are also in great demand and a good supply is on hand. The wicker phonograph— a novelty in a charming room with its dainty cretonne hangings, artistic furniture and picturesque setting — has been very much admired. The new quarters of L. D. Heater, of the Columbia Graphophone Co., are now located in the Spaulding building at Third and Washington streets. The rooms have been newly decorated and furnished and are handsome and comfortable. The dictaphone school is a success ; the classes are large, but J. R. Haight, manager of the department, says that it is not possible even with the large number of pupils they have to supply the demand for operators. C. V. H. Jones, in a new Nash car, accompanied by his wife, visited Portland the last week in August. Mr. Jones is the wholesale representative of the Columbia Graphophone Co. in Seattle. He spent a day with L. D. Heater, local manage.-. Quite a number of Columbia dealers visited Portland during Buyers' Week. Among them were M. E. Everett, of North Bend, Ore.; Mrs. W. H. Bokenkamp, of LaGrande, Ore.; J. S. LaMar, of Tillamook, Ore., and Mr. Burdick, of Reedsport, Ore. H. E. Hurd, of Chicago, has joined the force of the Wiley B. Allen Co., in the talking machine department. He has only recently returned from Rome, Italy, where he was confidential clerk to the American Military Attache, Colonel Buckey, during the war. The Wax-Wilson Co., distributing agents tor "Tone Clear," are very much gratified with the result of their advertising campaign in The World, which has brought orders and inquiries from all over the United States and Canada. Mr. Wax says they have made some very fine connections through the advertisement. The wholesale Victrola department of Sherman, Clay & Co. has a new local manager, Elmer B. Hunt, who has been with the San Francisco house for twenty-seven years and was, until his recent promotion to the position he now occupies, assistant to General Manager Andrew G. McCarthy, of San Francisco. Mr. Hunt's offices are in the Blake McFal] Building, at 45 Fourth street. Mr. Hunt's thorough knowledge of the Victrola business makes him a fitting successor to Charles H. Carder, former manager of the department. Cass Altschuler, representing Walter S. Gray, of San Francisco, is selling phonograph accessories to the trade in Portland this week. Mr. Altschuler says that business is growing by leaps and bounds. Paul B. Norris, who for several years has been with the Wiley B. Allen Co., in Portland, and who has gained for himself the reputation of being one of the best salesmen on the coast and a famous "closer," will look after the outside trade for awhile. A beautiful Art Kraft talking machine is on display in the window of the McCormick Music Co. A dark finished reed case makes a very attractive machine. It is furnished with an electric motor. E. B. Hyatt, of the Hyatt Talking Machine Co., has returned from the beach where he has been during the summer. Business is very good for this time of the year, said Mr. Hyatt. He has accumulated a fine lot of stock and expects a splendid fall trade. The Remick Song Shop is making a big success of its new talking machine department. Columbia Grafonolas are sold, the demand for them continues and the supply on hand is taxed to meet this demand. The McCormick Music Co., Inc., is the name given to the old Columbia Grafonola Shop. S. J. McCormick is manager and will carry pianos as well as talking machines. Mr. McCormick has secured a good lease, has a line location, capable assistants and is thoroughly well acquainted wLh the business of which he is the head and which he will no doubt make a big success. Tom J. Cooney, who for sixteen years has been a faithful employe of the Columbia Co., will be in charge of the stock and repair department of the McCormick Music Co., Inc. The Columbia and Victor machines are carried by this house. A fine lot of Brunswick talking machines has been received by Wheeler Dodds, manager of the talking machine department of Edwards Furniture Store. There is a big difficulty, however, in getting enough Victors, and records are slow in coming in. Mr. Dodds has just returned from a trip to Roseburg and other points in the Willamette Valley. Very interesting ads of the Brunswick phonograph are published in the local papers by the Powers Furniture Co. J. H. Wheeler, of Petersburg, Alas.; P. C. Mc(Continiicd on page 114) The Wooden ToneArm Exclusive Territory Can Be Had — Address The Patented March 5, 1918 Is recognized by manufacturers of the highest class talking machines as the ideal means for bringing out the tonal values in the record. We have especially treated the wood in our tone-arms for tone qualities, wooden tone-arm is a strong sel ling point in talk ing machine sales. Can be had in all finishes. Sample $6. QUANTITY PRICES ON APPLICATION MANHATTAN PHONO PARTS CO., Inc. 145 West 45th Street New York City