The talking machine world (July-Dec 1920)

108 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD August 15, 1920 Our Planning and Service Department will aid you in rearranging your present store or in completely planning a new one. Complete new Departments or additions can be easily furnished by us in time for the Fall Business. Plans and Estimates promptly submitted. VanVeen OMPANY INC. 12 YEARS OF STUDY JND EXPERIENCE IN BUI EDI NG AND PLANNING MUSIC STORES Hearing ^(S)MS •^coig)]^cKS' GbuNTERS • EXECUTIVE OFFICE 47-49 WEST 34th STREET NEW YORK CITY SALES OFFICE 1711 CHESTNUT STREET PHILADELPHIA ROOM 706 7 WEST MADISON STREET CHICAGO 1 nan WEALTHY NORTHWEST GETS READY FOR BIG FALL TRADE Noticeable Tendency Among Dealers to Concentrate on One or Two Lines — Plan Reunion of Aeolian Dealers in Northwest — Poor Transportation a Problem — New Brunswick Dealers Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., August 4.— Preparations for a tremendous Fall trade are being made by the distributors of talking machines in the Northwest. Such houses as are not fully stocked with complete lines in all models, linishes and woods are bending every efifort to obtain a strategic position for handling the Autumnal onslaught. Estimates of great crop yields made by the Government experts are amply borne out by the local reports of bankers and merchants. The yield will be immense not only throughout Minnesota and the Dakotas, but Montana promises to surprise the world with its showing as a grain State. A movement on the part of some dealers to concentrate on one line of talking machines, making that line one of the well-known standard makes, has been noted for several months. Retail dealers who took on several additional lines during the war period when the factories were compelled to restrict their output now seem willing to change their poHcies. Sometimes it is not an easy matter to let go, as a large stock of instruments was bought outright. The greatest Pathe distribution in the history of the Northwest now is under way, says Jay H. Wheeler, manager of the Pathe department of G. Sommers & Co. They have a full stock of machines and records, and with the roadmen turning in orders at a most encouraging rate Mr. Wheeler is expecting to see all his former records fall before 1920's totals. The branch distributing office at Billings, Mont., is expected to display a wonderful increase in business during the coming Fall. A reunion of Aeolian dealers in the Northwest territory is to be held in Minneapolis about September 9 and 10, under the joint arrangement of the Aeolian Co. and the Stone Piano Co. The main purpose is to discuss salesmanship and publicity methods and to obtain information as to the new Vocalions and the new records. Among the speakers will be W. H. Alfring, general manager of the wholesale department. New York: H. B. Levy, Western manager, Chicago, and five or six othecs of the company's experts. An illustration of the nice (?) adjustment of the country's transportation system is supplied by George A. Mairs, manager of the Victrola department in the W. J. Dyer & Bro. establishment. On the last day of July he informed The World correspondent that a carload of July Victor records had not yet arrived, but that the August records already were on hand and had been distributed. The Victrola supply has been greatly improved during the past year. Air. Mairs states that he is in position to take care of the old patrons fairlj well, but is not in position to accept new accounts, although many desirable ones are obtainable. The Edison pilgrims from the Minneapolis zone, fifty-five in all, have returned from the Chicago convention with a great many new ideas on how to conduct a modern phonograph shop. The gathering proved a highh' instructive institution and undoubtedl}' the efforts of the Edison management will be reflected in commercial returns. Laurence H. Lucker, who conducts the Edison distribution in this zone, looks upon the general situation with much complacency. He finds the demand for instruments and records as keen as it ever has been, but with much greater facilities for filling orders. The increased output of machines at the Pullman, 111., and New London, Wis., plants has been of inestimable value to the retailers in the Middle West, as they are insured fairly preempt deliveries in spite of the general traffic congestion. Thirty-five new accounts were established in the Minneapolis territory during July by the phonograph department of the Brunswick-BalkeCollender Co. through E. L. Kern, Northwestern director. Instruments are coming along from the factories in a fair way, although delays often are unavoidable. The Hart Swalstead Jewelry Co., Minot, 'N. D., has opened an exclusive Brunswick shop with four booths, and Mr. Kern has just shipped a carload of Brunswick supplies to start the new venture. The Burr Albright furniture house, Minneapolis, also has opened an exclusive Brunswick shop with three booths and will supply the Northeast Minneapolis sector. George M. Nye, head of the travelers, recently has added HofT Heiberg. H. L. Davies, H. E. Burgoyne and W. A. Plummer to his stafT. Phonograph purchasers in Minneapolis who buy on the installment plan will be required to pay interest on deferred payments. R. O. Foster, who was delegated to interview the Minneapolis dealers on the proposition of taking united action on this matter, reported that he had obtained thirty-six signatures to the pledge and that these signatures included all the department stores. It was the refusal of the department store managers to accede to the plans that spilled a similar movement two years ago, but now all is clear for business methods. It is understood that the S.t. Paul committee is meeting with good success and that all the dealers will be cheerfully signed to the agreement in a short time. VALUE OF MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE It is possible to enjoy music without knowing anything of musical history, but such knowledge would give you an entirely different perspective of the art. It is like seeing your home from an airplane; you see the same old thing from a new angle. We can organize all we want, but it is the man behind the organization that counts.