The talking machine world (July-Dec 1920)

December 15, 1920 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 109 ifNILADELPHIA' and IPCALITX — Philadelphia, Pa., December 8.— Business in the month of November and the opening weeiv of December in the talking machine field in this city was very much better than the dealers had anticipated. It increased in volume as each week went on and the past week it has shown an activity that vras really very encouraging. It looks as if it was going to be an unusually good holiday season and dealers are getting new spirit aroused and expect to push things vigorously. Grafonola Week a Success The Columbia Co. transacted a most excellent J.^ovember business and the Grafonola Weeks which have been conducted throughout the territory have been most productive. These weeks have been arranged as a feature -all over the country and the Columbia people here state that if they have been as successful everywhere as in Philadelphia the company must be meeting with gratifying success. O. F. Jester, one of the Columbia Grafonola Week boomers in Ihe nearby territory, has just returned from a wonderful success up the Schuylkill Valley. His last town visited was Pottstown, where, with several assistants, he made a house-to-house canvass and the dealers were amazed at what the solicitors had accomplished when they received the returns. To Attend Sales Convention in New York J. D. Westervelt, who is known throughout this section as the "Columbia Man," has had a special invitation extended to him to be present at the Fourth Annual Sales Convention in New York, which will take place on January 5, 1921, and at which he has been invited to make an address on "What I See'iiT the Grafonola." Mr. Westervelt is one of the most en thusiastic Columbia men in this section and is thoroughly conversant with the talking machine business from every side. Among the recent Columbia visitors were: Mr. Dice, of the Charles F. Bear Co., York, Pa.; H. B. Newkirk, Salem, N. J.; Mr. Rosenthal, of the Metropolitan Co., Reading, Pa.; Mr. Winner, of Winner Bros., Williamsport, Pa.; W. B. Hill, Columbia dealer, Pottsville, Pa.; Mr. Goodman, of the Keystone Furniture Co., Lancaster, Pa.; Mr. Zerker, of the Regal Umbrella Co., York, Pa., and E. J. Youngjohns, of Norristown. Pa. The Columbia Girls' Club, known as the "Note the Notes Club," had a progressive novelty party on November 18 at the offices of the Columbia. Activity With Wanamaker At the Wanamaker talking machine department great activity is being shown and the management announces that stock is in very admirable shape and all they have to do from this on will be to fill in stock where any shortage occurs. The Wanamaker line consists of the Aeolian, Brunswick, Cheney, Edison, Pathe, Sonora and Victor, with the L'Artiste being sold in the down-stairs store. Manager U. G. Rowboth reports unusual success with the period types of Victor machines. He considers that business has been holding up very well, although he recognizes some big figures must be reached to cope with last year. The handsome Egyptian Hall at Wanamaker's has been filled with some of the handsomest of the talking machine models in stock and one is placed on the stage and is played daily with the grand organ; by this means crowds are being entertained with Christmas music. The depart ment has been attractively arranged with potted ferns and otherwise decorated for the holiday period. A recent visitor to the Wanamaker department was R. B. Miller, of the Wiley B. Allen Co., of San Francisco, Cal. Good Wishes for Mrs. Delabar Mrs. A. G. Delabar, who was, for a considerable time, the private secretary of two of the former Columbia managers, left Philadelphia at the end of November for Vancouver, B. C, where she will take a steamer for Japan. Mrs. Delabar will be met by her fiance, and later married in the Orient. She carries with her the very best wishes of all her friends in this city that she may have a very happy life in her new home in the Land of Flowers. Stores Putting on New Dress Piano Row, the home of the piano and talking machine industry in this city, is being treated to a new coat of paint. There are several prominent talking machine houses in this row, which is owned by the Girard Estate. The Estate has contributed $2,500 for the painting of the Row in a uniform color and work is now going on at the Widener Grafonola Shop and the Ludwig Piano Co., where the Emerson is handled extensively. Operatic Figures in Demand at Penn Co. The Penn Phonograph Co. has been enjoying a very satisfactory business in November and T. W. Barnhill, the head of the firm, believes that it is going to have a much better December than it had last year, and that the Victor Co. was gomg to be able to give them a much more liberal supply both of machines and (Continued on page 110) The Louis Buehn Company of PHILADELPHIA Sincerely wishes every member of the great Victor Industry — factory, jobber, retailer and clerk alike of Happines^s^ anb ^rosJperitp