The talking machine world (Apr-June 1921)

April 15, 192! THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 107 GREATER CONFIDENCE EXISTS IN SAN FRANCISCO TRADE Agricultural Outlook Predicates Better Business — Music Trade Members Elect Officers — Hanson Branches Out — New Edison Dealers — Kantner Covers Trade by Airplane — News of Month San Francisco, Cal., April 5. — While there has been no material improvement in general business conditions in the last month, still there is evident in the trade a feeling of greater confidence. The agricultural outlook for the year, notwithstanding the uncertainty of export markets, is more encouraging than it has been on account of the recent big movement of prepared food products. With the large surplus stock reduced there will be a normal demand for fruits and other agricultural produce. General business conditions in California are practicallj' determined by the conditions in the country districts. Talking machine and record sales have been laggmg in the country dlistricts of late, though business in the large cities has held U'p fairly well. It is thought that there has been too much advertising of reduced prices to benefit the dealers A constant dwelling on price reductions has resulted, apparently, in unsettling the minds of prospective purchasers. What is needed is stable prices — uniform prices. The recent cut in Columbia records naturally stim ' ulated business in Columbia merchandise. The company advertised liberally in the newspapers and several San Francisco concerns featured Columbia merchandise prominently for a while. N. J. Wilcox, manager of the local office of the Columbia Co., is receiving the congratulations of the trade upon his mariiage this month to the beautiful Miss Eleanor Lee, the daughter of a well-known pioneer family of California. The Stradivara Phonograph Co., of Portland, Ore., has leased a fine store location on Powell street, between Post and Sutter streets, and will maintain here a retail branch for San Francisco. The store has been handsomely remodeled. The Music Trades Association of Northern California was officially ushered into existence on March 15 at a dinner at the Commercial Club, San Francisco. About 200 representatives of the piano, talking machine, sheet music and small goods trades attended the meeting and the majority joined the new organization. The dues are from $30 a month for the largest concerns down to one dollar a month for associate members. The following were elected officers of the Association: George R. Hughes, of the Wiley B. Allen Co., president; Byron Mauzy, first vice-president; Shirley Walker, of Sherman, Clay & Co., second vice-president, and the directors, in addition to the above: George Q. Chase, president of Kohler & Chase; R. A. Wise, of Clark Wise & Co.; F. A. Levy, of the Cali fornia Phonograph Co.; Irving C. Franklin, of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.; H. C. Johnson, of Leo Feist, Inc., and B. Goldmark, of the Oakland Phonograph Co. The directors have been empowered to select a treasurer and a secretary. P. S. Kantner, of the Columbia Co., covered the northern California territory by airplane this mionth, which is certainly an up-to-date method of conducting a sales campaign. He dropped circulars advertising Columbia merchandise from the clouds and some of these were in the form of orders for Columbia records. The lucky ones will thus be able to add to their record libraries without cost. H. C. Hanson, who has long conducted a small goods department in the sitore of the Hauschild't Music Co., has decided to expand into the general music business on his own account. He has leased suitable quarters at 137 Powell street, and will probably have the store remodeled and ready for occupancy by May 1. Mr. Hanson is to carry pianos, talking machines, sheet music and his regular line of small goods and musical merchandise of all classes. There will be several sound-proof talking machine record demonstration rooms. Byron Mauzy and Clark Wise & Co. have both jioined the ranks of exclusive Victor dealers. When present stocks are sold out they will carry only Victor merchandise. Rosa Raisa, the renowned dramatic soprano, and her husband, Giacomo Rimini, both exclusive Vocalion artists, will be in San Francisco the latter part of April with the Chicago Grand Opera Co. The new red records of the Vocalion are making a fine impression on the Coast trade and the new upright period styles of the Vocalion phonographs are certainly a delight to the eye. H. M. Hull, Pacific Coast manager of the Aeolian Co., is much pleased with the progress made in this territory, especially in the South. The City of Paris talking machine department features the Vocalion products with signal success in this city. Herman Heller, leader of the symphony orchestra of the California Theatre, paid a fine compliment to Caruso this month, when he had his orchestra accompany the famous Caruso record, No. 88063, for a week to crowded houses. Over 60,000 people heard the record and went into ecstasies over the performance. The record was played on one of the beautiful William and Mary period Viotrolas, the machine being loaned for the occasion by Sherman, Clay & Co. Victor Dealers You see an "ad" in a magazine or newspaper and it "sells" you. But by the time you reach a store where the product is on sale you've forgotten all about the advertisement. You see a show card in a dealer's window and it "sells" you. You go right inside the store, while your interest is hot, and make a purchase. The moral? Don't let another month go by without subscribing for the USOSKIN VICTOR MONTHLY WINDOW DISPLAY SERVICE, manufactured by USOSKIN LITHO, Inc. 230 WEST 17th ST., NEW YORK CITY (Send for aample set and further details) W. G. Gaston, factory representative of the Victor Co. in Oregon and Washington, is visiting the Sherman, Clay & Co. home office in San Francisco this week. He reports a business improvement in the Northwest. It is not large in volume, but it is bound to expand to larger proportions. O. L. May, the California and Nevada factory representative of the Victor Co., is about to leave on an extended sales-promoting tour over his entire territory. Miss Donzella Cross, of the Victor educational department, has arrived in San Francisco. She is conducting music appreciation work in the schools and colleges from Los Angeles up the Coast at the present time. Among the new Edison dealers availing themselves of the services of J. Addison Clark, of the local office of Thos. A. Edison, Inc., in preparing special plans to suit the individual requirements of the business, are the Spaulding Dry Goods Co., Susanville; the W. M. Hefton Drug Co., Hanford; the J. D. Mariner Music House, Reno, Nevada, and the Smith Music Co., Vallejo. The plans and specifications for a complete Edison phonograph department are furnished free to dealers if they so desire. INCREASE DELIVERY FACILITIES Westbrook, Me., April 6. — The firm of Geary & Johnson, Victor retailers in this city, report very favorably as to general business conditions, and these progressive dealers recently purchased a new auto truck to take care of their suburban trade. This truck is attractively decorated and is being used to advantage to develop new business. SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW IN TONE ARMS THE FLETCHER "STRAIGHT" STRAIGHT INSIDE— Taper Outside BALL BEARINGS THROUGHOUT NEW DESIGN NEW CONSTRUCTION Yes, it is universal and equipped with the Regular Fletcher Reproducer, giving the same natural tone quality as heretofore. Made in two IcDgtht, S'A' and 9 '2" SEND FOR PRICES AND TERMS FLETCHER-WICKES COMPANY 6 EAST LAKE ST. CHICAGO