The talking machine world (July-Dec 1922)

August 15, 1922 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 115 a MS ixuiuic .Design Zimmerman -Bitter Construction Co Record Rack 325-327 East 94th Street Specialists in Sound-P roof Hearing Rooms — Record Racks — Service Counters and General Store Equipment for the Talking Machine Trade WHY EXPERIMENT? Let us figure on your needs — we can save you money OFFICES, FACTORY AND WAREROOMS : CINCINNA T Dealers Slow in Placing Orders for Stock — Industrial Differences Hurt Trade — Extra Efforts to Get Orders Well Rewarded Cincinnati, O., August 7. — Little change, either of advance or slump, is noted in the talking machine market in this city. Throughout the month sales of records at most houses were very fair — as good as could be expected, according to dealers — but sales of machines were quiet. Jobbers note unwillingness on the part of retailers to ''stock up" until considerably later in the season, not caring to burden themselves with large orders until assured that business conditions justify large orders. The tendency is to let the jobbers carry the goods and the risk. This attitude is due in part, according to C. H. North, secretary of the Ohio Talking Machine Co., jobbers in Victor goods, to a remote fear that prices may drop in all lines. This, Mr. North says, is not likely. The tendency in the general manufacturing policy, he says, is not to decrease prices, but to augment the value of the goods sold, either in appearance, durability or tone quality. For instance, he points out the plan of the Victor interests to gold-plate all metal parts of machines which hitherto have been plated in silver or nickel and to enlarge and amplify sound boxes in order to deepen tone volume. As evidence of this latter tendency he cites the new No. Ill Model Victrola, to sel! at $225, which embraces both improvements mentioned above. J. R. Jones, Indianapolis representative of the Ohio Talking Machine Co., reports a very fair business in and about that city. There is just now a good business in console types. Mr. North doubts that the popularity of the console type will continue to be greater than that of the upright style. The upright, he points out, is much more convenient in most homes, inasmuch as it gracefully occupies any corner, whereas the console type is effective as a furnishing only when placed against a side wall, where it requires greater space. A. H. Bates, manager of the Ohio Talking Machine Co., visited Lexington, Ky., over the last week-end. The trip was for the purpose of discussing business with Mr. Rowbotham, formerly manager of the Baldwin Victrola Shop in Cincinnati, who has established a store at Lexington. . Mr. Bates and Mr. Rowbotham formerly were associated in the talking machine department of Wanamaker's at Philadelphia, where Mr. Bates was manager and Mr. Rowbotham assistant. Industrial Differences Hurt Trade The Edison jobbing house here, the New Edison Co., reports a fair business done over the Cincinnati territory, which includes parts of four States, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. A. E. Oelman, manager of the New Edison Co. here, said that business was progressing as well as disorganized labor conditions and the dull season would permit, and that at such a time when the differences were composed in the industrial world, both general and local, and the usual Fall business opened up, he thought trade would show a general increase. J. F. VanCourt, of the Otto Grau Piano Co., said: "Business in talking machines and records has been fair. There is nothing in the trade to brag about and until general agreement is made among labor and employers and the hot weather leaves little will be doing." Going After Country Business The Baldwin Piano Co. has been doing a fair business during the last month. Especially was an increase noted in record business, since the inauguration of a new forty-eight-hour approval plan, whereby customers may take their chosen records home, play them and decide in the leisure of two days which most appeal to them. Heretofore the plan has been to refuse the return of rejected records, and the new arrangement already has made a hit with Baldwin customers. Also, the Baldwin Victrola Shop is scouring the territory round about Cincinnati for sales. Two experienced men are touring the nearby territory with a truck, carrying with them three or four Victrolas and an adequate supply of records. These machines and records they sell even as the itinerant bookman in Morley's "Parnassus on Wheels" hawked his books. The plan has resulted in a surprising amount of cash business, and other business as well. At the Aeolian Co. store, West Fourth street, business has been very fair during July, and the belief is expressed there that as soon as conditions are somewhat revised, probably in the Fall of this year, trade will pick up at once. Steinway Departments Under Way H. E. Browning, formerly manager of the Victrola department of the H. & S. Pogue Co., now manager of the talking machine department of Steinway & Sons, dealing in Brunswick products, reported a quiet business during July. "The time," said Mr. Browning, "is not right for good business and I hardly care to predict when business will be good. Conditions here and every Digplay Counter New York City where are in too much of a turmoil for even the most experienced observer to predict with any degree of certainty what will come next. We only hope — and work." Miss Yates, who succeeded Mr. Browning as head of the Victrola department of the H. & S. Pogue Co., plans to install the flag system of classification of standard records, devised by A. H. Bates, of the Ohio Talking Machine Co. Some Good Window Displays The ingenuity of Howard L. Chubb, of the Chubb-Steinberg Music Shop, East Sixth street, in the matter of clever window displays seems to be inexhaustible. His windows are quite the most attractive of any like displays in the city, and one never passes the store without noting a crowd of interested persons viewing the window. The latest innovation is a very lifelike camping scene, with tent, campfire, utensils and all equipment of the vacationist camper. This display is employed to exploit smaller types of Victrolas for camp use and also a clever device which, when the record is played through, silently and instantaneously throws the needle back again to the beginning. Mr. Chubb also is specializing in radio equipment, of which he sells considerable and exploits with like good window displays. J. E. Henderson Promoted J. E. Henderson, of the Brunswick selling division in Atlanta, Ga., has been called to take the position of sales manager of the local branch, succeeding Stanley Reis, who has been promoted to director of sales of all the products manufactured by the Brunswick Co. Mr. Henderson was formerly connected with the local branch and was sent from here to Atlanta. Before associating with the company he was connected with the local Columbia headquarters. L. L. SPENCER VACATIONING Lloyd L. Spencer, sales manager of the Silas E. Pearsall Co., New York, Victor wholesaler, is at present away on his Summer vacation. Mr. Spencer has left no forwarding address, but it is understood that he is somewhere in the heart of Virginia, making some record scores in golf and taking a well-deserved rest. The Milton L. Love Music Co., of Denver, Col., has moved from 1519 Larimer street to larger quarters at 1608 Larimer street. MOTORS Double spring, plays three 10-inch records without rewinding. Nickel plated, worm drive. Complete with all accessories. Sample $3.25. Special prices in quantity lots. Motor suitable for portable machine. Pleasing Sound Phonograph Co. Manufacturers — Jobbers 204 East 113th St., New York City Jobbing Territory Open PREDOMINATES 50* RECORD FIELD k. A