The talking machine world (July-Dec 1925)

November 15. 1925 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 169 JOHN H.WiL30N,ri9n^i 324 WASHINGTON ST.,BOSTON,MASS, iflOSTON ^ENGLAND New Instruments Hold Center of the Business Stage in New England Territory Orthophonic Victrola and Brunswick Panatrope Expected to Play Important Part in Business During Coming Winter Months— Trade Optimistic as Business Betterment Is Felt — The News Boston, Mass,, November 9— Tlie month has been significant in the talking machine line for the distinct interest that has been taken in two new propositions, boUi of which have been already exploited in tlie columns of The World, Reference is made to the new Orthophonic Victrola and tlic new Panatrope, the first named put out by the Victor Co., the otiicr by the Brunswick Co. These arc the outstanding events of the month of November, for only now, one may say, are these instruments in immediate touch with the public. Both arc destined to play a big part in the Winter's business, and more especially in the holiday trade, for they are to be pushed to the fore as they both deserve to be. Many View Orthophonic The new Orthophonic Victrola was the sensation of the week in Boston, beginning on Monday, November 2. Earlier, two weeks ago in fact, a private demonstration was given this unusual instrument at the Oliver Ditson Co.'s store, the directors' room on the upper floor being used for this purpose. This demonstration was primarily for the representatives of the press, and the result was that the next day most of the newspapers gave a very intelligent description of the instrument. The demonstration was under the immediate direction of James A. Frye, general representative of the Victor Co., and Walter W. Clark, from the Victor Co.'s plant, also was in attendance. Thereafter there was marked interest in the new Orthophonic Victrola on the part of the public which reached its zenith beginning on Monday, November 2, when crowds of people visited the various Victor warcrooms to hear this instrument, good advertising meanwhile in the daily papers going a long way toward directing attention to the pleasures to be anticipated. Thus on the day mentioned were the various Victor distributing places filled with interested listeners. At the C. C. Harvey Co.'s warerooms provision was early made for a large crowd and rows of seats were installed in the main lobby of the store. These were filled for every demonstration which was given liourly throughout the day. The same was true of Henderson's farther down on Boylston street, where fully twenty people were gathered at almost any time of the day. The same was true of the Oliver Ditson Co.'s warerooms, Vocalion Hall, A. M. Hume's. M. Steinerl & Sons and other places. It is a most encouraging fact that at almost every wareroom the Interest developed into bona fide orders for the new instrument, so that the sum total of sales on even the first day was something quite extraor Brunswick Sales Grow Manager Harry Spencer, of the Brunswick headquarters in Kingston street, is highly elated over the prospects for the Fall and Winter, and tlic great trouble he is experiencing is in getting goods, dealers all clamoring for certain types of which there should be plenty at this time. A stimulus to record distribution will be effected here this month, for on November 9 Sigrid Oncgin is to give a concert at Symphony Hall, and there is to be another concert, this by Isa Kremer, here on November 29. As both of these are Brunswick artists, it follows there will be a big demand for their records immediately after these concerts. Robert F. Bcnslnger, treasurer of the Brunswick Co., was a Boston visitor for several days, making his headquarters with Manager Spencer. H. H. Sheldon, formerly of the Baltimore branch of the Brunswick Co., has joined Manager Spencer's branch here in Boston and will tnke the territory south of the city, this lo in Sell C^iUl Records and Satisfy the Rhythmic Life of the Country Your store will draw new customers and satisfy the old ones if there are QKetv Records to sell them Inquire for Particulars Regardinq an Okeh Licensed Dealer General Phonograph Corporation of New England 126 Summer Street, Boston, Ma«s. dude southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Manager Spencer has now got the interior of his Kingston street quarters quite done over, and, with a rearrangement of partitions, he has been able to secure more ropm in the main office, at one side of which he has built a small stage which can be used to advantage for demonstration purposes, in particular for showing the Panatrope. Boom in Coliunbia Sales Manager Parks, of the New England department of the Columbia Co., stales that the October business has been actually wonderful, and it has been necessary to add several employes to the shipping force. "Strange as it may appear," says Mr. Parks, "these dealers who have been selling the Harmony records three for a dollar report greatly increased sales of Columbia records and a larger net profit on Harmony records. As one dealer said, 'we can sell three Harmony records for one dollar quicker and more often than we can one for fifty cents. It gives us the same profit and it brings the customers to our store and we always sell them something else.' "More out-of-town dealers have visited our branch during this month than during the nine months previous. They like our new records, our business policies and, above all, they have great confidence in the statement made by our vice-president. Mr, Fuhre." Mr, Parks says that after January 1. 1926, the company will introduce a line of Columbia Instruments which have been developed in its own laboratories and which, the company feels assured, will meet with the approval of critical experts. Speaking of the new catalog, Mr. Parks referred to the Irish one which contains the best collection of real Irish music that, he says, has ever before been ofTcred. As for the French catalog, he says it is composed of the best selling records from the Columbia and the Apex catalogs, with several new recordings never before released. Then there Is the Celebrity catalog, listing a wealth of musical gems by world-famous artists and organizations such as Feli^ Weingartncr. Sir Hamilton Horty and Sir Henry Wood. They all like the Columbia's 10 per cent record return privilege. Mr. Fleming, the Columbia Co.'s assistant manager at this office, made a trip recently through northern Vermont and New Hampshire and renewed relations with a number of old accounts in addition to securing several very desirable new ones. G. P. Donnelly made a trip through Maine and secured a large volume of business. "Considering the many things we have to make us happy at this time," said Manager Parks, "there is no wonder we arc so enthusiastic over the future of the Columbia," Walter Gillis Takes Charge Walter Gillis took hold a few days ago of his new venture, that is, the management of Vocalion Hall at 190 Boylston street, and on the opening day he was visited by a small army of friends who wished to congratulate him on his new connection. Mr. Gillis has been head of his own store at 429 Boylston street for several years, having organized as soon as he finished with the Henry P. Miller Co., where he was head of the Victor department. Adler-Royal in Strong Demand Arthur C. Erisman reports a rapidly growing interest in the radio propositions which he is now carrying, one of these being the AdlerRoyal line, which he has just taken on. This instrument combines the desirable features of the talking machine and the radio, and Mr. Erisman says that the only difficulty just now (C'intiimcd on [<agc 170)