The talking machine world (July-Dec 1928)

64 The Talking Machine World, New York, December, 1928 Goldberg Bros., Richmond, Named Freshman Distributor Will Cover Virginia and North Carolina — B. H. Hoffman Is Sales Manager of New Department — Reports Big Demand for Edison Radios and Combinations Richmond, Va., December 6. — Goldberg Bros. Co. has taken on the Freshman radio line, becoming distributor for it in Virginia and North Carolina. Heretofore this company has restricted itself to the distribution of phonographs which it will continue to handle. It manufactures and distributes the Lyric line, and is exclusive distributor in Southern territory for Artone portable phonographs. It announces the appointment of B. H. Hoffman as sales manager for its radio department. Harry J. Segal, who operates a music store in the vicinity of Seventeenth and Franklin streets, has opened a branch store at Second and Jackson streets which is handling the Lyric line of phonographs and Pathe records. This store is in charge of Irving Gary. P. J. Costello, manager of the Richmond branch office of the Edison Distributing Corp., distributor of the Edison line of phonographs, says that the combination machines which the company recently put on the market are going strong and that he is finding it difficult to meet the demand for them. The new individual radio sets are also popular with the trade, particularly in the Virginia territory. He recently Toledo, O., December 7. — Radio sales for the past month here were much larger than a year ago and the outlook for a big Christmas demand is very promising. The Lion Store Music Rooms, according to Wilber Markwood, assistant manager, are concentrating on 7-11 and 7-26 Victor combinations. Outside men are featuring the instruments as Christmas specials. Letters, telephone calls and personal visits are all a part of the regular prospect solicitations. In the Radio Shoppe volume is far above the 1927 volume for the three quarters of the year. The average value of a set sale this year is Perfected Electric Operation For Alternating or Direct Current Chassis and Cabinet Models 8-Tubes — Self-Contained Power Supply Write for prices and discounts or send for a sample for test PIERCE-AIRO, Inc. 123 Fourth Avenue New York City staged a display of the line in a ballroom of the Washington-Duke Hotel at Durham, N. C. Following are some of the new dealers added to his list: Young Motor Co., Smithfield, N. C; McLean Furniture Co., McLean, N. C. ; Gibson Co., Washington, D. C, and the Goldenberg department store, Washington, D. C. James K. Polk, Inc., has a new instrument on the market called the Panola. It comes in four models retailing from $95 to $175. A fifth model, retailing at a higher price than the others, is soon to be announced, according to Charles J. Rey, manager of the Richmond branch office of the company. The company also announces a new line of portables in four models, Plaboy, ParlorGrand, Concert and Polk President. The Graves Co., of Danville, which recently opened a branch store here at 23 West Broad street, is featuring the new Orchestrope. Manly B. Ramos, associated for some years with the Lee Piano Co., of Lynchburg, has come back home to assist his mother and two brothers, Burgess and Joe, run the music store here which was run for many years by his father, the late Manly B. Ramos. about $130, whereas last year it was $150. The electric set is dominating the field. Flightner Music Co., dealer in Columbia, Roister, Majestic and Steinite instruments, according to Frank Flightner, proprietor, is closing a much larger volume of radio and combination business than a year ago. The prospects for an excellent Christmas total never were brighter, he added. In order to care for the large number of trade-ins a nearby store has been secured where used sets are displayed. In the Polish section of the city two Columbia retailers are setting sales records with the new Columbia-Kolster combinations. The Atlas Book & Music Store, on Lagrange street, and H. Moccek, on Junction avenue, are the concerns. Each merchant is employing the rather unusual plan of renting the instruments for weddings, celebrations and events of which the Polish people have many. Often this rental amounts to considerable, for weddings usually last two or three days. Therefore, instead of paying the rental the bride and groom will purchase the instrument and apply the rental as a down payment. The plan has sold many machines, for Polish weddings are numerous, and music plays a leading part in the feast. The Sparton Radio Service Schools for dealers conducted by the Toledo Radio Co., at convenient points in their territory, were well attended, Chas. H. Womeldorff, president of the company, stated. The school opened at Defiance, O., where the meetings were held in the rooms of the Edison Co. Six service men attended. At Delphos, O., the sessions were conducted in the rooms of the F. Lehman Music Store and fourteen men were present. At Upper Sandusky, O., the meetings were attended by thirteen retailers and were held in the hotel. Twenty-four dealers and service men were present at the Toledo sessions, which were held in the board room of the Toledo Radio Co. All of the meetings were addressed by Kenneth Lee, service manager of the Sparks-Withington Co., maker of Sparton sets, who spoke on servicing sets, and by Everett Troup, district service man on the Equasonne circuit, its possibilities and advantages. At the J. W. Greene Co. radio sales continue to outstrip all previous records, according to W. W. Baillie, manager. The shortage of a number of makes has made it necessary for the house to purchase other lines in order to care for the growing demand for electric sets. The new Victor combination, automatic, 9-54 is attracting much attention. Brunswick combinations and radios, also the Sparton line, are displayed in an attractive holiday window in which the instruments are featured as Christmas gifts par excellence. Geo. S. Minter, manager of the B. S. Porter Sons Co., Findlay, O., general music house, died recently. He was associated with the Porter Co. for more than twenty years. The United Music Store, Victor, Columbia, Brunswick and Sparton retailer, is employing the testimonial form of selling in windows. That is, according to Harry L. Wasserman, proprietor, machines are shown and along with them cards state that Mr. Soandso chose this instrument for his home. With a Sparton radio set this card ran, "this Sparton combination is used personally by Maurice J. Francill, the radio wizard." The plan is producing many inquiries and selling instruments. The Whitney-Blaine-Wildermuth Co. is enjoying a large radio trade. The Lyric and Mohawk radio have been added here. A considerable assortment of Victor foreign records is carried here, these include Chinese, Yiddish, Polish, Hungarian and German. Miss Betty Caperon stated "Sonny Boy" is leading the popular discs. The Ulmer-Shell Radio Shop, New Washing • ton, O., Sparton and Majestic dealer, has experienced a large Fall radio trade and is looking forward to a holiday demand that will outstep any previous season. Jobbers' Costs Analysis An analysis of wholesalers' operating costs, recently conducted by the National Carbon Co., Inc., New York, through the co-operation of representative wholesalers in the electrical, hardware, automotive and drug fields, has been printed in pamphlet form for the benefit of the jobbing trade. This report covers the question of operating costs in exhaustive fashion. Leases Newark Showrooms McPhilbin-Keator, Inc., Kolster distributor, has leased the showroom at 252 Central avenue, Newark, N. J., to be used as a distributing center and showroom for Kolster radio. The Jamaica Music Store, Jamaica, L. I., N. Y., was recently incorporated at Albany with a capital stock of $10,000. Cesco Repeater For Repeating Phonograph Records A POPULAR CHRISTMAS NOVELTY. RETAIL PRICE $1. We would like to connect with a responsible distributor of phonograph accessories to market this device. Will give exclusive sale or will sell patents, to61s, etc., to someone in the industry. RAPID REPEATER COMPANY 260 Van Alst Ave. Long Island City Toledo Dealers Report Excellent Outlook for Holiday Business Radio Sales for November Far Ahead of Last Year — Lion Store Music Rooms Concentrate on Victor Combinations — Columbia-Kolster Combinations Sell Well