The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1907)

THE TALKING MACHINE WOULD. HOPKINS A GREAT TRAVELER. Returns for Short Stay in New York — Will Make Headquarters in Buenos Ayres — Interesting Chat With The Review — About Conditions in Various Countries in Europe. After an absence of ten years, with the exception of two or three hurried trips on special business, Charles J. Hopkins, of the Columbia Co., returned to New York, February aboard the "Kronprinz," of the North German Lloyd Line, bringing his wife, a Russian lady, her first trip to this side, and the baby. Mr. Hopkins has done more traveling and been connected with more branches of the Columbia Phonograph Co., General, than any other man In their service; in fact, he is said to be the only talking machine traveler who ever circumnavigated the globe in the interest of the business. He was manager of the St. Louis, Mo., office CnAEMS ,T. HOPKINS. when drafted into the foreign corps, becoming assistant manager of the Paris branch, where he stayed a year and a half. Then he went to England, from whence he started on his aroundthe-world tour, taking fifteen months, and during which he visited every country of the two hemispheres, excepting South America. On returning Mr. Hopkins became manager of the Columbia's house in Russia, with headquarters at St. Petersburg. Later he was transferred to be assistant manager in London, Eng., where he remained until ordered to report to the home office in New York, preparatory to going to South America, sailing about April 1, where he will be the general representative of the Columbia interests, with headquarters in Buenos Ayres, A. R. Chatting informally with The World anent his experience abroad, Mr. Hopkins said: "In Europe the talking machine trade is booming. Business is carried on along different lines than in the States. The big jobbers, or factors, as they are termed over there — especially in Great Britain — carry immense stocks of machines and records, one concern in London always having 250,000 records — cylinders and discs of every recognizv..d make — in stock. These factors act as a go-between for the manufacturer and the trade. The relations here have no parallel. Competition differs also. For example, price is protected or maintained in England only, elsewhere it. is an open market for everything and everybody. You may imagine the result as compared with American methods. Quality keeps up, nevertheless, but the bulk of the business is on cheap grade goods. Higher prices are realized, however, on the better lines; in fact, the demand for the finer class of ' records is rapidly increasing. "In Great Britain the growth of the cylinder business is marked, while in the continental countries — France, Spain, Germany, Russia, etc. —the preference is for the disc. Russia will have only discs. In the warm countries of South America the cylinder record is affected by the climate, and in less than a year they become mouldy instead of moulded. (This little joke on the side.) It is only in Mexico that cylinders hold their own. What occasions surprise to those acquainted with the European trade is the slow.ftes§. with which records are. put on the market here. In Europe records are 'mastered' and stock is ready for the trade in a third of the time taken liy I he Amei'ii an manufacturer. "Another thing, only twelve recoi'ds are listed monthly l)y the maker in England, and 50 per cent, of the business is from the monthly parcels. An exchange scheme, on a basis of three to one, is effective usually once a year, but the annual clearing up is in the spring. There is no demand abroad for any other than American machines, excepting cheap goods of German and Swiss make, and their sale is becoming insignificant. You can buy a machine for as low as $1 of tliis kind, but Ihey cut no figure. There are no scheme or premium goods in the European market, and an attempt to work up an outlet for such grades in connection with publications has not met with much success. "The Columbia Phonograph Co. have made great headway throughout Great Britain by establishing additional distributing depots or branch stores in Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff and other places. The future of the business is exceedingly bright. Am I glad to gei back? Well, you know I was from Missouri once upon a time." RAFFLES BROUGHT THE CROWDS. A New Brunswick Dealer Struck on a Happy Publicity Idea Which Brought Gratifying Results — It Is Worthy of Emulation. We have received from R. Montalvo, Jr., a hustling talking machine dealer, of 209 Neilson street, New Brunswick, N. J., full details of an advertising scheme he worked successfully not long ago, and which he describes as the cheapest advertising he ever obtained. The plan hinged upon the Raffles game, a $50 Columbia graphophone being offered as a prize to whoever should discover the mysterious one, say to him: "You are the mysterious Mr. Raffles fi"om Montalvo's Music Shop," and incidentally have in their possession a late edition of one of the local papers. The newspaper referred to was not interested in the scheme directly, but in consideration of having possession of their paper made one of the requirements of the winner published each day one and two column articles regarding the progress of the chase. In each article Mr. Montalvo's name, the location of his store and the Columbia graphophone were frequently mentioned, and as the affair lasted eight days before Mr. Raffles was caught, Mr. Montalvo got more direct advertising, and that of a most interesting nature, 13 than he could have purchased for many timcB the original cost of the machine. From all appearances, the f-xheme 1b well worthy of adoption by talking machine dealers In other localities who appreciate flrKt-clasa publicity. HERE'S A WONDERFUL MACHINE Will Write Letters in Character from Dictated Matter and Will Report Letters Automatically, Making Two Records at Once. A Berlin firm announces that they will shortly introduce to the notice of the American public the latest wonder in modern office machinery. It is in the form of a machine that will not only v/rite letters in character from dictated matter, but will report lectures automatically and make two records at the same time. One record li permanent, and is written in legible characters, like typewritten manuscript, while the other letter is in effect a phonograph record that can be reproduced at any time. The records are both made on paper and can be reproduced at th« same time. For instance, when a speech Is being reported by the machine, the part that reproduces the human voice can be put in operation the same time it is writing, so that an editor may sit by it and omit any parts that he does not want to appear in print. At the same time the record is not injured in the least, and may be put away for future use. For reporting cases in court it is a most wonderful device, for the exact words of the witnesses in the manner expressed are recorded, and when the record is made matter that is stricken out by the judge need not be written in the transcript, although it is recorded and may be used if necessary at any future period. Vve anxiously await this marvel. GOOD ADVERTISING. A f50 cash prize offered by the Victor Talking Machine Co., in their recent advertising competition, has been awarded to the M. Steinert fi Sons Co.'s branch store in Fitchburg, Mass. The Victor Co.'s "II Trovatore" records wera u^ed in a concert given in the spacious Steinert warerooms, and the event was advertised and written up in the newspapers in an unusually interesting and successful manner. A talking machine department has been opened in the Oakland, Cal., branch of the Wiley B. Allen Co., by W. J. Foltz. Enveloped Victor Records are as clean and perfect as when they left the factory presses. We are positively the only distributors carrying their entire stock in dust and scratch proof envelopes. The Victor Talking Machine Co. have just given you a chance to get rid of your damaged records. We know that you do not want to repeat the process of accumulating damaged stock, so we are sure you will send your orders to the ONLY distributors who can supply you with new, enveloped, perfect records. The Rudolph Wurlitzcr Co., v'ctqr distribitors CIINCIIVrVATI, O. CHICAGO, lUU.