The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1907)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 29 GETTING THE ORDER OUT TO=DAY. A Glimpse Behind the Scenes to Show How the Talking Machine Jobber Hustles to "Deliver the Goods" on Time and as Ordered. (Special to The Review.) Chicago. III., July 8, 1907. The talking machine jobber is a hustler. Never lose sight of the fact. If he were not a natural hustler he would never be a talking machine jobber at all, but would choose some other line of business, where the going was not so swift. The Chicago representative of The World was seized with a sudden desire, upon talking the matter of service over the other day with a wellknown dealer, to get an intimate inside view of a large jobbing establishment on their busy day. Here was a chance to frame up a new article on a subject that would interest every dealer. Accordingly he arranged to put in a couple of mornings at Lyon & Healy's on Victor and Edison order-filling days. This large establishment has for its motto, "Get the order out to-day," and some time ago published an interesting booklet shaped like a clock, which was intended to foster their reputation in this particular. Manager C. E. Goodwin explained that he has a trained-to-the-minute force of thirty-three men, most of whom have been with him for some time, and whose sole business is "getting the order out to-day." His system of order filling is one to which much time and thought have been devoted to make it as nearly perfect as may be. The earliest at which new Edison records may be started to the dealer is 8 a. m. of the 27th of the preceding month, and for the Victor records the limit is the morning of the 28th, or one day later than for the Edisons. The Lyon & Healy rule is to have the records packed and ready at 8 o'clock on the mornings of the 27th and the 28th, respectively. This calls for energetic measures, as the records reach the jobber only a day or so before that time. Night work, lots of it, is needed to get all orders out on time. In taking up the record orders, the straight orders (orders for the new records JOBBER EDISON AND ZONOPHONE MACHINES AND RECORDS SPECIALLY PREPARED PHONOGRAPH OIL ASK FOR OUR PRICES 192 NEW STYLE RECORD CABINETS IT WILL PAY YOU TO GET ON OUR MAILING LIST -194 VAN BUREN STREET CHICAGO LTON & healy's on VICTOR OKDEIl-FILUNQ DAY. only) are sorted out and filled first. The mixed orders calling for both new and stock records are held over until the last, and taken care of by two men working together, as they are the most difficult to fill and require greater care. On straight orders, an order is given to each order filler and he works on it alone, using a basket or tray for the records, each of which is examined closely for cracks and imperfections. He checks the items off as they are added and finally turns the complete order over to an inspector, who checks it back. Victor records are next passed to the wrapping counter, where they are again called back, after which they are carefully put in separate envelopes and placed on a truck SCENE AT LYON & HEALY'S ON EDISON OEDEE-FILLING DAY. for the shipping department, where they are packed and made ready for shipping. Edison records are sent direct to the packer after being checked as they do not require wrapping. They are called back in the same way. When a record happens to turn up missing there is no delay in the shipping department, as the order filler's name is stamped on the order and he is at once called upon to rectify the error. When an order calls for machines, horns or cabinets, a careful draw-off is made and the records stop at the next floor long enough to have these added. The complete order then proceeds to the shipping department. All repairs are enclosed in individual envelopes, which are sealed and labeled to show contents. Advertising matter is put in with the monthly record order, or sent in advance as preferred. A feature which contributes greatly to the speed with which record orders are filled is the convenient systematic arrangement of the record stock. Compartments are numbered consecutively to correspond with the numbers of records, and it is the work of only an instant to secure those wanted. All orders are filled with new, unused records. Lyon & Healy have an original plan for increasing the efficiency of their order filling department. An individual record is kept which shows the amount of goods handled, time occu pied and errors made. The "score" is kept on a large blackboard in the department and cash prizes are awarded for all-around efficiency. Since this plan was inaugurated some time ago there has been a large increase in the numbers of orders gotten out daily, and, best of all, a remarkable decrease in the number of errors. Manager Goodwin stated that Lyon & Healy do not claim to be infallible. However, an examination of the interesting score-board indicates that they are headed in that direction. It would hardly be fair to this firm, to whose courtesy your representative is indebted, to close this article without a word on the subject of their record stock. Their stockman, by the way, is quite a character. He is called "Lightning Tom" by his confreres, and earned this suggestive title by his active application of the Chicago slogan, "do it now." "Lightning Tom" was born and bred in the talking machine business— been at it all his life — and his employers are ready to back him against the whole field. Nothing delights him so much as to talk records, unless it is to shed his coat and get in the game or order day. He has the good sellers at his fingers' ends, and can tell you within one or two of his stock on almost every popular record in the Victor and Edison catalogs. With the exception of a few records that it is impossible to secure from the factories it is a very rare thing for "Lightning Tom" to be caught short. A dispatch from Toulon, France, says a parish priest in the Department of Var has utilized the phonograph in a novel fashion. Having at his disposal nobody to serve as an altar boy to make the necessary responses in the celebration of the mass, he uses a phonograph, into which he has previously spoken the sacramental words, and which is timed to make responses at the proper moments. IT'S ALL IN THE BALL THE NEW ALL METAL HORN CONNECTION THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN THE HORN AND MACHINE RETAILS AT 50 CENTS NEW MODEL HAS TAPERED BENT TUBE THAT FITS ALL HORNS Can be used on all Edison Phonographs and new style cylinder Graphophones. IMPROVES ANY MACHINE 100 PER CENT. Send lor Descriptive Circulars and Discounts to llie Trade CDmjlT INTRODUCTORY OFFER TO or EiLl/lL DEALERS Write for it To-Day KREILING & COMPANY INVENTOKS AND SOLE MANUFACTURERS 855 North 401li Ave, CHICAGO, ILL , U. S. A MR. JOBBER: If you have not received our new illustrated Catalogue, write for it to-day. Western Talking Maehlne and Supply Co. PILLBAHNER & FEINBERG, Proprietors "^^^fS^^oi^cS^^^" (> MADISON STREET, CHICAGO