The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1907)

62 TALKING MACHINE MEN OPTIMISTIC. Careful Inquiry Among Manufacturers and Jobbers Reveals the Fact That Holiday Trade Will Not Fall So Far Behind Last Year as Expected — It Has Been Later in Starting, but Will Continue Later in the New Year. Careful inquiry among jobbers and manufacturers reveals the comforting fact that the holiday trade will not fall behind last year's high mark to any appreciable extent. While it has been late in starting — due to the monetary disorganization— rather was under way when it was checked, it again bloomed out last week and is certain to be maintained until the close of the regular season. Jobbers in the East are sanguine sales will go much beyond the record before the close of the year, and the western trade cannot see it in any other light. F. K. Dolbeer. general manager of sales, National Phonograph Co., said: "For a few days I must confess to feeling a trifle disturbed over the financial situation, but now I am extremely optimistic regarding trade for the remainder of the year. Our road salesmen were instructed to report conditions exactly as they found them in their respective territory, so we could get a line on business. These statements are very encouraging. In the far West the outlook is especially bright; so much so that jobbers are anticipating payments. Collections are equal to a year ago, as I find in going over the accounts. The company have h^id a few cancellations and some shipments are deferred, but a number of orders are accompanied by instructions to rush the goods. The factory is up on the delivery of machines, but slightly behind on records, owing to the exchange proposition. There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that trade will be brisk and strong." J. T. Williams, general manager of the Victor Distributing & Export Co., said: "Business has improved very much during the past week, and our holiday trade prornises to be heavy. Our reports from the West are of an excellent tenor, but to my way of thinking the South is the coming section for business development." C. V. Henkel, president and general manager of the General Phonograph Supply Co., said: "Undoubtedly business has assumed a brighter aspect. Our inquiries for goods have increased, and the holiday trade, now getting into swing, looks very promising. The financial strain is disappearing and collections are improving." J. Newcomb Blackman, of the Blackman Talking Machine Co., said: "Yes, business has picked up this past week. . October's sales went ahead of the same month last year, and November will certainly equal November, 1906. Under the circumstances I call this very satisfactory. Collections might be better. Many of our dealers who are tied up in the suspended banks must be treated with leniency; or even if they are running behind some on their accounts, that is, those who have had previous good records. I find other jobbers are pursuing the same course, and to me this seems the only policy to follow. On the whole, however, w.ith underlying conditions sound, the talking machine business cannot help but regain whatever it may have lost during the financial flurry, and perhaps a little bit more. The accumulation of record stock that cannot be moved, excepting possibly with an axe, is the live question of the day. Its avoidance or minimizing is a problem the manufacturers should do their best to aid in solving." A. P. Petit, general manager of the Talking Machine Supply Co., said: "During the last ten days business has been simply fine — new trade. Let me tell you the holiday sales at retail will be surprisingly large. The live dealer should not be caught short of stock in any line. I have been keeping close watch on this part of the trade, and know what I am talking about." OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS. Amount and Value of Talking Machines Shipped Abroad from the Port of New York. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Washington, D. C, Dec. 6, 1907. Manufacturers and dealers in talking machines will doubtless be interested in the figures showing the exports of talking machines for the past four weeks from the port of New York: NOV. 11. Berlin, 181 pkgs., $1,460; Colon, 1 pkg.. $100; Glasgow, 8 pkgs., $452; Guayaquil, 4 pkgs.. $179; Havana, 14 pkgs., $273; 27 pkgs., $120; 11 pkgs., $399; Kingston, 5 pkgs., $275; Liverpool, 1 pkg., $79; London, 9 pkgs., $441; 452 pkgs., $11,148; Rio de Janeiro, 46 pkgs., $1,240; St. Petersburg, -20 pkgs., $832; Savanilla, 8 pkgs., $555; Southampton, 2 pkgs., $75. NOV. 18. Antwerp, 1 pkg., $1,100; Asuncion, 6 pkgs., $206; Berlin, 10 pkgs., $445: 174 pkgs., $1,137; Belfast, 32 pkgs., $579; Buenos Ayres, 216 pkgs., $1,526: Bradford, 65 pkgs., $405; Cardiff, 66 pkgs., $624; Dublin, 27 pkgs., $200; Glasgow, 12 pkgs., $960; Gothenburg 5 pkgs., $270; Havana, 13 pkgs., $666; Havre, 10 pkgs., $225; Hamburg, 1 pkg., $100; La Guayra, 3 pkgs., $104; Leeds, 11 pkgs., $460; Liverpool, 15 pkgs., $2,735; 13 pkgs., ?754; London, 24 pkgs., $1,428; 963 pkgs., $11,561; Manchester, 9 pkgs., $366; Milan, 22 pkgs., $365; Montevideo, 5 pkgs., $500; Paramaribo, 3 pkgs., $174; Para, 13 pkgs., $546; Pernambuco, 3 pkgs., $380; Progreso, 10" pkgs., $287; St. Petersburg, 16 pkgs., $472; Vera Cruz., 21 pkgs., $685; Vienna, 8 pkgs., $205; Wellington, 4 pkgs., $158. November 25. Alexandria, 9 pkgs., $486; Berlin, 182 pkgs., $1,505; Bombay, 6 pkgs., $225; Bradford, 34 pkgs., $230; Buenos Ayres, 2 pkgs., $144; Cardiff, 55 pkgs., $352; Colon, 15 pkgs., $551; Guayaquil, 6 pkgs., $116; Fremantle, 1,734 pkgs., $26,873; Hamburg, 18 pkgs., $423; Havre, 23 pkgs., $1,236; Leeds, 65 pkgs., $388; Liverpool, 3 pkgs., $125; London, 2 pkgs., $100; Manila, 3 pkgs., $127; Manchester, 63 pkgs., $408; Melbourne, 6 pkgs., $122; Natal, 10 pkgs., $148; Newcastle, 56 pkgs., $415; Sheffield, 41 pkgs., $300; Sydney, 46 pKgs., $l,0v0; St. Petersburg, 36 pkgs., $3,384; Trinidad, 10 pkgs., $331; Wellington, 13 pkgs., $265. December 2. Bristol, 12 pkgs., $556; Cardiff, 58 pkgs., $514; Havana, 10 pkgs., $167; 8 pkgs., $1,131; Havre, 5 pkgs., $154; Iquique, 2 pkgs., $135; Leeds, 65 pkgs., $388; La Guayra, 5 pkgs., $112; Liverpool, 38 pkgs., $251; London, 4 pkgs., $131; 580 pkgs., $8,231; 666 pkgs., $9,433; 18 pkgs., $1,203; Manchester, 59 pkgs., $375; Milan, 6 pkgs., $365; Montevideo, 10 pkgs., $188; Newcastle, 56 pkgs., $406; Progreso, 12 pkgs., $429; Rio de Janeiro, 107 pkgs., $3,128; Sheffield, 40 pkgs., $264; Yokohama, 43 pkgs., $1,627. THE BITER BIT. The quack medicine vendor entered Antonio's residence just in time to see that gentleman hand a crisp twenty dollar bill over to a talking machine salesman in conclusion of a deal. He made a very poor canvass on top of this — without success — as he expected. Feeling riled, the medicine man said somewhat sharply to the Italian : "Can you tell me where to find some place?" "What place you want?" answered Antonio. "I want a place," said the other, with all the sarcasm he could conjure up, "where there are none of thess darned talking machines!" "Sure," quickly answered the swarthy one, showing his white teeth in a broad smile, "you tak Marriucia steamboat to H , no talka machina there!" Ernest Weeninck. PRODUCING THE "S" SOUND. A writer in The New York Commercial says that for a long time Edison's phonograph refused to say "specia" — it dropped the "s" and said "pecia." To produce that single sound he needed something delicate enough to receive impressions not more than a millionth part of an inch in depth, and yet rigid enough to carry the needle up and down, exactly reproducing the vibrations which had made the impressions. The scientists told him there was no such substance in existence. "Then we must produce it," insisted Edison. They declared it could not be done, because the qualities which he demanded were inconsistent and exclusive of each other. He declared it could be done, because it must be done, and he did it — but Edison worked eighteen hours a day for seven months to secure that single sound. That is the story of success since the world began. Difficulties yield to enthusiasm. ARCARO PHONOGRAPH CO. INCORPORATED The Aroaro Phonograph Co., Pittsburg, Pa., have been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000. Directors: A. G. Arcaro, Nicholas Arcaro and Mrs. Philomena Arcaro. Harry L. Marker, who has been abroad, principally in. the Far East and India, on recording work for the Columbia Co., returned to the United States recently via Europe. Talking Macliine Record Cabinets OUR SPECIALTY So — we offer you good value in a variety of established sellers. You can sell from our catalog. It is required in every popular store. More goods sold with less effort is the result of catering _ Cadillac character. Cadillac Cabinet Co. T. M. R. C. Dept. DETROIT, MICH.