The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

24 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. port. Rock Island and Moline sell Mr. Beaver's flour and he makes it a practice to give each one a free concert by driving to their place of business, backing the wagon to the curb and by the use of the special record, which we have prepared for the purpose, he succeeds in awakening a great deal of enthusiasm and good feeling among his customers and the crowd that congregate on the sidewalk at each stop. "The special record was made on our BF long cylinder xnachine by placing a six-inch blank cylinder on same, and giving by way of introduction a lively band piece. This I accomplished by the aid of our Twentieth Century Graphophone and a recorder. This is followed by a talk in a good clear loud voice announcing the merits of Beaver's blue ribbon pancake flour, and potato chips. Followed by a minstrel first part, HERKHIAN .S I'l.AN OF rUBI.ICITY. consisting of a song and a few jokes and ending up with a talk on Columbia graphophones, explaining the advantages of same, the location of our store and an invitation to everybody to visit same and get acquainted. The record makes a big hit and is loudly applauded whenever played. One interesting feature of the proposition is the cheapness of it as it did not cost me a cent. Mr. Beaver was willing to pay for the sign on each side of the wagon in consideration of the fact that I loan him the graphophone and records, also making this special record for him. "There is no reason why a like scTieme cannot be worked by the majority of dealers throughout the small towns, as there is always one or two live advertising men in each town who would be only too glad to take up a pro]>osition of this kind if it was presented to them." W. Carleton, formerly one of the most aggressive talking machine dealers in Chicago outside of the loop and who last held forth progressively and successfully at 1067 West Madison street, has moved to Joliet, He went voluntarily , and has an attractive "talker" store at 105 North Bluff street. Nevertheless Mr. Carleton is no bluff. He goes after business legitimately though vigorously and has formed a habit of getting it. For a long time he had a store in the desert regions of West Lake street, Chicago, and the way he dug up business in that department-store ridden section was a caution. The chances are that by this time he has wakened the literary echoes of Joliet with strong circulars and aitistic calendars and that his merchandise, both photographic and talkaphonic is now spreading its gentle influence in many a home in the penitentiary city. The United Film Service Association meet in convention in Buffalo to-day, (Feb. 8) and continue their sessions to-morrow, Sunday. Practically all the firms in Chicago who are interested in the moving picture business from a manufacturing and distributing viewpoint have representatives in attendance. B. Feinberg will pass from the life of single cussedness to that of marital blessedness on r.-Iarch 2, when he will lead to the altar Miss Mina Michelson. The nuptials will be celebrated at Avon Hall, Cincinnati. After the ceremony and the subsequent reception tendered by the bride's parents, the happy couple will leave on an extended western honeymoon tour. They will, of course, make their home in Chicago. L. F. Geissler, general manager, and A. S. Middleton, secretary of the Victor Talking Machine Co.. spent some little time in Chicago and the Central West and Central Northwest the latter part of last month. The World did not have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Geissler, but did have a nice chat with Mr. Middleton. The latter said that the month of November was a very big one with them. December was somewhat off, and the first five days of January were remarkably and peculiarly dead. Since then, however, trade has shown a marked picking up with them, coming along in a thoroughly normal and most satisfactory manner. Mr. Middleton, when he says that the outlook is not a bit gloomy from his viewpoint, speaks with authority, as he is a director in several banks in the Bast, and is also a stockholder in several of the railroads. West as well as East. Arthur D. Geissler has joined the ranks of the automobilists. His first machine is a secondhand one, as he thought it hardly wise to smash up a new scorcher. As soon as he thoroughly gets control of the festive proposition, and if he lives to see the day, he will certainly get a brand new machine, and it will be what is technically known as a lalapaloo, which whereof the interpretation is a jim-dandy. From present indications the lalapiloo will be a matter of but a few weeks. PAPER :honocrap[£ iacouer) Pat. Jan. 9th 1906. No. 1022. THE ALLE TALKING IviACHINE HORN MANUFAOTUREO BY Wm. J. SCHROTH KOBE, JAPAN. None Genuine Without This Trade Mark HERETOFORE there has been a certain amount of prejudice, especially by those musically trained, against the Talking Machine on account of a peculiarly unpleasant "blast" or metallic sound foreign to the record. This rasping sound is due principally to the horn, which in the first place, is manufactured of metal, and secondly is generally not constructed" upon scientific principles. This fault is corrected by using the ALLEN FIBER HORN, made by hand, of a Japanese rice fiber material, finished with a beautiful lacquer, put on by a new patented process in a permanent glossy jet black color. Beautifully Decorated by Talented Japanese Jtrtists CAN BE USED ON ALL TALKING MACHINES BYRON MAUZY Sole Distributor for the United States Byron Mauzy Music Building, 1175 O'Farrell Street ,SAN FRANCLSCO, CAL WRITE US REGARDING THE EXCLUSIVE SALE IN YOUR TERRITORY Business is coming along pretty comfortable, thank you. It isn't actually booming, but if is by no means anywhere near as difficult to sell even high-grade machines as to dispose of ice in Greenland or a carload of bituminous in South Africa. In fact, from all that can be learned, trade botn in a retail as well as a wholesale way is not so far from normal for the season. It takes more hustling to put it there and. keep Jt there. That's all. Mr. Cook, assistant to retail floor manager G. F. Parker, at the Columbia Co., came out of a booth the other day and declared that he had a gentleman in there who was complaining that the machine he had at home wasn't right. It would only spik Aenglish or German. He wanted one that would spik Polish. There have been quite a few interested visitors the past week or so to Babson Bros.' big Phonograph Palace on the outskirts of Douglas Park — only twenty minutes' ride from the business district via the Douglas Park train of the Metropolitan Elevated. Among them were C. O. Arnold, Arnold Jewelry & Music Co., Ottumwa, la.; J. E. Moyer, Dixon, 111.; J. R. Casad, Tipton, la.; Mr. Kenning, Sigourney, la.; Frank Homrighaus, Shelbyville, 111. Manager G. M. Nisbett makes an encouraging report regarding business. While not as active as in December, it shows an increase over January of last year. Furthermore, a large number of new BabsonEdison dealers have been made since the first of the year by George A. Renner, who covers Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Nebraska for the National Phonograph Co. This territory includes as great an area as Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and the six New England States all combined. Seems strange, but Mr. Renner has figured it all out and knows. He admits that the States mentioned contain a few more people than do the four included in his territory, but in square miles of territory covered he has get 'em all beat. Frank Buser, the Edison jobber at Butte, MonL, sells something like ?75,000 worth of Ed ison goods alone, and last November got in a solid car of Edison records. J. F. BOWERS AM P. B. WHITSIT MEET. ( Special to The Talking Machine World. ) Chicago, 111., Feb. 5, 1908. J. F. Bowers and Perry B. Whitsit, the president and secretary of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers, spent all of Sunday, February 2, and well into Sunday night, in Columbus, going into matters and things relating to the association. This is the third meeting of these two men and they are certainly doing service for the organization. Much of what was talked about is, of course, not for publication at this time. There is some question of calling a special meeting of the entire association this month or next, and it may be done provided the members wish it. It is thought by some that a meeting oftener than once a year is desirable during the early days of the body. The present membership is ninety-six (96), which is considerably more than half of the available concerns in the country. This is not bad for an organization five months old. Energetic measures are being taken to gather in every desirable concern in the country. If all do not become members it will not be the fault of either the chairman or the secretary. Martin M. Klaiss, a dealer in pianos, musical instruments, phonographs, talking machines and sheet music at 2219 North Front street, filed a petition of involuntarybankruptcy last week, giving his liabilities as $3,000 and his assets as $1,000. His business has been closed up, and it is said that satisfactory arrangements have been made with his creditors. Mr. Klaiss, who is an expert piano tuner, has .gone with Gimbel Bros., where he was employed before ho wiMit into liusiness for himself.