The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

50 THE TALKING MACHIXE WOULD. trade had been holding its own well, and that although the disc side of the business was considerably increasing, it would be a long time before it assumed the sales, in cylinder proportion, they had experienced in the past. HALIPAX. Halifax, June 3, 1998. In Halifax, the Phono Supply Co. and Smith & Co. report a falling off in general sales. Priestley & Sutcliffe, of George street, report an exceptionally good season with gramophone goods. For the past ten years they have handled gramophone goods exclusively, and find that year after year their sales increase, the bulk of the trade in Halifax being with medium-price machines up to £11 or £12. In the records, they have sold a large quantity of Caruso's and others by tip-top artists. They cater as far as possible for the customer who desires the very highest productions, both in machines and records. A. P. Gray, phonograph dealer, of Commercial street, is quite a recent comer in the talking machine business. He handles Edison and Zonophone goods, and expresses himself as quite satisfied with the amount of business he has donesinee he opened the premises last March. He has a nicely arranged shop. Mr. Senior, of Market Hall, who does a large business in sheet music, etc., handles talking machine goods as an adjunct, and also reports a very fair season indeed. Mr. Senior looks forward to the next year's trading as likely to be a very large one. MANCHESTER NOTES. Manchester, Juns 4, 1908. In this district moderate sales are reported, but, generally speaking, owing to the cotton operatives running on short time, money has not been circulating as freely as it ought to do. Several of the large factors in the North are limiting their credit accounts with the retailer, not necessarily limiting the amounts of purchase, but the time in which the factor desires payment. Messrs. Richardson, of Shudehill, have already acted upon this principle and have sent out a very polite note to all those with whom thsy have accounts, requesting that monthly payments be made not later than the 20th of the month, following the delivery of the goods. We congratulate Messrs. Richardson on this initial step, which is certainly made in the righb direction, and we are glad to hear that it is meeting with a very friendly response. At Messrs. Duwe's, of High street, business was reported as moderately good. Both in Sheffield and Manchester the season has been a very satisfactory one with him, and, in view of the trade opening earlier during the forthcoming season, this firm are very optimistic, and believe that the next season will be better even than the past. One of the greatest benefits that will accrue to both the wholesaler and retailer in the near future will be that the business will be conducted on altogether better lines than has been the case in the past. The industry having assumed a more solid basis, and being here to stay, has necessitated better financial arrangements between the factor and retailer, and it will only be those business men who act upon fair, square lines that will be recognized by the wholesale houses, and thereby given advantages that will help them considerably in the trading of the future. We recently heard some of the new samples of records turned out by the Edison-Bell Co., and must say that they were exceptionally fine records. Messrs. Richardson have taken up a factorship of these "Discaphone" records for both Manchester and Liverpool, and expect to do a large trade with them next season. Selling at 2s. 6d., double-sided, and being highly finished and exceptionally good, as regards their tone, very large sales are anticipated. We also heard some of the new N. P. Edison-Bell records during the past week. Manufactured by an entirely new process, very sweet and clear in tone, these cylinder records also promise well for the next season. During a recent chat we had with Burrows & Co., of High street, business was also reported as quite satisfactory up to date. We have already mentioned in a previous issue that this firm have had an exceptional increase in their sales during the past season, nearly 5C0 fresh accounts having been opened. Like other wholesale factors in the trade, money at the present time is rather slow in coming in, but they have no fears of the future. Manchester promises to become the center for diaphragms and other improvements connected with the industry. We understand from Daws Clarke that the "Graduated Flex diaphragm" has been exceptionally successful, most of the leading connoisseurs of talking machines having had their sound boxes fitted with them, and in many cases Daws Clarke has received most flattering testimonials from the recipients. He has. however, further improved the graduated flex diaphragm, and from what we gather, several large flrms in the States have taken them up. There is no doubt but that the new diaphragm that this firm are now making is a considerable improvement upon the former pattern, both in tone and the quality of music it renders. Daws Clarke has several other inventions which he hopes to place upon the market at an early date. The Filamentine Co., of this city, are to bring out at an early date a new sound box, made upon an entirely new principle, fitted with the Filamentine diaphragm, which we are assured will give exceptionally fine results. This company also intend to branch out further in the talking machine industry, and there is no doubt whatever that they will meet with considerable success in exploiting their various novelties and improvements later on. In the north of England generally, Auxetophone recitals are now being held in the various parks. This instrument is so well known that it does not need any comments from us regarding it. Large crowds are attracted to the various parks' to hear it, and these open-air recitals promise to become exceptionally popular during the summer season. NEW LINE OF TALKING MACHINES. A new line of talking machines, to be manufactured abroad, that was expected to be ready by now, will not be in the market before September at the earliest. The vertical cut or undulating sound wave disc record, with sapphire point, will be used in connection with these machines, and two companies here are prepared to manufacture these goods whenever the other essentials are complete. The models of these new mac hines, made in New York, have been shipped to the constructor in Switzerland. VICTOR GRAND OPERA VOLUME. The Victor Talking Machine Co. are sending out to dealers their new index of grand opera records, which are alphabetically arranged under the title of each opera. Five hundred operatic records are catalogued, making a most imposing array and covering all the leading operas of the day. In view of the increasing appreciation of operatic records this list should form the basis of an increased business for dealers who are wide awake enough to appreciate the growth of the demand for high-grade artistic creations. The Victor Co. have also sent out to the trade their new Victrola booklet containing illustrations and descriptions of their latest designs. TWO NOTED LONDONERS HERE. S. W. Dickson and Theo. Birnbaum, of the Gramcphone and Typewriter, Ltd., Guests of L. F. Geissler of the Victor Co. — Left for Home June 6. May 30th Louis F. Geissler, general manager of the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., came over to New York to meet S. W. Dickson, general manager, and Theodore Birnbaum, managing director of the Gramophone & Typewriter, Ltd., of London, England. They came in on the Cunarder "Campania," Mr. Geissler greeting them at the pier, and stayed with the two gentlemen over Sunday, going to Philadelphia Monday, where they visited the plant. Mr. Dickson sailed for home on June 6 on the same boat, and in chatting with The World said: "I have taken about all the time I can conveniently spare to run over here and call on the Victor people and visit the plant. Business is very good with us at home. I return on Saturday, so you see I will be on the move until sailing time. I get The Review and The Talking Machine World, and they are both excellent papers. The latter journal has no equal." Mr. Birnbaum had just returned from a trip to Egypt and St. Petersburg, Russia, when he rushed off to New York with Mr. Dickson. Mr. Birnbaum went hack on June 13 via the "Caronia." Messrs. Geissler, Dickson and Birnbaum visited the establishment of the Douglas Phonograph Company, where Genei-al Manager Henkel showed them about. They were greatly pleased with the arrangement of the interior, location of booths, etc., and the Eureka library cabinets for disc records. The trio also called at the Victor Distributing & Expoit Co. and the Blackman Talking Machine Co. MEMPHIS DEALER IN NEW QUARTERS. Memphis, Tenn., June 6, 1908. F. M. Atwood, the well-known talking machine jobber and retailer of this city, is moving from 160 North Main street to 123 Monroe avenue, where he will occupy the entire two-story building, furnishing him with 3,500 square feet of fioor space. It has been remodeled especially for Mr. Atwood's purposes and will have two large modern show windows. Mr. Atwood expects to largely increase his Edison jobbing business and will also job the Indestructible record of the Indestructible Phonographic Record Co., of Albany. His store is in the veiy heart of the downtown district and the move should largely increase his retail trade as well as furnish him the facilities for conducting the jobbing business on a larger scale than heretofore. ' A SCHEME THAT BROUGHT IN THE MONEY Some $30,000 in bad bills had accumulated among the various retailers at Geneva, III., and the Geneva Business Men's Association decided that some radical steps had to be taken to realize on same. Finally, it was decided to hold an auction. The plan was to hold it on the street and as much publicity given the affair as possible. Tliirt\' days' notice was given the debtors, and if a settlement w^is not secured hefoie the oxpiiali(Mi of that time*~the bills would be auctioned off to the highest bidder.' There was a magical re.<l)onse, and the sale was not held— nearly all the debtors paid up. » » t » M ^ ^ » » i ♦ » ♦ f ♦ t T--. MR. DEALER: The SCHUBERT EXTENSIBLE RECORD RACK Is the must compact, pr.TcticabK-. sinii)lc, irtl-at ;iiul coii\ cniciit. Mailc (if iiu lal. nicely japanned and can consist of one .-4tflf liokling 12 records or 25 lioUlinR .inn. Can be put togctlicr and taken apart at w'ill., IJca'crs keep shelves in sti ck. i nstonier Rcts them as needed and attaches, thus building rack as records aci ii tnnlato. C'licaji cnougli to give away a shelf with a doezn records. Teaches cus ii nurs to take care of records, .which means more sales for you. $.'>.00 will stuck you; if you don't believe it send for liberal terms. Shipped through your jobber or direct from the f.ictory in Illinois. Takes lou fieipht rates, .Xfldrcss, pi\int: >«nir Jobber's nnnu-. G. H. SCHUBERT, Inventor and Patentee. RENO. NEVADA