The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. IT FROM OUR CHICAGO HEADQUARTERS ROOM 806, NO. 156 WABASH AVENUE, E, E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, MANAGER. Not Much Change in Trade Conditions lob bers in Better Mocd — -Manufacturing Situation Improving — Good Crops Seem to Indicate Brisk Fall Business — DealeFS Should Prepare to Take Full Advantage of Trade Revival — E. A. Parsons Appointed Local Manager for Columbia Co. — J. F. Bowers Busy With Association Work — Among Recent Visitors — E. C. Plume Celebrates Crystal Wedding — What the Travelers Report — E. O. Zerkle a Benedict — -Popularity of Bryan Records — Western Talking Machine & Supply Co. Specialities Successful — Chicago Stand Co. to Put Out New Collar for Edison Horn — Wurlitzer's Fourth of'July Publicity. (Special to The Talking Machine World ) Chicago, 111., July 8, 1908. Trade conditions iu the western talking machine field are much the same as at last report. Generally speaking, dealers are ordering in a very hand-to-mouth manner, one or two machines at a time, and stocks of machines at least are. evidently at the lowest point that they have been for years. Occasionally, however, an order is received which has a stocking-up flavor, and in every instance such orders are from dealers who are known as "live wires," and this simply indicates what other merchants might do if they were "wise" to their opportunities, placed themselves mentally above hot weather .and "quiet times" influences, and plugged perseveringly and energetically for trade. Too many dealers, it is to be feared, take it for granted that nothing much can be Jone out in the country when farmers are more or less actively engaged in the field and that the town trade necessarily goes to sleep during the dull-months. The writer has interviewed some of the trade locally on the possibilities of stimulating business at this time, and it is believed that some of the items presented "in this letter will be found really valuable pointers. Go right down the line among the jobbers locally and you will find a better feeling than for some months. At no time have they thought for a moment that the temporary lull in the talker trade meant any lack of interest in the proposition by the public or that the causes were other than those governing the relaxation in other and even the most staple lines. Now, however, they are all confident of a marked revival in the fall, and any number of reasons can be given substantiating their belief. For one thing, advices from Washington indicate that there will be no lack of money for use in moving the crops, and that there will be no necessity even to take advantage of the emergency measures provided by the Aidrich bill. The manufacturing situation is steadily improving, and in many lines closely related to the necessaries of life, labor is now fully employed, and as a result of partial idleness during the past few months, the probabilities are that the plants will run steadily through the summer, as stocks in the hands of the manufacturers are practically nil, and there must be widespread replenishment to meet the demand of even an approximately normal fafl trade. This means, of course, that people who have gotten behind because of enforced idleness will be fairly caught up and in possession of nearly their ordinary purchasing ability by fall. Especially is this true of those who have been benefited by the gradual resumption of manufacturing activity which has been in progress since E'ebruary and March. Regarding the cro'p situation, The World representative believes that he can speak with some degree of authority. He has taken occasion the past few days to interview several sales managers, all of large concerns who are dependent directly and entirely upon farmers, and whose facilities for getting direct and authentic crop reports and sounding the attitude of the agriculturists are infinitely greater than any concern in this line of trade. These men universally report that never at this time of year were conditions and prospects for great and good crops better than at present. Of peculiar interest was the statement of a manager of a concern which has its agents in every hamlet of the agricultural section of the country. He said that in spite of the talk of the possible slackness in the corn crop because of late planting, owing to heavy rains, that it was a fact, confirmable by detailed reports in his possession, that the area thus affected is very small compared with the prevailing idea regarding it, and that from 75 to 85 per cent, of the crop had been planted under infinitely more favorable conditions and a large percentage of it earlier than last year, and that the stand generally is good. Even the late planted corn has been, doing well under the generally good growing weather of the past ten days or two weeks. All crops are excellent except isolated sections of low . lands and river bottoms, and flood damage has been greatly exaggerated. Winter wheat was never in better shape. A bumper crop has already been harvested in Texas, where last year it was. almost a total loss, because of the ravages of the green bug. A most magnificent crop of spring wheat and other small grains seems inevitable, while the hay, and especially the clover crop, is immense. While dealers should by no means neglect opportunities for stimulating present trade. From the moment your order reaches Chicago, it never delays one unnecessary moment if it is addressed to