The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

42 THE TALKING MACfflNE WORLD. TO MAKE INDESTRUCTIBLE RECORDS. The Cleveland Phonograph Record Co. Have Been Incorporated With a Capital of $300,000 — Business in Cleveland Steadily Improving — Gaumont Chronophone Co. Move to New Quarters— Bailey Co.'s Big Zonophone Business — Louis Devineau Places the Ideal Horn With All the Principal Jobbers in Canada — Moving Picture People Must be More Careful. (Special to The Talking Machine Woild.j Cleveland, O., Sept. 8, 1908. Business In the talking machine line in this city is improving. There is no boom, but there is a steady, gradual betterment. Factories which have been idle are renewing operations, others are increasing their forces, and new ones are starting. Traffic figures show Cleveland railroads are now handling more freight than they have at any time since the financial flurry of last winter. Talking machine dealers have felt the brunt of business depression as much, or more, than in any other line of trade. The mechanic and workman was compelled to dispense with luxuries and t reluctantly pretermit the weekly purchase of records. But now they are gradually renewing their purchases, and many old customers are renewing acquaintance with the dealers. The Bryan and Taft records have made a big hit and are among the best sellers. Customers seem to be impartial, and it would be difficult to predict results from their selections. The Gaumont Chronophone Co. have been placed in the hands of Manager Arthur B. Colnon. The office and plant have been moved from High street to the corner or Broadway and Harvard, into a larger and more suitable building for :the business. The company are now going ahead with increased facilities and an enlarged plant in the manufacture of machines, and in addition, their own films, which heretofore have been the foreign product. The company have adopted the Twentieth Century Graphophone in connection with the Gaumont machine in place of a disc air machine. They own the exclusive rights to the Gaumont Chronophone for the United States, and for which a large sum was paid. The company Ar.g-engaged exclusively in manufacturing machines and films, and will establish distributing agencies in various sections of the country. The business TWO MISSING LINKS This is SUPPOSED to be the Missing Link between Man and Monkey. IT'S ALL IN THE BALL! "TIZ=IT" (TRADE .VAME) This New AU-Metal Ball-Joint Horn Connection is BEYOND A DOUBT the Missing Link between the Phonograph and Horn. "There's MORE than a reason." Mp H your jobber docs not han lUI . 1/CalCl jie ,i,is connection yet send us ,10c-, in stumps for sample. Address Kreiling & Company InventorN and Sole ManulaclurcrN North 40tli Ave. and Le Moyne St. CHICAGO. U. S. A. will be pushed and large results are expected to follow the change. The Cleveland Phonograph Record Co., an Ohio corporation, is a recent incorporation, with a capital of $300,000. The stockholders include some of the most substantial business men of the city. A gentleman identified with the company said: "While the company's capital is $300,000, the personal resources of the stockholders being at least $40,000,000, will enable the company to take a position in the front rank of the record business of the country. The company have made arrangements to manufacture indestructible phonograph records for cylinder machines. These records are virtually everlasting in wearing quality and absolutely non-shrinkable, with a tone quality equal to the best records now on the market." The temporary office of the company is at No. 812, Society for Savings building, Cleveland, 0. Louis Devineau has just returned from a vacation spent in Canada. His especial purpose on the trip was to complete arrangements for establishing jobbers for the Ideal horn, in which he was eminently successful. He visited Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and other principal cities in the Provinces, securing jobbers and negotiating sales of a large number of horns. He says all the talking machine dealers with whom he came in contact pronounced it truly an ideal horn — the finest and most nearly perfect of any they had ever seen, and expressed themselves glad of the opportunity to give him an order. Mr. Devineau says that in the next issue of The World he will furnish a complete and accurate list of all Ideal horn distributers. W. J. Roberts, Jr., is having a good run of trade in both machines and records. He said perceptible improvement in business was noticeable, and record sales were constantly increasing. With the usual demand for the lighter music, he stated that the call for Red Seal records was constant and growing to large proportions. The Taft and Bryan records were mentioned as especially popular and finding ready sales. The Eclipse Musical Co. report business good and improving, the volume of business being much larger in August than July. Mr. Towell stated they were booking a large number of orders for the new Edison combination type machine, to play their new four-minute Amberol, or the present two-minute records. He said demand was improving for all kinds of talking machine goods, and that the future looked very promising. The Bailey Co. have a good demand for machines and records. Tney are exclusive distrib uters for the Zonophone, and the manager stated they were making large sales, and that the machine was very popular. The day previous to Saturday, August 29, the company advertised to give a package of 100 needles to all who brought in the name and number of their machine on thai date. The store was crowded all day, hundreds coming for the coveted prize, and the experiment resulted in the sale of several machines and a large number of records. "Business is moving along steadily and gradually improving," said Edna Rankin, of the Witi Music Co. "The demand for machines is fair and very good for records, especially for Taft and Bryan, who are apparently equally popular. Business in the aulnmatic department is picking up nicely." "We did a fairly good business iu August," said Mr. Buescher. of Buescher & Son. "and September is starting out encouragingly. Demand indicates improvement in business generally, and I think we will all be in the prosperity swim soon. Sales of records are fine, and Bryan and Taft are in constant demand." Hugh Gulley reports improvement in trade and good sales of machines and records. He stated his August business showed an increase over July. His record trade, especially for Red Seal and Gold Molded, he sid, was fine. From the constant demand for Taft and Bryan records, he feels quite sure that "one or the other will be elected." Robbins & Emerson, the popular Arcade dealers, are having a fine trade in both machines and records, as well as other musical instruments. Mr. Robbins says their business is increasing and conditions generally improving. "Things are moving along very satisfactorily," said Phil Dorn, manager of the talking machine department of Collister & Sayle. "Demand is increasing slowly but surely all along the line. Old customers, some of whom haven't been in for months, are coming back, which is an indication of renewed prosperity. Sales of machines are as yet slow, but more interest is being manifested and we have quite a number in view. Record sales are fine, especially for the September lists, which seem to meet the approbation of everybod}'. There are manifest signs of an excellent fall trade." Flesheim & Smith stated they were doing a fair business in the talking machine department, and that trade was improving. A good demand for records was reported, and a fine fall trade predicted. Brown Bros, stated they were doing but little in the line of talking machines. Their energies are especially devoted to the furniture trade. "While I didn't have very good luck fishing on my vacation," said Mr. Probeck, manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co., "I had a most enjoyable time." He has returned to business much tanned and with renewed vigor. "Trade is moving along very satisfactorily," he said, "and I look forward to quite an increase the coming fall. The sale of records is extremely good, our customers being very appreciative of our recent lists. Among the best sellers is a waltz song, entitled 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game.' " The May Co. are having a fairly good trade in the talking machine department, presided over by H. B. McNulty. He stated that their August business was exceptionally good, and that this mouth gave promise of continued improvement. He said there was increasing demand for records, especially for Bryan and Taft, which were moving nicely. A. R. Schade, representative of the BallFintze Co., Newark, O., was a visitor to the Edison Jobber Zonophone Distributor Carrying Cases Wire Record ^^^^^^^ Racks INDESTRUCTIBLE RECORDS RECORD CABINETS SPRINGS for all makes and sizes QUILL NEEDLES "TIZ-IT" The-AII-Melal Horn Connection for Cylinder Machines JAMES I. LYONS 265 Fifth Avenue CHICAGO