The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 45 NEWS BUDGET FROM "THE HUB. Edison Changes and New Victor IVlacliine Please Trade — Eastern Talking IVIachine Co. Featuring Victors — What H. L. Royer, Victor Traveler, Has to Say — Enlarged Quarters Help Ditson Business — Columbia Music Captivates Policeman — Boston Climate Puzzles Manager Pease. in temperature during tlie ride. Friends of Mr. Gateley claim that his new auto went so slow that the winter caught up with him, but he laid it on to poor gasoline and prickly heat. Both Mr. Pease and Mr. Gately report business seasonable. ( Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., Sept. 14, 1908. The prospective new attachments for the Edison machine changes on the Victor to give the public a cheaper-priced instrument, the near approach to the date for getting new records, and the general increase of good feeling among the talking machine trade indicates that the fall business is to be much better than was feared a month ago. At the Eastern Talking Machine Co., Wholesale Manager Chamberlain has just returned from his vacation at Newfound Lake, N. H. He finds th« outlook on his return very bright. Mr. Chamberlain is anxiously awaiting the new attachment for the larger records on the Edison machines. "The public is ripe for something new," he says, "and this ought to please them." The window display this month on the Victor side of the house is given over to the Victrola and the grand opera records. Photographs of the stars are very tastefully added to the window display. H. L. Royer, the Victor ambassador, who was here this week, declares that the public has only just begun to awake to the fact that money is easier, and he predicts a rapid increase in the volume of business. Mr. Royer has just returned from his vacation. At the Oliver Ditson Co., Manager Winkelman reports himself as awaiting patiently the arrival of the new $17.50 Victor machine, equipped with the flower horn. Meanwnile business on the Victrola and the other high-grade machines is seasonable. The Ditson talking machine department is experiencing good results from the enlarged shipping and sales rooms. General Manager Chas. Bobzin is expected home from Europe in a few weeks. A big crowd stood in front of the Columbia Phonograph Co.'s door one day this week listening to one of the latest marches on a band record. A patrolman came along and began to make those on the outskirts move on, but he became interested in the music, and by the time the selection was over he was near the door. He waited for the next one and the next one, then walked away with a smile. "Sure, I wish I had one in me house," he said, and a clerk who overheard him immediately got his number and will get after him. Manager Junge is doing quite a little in the way of advertising lately, and his window displays attract much attention. Manager Pease, of the Massachusetts Indestructible Record Co., declares that he cannot get used to Boston's "lovely" changes of climate. He went automobiling with Mr. Gateley, of the sales force, and experienced a drop of 18 degrees THE 1010 SPECIAL 150-Peg Cylinder RECORD CABINET IS A TRADE-WINNER Write for Special List. Positively the best value ever offered at special price to talking machine dealers H. A. WEYMANN & SON, Inc. Edison Phonograph Jobbers. Victor Distributors. Cabinets and Supplies. Manufacturers of the KEYSTONE STATE Musical Instruments. Publishers of Sheet Music. Weymann BIdg., 1010 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. GET AFTER THE FARMER. Victor Co. Urge Dealers to Seek Their Trade — Exhibiting at County Fairs Offers Opportunity to Get in Touch — With Good Crops Sold, Grangers Have Money to Spend. With reports of immense crops and cou-^equent prosperity for rhe farmei-.s, many dealers have already awakened to the value of the farmer's trade and are striving hard to get it. For the benefit of those who have not realized the opportunities that lie in cultivating that trade, the following good advice was published in "The Voice of the Victor" for September: "The farmer is a good customer if you only reach him? You can if you will! "The splendid Victor advertising in the agricultural papers throughout the country has created a big interest in the Victor among thfc farming classes. But something more than mere interest is needed. It's up to the dealer to fan this interest into the flame of enthusiasm that culminates in actual sales. "Thousands of farmers are going to buy the Victor just as soon as they fully comprehend what a great musical instrument the Victor is — and the only way for them to realize this is to hear the Victor. "If the farmer woii^t come to hear the Victor, take the Victor*to Kim. Play the Victor for him, in his own borne, during the afternoons and evenings. Get the whole family around the Victor — under the trees or on the porch. Piay some of the fine old-time ballads — and band music and operatic music, with a Caruso record or two, above all. There is no surer way to get people worked up to a high pitch of enthusiasm than to play the Victor for them. It is simply irresistible, and sales are almost always bound to follow. "Another good way to push the Victor in the agricultural districts is to exhibit it at the country fairs. "The Price Phonograph Co., Newark, who have several retail branches, report excellent results from this plan. Their display of Victors at the Poughkeepsie Fair drew large crowds. Concerts were given in the daytime; and in the evening elaborate dance programs were provided. Several newspapers gave them liberal notices, referring to the display as the "Victor Exhibit." The Price Company also stimulates the interest of the agricultural class by circularizing broadcast. "Don't imagine the farmer isn't a good customer just because he doesn't come to your store. His opportunities for going to town are somewhat limited. It is easy to interest him in almost anything that has merit; or if you catch him in the right mood, in his own home, and let him hear the Victor, the odds are greatly in your favor for making a sale. "Go after the farmer. You will find it pays." THE NEW VICTOR "0" EEADY. The Victor Talking Machine Co. recently announced that they will be able to supply the trade with their new Victor style "0" early this month. In this connection they say: "This instrument is the result of a great deal of thought, combined with our determination to put on the market a Victor tapering arm machine, so attractive in general appearance, so proportionately correct as regards size of horn and cabinet, so effective in coloring, so well placed on price and such a magnificent substitute for the 'Z' that we expect it to jump into popularity at a bound." The new style "O" will be retailed at $17.50, and affords a splendid medium for the dealer to appeal to a medium-priced trade, and will be the means of creating interest in the high-priced Victor creations. A Straight Tip It's not a side line of knick-knacks that we want to "put you next" to. Musical Merchandise needn't play second fiddle to your main line ; they're really a vital part of it. Don't continue to waste your time and opportunities with petty side line customers. ■ It doesn't require a bit more gray matter to put through good violin, mandolin, guitar or accordeon sales. There's more profit in one of these sales than a hundred of the other kind. And buyers of musical instruments and supplies are just as numerous as post-card or cigar-band buyers. Besides, isn't it a musician who is most likely to become interested in a really good talking machine ? The demand this Fall for our ODERN USICAl ERCHANDISE is bound to be a record-breaker. And if you'll put in a judicious assortment right now, you'll be in line to share in the handsome profits around holiday time. We would be pleased to lend you a hand to success. We'll select your goods for you if you wish, and explain how to win the trade of musicians. We have a catalog that will interest you. It' s yours for the asking. Buegeleisen & Jacobson 113-115 University Place NEW YORK