The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

20 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. NEWS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Big Victor Orders for Sherman, Clay & Co. — Herzog Cabinets Admired — Birkei Co.'s Grand Opera Records — Columbia Double Discs in Demand — A. A. Jinesa to Start for Himself — Many Visitors Recently — Amberol Records in Demand — A Budget of News. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Los Angeles, Cal., Oct. 4, 1908. There seems to be much that is perplexing in the fall outlook for talking machine men in this vicinity. The air seems full of wonderment as to what will happen next if the manufacturers continue to juggle matters as they have in the past few weeks. Some dealers with a lot of experience back of them are trying to refrain from tumbling into pitfalls, while others are not so shy. All, however, are confident of a very large business during the holidays, and are very busy making preparations for the largest Christmas yet. Sherman, Clay & Co, have been working to their full capacity and have received a great volume of business in the past thirty days. Charles Ruggles, manager, has taken some fine orders for Victrolas and Victors to supply the holiday demand. Among the recent orders taken by him was that for a complete line of Victor goods for the Wiley B. Allen Co., who have just opened their talking machine department, with H. A. Clubb at the head. Mr. Clubb is well known on the coast as a talking machine man, having come to this city from the north, where he was engaged in the same business. Messrs. Tucker and Merrill are responsible for the addition of the talking machine department to the Wiley B. Allen Co.'s establishment, and are pleased and proud of the fine new show rooms, which are among the best of the city. Allowances have been made for additional roomis which will be added in a short time. The Southern California Music Co., Edison and Zonophone jobbers, are as busy as can be with orders for Amberol records and new style phonographs. From the amount of orders received it is very evident the dealers are greatly pleased with the new product. Their retail department has been doing a fine business both in disc and cylinder goods. A large shipment of record cabinets has just been received from the Herzog Co., including several new styles and designs. E. Tessier, who recently joined forces with this company, has been appointed manager of export trade and expects to make a trip through parts of Mexico at an early date. He has been in business in the southern republic for a number of years and is thoroughly familiar with the trade there. Victor recitals have been resumed and are held every Friday afternoon at 3 p. m. A novel plan has been introduced by them for selling talking machines and records for campaign purposes. Circulars have been mailed to the different committees in charge of the campaigns suggesting the use of the talking machine and quoting the price of a suitable style machine. Many persons have become interested and several outfits sold as a result The Angelus Talking Machine Co. ("The Exclusive Edison Store") has just been remodeled again and makes a better appearance than ever. Mr. Pfaff is always trying to do more business and is not satisfied unless he is making improvements. He says he is now ready for the new Edison line, having added considerable space for it. The Geo. J. Birkei Co. have recently issued a special list of new grand opera records which they have mailed to their customers. Mr. Geissler in referring to the new double-sided disc says he has little faith in the move, regardless of what is being said for them. He feels they will be a novelty for a short while. The new Edison move is recognized by him to be the best move the National Co. have ever made. Geo. J. Birkei, head of the same firm, has been away on a trip north for a short while. The "removal sale" of the Exton Music Co. has closed, and they are now in their new store at 216 West Third street. Sudden decision as to moving has, found them without a suitable talking machine department, but Mr. Exton has men at work building what he says will be a first-class department and situated on the ground floor. He expects to devote three times the former space to talking machines in his new location. W. F. Stidham, manager of the Columbia branch, reports a great improvement in trade, owing to the recently announced double-sided disc. He has received orders from many new dealers, who will handle Columbia goods exclusively, and finds all the trade interested in the new article. Lower California has been the point of considerable interest in the last month, having received visits from representatives of several dealers in this city. Early in the month Juan de la Fuente visited Ensenada in the interests of the Geo. ,T. Birkei Co., returning to them a number of orders for Victor goods, together with other orders. Later C. R. Rundel, of the Southern California Music Co., accompanied by Francisco Moreno, made a short stay in the same place featuring the new Zonophone MORE THAN FIFTY STYLES As low in price as they can be made vi^ell for, and as high-priced as you care to go. We guarantee our goods to be made right and finished right. Don't you want to do business on this basis? We believe you do, and we want you to write for our cuts and prices to-day. Rockford Cabinet Co., 1920 30 isth Avenue, Rockford, III. Record Cabinet No. 6% Talking Machines, Typewriters, Phonographs, Adding Machines, Cash Registers, Guns and Tools, and on all Polished Instruments. It Absolutely Prevents Rust. Sales Quadrupled in 1907 1866 1907 WILLIAM F. NYE NEW BEDFORD, MASS. Mexican records, for which they created a good demand. The recent grant of the Victor Co., whereby dealers are allowed to sell goods in this section and the improved steamship service, will doubtessly help to open this field. The freight rates, which have been somewhat of a menace, are being adjusted to a much more satisfactory figure. The Chandler Music Co., of Santa Ana, are making improvements in their store to accommodate the fall trade and have placed a very large order for new style Edison phonographs and Amberol records. Helene Huston, who has just recovered from a serious siege of typhoid pneumonia, is back to her store in Redondo Beach looking after her customers. Mrs. Huston expects to move to her new store about November 1, and will then have the best location in this thriving seaport. H. W. Mosier, of Stockton, Cal., has returned from a vacation in Sacramento, and is now devoting his time to the new Edison goods. Albert A. .linesa is leaving the employment of Mr. Mosier to establish a business for himself. Alihough he has not decided on his future location the trade can be assured of another live Edison dealer, however. McNeil's Piano House, of Stockton, Cal., is just settling in its new store and will have the finest talking machine and piano sales rooms of any firm in the city of like size. Cary & Sons, of Stockton, Edison and Zonophone dealers, report a thriving business, especially with Mexican records. They are preparing for a heavy fall trade by stocking heavily on machines and records. The Falkenstein Music Co.. of Fresno, Cal., have completed remodeling their warerooms. They now have several sound-proof rooms for their talking machine department equipped with a special cooling apparatus for hot weather. The bicycle trade in Fresno — i. e., Homan's, Dougherty and Nisikian — are all at each other's heels for the talking machine business, and never a day but what several sales of machines and records are recorded among them. Those of the San Joaquin Valley dealers who have recently returned from vacations are: N. L. A. Cody, Merced; A. Husband, of Husband & Turner, Modesto; Thos. Noel. Visalia; E. M. Kimberlin, Kingsbury; O. A. Brehler, Sanger, and N. C. Hauser. at Dinuba. Henry Burr, alias Irving Gillette, is said to have been a recent caller at Mr. Hauser's store af Dinuba. He is spending a few months in the Sierras hunting jacksnipe and peewees. L. Ozuma, of Porterville, is contemplating moving his Edison department out of his drug store into a large store across the street. This branch of his business has grown to such tremendous proportions that he is unable to handle it in his present store. A. B. Baranger, at San Jacinto, Cal., called on the Edison jobbers with an order last week.