The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 23 69 BASINGHALL STREET, LONDON, E. C, W. LIONEL STURDY, MANAGER. TRADE HAPPENINGS IN ENGLAND. Trade Quiet for the Month Both in London and Throughout the Provinces — Labor Troubles Have Interfered Serolusly With Business as a Whole — Regarding Small Orders — Columbia Company's New Policy — Barnett, Samuels New Show Room — Excelsiorwerke News — Value of the Foreign Market — A New 4 1-2 Inch Record — The New Jumbo Records — A Budget of News from the Provinces Not Over Cheering Owing to Strikes — Great Strike in the Manchester District Disturbs Trade. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) London, Eng., -Oct. 5, 1908. Last month I was able to report a very steady increase of trade, which also gave promise of a continuance, but whatever the cause, sales have not held up to expectations. The situation was summed up very amusingly by a prominent manufacturer in the course of an interview. He said that "things were booming; a man came in last week and bought three records!" Anyway, trade may not be advancing, but it is certainly not going backward; the average is pretty well maintained, and while no doubt traders individually are not doing so well compared with even time last year, I think the explanation is found in the fact that since last season several records have been reduced in price, and what is perhaps the most pertinent reason of all> is the greater competition brought about by the introduction of newcomers in the record field. True, the demand has certainly increased; people are being won over every day, but as I have mentioned before in these columns, the supply is much ahead of sales. Over 300 new records are listed by the makers every month, the same selection often appearing in two or three different manufacturers' lists issued within a few days of each other. Such competition has the effect of producing a more even demand for the various records, as in quality and price the difference between them is infinitesimal. Talking machine sales up north have been very conspicuous by their absence, owing to a great strike affecting thousands of men and women employed in the cotton industry; and while operatives are signing on for strike pay (about half their usual earnings), workers in the carrying trades are feeling the pinch, the collieries must suffer to an extent, small shopkeepers find their trade diminish, with their hopes of a good winter business suddenly quenched. Every center of population in Lancashire is troubled with the problem of thousands of men and women out of work. The Small Order Man. The question of the isolated small-order man is continually before us. He usually writes on a soiled piece of paper requesting to be favored with the despatch of a screw, wheel, spring, or some other small article which is to be charged to his account. What a glorious way of doing business! Here is a 2d. or 3d. article to be booked, invoiced, card-indexed, order form, packing and postage, not to mention the labor and time expended. This sort of individual is usually a man that keeps no shop, but it is not unknown to have respectable dealers acting in the same way, while they send the hulk of their orders for records and machines to some other factor. You might say, why supply? It's like this: when he gets the order the factor says to himself, "Well, I'll fill the order, as it might lead to some good business, and I shouldn't like it to go elsewhere." A request for cash soon brings along an indignant reply. And so it goes on playing one factor up against another. How should this be counteracted? I would suggest that in their advertisements and other publicity literature a note should be inserted to the effect that cash and postage must accompany all orders under 2s. 6d. in value, and that all requests for catalogs must be on business note paper. I am sure that if in this matter one of the leading factors took the initiative, the others would soon fall in line, in their own interest. All Enquiries Referred to Local Dealer. The announcement of the "Wholesale Only" policy recently adopted by the Columbia Phono.><raph Co. has met with a chorus of approval from dealers in all paits of the country. The fact that the Columbia people are referring all inquiries to the local dealer, and doing everything in their power to have the trader do all the business there is going, is naturally pleasing the dealer very much and making him take a much more decided interest in Columbia goods. Value of Foreign Markets. According to a consular report, England and America do not pay sufficient attention to foreign markets in the East, with the result that a large proportion of the business goes to Germany by reason of cheapness. In China and Japan, for instance, trade is increasing all the time among the natives, as well as the Europeans, and if more attention was given to local requirements by English traders, there is no doubt but what we could export as cheaply as Germany, and thus regain the bulk of the trade which previously came to us. No Duty on Travelers' Samples. By reason of a commercial agreement between Great Britain and Italy, no duty is to be charged on travelers' samples in either country. As such samples are not for sale, the traveler must deposit the amount of duty ordinarily chargeable, or give ample security. On returning, the se curity is reclaimed and paid to the traveler without deduction. Figures Regarding Talking Machines. Included in the German returns of imports and exports of musical merchandise during 1907 are some interesting figures relating to their talking machine trade. Under the heading of automatic instruments and parts, imports are listed at a value of £12,000, while exports reached the good figure of £73,000. Records, etc., for the mechanical reproduction of music and parts were imported to the value of £16,000, and exports were £28,050. Automatic instruments without cases: imports, £9,000; exports, £650. Incomplete instruments were exported to the value of £4,250, but no details of the two latter items are given to show that they referred solely to talking machines. Fine Line of Interior Horn Cabinets. The American Talking Machine Co. have secured the sole London agency for one of the finest series of interior horn cabinet machines that I have seen. There are several models, each of a different shape and construction, made in walnut, mahogany (inlaid), and other woods of a light and dark nature. The interior horn is made of a hard wood, and gives very mellow results. The machines are most artistic in appearance, and in their construction only the best of materials are used, while the prices are exceedingly moderate. I have always advocated that the ordinary machine is a little too loud (in band selections especially) for use in an average-sized room of the suburban house, and in this regard these cabinet machines make a timely appearance; they reproduce records not too softly, but just sufficiently loud to be at their best in an ordinary drawing-room. A big future is predicted for these goods. New Process of Producing Rubber. A Burton-on-Trent report is that Dr. Docherty and Mr. Alsebrook, of that town, claim to have discovered a chemical process for making rubber which is equal to the best Para rubber. The new substance is said to answer all the usual tests of rubber. Leading men are keenly interested in the invention, and a great future is anticipated for it. Two Resignations. Jellings Blow, of Pathe Freres, and Mr. Lemoine, of the National Phonograph Co. A Bad Showing. Orders of administration in bankruptcy last year amounted to over 6,000. Excelsiorwerke Activity. One can always write very favorably of the Excelsiorwerke, because their machines and motors are generally recognized as the finest quality in materials and workmanship yet made. It is therefore nothing extraordinary to learn FAVORITE RECORDS No Stock — (all sold out) — means profitable business. Not Stocked Yet — (have not tried them yet)— means loss of a good thing. 1W1^I1.IL iVlVi^ILX AS MUCH AS YOU CAN DO YOU WANT TO BE LEFT BEHIND?? I HOPE NOT!!! The ctiance to pile up big profits is still waiting at your door. Don't let it pass. Go bang ahead and Stock FAVORITE RECORDS and you will find an agreeable surprise when you make up your balance-sheet. THE INTERNATIONAL FAVORITE RECORD CO., Ltd. (of Great Britain) 45 CITY ROAD, LONDON. E. C. 213 DEANSGATE, MANCHESTER