The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 39 FROM OUR CHICAGO HEADQUARTERS ROOM 806, NO. 156 WABASH AVENUE, E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, MANAGER. New Attachments, New Records, New Policies, Etc., Keep Talking Machine Salesmen in Throes of Brainstorms — New Features Believed to Marl< a Decided Advance in Trade Methods — Many Dealers in Town — New Burson Automatic Brake for Disc Machines — How Dealers Regard Business — Wurlitzer Co. Publish New House Organ — Geo. E. Griswold Retires from Lyon & Healy Employ — National Democratic Committee Endorses Columbia Bryan Records — Edison Amberol Records Create Furore in Trade — From Milwaukee— Fine Department at Rothschilds — Other News of the "Talker" Trade in the Windy City Carefully Chronicled. ( Special to The Talking Machine World. ) Chicago, 111., Oct. 10, 1908. The Chicago talking machine trade is in the throes of a veritable brainstorm. If a vivisectionist could operate on the gray matter of the average manager or salesman he would find it stuck through with strange-looking objects, variously labeled the "double-face record problem," "exclusive territory policy," "modified territorial policy," "the four-minute record that didn't arrive on tiirie," etc., etc. Moreover, several of the bright minds of the trade are said to be busy on profound essays on "the deluge" — of new talking machine cabinets. Seriously, this multiplicity of new ideas, new plans and new inventions is likely to prove a vast benefit to the talking machine trade this fall and winter, as they stir up the trade waters and excite new Interest on the part of dealers, merchants who are likely to become dealers and the general public in the talking machine proposition. Certain it is that wholesale business is picking up, and that quite materially. It is prone to come in spurts, but it's coming, and everybody looks for a big increase in volume as soon as we experience anything like settled cold weather. A pertinent illustration of the effect of weather on the trade has been given the past few weeks. Trade has fluctuated with varying temperatures to a remarkable degree. We had a few days of really cold weather and sales shot right up, then a cold day was succeeded by a warm one and business fell off simultaneously. Everybody feels confident of a good trade locally, beginning about the time that storm windows make their appearance. Among the visiting dealers the past month were A. O. Arnold, of the Arnold Jewelry & Music Co., Ottumwa, la.; M. M. Marrin, Grand Rapids, Mich., and Col. P. B. T. Hollenberg, Little Rock, Ark. Burson & Co. will soon be on the market with a new model of the Burson automatic brake for disc machines. It clamps on the arm of the machine, only two thumb-screws used in applying it to the talker, and there are no close adjustments to make. The one design will work perfectly on the Victor, Columbia and Zonophone machines, including all types of each make. Arthur D. Geissler, general manager of the Talking Machine Co., is greatly pleased with the way in which business is developing this fall. He is greatly surprised at the large proportion of Victor-Victrolas and of the higher-priced types of the Victor machines that are being ordered. He anticipates great things from the new line of cabinets "that match," which is described elsewhere in this issue. Amberol V. Chandler is very enthusiastic regarding the future for the new Edison fourminute record which bears his name. L. S. Sherman, of Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, again visited Chicago a couple of weeks ago, this time on his return from the East. One of his business acquaintances took Mr. Sherman on an automobile trip, and the San Franciscoan left for the coast very enthusiastic regarding Chicago's magnificent park and boulevard system. The Chicago branch of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. is out with a bright little house organ, with the caption "Wurlitzer's Victor News," No. 1 of Vol. 1 bears date of September 28, and the perusal of its pages reveals the fact that its mission is to the retail customers of the Chicago store. It starts off with a graceful salutatory. This is followed by a thrilling editorial on William H. Taft and his attitude on the subject of a window display in the Cincinnati store. The news columns contain a double-headed news item concerning William Jennings Bryan, and there are other sensational specials. The musical critic reviews the October records to the extent of a column and a half. There is only one criticism to be made on the new aspirant for journalistic honors, and that concerns the absolute lack of poetry. There are plenty of poets in disguise around the Chicago house of Wurlitzer, and it is to be hoped that they will get busy before the next issue of the News goes to press. George E. Griswold, who has traveled from here to the coast for Lyon & Healy for the past forty years, has retired from that great house. Mr. Griswold has made no plans for the future. At any rate he intends to take a much-deserved rest for the next five months and intends to take his family on a visit to the Pacific coast on November 1, spending some time at San Francisco, Los Angeles and other points. Naturally, ? its ^ i I THE ECOIVOMY RECORD RACK FOR HOME USE A Radical Departure Marks a Ilevolution in Home l^ecord Storage No handling of several records to get the one you wish. The index number leads you direct to the record you want. The characteristics are neatness, cleanliness, portability and great utility. RETAIL PRICES Rack for 10-inch Records . . $3.50 Rack for 12-incb Records . . 3.75 Rack for Insertion m Cabinet . 1.50 Especially Adapted for the Double Face Discs Can be either placed on under shelf of table or suspended from picture moulding ; or is adapted by special fixtures for insertion in existing cabinets. The Perfection is a rack similar to the Economy but less ornamental and therefore cheaper. Price $1.50, for rack holding lo-in. records, $1.75 for i2-in. rack. R. H. JONES Patentee and Sole Manufacturer 117 Bryan Place, CHICAGO, ILL.