The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 47 TRADE NEWS FROM CLEVELAND. Dealers Report Continued Improvement in Business— September Business Excellent — How Various Houses Find Conditions — Uses "Talker" in Vocal Instruction — Plan Outdoor Municipal Moving Picture Shows and Phonograph Recitals — Buescher & Son Lease New Quarters — Big Sales in Columbia Double Disc Records — American Cero-Phonograph Co. Incorporate This Week. ^ (Special to The Talking Mactiine Woild.) Cleveland, O., Oct. 9, 1908. Conditions in tallcing machine circles in Cleveland and adjacent suburban territory are naturally very much better, and are all the while improving. Dealers look for an increase in business, and generally are making preparations to meet it. A good trade in the wholesale line is reported, and the past month has been, on the whole, very satisfactory, showing considerable improvement over the summer months. Business is much brisker with the Eclipse Music Co. Mr. Lowell, manager, said: "There wa3 decided improvement in business in September, over any month since last April. Dealers are taking hold of the Amberol goods of the new Edison product with alacrity. We have several thousand dollars worth of the goods already ordered for immediate shipment, but are unable to All the orders, owing to the inability of the manufacturers to supply us. The general conditions of the trade are very much better, and promise a splendid fall business." The Federal Manufacturing Co. are very busy, employing a very large force in the manufacture of the Ideal Horn. Mr. Devineau, the inventor, says he is securing orders from distributere in all sections of this and foreign countries. The manager of Keith's Opera House made a hit when he put on grand opera numbers, and announced the entertainment as "W., J. Roberts and His Operatic Stars." At the solicitation of the manager Mr. Roberts installed a Victor Victrola, playing the sextette from "Lucia," in which Caruso, Sembrich, Scotti, Journet, Severina and Daddi sing. The leader of the orchestra, by means of a clever transposition, adapted the orchestration to the pitch of the artists' voices, which, coming from the wonderful cabinet, produces the same effect as though these high salaried stars were singing in person to the accompaniment of the orchestra. The audiences speak in the highest terms of the scheme and pronounce it a decided hit. W. H. Hug, of the National Phonograph Co., was a recent visitor, demonstrating and taking orders for the new Edison combination machines and Amberol records. H. Prell, a singing school teacher of this city, has introduced an entire new feature in the manner of instruction through the use of a talk-, ing machine. "To prove the merits of my vocal method, and to demonstrate to my pupils how they are progressing, I record their voices upon an Edison phonograph," said Mr. Prell. "To listen to one's own voice is not only interesting but very valuable in the way of instruction. By making records of my pupils' voices at frequent intervals, comparisons show what progress has been made. This is helpful to both teacher and pupil, and considering the expense of vocal lessons, and the opportunity afforded of more rapid advancement, makes it well worth while to record the voice. The records made during the course become the property of the pupil, and will become vastly interesting in after years." Mr. Prell uses an Baison recorder which he has adjusted to his special purpose. Outdoor municipal moving picture shows phonograph recitals and Shakesperean entertainments as an outgrowth of the park band concerts is a proposition now entertained by members of the service board. The president of the board said he had attended some of the Sunday concerts and thought interest in the occasions would be heightened by adding to the entertainments moving picture exhibitions and phonograph selections with the music programs. It is the intention to purchase machines and phonograph records to be owned by the city, and used in connection with the city park entertainments. Buescher & Son have leased the store at 2010 Ninth street, in the 12-story Scofleld building, located in what is considered the business center of the city, and are fitting it up preparatory tD removal, Oct. 15. Mr. Buescher stated business was fairly good and improving. Chas. S. Bourgeois, local manager of the branch store of the Columbia Phonograph Co.. 1831 West Twenty-flfth street, said: "Trade is reviving very nicely with the colder weather, and with the shower of good things which our company is placing on the market in the way cf double disc, new motors, new reproducers, etc., there is no reason that I can see why we should not have a 'hummer' of a holiday season this year. My opinion is that many people who were compelled to deny themselves many pleasures and luxuries last year are going to make up for lost time and loosen up their purse strings, and we talking machine people ought to get the benefit of a good part of it." Business was said to be improving at Collister & Sayles. "Sales of machines are increasing, as also the demand for records," said Mr. Dorn. "We are getting busier in our wholesale department, and as the season advances there will be less reason for anxiety, which has prevailed for some time. We must, however, await the conclusion of the presidential campaign for a return of normal conditions." Mr. McNulty, manager at the May Co.'s, said: "The talking machine business has materially improved during the past three or four weeks. We made several sales of machines of the higher grades, and the sales of records are all the while increasing. We have just added a large and complete line of Edison goods to our stock of Victor and Columbia machines and records and are prepared to satisfy the most exacting tastes." Mr. Probeck, of the Columbia Co., stated that their stock of double disc records arrived several days ago, and the sales are exceptionally large. He added: "Customers are pleased in getting an extra selection for an additional nickel. We are highly pleased over the announcement of our company that they have purchased the factory, patents and rights of the Indestructible Record Co. It is a rounding up of the great musical career of the Columbia Phonograph Co." The Tritt Music 'Co. are doing good business in both the talking machine and automatic departments. W. J. Roberts, Jr., reports trade as nearly equal to a year ago, and that it is improving daily. "The demand," said Mr. Roberts, "is largely for the higher priced — the best — instruments and records and sales are very satisfactory. The new Edison attachment and four minute record are in great demand." The Bailey Co.'s manager stated he thought business would improve after the election of William and not before. He expressed the opinion that the double-faced record was a troublesome proposition and would result in loss both to the manufacturer and dealer. The stamp department of the company had their semi-annual opening on the 8th, on which occasion they made their headquarters in the rooms of the talking maclilne department. Refreshments were furnished the hundreds of visitors; music from the machines and pianos, and one lady drew a $40 Zonophone, each visitor having been furnished a gratuitous chance. At Hartwell's Phonograph store, 3032 Lorain avenue, business was reported as improving. Owing to ill-health, Mrs. Hartwell wishes to dispose of her store. Robbins & Emerson, the Arcade talking machine dealers, say they have been busier the past few weeks than for some time previous. They are having fine sales of Red Seal records. The American Cero-Phonograph Co. has incorporated and established an office at 606, the Cuyahoga building. The incorporators are F. B. Hall, Geo. Somnitz, Fred F. Klingman, C. J. Neal and Jas. B. Scott. The intention of the company is to manufacture an automatic machine in several different sizes, playing serially a number of cylinder records. The company expect to soon have a factory in operation. HOW A BRYAN SIGN EEAD. Of course it may have been simply an accident but the crowd on the Great White Way certainly enjoyed reading a sign outside of an arcade where sheet music is sold to add to the profits derived from the slot machines. The sign read: HEAR BRYAN'S SPEECHES. I nside. "THE YAMA=YAMA MAN." Hit of "The Three Twins " — 25 Cents. 'AS LONG AS THE WORLD ROLLS ON. Great Ballad Success — 25 Cents. At a short distance the descriptive matter in the sign was indistinct and the effelt of the three headlines standing out boldly, one above the other, can well be imagined. You're Losing Money Every Day You Wait The SHRP=SHAVR SAFETY RAZOR A r Is the Quickest Selling and Biggest Business-Building Proposition You've Ever Had a Chance 1o Get In On. 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