The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WOULD. 53 WHAT ST. LODIS TRADE REPORTS. Business Picking Up in Botli Wholesale and Retail Lines — Auxetopiiones Being Used Exclusively by the Chronophone Moving Picture Concern — Horse Show Officials Entertain With Red Seal Records — Columbia Co. Report Great Business Activity — Some Recent Visitors — Edison Amberol Records Esteemed. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 8, 1908. The talking machine dealers' reports for the last month show that the business is picking up, and the wholesale trade is quite active, with every indication that the winter trade will be very good. O. A. Grassing, manager of the St. Louis Talking Machine Co., reports that there has been a nice improvement in their business. This concern has just placed three Auxetophones in moving picture shows here, to be used in connection with the synchronizing machine which is used exclusively by the Chronophone Movipg Papartus concern, of which the Aloe Optical Co., of this city, are the western representatives. Mr. Gressing is co-operating with Louis P. Aloe, of this concern, in introducing the Auxetophone, and it is proving to be a great success. The St. Louis Talking Machine Co. recently gave a concert one evening in the lobby of the Hotel Jefferson to entertain the Horse Show officials and the promoters of the same, which was largely attended. Some of the most popular of the Red Seal records were played and accompanied by the hotel orchestra. They made a great hit, and the audience expressed their appreciation in a very enthusiastic manner. H. F. Harrison, traveler for this concern, returned recently from a four weeks' successful trip through Missouri. He will leave shortly for a trip through southern Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. L. A. Cummins, traveler for the same concern, is home from a ten days' trip through Illinois. Geo. D. Ornstein, manager of the traveling force of the Victor Co., spent a day here recently and met F. S. Rambo, traveler for the company through Illinois, and Mr. Weiniger, traveler for the company through Iowa. Mr. Ornstein stated that there was a decided improvement in trade through the Middle and Southwest. He left here for Cincinnati. A. D. Geissler, general manager of the Talking Machine Co., Chicago, spent two days here recently. E. B. Walthall, manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co., reports that trade for the past month has been excellent, both retail and wholesale. He reports the sale of two $500 instruments to two local firms. The new arrangement of securing exclusive graphophone dealers in towns and cities of less than 25,000 population is proving to be one of the best moves made by the Columbia Phonograph Co. Sales on the double disc and indestructible records have surpassed the company's expectations here. The new type of mahogany graphophones retailing for $65 has just arrived and is making a very favorable impression. Geo. W. Lyle, general manager, and W. C. Fuhri, western district manager, spent one day here recently. Mr. Lyle expected to visit all the branches in the West. C. L. Byars, formerly with the St. Louis Talk — YOU NEED EXPERT — SALESMANSHIP to EXPLOIT your GOODS Prepare your salesmen to meet competition by providing them with a copy of Walter D. Moody's remarkable book, "Men Who Sell Things" Or Recommend Them to Get It. "Sure to prove helpful to the man who wants to succeed 'by selling things.' " — Louisville CourierJournal. ONE DOLLAR a Copy, of ANY BOOKSELLER A. C. McCLURG & CO., Pablishers, CHICAGO ing Machine Co. and later with the talking machine department of the Thiebes-Stierlin Music Co., has accepted a position as salesman with the Columbia Phonograph Co. The Koerber-Brenner Music Co. report a good improvement in their talking machine department, especially on Edison machine attachments and Amberol records, of which they received two large shipments recently. They say that dealers are commencing to stock up and are sending in large orders. They are pleased with the outlook. The Thiehes-Stierlin Music Co. say trade is fair in their talking machine department. Miss Lillian Lane, who was formerly with them, has again re-entered their employ in the talking machine department. The Conroy Piano Co. and D. K. Myers, the well-known Zonophone jobber, report business in their talking machine departments to be fair and improving. The Knight Talking Machine Co. report a good business on double disc records. The Silverstone Talking Machine Co. say there is a good demand for the new Edison Amberol records. "MUSIC MASTER" WOOD HORN. The Latest Product of Sheip & Vandegrift Has Been Highly Praised for Its Many Individual Features of Excellence. Sheip & Vandegrift, patentees of the "Music Master" wood horn, have just completed a large addition to their plant to be used exclusively for the manufacture of this product, their present quarters having been found too small to cope with the fast increasing demand for their horns. The "Music Master" horn is constructed of 16 solid staves of oak, mahogany or spruce, finished with a beautiful French polish, which makes it an ornament in any home. Its acoustic properties are wonderful. After experimenting for over a year along the lines followed in the manufacture of violins, pianos and other musical in:.=truments, where the propagation of sound depends upon the elasticity of the medium to amplify the tone, Sheip & Vandegrift have only demonstrated in their horn the fact that a perfect horn is as essential to producing a clear resonant and mellow tone in a talking machine as a sounding board is necessary to a piano. This company have just inaugurated an extensive advertising campaign to include all the leading magazines, and talking machine jobbers and dealers everywhere should be prepared to cater to the demand that is sure to follow. While Sheip & Vandegrift are as yet little known in this trade, members will recognize an old friend in their sales manager, H. N. McMenimen. This gentleman has been conspicuously connected with the talking machine busi ness for the past 16 years, having formerly been associated with the Victor Co., Emil Berliner, and the old Gramophone Co. He knows the ropes from beginning to end, and the trade can well afford to put their trust in him and his product, with the assurance of a square deal. SOMETfflNG APPROPRIATE. She bustled into the shop as though she hadn't a moment to spare. "I want a book for my husband," she grumbled. "It's his birthday, and I want it for a present. Show me what you have and be quick, please. Nothing too expensive, mind you, and I don't want anything too cheap, either. "He's a mild-mannered man, and not fond of sports, so don't show me anything in that line. For goodness sake don't offer me any of those trashy novels, and, no matter how much you try to persuade me, I won't take anything in the line of history or biography. "Come, now, I'm in a dreadful hurry, and I've already wasted too much time here. Of course, you don't know my husband, but from all I've said, can't you suggest something appropriate?" "Yes, ma'am. Here is a little volume entitled 'How to Manage a Talking Machine.' " — Tit-Bits. /IT We enjoy the rep^'utation and the popularity of filling ALL your wants. (irOur PERFECT ^'SERVICE IS winning over to us the most discriminating and exacting Dealers in the country. ^No matter how ^' small or how big your order may be, PROMPTNESS, INTELLIGENCE, and THOROUGHNESS will characterize its EXECUTION. Don't "wonder if it's so." Let us prove it. Get acquainted with us by signing a VICTOR Contract with us and following it up with your order. St. Louis Talking Machine Q. MII^LS BVII^DING 7th & St. Charles Streets ST. LOUIS, MO. Exclusively VICTOR Distributors /