The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

8 THE TALKING IVIACHINE WORLD. there may be some difference of opinion, but keenminded business men are naturally anxious to remove all business barriers so that the trade may move along the easiest lines of distribution. EDWARD LYMAN BILL. Editor and Praprietor J. B. SPILLANE, Man&«in« Editor. Trade RepresenUlives: Geo. B. Keller, F. H. Thompson, W. T. Dykes, L. E. Bowers, B. Brittain Wilson, A. J. XicKLiN, .'August J. Timpe. Bo(1«i\ Office : Ernest L. Waitt, 100 Boylston St. Chick-Jo Office: E. P. Van Harlinoen, 136 Wabash Ave. PhiliLdelphia : Minive»p»Iii »»d Si. Paul ; H. F. Thompson. .\dolf Edsien. SI. Loui» : S»n Francixco: Ch.^s. N. Van Buren. S. H. Gray, 88 First St. Cleveland: G. F. Prescott. Cincinnati: Bernard C. Bowen. London, England. Office: 69 Basinghall St.. E. C. W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager. Publiahed the 15th of every m«nth at 1 Madiaon Ave. W.Y. SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Alexko One Dollar per year; aU . other countries. $1.2o. England and her colonies, five shillings. ADVERTISEMENTS. $2.00 per inch, single column, per inVertion On quarterly or yearly contracts a special disS is" allowed. Advertising Pages, ?60.00; special position, $75.00. -c-j ,1 REMITTANCES, should be made payable to tdwara L™ian Bill bv check or Post Office Order^ ^"IMPORTANT.-Advertisements or changes should rMch this office by the first of each month. Advertisements arriving too late for insertion in the current issue will, in the absence of instructions, be inserted in the succeeding issue. Long Distiuvce Telephones-Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramercy. Cable Address: "Elbill." New York. NEW YORK. DECEMBER 15. 1908. BEFORE this publication makes its next appearance the curtain will have been rung down upon the old year, and many of us will not b€ sorry to see the close of the 1908 act upon the business stage, for truly, a review of the business conditions for the past twelve months does not cause one unalloyed pleasure and satisfaction. The talking machine trade, in common with other industries, has suffered on account of the business depression. There is no denying that fact, for it has been plainly apparent to most of us. Then again, this industry has not merely had to stagger along, crippled by reasons of depressed business conditions, but it has had to suffer an additional load on account of disturbed internal conditions. Business changes have unsettled the trade to such an extent that there has been much unrest and anguish as to new moves which might be made by those who controlled the destinies of the talking machine trade. The dealers have had restrictions imposed upon them so that they have had to adjust themselves to new conditions. THE record situation has been unsettled, and it is problematical to-day just what the condition may be a year hence regarding the position of the double-sided record. In fact, when we consider all the elements which have tended to disturb the inner conditions of the talking machine trade, we do not wonder at the dissatisfaction expressed over the volume of business which has been transacted during 1908. It has been, In many ways, a discouraging period, but we cannot have things quite to our liking in this busy world of ours, and the talking machine men will have to accept, gracefully if they can, painfully if they must, present conditions, for It should be understood that the manufacturers are anxious to increase the distribution of their product in every way possible. But as to methods which can be hest employed to obtain that end BUT, let us not spend too much time in retrospect. It matters not — ^ihe future is gone, and let us turn to the bright page of the new year with fixed resolutions to make the most of the business possibilities which present themselves, and let us not wait for these opportunities to come knocking at our door. Let us seek them, because the men who seek trade intelligently and with sincerity and fixity of purpose, will be apt to locate a mighty sight more of it than the men who sit down and suck their thumbs waiting for trade to come their way. It does not pay to indulge in a pessimistic strain too long else it may become chronic. It pays better to face the future full of a resolve to do things. T^ERE is a growing demand for talking machines of the better grades. In fact, the great producing houses have been unable to keep up with their orders on their higher class of machines. We know of some dealers who have placed strong emphasis upon this end of the business and have been phenomenally successful in accomplishing large sales. In fact, by advertising, and progressive methods, they have been enabled to largely increase their trade in high grade machines. It seems singular that at the first blush, so to speak, there should be, in a period of business depression, such a well accentuated demand for high grade products, but this is easily understood when we analyze the conditions. The people who have purchased the lower priced machines in large quantities, have been unable to continue purchases in the same way as in former years, simply because thousands of men have been out of employment in the various industrial centers, and have not had the means to purchase articles which could be dispensed with in the struggle for a livelihood. On the other hand, the people of easy finances have had money at their disposal to indulge their tastes along lines which do not require more than a two or three hundred dollar investment. The higher priced machines have fascinated them, and they have kept on buying. As a result, this particular department of the business has been unusually brisk. Dealers are beginning to realize full well that it pays to exploit the high priced product, and the people who purchase the higher priced outfit are invariably large subsequent purchasers of records. The best trade, that is, the high priced trade, has kept up surprisingly good, and it is believed that during the holiday season, the high priced stock will be pretty nearly cleaned out everywhere throughout the land. The demand for machines of all grades can be materially increased if the retailers patronize local papers in a fairly liberal manner. It doesn't pay to hide one's business light under the bushel of indifference. THE compact entered into by the United States and Japan means a big opportunity for enterprising Americans in the Orient. It is surprising, too, what a powerful factor the talking machine has been, and is to-day in building up trade relations with the still shunborin,!; Chinese nation. The talking machine is arousing them from the lethargy of centuries. The people there are quick to buy Chinese records. and as the talking machine is a distinctly American creation, they are naturally interested in other products of American brains and skill, and as a result, manufacturers in specialties will find a constantly growing market in the Chinese Empire. The talking machine is doing its part as a trade promoter, and with the great development which is bound to come as a result of the "open door" in China, Americans in all ' industries should profit materially thereby. IS it fair business for talking machine dealers to take on records which are copied from high class operatic records made by artists who sing exclusively for some of the leading talking machine concerns? If this sort of business, which is colloquially termed "dubbing," is encouraged by legitimate dealers, then it shows, indeed, that the talking machine trade has but a slight regard for good business ethics, for the selling of copied records constitutes a violation of the cardinal principles of business. Surely, when the talking machine companies pay artists of world-wide fame large sums to sing exclusively for them, they are entitled, by all rules governing business, to reap the fullest benefit which should come to them as a reward for their progressiveness and enterprise. Is it not so? If dealers are to support this sort of piracy generally, then good-bye to fair dealing in the talking machine trade. In our opinion, the courts would sustain the rights of the original producers, and surely, the fairmindedness of Americans should not permit the offering of a copy, because the "dubber" can evade the payment of royalties to the artist, and offer his copied product at a lower rate. We believe the talking machine industry will not countenance work of this kind, the business morals of our people are not blunted to such an extent, and if the Victor or any other talking machine company are compelled to resort to the courts to protect their rights in a matter of this kind it would be indeed a sad commentary upon American business methods. WHILE the talking machine trade, in common with all other industries, has shown a great shrinkage in volume during the present year, it may be safely assumed that indications now point to materially bettered conditions during the new year. The demand has already been made manifest in the Middle West, and will ere long be felt in the manufacturing centers which have been the hardest hit of all during the past twelve months. We do not have to look far to find the cause — the workmen have been large purchasers of moderate-priced machines and records, and as so many of them have been out of employment since the panic of last fall, they have not been in a position to continue purchases on the same broad scale as formerly. The agricultural sections have been especially favored, and the dealers and jobbers in the great crop-producing States are enjoying a winter trade of satisfactory volume. In most sections of the country, however, holiday trade has been extremely disappointing. It lacks a life and vim which is noticeable in business circles as we approach the holiday season, and to bring the trade up to anything like pleasing proportions, it is necessary that added emphasis be placed upon the publicity end of the business. We know of some dealers who have heen liberal in their advertising appropriations, as a result their holiday trade has heen good.