The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

18 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. TRADE NEWS FROM MILWAUKEE. Dealers Much More Optimistic Over Present Conditions and the Outlook — Double-Faced Records Proving Popular — Well Known Jobbers Visit Milwaukee — Local Talking Machine Dealers Meet — Lawrence McGreal's Tour of the Trade — Talking Machine a Valued Accessory in Cure of Tuberculosis. (Special to The Talking Machine Woild.) Milwaukee, Wis., Dec. 8, 1908. Dealers are more optimistic and better satisfied than they have been in months. Several reasons are responsible for the bright outlook at the present time. First of all, trade in both the retail and wholesale fields has reached the point where there is no longer any doubt that normal conditions have been reached. The holiday business is well under way and there is every promise that the season will be one of the best in years. Dealers are contrasting the rosy prospects of the present time as compared with the gloomy outlook of a year ago and believe that they ought to be satisfied. The retail trade, not only in Milwaukee, but about the State also, has come up to expectations in every way. The natural result is that wholesale trade is of ample proportions as dealers are stocking up well in preparation for the run of holiday trade which has already opened up. Dealers are becoming accustomed to the many new arrangements of several of the large companies, and while a few weeks ago there was plenty of dissatisfaction to be heard in some quarters the general opinion now seems to be that the various orders were all meant for the ultimate good of the trade. While dealers are finding it much easier to secure equipment and supplies there is still complaint to be heard among the Edison representatives that they are back on orders for both Home and Triumph attachments. The new Amberol records and attachments created a remarkable demand which it is taking months to satisfy. The Victor double-faced records are proving themselves to be winners with the trade. Dealers are finding them to be ready sellers and jobbers are meeting with excellent orders. "The new double Victor records have come to stay," said Lawrence McGreal, the well known Milwaukee talking machine jobber, "and there is not a doubt but that they are the record of the future." The new Columbia double records and indestructible lines recently put on the market are bringing a wonderful business. A. D. Herriman, manager of the Milwaukee Columbia establishment, reports that sales were never better both in the record and machine lines, and that without a doubt the new records have been largely responsible. The recent meeting at Chicago of the executive committee of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers attracted to Milwaukee several well known jobbers of the country, viz.: Perry B. Whitsit, Columbus, 0., secretary of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers; Louis Buehn, Philadelphia; W. D. Andrews. Syracuse, N. Y., and J. Newcomb Blackman, of New York. Lawrence McGreal was in Chicago to attend the meeting. S. S. Iverson, representing Reton Bros. & Co., well known Edison and Victor dealers at Stevens Point, Wis., recently called upon Milwaukee dealers. J. H. Becker, Jr., manager of the talking machine department of the Hoeffler Mfg. Co., has placed a number of Edison business phonographs on trial at the general offices of the Milwaukee -Electric Railway & Light Co. and the prospects point to ready sales. The regular monthly meeting of the new Milwaukee Association of Talking Machine Dealers was held on November 28 at the warerooms of Lawrence McGreal. It is planned to make the meetings of a social as well as of a business nature, and so far the results have been most satisfactory. The work of forming the new State Association of Talking Machine Dealers is progressing, although now that the holiday trade is opening up with such vim it is feared that the complete organization will not be perfected until the new year has opened up. W. W. Warner, leading talking machine dealer of Madison, Wis., James Selkirk, of Clinton, Wis., and Mr. Smith, of tne Cadillac Co., called upon the local jobbing trade recently. Mr. Magner, of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., of Chicago, called upon the Hoeffler Mfg. Co. lately and helped J. H. Becker, Jr., in the arrangement of a unique fiber needle window display. As a result of the interesting display of needles the Hoeffler Co. made several Victor sales. W. P. Hope, representative of the National Phonograph Co. in Wisconsin and Northern Michigan territory, made a recent visit to Milwaukee headquarters. Mr. Hope reports excellent sales. Lawrence McGreal, the enterprising Milwaukee talking machine jobber and retailer, recently visited his various dealers as far north as Menominee, Mich., and as far west as La Crosse, Wis. He found trade in a satisfactory condition with brilliant prospects for holiday business. Mr. McGreal believes in the policy of becoming acquainted with his dealers. The talking machine as a valuable accessory In the cure of tuberculosis is the view taken by Former Alderman Charles B. Weil, of Milwaukee. Mr. Weil recently visited the Blue Mound sanitarium for tuberculosis patients near Milwaukee and was impressed with the fact that some form of diversion should be furnished them as a means of keeping their thoughts from their condition. Mr. Weil believes that there are many people in Milwaukee who have talking machines which they could loan to the sanitarium until the institution can afford to purchase machines of its own. CHAMINADE RECORDS IN DEMAND. American Tour of Great French Composer and Pianiste Greatly Stimulates Sales of Her Records Throughout the Country. The American concert tour of Mme. Cecile Chaminade, just closing, has stimulated a strong demand for the talking machine records made by this celebrated composer and pianiste. This de MMB. CHAMINADE. mand has come from every part of the country, and it has been unfortunate that not more of her compositions were recorded to satisfy the craving of those music lovers who, hearing her play personally, desired to further enjoy her brilliancy or not hearing her in the flesh, desired to listen to her playing at second hand. VALUE OF THE ANNUNCIAPHONE. Will Answer Telephone Calls and "Fill a Long Felt Want." J. F. Land, formerly with the Michigan Telephone Co., has invented a device for answering telephone calls when the person called is absent, the talking machine equipped with a special record being the basis of the new device, which is called the annunciaphone. The American Annunciaphone Co. has been formed to market the contrivance, with E. M. Hopkins as president. "There are many things about the annunciaphone that commend it to the public," said Mr. Hopkins. "See what a convenience it will be to the doctor when he is out. The phonograph arrangement is told the piece to speak, and during his entire absence it answers the telephone. No matter how many calls it tells when the doctor will be back." Owing to the fact that he carelessly stole a record that had just been received by a local dealer, and not yet been placed on snle. led to the downfall of a sixteen-year-old boy. sou of a prominent merchant of Millinocket, Me. As no records of the certain selection had been sold in the town, the police had an excellent clue to work on, and when they heard the boy playing the record in question, immediately arrested him. He confessed to robbing several stores, as well as stealing a iiourh of registered mail. To keep trade at home, place a large handsome card in a i)romin(nit plai'c reading "If we liavcn't got it, we'll get it." "GERSOIM CABINET " (Patent applied for). The GcfBon Cabinet in equipped as per illuHtration above, which nhowAthe Graphophone act in top rrady fordictotion. The mifidic Irny noldn thr annwcrrd IrttrrM, Fiftrrn p^K** ftn bottom hIh-U for the rylin<lrr'i. Something Hew For Users of Edison Business Phonographs DICTAPHONES OR COMMERCIAL GRAPHOPHONES IT FITS THEM ALL! Why fasten machines down in awkward cabinets, on desks or iron stands, when the GERSON CABINET gives greater flexibility of service ? The GERSON CABINET moves easily on casters. Pull it up to your desk to dictate. Push it away again when through. The transcriber and another dictator can do likewise. Any number of persons can use the machine when not in use. TYPE E — Top Mortised to Fit Edison Business Phonograph. TYPE G— Top Mortised to Fit Either Columbia or Dictaphone. (SPECIFY TYPE WANTED.) SELLS A.X 97. SO (RrKuIor diHcountR to dealers for two or more). MUSICAL ECHO COMPANY SOLE DISTRIBUTORS 1217 Chestnut Street Philadelphia