The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 30 WITH THE TRADE IN CINCINNATI. A Better Tone to Trade — High Priced Goods in Best Demand — Wurlitzer Co. Reports Shortage in IVIachines — Auxetophone Placed in the Hotel Sinton — Milner Music Co. IVlal<e Excellent Report — Trade With the Columbia for the Past Four Weel<s Exceeds Expectations— Dealers as a Whole Are Most Optimistic and Look Forward to a Big Holiday Trade. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cincinnati, O., Dec. 7, 1908. The talking machine trade is reported to have made a fair showing during November. The dealers expected that a better tone to trade would follow the election, and in some respects their hopes were not in vain. The better class of buyers, however, seem to have shown the stronger hand. This leads the dealers to say that they are not so hopeful of the business being good in the cheaper grades of machines until the winter shall have passed over. They recognize that there are still many unemployed and that those who are being re-employed have back debts to pay before they can buy luxuries again. The outlook for this cheap class of buyers is not so reassuring and the dealers are turning their attention to the higher priced trade. This class gave the dealers during November about all that they had to do. The prospects for this month are along the lines of the past month, the dependable trade being the better class of buyers. These are expected to make the volume of trade normal, but should they fail to materalize the prospects for a large holiday trade are not so bright. The local dealers are not letting up in advertising, trusting to this to inject additional life into the situation. The Wurlitzer house reports a shortage in machines, which was accentuated by the demand for them last month. The firm hope to be able to fill all orders promptly this month. The Red Seal trade for the past month is said to have been very good. The cheaper class of trade was not so good. Manager Dittrich, of the talking machine department, states that the holiday trade with his department is usually very large, but as is rather dubious as to the prospects this year. The firm is carrying on a big campaign of advertising, hoping to add spirit to the trade. Manager Dittrich has sold a magnificent Auxetophone to the Hotel Sinton, this city's leading hostelry, which is now installed in the grand cafe. The orchestra plays in conjunction with the Auxetophone. This is the second installation of expensive instruments by the Wurlitzer house in the leading hotels of the city. Manager Dittrich calls attention to the "hurry-up service" of the Wurlitzer house which is filling an important place in the rush of holiday orders. An instance of the quick work done was cited. A "rush" order was received after working hours and the manager was the only one left on hand to fill it. So he made the order up himself, went to the train with it, and he says that the dealer was much pleased the next morning when he found the expressman rattling at his door with the goods. Manager Dittrich is a great believer in the effective influence of Saturday evening concerts given by the dealers, and is advising all of them to keep them up, as they create interest. The Wurlitzer house will make a change in the locations of the various offices of the firm this month, placing the offices of the different departments all on the fourth floor of the building. At present several offices are on the basement floor, others are on the ground floor and others on the third floor, while the fifth floor has one or two. All these will be grouped together on the fourth floor. The only office not on this floor will be Mr. Howard Wurlitzer's office which will remain on the first floor. The Milner Music Co. report a fair November trade, and express confidence in the December outlook as a whole. The call for records and for machines should be of good proportions, thinks Manager Strief, during the month and especially for the holidays. This enterprising store put in a piano department a short time ago, but it remained for November to see the placing of a manager in charge of it to make business get a move on. The number of sales made is pleasing to Manager Strief, who is in charge of the entire store. The manager of the piano department is Walter Timmerman, formerly of the Wurlitzer house. He is a capable salesman. The report for the souvenir card department of this store is a good one. The present month with its Christmas calls for cards is expected to make a record for the numbers sold. The sheet music feature of the business was very large for November in volume of business. Manager S. H. Nichols, of the Columbia Phonograph Co., reports a tine November trade in records and in machines. The wholesale end showed a decided gain over the good record for October. The call for the new double-disc and indestructible records was up to Manager Nichols' expectations. The dealers took to them in response to a splendid call from buyers. The call for the Columbia high tension reproducer was another feature of the trade of the past month. The outlook for the present month is good, from Mr. Nichols' point of view. He finds the dealers more hopeful of the prospects for a fairly good December trade, and says that the holiday demands will aid materially in disposing of stock. The local retail trade did fairly well last month. "The situation here is not yet as it should be, caused by the large number of people out of work. But these are growing less each day and better things are in store for local dealers next spring. At present the high class trade is looked to to keep the dealers busy during this month," added Mr. Nichols. AUXETOPHONE FOR EDEN MUSEE. The Victor Distributing & Export Co. Sell One of These Instruments — To be Used in Connection With the Full Orchestra. V. W. Moody, for the Victor Distributing & Export Co., New York, recently equipped the Eden Musee, famous for its wax works collection and a favorite pleasure resort for visitors to the metropolis, with a Victor Auxetophone to be used in connection with the lull orchestra. Its installation has proved a marked success, and will doubtless be a card for the V. D. & E. Co., and lead to other sales. HTIGATION OVER DOUBLE-DISC. About two years ago A. N. Petit, known as an inventor of talking machine devices, brought suit against the American Graphophone Co., New York, for alleged infringement of his patent. No. 749,092, in which he claimed to have invented certain improvements for the making of doubleface sound records. The case has lain dormant until November 13, when it was up ibefore Judge Cone, United States Circuit Court, New York City, on a motion by the defense to limit the time for taking testimony. On the complainants agreeing to commence the examination of witnesses at once the defense withdrew the motion without prejudice. One half of this patent was originally assigned to F'. M. Prescott, since retired from the business, and well known in the trade here and abroad. The same contention has been before the German courts for years, the decisions rendered being in favor of the Columbia Co. CASE TAKEN TO COURT OF APPEALS. An appeal has been taken to the Court of Appeals, the highest tribunal in the State, from the decision of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, second department, in the memorable case of the New York Phonograph Co. against S. B. Davega, New York city, and over 300 other Edison jobbers and dealers. The opinion, which was unanimous, dismissing the suit for lack of jurisdiction, was handed down June 5, and six months are given to file a motion for a review, the time having just expired. The case in the Federal courts has not been reached on appeal. WARNING AGAINST "DUBBERS." A cautionary circular, warning the trade against the purchase of so-called "dubbed" records of a number of their famous reproductions, was issued by the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., November 21. The indicted records are claimed to be "made from mother records imported from foreign countries." KOHLER & CHASE CUT RECORD PRICES. (Spi'fi;il t(i Tlio TalUiiis Macliiue WolUI.) San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 20, 1908. In Sunday's newspapers Kohler & Chase boldly announce a reduction on ten-iucli disc records, single face, from sixty cents to thirty-nine cents retail. They do not state whose records they are, and those at all familiar with their stock are making a pretty good guess as to the name of the manufacturer and merchandise, the sale of which is licensed under signed contract. A half double column in bold type tells the story. THE DIAPHRAGM IS KING Everybody Indorses our WOOD DIAPHRAGM for Cylinder Reproducers PRICE, including Cross Head and Link, $1 EACH. NORCROSS REPRODUCER WITH WOOD DIAPHRAGM FOR INDESTRUCTIBLE RECORDS, $5.00 NORCROSS PHONOGRAPH COMPANY New Lang Building, 662 Sixth Avenue == NEW YORK CITY ==