The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

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THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 41 BOSTON'S BUDGET OF NEWS. Business Situation Greatly Improved — Cliristmas Holiday Trade Already in Evidence — Eastern Co. Resume Victor Concerts — Handsome Lauder Window — Activity With Boston Cycle Co. — Manager Junge Enthusiastic — Other Items of General Interest. ( Special to The Talking Machine World. ) Boston, Mass., Dec. 12, 1908. There are no silver linings to the clouds for the talking machine men here in this part of New England, for the simple reason that there are no clouds to have silver linings — everything is bright and sunny, and business within the past four weeks has taken a big jump upward. The Christmas holiday trade has been unusually brisk, and is expected to be even better. The dealers have good stocks on hand and extra clerks have been hired. The trade has been growing daily and bids fair to last even over the Christmas week. The talking machine trade is peculiar in that instead of dropping off immediately after Christmas it keeps up until way into January, holding steady then until about the first of June, March being the busiest and best month of the year. The talking machine business in Boston has been revolutionized, it might also be said, since the introduction of the double-disc records. Many dealers have found that they stimulate trade enormously, while the cylinder trade shows little progress. As one dealer very wisely remarked, "The disc machines sell themselves, the cylinders have to be pushed." The indestructible record is becoming more and more a factor In the trade, especially since the business here was taken over by the Columbia Co., the record is being advertised extensively and proves an easy seller. R. M. Pease, formerly of the Massachusetts Indestructible Record Co., was in town this week. J. L. Gately, also with this company, has not been heard from for some time, not since he joined the Victor staff. Some of his Boston friends scan every automobile closely, especially when it is standing still and some one is under it. They feel that it probably is Gately, for that is 'Where he used to be most of the time when living here. L. F. Geissler, of the Victor Co., came here this week. He says business has increased 70 per cent, in a month. The Eastern Talking Machine Co. has resumed its Victor concerts and numerous sales are reported, traceable directly to these concerts. The boys at this company's store have formed a basket ball team and are preparing to meet any talking machine team that dares face them. Harry J. Skelton, who left Boston to go with the American Phonograph Co., is now with the Foster Co. at Providence, R. I. Manager Howes, of the Houghton & Button talking machine department, has received a letter of congratulations from Harry Lauder on the excellent window display which he arranged during "Lauder week" here. The Lauder records have been great sellers at all the stores ever since. Manager Andrews, at the Boston Cycle & Sundry Co., reports a large jump in the volume of business done by this enterprising firm. The dealers, he finds, are anxious to keep good sized stocks on hand, knowing that the demand will increase from now on. The chief trouble that he has is the inability to get goods from the factory. This trouble is still worrying the other dealers and jobbers here. At the Ditson Co. Manager Winkelman declares that he can sell twice the number of Victrolas if he can only get them. The Ditson business is all high grade and more Victrolas are sold than almost anything else. The new attachments on Edison goods seem to catch the popular fancy, but the old difiiculty still remains — inability to get enough from the factory. The Pike Talking Machine Co. made a great purchase recently from a failed firm and are now selling cabinets very cheaply. Business is very brisk, says Mr. Pike. J. G. Widener, formerly with M. Steinert & Sons, has gone back to Philadelphia. J. W. Scott, the Edison advance guard, was in Boston this week and went about like a streak of lightning, carrying away a lot of good orders. Morris Robinson, who was burned out by the Chelsea fire and opened up in Lynn, has returned to Chelsea, more optimistic than ever. Maurice Reid, from the New York office of the National Co., is here to look after the commercial record end of their business. Thomas W. Duncan has gone with a razor company. Wholesale Manager Junge, of the Columbia Phonograph Co., is one of the most optimistic men in the entire trade here. He says that the double-disc record is a marvel for increasing business, and the indestructible is selling finely. He expects great things from the xrade this winter and is unusually pleased with the way the Christmas business is shaping up. VICTOR ENTERTAINS DR. BULL. The Noted Surgeon, Fatally III, Much Pleased With a Program in Which He Heard His Favorite Singers. Dr. William T. Bull, who is said to be the victim of a malignant and niortal malady, and who has had a number of sinking spells during the last few weeks, developed surprising strength on Tuesday last. His mind cleared and he displayed such energy that he demanded a book and papers to read. He expressed a desire later to hear some of the latest operatic records sung by his favorite singers, and the Victor talking machine was carried to his sick room, and for a good part of the afternoon the afilicted surgeon listened to his favorite singers. The wonderful improvement continued the following day, and Dr. Bull exhibited more strength and animation than for months. He asked to be removed to an invalid chair, and he was wheeled from his room to the 58th street side of the Plaza Hotel. While his trouble is deemed fatal, yet he has shown amazing strength. Dr. Bull, as well as his wife, were among the greatest patrons of music in New York, the doctor being an especial admirer of the talking machine and keenly interested in its progress. BLACKMAN READY FOE HOLIDAY RUSH. Improvements have been the order of business in the salesrooms and shipping department of the Blackman Talking Machine Co., 97 Chambers street. New York City. Additional space has been added on the three floors occupied, new offices installed and additional display rooms for exhibiting machines and records. Mr. Blackman says they have greatly increased their capacity for carrying a stock of both Victor and Edison records and expect to take care of the Christmas rush, which may come at the last moment. When it is considered that this company handles talking machines exclusively, it speaks well for their confidence in the return of good business. The Women's National Health Association of Ireland, which is accomplishing so much under the patronage of the Countess of Aberdeen, to check the spread of the white scourge, tuberculosis, is utilizing the gramophone as an aid to the lecturers In disseminating valuable information calculated to eliminate this deadly disease. The use of the gramophone is two-fold, first to attract an audience, and second, to deliver by special made records lectures descriptive of the illustrations thrown upon the lantern screen. The third number of Wurlitzer's Recorder is as interesting, if not more so, than its precursors. In connection therewith they issue a special story of the formation of the Ohio Talking Machine Dealers' Association, which clearly manifests their desire to promote the interests of the association. 113-115 University Place NEW YORK NIGHT BAY — Service Our mammoth stock, facilities, and the energies of all employees, as well as that of the head of the house, is at the disposal of our customers and the Trade every 24 hours ol the day; between now and the balance of the year. This service will guarantee inslanlaneons attention t o urgent orders. Without exception, orders will be shipped on the day received; those received as late as 6 P. M. will be forwarded the same night. This will not impair intelligence and care in selection, proper adjustment and testing of instruments. With this matchless service to rely on, it is not yet too late to send that Christmas order; you can call for "fillers in" any time — and be sure to get them. Buegeleisen & Jacobson