The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 4:7 NEWS FROM GOLDEN GATE CITY. Improvement in All Branches of Trade — Outlook for Holidays Excellent — Bacigalupl Leases Down Town Store — Sherman, Clay & Co.'s Big Victrola Trade — Columbia Expansion on the Coast — Zon-o-phone Records Greatly Admired — Brown's Plans — Other Items of Interest to World Readers. (Special to The Talking Macliine World.) ©an Francisco, Cal., Nov. 28, 1908. The talking macliine business has continued in good condition during the past month all over the Coast, and while one or two dealers in the city say that they find things rather quiet, the majority are keeping busy, having all they can handle in some lines. From the reports of retailers, the holiday season appears to be well under way and some new records are likely to be estaiblished in the sale of machines before the end of the year. The jobbers, as a rule, have their hands full shipping out goods to all parts of the Coast. The retailers have shown great confidence in the holiday prospects, and their orders, even on ordinary lines of goods, have been about as large as usual, while some of the new records and machine models have had a tremendous sale. Shipping has been going on for some time on holiday orders and the retailers are beginning to receive their new stock which gives them the opportunity to start the season with a campaign of advertising. Many additional orders continue to come in from the trade, and in certain lines it is likely that those who held back their orders until the last moment will get left, as many of the jobbers themselves are short of stock. The new lines of records have continued in great demand, none of the dealers being able to fill orders on time, as it is almost impossible to get shipments in any quantity from the factories. The most important news in the talking machine trade this month is the leasing of a fine down-town store by Peter Bacigalupi & Sons. They have secured a large first floor and basement location on Market street, opposite Turk, near the Filers Music Co.'s building, and will move in about the first of the year. There they will have the largest and finest talking machine store on the Coast. The main store has a frontage of about 35 feet on Market street and extends through to Stevenson street in the rear, affording admirable facilities for shipping and receiving stock in large quantities. The space on Stevenson street is much larger than that on Market, taking in the rear of two other stores, and affording room to carry a larger stock than ever before. The entire wholesale and retail business will then be concentrated in the one location, though branch retail stores may be opened later on if it appears advisable. The company have been caught short on fhe new Amberol records, and find it is almost impossible to fill the large orders that are coming in. Plenty of stock has been ordered from the factory, but it is being sent out in small consignments. The new Edison machines are also in short supply, as there has been a big demand for them. In addition to the regular business the new store will have a department set aside for the Edison business phonograph, which will be pushed more vigorously than before, and one for the I. G. S. language course records. Sherman, Clay & Co. state that their holiday talking machine business is starting off with a boom. They have two cars of ordinary machines and one of Victrola^ on the way and have had to order another carload by telegraph. Mr. McCarthy states that the demand from the Coast trade has been far ahead of expectations, and from the present outlook it will be the best in the history of the business on the Coast. A particularly good sign for the retail trade is the fact that a number of machines have already been bought for Christmas delivery. The sale of Victrolas is steadily increasing. , "While most of the retailers in the city carry them in stock, Sherman, Clay & Co. are getting the great share of the retail business. They sold five of these machines in one afternoon this week, two of them being $300 machines. So far the Victor double disc records have not yet come in, but they are expected at any time, and the advance orders have been very large. The steady increase of business in the Coast department of the Columbia Phonograph Co. has necessitated a change in the organization. W. S. Gray, the general manager for the Coast territory, has also had charge of the San Francisco business directly, but he has been compelled to give his entire attention to the larger field. P. H. Beck, who formerly had charge of the wholesale department here, has accordingly been promoted to the general management of the entire San FranciscO' business. This step was determined upon during the visit of Mr. Lyle. The new Columbia records continue to meet with great favor, both from the trade and the public, and new agencies are being placed all over the territory. The local branch was very short of stock for a time this month, but new goods are now arriving and orders on most lines can be filled without delay. Byron Mauzy reports that the new Zonophone records have made a great hit with the trade, and since the arrival of stock he has received a lot of new orders. His first shipments of stock have accordingly been cleaned up and he is now waiting for more. Charles E. Brown, formerly manager for Kohler & Chase, is planning to spring a big surprise on the Coast trade in a few months. Just at present he is giving most of his attention to his store at Spokane, Wash. He is just preparing to make a visit there. • Kohler & Chase have been holding a big sale of ten-inch records, selling the regular 60-cent size for 39 cents. They advertised a sale of 25,000 at that price. T. B. 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