The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 37 TRADE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Best Holiday Trade on Record and Business Keeps Up During January — Aviation Meet Helps Trade — Sherman, Clay & Co.'s Excellent Victor Business — Demand for Lauder Records Heavy — Southern California Music Co.'s Edison Trade Booming — Fine Talking Machine Department Arranged for in New Birkel Building — Columbia Grafonolas Very Popular — What the Other Jobbers and Dealer;; Are Selling. ( Special to The Talking Machine World. > Los Angeles, Cal., Feb. 3, 1910. The holiday trade throughout this section has been the best ever. Dealers everywhere were gratified. Pleasant weather, which Southern California is famous for, prevailed as usual, thereby helping conditions. The meet of world's aviators during the earlier part of this month served to attract many out-of-town customers to Los Angeles. Trade has seen an exceptionally busy January, although the latter part of the month is quiet. The local jobbers have been very successful in supplying their dealers during the heavy demand for goods. Sherman, Clay & Co., Victor jobbers, are enjoying a splendid trade in Victrolas and Victors, the demand for lower-priced machines having been less compared with that of previous years. The appearance of Harry Lauder, "the great Scot," at a local theater has caused an exceptionl demand for his records, until the entire list has been exhausted with the jobber as well as the retailer. The remade Lauder records are not as yet in stock, but promise to have a great sale when received. Chas. S. Ruggles. manager of the local house, is anxiously waiting, the arrival of a carload of Victor machines, which will replenish their stock, which suffered much during the holiday buzz. Mr. Ruggles is the proud father of Chas. Ruggles, Jr., the young actor who has achieved much success at a local playhouse. Andrew G. McCarthy, general manager of Sherman, Clay & Co.'s small goods "and talking machine business, paid a short visit to Southern California, when he witnessed the flight of the man-birds and attended to affairs of business. His reports of trade conditions with which he has met are most pleasant. The Southern California Music Co.'s holiday trade surpasses that of any previous year. The demand for Edison goods has greatly increased over the same period of a year ago. A shipment of the new Amberolas has been received and delivered to the dealers, although the number did not cover but a very small part of the advance orders. A larger shipment is due to arrive at an early date, when it is expected all orders can be filled. Harry Lauder records have been selling very rapidly as a result of his local appearance. Edison grand opera Amberol records, of which the first list appeared recently, have been having much success, as have the Amberol Mexican records. The Hawaiian records just received promise to hold a prominent place in the foreign catalog. C. H. Rundel has returned from a trip during which he visited several of the dealers in the country south of Los Angeles county. Very successful reports, together with many orders for Edison goods, are received from W. J. Reynard, who is now traveling through California. The Geo. J. Birkel Music Co. have just announced their intention to erect a handsome new six-story home on Broadway, between Fourth and Fifth streets. Mr. Geissler, in speaking of the new building, says his company intend to make their talking machine department as complete as, money and brains can. The fourth floor, a space 40 x 50 feet, will be devoted to the Victor and Edison sales department, and will comprise ten record salesrooms, one Victrola room, one moderate-priced machine salesroom, and a smaller room for lower-priced goods. An entirely new principle has been adopted in the way of soundproof glass partitions, which can be removed to allow space for the concert room, which is deSigned to seat 200 people and which will lie used for weekly Victor recitals, which have been a great success with the Birkel Co. for several years past. The size of the recital hall is to be 40 x 50. Many other new conveniences for handling trade are planned, such as a system of ventilation for demonstrating rooms. One of the most important features of the new store will be the Broadway show windows, which are to be the largest of any music house in the West, and will occupy a space 30 feet deep and 40 feet wide, making the front entrance 30 feet from the sidewalk. The Angelas Talking Machine Co., exclusive Edison dealers, have just completed a series of improvements in the way of additions to their stock capacity and two soundproof demonstrating rooms, which are ventilated from the basement of the building. They are doing a splendid business with Amberolas and Cygnet horn Edisons. The Columbia Phonograph Co. have been pressed with orders for the Grafonola Regent, of which they have received a first shipment. Many orders have been taken by local retail dealers, who are unable to supply the trade, and prospects of the success of the new table machine are very prominent. W. S. Gray, Pacific Coast manager for the Columbia Co., visited Southern California on business and pleasure, and had an opportunity to witness the aerial flights during his stay. He has met with success for the Grafonola in every direction. The Fitzgerald Music Co. have seen a splendid holiday trade. Irving Andrews, manager of the talking machine department, says he has worked hard during the holiday trade in the talking machine line, but never as. hard as during the season just closed. Miss Irene G. Johnstone, of Hamilton, Ontario, recently joined their department and is making some good sales in Victors. The Wiley B. Allen Co. had a big demand for XVI. Victrolas, and are now adding more space for the record stock, which is to be enlarged. The Smith Music Co., 407 West Seventh street, have added a talking machine department of several rooms. San Diego is much in evidence with orders for talking machines and records. The Wiley B. Allen Co.'s branch, under the management of W. R. Carlton, lias recently placed a large order for Edison Amberolas and Cygnet horn machines. Their stock embraces a full line of Edison, Victor and Columbia disc machines and records, and is under the care of Miss Roby and Miss Treadway. The San Diego branch of the Southern California Music Co. have been completing alterations in their talking machine department, which is now in charge of Geo. H. Stapp. Business has increased considerably, especially with the Mexican trade, which employs the services of Sig. Luis M. Amador, who recently took charge of this branch of trade. Geo. P. McKay, of Oceanside, Cal., is now in his new store, where he has much greater space. He has sent an attractive calendar, with an Edison ad., to his customers. O. P. Swem, at Escondido, enjoys the distinction of selling one of the first Amberolas on the Coast, and has a number of prospective customers to whom he intends to sell similar instruments. COLUMBIA CO. BRANCH TO MOVE. (Special to The Talking .Machine World.) Wilmington, Del., Feb. 5, 1910. The Columbia Phonograph Co.. which have occupied the large quarters in the McVey Building at Eighth and Market streets since they began business here, will move to 610 Market street on or before March 25 next, having secured a lease on the latter property. The Columbia Co. have built up a large trade in Wilmington. going to sleep to the music of its real mother's voice. The real mother is somewhat past forty and her voice is not what it used to be. It broke recently and its lack of melody so grated on the sensitive musical temperament of the baby that the mother found it difficult to put her to sleep. About this time the father bought a phonograph with a disc containing a lullaby by one of the best singers in vaudeville. One evening while the mother was rocking the little one the father turned on the lullaby. The child went to sleep almost immediately. The next night the voice of the mother was silent and the baby went swiftly to sleep again to the music of the horn. Alex. F. Brosche recently purchased Victor Welman's interest in the Ballard Music House, Seattle (Ballard Station), Wash., and expects to build up a nice business in talking machines, pianos and other musical instruments. VICTROLAS and AMBEROLAS HIGH PRICED MACHINES are worth while taking care of Our Protectors save them from Dust, Damp and Injury Price for Victrola XVI. or Amberola, For Victrola XII. Send for samples to-day MAGNETIC NEEDLES EVERY NEEDLE GUARANTEED MADE IN THREE GRADES Send for free samples and prices to-day We are the oldest established VICTOR and EDISON Jobbers in Greater New York PHONOGRAPH AS FOSTER MOTHER. S. B. Davega Co. 126 University PL NEW YORK CITY, N. Y. How the phonograph acts as foster mother to a New York baby is told by the Sun. The baby is two years old and has acquired the habit of