The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

42 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEWS. Summer Trade Surprising y Good — S. A. Brown Co. to Open New Store — Sherman, Clay & Co.'s Satisfactory Trade — What the Southern California Cc. People Are Doing — Some "Live" Items from a "Live" Section. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 2, 1910. Southern California, particularly Los Angeles, is having a surprisingly brisk summer trade in all talking machine lines. Not only is the talker trade in good shape, but most all lines of trade are having the busiest summer yet witnessed in this section. Besides the opening of a new store several of the older dealers have enlarged and added to their talking machine departments. The S. A. Brown Music Co. opened a talking machine and piano store at 335 South Spring street about the middle of last month. S. C. Puisur has the talking machine department in charge. Th3 stock consists of a comp'ete line of Victor and Columbia disc machines and records. The department is tastefully arranged and decorated, the soundproof rooms being hung with heavy tapestry. One large room is devoted to the various styles of machines which arc demonstrated in comparison. Mr. Pursur is a very capable business man and reports business conditions much better than expected. Sherman, Clay & Co. are among the busiest jobbers, having recently supplied several new dealers with complete Victor record stocks. Chas. S. Ruggles, manager of the local branch, is keeping up his name as one of the best anglers or. the Coast, and may be seen most any Sunday at his favorite pastime of fishing through the breakers at Ocean Park. The Southern California Music Co. are having some good success with the foreign Edison records recently received. Amberolas still seem to ■ hold the center of the stage, their demand increasing very rapidly. S:veral of the talker department employes are away on vacations. A rule has lately been adopted where the salesmen are called together every sixty days to discuss the general business of the department. At each meeting one member is chosen by the votes of the others to give an essay on salesmanship. The meetings have proved very interesting and beneficial to all. Mr. Giessler, of the Geo. J. Birkel Music Co., is settling into business again after his extended trip through the East. After visiting the dealers in the larger cities he compliments the western dealer on the up-to-date methods which are employed by him in handling the talking machine trade. Mr. Giessler is very much interested in the arrangement and equipment of the new department which is to be occupied in the new building on Broadway. The Columbia Phonogiaph Co., wholesale exclusively, are enjoying a very good summer trade and have had a most satisfactory business up to the present time this year. Robt. R. Schafer, of Santa Ana., Cal., visited this city last week and gave very good reports from his section. A. J. De Lozier, of the De Lozier Furniture Co., at El Centro, Cal., called on the local Columbia jobbers in the interest of his business. He is an exclusive Columbia dealer. J. R. Brakey and Mrs. Brakey, of Ventura, a.e in Los Angeles for a few days. Mr. Brakey has great hopes for a very big trade during the coming season. Geo. P. Austin, manager of the Oxnard store of the Southern California Music Co., has had great success with Edison goods in his section. An article which appeared in the September Phonograph Monthly gave the following mention: "Out of a population of 2,000, 109 machines were sold; 52 of these were Triumphs and two were Idealias, the remainder being smaller machines." Now Mr. Austin is replacing many of these with Amberolas and finds them in surprising demand. P. W. Cornell, together with Mrs. Cornell, are spending a few days at the beach. Mr. Cornell is the Edison dealer at Banning, Cal., where, he says, business is very good. Another caller on the trade in Los Angeles was Mr. Oshanna, of rsrawley, Cal., who handles a complete line of Edison goods and claims the distinction of being lower than any nth r dealer on earth. Brawley is 116 feet below the sea level and has a temperature of 130 degrees in the shade. This is truly the land of perpetual sunshine, for there is never a cloud in the sky. The American Telegraphone Co., H. P. O'Reilly & Co., representatives, are demonstrating their latest models to the business men of San Diego. They have taken offices in the Granger building and are ha\ing much success. Some attractive advertising is being done in the local papers. Arthur J. Morse, manager of the Southern California Music Co., of this city, is spending a few -weeks' vacation in the northern part of the State. Herbert L. Clark, the world's most celebrated cornet soloist, who is familiar to the trade for his Victor and Edison records, is filling an engagement with the Coronado Tent City Band. P. C. Carnes, of the talking machine department of the Southern California Music Co., Los Angeles, is spending his vacation at Tent City, Coronado. A. D.' Giessler. manager of the 'talking Machine Co., Chicago, is expected to visit Los Angeles for a few days next week. Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Thomas, of Topeka, Kans., are spending a few weeks in Los Angeles End have called on the local Edison joDDers. Mr. Thomas is connected with the Santa Fe Watch Co., of Topeka, and is very much interested in th? talking machine business. H. H. Pish, one of the oldest talking machine men on the Coast, who for some time past has been otherwise engaged, has joined the letail selling force of the Southern California Music Co., Los Angeles. QRESSINQ BECOMES MANAGER Of the Talking Machine Department Inaugurated by Aeolian Co. Money saved by hiring cheap help isn't generally well saved. A good clerk makes satisfied customers and a poor clerk sends people away disgusted and disgruntled. The important thing in life is to have a great aim, and to possess aptitude and the perseverance to attain it. — Goethe. Unload — you can't carry the big things well, if you are weighted down with a lot of little, no account detail. After considerable speculation among a formidable list of applicants, O. A. Gressing, formerly manager of the St. Louis Talking Machine Co. in St. Louis, has been appointed man O. A. GRESSING. ager of the talking machine department which the Aeolian Co. are to open on a large scale in Aeolian Hall, New York. Mr. Gress'ng has had long experience in the talking machine field, snd is well equipped to make a success of this new and important department of the Aeolian Co. Mr. Gressing before entering upon his duties in New York went to Wisconsin for a couple of weeks' vacation, getting back August 15. Besides being personally in charge at headquarters lie will have supervision of the departments in Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Dayton and Fort Wayne. This is Our Victrola Protector For Victrola XII and Amberolas also <f Every high-class machine on your floor should have a protector. It insures them from injury, dust and dampness. <If Most of your customers use their machines on their verandas, yachts, etc., during the summer, where they are exposed to the weather. You can make good profits and pleased customers by selling them protectors. <]f Write us NOW for samples of materials, prices, etc. S. B. DA VEGA CO. Victor Distributors— Edison Jobbers 126 University Place New York City