The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

6 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. A Merry Christmas and good business throughout a Happy New Year to every man who handles the Columbia line and to every man who ought to— and that doesn't leave anybody out. A GREAT EDUCATIONAL FACTOR. (Continued from page 4.) for a concert from the machine. They become so discriminating in their tastes and learn to love the finest things as they hear them again and again. We select the records with infinite care and only the very purest and sweetest music is permitted to be heard. "This is a new movement, but already the results are so wonderful that we find ourselves amazed at the influence. What the near future may develop in this field is as yet unguessed; but one thing is sure, the talking machine has come into the schools to stay, and has already proved itself to be a wonderful ally to the musical, cultural and social phase of school life." 'PHONE AND PHONOGRAPH COMBINED. A telephone line provided with phonographic transmitting and receiving apparatus has been installed in London. The object of this innovation is to make it possible to send a telephone message Colombia Phonograph Co., Genl., Tribune Building, New York. HARMONY IN THE STORE. Each Salesman Should Aid in Making the Store Atmosphere as Cheerful as Possible. tc a person who is not at the moment within reach of his telephone. The person called finds, on returning to' his home or office, a phonographic record of the telephone message which was sent dur ing his absence, and his phonograph reproduces the message from the record. This result was sought and obtained, in principal, by Poulsen, the Danish physicist, who has perfected the method of producing sustained electric waves by means of the singing arc. Poul sen's telegraphone, which was exhibited in Paris in 1900, is an electromagnetic phonograph which can readily be applied to the registration of telephone messages. The record is made on a ribbon of steel, which moves between the poles of an electromagnet and receives and pre * serves a magnetic impression of the words spoken into a microphone connected with the electromagnet. BOGGS & BUHL'S NEW MOVE. It's up to the salesman to make a cheerful atmosphere about the store as much as for the boss. Probably the proprietor has more to ruffle him up than we boys do, and I know that nothing is appreciated more by the boss than to help him over the blues in the morning. It's also a good plan to agree with him at times when you cannot agree with yourself in doing so. For instance, if he sees merit in an article which you (the clerk) cannot, it pays at times to agree with him and advise purchasing; then when the article arrives go sell it. That's making good. Courtesy to' all customers is imperative, but courtesy between proprietor and clerk is also absolutely necessary to the comfort and prosperity of the business, says F. E. Cross, in the Hardware Dealers' Magazine. It's wise to take the. affirmative view of things. Arguing against the policies of the boss is very uphill work. If you do not agree inwardly do so outwardly and then find a good way out of the difficulty you know you are stepping into. It costs high to live nowadays, and if one is obliged to ask for more pay it should be done in the most courteous way. No demands, no threats, simply : "Do you feel I deserve a raise this season?" is sufficient. 'Twill accomplish much more than : "You must raise my pay this season ; 1 have another place in view." Chances are you'll view the other place and see your error perhaps too late. The clerk that buys his customers with discounts and cigars is less substantial than he who spends a moment's time with instructive and pleasant conversation with his customers, though oftimes the customer thinks he knows more about .the article than the clerk; in this case simply show him the goods (naming prices as you go) and tell how smart you think he is. The Prominent Department Store at North Side Becomes Victor Dealers — Buys Stock from the Standard Talking Machine Co. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Pittsburg, Pa., Dec. 3, 1910. Boggs & Buhl, the large department store at North Side, this city, have opened an exclusive Victor department, which is under the management of Mr. Phelps. The initial order for stock, amounting to $3,000, was Secured by the Standard Talking Machine Co., of which J. C. Roush is treasurer. This establishment is one of the leading concerns of its kind in this territory, and has over seventeen thousand charge accounts. The new Victor department is located on the second floor, and is handsomely fitted up with soundproof rooms and attractive furnishings. SINGS AT HIS OWN FUNERAL. Records Made by a Cobbler Used at His Burial Services. Pietro Ficco, a shoemaker and amateur musician, and very fond of a phonograph, which was his first purchase with his savings, sang at his own funeral. Ficco died at the home of compatriots with whom he boarded in Washington. Unable to afford a funeral with song, as he could have obtained in his native village in the Abruzzi, he requested that his phonograph be utilized in the service. Ficco owned several records, with "The Angels' Serenade" and Gounod's "Ave Maria," sung by himself, and these, the only two in the repertoire considered desirable for so solemn an occasion as a funeral service, were used. The phonograph and seventy-two records will be sent to his aged mother in Italy. THE FACE OF THE STOKE. One of the most important advertising mediums for a retail dealer is the show window. It is the face of the store. The chief means you have of judging a person is by his face. It is the index of character. Strength or weakness, firmness or vacil lation, good or evil, purity or lewdness, intelligence or ignorance, kindness or harshness, gentleness or roughness, confidence or doubtfulness, success or failure are all stamped thereon, and you are instinctively attracted or repelled. You like or dislike a person by the impression made upon you by his face. It is just the same with the "face" of the store. It advertises you and your business, whether you display any goods in your window or not, whether your display is good or poor. It is in your window that you can demonstrate what kind of a merchant you are, and you will be largely judged by what is done or what is not done therein. TALKING MACHINE DEALERS MEET. Hold Extra Session in New York and Discuss Various Matters of Interest to the Retail Talking Machine Trade. The Eastern States Talking Machine Dealers' Association, whose regular meeting on November 12 was poorly attended, owing to the day being a legal holiday, held another meeting on November 16 at the Cafe D'Or, New York, at which President Frank C. Storck presided, and at which the attendance was large. As usual, the meeting was full of interest for the members, who entered into a lengthy discussion of trade problems and various matters directly affecting the retail talking machine business. Opinions, unfavorable as a rule, were expressed regarding the present systems in vogue of cutting down excess stocks of dead records, and a resolution was passed suggesting that the manufacturing companies refrain from advertising new styles of machines to the general public before they are in a position to meet any sudden demand of the dealers for those particular styles of machines. Following the regular meeting the executive committee went into private session to decide upon several association matters pending and to pass upon the applications of a number of dealers. The membership of the association is growing rapidly and some of the most representative dealers in the Eastern States are being drawn into the organization. The next meeting of the association will be held at the Cafe D'Or, on West 24th street, near Sixth avenue, on the second Wednesday in January. WHAT TO BUY, AND WHEN. The knowing when to buy, what to buy, and how much to buy, cannot be taught, in books, but the beginner in business can teach himself a lot by keeping his eyes open, his memory alert, and his judgment at work. The ideal way is to buy just enough to keep ahead of the demand, but not too far ahead. The proper thing, of course, is to push the demand so that it shall become greater and greater. And the surest way to increase the demand is to increase the variety of goods carried. "This is more necessary," declares a dealer, "than to increase a stock of goods already introduced. As one increases his capital, he should also increase his knowledge."