The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 15 TRADE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Present Conditions and Outlook Most Satisfactory— Sherman, C ay & Co.'s Big Victrola Business — Amberolas in Demand at the Southern California Music Co. — Angelus Talking Machine Co. in New Quarters — Brown's Music Co. — Angelus Talking Machine Co.'s Victrola Recitals — Grafonolas Have the Call at Fitzgeralds — The Photographic Specialty Co. a New Concern — Dealers Throughout the State Are Doing Well and All Look Forward to a Large Christmas Business — Louis F. Geissler Among Recent Visitors to the Land of Fruit and Flowers. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Los Angeles, Gal., Nov. 30, 1910. The Christmas trade is now taking shape and promises to be more satisfying than ever. November, which has been found by most of the retailers to be the quietest in the year, has not been much better for 1910 than in previous years. This quietness is not a bad feature, however, as it enables the dealer to prepare for the busiest season of all. The wholesalers have found trade just the reverse to the retailers and have sold more goods than in any previous November. Sherman, Clay & Co. have been exceptionally busy with the new styles of Victrolas, which have been sold as fast as received. The recent exchange proposition has also commanded some attention. Another large shipment of Victors and • Victrolas, as well as records, is due to arrive at an early date. These goods are nearly all on order and will not remain in stock for a very great length of time. The wholesale force of the Southern California Music Co. are all very busy with the many orders for Edison goods. The Amberola is in great demand, as well as the new style Triumph and the Music Master horns. AY. J. Reynard has just returned from a most gratifying trip among the dealers and has a splendid record for Amberola sales. The retail department has been a very busy scene during holiday preparations. A complete line of Victrolas in all sizes and finishes is now on display in a special room for this type instrument exclusively. Perhaps the most notable news item of the month is the removal of the Angelus Talking Machine Co. from their old quarters at Fifth and Main streets to a new and handsome store at 341 South Spring street. This company are an exclusive Edison concern and have demonstrated the growth of the Edison trade more plainly than in any other way by their removals. They are now directly adjoining the Brown Music Co., who handle Victor and Columbia disc goods. The Brown Co. are also new in this location as well as new in the trade and are gaining a strong hold on the business situation. The Geo. J. Birkel Music Co. are to remain in their old store during the holidays, altl'ougi. it was originally intended that they should occupy their new Broadway building by this time. The Wiley B. Allen Co. are ready for the biggest trade yet and which they expect to have. VV. P. Carson was secretly married a few days ago. Mr. Carson has recently joined the Wiley B. Allen Co., having left the Southern California Music Co., where he had been cashier in the talking machine department for some time. The J. B. Brown Music Co., of South Broadway, have given a series of Victrola recitals, which have proven very successful. A feature which is original is the reading of the story of the opera. This is done by Miss Mabel Brousseau, who also explains each record as it is played. Two recent concerts were devoted to "Madama Butterfly" and "Lucia." The recent opera season helped to make ■the success and created a demand for operatic selections. The Andrews Talking Machine Co. are the first Victor dealers to make a Christmas display in their show windows, the same having appeared early this week. The Fitzgerald Music Co. are 'doing a splendid business in Grafonolas. They have recently received several beautifully finished Regent styles. The Phonograph Specialty Co. is the name of a new concern, which now have exclusive selling rights for several talker appliances, such as the Harmony, disc record files, Harmony sound controllers and cardboard envelopes for protection to' stock. Geo. D. Wernli, manager of the new concern, has recently received a number of large orders for Harmony files. The Knight-Campbell Music Co , of Denver, Colo., placed an order for several hundred files, which were delivered this month. Mr. Wernli is contemplating a vigorous advertising campaign, which he expects to launch after the first of the year. Very good reports are reaching the trade from all outlying dealers. Riverside has been having a number of highly successful Victrola recitals, which were complimentary, given by the J. B. Brown Music Co.'s branch. These concerts are conducted on the same plan as those given by the Brown Co. in Los Angeles. The Southern California Music Co.'s store is in splendid shape and Manager Griffith is expecting a great Christmas trade. The Short Music Co., of Pomona, Cal., have done a remarkable business in Amberolas during the past sixty days. Ralph N. Paulin, manager of the Brown Music House of Santa Barbara, Cal., made a trip to Los Angeles a few days ago. He reports trade in splendid shape, with the best prospects in view. Bowman Merritt at Fillmore, Cal., is another Amberola specialist, having recently sold three such instruments in one week. W. H. Saladin, Orcutt, Cal , has taken the Lompoc territory for Edison goods and has installed a complete line of machines and records, including the Amberola. Ryan & Dame, at Tulare, Cal., have been appointed exclusive Edison dealers in their section, and have made it a point to have a full stock of machines and records. F. E. Huffaker, Visalia, Cal., recently ordered a dozen Edison phonographs and an Amberola and has lately added to his selling staff an eleven pound boy, upon whom he is to be congratulated. The marriage fever has spread to the California talking machine trade and has claimed the following vi:tims: O. A. Brehler, of Sanger; H. L. Mathews, Nordhoff ; W. H. Saladin, Orcutt; Sibley Pease, of the Andrews Talking Machine Co., and, as mentioned in another part of this article, Willard P. Carson, of the Allen Co., Los Angeles. Al! were doing nicely when last seen. The Crown City Phonograph Co., of Pasadena, Cal., have removed to No. 9 West Colorado street, where they will have space for a larger and more complete line of Columbia disc and cylinder goods. A great number of Victrolas have recently been sold in San Diego, all of the Victor dealers participating. Mr. Gray, of the Thearle Music Co., visited Los Angeles early in the month. He is one of San Diego's enthusiastic business men who is hulping to make the city famous. Messrs. Rundel and Lovejoy, of the wholesale department of the Southern California Music Co., had the pleasure of a call from Sophie Tucker, who is filling an engagement at a local playhouse. Miss Tucker listened very attentively to a number of her Edison records, with which she was greatly pleased. A most notable visitor during the middle of this month was Louis F. Geissler, general manager of the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J. For several days Mr. Geissler called on the dealers and visited different points of interest. His impression of southern California was very good. He expressed admiration for the general trade conditions found here and was glad to find the enthusiasm so well displayed. A feature of his visit was a fishing trip to Santa Catalina Isle, which was his first experience on the magic island, although the Coast was at one time his home. No wonderfully large fish were caught, although a large number of nice ones were landed. Mr. Geissler is a brother of E. D. Geissler, of the Geo. J. Birkel Music Co., of this city, with whom he had a very pleasant visit. C. F. Crank has lately joined the business phonograph department of the Southern California Music Co. TELLS the WHOLE STORY about the PERMANENT JEWEL NEEDLE for ALL Disc Machines W. O. Kellogg, manager Chicago office of Watson & Newell Co., silversmiths, writes as follows, under date of Oct. 2, 1910 : "Perhaps you will be interested to know that I have and am enjoying two of your 'Permanent Needles' a medium and loud tone. I have now used both for over a month and wish to say they are perfect in every way. "I use the medium tone needle on loud records, and the loud tone needle on soft records, with great effect. "There is less scratching and more soft tone derived from your 'Jewel Needle' than I have ever had from the old style steel needle. The time saved in changing needles, the assurance that at all times you have a perfect needle already set to play is a great satisfaction to me. Many of the steel needles have blunt ends and unless one is very careful to examine each needle when changing same, you are liable to injure a good record. "I am positive you will meet with great success with your new invention, and I hope the owners of all disc talkingmachines will buy and try vour 'Permanent Needle,' which I am positive will more than come up to their expectations. "Yours for success, "W. O. Kellogg. "P S. — I have played certain records many times with the same needle and note there is no wearing of the record or the needle. The tone remains the same. ("VV. O. K.)" The Permanent Needle is furnished m loud, medium or soft tone. Retail Price $2 each. Usual Trade Discounts. Cuaranteed for one rear; will last indefinitely. Order From Your Jobber. If he can't supply you, drop us a post card and we will give you the name of the nearest jobber who can. Permanent Needle Sales Co. 14 State St., Chicago