The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

THE TALKING MACHINE WOULD. THE VICTOR CHRISTMAS WINDOW DISPLAY The stock window displays originated by the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., have proven a boon to their dealers. Their practical worth and value are admitted by everybody who have placed them in their store. In sending out the "Victor Christmas Window Display, No. 22," the company fittingly say : "December is without doubt the most important month of all so far as show windows are concerned. At no other time of the year are so many people looking for suitable presents, or is the mission of the window so apparent. Thousands and thousands of people walk around town with rio other purpose than to gaze at show windows, and to decide that all important question, 'What to buy for Christmas.' And the dealers with the most enticing windows are the ones, of course, who will reap the greatest harvest of profit." Then of the display itself, of which the accompanying illustration is a faithful reproduction, the following detailed description is given : "With the object of giving to Victor dealers a display that will at once bring forth the best selling possibilities of their windows, our Mr. Hansen has designed this unique and startling holiday display. A large Christmas tree loaded down with wonderful toys, candles and ornaments immediately attracts the attention of the passers-by, and by going into the details they will notice that every one tells an interesting Victor story. The smart looking French dolls are Blanche Ring and Nora Bayes. The BLACKMAN CO.'S GOOD REPORT. Satisfactory Demand for Both Edison and Victor Goods from the Dealers with Prospects of a Lively Holiday Business — Specialties Increasing in Demand — Some of the Blackman Methods for Improving Business. J. Newcomb Blackmail, president of the Blackman Talking Machine Co., 97 Chambers street, when seen by The World stated that business with his concern in both the Edison and Victor lines was in very satisfactory shape and that the indications were that there would be close to a record demand for talking machine goods during the holidays. Judging from the orders sent in by the dealers there is a strong demand for machines and records of the higher grades and this tendency is steadily becoming more pronounced. The various Blackman Co. specialties, including the Playrite and Melotone needles, Place record brushes for both cylinder and disc machines (which are referred to on page 35 of this issue) and the Blackman folding trays, with Rapke labels, for cylinder funny looking Jack-in-the-box is our old Victor friend, Nat Wills, and the bright looking Scotchman with his bagpipe reveals the kind, merry face of Harry Lauder. To the chain of highly colored paper rings are attached photos of our most famous singers and entertainers, each artist's name appearing on a link. A large Christmas ornament attached to the chain tells 'that there are no weak links in the chain of Victor artists.' "At the bottom are arranged cut-out pictures showing Pagliacci, Chantecler and d?.nce records. The tree is lithographed in beautiful colors, true to nature, and affords you a most gorgeous and timely center attraction for the holiday window. But the tree is not all — the display includes ten artistically air-brushed record stands with holly leaves and berries, to which are attached record and record rings. Fastened to the rings are figures of girls dressed in heraldic garb, and suspended from their herald's horns are flags of different nations. On the record stands and in the language of each nation we have written the greeting 'Have a Merry Christmas with a Victor.' This interesting manner of calling attention to our foreign records is sure to make a great impression ; not only on the foreign population, but on Americans as well. It shows the tremendous scope of the Victor in a concise, easily understood form. Undoubtedly this window will be in great demand by dealers throughout the country." Live dealers have already taken advantage of this opportunity. records continue to gain ground and find increasing favor with both the trade and the talking machine owners. A feature of the Blackman method of doing business that appeals to the dealer is the various suggestions offered for the improvement of the retail business, which suggestions are carefully thought out and their value proven before they are submitted to the dealer. Then, too, the Blackman Co. are continually making improvements in their own methods of doing business to the end that the dealer may secure better and more rapid service wherever possible. KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH DEALERS. J. C. Roush, manager of sales for the Standard Talking Machine Co., the well-known jobbers and distributers of Pittsburg, Pa., doesn't let the dealers in the territory covered by that company forget for a minute that the Standard Talking Machine Co. is ready to fill all orders. Letters are sent out to the dealers weekly, dwelling on some particular point, such as suggestions on the selling of cab inets, how to handle the holiday trade, etc., each letter being prefaced with a live story or anecdote as an introduction to the main point of the argument. In a word, every paragraph of the letters talks right out loud for itself. THE 0. K. HOUCK HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 9, 1910. The talking machine department of the O. K. Houck Piano Co., of this city, in charge of A. L. Owen, is getting after the holiday business in lively fashion and has sent out through the mails to prospects much literature that should result in sales of outfits before the rush is over. They have been paying special attention to the Edison Fireside outfit, which they offer on free trial for two days before the initial payment is made. The various Victor and Edison outfits are also listed in a separate folder with the several features and the cash and instalment prices printed in detail. Though the holiday campaign is young, excellent results' have already been noted. SONORA PHONOGRAPH CO. REPORT. Matters at the Sonora Phonograph Co. plant, 78 Reade street, New York, seem to be going on serenely. The firm appear to be comfortably weathering the various storms that are from time to time reported as threatening their course. In a recent interview The World was told that the Sonora machines continue to speak favorably for themselves, if increase of business among the trade and flattering comments from private owners are dependable indications. General Manager Hoschke said : "At the Sonora laboratory important changes are taking place. There have been additions made to its governingpersonnel and also certain improvements in the methods of producing sapphire records, which are to make our discs one of the most important factors in the musical development of the phonograph industry, while the mechanical portion of our machines, for the most part produced by Paillard, of a century's music box fame, and favorably known throughout the world, already stands und:?putably — or at least abreast — of the highest types produced anywhere. Our $25 Sonora hornless phonograph certainly represents remarkable value, and the recently added type F, $100, solid mr.hogany machine, is of unique and most handsome design." DOLBEER ATTENDS WESTERN MEETING. F. K. Dolbeer, sales, manager of the National Phonograph Co., Orange, N. J., who went West to call on the Edison jobbers, will not be back East until nearly Christmas. There will be an annual meeting of the company's Western salesmen in Chicago on December 20, when matters for the coming year will be taken up. A LIVE BROOKLYN DEALER. J. D. Freedman, proprietor of the Disc Talking Machine Co., 371 Stone avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., although having been in business on his own account for only nine months, reports a most satisfactory volume of sales with prospects that the present month will set a pace hard to beat. Mr. Freedman handles the Victor line exclusively and carries a full assortment of machines and records. He has been in the talking machine business in Washington and New York for the past eight years and before opening his present store was for three years manager of the talking machine department of'R. H. Macy & Co., the big department store. The Harrity Furniture Co., Savannah, Ga., referring to the Grafonola Favorite, in writing to the Columbia Phonograph Co., say : "We received the Grafonola 'Favorite' yesterday and must say that we are more than pleased with this machine. We believe this will be the biggest seller of any machine that has ever been put out by the company. We think so much of it that you can send us more, with the concert reproducer."