The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1911)

42 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. From Our Chicago Headquarters ROOM 806, NO. 37 SOUTH WABASH AVENUE, E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, MANAGER. Chicago Jobbers and Dealers Are Well Pleased with General Condition of Business for the First Four Months of the New Year — Material Gains Shown Over Corresponding Period of 1910 — A Larger Trade Movement Expected — The Masses Again Buying Talking Machines — Some Opinions of Prominent Members of the Trade Confirmatory oF the Foregoing — Permanent Jewel Needle Co. Takes Over Business of Permanent Needle Sales Co. — Additions to Lyon & Healy Sales Force — Sales Manager Keith's Good Record — News of the Month in Detail. (Special to the Talking Machine World.) Chicago, 111., May 6, 1911. Local jobbers are particularly optimistic regarding present business. Considering the reports they hear regarding other and even more staple lines of trade, they are decidedly gratified at the showing they are making. The first four months of this year made a material gain over the corresponding period of 1910, and April in some instances is reported as having broken former records for that month. While it is true that the bulk of the business seems to be coming from the larger towns, yet business in the smaller places seems to be reviving to some extent. Whatever the contributing causes may be, there can be no question that we are on the eve of a targer trade movement in the talking machine field and that there is a keener and more general interest being shown than for a long time. Possibly the introduction of the lower-priced hornless machines may have something to do with it, and it is a singular fact that, notwithstanding the heavy demand for these types, the more expensive machines seem to be in as great demand as ever. There seems to be a feeling abroad that the masses are coming back as large purchasers of talking machines and that the trade is entering upon a new period of larger prosperity. April made a good showing from a local retail standpoint, and in one or two instances is said to have exceeded that of February or March. Business so far this month shows the usual, effect of the "moving" period, but is fully as active as last year, if not more so. Wiswell Optimistic. "It is an actual fact that the talking machine trade is making a wonderful showing, in this territory at least," said L. C. Wiswell, of Lyon & Healy. "All of our travelers have been having the most successful trips for this season of the year that they have ever had, and at the same time they all tell of having listened to tales of woe from salesmen in other lines. Last month was the biggest April we have had. Although shipments of hornless machines have been more liberal of late than for some time, there is still a shortage, and the manner in which the demand is running would indicate that the capacity of the factories will be crowded to the utmost for months to come. The advance orders on the new Victrola IX, $50 machines, are the largest that we have ever had on any new type which has made its appearance, although we have not yet even received samples." A Four Months' Record Breaker. "We have certainly every reason to be satisfied with our business so far . this year," said Arthur D. Geissler, general manager of the Talking Machine Co. "Our books show that the first months of 1911 have made a very large increase over the corresponding period of 1907, the biggest year we ever had. Whatever may be the experience in other lines of trade, the talking machine business, at least that of the Victor Co., the only line we handle, is certainly experiencing a demand for phenomenal proportions. Of course, we are working hard and energetically, and the various systems adopted by this company for aiding their dealers in their business, together with our own specialties, liave, of course, much to do with the results." The company have adopted "Tamaco," a contraction, of course, of "Talking Machine Co," as a trade name in connection with the "cabinet that matches," and other specialties brought out by them. The latest addition to the line is a partcularly handsome new style of cabinet designed to match the Victrola X and XI. An illustration will be found in the company's advertisement in this issue. They are peculiarly attractive examples of the cabinet-making art, are of , genuine mahogany, beautifully figured and highly finished. They are equipped with the new Tamaco record album, which needs to be pulled out only a few inches to be opened, are particularly attractive in appearance, and can be supplied by the company separate from the cabinet if so desired. With each cabinet is furnished a Tamaco record index, in full imitation leather binding and cut-out thumb indices. Co umbia Business Good. W. C. Fuhri, district manager of tlie Columbia Phonograph Co., reports business with him as excellent. April made a much better showing than they had expected all over the Western and Southern territory. Mr. Fuhri made a fliying visit to New York a week or so ago. He found everyone enthusiastic regarding conditions, and reporting that Columbia factories were working double shifts to supply the demand. C. F. Baer, manager of the Chicago office of the Columbia Co., reports that the wholesale business in the territory covered by the Chicago office increased 25 per cent, in volume in April over the corresponding month of last year. Retail business also showed a healthy increase, and the indications are that they will do a much larger retail business in the new quarters at Washington and Wabash than in the new location. "The large number of new Columbia dealers being established in this territory is encouraging," said Mr, Baer. "In the last week of the last month alone we established no less than five new $500 dealers. "We are having a remarkable sale on the latest Columbia grand opera records, those by Nordica, Fremstad, Nielsen and Gay. The demand for the various types of Grafonolas is remarkable, the $200 Regent library table type being still in the lead. The $150 Mignon is having a wide sale, which is also true of the $100 Elite model, while the new $50 Favorite machine is proving an immense seller." U-S Co. Making Headway. W. C. Patrick, Western representative of the U-S Phonograph Co. at Cleveland, is conducting an energetic campaign locally from their recently established Chicago warerooms at 219-225 West Washington street. He has put four salesmen out in the city, and reports having already established a number of local dealers. President Easton a Visitor. President E. D. Easton, of the Columbia Phonograph Co., -spent Tuesday of last week at Chicago headquarters. He was on a trip among the branch stores of the Central West, and was accompanied by Mrs. Easton. Keith's Interesting Trip. Roy J. Keith, sales manager of the Talking Machine Co., returned the middle of last month from his very successful trip to the Pacific Coast. He found the Far Western trade doing an excellent business. The Coast dealers, he says, are live wires, all of them. They go after the trade aggressively, carry big stocks, and make forceful displays. Mr, Keith spent a day at his alma mater, Leland Stanford University, and also Sunday at San Raphael, the guest of Peter Bacigalupi. Together they visited Leon F. Douglass, whose beautiful home is also at San Raphael. Reports Good Edison Business. A. V. Chandler, who travels Illinois for Thomas A. Edison, Inc., says that there is a distinct improvement in business with the majority of dealers on whom he calls. "Last year there was considerable complaint, and I seldom find a dealer now that does not speak of having had a very satisfactory winter and spring business. The way orders have been coming forward the past few weeks is exceedingly encouraging. They shqw that stocks are low and that dealers are looking for good, brisk trade. Dealers have taken hold of the Edison wagon proposition with avidity, A number of the Illinois trade have signed up within the last few weeks, and those who now have the wagons are doing an excellent business with them, N, G. Kreusch, the Edison traveler for Indiana, was a recent Chicago visitor. Victor Visitors. George Ornstein, manager of traveling salesmen for the Victor Co., is on a special trip to Denver, was met here by Mr. Fitzpatrick, the Michigan traveler; Mr. Hippie, the Iowa traveler, and C, L, Price, who covers Indiana. Sam Goldsmith, district manager of salesmen for the Victor Co., is on a special trip to Denver, Salt Lake City, and other Western points. Walter Scott, comptroller of the Victor Co., was a visitor to Chicago last week. Cecil Davidson a Benedict. Cecil Davidson, of the Talking Machine Shops, and Miss Catherine Madden, who had been George Davidson's assistant at the Jackson street store for some time, were quietly married last month. Mr. Davidson is one of the most popular young men in the retail trade of Chicago, and he has been deluged with congratulations on his good fortune by those who have had the acquaintance of tlie charming bride. Good Record Album Business. Lyon & Healy report an excellent demand for the new disc record album introduced last month and which is described in their advertisement in this issue. Good Dictaphone Business. In addition to the big deal made last month in the installation of Dictaphones for the Illinois Central Railroad Co., George D. Smith, who is in charge of the Dictaphone railway department of the Columbia Phonograph Co., has just closed a contract for furnishing Dictaphones to the Chicago & Eastern Illinois offices. W. W. and E. A. Parsons have closed some big Dictaphone deals recently, and the company's commercial machine business in Chicago is brisk. New Lyon & Healy Traveler. H. M. Lansdowne, who has been added to the talking machine force of Lyon & Healy, covering Northern Indiana and Michigan, is giving a good account of himself. Will Market Direct. The Permanent Jewel Needle Co,, of Highland Park, 111., who have hitherto distributed their product through the Permanent Needle Sales Co., have taken over the business of the latter company, and will hereafter market the Permanent Jewel Needle for disc machines. The company will manufacture as heretofore at Highland Park, but will conduct general and sales offices at 222 North State street, between Lake and South Water, Chicago. Seaman's Cincinnati Trip. F. H. Seaman, assistant manager of the Chicago branch of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., has been spending the week at the Lane headquarters in Cincinnati, The company, like the other jobbers, report a very satisfactory talking machine business. In the retail department the sales force has been considerably increased, and Manager L. Kern Cameron reports a greatly increased business as compared with last year. The Wade Fibre Needle Cutters. The Talking Machine Co,, of Chicago, have just placed on the market a new fiber needle cutter, shown in an illustration appearing elsewhere, and which is the invention of Mr, Wade, who is in charge of their repair department. As will be seen {Continued on page 44.)