The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1911)

6 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. Columbia Catalog, page four: The Lyric" Hornless Graphophone is an extraordinary twenty -five dollars' worth, Colambla PboDograpli Co., Genl., Tribune Building, New York TRADE ON THE PACIFIC COAST. Business Exceedingly Satisfactory — iVlany Stores Put on Extra Help — Sherman, Clay's Big Victor Trade — Columbia Co. Doing Largest Business in Their History — Bacigalupl Preparing for Big Edison Trade — F. K. Dolbeer Expected — New Dealers Put in Edison Goods — Dictaphone for City Officials. (Special to the Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, Cal., Oct. 5, 1911. Andrew G. McCarthy, head of the small goods and talking machine department of Sherman, Clay & Co., reports an extremely satisfactory run of business through the summer months, and says the fall trade is starting out with an all-'round increase of activity. If the season keeps on as it has begun, he says, it will be the best in years. The company's recently issued catalog of talking machine goods has shown immediate results, and orders which can be traced to this cause are coming in all the time. It has been necessary to put on extra help, Mr. McCarthy says, since the new list has been placed in the hands of the out-of-town trade. Practically all of the company's traveling men are now on the road in various parts of the coast, and are sending in excellent reports. Mr. McCarthy, who has been confining his attention very closely to business for •some time past, hopes to get away on a short vacation early next month. Mail Order Business Increasing. S. A. Babson, manager of Babson Bros.' branch on Post street, this city, is spending a vacation at Lake Tahoe. The mail order business at the local store has been growhig steadily, and a large volume of business is now coming in from all parts of the coast. Amberol records have been about the principal factor in this company's trade of late. In the city trade the company reports a marked increase over the August business. Busy Times with Columbia Co. C. Wortley, who came to San Francisco from Portland about a month ago to take charge of the retail store of the Columbia Phonograph Co. in the Kohler & Chase building, states that he is greatly pleased with his new field, and is looking forward to an excellent business, not only for the holiday season, but throughout the coming year. He notes a steady and increasing demand for the new $25 and $35 Columbia machines in this city, but saya the Grafonola Favorite is fully holding its own. During the short time he has been in charge here he has noted a material increase in the call foi records, particularly the higher priced goods. Nordica records are being strongly featured, as Mme. Nordica will be in San Francisco during the ground breaking for the Panama-Pacific Exposition next month. Gypsy Smith is also expected here shortly, and his records are receiving considerable advertisement. Call for Better Class of Records. The Hauschildt Music Co. note a decided improvement in the talking machine business of the last month. The call for the better class of records was much larger than during the summer, and the horn machine has been selling quite well of late. The company have added some new men who are working in the outside territory. Manager Ringen states that cabinets have sold with great success during the last few weeks. A good sized shipment of Victrolas will shortly be received and put in the talking machine department of this company. Putting in Large Stock of Edison Goods. Peter Bacigalupi, Jr., of the firm of Peter Bncigalupi & Sons, is again in the Market street store, after a very enjoyable vacation spent in the wilds of Mendocino and Humboldt counties, where the best of hunting and fishing is to be found. Mr. Bacigalupi reports a splendid outing during which some fine game was bagged. The Edison business with the corripany is getting into the fall swing and the firm is putting in a much larger stock than usual. City business with the business phonograph holds up in a very encouraging way. What the Heine Co. Report Manager C. F. Lundberg, of the Heine Piano Co.'s talking machine department, says that the company's phonograph business for the fall starts well, and that a large stock has been laid in. Record business has been excellent with this house. Mr. Lundberg plans to take a coast trip within a short time. Outlook Good for Edison Line. A. R. Pommer, manager of the Pacific Phonograph Co., local jobbers of Edison goods, is Rooking for a visit from the Edison sales manager, F. K. Dolbeer, who will arrive in this city about the middle of October. Mr. Pommer states that August was the best month the company has seen this year, though it is the only month not showing an increase over the corresponding month last year. The fall outlook, Mr. Pommer says, is most excellent, and he is looking for a record-breaking bnsi ness. He is awaiting the new type of Edison machine and the new Edison records which will be sent out from the factory, it is announced, about Oct. 15. W. A. Voltz, factory representative on the coast, is at present making a trip in the Fort Bragg region, about a hundred miles up the coast from San Francisco, and is having a very successful trip. J. E. McCracken is in the Northwest, doing a splendid business on the Edison lines. Mr. Pommer recently returned from Del Monte, where he put in two weeks at golfing and fishing. He brought back with him one of the cups won at the tournament held early in September. Among new dealers who will put in Edison goods this fall are : the Lovelock Commercial Co., of Lovelock, Nev. ; the Elko Mercantile Co., of Elko, Nev. ; J. D. Herbert, of Durham, Cal., and G. W. Knox, of Knight's Landing. Mr. Pommer recently had calls from George E. Bradnock, of the Muller Music Co., of Klamath Falls ; William Hale, of Redding, and R. Augustini, of San Andreas, who placed some good orders for fall shipment. Dictaphones for City Officials. The talking machine department of the new store of Kohler & Chase, in Oakland, Cal., is now entirely settled and is doing a nice business. Several demonstrating rooms have been installed and Manager J, L, Clancy gays that the fall, t^ysiness has commenced exceptionally well. The outside work on the Dictaphone, in charge of,F. P. Cook, is progressing well, and the Dictaphone has recently been placed in the Mayor's office and in the office of the prosecuting attorney. The stock of Columbia machines and records is now complete in the Kohler & Chase store. Thos. B. Watson Now Manager. Thos. B. Watson has been made manager of the Oakland Phonograph Co., located in the Bacon Building on the Eleventh street side. Mr. Watson states that a much heavier volume of cash business is now being done than for some time. A large stock is being ordered for the fall business, and the company expects the coming season to go much ahead of previous years. Some News Brieflets. Lawrence K. Wilson, of the Wiley B. Allen Co.'s talking machine department, is expected to reach San Francisco after an extended trip in the Orient in a few days. A large line of talking machines has been put in by the Music Store Annex of the Woodworth Drug Store, of Albany, Ore., several makes being carried. Considerable space has been given over to the new line, and several attractive demonstration rooms have been built. An Idaho store to put in a new line of talking machines is Sherfey's Book Store, of Moscow, which will carry the Edison line. The Filers Music House store at Bellingham, Wash., is carrying on an active campaign in the talking machine department. LEAVES FOR ENGLAND. James Van Allen Shields, advertising manager of the Columbia Co.'s branch house in London, Eng., who arrived September 18 on a visit to his folks and to get in touch with the executive offices, sailed for Liverpool, Eng., October 4 on the "Mauretania," of the Cunard Line. Mr. Shields has not been home in six years, and on Friday of last week went to the plant in Bridgeport, Conn., going through every department, and staying until Tuesday, greatly pleased with the up-to-date methods employed in turning out the product and the facilities afforded in every department for this purpose. JOINS PROMINENT LAW FIRM. Herbert H. Dyke, who has been on the legal staff of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., Orange, N. J., with an office at the plant, has entered the law firm of McCarter & English, one of the leading attorney-s of the State, Newark, N. J. Mr. Dj'ke is noted for his connection with the enforcement of the Edison restrictions included in its selling system against price cutters. Mr. Dyke still retains this part of the business with his present affiliation. The Omaha Young Men's Christian Association are using the Victor Victrola as a means of spreading the gospel. They are using it in their regular deyotjonal services and night school.