The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1911)

4 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. TRADE IN SAN FRANCISCO. Benj. Curtaz & Son Featuring Talking Machines in Elaborate Window Displays — Growing Demand for Hornless Machines — Wiley B. Allen Co. Prepared for Heavy Holiday Business — A Sherman Clay & Co. Record— Busy Columbia Men — J. Raymond Smith Co. to Give More Attention to Talking Machines — Shortage of Stock Reported. (Special to Tlie Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 5, 1911. Benjamin Curtaz & Son are featuring talking machines in one of their show windows, and as an attraction to draw crowds they have engaged a lightning artist, who paints oil paintings in three minutes at work in the window. This firm are meeting with success with their Victor record album, the handy novelty recently put on the Coast market. Business with the hornless machines continues to improve also. W. Gardner, Jr., who was formerly in business for himself in Los Angeles, is now in charge of the talking machine department of Benjamin Curtaz & Son. Babson Bros, are doing a satisfactory business with the Edison goods as usual, but are making no special advertising campaign at the present time. Preparing for Heavy Holiday Trade. The Wiley B. Allen Co. are making preparations for the fine holiday trade in prospect. For some time this company have had difficulty in getting enough Victor machines from the factory, especially the smaller sizes. Business in the various Coast stores of this firm is good both with machines and records. The Portland store, which has hitherto had no separate department for talking machines, is to carry a complete assortment of these goods by the middle of December, when the necessary alterations will have been completed. This department will be modern and up to date in every way. "The tendency of the trade for betterclass records," says Frank Anrys, manager of the Allen Co., "is due largely to the introduction "of hornless machines. People who have never taken kindly to talking machines because they objected to the horn are now enthusiastic over the hornless machines. Naturally people who are particular about the appearance of an instrument are more &pt to be discriminating in musical taste." Mr. Anrys has of late become very enthusiastic over the outlook of the talking machine department, iest November Trade in History of Department A, G, McCarthy, secretary of Sherman, Clay & Co., announces that the small goods department of his firm has enjoyed the biggest November in its history, and that the trade is running largely to the higher-priced machines. He expresses great regret at the inability of the company to take care of orders for some of the new model Victrolas. Fred Bates, of the talking machine department oi Sherman, Clay & Co., was recently married to a young lady of Denver, Col., and is now on the way to Italy t\'ith his bride for a honeymoon trip. Meeting of Columbia Men. Walter S. Gray, Pacific Coast manager for the Columbia Phonograph Co., has returned from his trip through the Northwest and also from a short trip to Los Angeles. While North he met Geo. W. Lyle, general manager of the Columbia Co. at Spokane, Wash., and came down the Coast with him. At San Francisco the two were met by Frank Dorian, manager of the Dictaphone department, who has been making a visit to the Coast. Both Mr. Lyle and Mr. Dorian have returned to New York, after stopping off at Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Strong Demand for Victrolas. W. M. Ringen, of the talking machine department of the Hauschildt Music Co., expects a large shipment of Victrolas this week. The demand for these goods holds up wonderfully, and the record sales also are heavy. Miss C. Mitchell has joined the sales force of the Hauschildt Co., Miss Marie Smith having resigned about a week ago. A Popular Double Disc Record. Peter Bacigalupi & Sons report a fine sale of the new Victor record, which has on one disc the two popular melodies, "Oceana Roll" and "Alexander's Ragtime Band." This firm continue to do a good business with the Edison business phonograph. Kohler & Chase Featuring Graphophones. Kohler & Chase have a show window this week devoted exclusively to graphophones and Grafonola goods. This is without doubt one of the most efifective talking machine window displays ever arranged in the city. Hard to Get Sufficient Stock. A. R. Pommer, of the Pacific Phonograph Co., announces that he has difficulty in getting enough of the latest Edison machines to supply the demand. Mr. Pommer, who has been absent at a health resort on account of rheumatism, is now very busy making plans for the new year. He reports business steadily improving. To Give More Attention to Talking Machines. Since the incorporation of the J. Raymond Smith Co., by which Mr. Daniels will take charge of the piano department, it is expected that more attention will be given to the small goods and talking machine lines, as Mr. Smith will have more time free for such work, He has always specialized on small goods, having the most complete stock in the city, and reports an excellent talking machine business at both the Fillmore street and Market street stores, THE RETURN OF THE DEAD. Members of the Oak Park Club Listen to Songs and Talks of Aged Residents Recorded on the Phonograph — Hear the Voices of Men Who Long Since Passed Away. (Special to The Review.) Chicago, III, Dec. 8, 1911. Two old settlers of Oak Park, both of whom died several years ago, recently kept an audience of nearly 100 members of the Borrowed Time Club of the western suburb in alternate laughter and tears with their jokes, songs and reminiscences of earlier days. The two men, E. W. Hoard and E. F. Robbins, would have been 99 and 9.j years old had they lived. But they died one five and the other six years ago. The gathering of club members, all of whom are 70 years of age or over, had been looked forward to for weeks with anticipation. When the curtains hung across the platform of the c-lub auditorium were drawn back two large portraits of the former members were shown, while on a ' table stood a small phonograph. There was a pause, then after a twirl of the crank by the president of the club the familiar voice of Mr. Hoard was heard through the room. For several minutes every eye was dim and every voice was hushed as the dead comrade told of his coming to Oak Park and then sang one of his favorite hymns. The record was taken on Mr. Hoard's ninety-third birthday, September 6, 1905. Then, while the audience sat seemingly spellbound by the strange reappearing of their former club member, another voice sounded from the past. Mr. Robbins was with them again. His high, quavering notes in an old-fashioned hymn rang through the room for a moment. Then the tension of the situation was relieved by the ghostlike visitor suddenly telling a story which brought forth roars of laughter. While the old-timers still were smiling through their tears the president of the club announced that the strange program was over. The two former members had made good as entertainers, FRANKNESS INSPIRES CONFIDENCE. Frankness inspires confidence. People simply can't resist a sane man who is frank and brave enough to tell the truth when a lie would seem to be better for his own interests. When a man onc§ sweeps away all false notions of deception and exaggeration his business begins to take root in public confidence, and growth is as natural as a healthy plant in proper soil. — Jed Scarboro. EDISON PHONOGRAPHS RECORDS AND SUPPLIES year 191 1 and it has been for us the most successful since our incorporation. Our sales for will far exceed any previous year. For a great measure of our success we thank our dealers for their loyalty to us and take this opportunity to solicit the continued patronage of our regular trade and request a trial order from any who do not know that Eastern Service is good service. And to all we extend our best wishes for VICTOR HORN INSTRUMENTS VICTROLAS AND RECORDS A MERRY CHRISTMAS-A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR EASTERN TALKING MACHINE COMPANY 177 Tremont St. BOSTON, MASS.