The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1911)

is THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. They all three look their money's worth, and they all three demonstrate it. They all three make their own triends and keep them. The Columbia Grafonola "Regents'' pay as they go. Columbia Phonograph Co.. Genl., Tribune Building, New York IMPR0VEMENT[^1N_ MILWAUKEE. Retail and Wholesale Talking Machine Trade Most Satisfactory, and Jobbers and Dealers Handling the Various Lines Are Well Pleased with the Conditions Both Present and Prospective in Milwaukee and Vicinity. (Special to The Talking Machine Worjd.) Milwaukee, Wis,, Dec. 9, 1911. Milwaukee retail talking machine dealers are finding themselves in the midst of one of the busiest holiday seasons experienced since the boom days of 1906. Dealers to a man declare that trade is "much better than they had anticipated, in view of the fact that there is still depression in some lines. While the demand for high-priced machines has been increasing steadily, it is evident that the moderate-priced machine is sought just as eagerly. One of the main reasons for the big improvement in local trade is the fact that decided improvement is taking place in the iron, steel and heavy machinery field. Milwaukee is distinctly a center for the manufacture of heavy machinery, and when business in this line is good it means an improvement in the whole field. The railroads are gradually abandoning their policy of retrenchment and are Horn Connection For alt Types Straight Horn EDISON Phonographs Send for descriptive circular and price list. Retail Price, 50 Cents (Regular discounts to the Trade.) STRAIGHT-TUBE "TIZ-IT" (Trade Name) For All Types Edison Phonographs equipped with Model "O" Reproducer and Cygnet or Music Master Horn. This Connection Completes the Equipment! Retail Price, 75 Cents (Regular discouots to the Trade) Manufactured by Kreiling&Company North 40th Avenue and LeMoyne Street CHICAGO, U. S. A. coming forward with orders for steel rails and car material. This has accomplished wonders in adding new life to the local situation. The Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad has just placed an order with its West Milwaukee shops for the creation of 500 cars and this will mean the steady employment of several thousand men. While retail trade is good with the dealers in the smaller cities and towns of the State, it is evident that business in Milwaukee is somewhat more satisfactory. This is evidenced by the fact that dealers are ordering machines and records rather carefully. The outlook is fine, however, and jobbers say that before the season is over with the total volume of trade will be more than satisfactory. Conditions about the State are exceptionally favorable. Wisconsin crops were good last season, the farmer has been receiving record prices for everything, and there seems to be plenty of money. Jobbers say that collections are giving very little trouble. "The holiday trade is opening unusually brisk," said J. H. Becker, Jr., manager of the talking machine department of the Hoeffler Manufacturing Co. "Demand is especially strong for Victrolas, with the Victrola XVI in the lead. Record sales are larger than usual. I think that the Victor Talking Machine Co. is to be complimented on its advertisement in the November supplement giving the list of ten records that ought to be in every home. It is surprising how this has increased and stimulated record sales. The U-S line of machines and records is coming to the front rapidly in Milwaukee. The new hornless machines selling at $2.5 and $50 are in leading demand just at the present time. These are the only medium-priced hornless cylinder machines on the market and they are proving popular." Business is so good at A. G. Kunde's Columbia store, 516 Grand avenue, that the sales force has been increased and plans have been made for handling the largest holiday trade in the history of the store. The new Columbia Baby Regent was sold fifteen minutes after it had made its appearance at the Kunde store, and Mr. Kunde has placed a large order for these machines. The new De Luxe $200 machine has also made its appearance in Milwaukee and promises to be a good seller. Emil O. Schmidt, 310 Grand avenue, who recently installed the Victrola line, reports that business in the new department is exceeding his expectations. Mr. Schmidt has sold Victrolas to several prominent Milwaukee families recently. William P. Hope, Wisconsin and Upper Michigan representative of the Thomas A. Edison Co., Inc., who was a recent Milwaukee visitor, is now on a business trip in southern and southwestern Wisconsin. The New Idea Cabinet Co. are operating their plant at full capacity in the effort to keep up with the orders that are coming in from all over the country for the New Idea disc cabinets. Special attention is now being given to the manufacture of cabinets for Victrolas IV, VI and VIII. Lawrence McGreal, Edison jobber, who is interested in the New Idea Co., reports that the concern are unable to keep pace with the demands of the trade. William Schmidt, inventor of the cabinet, is manager of the plant. Laurence Lucker, well-known Edison and Victor jobber of Minneapolis, Minn., stopped over in Milwaukee recently as the guest of Lawrence McGreal, while on his way East. The McGreal retail store, in charge of Miss Gertiude Gannon, had the honor recently of selling a Victrola XVI to Governor Francis E. McGovern of Wisconsin for installation in the executive mansion at Madison, the State capital. Besides the sale of the machine the house sold $100 worth of records, most of them of the Red Seal variety, to the governor. This is the first talking machine whicfi has ever been installed in the Wisconsin executive mansion, and it is expected that henceforth the Victrola will play an important part in the social life in the governor's household. Lawrence McGreal recently furnished an Auxetophone to help out in the way of entertainment at the annual banquet of the Milwaukee Advertisers' Club, held in the St. Charles Hotel. The Union-Southern Pacific trains running from Milwaukee to California and the Union Pacific trains via the Chicago & North Western line are equipped with Victrolas, so that the traveler may enjoy Gadski, Eames, Caruso, Scotti and the other world-famous singers while en route. Three concerts are given each day in the lounging car that has been added to the special tourist sleeping car trains, and George J. Buckingham, traveling passenger agent of the Union Pacific, Milwaukee, says that the feature has worked out most successfully thus far. Much interest has been aroused by the action of the Milwaukee Old Settlers' Club in deciding to preserve the voices of its members to posterity by talking machine records. The plan was first suggested by Jeremiah Quinn, a well-known citizen of Milwaukee and a prominent member of the club. Mr. Quinn was much impressed by a similar action taken by the "Borrowed Time Club" of Oak Park, 111., some time ago, and he believed that the Milwaukee Old Settlers' Club, embracing as it does in its membership some of the best-known men in Wisconsin, should follow some such plan. The idea was received favorably at the recent monthly meeting of the club, and the plan will be inaugurated at the New Year's day celebration of the organization. A special program for that day includes addresses by prominent old settlers, and, these talks will be preserved on records. A comn-.ittee, made up of Jeremiah Quinn, Peter Van Vechten, Jr., and John H. Kopmeier, was appointed to arrange for the records. One of the largest shipments of Victrolas received in Milwaukee this season has just been received by the talking machine department of Gimbel Bros. Manager L. C. Parker has been finding business so good in the Victrola line of late that he ordered $10,000 worth of the instruments, but present indications are that these will not be enough to meet the demands of the trade. Under the able management of Mr. Parker Gimbel Bros, have been carrying on an aggressive advertising campaign for their talking machine line, and the results have been more than satisfactory. Manager Parker reports that his talking machine and record business averages about $1,000 daily and that the prospects are that this record will be exceeded within the near future.