The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1911)

52 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. HAPPENINGS IN ST. LOUIS TRADE. {Continued from page 51.) C. H. Hawk, of Greenville, 111., was a recent visitor at the Edison headquarters here. W. E. Gibson, of Paducah, Ky., a Victor dealer, was an over-Thanksgiving visitor in the city and spent much time with the Aeolian Co. talking machine department. C. H. Krcuch, special factory representative of the. Edison line, made a general survey of the St. Louis territory and was a guest at the Silverstone Talking Machine Co. store for several days. The Edison country business is much improved, according to reports of Mr. Silverstone and Mr. Kreuch. The talking machine advertising for three weeks has been strongly for Christmas, urging early selection to insure delivery on time. "Make a payment and have the instrument delivered any time" is the keynote. Also there is strong suggestion that certain styles of machines are hard to get and that an early selection is important. The Thiebes Piano Co. put out the first Christmas ad and "it produced results," says Manager Robinson. "We are shipping a good many machines for Christmas," said Mr. Byars at , the Columbia store. "We have several machines here on which men are paying instalments for their wives for Christmas," said Mr. Silverstone. There seems to be a concerted effort on the part of the downtown special stores to create the impression with the public that these stores are superior places to buy talking machines and create in effect a "Talking Machine Row." L. A. Cummins, who was for several years special representative for the Victor Co. in this territory, and to whom belonged the credit of booking the largest orders from retailers sent to that company, quit their service in November and engaged with the Koerber-Brenner Music Co., Victor and small musical merchandise jobbers. His move was prompted by the ill-health of Mrs. Cummins and because his new employers offered a smaller territory which would give him more frequent visits at home. He was given a hearty welcome by his friends in and nea'r St. Louis, but had hardly settled in this work when the physicians ordered Mrs. Cummins to Colorado. It so happened that the Koerber-Brenner Co. had a vacancy in that territory, and they at once transferred Mr. Cummins to the Western field, and he has removed there. For the present he is making his headquarters in Denver. He will travel in Utah and Colorado, and from rettirns received from him to date he will do quite as well in his new field and with the larger line as he has done in the past with the exclusive talking machine line. Secretary Rauth, of the Koerber-Brenner Music Co.,. says that that firm have been doing a remarkable business with the Victor line and is well prepared for the Christmas deliveries, having received two heavy shipments of low-priced Victrolas the first of December. His company, he says, have been keeping up with the needs of the customers and delivered 100 of the $15 Victrolas to the Grand Leader Department Store during November. Mr. Rauth says that the horn machines have been moving very well of late and a renewed demand has come from the city trade and that he is convinced the horn will remain in trade as long as the factories will supply such machines, because of the preference of a good many persons. The Bollman Bros. Piano Co. have been giving the talking machine department a good deal more attention this fall and are figuring to a considerable extent in the retail trade. Their parlors are at the rear of the first floor wareroom and are in competent hands. Good salesmanship and liberal window displays have been instrumental in moving a large number of Victrola XVI's. G. C. Hawkins is now covering Illinois, Missouri and Indiana for Koerber-Brenner Music Co. .The Victor talking machine was splendidly exploited in the 16-page advertisement carried by Linn & Scruggs, the large department store of Decatur, 111., in the local papers. Programs of the Victor concerts formed part of the display and the entire arrangement was most effective and must have produced excellent results for the advertisers. A message for you from Santa Claus *'Don't forget that the New York I Talking Machine I Company ships all I goods the same day the orders are received." New York Talking Machine Co. Successors to Victor Distributing and Export Co. 83 Chambers Street New York His Master^ Voice" RECORDS OF FOREIGN MUSIC. A Most Delightful Program Heard at the Meeting of the Chaminade Society Which Was Held Recently at the Home of Mrs. Geo. W. Lyie — Records of Early Indian Music, Russian, Japanese, South America, Hebrew, Hungarian, Heard with Descriptive Lecture by Miss Trowbridge — The Columbia Grafonola Used at This Delightful Gathering. The regular meetmg of the Chaminade Society was held recently at the home of Mrs. George W. Lyle. The feature of this meeting was the playing of records of foreign music (mainly Eastern), with an explanatory talk. The first records to be played were of early Indian music, the selections having been made by Satyabala Devi, a Hindu princess, who has been sent to this country for the purpose of recording the unwritten music of the temple, which dates back to 8,000 B. C. The first record shows the origin of the chromatic scale in 8,000 B. C. Indian music is the oldest in the world; in fact, the foundation of all music. It is much older even than Egyptian and Grecian. After the Hindu music the balance was modern. The record of Arabian music was one of the most interesting on account of the singer's peculiar manner of breathing. The singer would sing as long as he could without taking a breath, and then stop for a few seconds, and then continue the next verse. This music is monotonous, typical of the desert and the desolateness of the country. The contrast in the next record played, a Russian Balalaika solo, was very striking. The Balalaika in tone very much resembles the mandolin. After the Russian followed Japanese, with the typical Samisen accompaniment, Tamil, Siamese, Malay — all very much on the same order. Then the theme changed to South America, native m,usic of Colombia, represented by an orchestra selection of stringed instruments made by Spanish Indians, and then an Argentine Tango. Then Spanish West Indies, represented by a Cuban Danzon, with its erratic tempo; Porto Rican selections, after which were samples of'three of the Chinese dialects — the Swatow, Cantonese and Amoy. These records, with their wild, unearthly shrieks, peculiar accompaniment, were an excellent example of elementary music, and were one of the most interesting features of the meeting. Much more pleasing to the ear were the selections of Hungarian music and the Hebrew. The descriptive lecture prepared by Miss Trowbridge added greatly to the interest, being prepared in a thorough and comprehensive way, and was aided materially by the excellent reproductions of the music of the various countries on a Columbia Grafonola. In fact, the meeting was entirely out of the ordinary and. included songs by Mrs. Charles A. L. Massie, as well as banjo solos by Fred F. Van Epps. The meeting was declared the most interesting and instructive ever held. NEW STORE IN GLOVERSVILLE, N. Y. W. H. Becker, formerly of the firm of Fellows, Wicks & Becker, Gloversville, N. Y., has opened warerooms at 9 Cayadutta street, that city, under the name of W. H. Becker & Co., where he will handle Kroeger pianos exclusively. Mr. Becker h.as had much experience in the piano field and is well known in Fulton County. RECEIVER APPOINTED FOR SONORA CO. Jesse Watson has been appointed by Judge Hotigh receiver for the Sonora Phonograph Co.,' of 78 Reade street, New York, and was ordered to file a bond of $25,000. The liabilities of the bankrupt concern are estimated at $60,797 and the assets $41,861. Andre & Andre, of Jacksonville, 111., who handle household supplies in that city, have taken the agency for the Columbia grafonolas. The Witt Music House of Loraine, O., have taken the agency for the full Columbia line.