The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1912)

50 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. We rather think we showed you in February that the Columbia dealer has the best end of the bargain. And we'll do it again pretty soon. Columbia Phonograph Co., Gen'l, Tribune Building, New York SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRADE. Business in Good Shape Despite Continued Drought — New Victor Catalog Proves Welcome Surprise — New Houses Which Have Taken on Lines of Talking Machines — Frequent Recitals the Rule — Pays Visit to Charles S. Tainter — Interesting Personal Items — News of the Travelers — New Record Stop Placed on the Market — What the Various Prominent Houses Are Doing — Plan to Form Club of Talking Machine Men. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Los Angeles, Cal., Feb. 27, 1912. Owing to the lack of rain the entire section of the Southwest is suffering severely; nevertheless the talking machine business is flourishing far more than expected. Many dealers state that the past month has been most satisfactory in all the distinctive lines — Victor, Edison and Columbia. The new Victor catalog has created much interest among all Victor dealers. Even the public will be doubly interested when the market is supplied with a sufficient number of this up to date, long-looked-for publication. The Wiley B. Allen Co., of San Diego, has been enjoying a very fine business. Mr. Harris, the local manager, has Miss Roby as manager of the talking machine department. They have lately featured the Grafonola Baby Regent, thus bringing splendid results. Bowman Merritt, Edison dealer of Fillmore, Cal., is keeping up his record in selling Edison goods. He specializes on the Amberola. T. T. Gardner, who has been connected with the talking machine department of the Southern California Music Co. for many years, has been transferred to the sales force of the piano department of the same firm. Mr. Gardner is not only a successful talking machine man, but a real live experienced piano man as well. The Boston Piano Co., 700 West Seventh street, of this city, has installed a complete line of Columbia goods. Norman Turley, president of the firm, formerly connected with Frank B. Long's piano house for many years, states that it is a very desirable line to handle and is bringing the desired results. An effort is being made in Los Angeles to start a social club among the many persons interested in the talking machine business. Messrs. I. H. Andrews and W. P. Carson have kindly taken in hand the calling of the first meeting, the purpose of such being to decide future ways and means. Nearly one hundred persons gave their signatures endorsing the project. The Smith Music Co., Seventh and Hill streets, has added a complete catalog of Columbia machines and records to its Victor stock. This enables them to accommodate a greater scope of trade. The Southern California Music Co. has added two more salesrooms to its large talking machine department, also adding more space to the office of the wholesale department. By this act the talking machine business must be increasing, not decreasing. The large shipment of the new opera machine lasted only two days; now nearly all the Edison dealers are supplied according to their wants. Through the kindness of Frank Lewin a very enjoyable Victor recital was given at the Hollenbeck Home February 15, 1912, which was much appreciated by the inmates and friends of the institution. Mr. Lewin, who is a Victor owner and a strong advocate of the same, has been giving many such recitals, with introductory remarks, in Los Angeles and vicinity. I. H. Andrews, of the Andrews Talking Machine Co., who is somewhat of a vocalist, assisted, together with Sibley Pease, of the same company, who is an accomplished pipeorganist. The recitals being composed principally of oratorio numbers rendered by the celebrated Victor artists. E. Stewart Payne, an old time talking machine man of Little Rock, Ark., has joined the sellingforce of the Southern California Music Co. in the same line. A. G. Farquharson, special representative of the Columbia Phonograph Co., had the privilege recently of visiting Charles Sumner Tainter in San Diego. Mr. Tainter, of "Bell and Tainter" basic patent fame, still takes a great interest in the talking machine business, and but for a lcng illness covering a number of years, this great and original inventor would doubtless, as of yore, have continued to astonish with new ideas and improvements. Geo. P. Austin, Edison dealer of Oxnard, was in the city for a few days and left a good order for Edison goods, which he favors very highly. Barker Bros., one of the leading furniture houses of Los Angeles, are having splendid results in the talking machine line. F. E. McArthur, manager of the piano and talking machine department, reports business conditions are very good. F. A. Anrys, general manager of the Wiley B. Allen Co., of San Francisco, is in Los Angeles for several days visiting the branch store in this city. He is accompanied by his wife and will spend a few days motoring in southern California in their large touring car, which they shipped down by boat, thus combining pleasure with business. E. L. Bailey, dealer of Edison goods for Fallbrook, Cal., reports fine" results from the canvassing of his district, making many sales of high grade instruments. M. B. Romaine, mechanical expert from the Edison factory, is in southern California calling on all Edison dealers and giving general instructions regarding repairs and explaining fhe make-up of Edison motors in general. Mr. Romaine will continue his trip, covering the entire coast as far North as Seattle, calling on all Edison dealers. While in the South section Mr. Romaine is making his headquarters with the Southern California Music Co., Edison jobbers for the Southwest. O. A. Lovejoy, manager of the talking machine department of the Southern California Music Co,, in company with W. J. Raynard, traveling representative for the same firm, is making a trip in his new automobile visiting dealers in Burbank, Lankershim and vicinity. E. A. Borgum, one of the oldest talking machine men on the Coast, is now located with the Wiley B. Allen Co., of this city. He has had a wide experience in this line, being a pioneer salesman in Los Angeles, and was recently with the Eilers Music Co. in Seattle. The Wiley B. Allen Music Co., of this city, is contemplating enlarging its talking machine department so as to occupy nearly the entire main floor. A most economical little instrument is being placed upon the market by Geo. H. Hiles and Karl W. Thalhammer, of Los Angeles. It is economical because it saves nerves, time and money; besides this, it pays big dividends on the money saved in satisfaction and enjoyment. At the end of a record every talking machine has to be stopped by someone or else a constant running of the machine, which might prove very detrimental to the record. This new record-stop consists of a small battery concealed inside the cabinet part of the machine properly connected to a small apparatus used as a stop, placed at the back of the turntable with a small metal lever extended upwards, which touches the arm of the machine, thus making the contact and stopping the revolving of the turntable instantly at the end or at any desired place on the record. It is not complicated in the least and can be adjusted to all disc machines by any operator. The retail price of this record-stop is very low and affords a good margin to the jobber and dealer. The advertisement of the record-stop in this issue of The Talking Machine World shows a cut to which this article refers. VENDING MACHINES IN MEXICO. United States Consul Marion Letcher, Chihuahua, writing of prospects for talking machines, self-playing pianos and other specialities, said: "As to the steps necessary for the establshment of a slot-machine business in this city, and particularly as to the charges for license, etc., I find that machines for vending, weighing, etc., placed on the street or in any public place apart from a house of business pay monthly the equivalent of $1 gold. Where a regular business is done, as, for example, such a general slot-machine business as is done in American 'penny arcades,' the charge varies from $1 to $5 monthly, the amount varying according to the number of machines up to the maximum charge of $5. "There appear to be in this city only two of the slot weighing machines. The owner informs me that he cleared the price of these machines the first month of their operation, they being then great novelties here, and that subsequently he has made a small profit each month. The same person is also the owner of eighteen kinetoscope slot machines. "These, it appears, were purchased second-hand from a man who conducted here at one time a 'penny arcade,' which enterprise was very successful, and was only abandoned .because of the expiration of the lease on the building in which the 'arcade' was conducted and the failure of the owner of the machines to secure a suitable substitute. I am of the opinion that a very good business could be established by setting up 'penny arcades' in different parts of Mexico."