The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1912)

4 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. CONDITIONS MOST FAVORABLE As Far as It Affects the Talking Machine Trade in Cleveland and Vicinity — U-S Phonograph Co. Busy — Opening of the B. Dreher's Sons Co.'s New Store — Hart Piano Co. Installing Several Demonstration Rooms — Large Manufacturing Concerns Order Dictaphones— High Class Machines Have the Call — The News of the Month in Detail. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cleveland, 0., June 7, 1912. Reports generally touching conditions in the local talking machine trade are of a very favorable character, and both jobbers and dealers are optimistic regarding future business. The steamers and yacht clubs have contributed largely to the expansion of sales of machines and records this season, a; also have the numerous summer resorts. The first half of the present year has developed a volume of business in excess of the corresponding months of last year, and the prospects are of the most encouraging nature. The United States Phonograph Co. is very busy these days, orders showing a daily increasing demand for both machines and records. The company is adding numbers of fine new selections to its already extensive catalogs. The Hart Piano Co. has fitted up several demonstration rooms in its quarters, No. 33, The Arcade, and the talking machine department is in full operation. Succeeding to the Talking Machine Co.'s business, which the Hart Company recently purchased, it has stepped into an established trade, which is reported very satisfactory. The Columbia Phonograph Co. reports veryprosperous conditions, and a profitable trade for the past month. Manager Geo. R. Madson said : "'The month of May closed very satisfactorily for us, showing a large increase over the same period in 1911, in both the wholesale and retail departments. The marked call for the more expensive types of Grafonolas as well as for our symphony records, at this time of the year is very gratifying. The_ Eclipse Musical Co. reports business during the past month has been fair. "Our record trade," said Roscoe R. Gorham, in charge, "is holding up remarkedly well, and is especially marked for the Red Seal list. Recently there is an increasing demand for the small Victrolas, for camp, yachting and out-of-door use. There has not been so much demand for the large Victrolas though we are making many sales of them." Mrs. Frances E. Clark, head of the educational department of the Victor Co., attended a playground convention here June 6. She is greatly pleased with the success she is meeting with. The. W. H. Buescher & Sons . Co.. is, moving into its new. quarters on Euclid avenue. Business is being continued at the old stand while the moving is in progress, and Mr. Roberts says it is remarkably good. He claims the new store will be unsurpassed in design and beauty. The new location is across the street from the Columbia Co., next to the B. Dreher's Sons Co. building, a few doors from the Eclipse Musical Co., and a stone's throw from the W. F. Frederick Piano Co., H. E. McMillin & Son Co., and the CalcP well Piano Co. They are all pleasantly situated in the new ''Talking Machine Quarters" of the city. . The B. Dreher's Sons Co. had an opening of the new store, Nos. 1028-30 Euclid avenue, May 24 and 25, which was the event ol the week in musical circles. The five-story building and basement is occupied by the company. The first, second, fifth and basement floors are devoted to the display of pianos, player-pianos and music rolls. The third floor contains the general and private offices. The entire fourth floor has been set apart for the talking machine department, and under the supervision of F. B. Guyon, manager, has been artistically arranged with a view to its practical use. There is a lobby a large reception room and several sound-proof demonstration rooms, the furnishings vicing with the Victrolas in beauty. Mr. Guyon statsd that notwithstanding the interference occasioned by 'moving, business had continued remarkably good, and that with the superior location and greatly improved facilities, he expects to do a largely increased business. Business in the talking machine department of the Caldwell Piano Co. compares favorably with that of the piano trade. The new manager of the department, Earl Wagar Bachert, who has succeeded H. D. Scroxton, who has returned to Buffalo, said business was fairly good, and had been very good for two months past. Mr. Bachert is making strenuous efforts to introduce Victor machines in the public schools and believes he will be successful. G. F. Probeck, manager of the Dictaphone department of the Columbia Phonograph Co., is highly pleased with the condition of business in his line, and well he may be, for he has just installed a number of Dictaphones with some of the large manufacturing concerns of the city. Among others, the Printz-Biederman Co., large cloak manufacturers, have purchased twelve machines. The Atlantic Refining Co., prominent competitors of the Standard Oil Co., have also had fifteen machines installed, while sales have been negotiated with a number of smaller users. Manager Norman H. Cook, of the talking machine department of the W. F. Frederick Piano Co., reports the demand for high class machines and records holding up to the high standard fixed by the company at the installation of the depart ment here and more recently at the Canton store. "Judging from our very successful business in May," he said, "and thus far in June I begin to think there is no such thing as a 'dull season' in the talking machine line. In several instances our every resource was exhausted to enable us to obtain Victrolas sufficient to supply our waiting patrons, numbers of whom we are daily adding to our list." "You may truthfully state," said A. O. Peters' m. manager of the Lucker Edison distributing house, "that considering the season of the year orders are coming in remarkably good. There i^ a normal demand for both machines and records, and dealers generally are doing an^ excellent business, judging from the number of orders we are in daily receipt of. The Amberola No. 3, both in beauty of design and absolutely correct tonal qualities, is a musical marvel. Everybody is pleased with it. and I have already booked a number of orders. Notwithstanding it is a Presidential year I predict we are going to have a good year's business." The talking machine department o'f the Bailey Co. is one of the busy places in that establishment. Mr. Friedlander. manager, said he was selling some $200 machines and a good many of the cheaper grades, and that the record demand was fine. "We are having a good trade in outsmall musical goods line," he stated. "The busi: ness is improving and we are enlarging' the department. We are now doing quite a mall-order business and shall materially extend it this year." Miss Ethel M. Volk, manager of the phonograph department of the Macy Co., said : "Business is quite good. We are having an excellent trade in machines and records, in both the Victor and Edison lines. The Edison June list contains many exceptionally attractive Amberol records. That of Eleonora de Cisneros, 'Ben Bolt,' is fine, both in the words and music, and 'My Dreams,' by Thomas Chalmers, is attracting many buyers. The prospects are very encouraging." Sam Goldsmith, the urbane and popular district manager of the Victor Talking Machine Co., spent several days in Cleveland during the past fewweeks. He is an earnest seeker for and winner of business. The H. E. McMillin & Son Co. is doing an allaround fine piano and musical instrument business, and not the least busy portion of the establishment -is the talking machine department. An excellent demand for both Victor and Edison machines and records was reported. If you consider advertising a gamble, you will be wise to le?.ve it alone. It should be treated as an investment which will pay the store regular dividends. WRITE US FOR INFORMATION AND PRICES NOW EDISON Headquarters for MEW ENGLAND MACHINES RECORDS AND SUPPLIES Sound Box Controller for Victor Record Albums at Right Prices. A New Oak Disk Record Cabinet at a Very Attractive Price for Victrolas IV., VI. and VIII. :: * :: :: AND ABOVE ALL VICTOR Distributers Largest, Most Complete Stock East of the Factory YOU SHOULD KNOW ALL ABOUT OUR needles . 4 4 Grand Opera" NEEDLES EASTERN TALKING MACHINE COMPANY 177 TREMONT STREET FOR SIXTEEN YEARS AN EXCLUSIVE TALKING MACHINE HOUSE BOSTON, MASS.