The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1912)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 21 CONDITIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO. Great Campaign of Advertising Now Being Carried on Bearing Fruit — Columbia Phonograph Co.'s Active Battle for Trade — Recitals Effective in Developing Business — Sales of Edison Business Phonographs by Bacigalupi — Talking Machine Men Much Interested in Baseball and Many Clubs Which Will Be Heard from This Season Have Been Organized. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, June 5, 1912. Local talking machine dealers note some improvement over the previous month, but it is generally admitted that the sale of machines is a little slow. The record business, however, is extremely active, both in the local retail trade and for outside distribution, and the total volume is helped out materially by the increasing attention given to high class machines. Some Effective Advertising Work. The general advertising work which is being carried on by the talking machine manufacturers, has been of great and easily traceable benefit to the dealers on the Coast. The Victor advertising has aroused more comment than anything else, owing to the coupling of the Victor with the names of dealers in the leading coast dailies. The Wiley B. Allen Co., in this connection, scored a hit locally, as arrangements were made some time before the advertisements appeared by which this company has all the extra space in the Victor ads in all the San Francisco papers. The effect, according to Geo. R. Hughes, of this company, has been most satisfactory, bringing in many inquiries which could not have been expected otherwise. In Portland, Ore., this company also secured space in one of the leading dailies, the other being taken by Sherman, Clay & Co., coast agents for the Victor line. In Los Angeles the Victor page is shared with a number of different firms, including the Wiley B. Allen Co., Geo. J. Birkel Co., Holmes Music Co., Eilers Music House and J. B. Brown. Feature "Spring Maid" Records. Simultaneous with the production of the "Spring Maid" opera in San Francisco, Sherman, Clay & Co. made a striking window display, showing a scene from the play. Similar displays were made at several of the company's stores, attending the opera company down the coast, and at each place a heavy demand for "Spring Maid" records was reported. According to Andrew G. McCarthy of this firm, not only are records moving well, but sales of machines are larger than for May of last year, the gain being most notable in the higherpriced Victrolas. Keeping in Touch With Branches. James Black, talking machine manager for the Wiley B. Allen Co., is spending the week at outside branches. The department in the local store is undergoing further improvements, the office being rearranged. The increased attention given by this company to the talking machine department has given highly satisfactory results, and it now ranks as one of the foremost talking machine firms of the city. One innovation just started is a new system of keeping check of the records, this work being in charge of Arthur Foley. By this means it is expected to avoid all confusion and delay in the handling of records. Columbia Men Active. W. S. Gray, coast manager for the Columbia Phonograph Co., made another trip to Los Angeles about the middle of the month, just too late for the Shriners' convention in that city. He met E. D. Easton, president of the company, in the southern city, and accompanied him as far north as San Francisco. Among the Columbia retailers who visited the city this weak ware A. McDowell of Petalunn and Mr. Metzger of Smith's Pharmacy, St. Helena, Cal. Much Interest Shown in Baseball. The talking machine men of San Francisco and Oakland are keeping up their interest in amateur baseball, though if things continue as they have been going, the San Francisco contingent will lose interest. A game was played at Recreation Park, May 30, resulting in an easy victory for Oakland. Handling Increased Line. E. W. Scott, who operates the talking machine store in the Kohler & Chase building, is handling a more varied line than before, having Victor as well as Columbia goods. He says he has seen business much better and much worse than for the last, month, machine sales being below the average, though he has disposed of large numbers of records. Manager Transferred. J. Bergman, who formerly had charge of the talking machine department of the Hauschildt Music Co.'s store in Oakland, has been transferred to San Francisco. Good Sales of Business Phonographs. Peter Bacigalupi & Sons say that the talking machine business has been a little quiet all this season, but they are making up for it with large sales of the Edison Business Phonograph, to which they are devoting more attention than ever. Several important local firms have recently placed large orders for these machines, and the number trow in use affords a good regular business in supplies. Getting Results from Recitals. Herman Beck, who handles the talking machine business of Byron Mauzy, is gaining ground steadily, and has brought in a great deal of new business in the few months he has had charge. The recitals continue to show good results, and further improvements are being made in the rooms every week. A. R. Pommer Recovering Health. A. R. Pommer, of the Pacific Phonograph Co., has been on a vacation for the last month, and may not return before the end of June, the business meanwhile being in charge of J. E. McCracken, a well known traveler for the house. Mr. Pommer has practically recovered from the poor health that has kept him away from the business so much during the last year, and hopes to be in the office most of the time after his return. Mr. McCracken notes considerable improvement in all lines, the sale of records being especially active, while the higher-priced Edison machines are also in very good demand with the trade through the country. Some News Brieflets. J. C. Van Horn, formerly of New York, recently joined the talking machine force of Sherman, Clay & Co. in this city. The Short Music Co., Pomona, Cal., has overhauled its talking machine department, putting in several well equipped soundproof demonstration rooms. S. E. Babson, who has been in charge of Babson Bros.' San Francisco establishment, returned to Chicago early this month, and will be away for some time. To Continue Recitals in the Fall. The Wiley B. Allen Co.'s Los Angeles store has been giving Friday evening talking machine recitals during the spring with great success. With the arrival of the vacation season these recitals will be interrupted, the last having been held May 31. The recitals will be resumed early in the fall, and preparations are being made to introduce some unique features at that time. Demonstration Record Makes Good. The Columbia Phonograph Co.'s advertising of its demonstration double-disc records, which are on distribution at the local wholesale headquarters, has met with a strong response, and good results are noted by several Columbia dealers, who anticipate still larger returns in the near future. INITIATIVE THAT COUNTS. Prizes in Business Go to the Man Who Thinks for Himself and Originates Instead of Following the Well Worn Track. The prizes in business fo-day go to the men who keep profitably busy as a result of their own initiative. There are too many men who do passably well what they are told to do. And when they finish they inquire helplessly, "Have you anything else for me to do?" Such a question from a man in a live organization reminds one of a day laborer. You tell him to dig a certain ditch, so deep, so wide, from here to there. He does it, and forthwith you have him at your door. "Is there anything else for me to do?" You expect such a question from such a man, but never from a man holding a real job. Don't be like a trail-car, following always, depending ever upon the man ahead for your power, says Edward S. Babcox. Be your own generator; get up your own speed. Accustom yourself to keep tasks ahead ; have a place where you keep a record (memorandum) of things done. Don't run out of things to do. Remember the world is too full now of people who, like Micawber, are "waiting for something to turn up." Don't add your name to the list of waiters. It is too long now! Turn something up yourself. Make something happen; create something; be something besides a mere dependent upon the creative ability of others. ORGANIZE AND SELECT OFFICERS. The Southern California Talking Machine Men's Association Adopts Constitution and By-Laws and Selects Officers for the EnsuYear — Elaborate Dinner a Feature of the Festivities — Much Interested in Association. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Los Angeles, Cal., June 4, 1912. A very sumptuous dinner was given at the Hol tractive and entertaining program was arranged by the committee on entertainment. The constitution and by-laws were drawn up, then the officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : Wm. Hobbs Richardson, manager of talking machine department of the Southern California Music Co., president; A. Graham Cook, manager talking machine department of the Geo.^J. Birkel Co., vicepresident; and H. B. Hinmann, manager of talking machine department of the J. B. Brown Music Co., secretary and treasurer. A great deal of inter Los Angeles Talking Machine Men at Banquet. lenbeck Hotel on the evening of May 15 by the est is being taken by all talking machine men of Southern California Talking Machine Men's As the city in the association, which is purely a social sociation. After this elaborate spread a very at club for entertaining.