The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. Famous Record Albu WE MANUFACTURE MQRE ALBUMS THAN ANY OTHER HOUSE For Durability, Artistic Design and Finish, our Albums have no equal. They are made in the most substantial manner by skilled workmen, Our Albums are firstclass in every particular, and are sold at very low prices. DISC RECORD ALBUMS ARE WHAT EVERY Talking Machine Owner NEEDS AND MUST HAVE With the index they make a complete system for filing away all disc Records, and can be added to, Album by Album, as Records accumulate, like books in a library. OUR SUPERB ALBUMS SHOWN OPEN AND CLOSED. MADE IN TWO SIZES TO FIT ALL lO AND 12-INCH DISC RECORDS. These Albums contain 17 pockets made of strong fibre paper, each pocket having a hole in the center, as shown in the picture. These pockets are so made that they show very plainly both the single and double face titles on the Records. The Albums are bound in the finest quality of Brown Silk Finish Cloth, with gilt title on front cover. They are also bound in imitation leather. Write for sample and prices of our Albums, which are superior to all others. Address NATIONAL PUBLISHING CO., 235 South American St., Philadelphia, Pa. RECORDS OF STANDARD SELECTIONS BEST SELLERS. This Is Demonstrated by the Increasing Demand for the Old-Time Operatic and Standard Musical Numbers — A Natural Reaction from the Ragtime Craze — Use of Fibre Needle Grows in Favor — The Detroit Trade Viewpoint — Dealers Assisting Patrons. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Detroit, Mich., Feb. 10, 1913. A feature of the talking machine business in Detroit recently has been a gain in the sale of the standard records of back catalogs. "We sell about 20 per cent, more of them than we formerly did," said K. M. Johns, manager of the Columbia jobbing and retail house here. The managers of other stores made estimates varying but little from this. The Columbia people are making a special campaign on the best records of the earlier output. With every catalog of new records they send a circular entitled, "Standard selections that ought to be in every collection." In it are listed the songs and other renditions that go on from year to year and from generation to generation — the kind that live forever because of their intrinsic worth. The name of the artist does not matter so much with these records, if he or she was a good one. It is the music that counts. "The trouble with practically all parties, upon buying their first talking machine, is that they select a lot of the songs of the day for their first assortment and soon tire of them," said Mr. Johns. "They buy another lot and tire of them also. Then they wonder why. They begin to select more care^ fully, asking the advice of the salesman. The latter offers them the music of quality. They try it and get wise and begin to build up a library worth while. They pay more attention to the old catalogs than they do to the new -ones. From the new ones, of course, they take whatever standard pri> ductions may be offered. "It is less difficult to educate the 'public to the best music in talking machine records than in sheet music. In the sheet music the lower grade, the so-called popular productions, have a low-grade price. But a talking machine ■ record can't be bought for 10 cents, or a quarter. If it has rag time on it, played by some one well known, it costs as much as though it carried grand opera. Few ears and few brains are so dull that they cannot soon distinguish between the classes, and the price being equal they take the superior music." "Caruso's best selling record is his first one, from the opera "Martha," said Manager Harry Rupp, of the talking machine department of Grinnell Bros. "Quality counts in talking machine records, not age. Caruso has made dozens of records since, all good, of course, but it happened that his selection for his first record was his best. The public recognizes this and continues to buy it, year after year. Records of Sembrich, Calve and others go in a similar way. They are all good, and they all sell continuously, but their best ones sell in greatest quantities, even if made years ago." Another thing upon which the public has, too, become educated is in the use of the fibre needle. Some of the talking machine buyers are too impatient, and get disgusted with the fibre needle before they learn wherein lies its best value. A record does not play as well in its first time over with a fibre needle as with a steel point. It must be played three or four times. Then it will render beautiful, soft music. It is plainly evident, from the results of demonstrations, that most people like soft music, but a large number of them get disgusted with the fibre needle before they learn how it works. The dealers are teaching them this. They sell them records that have been "broken in," as examples. So the use of the fibre needle is increasing, in spite of the fact that it costs more originally. As it can be repointed, however, users who have the patience to do so can make them cost less than steel points. The dealers are assisting their patrons by issuing classified lists of records. Their customers who like opera songs can find the titles bunched; likewise the people who like sacred music, comic music Southern melodies, or any other sort. It saves them searching catalogs and assists business by speeding it along. This is of more consequence than might appear on the surface in view of the large demands made upon the salesmen of all stores for demonstrations. HOW V1CTR0LA WAS SELECTED. Music From Talking Machine Store While Thaw Was Attending Court in White Plains, N. Y., Results in Purchase of Victor Outfit for His Own Amusement. The Victrola, which, as announced in the daily newspapers, was secured by Harry K. Thaw, for his entertainment while confined at Matteawan, came from Hunt's Leading Music House, White Plains, N. Y. When Thaw was in White Plains some time ago for the purpose of appearing before the court in an action to secure his freedom, he was entertained by the evening Victrola concerts given in Hunt's music house, near which his rooms were located. When he returned to Matteawan, Thaw received permission from the authorities to have a talking machine in his quarters and the order to Hunt's Leading Music House resulted. It is said that the music is having a most beneficial effect on Thaw. DON'T GET THE HABIT. The second doing of a thing is always a little easier than the first, and the tenth time it is easier than it was the second. This applies to losing your temper, driving nails, memorizing one of the psalms or learning to smoke. Whether the act in question is good or bad, whether it calls into use mind or muscles, each repetition makes the doing easier. Be on your guard against doing twice the thing you do not wish to continue indefinitely.