The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

46 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. SALTER'S FELT LINED SHELF CABINETS Size J4Va in. High. Top 2VA x 21V6 in. THIS CABINET FINISHED IN MAHOGANY OR ANY FINISH OF OAK Are the only ones that afford PERFECT PROTECTION to records. THIS means satisfied purchasers and YOU know what THAT means-— Mr. Dealer. We call your attention to the increasing cost of goods of this description and advise that you send for our catalogue now. SALTER MFG. CO. 337-43 Oakley Ave. Chicago THE ONLY MAKERS OF FELT-LINED SHELF CABINETS and " SALTER ADJUSTABLE CORNERS " BUSINESS CONDITIONS BETTER THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN. Indications in the Lead i ng Stores of Detroit Are for a Business This Year Far Better Than That of 1912, Notwithstanding the Colossal Record That Will Have to Be Eclipsed — Working to Put an Extinguisher on the Oldfield Bill — H. J. Turnell & Co. Has the Columbia Line — Sixty-four Per Cent. Increase in Grinnell Business — Other Items. Special to The Talking Machine World.) Detroit, Mich., Feb. 10, 1913. Sales of records always are brisk in January because of recipients of Christmas talking machines stocking up with operating material, but in the January just closed they were the best in history. The condition of business seems to be better throughout the State, also, for January collections were equal to or better than those of December in all jobbing houses. December generally is the star month for collections, as most dealers are in position, through active cash business, to discount all their December bills. "Some people probably will ascribe the improved business conditions out in the State to the good crops of last year," said one manager. "That is the stock reason which generally is given for unusual business activity outside. But I think it is due to a more intelligent conduct of business. Any man can succeed in any good business with a little experience and a lot of intelligence. When we see firms in the talking machine business going to the wall, we can make up our minds that it is because the business is not conducted along intelligent lines. The phonograph business is a going one to such a tremendous extent that no sane person in it need fail." The indications in all the stores are for a business this year far better than that of 1912, notwithstanding the colossal record that will have to be eclipsed. "We are getting unusually desirable inquiries by mail from business men up in the State who desire to take on talking machines," said Mr. Johns, of the Columbia Co. "This is as good evidence as I want of what is before us. When they come after us, instead of waiting for us to go after them, it is a pratty good sign. "It doesn't make much difference what business a man is in, if he is capable he can make a success of the talking machine business. I think the ideal place for talking machine agencies is in piano stores, but the policies of the piano manufacturers prevent us placing them in piano stores in small cities. The chances are about ten to one that the piano dealer is handling consignment stock and isn't worthy of a line of credit individually. So we have to go to the furniture store, or some other place where _the proprietor owns his stock." The Columbia Co. made a promising connection in Jackson February 1, placing their line with H. J. Turnell & Co. Grinnell Brothers almost doubled their purchases from the Victor Co. in 1912, as compared to the figures of 1911. The exact percentage of increase of business was not available, but the increase in the Grinnell branch store here on Monroe avenue was sixty-four per cent. The trade is of the pleasant, eager kind; no grumbling about high prices; no charges of "a trust," in spite of the aims of the Oldfield bill to forbid alleged price fixing. People buy talking machines because they like them at the price at which they are offered and think they are getting their money's worth. They don't care for a cheap foreign machine. Detroit business men have done their share toward putting an extinguisher on that Oldfield bill. About every man of consequence in the city has written to the Michigan Congressmen urging opposition to the measure. It is believed that it is dead. Certainly it won't be brought up in the fag end of the present Congress, nor in the extra session. And it is believed that the new Congress will not bother much with the hobbies of the expiring one. An old fad of musical critics, of saying, when a singer happens to be in poor voice, that she, or he, "sounded like a phonograph," was put to the bad here this week. A prominent concert singer gave a recital here, and having a slight cold, did not make a favorable impression. The talking machine dealers are now playing her records in demonstrations, and calling attention to the fact that if the real "best" of the singers is wanted, the place to go for it is to a talking machine, for a singer always is at his best when he sings for a record. If he wasn't, his services wouldn't be accepted. There are no disappointing "off nights" with the records. DEMAND FOR FOREIGN RECORDS. Accompanying its regular list of April records, the Columbia Graphopone Co. sent out to dealers this week the foreign record catalogs, which it now has ready for publication, and a special order blank. The Columbia Graphaphone Co. issues foreign records in twentyJnine different languages, or dialects, and this department has grown to such proportions that Anton Heindl, who is in charge of the foreign-record division, was obliged to move his office to the Columbia laboratory at 102 West Thirty-eighth street, New York, in order to be in close proximity to the actual production of the records. Columbia dealers throughout the country are taking an active interest in the development of their foreign record clientele, and many dealers have found it profitable to devote a considerable part of their newspaper publicity to the presentation of foreign records. The 29 foreign languages that are now catalogued by the Columbia Graphophone Co. are as follows : Armenian, GermanAustrian, Bohemian, Chinese, Croatian-Serbish, Cuban, Danish. Finnish, French-Canadian, Greek, Hawaiian, Hebrew-Jewish, Hungarian, ItalianNeapolitan, Japanese, Javanice, Lithuanian, Mexican, Norwegian. Polish, Portuguese, Roumanian. Russian, Ruthenian, Slovak, Swedish, Spanish, Turkish, Welsh.