The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

fHE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 47 SHORTAGE OF MACHINES AND RECORDS PREVAILS. Is the Report of Cleveland Dealers, Who Closed an Excellent Business for January — U. S. Phonograph Co. Notes Increased Appreciation of Its Products — An Interesting Victrola Booklet — Columbia Co. Pushing Energetically After Business in Ohio — What Leading Concerns Have to Report Regarding Conditions Present and Prospective. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cleveland, O., Feb. 10, 1013. General conditions in the talking machine trade are healthy and compare favorably with those in any other line of business. Most of the dealers are, as they have been, still handicapped by a shortage of both machines and records, but since the first of the year some relief has been afforded, as the desired styles have been coming forward more freely. Business continued good all through January and this month will prove quite as prosperous. The record business is good and growing to immense proportions. At the time when the talking machine was crude, the industry in its infancy and just developing, Geo. J. Probeck started in the talking machine business and is the first and oldest dealer in Cleveland who has been continuously in the trade. He was the first to handle Columbia goods in this section, and since 1900 had sold these goods exclusively, either on his own account or as agent for the company, until two years ago. Since then he has had the management of Dictaphone, from which position he retired Feb. 1, but continues with the company in that department. G. M. Nesbitt, of the United States Phonograph Co., reports business is moving along prosperously at the company's factory. Demand for the Unite. I States Royal and United States Rex machines continues unabated and the company is now confining its output to those two styles, which seem to meet all requirements. The products of the company are in high favor with dealers who are handling them. President T. H. Towell, of the Eclipse Musical Co., wishes he were able to obtain more goods, sure that the sales will take care of themselves. The wholesale department, under the able supervision of P. J. Towell, is doing a prosperous business. One of the most attractive and interesting uses that the Victrola has been put to in Cleveland is the lecture on "Musical Appreciation," given by Mrs. Parr, musical supervisor of the Cleveland public high schools. In these lectures F. E. Lane, of the Eclipse Musical Co., assists her by illustrating her ideas with the Victrola. These talks and demonstrations have proven so interest WRITE for 20-page " catalog giving details and information on the best way ol keeping your records. The Syracuse Wire Works SYRACUSE, NEW YORK ing that social clubs, lodges and churches arc very anxious to have Mrs. Parr give this fine illustrated lecture. In a school where Mr. Lane placed a Victrola a stereopticon is being used in conjunction, showing scenes from operas which the instrument rendered. The Columbia Co. is energetically going after the business of Northern Ohio and is meeting with great success. In the wholesale, retail and educational departments trade is lively and continually improving. Mr. Madson, manager, says the retail business kept up remarkably well throughout January, making a very considerable gain, and he thinks February will show still further gains. C. A. Routh sold a Columbia machine to the Lakewood school last week. The principals here are enthusiastic and anxious to have Mr. Routh visit their schools. He has made a success of taking the schools, grade after grade, and showing the teachers how to lessen the arduous labor of their every-day work. Conditions at the distributing Edison warerooms of Laurence A. Lucker are practically as have existed for some time. A. O. Peterson, manager, said : "Business is fairly good and would be fine if we could supply the demand, but we are seriously handicapped in that we are unable to obtain the disc records. We are also unable to supply the demand for Blue Amberol records, although we are taking all the factory can furnish. We have a fair supply of the disc phonographs in stock, but it would soon be exhausted if we had the records. Orders are coming in very freely and we have a large number booked for delivery as soon as the goods arrive." T. A. Friedlander, manager of the Bailey Co. talking machine department, is very optimistic about the trade. He stated there had been no cessation in the volume of business since the first of the year, that in fact they had been as busy during the past month as they were in December. Sales of Victrolas VIII and X, and the Edison disc and Amberola, are especially good. The talking machine trade of the Hart Piano Co. is steadily increasing and it is receiving the close attention of the company. The manager stated demand was excellent all along the line for Victor and Edison machines and records. "Splendid business," is the terse expression of Miss Ethel M. Volk, manager of the talking machine department of the Macy Co. "The volume of our trade each month is exceeding that of a year ago." Wm, Taylor, Son & Co. is building up a fine trade in the talking machine department. The manager reports large sales of Victor machines and records. The Caldwell Piano Co. is doing a prosperous business in talking machines in connection with the piano trade. Bessie M. Brabler, in charge of the talking machine department of the Collester & Sayle Co., said the demand for Victor machines and records was good, but that the company had been able to only partially meet it. Phil Dorn, manager, visited the Victor factory last week and secured a shipment of machines and records, which is now arriving and replenishing the denuded warerooms. Charles I. Davis, music publisher and jobber, who conducts a chain of 15 retail stores, reports that he did the largest volume of business last year since he has been in the trade. The talking machine end especially has been more than satisfactory in the stores where he carries the Victrolas. He contemplates installing the Victrola line in several of his Eastern stores in the near future. His stores are" all equipped in the most stylish and attractive form, and are located in the midst of the shopping districts. He finds that talking machines and records fit in most admirably with his other musical specialties. You don't have to go down on your knees and fairly beg us to send the goods when you give us an order. We won't put you off with promises; we won't keep you "up in the air". There's never a bit of uncertainty about what will happen to any order you intrust to us. You can always measure our service by this invariable rule — all goods shipped the same day the orders are received. Send us an order and you don't need to give it another thought. You can go right on tending to your business with the assurance that the goods will come in on schedule time. That's what makes us so "solid" with our dealers. Our business is conducted along the lines of quick and efficient service, and our stock of Victors, VictorVictrolas, Victor Records, record cabinets, needles, fibre cases, horns, repair parts and other accessories, is always kept up to the mark so we can instantly meet all demands that are made upon it. Our catalog will be of interest to you. Write for it to-day and we'll also send von our booklet, "The Cabinet That Matches". Victor foreign records The entire list is here, ready for immediate delivery: Arabian Greek Norwegian Bohemian Gregorian (Latin) Polish Chinese Hawaiian Portuguese Croatian Hebrew Roumanian Cuban Hungarian Russian Danish Italian Sistine Choir (Latin) Finnish Japanese Slovak French Jewish Spanish French Canadian Mexican Turkish German Neapolitan Welsh "If it's in the Victor catalog, we have it." New York Talking Machine Co. Successors to Victor Distributing and Export Co. 81 Chambers Street New York