The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

Till: TALKING M A( IIINi: WOULD. 51 NEW TALKING MACHINE RECRUITS IN CINCINNATI. Entire Victrola Line Being Handled by Otto Grau Piano Co. — John W. Roberts Takes on the Columbia Line — Excellent Business Report Made by Manager Dittrich of Wurlitzers — Columbia School Proposition Broadening Out — General News of the Month. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cincinnati, O., June !», 1913. The talking machine trade in the Cincinnati district gained two recruits during the past month, which is an exceptional showing, for there have been few increases in the local end of the business in a long' time. The entire Victrola line is to be handled by the Otto Grau Piano Co., which opened up its department within the past ten days. The force is enthusiastic over the possibilities of this innovation in the piano house. Before the goods were unpacked a Victrola sale was recorded. The company is taking its time in getting the department properly equipped for business. All the rough kinks will be smoothed out before the end of another week. A Columbia agency was established during the past month at 910 East McMillan street, with John VV. Roberts. His store is but a few doors removed from Peeble's Corner, which is the most important business center northeast of the city proper. Roberts has a neat display of Columbia goods, and above the entrance is a sign which cannot fail but attract the attention of the suburbanites. The Dayton trade is again on the job, and reports from the Gem City indicate that all the talking machine dealers have secured the necessary supplies. It is intimated that there are more talking machine and piano people in business there now than previous to the flood in March. Manager Dittrich, of the talking machine department of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., summed up the past month's situation with the following statement : "The retail trade in Cincinnati was very seriously affected by the street car strike, which lasted almost two weeks ; during that period the business was at a standstill, and we believe the latter part of the month was very seriously affected by the resulting stagnation even after the car service was resumed. "Considering the difficulties we had to contend with, the business of the month is very satisfactory, and there is every reason to believe that had it not been for the drawback the month of May would have been a record month in the talking machine business. "Our new record booths have been finished on the main floor of the Wurlitzer building, making an equipment of nine record booths, four combinations, machines 'and record salesrooms, a total equipment of thirteen booths, which will enable us to handle the big volume of business we expect to do during the next few months and especially during the fall and winter. "The wholesale trade is very active, and the orders constantly coming in will consistently show that the demand is exceptionally heavy throughout the central State, and that the dealers are taking advantage of their opportunity." Manager Whelen, of the local Columbia store, does not seem to be discouraged, and when asked relative to the outcome of the May business said : "I cannot complain, as the final results showed an increase over last May. June has started in fairly well, and the prospects for a brisk summer business is first class. There is an old time belief that business in this line must touch rock bottom each summer, and a good many tallcng machine men hold that there is no use trying to do business in summer, but the Cincinnati store will redouble its efforts for the summer and we will not admit a dull season except August, and last year even August held its own. So no telling what this year will bring forth. The demand for talking machines and records for vacation trips, summer camps, etc., helps materially in stimulating the summer business." The new improved "Regal" was recently received at the local headquarters and, as usual, has attracted considerable attention. It has all the distinctive constructive features of the Columbia product, also has a top, stands on its own legs independ ent of any oilier base, and the biggest feature of all, retails for $50. W. S. Givler, traveling representative for the Columbia local store, lias just returned from a fairly successful Kentucky trip and reports that all over the territory dealers arc enthusiastic about the summer outlook for business. The farmers predict a good crop, and say that the prospects for fall are great. The addition of E. M. Schwein to the local sales force of the Dictaphone Co. has added new life to the already popular dictaphone, and many notable installations have been 'made this past month. Marion Dorian, treasurer of the Columbia Graphophone Co., paid a visit to the local store this past month. Miss Nola Minton, the former popular chief clerk at the local store of the Columbia Graphophone Co., has been spending a few weeks in Cincinnati and has been receiving the "glad hand" from the trade in general. Frederick Goodwin, manager of the educational department of the Columbia Graphophone Co., spent a few days in Cincinnati to attend the Y. M. C. A. convention at Music Hall, where the local store had a beautiful exhibit featuring grafonolas and records, also the dictaphone. The Columbia Co. has been very successful in placing its product, both for musical and commercial purposes, in the various Y. M. C. A.'s throughout the country. Ben L. Brown, assistant manager of the local Columbia store, has been putting all his efforts into the school proposition, and is now reaping his harvest by closing with a large number of the schools with which he has been negotiating. As the school year draws to a close activities in this direction are practically at a standstill, but in speaking of the fall prospects Mr. Brown said : "I have worked hard, I have persevered where failure seemed inevitable, but the merits of the Columbia won out and I have no doubts but that when the new school term opens up a Columbia Grafonola will be part of the equipment of the majority of the Cincinnati . schools." The close of May found a slight slump in the business of the Aeolian Co.'s Victor department. Earlier in the month the returns were very good. The decline is attributed to the after effects of the street car strike. J. E, Poorman is in correspondence with several Eastern phonograph companies for jobbing rights in Cincinnati. The Milner Musical Co. is still busy changing llie interior of the store, and Manager Stodler is now taking an inventory of the slock. All tilings considered, lie is satisfied with existing conditions. John Arnold is on the job at Fifth and Elm streets, as usual, and is looking forward to a rattling good June business. President Stever, of the Lyric Piano Co., in a chat with The World said : "We find that our business for the year ending June 1, 1913, in our talking machine department has been quite satisfactory. It is true it requires considerable attention, but we believe by giving it the proper attention there can be considerable benefit derived from the efforts expended, and we are going to make an extra effort for the period of the next six months to try and double our business. We have some ideas which we expect to put into effect which we think will bring us some very good results." ATTRACTIVE RECORD ALBUMS. Some Changes Announced by Manufacturers. Philadelphia The National Publishing Co., 235 South American Street, Philadelphia, Pa., announce that their record albums will hereafter contain six pages of index, three in front and three in back of the album for the convenience of customers who may desire at any time to re-arrange their discs. These record albums are growing steadily in popularity and the manufacturers will be pleased to send a sample album by parcel post for examination so that their product may be seen and ■tested. The manufacturers also issue some very attractive supplementary literature which dealers can use to advantage. This will be supplied free of charge to those who send orders for two dozen or more albums at a time. These albums are neatiy hound with brown silk finish cloth, the words, "record album" being stamped on the cover. An embossed border line enhances the beauty of both the front and hack cover. Each album, whether in the 10 or 1'2-inch size contains 17 pockets, each pocket having a hole in the center, so that they show very plainly both the single and double face titles of the various records. Read all the store literature that you can get hold of. Methods of doing business are changing every day, and the live man changes with them. The name describes the needle and the needle fulfills its tone— The PURITONE Needle. P URNISHED in Puritone or your own envelopes packed in different sizes. Quality guaranteed. Price popular. Dealers can secure a sample package free. Send jobber's name with letter. Remember, a quality needle will help you; it means a profit and a following". THE following" is a new selling idea for needles, packed exclusively by us : Instead of selling" ioo or 200 needles at once, sell a thousand. We pack 1,000 assorted needles in a box, each box containing 200 of Extra Loud, Loud Opera, Medium and Soft. This is the "Special" Dean Packing. You can sell 1,000 instead of ioo and thus get 10 times the business. Want the Puritone Needle samples ? JOHN M. DEAN PUTNAM, CONN.