The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

14 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. SALTER CABINETS No. 105 FINISHED IN MAHOGANY OR ANY FINISH OF OAK. SIZE— 34 in. high TOP— 20%x24y4 in. MAKE FRIENDS AND PROFITS SALTER CABINETS ARE DISTINCTIVE They show the hand of the master workman in design, material, construction and finish. The Salter way of doing business also permits of a profit to the dealer that means a real increase in his income. f Write for a catalogue, showing (besides the regular line) cabinets that match the new Columbia Favorite and Victor No. 9 Machines. The Salter Manufacturing Company 337-43 Oakley Ave. CHICAGO Originators and only manufacturers of Felt-Lined Shelf Cabinets of quality and perfect satisfaction. Do not invest your money in cheap inferior imitations, but insist on the Salter Brand, which incorporates all the merits that can be gained only by many years ot experience in the manufacturing of Cabinets. QUAKER CITY DEALERS WELL PLEASED With General Condition of Business for June and the Opening Weeks of July — Philadelphians at the Convention — Gibmel Bros, to make Extensive Improvements — The Pennsylvania Talking Machine Co. Report Remarkable Business — Weymann & Sons' Activity. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Philadelphia, Pa., July 8. — The talking machine business in Philadelphia during June was most satisfactory. The dealers went considerably ahead of last year, and in fact the month was more productive by a good deal than the dealers had expected. The orders to the factory are unusually heavy of late in anticipation of a large business this fall, and already a number of jobbers have been booking orders with the retail trade for delivery during the three fall months. Philadelphia was not very well represented at Niagara Falls at the convention. Louis Buehn, Plarry W. Weymann and Mr. Barnhill, of the Penn Co., were the only ones I have heard that attended. For some reason Philadelphians are loath to attend conventions, but they all express much interest in the subject of sustaining the prices which is so freely discussed, and they all await the reports of these discussions in the Talking Machine World with much interest. Louis Buehn, who went to Niagara on Saturday, before starting told me that his June business was very fair and ahead of last year, although not up to the same percentage that some of the previous months have shown, but this was not to be expected. The Edison dictating machine business has been unusually good, and Manager Smith has found his new automobile, which he uses to solicit business, of much advantage to him. Among some of the large firms who have closed for a number of the dictating machines in June were the Adams Express Co., the Carpenter Steel Co. and the large department store of Dives, Pomeroy & Co., in Reading. Lit Bros, have placed all new fixtures in their department and their record shelves have been entirely rearranged, the new pens holding twice the number of records, and they are rearranging everything a'bout the department in anticipation of a very heavy fall trade. Gimbel Bros, expect to make extensive improvements in their talking machine department during the next six weeks to be ready for their fall trade. They will add some more booths and in various ether ways improve the department. Considering the amount of business they do, Gimbel Bros, occupy a very small space and they are badly in need of more room. Their department, however, is always kept in excellent shape and is one of the most attractive in the city. Business with the Keen-o-Phone has been very good in June. They have been signing up quite a number of dealers. Their library of records is gradually increasing, and their new catalog, which is now in press, will contain seventy-five new numbers. Among the recent visitors in Philadelphia who looked over the talking machine situation here were Rudolph Wurlitzer, of Cincinnati ; Vincent Healy, of Chicago, and C. H. Lichty, of Reading, with his talking machine manager, Victor Hunsicker, as well as Mr. Steger, manager of the Newark branch of the Steger Co., and his assistant, Mr. Johnson. The Pennsylvania Talking Machine Co. has been surprised at the machine business done in June. I; has been considerably above normal. It is having a remarkable demand for the new $75 Columbia machine, the "Leader." On all of these instruments repeat orders are being received. This machine has helped their business a whole lot, and the demand was so great that they have been unable to keep themselves supplied. The Dictaphone business of the Pennsylvania Co. has been most gratifying. They have taken a number of large orders in June from the Fidelity Mutual and Penn Mutual Life Insurance companies; the Lehigh Valley Railroad, for Use in its offices at AHentown; the Chambers Press, as Well as a number of smaller concerns. Manager W. L. Eckhardt has taken his family to Atlantic City f6r the summer, and he is going back and forth each day and is spending the week-ends there. H. A. Weymann & Sons report that they have been receiving a very large number of advance orders — far in excess of last year. These are not for immediate shipment. They are stocking up heavily with Victrolas, to be in a position to fill orders placed with them for September, October, November and December. The Pennsylvania Talking Machine Co. had a most attractive Fourth of July window display. The Victor dealers placed "The Bird of Paradise" music on sale last Friday a week, and it was only a few days until the entire stock in town was exhausted. It is interesting to note how a certain class of music may go in spite of the dealers' belief in it. With the exception of one or two houses, very little of this music was ordered, but they did not know how much the weird music was going to be appreciated. The play had a long run here and every one was desirous of securing the music, and there will no doubt be a heavy sale on it during the summer. JOINS ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT. M. D. Easton, a son of President Edward D. Easton, of the Columbia " Graphophone Co., has joined the staff of the advertising department of the company. Mr. Easton was formerly connected with the Dictaphone department of the Columbia Co., where he scored a pronounced successHe is possessed of an intimate knowledge of the' details of the business and is very popular with the officials and employes of the company. Railways used to follow rivers and moracttiins ; now the surveyor runs a. straight line. Derive straight to the point.