The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

6 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. LABOR DISTURBANCES HURT TRADE IN CINCINNATI. Despite Successive Industrial Upheavals, the Talking Machine Trade Is Holding Its Own Valiantly — This Is Demonstrated by the Reports from the Leading Jobbers of Cincinnati— Optimism Reigns Supreme as Far as Fall Trade Is Concerned. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cincinnati, O., August 8. — Continued disturbances in the local industrial world and unusual heat periods have had their effect upon the talking machine business of this territory. Considering the time of the year and the unusual happenings in Cincinnati since last March, the trade appears to be pretty well satisfied. Victor business for the past month at Aeolian Hall is reported as showing a gratifying increase over the corresponding period of a year ago. This is doubly pleasing in the face of local conditions, which have been badly upset through a series of strikes and a spell of the hottest weather in many years. This company is gaining the reputation around town of being resourceful and untiring pluggers of the Victrola and Victor records. For instance, their Victor advertising has been increased instead of decreased during the heated term. The vacation idea has been worked and is still being worked for all there is in it. Results have shown right on the floor The thought in the advertising has been that there are inexpensive vacation types of Victrolas that are very easy to carry along, and incidentally that they are easy to pay for on the easy payment plan. Considerable mail order business has been secured through the firm's newspaper advertising. Aeolian record service has been strongly featured, with the result that many machine owners who secured their instruments elsewhere are coming to Aeolian Hall for records. To all appearances they are getting real service, too. Manager Ahaus, of the Victor department, is tireless in his efforts to live up to the letter of his advertising man's representations and has imparted a degree of real Victor enthusiasm to his sales force that it is a real pleasure to witness. Notwithstanding that summer trade has been excellent, a tremendous increase of business is looked for at Aeolian Hall with the advent of cooler weather. Manager Whelen, of the Columbia Co., when interviewed, stated that if there was any chance of getting the accumulation of freight out of the depots to fill orders which are piling up from all over the territory, he might say business was good. He further stated that as far as wholesale business is concerned the orders are coming in, but owing to the series of strikes in the city local business is pretty much at a standstill. Strikes have been so prevalent in_ Cincinnati in the last few months that it has simply paralyzed business, and it is a slap on the back to say "How is business?" ''However." stated Mr. Whelen, "inasmuch as all business houses seem to be in the same fix and we are getting our share of the business that is beingdone in the talking machine line, we will exist on the brilliant hopes for fall. Indications point to a large fall business, and we are daily receiving large orders for fall shipment." L. C. Penn, traveling representative for the Columbia Co., on a visit to the Cincinnati headquarters, stated that conditions are the same all over the territory, but all the dealers seem to be very optimistic about the prospects for fall. Mr. Whelen was very enthusiastic about the new Columbia models which are just being put on the market. He said: "One look at the same will prove to a prospective purchaser the aggressiveness back of the Columbia product. The new 'Leader' Grafonola at $75 is a winner, and if the orders received are an indication of its popularity it will be a hummer. The new 'Favorite' at $50 is taking the trade by storm." The series of strikes has also affected the Dictaphone sales, but the Cincinnati sales force is sticking to the job and lining up good prospects for August. The Moose convention, which was held in Cincinnati the latter part of July, was reported through the medium of the Dictaphone, and all parties who were interested in the reporting of the convention are very enthusiastic over this system of reporting. Manager Dittrich, of the Victor talking machine department of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., is enthusiastic over the completion of the new record rooms, which are equipped so that a change of air is possible every two and one-half minutes. In speaking of conditions, he said : "In reviewing the business during the last month we have every reason to be satisfied with the results secured, as the business exceeded our expectations. The new style No. 10, stock of which we received from the Victor Co. in July, is sure to prove a big winner, and will do its share in building up the machine business to big proportions during the coming season. "Dealers are clamoring for this style Victrola, and up to date we have been fortunate in securing sufficient stock to take care of a large proportion of our trade. The new Victrola made good in the retail way from the very beginning. "On the 28th of July we opened up a new record department on the main floor of our establishment. New ideas in arrangements and lighting, entirely original and different from the old established lines, have been carried out, and resulting service, which is the quickest and most efficient possible, has been the subject of favorable comments on the part of our many Victrola customers. We look forward to a most successful August in both retail and wholesale, and feel satisfied that even the present conditions of the industrial war which has been waged for some time cannot possibly prevent the most successful and profitable month's business." The Otto Grau Piano Co.'s Victor department is doing pretty well for a starter. Some machines have been sold during the past month, and a following has already been established on record business. a busyTortland^ house. ( Special to The Talking Machine World.) Portland, Ore., August C. — The Portland Phonograph Agency, of which E. B. Hyatt is proprietor, this city, is enjoying a very excellent business in the various lines of talking machines and records it handles. By reason of its attractive quarters, its up-todate plan of doing business and its always capable sales force, business is steadily expanding, in -spite of the hot weather and other ills which flesh is heir to. Mr. Hyatt is quite optimistic regarding the outlook for fall and winter trade and expects to transact the largest volume of business in his career. BILL NYE'S PROPHETIC VISION. Many years ago, before, the days of the phonograph, Bill Nye wrote a humorous suggestion that an automatic machine be used for the delivery of political speeches from car platforms. Bill Nye little suspected how soon talking machines would be reeling off political speeches all over this land of ours. They were used in the last presidential election as well as in the one four years before. When skillfully employed they avoided "repetition or the wrongful application of local gags," which Bill Nye claimed as a great advantage of his proposed political machine. VISITED VICTOR FACTORY. Herbert D. Berkley, of the sales staff of Landay Bros.' Forty-second street and Broadway branch, New York, was a visitor at the Victor factory in Camden, N. J., recently* and under the able guidance of F. F. Gold made a thorough inspection of the entire plant. He was particularly impressed with all he saw, particularly the new record and cabinet buildings, and came away with intensified faith and enthusiasm. I Won't You " Have a Lesson in Spanish? It's so easy to learn by the I. C. S. system — and a knowledge of Spanish is so useful nowadays. The I. C. S. system of language instruction by means of the phonograph makes easy the mastering of a foreign language, and appeals with compelling power to thousands. The dealer in phonographs who does not carry I. C. S. Language Outfits is neglecting a quick and sure way to increase his business. The new $35 Language Outfit of the I. C. S. is a marvel. It represents the highest art in the teaching' of languages, and embodies a method that has won the warmest praise of thousands qualified to speak authoritatively. The Spanish, French, and German Embassies at Washington, as well as the leading colleges, have cordially indorsed the I. C. S. method of teaching languages. The I. C. S. Language Outfit consists of an Edison Gem Phonograph made especially for language work; small horn; headband hearing tube; oil can; and 25 Conversational Records teaching pronunciation guaranteed to be absolutely correct, with native intonation and inflection. In addition to these Conversational Records there are pamphlet Instruction Papers teaching the theory of the languages. The new Outfit is at one and the same time the best and cheapest ever offered — the price being only $35. If you want to increase your business, write to-day for full particulars. International Correspondence Schools Box 918, Scranton. Pa