The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

TH E TALKING MACHINE WOULD. 45 EARLY TRADE REVIVAL IN MILWAUKEE PREDICTED. Business Unusually Good All Summer and Leading Houses Have Followed Up Vacationists — Becker Resigns from Espenhain's — Gram's Big Sales in July — Grafonola Grand Attracts Wherever Exhibited — Flanner-Hafsoos Co. Handling the Victor — News of Month. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Milwaukee, Wis., Aug, 11. — There are signs of a fall revival in the talking machine business even a', this early date, and dealers and jobbers are confident thai track' will establish a new high mark a little later in tin season. Business has been unusually good this season, due probably to the fact that the weather has not been so hot this summer. The temperature reached a rathei high mark during the varly part of July, but with the exception of occasional days there has been little cause for complaint. Special attention has been given to the summer resort trade by practically every Milwaukee dealer this season, and the results have been more than satisfactory. Wisconsin and Michigan are dotted with lakes of all sizes and description and the entire territory is an ideal summer resort district, so the field is almost unlimited for the live and enterprising talking machine man who is awake to his opportunities. Just as soon as the schools were out local dealers met with an increase in the sale of machines and records to people who were hurrying to get out of town to their summer homes. The call for small Victrolas has been brisk from people who own large machines and yet want to make use of their records at camp and summer homes. The small machines can be carried or shipped conveniently, where it would be impossible to take the big Victrolas. Crop prospects are even brighter than a month ago, and unless something unforeseen happens another bumper crop will be harvested in all lines. Grain harvesting and threshing is under way in most sections of the State, and the reports which arc arriving show that the yield is fully up to the average. New Automatic Stop. Something entirely new in the way of an automatic stop for talking machines, which is expected to attract instant attention, has been invented and perfected by a Milwaukee inventor. Full announcement will probably be made of the invention next month. Meanwhile, the first model of the device is being tried out on a Victrola by L. C. Parker, manager of the Victor department at Gimbel Brothers' store, to whom is due a part of the credit for the invention, for he got the inventor interested in the matter. The new stop is self-setting, self-starting and self-stopping, and it matters not about the size or the center of the record. The contrivance is small, hardly noticeable in fact, while it is noiseless. Stephen Schroeder, an experienced talking machine man, has joined the sales forces at the Gimbel Brothers' Victor department. Manager L. C. Parker reports that business is good and that sales showed a healthy increase during July over those of the corresponding month a year ago. J. H. Becker Makes Change. A change of more than ordinary interest in Milwaukee talking machine circles has just taken place with the resignation of J. H. Becker, Jr., as manager of the Victor department at Espenhain's department store. Mr. Becker is temporarily in charge of the retail store of Miss Gertrude F. Gannon, 312 Grand avenue. His successor at the F.spenhain store has not been selected as yet and one of the young lady employes of the department is now in charge. Enjoying Vacation in "Philly." Harry T. Fitzpatrick, manager of the Wisconsin Talking Machine Co., jobbers in this State for the Victor line, accompanied by his wife, is enjoying his vacation at 'his former home in Philadelphia. Miss Gertrude F. Gannon, head of the Wisconsin concern, reports that business is holding up well and that dealers are placing some good orders for Victor goods. Sold $5,000 Worth of Goods in July. Paul A. Seeger, manager of tnc Victor department at the Edmund Gram Music House, accomplished the feat of selling nearly $5,00o worth of / lods during the month of July, a rather unusual record Cor a hot summer month. The Gram house carries the Stcinway and several other high-class pianos, and its trade is of the sort that buys the best to be had in the talking machine1 line. Flanner Affairs. Joseph Flanner-, who carried the Victor line and v. ho w ent into involuntary bankruptcy some time ago, is now out of business entirely. The Flanner assets, including sheet music, plates, copyrights, musical instruments in all lines, furniture and office fixtures, were sold by the trustee at public auction on July 31 for $4,100 to the Heller Piano Co., Seventh and Grand avenues. The new FlannerHafsoos Music House, recently organized by Florian Flanner, son of Joseph Flanner, and Erie S Hafsoos, a well-known and experienced piano man of Milwaukee, is now remodeling the first two floors of the old Flanner stand at 417 Broadway, where a piano and general music business will be conducted. Special and attractive parlors for the Victor line will be arranged. Grafonola Grand Attracts Attention. Business is so good at the Columbia store of A. G. Kunde, 516 Grand avenue, jobber and retailer, that Mr. Kunde has been obliged to increase his sales force. Trade with the various other Columbia stores in and about Milwaukee seems to be unusually good. Mr. Kunde featured one of the Columbia "Grand" Grafonolas in his windows during the big Perry centennial celebration held in Milwaukee, July 4 to 8, and it kept crowds in front of the windows most of the time. J. E. Gerlich Now in Charge. Announcement has been made that J. E. Gerlich, for twelve years connected with the Rudolph. Wurlitzer Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, has 'been secured by Adolph Hoeffler. head of the Hoeffler Manufacturing Co., as general manager of the Hoeffler business at 306 West Water street. Besides having charge of the automatic musical instrument phase of the business, Mr. Gerlich is looking after the extensive talking machine trade carried on by the Hoeffler house. He has already arranged some attractive window displays. Gensch-Smith Enlarge Record Department. The exclusive Victor store of the Gensch-Smith Co., 730 Grand avenue, had a narrow escape during a heavy thunderstorm recently, when lightning struck the shop, burning out all the fuses in the place and damaging the store somewhat. No one was injured, although several people in the store were badly stunned. A Victor machine which had •been used in demonstrating was playing at the time and continued in the midst of the blinding shower of sparks from the exploded fuse box and mingled its tones with the jangling of the telephone, which rang madly for several minutes. Business is especially good at the Gensch-Smith store, another new sales record having been made during the month of July. The company has been forced to enlarge its record department and has increased its stock several times. The GenschSmith window during the week of the Perry centennial celebration caused many compliments. PIANO MERCHANTS ARE HELPED In Developing Their Trade Through Selling Talking Machines — This Is Demonstrated in the Splendid Report Made by F. G. Smith to the Columbia Graphophone Co. A communication of unusual interest was received this week at the executive offices of the Columbia Graphophone Co. from the Flatbush avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., warcrooms of F. G. Smith, the well-known piano, manufacturer. This establishment has been handling the Columbia line for the past few months, and their letter is decidedly enlightening as showing the influence that the talking machine department can have on scoring increased sales for the piano end of the business. In this letter, F. G. Smith gave a detailed list of five actual sales of pianos and player-pianos that had been closed in the Flatbush avenue establishment as a direct result of prospects obtained through talking machine customers. Mr. Smith stated that all of these sales had already materialized and were not merely in embryo. Names and addresses of the customers were noted in the letter, and in addition to representing an actual cash value of $3,100, there also is an excellent prospect of one of the purchasers of a manual piano exchanging his instrument for a high-priced player in the early fall. Aside from the actual business of $3,100, it , should be considered that every purchaser of a piano or player that is traceable to a talking machine customer is also in a position to secure additional prospects for the F. G. Smith piano department by recommendation, praise, etc. This litter is naturally very gratifying to the Columbia Co., as it evidences co-operation -that is certain to prove profitable to both the piano department and the talking machine division of a piano store. "NEW MIGNONETTE" To Be Introduced at an Early Day by the Columbia Co. — Will Embody Many New Features. Under date of August 1, the Columbia Graphophone Co. announced to its trade the introduction of a machine to be known as the "New Mignonette," which will retail at $100 and be ready for the market in a very few days. The new machine will contain the many features that the Columbia new product embodies, and will be a most welcome addition to the present extensive Columbia line. In this same letter announcing the "New Mignonette,'' the company advised its dealers that the former model of the "Mignonette," which retailed at $100, may be offered for sale at $75 in the future. Columbia dealers are advised that this reduction is permitted because of the unexpectedly heavy demand for the hew "Leader" at $75, which has exceeded all expectations and has taxed the fac:ory. 'beyond its immense capacity. In order that Columbia dealers may not lose any possible sales for a $75' machine because of inability to supply the "Leader," the "Mignonette" at $75 will undoubtedly save the sale. J. V. Schmill has sold his business in Mexico City to Cia. Distributors Fonografica Victor, S. A., who are general agents for the Victor talking machines and records in Mexico City. "DUST0FF" De Luxe Made on beautiful oxydized metal holder. Each in a box, and 12 in a display box. Retails, 50c. each. CTn Canada, 75c. ea.) Liberal trade discount. "DUSTOFF 99 RECORD CLEANERS ARE A POSITIVE NECESSITY to all owners of talking machine records. "DUSTOFFS" get into the minute sound grooves of the record as nothing else can, because of the special processed high nap fabric employed. "DUSTOFFS" cannot scratch and to use it • is only necessary to simply brush across face of record a few times. "DUSTOFFS" CLEAN ALL MAKES OF RECORDS. The use of "DUSTOFFS" before playing ensures a wonderfully clear and distinct tonal reproduction free from blurs, scrapings, or harsh sounds, and moreover through the removal of dust and dirt from the reproducing point track, lengthens the life of the record. "DUSTOFF" (IkS* Made on finely finished wood holder. Each in two color box. Retails, 15c. each. (In Canada 25c. ea.) Liberal trade discount. JOBBERS AND COLUMBIA DISTRIBUTORS EVERYWHERE in the United States can supply you. Canadian trade can be supplied through BERLINER GRAMOPHONE CO., Montreal. MINUTE SHINE COMPANY, Sole M/rs., 282 N. E. CANAL STREET PROVIDENCE, R. I., U. S. A.