The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

6 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. BUSINESS SHOWS IMPROVEMENT ON PACIFIC COAST. Despite the Fact That Holidays and Hot Weather Worked Against Trade During September— Big Shipment of Edison Machines En Route — Various Houses Adopting Active Measures to Make Sales — L. F. Douglas Makes Generous Offer — News of Trade. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, Cal., October 6. — Talking machine business, both wholesale and retail, has been gradually picking up the past month, in spite of such diverting influences as holidays, hot weather, etc. September 9 (Admission Day) was a State holiday in California, and was generally observed by all business houses, which cut the month short by two holidays, Labor Day falling on the firstJust after the middle of the month a very unusual hot spell was experienced in San Francisco, the 16th being the hottest day ever recorded here. However, the talking machine business held its own in good shape, in many instances a gain being reported over August, and also over the corresponding period of last year. There has been considerable talk in the local trade of active early preparations for the holiday trade, and these statements are now being borne out by heavy arrivals of machines from the East. While the trade does not anticipate any such great difficulty in getting goods as it experienced the past few years, it is not willing to take many chances. A large record business is opening up now, as activity is being resumed in musical circles. A large number of artists are scheduled to appear here within the next few weeks, and their engagements always create an increased demand for certain records. Big Edison Shipment for Pacific Phonograph Co. The Pacific Phonograph Co. now has on display at its warerooms samples of the Universal cabinet, which it proposes to manufacture here on a large scale. It is attracting very favorable attention among dealers in this section. The company has a large shipment of Edison machines en route from the factory, which represents six car loads. With their arrival early in October, the company will be in position to begin filling advance holiday orders. The past month 105,000 wax records were broken up at the Pacific warerooms, and the wax packed for re-shipment to the factory. Manager A. R. Pommer and Mrs. Pommer spent some time at Del Monte the past month while a golf tournament was being held there. Both are golf enthusiasts, Mrs. Pommer being one of the best lady players in the country. J. E. McCracken left a few days ago on his fall trip in the Northwest, after spending the greater part of the summer in town. Introducing the New Amberolas. E. V. Chandler, special representative of the phonograph sales department of Thos. A. Edison, Inc., is working his way to the southern part of the State, the main purpose of his trip being to introduce the new type machines, Amberola VIII and X. A Strong Columbia Campaign for Fall. W. S. Gray, local manager for the Columbia Graphophone Co., says that the summer lull in business has been forgotten the past month and that the fall campaign is well under way. He has engaged another traveler to look after the outside territory, and C. J. Moore is now devoting full attention to the city trade. The new man is E. L. Sues, formerly with the Pacific Phonograph Co. As the season advances, enthusiasm for the Columbia Leader machine increases here, and a shortage is feared at holiday time. Dealers generally are lavish in their praise of this product and a very bright future is predicted for it. Displays of the State Fair. Displays of Edison products were made by the A. J. Pommer Co. at Sacramento, Cal., during the .State fair there, and by the Sonoma Valley Music Co. at the recent apple festival in Sebastopol. Wiley B. Allen Co. Very Busy. At the Wiley B. Allen Co. department a very satisfactory month's business is reported. F. P. Corcoran is devoting special attention to the style 25 Victor machines for use in public schools in San Francisco and the bay towns, following up the work in this vicinity of Miss Ada Gertrude Jordan, special representative of the educational department of the Victor Co., who has made a very favorable impression on teachers and school boards in regard to the educational value of the Victor products in schools. Joel R. Scott, who looks after the record department, has just returned from a visit to the Wiley B. Allen interests in San Jose, Cal. Manager Black reports a big demand for Victor Victrolas Nos. IX, X and XIV, especially in art finish. Special Representative Ridgeway, of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, was a recent visitor to the local trade. What Some Houses Are Featuring. Clark Wise & Co. are making a special feature of $75 machines this week, following the arrival of a large shipment of this grade of machine. Clark Wise says he is stocking up quite heavily in anticipation of a possible shortage later in the year. P. H. Beck is very well pleased with the way business has come his way since he took over the department at Kohler & Chase's, and is preparing for a big holiday trade. Byron Mauzy has been making a good many improvements in his store lately, and is now preparing for enlarged window display space. After the change is made talking machines will be featured more extensively on the main floor. Increase in Victor Business Reported. A. G. McCarthy, of Sherman, Clay & Co., says that fall business, both wholesale and retail, in Victor products has opened up in fine shape, sales running ahead of the corresponding period of last year right along. An addition of two stories is being erected on the Sherman, Clay building in this city, which will give that company ten large floors occupied exclusively by its music business, one of the finest establishments of its kind in the whole country. Sherman, Clay & Co. are Coast distributers for the Victor Talking Machine Co. and besides do a very large retail business in Victor products. Leon F. Douglas' Generous Offer. Leon F. Douglas, of the Victor Co., has offered to make a big donation for a natatorium in San Rafael, Cal., where he makes his home, providing children under the age of eighteen years be admitted free one day in the week to the pavilion. On this condition he offers to buy the entire bond issue of $25,000 recently authorized for the building of a municipal bathing pavilion, and furthermore to donate 300 bathing suits and hire a swimming instructor to serve during the three months' vacation period of the ensuing two years. Recent Trade Visitors. D. J. Lawn, dealer of Hollister, Cal., was a recent visitor in San Francisco. J. S. Baley, manager of the local branch of Babson Bros., Chicago, received visits the past month from both Henry Babson and F. K. Babson. TALKING MACHINES IN INDIA. Consul Reports That Disc Machines Have the Call — Records Easy to Transport Safely. According to a report made by Consul Baker, on special duty in India, talking machines are now quite well introduced into that country. They are nearly all of the gramophone disc machine type, and are made mostly in Germany and Austria. The leading musical instrument dealers in India have given up all attempts to actively promote or advertise such machines, owing to the fact that native bazaars are content to sell them at such slight profits, often for not more than thirty cents profit per machine, that it is no longer worth their while to make such machines a feature of their business. There is practically no demand for wax cylinder machines, for the same reason that extra high pianos cannot be sold here, easy portability being required, and such requirement being best fulfilled by using disc records which cannot break or suffer damage from heat and which can easily be packed in small space. "There'll Come A Time Some Day" (APOLOGIES TO CHAS. K. HARRIS) When you will want goods and your regular source of supply will fall down; that is the time when, perhaps (notice, perhaps), we can be of service to you; it won't cost much to find out, and if our stock permits and the filling of your order does not interfere with our supplying the wants of our regular dealers we will be glad to serve you. Right here is an argument in favor of your being numbered among our regular dealers and have first call on goods at the time the demand exceeds the supply. This is one of the fundamental principles of Eastern Service — loyalty to the loyal. Eastern Service Is Good Service and It Is Just Service EASTERN TALKING MACHINE COMPANY 177 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON, MASS. EDISON FOR NINETEEN YEARS TALKING MACHINES EXCLUSIVELY VICTOR