The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

17 ST. LOUIS DEALERS BANKING STRONG ON THE FUTURE. Jobbing Trade Particularly Active at the Present Time and Retail Business Improving Rapidly — Scruggs, Vandervoort & Barney Displaying Machines Under Difficulties — New Columbia Departments Opened — Improved Famous & Barr Co. Department. When the record reached Toledo it was put on another dictaphone, and told the whole story of East St. Louis. The experiment was so successful Mr. Aubuchon expects to follow the same plan for future invitations of that hind. lSpivi.il to The Talking Machine World.) St. Louis, Mo., October 10. — Yes, business is good; all agree to that, especially those interested in the jobbing trade. Out-of-town dealers are ordering somewhat later than usual. Retail trade is picking up somewhat slower than usual. In fact, tin fall business is and has been slow getting under way. The outlook is splendid, the going business cannot be complained of, but it is not what was expecled, and where the fault lies no one will say. Very likely, books will show an increase, but there is a* disappointment all the same. Just where it is or what it is, is yet to be decided, but unless a strong business punch develops pretty soon someone is going to be woefully disappointed. It seems that everybody set stakes to go far ahead this fall. Perhaps it is the tariff, perhaps the weather ; perhaps it is something else, but the punch that was expected has not appeared. It is the every-year increase, and that is not satisfactory this fall. Three of the local houses are not in position to do their best this fall. The former Bollman store, the property of the Koerber-Brenner Music 'Co., Victor jobbers, still is tangled in the Bollman Bros.' bankruptcy litigation. The Victor department is open for business, but is much crippled by being in quarters of a bankrupt concern. It must remain there until the litigation over the appointment of the trustee ends. The Scruggs, Vandervoort & Barney department, conducted by the Musical Instrument Sales Co., is all but out of business form because of alterations being made on the sixth floor of that store for the piano department, into which the Victor department later will be merged. At present machines are shown in aisles, and carpenters' hammers are liable to supply an unappreciated trap drum accompaniment for an opera solo. At the Famous & Barr Co. Mr. Ligon is moving into his recently completed demonstration rooms, and hopes by the time this is printed to have his record stock placed so that he can find what he wants when he wants it. One day recently he had to excuse himself from demonstrating a machine because the workingmen building the room partitions made it impossible to distinguish the number he had placed on the machine. Harry Levy, of the talking machine department of Aeolian 'Hall, has enlarged his office quarters because of need of working space. He says his advices from the country never were better and that the October shipments promise to he excellent. The retail trade, Mr. Levy says, is developing nicely. He says all worry over the new contract has ceased. Manager I. B. Reid, of the Columbia Co., recently enjoyed a short visit from George W. Lyle, general manager of the Columbia Co.; John A. B. Cromelin, of the London branch, and W. C. Fury, of the Chicago branch. Mr. Reid and Mr. Cromelin formerly were associates in the company's executive offices. Mr. Cromelin made a tour of the chief American branches while visiting this country. Mr. Reid is especially pleased with some contracts written during the past month, one of which provides for a Columbia department in the F. G. Smith Piano Co. warerooms. The Smith Co. has arranged to devote a considerable part of the first floor and the third floor of their commodious wareroom to the Columbia line, which will be the only talking machine line handled. C. W. Smith, who is familiar with the Columbia through long selling experience, will be in charge of the department. The F. G. Smith Co. at one time handled talking machines through the local wareroom, but has made no effort in that line recently Among other notable contracts was that of the Shattinger Music Co., located at the east end of Piano Row. This company handles chiefly sheet music and musical instruments, but has not recently gone heavily into the piano game, and has not handled talking machines. Some of the other contracts are the Knapp Piano Co., of Belleville, 111.; the Collinsville Music Co., of Collinsville, 111. ; Charles & Anderson, furniture dealers, Granite City, 111. ; the Allen Music Co., Christopher, 111. Mr. Reid still is listening to realty men and looking up probable sites for a new home, but has not been able to find the place and the terms. Retail Sales Manager R. D. Duffy says the recent interest shown in symphony records has been exceedingly pleasing. The record business generally, he says, has been excellent. The dictaphone as a booster for East St. Louis has been brought into service by Tampton Aubuchon, manager of the Industrial League. Mr. Aubuchon received a request from a Toledo automobile firm asking for the advantages of East St. Louis as a manufacturing city. Instead of sending illustrated pamphlets and letter, he talked into a dictaphone for ten minutes and mailed it to the inquiring firm. WITH THE TEXAS BOOSTERS. The Visit of Vice-President Burns, of the Columbia Co., and Rafael Cabanas, of Mexico City, the Subject of Extended Notice In Dallas Papers — State Business Growing. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Dallas, Tex., October 6. — Local newspapers devoted considerable space recently to accounts of a visit to this city of Vice-President Burns, of the Columbia Graphophone Co., New York, and Rafael Cabanas, president and general manager of the Mexican Phonograph Co., Mexico City, Mex., one of the largest Columbia agencies in the world. This was Mr. Burns' first visit to this city, and his account of Texas energy as published in the Dallas Morning News, one of the city's leading newspapers, was as follows : "I met up with the Texas boosters long before I reached Dallas, for they were on the train coming down, and they all put in their best word for Texas. I met Judge E. B. Muse coming down from Chicago and St. Louis, and he could not say too much for Dallas and the whole Stale, and the same spirit was manifested everywhere. This is my first visit and I am truly surprised at the progressiveness of your people." The article in this same newspaper continued as follows : "Mr. Burns declared the business of his company is growing rapidly in Texas, and considerable extensions are planned for the near future. He said that the Texas branch with headquarters at Dallas ranks usually as close as ninth or tenth on the list of forty cities with State branches of the company. Mr. Burns is one of the oldest officials of the company, having been with •it sixteen years. Mr. Souders (manager of the Dallas headquarters) has been with the company fifteen years, four years as its representative in Berlin, Germany." CIGAR CUTTER WITH A VOICE. A Chicago <cigar manufacturing concern has hit upon an advertising novelty in the shape of a talking cigar cutter — a combination of cigar cutter and phonograph. Cut the tip off of your cigar and there issues from the machine the appeal : "Try La Bona, a one-half pure Havana long filler, so bfended as to produce a mild, smooth smoke." The machine is guaranteed to make its announcements correctly for six months, and is being given free to dealers with each purchase of 1,000 cigars. Fay's Velvatone Wood Needle Plays Thirty Records and Is Self-Sharpening T^HIS needle is treated by a chemical process that contains an Oily substance, which acts as a Lubricant, and thus polishes and smooths the grooves of the record to a great extent each time the record is played, except records which have been worn beyond redemption by steel needles. Instructions for Using Fay's Velvatone Wood Needles Place the needle in the sound box in the same manner as an ordinary steel needle, then in order to avoid injuring the point of the needle, place it carefully into the groove of the revolving record, let the needle remain in the same position in the sound box as long as it will reproduce perfectly. When it is necessary to change the . needle do not throw it away, but turn it onequarter way round and it will reproduce as clearly as at first. This can be repeated a number of times before the needle is worn out. After playing a record give the needle a quarter turn and you get a fresh point. One needle plays 30 records. It brings out the full volume of tone even on badly worn records, giving a softness and mellowness of tone. The FAY VELVATONE NEEDLE will appeal strongly to you from these points alone. You are asked to send for samples and judge for yourself that the claims we make for our needle are fully substantiated. 40c. Per Package of 1 00. Regular Trade Discounts Velvatone Needle Co., 900 Benton Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.