The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 25 CANADIAN TALKING MACHINE TRADE SUMMARIZED. Toronto Representative Enthusiastic Over New Columbia "Jewel" Grafonola — New Victor and Columbia Dealers Who Have Recently Entered the Field — Victrola °rovides Entertainment in the Wilds of the Northwest — Displays at Made-in-Hamilton Exposition. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Toronto, Ont., October 7. — John A. Sabine, one of t lie proprietors of the .Music Supply Co., of Toronto, which is exclusive distributer of Columbia products in the Province of Ontario, recently returned from a business trip to New York City. Mr. Sabine is enthused to an immense degree over the Columbia Co.'s new design of Grafonola, the "Jewel," which will be ready for the Canadian market about October 30 at the popular retail price of $45. it is very similar to a small "Favorite" machine which has enjoyed a great sale in Canada at $65. Regarding the new "Jewel" Mr. Sabine says: "We expect to have the 'Jewel' ready for delivery on October 30. My partner, Mr. Leake, and I are so enthusiastic about the samples we have seen that we ordered 2,000 for immediate delivery." H. G. Stanton, vice-president and general manager of R. S. Williams & Sons Co., Ltd., Toronto, which firm is Edison distributer for Canada, attended the recent conference of Edison jobbers. New Victrola House in Toronto Paul Hahn & Co., Ltd., is the name and style of the newest addition to Toronto's music houses. Paul Hahn, who when a boy entered the service of the Nordheimer Piano & Music Co., Ltd., which has a large and successful Victrola department, has grown up in the music trades with that firm. On September 1 he severed his connection with that well-known house to enter business on his own behalf, and the organization of the above-named firm is the result. A three-story and basement building has been leased at 717 Yonge street, which is close to the corner of Bloor street and is in a high-class retail district. The building secured is a new one, just being completed, and will be ready for occupancy within a month. The new firm is featuring the Mason & Hamlin and other lines, for which it has secured the local agency. In addition to these lines, a complete stock of Victor Victrolas and records is being put in. The entire basement of the store is being fitted up for this branch, while the ground floor will be used for showrooms. On the first floor will be the individual show and demonstration rooms, and the top flat is being arranged for studios. New Outlets for Columbia Products. The Toronto Grafonola Co. is a new concern that has leased premises at 141 Yonge street, Toronto, and is opening up with a complete line of Columbia records and Columbia Grafonolas. W. E. Dunn, late of the Bell Music & Piano Co.'s Victrola department, is the guiding spirit of the new firm, which opens up in time to take advantage of the swing of fall business. Probably one of the best-known music dealers in western Ontario is J. Faskin McDonald, who has been in business in Hamilton for the past fifteen years, over ten years of which time he has been in his present stand at 54 James street, North. Mr. McDonald has recently taken on the Columbia line and has already got the department comfortably housed. W. F. Newman, of the same city, has also enlisted in the ranks of Columbia dealers. P. J. McCaffrey, of Windsor, Ontario, now numbers among Columbia retailers. News Notes. A surveyor came back from the Peace River country in the great Canadian Northwest, and that is a pretty expansive piece of territory. "Thought I was far from the haunts of civilization," said he in speaking of the solitudes, "but one evening, just as we were making a portage, I thought I heard singing. I was blame near scared stiff, and so was my companion at first. We got back from the noise of the rapids to listen, and sure enough, we could hear the words as well as the air of one of the late hits we heard down at Winnipeg three weeks before. Well, it was a little Victrola that another survey party had, and by gum I have one q{ them now." The wise and discriminating stork recently visited the home, in Rosedale, Toronto, of R.. S. Williams, president <>| the 1\. S. Williams & Suns Co., Ltd., Edison jobbers in Canada and Kdiscni and Victor retailers, and deposited a lusty son and luir. Mr. Williams, who now becomes ''R. S., senior," is as pleased as he has a right to be, and is already looking forward to the time when his counterpart will be ready to take an interest in fiddles, old and rare. At the Made-in-Hamilton Exposition during centennial week in Hamilton, when thousands of former Hamiltonians gathered for a memorable week of celebration, the Newbigging Cabinet Co., Ltd., PIANOS TRADED FOR PHONOGRAPHS. Six Customers of Marks Silverstone Take That Means of Securing Edison Machines — Making Alterations in Quarters to Accommodate Business — Ninety Per Cent, of Sales Are of $250 Machines — Orders from Kansas. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) St. Louis, Mo., October 11. — Marks Silvers'-one is making extensive changes in the warerooms of the Silverstone Music Co., which will enhance the business convenience, beauty and comfort of the quarters that he designed last spring. The changes are those found to be necessary after six months' occupancy there. His first object is to provide suitable space and facilities for handling the Edison disc phonographs and records. Despite an anticipation of big business resulting from the introduction of these machines, Mr. Silverstone finds that he had not made proper allowance, and'' the additional record bins, shelves and counters for the handling of the jobbing supplies are being installed. "The records are coming very smoothly now in quantities that insure us in promisingprompt shipments," he says, "and I am working to keep our facilities ahead of the game. I can assure my jobbers now of excellent service, which would have been impossible without the changes being made. The storage of sufficient machines to meet the demand, too, is a problem that is larger than I had expected, but we have the space here and it is merely a question of making the proper arrangements, which I am doing." The comfort of the warerooms consists in a steam heating plant, which is perhaps unusual for a leaseholder to put in "I thought 1 had arrangements with a neighbor to supply heat," said Mr. Silverstone, "but when by warerooms got cold and I complained to him he would say: 'I am not in the heating business.' So I thought I had better put in a plant and heat my own place." Mr. Silverstone has on hand six pianos that have been traded in by persons buying $250 Edison disc machines. "A few years ago I would have laughed at a person who would have suggested such a situation as that," he said, "and at that time I was as enthusiastic over talking machines as anyone." When the Silverstone Music Co. moved into its present quarters Mr. Silverstone added pianos as a side line to his Edison talking machines, and the had a much-admired exhibit, It showed its keyboard record cabinet, which attracted much attention and ready endorsement. The principle of tincabinet is ib.ii when a record is wanted it is merely necessary to press the numbered key of the record wanted, and it immediately rolls out. R. P. Nevvbiggin, head of the firm, states that record cabinet sales in September exceeded those of a year ago by 30 per cent. At the recent exhibition at Ottawa, the Capital of the Dominion, the Hurtcau-Williams Co. made a prominent display of the $050 Columbia Baby Grand grafonola. The products of the Edison and Phonola firms were also on view. Henry H. Mason, general manager of Mason & Risch, Ltd., piano and player manufacturers, who have excellent Victrola departments in their retail store and branches throughout Canada, was elected chairman of the technical education committee at the recent annual meeting of the Canadian Manufacturers' Association at Halifax, N. S. fact that he is in the piano business has supplied him with an outlet for the instruments he recently has taken in. A few days ago Mr. Silverstone ordered a list drawn from the books of purchasers of disc machines, showing style and price. Rather to his surprise, this list shows that more than 90 per cent, of the sales have been of the $250 models. "I knew the percentage had been high, but I did not anticipate quite that proportion," he said as he was congratulated on his salesmanship ability. A. O. Reynolds, who is boosting the Blue Amberola branch of the business for the Silverstone Co., is in Kansas and is sending back orders and reports that show that he is giving an excellent account of his time. Manager Savage, of the dictating machine department, is back from his summer vacation, and is beginning an active campaign. THOUGHTS FOR BUSINESS MEN. Never let little things annoy you. Life is too short to worry over trifles. Never show when you are discouraged; a weak heart never wins customers. Never plan about to-morrow and expect to-day to take care of itself. Never excite envy by boasting what you have and can do. Never laugh at anyone's failures ; it may be an experience you will have in the near future. Never push yourself forward; remember that great men are sought and do not seek. Never cry out when you are hurt in life's game. That is only worthy of an infant. Never be elated by your successes, nor be discouraged by your failures. Never think that you will get to the top by shoving others out of the way. Never be afraid to get knowledge. " It will always answer you in some good stead. Never crawl. If you are in the wrong, admit it and get it out of your system. Never give up the game until the end. Remember, in a game of checkers you often win with a few men. Never begrudge the favors your competitors get. The fact that you can fight on alone proves your strength. — Says John Trainor in Modern Methods. I "DUSTOFF" RECORD CLEANERS Add Lite to Records Dust and dirt settling in the minute sound grooves of the record causes friction in the reproducing point track with the resulting wear and tear of the record. "DUSTOFF" RECORD CLEANEE5 get into these grooves and thoroughly clean the record, ensuring a clear and distinct tonal reproduction free from blurs, scrapings and harsh Jobbers and Columbia Distributors Everywhere can supply you. (Canadian trade through Berliner Gram-o-phone Co., Montreal.) "Dusloffs" are "Profit-Makers" De Luxe Model Each in box and 12 in display carton. Retails, 50c. (Canada, 7qc). Liberal trade discount. Regular Model ' Each in 2 color box. Retails 15c (In Canada, 25c.) Liberal trade discount. SAMPLES se"t postpaid, on approval, to dealers writing on — business stationery and mentioning jobber's name. MINUTE SHINE COMPANY, Sole Mfrs., 280 Canal Street PROVIDENCE, R. I., U. S. J