The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

64 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. FROM OUR CHICAGO HEADQUARTERS— (Continued from page 63). and the more recent installation of additional equipment, S. O. Wade wishes to impress on the jobbers the necessity of placing their orders immediately in order to insure prompt delivery. Salter on Fishing Trip. George W. Salter, president of the Salter Manufacturing Co., is away on a fishing trip that will take him into some of the most remote fishingcountry of -Northern Michigan and Wisconsin. Mr. Salter has won many laurels as a fisherman, but the present trip is in preparation of what is expected to toe one of the biggest years of the company's history, and Mr. Salter wishes to toe in the best shape to handle the immense business that greets the company during the fall .of the year. Kimball Department Enlarged. The talking machine department of the Kimball Co. ' is completing arrangements for the usage of large additional space to the already commodious quarters that it occupies at the present time. Under Manager Cullen's direction this department of the immense piano house has grown so rapidly that it was made apparent some time ago that more space was necessary. Accordingly, the fine light corner room on the second floor of the building was remodeled and decorated in generous fashion and furnished with a large stock of new machines. The new room furnishes nine hundred feet of additional space in one of the choicest localities in the city. Passengers on the elevated trains will be able to look directly into the room, and to make sure that they do Mr. Cudlen is having some attractive electric signs made. It is proba'ble that if the company's talking machine business improves there will be additional space given to it upon the third floor. Paul H. Wagner in Business. Paul H. Wagner, formerly in charge of the foreign edition section of the music department of Lyon & Healy, was in the city for a few days recently completing purchasing of stock for his fine new music store located in the Hume-Manser building, 27 East Ohio street, Indianapolis. Mr. Wagner will handle Victrolas and records and promises that his store will be one of the best talking machine shops in the State. He will also handle pianos and players, small goods and music. Mr. Wagner will be able to accommodate a large stock, as his store is 120 feet by 33 feet, and has a large basement in addition. The Wagner Music Co. is incorporated for $10,000. The Tango in North Dakota. The following description of a Grafonola concert in which tango records took a part is taken from the "Steele Ozone," of Steele, N. D. "W. W. Paige has received a new grafonola and gave an informal concert, mostly classical music, Monday evening to a number of visitors, and among the list he played was the reproduction of a solo by the famous boy vocalists. The tango was also given, and it certainly is a piece of great life and action. So far as the music is concerned it is great stuff. Among those present were Messrs. Gunsaulius, Jones, Dr. Lodge and E. B. Miller, and they agreed that if the tango as a dance had the life in it the music has, it would be worth seeing in its native heath of Buenos Ayres. It 'was decided that the tango music is all right, but the use to which it has been put by the social flash" af Newport has given it a bad repute." C. W. Copp in Town. C. W. Copp, an enterprising dealer of South Bend, Ind., was in the city recently buying stock for his newly remodeled shop. Mr. Copp has added a demonstration parlor, which increases his space 50 per cent. He is very optimistic over fall business and promises himself a record-breaking season. Mr. Copp recently devised an unique record filing system. A Profitable Postcard. Harry C. Meek, manager of the talking machine department of the P. A. Starck Piano Co., has ■been securing most successful results from the use of a return postcard on which is presented a choice selection of new records. A small square opposite each selection can be marked with a pencil indicating that the customer would like to hear the record. The records are sent for trial, those approved are retained and the balance called for. The cost of such solicitation is small and the returns from it are said to be more than satisfactory. Poetic Advertising. In advertising to their patrons and prospective patrons in the vicinity of their store, Miller's Talking Machine Shop, 1124 East 63d street, made an appeal to the parents recently that was most successful. The appeal, which was in the form of "kid" poetry, appeared in the Woodlawn Magazine, and is as follows : MY GRAPHOPHONE. We haven't any graphophone, like Mrs. Brown has got, And so I just play-tend that I am one; [ wind myself up awful hard, with just a play-tend crank, And sing and talk, and have a heap of fun. Sometimes I crank myself up wrong, and then I will not go Until I just unwind myself again; And crank and crank myself some more, as careful as can be, And then start off with all my might and main. [ know I sing most every song that you have ever heard — ■ And Mother says I sing them very well — And then I play some music tunes that haven't any words, And lots of jokes and funny stories tell. Sometimes I make a funny noise, like all my screws were loose; And then it is I've got a joke on you; Vou can't imagine what's the matter with my graphophone, And wonder what on earth I ought to do! And when I tell you what's wrong, you'll simply have to laugh, I did it all on purpose, don't you know; I didn't put a record in, and knew it all the time, I simply didn't want that thing to go. We haven't any graphophone, like Mrs. Brown has got; But I don't miss it very much, you know; Because my play-tend music box is with me all the time, And any minute I can make it go. Have Final' Celebration. C. F. Baer, manager of the Chicago office of the Columbia Graphophone Co., closed his cottage at Lake Catherine with appropriate ceremonies Sunday. W. W. Parsons, Ed. Blimke, S. T. Schultz, from the office, and several friends outside of the trade assisting. The record catch of the season is reported, including a giant musky, who fell a victim to a perch which had just been hooked and was being yanked to the surface when the big fish seized him. New Additions to Columbia Family. The Chicago office of the Columbia Co. reports that the department store of A. Gottlieb & Co., of Kenosha, Wis., have just added the Columbia line exclusively, fitting up a well arranged department for its accomimodation. The Hobart M. Cable Co. has added the Columbia line at its stores at Decatur and Lincoln. 111., as a result of the success experienced with the goods at the Clinton, la., store, which added a Columbia department last spring. Joins Talking Machine Co.'s Force. D. C. Preston is a new member of the traveling force of the Talking Machine Co., and will visit the trade in Wisconsin, Northern Michigan and Minnesota, the territory formerly covered by Frank Moses, who is now in the automobile business in Indianapolis. Mr. Preston was formerly a piano salesman in Des Moines, and understands thoroughly the art of closing sales, an accomplishment which will no doubt stand him in good stead in his work with the dealers. Praise Improved Service. The Talking Machine Co. have received many compliments on the improvement in their already excellent service since they occupied their fine new quarters on Michigan avenue. The record department with its improved system and greater capacity enables the pushing through of orders with lightning speed. The past month has been a remarkable one with the company, scoring a big increase over the corresponding month of last year. Roy J. Keith, sales manager for the Talking Machine Co., returned Monday from a week spent at French Lick Springs, Ind. He took the baths, 'broke equestrian records and learned to play golf, an achievement of which he is vociferously proud. High Priced Machines Hold Own. L. K. Cameron, manager of the retail talking machine department of Wurlitzer's, says that notwithstanding the excellent value offered in the Victrola X, the new cabinet $75 machine, the actual figures show that the Victrola XVI's outsell them five to one, while the Xl's, the hundred dollar miachines, outsell the Victrola X's ten to one. He went over the matter with F. A. Siemon, and found that much the same proportion maintains in the wholesale, with the exception that in the very small towns the proportionate of increase of the $200 machines is less pronounced. Mr. Cameron recently returned from a three week's vacation spent at Wisconsin and Michigan resorts, where he indulged himself in his favorite pastime of yachting to his heart's content. New Department Manager. A. N. Nelson is now in charge of the talking machine department of the Boston store. He succeeds Ben Davis, who held the position for some years, but who left to go on the vaudeville stage in the East. Opens Department. The A. R. Owens Co., of Riverside, 111., one of Chicago's most beautiful and aristocratic suburbs, has opened a Victor department, devoting to it a separate room, with direct street entrance. Enlarges Department. George B. Barwig, furniture dealer at 3335 North Clark street, is preparing to handle Victor goods on a larger scale than hitherto, and will fit up a regular department with demonstration booths, etc. Some Musical Robbers. The store of August Dannemark, in the North shore suburb of Wilmette, was entered the other night through the skylight and 294 records, and mostly high priced, with about $200 worth of electrical goods were taken. Mr. Dannemark did some shrewd detective work on his own account, and as the result the theft was traced to the home of a Wilmette youth and the goods discovered in the attic. The young man is now in jail. Make Fine Exhibits. R. L. Berry and Bernard's Music Shop, of Springfield, 111., are both making fine exhibits at the Illinois State Fair now in progress there, and are giving Victor demonstrations to large crowds. Personals. J. F. Boiler, piano and talking machine dealer, 3133 Milwaukee avenue, has just returned from Northern Wisconsin, where he spent the summer. H. W. Brelsford, 511 North avenue, has remodeled his store, installing three booths for the demonstration of Victor and Columbia goods. George A. Vining, talking machine dealer on the tenth floor of the North American 'building, State and Monroe streets, not only has the distinction af being nearest the sky of any dealer in the city, but also the only one handling three lines, Victor, Columbia and Edison disc. Otto P. T. Friederich, of the well-known music and talking machine jobbing house of J. A. J. Friederich, Grand Rapids, Mich., was a Chicago visitor last week. M.. M. M'artin, talking machines, etc., was another Grand Rapids visitor a few days ago. Henry Saak, Columbia dealer, Milwaukee, spent a day in Chicago last week. J. L. Haight, a Victor dealer of McGregor, la., was in Chicago last week on his way to the East, where he intended visiting the Victor factory. Sam Goldsmith, of the Victor sales force, and V. B. Taylor, the Victor missionary in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, called on the jobbers recently. Occupies New Store. M. P. Berg, musical merchandise and talking machines, has moved from his former location, 3153 Lincoln avenue, to a fine new store at 3150 Lincoln avenue, just across the street. In the new store he has four handsome new booths for demonstrating Victor and Edison machines. Death of Judge Cratty. Thomas Cratty, treasurer and a member of the board of directors of Lyon & Healy, died at the Henrotin Memorial Hospital September 19. Judge Cratty, as he was known in the trade, was taken ill about three weeks ago. At first it was considered nothing more than a nervous breakdown, but later, his condition growing serious, he was removed to the Henrotin Hospital. Judge Cratty was born in Delaware County, September 29, 188S.