The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

10 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. HOLIDAY BUSINESS APPARENT ON PACIFIC COAST. Jobbers Report That Dealers Are Putting in Substantial Stocks of Machines and Records — Portola Festival Pleases Trade — George W. Lyle Visiting Columbia Co. Branches — AM' Lines Being Exploited Strongly — Good Supply of Edison Discs — Month's News. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, Cal., October 30. — Business in talking machines, especially wholesale, is rapidly assuming larger proportions as the holiday season ppproaches. Jobbers report all the orders they can handle, and the distributers are finding an immediate demand for all the goods they can get. A good many out-of-town dealers came to San Francisco during the Portola Festival, a four-day celebration, October 22 to 25, which was. the most pretentious event of its kind ever held here. It had been well advertised throughout California and adjoining States, and it was largely attended. The city was elaborately decorated and the entertainment was of a high character. The retail music houses, although not among the trades to reap immediate benefits from the carnival, participated h> the affair quite generally, contributing to the general expense fund, preparing special displays and otherwise responding to the festival spirit. The trade was represented in the big industrial parade by Byron Mauzy, who entered a float showing musical instruments in an attractive setting. The Stock Situation. While there is still some talk here of difficulty in getting stock, not much anxiety is being felt in this respect, as stocks generally are in much better shape than . they have been at this time in a number of years. Several of the retailers have been filling their warerooms for some little time and at this early date have nearly all their holiday goods in storage. Messrs. Lyle and Gray on Business Tour. W. S Gray, local distributer for the Columbia Graphophone Co., left last week for the Northwest, with the intention of meeting George W. Lyle, general manager of the . company, and making a tour of the Pacific Coast with him. He planned to spend about two weeks in the Northwest, making stops at Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver before returning to San Francisco. After looking over the local field they will proceed to the southern part of the State. Just before going north Mr. Gray made a trip taking in several California towns, including Stockton, Tracy and Livermore. Dealers in those places, he said, were enjoying a normal business and were preparing for a big holiday trade. Fred Anglemier, local wholesale manager, reports a splendid business the past month, and thinks they will be able to meet the demand in this section quite comfortably this holiday season, having taken every precaution against getting swamped with orders in December. A new man has joined the Columbia force here in the person of Otto Krause, formerly with the Victor Co. He has been engaged particularly to exploit the Columbia Grand here in San Francisco. The forcfi has been still further strengthened by the return of J. B. Kahn, who for several months has been interested in other pursuits, to resume his duties with the company. He will work outside territory. Takes on Columbia Line. The Hayden Furniture Co., of Bakersfield, Cal., has added a Columbia Graphophone department and is planning an extensive campaign for Columbia products in conjunction with its furniture business. Mr. Dyer, president of the company, was a recent caller at the" Columbia offices here. Big Demand for the Edison Line. J. E. McCracken, traveler for the Pacific Phonograph Co., is now calling on the trade in the southern part of the State, after completing a successful trip over the Northwest. A. R. Pommer says they have all the orders they can handle and that indications point to a banner year in Edison products here on the Coast. Won't You Have a Lesson in Spanish? It's so easy to learn by the I. C. S. system — and a knowledge of Spanish is so useful nowadays. The I. C. S. system of language instruction by means of the phonograph makes easy the mastering of a foreign language, and appeals with compelling power to thousands. The dealer in phonographs who does not carry I. C. S. Language Out, fits is neglecting a quick and sure way to increase his business. The new $35 Language Outfit of the I. C. S. is a marvel. It represents the highest art in the teaching of languages, and embodies a method that has won the warmest praise of thousands qualified to speak authoritatively. The Spanish, French, and German Embassies at Washington, as well as the leading colleges, have cordially indorsed the I. C. S. method of teaching languages. The I. C. S. Language Outfit consists of an Edison Gem Phonograph made especially for language work; small horn; headband hearing tube; oil can; and 25 Conversational Records teaching pronunciation guaranteed to be absolutely correct, with native intonation and inflection. In addition to these Conversational Records there»are pamphlet Instruction Papers teaching the theory of the languages. The new Outfit is at one and the same time the best and cheapest ever offered — the price being only $35. If you want to increase your business, write to-day for full particulars. International Correspondence Schools Bos 918, Scranton, Fa. E. V. Chandler, special representative of the phonograph department of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., after working the southern part of the State quite thoroughly, is now calling on the trade in the San Joaquin Valley. Bacigaiupi's Good Report. Peter Bacigalupi, manager of the talking machine department of Peter Bacigalupi & Sons, reports a big month's business in both Victor and Edison products. He also says that holiday business in Little Wonder machines looks very promising. Hale Bros., one of the large department stores here, has placed a large order for these machines and is featuring them quite extensively in the toy c'epartment. During the Portola Festival the Bacigalupi talking machine department was converted into a grand stand for the accommodation of friends and patrons of the house who desired to see the parades. Exploiting Victor Style for Schools. C. T. Edwards, who has charge of the outside business for the Wiley B. Allen talking machine department, is devoting particular attention at present to the exploitation of the Style 25 Victor machine for school use in the outlying districts in this vicinity. He says much interest is being shown in that style of machine in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Joel R. Scott, manager of the lecord department of the Allen store here, reports a big business during Portola Week. James J. Biack, manager of the Allen talking machine department, anticipates an unusually large holiday trade in the higher priced Victor Victrolas. Miss Bertha Houda has returned from the North and resumed her position with the Wiley B. Allen Co. Kohler & Chase Activity. P. H. Beck, manager of the Kohler & Chase department, says that business continues to improve and that both machines and records are having a good call. He finds the $100 Victor Victrola a popular style of machine for the apartment house trade of this city. He is carrying a large reserve stock now, and expects to be able to handle the holiday rush without delay. Good Supply of Edison Discs. J. S. Baley, manager of the local branch of Babson Bros., is now in receipt of a fairly good supply of Edison disc records and is in position to push disc business more actively. He notes a decided improvement in the demand for both disc and cylinder products in the last month. He has a big mailing list, and a good many of his out-of-town customers called during the Portola Festival. Manager Morgan, of the Emporium talking machine department, which handles Columbia products exclusive!} , has been running a series of ads featuring the "Eclipse" machine, and which have stimulated interest in that style. SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION RECORD. Being Introduced by the Columbia Co. to Retail at 25 Cents — Contains Tenor Solo and Selling Talk on Qualities of the Products. The Columbia Graphophone Co. has just introduced a special demonstration record to retail at twenty-five cents that should prove one of the most important trade producers announced by the company in some time. A double page spread in today's Saturday Evening Post presented this new demonstration record to the general public, and if advance expressions of approval are any key to the ultimate popularity of this record, the demand for the new Columbia demonstration record will far exceed all expectations. On one side of this new demonstration record is featured a tenor solo by one of the Columbia Co.'s most popular artists, while on the other side is presented a short selling talk on the merits and distinctive qualities of the Columbia products. A feature of this short selling talk is the presentation of the following band instruments, which are introduced in order to give the auditor an idea of the quality of Columbia recording methods : First violin, second violin, viola, 'cello, flute, bassoon, bell, cornet, oboe, clarinet, French horn and trombone. "The road to success is long and rough, but the scenery at the end is so fine that few purchase return tickets."