The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

18 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. The Trade In Boston And New England JOHN H. WILSON, MANAGER, 324 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., November 10. — The talking machine business is booming; of that there is no doubt. Piano houses may be uttering some complaint about poor or at least nominal business, but not so the dealers in Columbia, Victor or Edison goods. With some houses there is a scarcity of out6ts, and statements made by managers to this effect are borne out by the bare appearance of the retail quarters. One interesting feature of the talking machine business is the way that furniture houses are taking on these lines, for it has shrewdly been discovered by not a few furniture concerns that the talking machine is a most effectual means of resurrecting a "dead account." All such houses have customers on their books to whom they have sold pretty nearly everything that was carried, furniture, carpets, rugs, china, and the like. But the talking machine comes along with its great possibilities, and lo; here is something that it is not difficult to convince householders that they want. Once the machine is purchased there is the continuous call for records, and some of the leading furniture houses of the city can be pointed to as having revived a lot of trade in just this manner. Arrange for Folk Dances. The Columbia Graphophone Co. is to put its fine second-story salon to a good use this winter. Last year, it will be recalled, that W. L. Hubbard, of the Boston Opera House, gave a series of lectures on the forthcoming new operas with vocal and instrumental illustrations. This season Manager Erisman has planned to have programs of folk dancing on Saturday forenoons to the accompaniment of music by the Columbia grand. The dances will be given by a group of girls from the Somerville schools and who will perform under the immediate supervision of Mrs. Soule, who is the instructor in folk dancing in the schools of that city. Special invitations are being sent out and the Saturday mornings at the Columbia quarters promise to be quite a rendezvous of lovers of this kind of dancing. Presented with Handsome Victrola. Charles W. Gammons, senior member of the life underwriting agency of James T. Phelps & Co., of this city, was honored by his office and other insurance associates a while ago with a dinner tendered him at Young's Hotel, this in recognition of thirty years of service. One of the surprises of the evening was the presentation of a handsome Victrola, Style 16, with a number of records. The outfit came from the Victor department of the Henry F. Miller Co. Beautiful Columbia Window Display. One of the sights of Tremont street that is attracting much attention is the display in one of the Columbia Graphophone Co.'s windows. It shows a handsome Columbia Grand, beside which stands a young woman clad in a fashionable evening gown, the window being appropriately furnished to represent a beautiful salon. There's always quite a crowd about the window, and the exhibit has proved quite worthy as an advertising medium. To Handle Columbia Line. The J. & A. Ehrlich Co., of 2145 Washington street, has closed a contract for the Columbia line of goods, and the initial order for machines and records was a very large one. On His Way to Headquarters. J. W. Scott, special representative of Thomas A. Edison Co., Inc., was a caller on Manager Silliman, of the Pardee-Ellenberger Co., a few days ago. Mr. Scott was on his way from Maine to the factory. He reported business good all through the field in which he had been. Advertising Song Hits. All the song hits of "The Follies," playing at the Tremont Theater next door, are being widely advertised in the windows of the Eastern Talking Machine Co. in Tremont street. The Eastern Co., with its characteristic eye to business, always seizes on the presence of a musical show at the Tremont to advertise its records, and it does it to advantage, too. Several of the "Follies" Company have called at the Eastern headquarters and "Heard themselves," notably Nat M. Wills, the tramp comedian, who is an important feature of the show. Quite a "Talking" Feature. The new Columbia demonstration disc is proving quite a talking feature, and the Boston offices are easily getting rid of a large supply. Working on the Outside. Norman Mason, who formerly was the able floor manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co., is now spending all his time outside, among the wholesale trade, and he is meeting with remarkable success. Mason "has a way" with him which just catches the trade right and his success is scarcely to be wondered at. Interested in New Edison Discs. George Lincoln Parker reports an unusually good fall in his talking machine department. Not only is he making many sales of Victor goods, buc he and his staff of salesmen have been able to interest many people in the new Edison disc machines. Mr. Parker's business thus far this year is much in advance of the same period a year ago. Waiting Room for Women Patrons. Manager Taft, of the Eastern Talking Machine Co., is working out the details of a waiting room to be located near the street door on the ground floor of the Tremont street headquarters. Such an apartment should prove a great convenience to the many women patrons of the establishment. It will be furnished attractively and will be ready soon. Marvel's at Erisman's Store. H. E. Parker, the assistant superintendent of the Columbia factory, was a visitor at Manager Erisman's Columbia office a few days ago. Mr. Parker runs over to Boston at intervals and always marvels at Manager Erisman's business strides. H. A. Yerkes, the Columbia wholesale manager at the New York offices, was in town a few days ago making his headquarters at Manager Erisman's offices. Steinert's Well Equipped Department. The Victor department of the M. Steinert & Sons Co. is enjoying its full share of talking machine prosperity. The establishment in Arch street is now splendidly equipped to meet the calls of its many customers, a large proportion of whom are downtown business people, as the store is in the midst of the commercial life of the city. Selling High Priced Edison Disc Machines. Manager Silliman, of the Pardee-Ellenberger Co., says that it is about as easy to-day to sell a highpriced Edison disc machine as it was to dispose of a $20 cylinder machine a few years ago. There is no longer any delay in getting discs and owners of the new Edison machines are finding all the records they want, and of a high quality, too. Developing School Business. Now that the schools are opened for the season, Billy Fitzgerald, of the Eastern Talking Machine Co., is "right on the job," and it is suspected that he will soon be able to close some surprisingly good contracts for equipments to be installed in some of the leading schools. A Progressive Worcester House. A representative of the Atherton Furniture Co., of Worcester, was in town lately, and placed a large order for Columbia outfits. This large Worcester house is having a notable opening on November 6, 7 and 8. The Columbia quarters have just closed up a large contract with the Piper & Mclntyre Co., of Manchester, N. H. Featuring Talking Machines. The A. McArthur Co., one of the largest furniture houses in the city, is making a great feature of its talking machine department, and it has placed this in charge of C. A. Hewett, who knows the business from A to Z. Big Demand for Victor Machine at Ditson's. One hears the same contented cry from Manager Winkelman, head of the Victor department of the Oliver Ditson Co. Now that the fall season is on in earnest and everybody back from their country homes, Mr. Winkelman's loyal staff is kept on the jump from morn till eve, and sometimes later, supplying Victor machines and records. Henry Siegel Co.'s Fine Display. The Henry Siegel Co., one of Boston's large department stores, is going more heavily than ever into the talking machine business, and this week it has had one of its large show windows entirely devoted to an exhibit of equipments. The refurnished department is now in charge of Benjamin Krumschied, who formerly was with the Tel-Electric Co. and who is well versed in the business. The Most Profitable Line is that which sells easiest with the most profits. Edison disc phonographs are scientifically made for the best tone reproduction. You only need to show your prospects the new models in the Edison Line of Disc Phonographs and you have their undivided attention. Playing several records generally clinches the sale. Write in now and see if your city is eligible for a representation. You'll be surprised at the magnitude of the Edison value. The Pardee-Ellenberger Co., Inc. BOSTON, MASS. NEW HAVEN, CONN.