The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

Till: TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 1!) The Trade In Boston And New England JOHN H. WILSON, MANAGER, 324 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. Big Record Business. An interesting feature of the business of II. Rosen ;U o School street is tlte large number of customers be has on Saturday afternoon and evening. Regularly Mr. Rosen has to engage extra clerks on Saturday evenings to serve the people who drop in for records. As soon as possible he will secure additional quarters to bis present suit' of rooms. TEACHERS HEAR THE VICTOR. Delightful Entertainment Provided by the Victor Co. for the Closing Session of the Convention of the Essex County Teachers' Association, Held in Boston Last Week. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., November 10. — The Victor talking machine received a splendid demonstration this afternoon at the eighty-fourth annual convention of the Essex County Teachers' Association in Tremont Temple. The demonstration came as the last feature, and when the last speaker on the program had finished the chairman of the session made the announcement of the Victor demonstration, casually mentioning that no one was obliged to remain, as this was not an official part of the exercises. It is of more than passing interest, however, that few teachers left the hall, and thereafter for half an hour they were delightfully entertained. The demonstration was conducted by Branson M. De Con, representing the educational department of the Victor Co., and he came to Boston on purpose for this occasion. He had on the platform two machines, which were loaned for the occasion by the M. Steinert & Sons Co., which house also sent along one of its staff to assist Mr. De Cou. A short talk preceded the concert, Mr. De Cou telling his audience in an entertaining manner the wide possibilities of this method of entertainment and education. He spoke of the volume recently prepared by the Victor Co. on the literature of music, which he advised all teachers to become familiar with. In his demonstration he began with a record of Mme. Schumann-Heink in "Silent Night," and this was followed by the great "Faust" prison scene as given by the three great artists— Caruso, Farrar and Journet. Then in rapid succession he gave marches for calesthenics, folk dances, standard part songs, poems and recitations, several of the singing games, the stories by Miss Faulkner of Chicago, the series of Mother Goose songs, popular instrumental selections for children and ending with the famous "Rigoletto" quartet by Abott, Homer, Caruso and Scotti, and an instrumental arrangement of "America" as the audience filed out. All through the concert there was enthusiastic applause for the numbers. SUPPLEMENT OF FOREIGN RECORDS. The Victor Talking Machine Co. sent out to the trade this week a special supplement of foreign records accompanied by a short letter, calling the attention of the dealers to the unlimited possibilities that exist for the development of foreign records trade. This foreign record business, incidentally, is showing a substantial increase each season that indicates a growing realization of this field's possibilities by the dealers and distributers. WANTED SOMETHING MUSICAL. He had lately come into a fortune and had gone to the city to relieve himself of part of the burden. Among his hardest tasks was the selection of dinner from the elaborate, congested menu card, by which his food and drink were placed under .i heavy disguise. "Bring up a little of this, waiter," he ventured, his finger at an appetizing line. The waiter, astonished, glanced closer for confirmation of his perplexity. "Sorry, sir. but the band's playing that now." NEW DEALER GETS GOOD RESULTS. Thomas F. Morris, Who Handles the Edison Disc Line in Newton Centre, Mass., Does Well with Opening Campaign. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston. Mass., November 8. — One of the latest additions to the fast growing lists of Edison disc representatives in this territory is Thomas F. Morris, 297 Center street, Newton Centre, Mass., who recently opened an attractively arranged store for the exclusive sale of Edison disc products. The furnishings of Mr. Morris' new store are tasteful and dignified to a degree, the decorations and furnishings of the demonstration rooms being designed in the Spanish leather craftsman style, with the fixtures of antique oak. Located in one of the leading suburban districts of the city, Mr. Morris will undoubtedly close an excellent business with Edison disc products, and ' should find it comparatively easy to develop a profitable and discriminating clientele among the music lovers in his section. WINNING GOOD WILL OF CUSTOMERS. The salesmen and clerks who would succeed should cultivate charm of manner. Courteous manners in little things are an asset worth acquiring. When a customer approaches, rise and offer a chair; step aside and let the store's guest pass first into the elevator. These are little things, but they make you and your work finer. Your promise to a customer is your employer's promise. A broken promise always hurts, and it shows weakness in the character of a business organization, just as unreliability does in an individual. If your business is to wait on customers, be careful of your dress and appearance. Do your manicuring before you reach the store, not after you get there, says the Edison Phonograph Monthly. In a thousand ways a salesman can give evidence of a desire to be helpful, which is far removed from officiousness and which attitude makes friends for a store. Your work may seem hard to-day, but if you do your level best it is bound to come easier to-morrow. CONDITIONS ARE EXCELLENT As Far as They Affect the Columbia in New England Territory, Says H. A. Yerkes, Manager of Company's Wholesale Department. "Business in New England is splendid, and in my opinion was never better than at the present time," stated H. A. Yerkes, manager of the wholesale department of the Columbia Graphophone Co., who returned late last week from a two weeks' trip through New England territory. "In all lines of business there seems to be a general optimism and steadiness of industrial affairs that augurs very well indeed for the closing of an excellent 1913 and a prosperous spring in 1914. "As far as our own business is concerned, it is gratifying to note that Columbia dealers in New England, without exception, are closing the best year in their history. Both in machines and records the sales to date are far in excess of last year, which was a record-breaker, and judging from the consistent and result producing publicity now being used by New England Columbia dealers, the last six weeks of this year will break all previous totals. "Some idea of the status of our business in general may be gathered from the fact that we are more concerned at the present time in filling the orders of, our regular clients than in establishing any new representatives. This condition applies particularly to New England territory, where certain types of machines are achieving a remarkable popularity. The 'Leader,' our new $75 machine, for example, is a prime favorite throughout every part of New England, and we are finding it very difficult to ship these machines fast enough to Columbia dealers in this part of the country. Our 'New Mignonette' is another model that is in the very front ranks of popular types, and the new 'Gem' bids fair to become the best selling machine of its class ever introduced. "Our Springfield, Mass., store recently moved into new and enlarged quarters, where it will be in a more advantageous position to adequately cater to the rapidly increasing demands of its clientele. This store has closed an excellent business so far this year and established a number of important agencies during the first part of the year that are doing a fine holiday trade." <([ The BAGS HAW line of Talking Machine Needles comprises twentyeight types. Most of the demand centers upon twelve styles. All are made to measure up to the "Best in the World" Bagshaw Standard. W. H. BAGSHAW Needle Maker Since 1870 LOWELL, MASS.