The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

TIMO TALKING MACIIINH WORLD. 21 Columbia Catalog, page 27: fm\ The Columbia Gratonola "Regent" at ff^M^ Jmj) $225, with the "tilting record trays"— a better table and a better musical in VissJf7 strument than ever. {Write for "Music Money," a book "full of meat" for those Columbia GraptlOphOne Company dealers interested in quick and frequent turnover of capital.") Woolworth Building, New York HOLIDAY DEMAND MAKES ITSELF FELT IN WISCONSIN. Milwaukee Jobbers Pleased with Outlook and Expect Enormous Christmas Trade — Underlying Conditions Satisfactory Throughout State — Dealers and Jobbers Optimistic and Are Pushing the Various Lines of Talking Machines and Records Enthusiastically. special to The Talking Machine World.) Milwaukee, Wis., iNovemDer 12. — 1 lie first rush ot the holiday trade is making itselt ieJt in the talking macmne held all over Wisconsin, and there seems to De every assurance that triis season's business will attain a new nigh mark. Dealers about the Male are showing their confidence by placing good, suustantial orders lor machines, records and suppi.es, with the result that jobbers in all lines are hnaihg themselves unusually busy. Dealers have been finding that their stocks on hand were not especially large this year and they have been hurrying to place their orders with jobbers early enough to insure prompt shipment. While business during October was not poor, it was a little short of expectations with some houses, but the trade thus far in November has been exceptionally good, and Milwaukee dealers are confident that plenty of activity may be expected from now on. General business is showing improvement, and while money is a little "tight," this situation is expected to improve just as soon as some final action is taken on the currency bill now before Congress. Collections are poor in practically every line of business, and the talking machine field is no exception. People are showing an inclination to buy, but it means harder work on the part of the salesman, and then payments come in more slowly. That underlying conditions are satisfactory is proven by the final Wisconsin crop report of the year, just issued by James C. MacKenzie, secretary of the State Board of Agriculture. The report says that the past year has been highly productive to the farmers of Wisconsin, this State leading all others in the Union in the production of grain and grasses. The corn crop was particularly good and most of the counties in the State report record breaking yields. Crop experts say that the report is fairly indicative of conditions all over this section of the Northwest, pretty sure proof that there will be plenty of money from now on. Gets Its Share of Business. The Gensch-Smith Co., 730 Grand avenue, Milwaukee's latest exclusive Victor concern, seems to be meeting with more than its share of business. W. P. Gensch says that sales climbed to a new high mark during the first half of the present month. Several attractive window displays were featured by the company during the past few weeks. To Occupy Larger Quarters. The Edmund Gram Music House, 414-416 Milwaukee street, has decided to move its Victor department into new and larger quarters on the first floor of the handsome Gram building. Paul A. Seeger, manager of the Victor department, has completed plans for the erection of two attractive booths and these will be installed at once, in order that they may be completed before the greatest rush of the holiday trade is experienced. The booths will be of mahogany, with ivory and gold decorations. Victrola for Houseboat. The palatial houseboat, "Willena," owned by W. H. Fahrney, a Chicago millionaire, which spent a short time in Milwaukee recently, was equipped with a Victrola and an electric piano. '1 he boat was on the first stage of a 1,400 mile journey up Lake Michigan to Portage, Wis., down tne Wisconsin -River to the Mississippi, and on down to New Orleans. A Most Attractive Building. The George H. Eichholz Co. formally opened its new talking machine store at 542 Twelfth street recently. It is one ot the finest talking machine establishments in Milwaukee. The building is attractive both inside and out. The interior finish is rich and the furnishings are inviting to customers. Although he has been in business only nine and one-half years, Mr. Eichholz has been compelled to seek larger quarters three times. On May 1, 1912, Frank Preuss became a partner of Mr. Eichholz, and since that time he has had much to do with the progress of the business. Talking Machine in Library. The talking machine is playing an important part in the service which is being rendered to the public by the South Side division of the Milwaukee city library. A story telling hour, with the talking machine as the story teller, is one of the innovations introduced at the branch library by Librarian S. A. McKillop. Aesop's fables, popular historial tales and children's stories are among the ones used. ! The records are made by Mary Faulkner, whose success as a professional story teller for children led to her engagement with a well-known talking machine company. The youngsters from schools near the library are entertained during the week, while on Saturday mornings the machine is constantly in use. Librarian McKillop believes that the talking machine will aid in increasing the popularity of the library. Increase of 39 Per Cent. L. C. Parker, manager of the Victor department at Gimbel Bros, says that business during the month of October showed an increase of 39 per cent., as compared with the corresponding period a year ago. Several New Victor Dealers. Harry T. Fitzpatrick, general manager of the Wisconsin Talking Machine Co., jobber for the Victor line, reports that business has been exceptionally good since September. Victor dealers have been ordering well for the holiday trade. Several new Victor dealers about Wisconsin are reported by Mr. Fitzpatrick. C. W. Abbott, manager of the Victor department at the Boston store, has increased his sales force. Exhibited Before Teachers' Association. An interesting demonstration of Victor machines and their possibilities in public school work was given before the annual convention of the Wisconsin Teachers' Association, held in the Milwaukee Auditorium, November 6, 7 and 8, by L. C. Parker, manager of the Victor department at Gimbel Bros., and Mr. Nolan, one oi the traveling representatives of the Victor Co. The Victor has found a ready field among the schools of Wisconsin, due largely to the work of Mrs. Frances E. Clark, formerly supervisor of music in the Milwaukee schools. A. G. Kunde, 510 Grand avenue, jobber and retailer for the Columbia line of machines and records, also had charge of an exhibition of Columbia machines before the teachers' convention. Mr. Kunde featured the Columbia Favorite and other types of machines, which have met with favor in the schools. Business is unusually good at the Kunde downtown store and at his branch store. Secure More Room. Miss Gertrude F. Gannon has leased the two upper floors of the building at 312 Grand avenue and has installed a handsome new front in her retail talking machine store. Some fine Victrola sales are reported by Manager John H. Becker, Jr. Edison Agency in Madison. The Milwaukee Phonograph Co., 347-349 Broadway, jobber for the Edison line in Wisconsin, has placed the Edison agency in Madison, the capitol city of the State, with the W. H. Aton Piano Co. William A. Schmidt, general manager of The Phonograph Co., has returned from a successful business trip in southern and central Wisconsin. Trade with the company is good. Heller Piano Co. Affairs. The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., of Chicago, and the Wisconsin Talking Machine Co., of Milwaukee, are among the creditors of the Heller Piano Co., of this city, which was forced into involuntary bankruptcy on October 16. The Wurlitzer Co. has a secured claim of $20,000, while the Wisconsin Talking Machine Co. escaped with a claim of $1,600. The Heller concern carried the Victor line of machines, records and supplies, and seemed to meet with a good business in this line. It is understood that a short time before the concern was forced into bankruptcy considerable of its stock was shipped out of the store, and among the goods thus disappearing were several talking machines. It seems that some of these machines have been discovered by the Victor Co. at Newark, N. J., although nobody seems to know just how they came there. Attorneys for the creditors believe that liabilities will amount to at least $15,000, while the assets are uncertain and may not amount to more than $25,000. The First Savings & Trust Co. of Milwaukee is receiver. Records Are Needed. Dr. F. A. Kraft, health commissioner of Milwaukee, recently made an appeal to Milwaukeeans to send his department all the talking machine records which they could spare for use at the Blue Mounds Tuberculosis Sanitorium west of the city. The city purchased a talking machine for the institution some time ago, but more records are needed. DEFACED BELASCO'S VICTROLA. A burglar broke into the home of David Belasco the other day and for some reason or other defaced the case of Mr. Belasco's Victrola, and taking the records out of the cabinet threw them on the floor and walked on them, thus breaking them all. Efforts are being made to trace the perpetrators of this outrage.