The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 25 HANDSOME QUARTERS OF LIVE NEW YORK DISTRIBUTER. Remodeled and Redecorated Headquarters of the New York Talking Machine Co. Among Most Convenient and Commodious in the Country — Interesting History of the Company— Has Triumphed Over Severe Setbacks — Those at Head of the Organization. With the completion of extensive decorations ;uul improvements, the New York Talking Ma chine Co., 81 Chambers street, New York, the prominent Victor distributer, is quartered in one of the most attractive, up-to-date and comfortable talking machine warerooms in the industry, and the extent of the company's present business and .splendidly equipped building looms up still more impressive!} when compared with its humble start. Liter lo 77 Chambers street, where offices, stock and shipping rooms occupied three floors 23 by CO feet. Shortly alter this the affairs of the original companj were taken over bj tin' Victor Distributing & Export Co. and another lloor added. The business gradually expanded until Oct. 7, 1907, when a disastrous fire totally destroyed the company's stock and it was necessary to secure new quarters in a hurry. Although the fire oc pany was represented by one horse and truck until 1902, on November ), of this year, thirty-seven trucks were sent out loaded to their capacity, and in addition thousands of pounds were shipped by express companies and special messengers. Since 1907 the company's business has been making steady progress, until to-day comparisons with a dozen or even seven years ago arc totally inadequate. The November 1 business this year just about equalled the entire business of December, 1900, which was the banner month of the talking machine business up to that date. The growth and expansion of the New York Talking Machine Co.'s business has never been forced to artificial but in full accord with the increased popularity of Victor products throughout the country. View of General and D The history of the New Y'ork Talking Machine Co. dates back to 1900, when the first distributer of Victor products in the United Stares was established in New Y'ork by a firm named McGuire & Backus, which handled the Victor products as a side line to their moving picture business. One of their first employes was a young man, George A. Kelly, who took care of the stock, which consisted of about 2,000 records. To-day the New York Talking Machine Co. orders many 2,000 lots of single records, and from a force of one mar, and three boys in the stock room, the company emonptrating Showrooms. Record Racks Shown curred at noon G. T. Williams, the present manager of the company^ and J. D. Beekman had succeeded in securing temporary offices and three store rooms in as many different buildings by the close of the day, and had notified their trade that they were ready for business and would give uninterrupted service. After several months in temporary quarters, the company moved to 83 Chambers street, and three years later moved to its present quarters at 81 Chambers street. Some idea of the growth of the business in thirteen years may be gleaned on the Extreme Right. In addition to being salesmen, representatives of the New York Talking Machine Co. are educatois who have been imbued with the idea that there are already several hundred good active dealers in the metropolitan district, and that because of the Victor Co.'s policy of restricting territorial representation so as to preclude the possibility of overrepresentation, it is a difficult matter, indeed, to find a territory where an additional dealer is needed or which will even permit of the establishment of one. The sales department of the company is under One of the Four Stockroor now has nineteen men and boys in its shipping department with the same George A. Kelly as superintendent. About a year after taking on the Victor goods the firm of McGuire & Backus moved to larger quarters and hired a sub-cellar for Victor goods exclusively, the first exclusive Victor warehouse ever established. The area of this sub-cellar was 1,875 square feet, while to-day the New York Talking Machine Co. occupies in its main building three floors, approximating 12,000 square feet, and in addition has 12,000 feet of warehouse space in three lofts. The firm of McGuire & Backus moved a little A Section of the Checking and Packing Bench and Shipping Department, Superintendent Kelly in the Foreground. from the fact that for some time past it has been deemed advisable to take over the entire building, giving the company a total floor space of 28,000 square feet under one roof, instead of 24,000 in three different buildings. From a business that included selling to jobbers, dealers and consumers, anybody and everybody, just to close a few hundred dollars business, the company has grown until it has been obliged to refuse $50,000 worth of new business during the past ninety days, all within an area of four city blocks, and all of it business from three prominent local houses.. Whereas the entire delivery service of the com the personal and capable direction of V. W. Moody, and the outside staff consists of A. B. Doty (Al), S. W. Williams (S. W.), C. C. Beekman (Chester), R. M. Huntting (Bob), and Ernest Fontan. J. T. Owens and A. J. Beers ably look after the inside work. Dealers who have visited the showrooms of the New York Talking Machine Co. have often remarked on the valuable assistance and education that is afforded them in every possible way by the sales staff of the company. Buying, selling, reordering, bookkeeping, stock-keeping and selling methods are fully explained to visiting dealers. (Continued on page 27.)