The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1914)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 43 Have you investigated the margin of your profit on Columbia 65c. double disc records? You should. (Write for "Music Money," a book "full of meat" for those dealers interested in quick and frequent turnover of capital.) Columbia Graphophone Company W ool worth Building, New York REPORT SHORTAGE OF STOCK IN MILWAUKEE TRADE. Jobbers for Leading Lines Say They Are Meeting with Brisk Demand for Machines and Records, but Find It Difficult to Fill Orders Owing to Shortage — Many Changes and Enlargements in the Leading Stores to Meet Expanding Business — The News in Brief. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Milwaukee, Wis., February 10. — The only question that is troubling talking machine jobbers and dealers all over Wisconsin is the shortage of machines at the present time. Jobbers for all the leading lines say that they are meeting with a brisk demand from retailers for machines and records, but that they are finding it difficult to fill orders because of the inability of the factories to turn out the goods fast enough. Dealers in Milwaukee and about the State met with a big holiday business and stocks were reduced to a low stage in most lines. Jobbers are looking for a good business for the next few months, as they realize that it is going to take some time for dealers to get their stocks back in normal condition. Business Shows Improvement. Prospects for the coming year are much brighter at this time than they were a month ago. General business in Milwaukee and about the State has shown decided improvement, and this has reacted favorably upon the talking machine trade. Most of the large, heavy machinery manufacturing concerns in Milwaukee are increasing their working forces and are again operating on almost full time. Money is somewhat easier and confidence is more widespread. Collections have been improving since the first of the year. The demand for the higher priced machines is still strong, but the sale of cheaper machines is increasing, now that industrial conditions are resuming a normal stage and people have work once more. Finds It Hard to Get Stock. "Dealers all over the State have been ordering freely since the middle of January," said Harry T. Fitzpatrick, general manager of the Wisconsin Talking Machine Co., jobbers for the Victor line. "The only trouble is that we are finding it hard to get enough stock from the factory to meet the demands of the trade. The Victor Co. seems to be rushed and is finding it impossible to turn out the goods fast enough. We have secured a large number of new Victor dealers about the State since the opening of the new year. The prospects for 1914 arc unusually bright and we are con fident that business will attain a new high mark." McGreal for Congress. Lawrence McGreal, sheriff of Milwaukee County, for many years a prominent talking machine jobber of Milwaukee and a former president of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers, will be a candidate for Congress from the fifth Congressional district on the Democratic ticket. Mr. McGreal will make the formal announcement of his candidacy within the near future. Gain of More Than 23 Per Cent. L. C. Parker, enterprising manager of the Victor department at Gimbel Bros.'s Milwaukee store, experienced a gain of more than 23 per cent, in the business received during 1913. Business during January made a new high gain of 47 per cent. Victor machines have been sold to several more of the public schools by Mr. Parker and his sales force. To Double "Talker" Department. Before the coming fall season there will be a big change made in the Victor talking machine department at the Boston store, steps having already been taken for doubling the size of the department. Manager C. W. Abbott has felt for some time that even greater possibilities in the way of increased trade might be attained if larger space and better facilities were to be provided. Manager Abbott has added a new outside salesman, F. W. Holtz, who is spending most of his time in calling upon the city trade in Milwaukee The Victor business at the Boston store during January showed a gain of 50 per cent, over the corresponding month a year ago. May Sue the Creditors. The First Savings & Trust Co., of Milwaukee, trustee in the case of the bankrupt Heller Piano Co., is considering the advisability of bringing a preference suit against certain creditors of the concern, on the grounds that unfair tactics were followed in securing an early settlement on certain claims. The Heller concern carried the Victor line of machines. High-Priced Goods in Demand. Paul A. Seeger, manager of the Victor depart ment at the Edmund Gram Music House, has been meeting with an unusually fine demand for high priced Victrolas of late. The Victor business with the Gram house is more than double what it was a year ago. Making Attractive Window Display. The J. B. Bradford Piano Co., Milwaukee's oldest piano house, which now maintains a highly successful Victor department, has been featuring the Victor goods in window displays and in its daily newspaper advertising with exceptionally good results. The salesmen in the piano department all lend their aid to the Victor end of the business, and these men bring in many good sales in connection with their visits to piano prospects. Big January Gain. The Columbia business at the downtown store of A. K. Kunde, 516 Grand avenue, Columbia jobber and retailer, is said to be the best in the history of the establishment. Business during January showed a gain of 60 to 70 per cent, over the same month in 1913. J. H. Ellis, the inventor of the "Real Tone" diaphragm, who is now the manager of Mr. Kunde's new branch store at 3410 North avenue, is confined in the hospital at this writing suffering from a severe attack of pneumonia. Business Is Steadily Expanding. The Gensch-Smith Co., operating an exclusive Victor retail store at 730 Grand avenue, met with a business during January which was more than double that received during the same period a year ago. Two new outside salesmen to cover Milwaukee and Milwaukee County were secured last month, but Mr. Gensch says that he is seriously considering the advisability of making other additions to his sales force. How the Automobile Helps. Henry Saak, proprietor of an exclusive Columbia store at 1602 Vliet street, has been meeting with an exceptionally fine business in Columbia machines and records. Mr. Saak uses an automobile to a good advantage in "rounding up" his sales. EDISON PREPARES TO GO SOUTH. Thomas A. Edison shipped on Monday chemics'.s and other paraphernalia to his winter home at Fort Meyer, Fla., where he is having his laboratory renovated and made larger. Me celebrated his sixty-seventh birthday on February 11, and on February 21 will leave with his family f.r his Southern home. The Columbia automatic stop. The most accurate automatic stop made and the easiest to operate. Gun Metal, $2.00 list. Nickel Plated, $2.50 list. Gold Plated, $3.00 list. May be adjusted to both Columbia and Victor disc machines. Order from any Columbia Distributor.