The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1914)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 7 GENERAL CONDITIONS FAVORABLE ON PACIFIC COAST. Crop Prospects Excellent Owing to Plenty of Rain — Distributers of Victor, Columbia and Edison Products Report Increasing Demand — Opening of Opera Will Help High-Class Trade — Appointment of New Edison Dealers — News of Month Worth Recording. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, March 5.— The talking machine trade here, as well as business men generally, are very well pleased with the situation in California at present. The State has been thoroughly soaked with rain for the first time in three years at least, and consequently the crop outlook is better than for some time past. With general conditions favorable, talking machine dealers anticipate a banner year. The general tendency on their part is to get their stocks in very good shape, both in respect to records and machines, and there is every indication of increasing popularity for the talking machine in this section, rather than a falling off in demand or even a standstill. Distributers of Victor, Columbia and Edison products, all three, report a steadily increasing demand. As to dance lecords, they are still demanding a great deal of attention, and are undoubtedly the principal feature of the business at the present time, although the appearance of several artists in this vicinity the past month, and others due in the next two •weeks, has as usual stimulated the demand for their particular records to a very noticeable extent. Dealers have taken full advantage of their engagements, by arranging special window displays featuring their records. With the' grand opera season opening in San Francisco the middle of March, an increased demand for operatic selections is anticipated in the next few weeks. On the whole the outlook for record business for the coming month is particularly good. February Business Proves Excellent. W. S. Gray, district manager for the Columbia Graphophone Co., and F. Anglemier, manager of the local wholesale department, reports a very good month's business in February, in spite of the interference to traffic in certain parts of the State on account of washouts. Locally, the demand lor both records and machines has ibeen gratifying to them. Realizing the important position of the popular dance records and also the advantages of co-operation, Mr. Gray has inaugurated a plan for monthly meetings of the force connected with this office, at which attention is divided between business and pleasure. They are held as soon as possible upon the receipt of the month's new records, and these are all tried out for the benefit of those connected with the establishment, so when a record is mentioned everybody will know exactly what is being talked about. These meetings are of an informal nature, and open for free discussions, such as to stimulate enthusiasm all around. A. Glenn to Return to Business. Word has been received here that A. Glenn, manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co.'s headquarters in Portland, Ore., who has been out on leave of absence for some little time for the benefit of his health, will visit in San Francisco before resuming his duties in the North, which, during his absence, are being looked after by L. D. Haeger, traveler for the company in the Northwest. Increasing Demand for Victor Goods. Andrew G. McCarthy, treasurer of Sherman, Clay & Co., who devotes particular attention to the talking machine department, says the demand for Victor goods continues to increase steadily. This week the company received a request from the Los Angeles distributing station for more space, in order to provide better facilities for supplying an increasing demand for Victor products in the southern part of the State. Here the appearance of Kreisler, John McCormack, Harry Lauder, Tetrazzini and other Victor artists during February and March, has been observed by Sherman, Clay & Co., by making special features of their records, and with very good returns, according to Mr. McCarthy. He says the craze for dance music continues unabated, and that Victor dealers are having difficulty in keeping their stocks complete. Growing Popularity of Edison Line. J. S. Baley, manager of the local branch of Babson Bros., reports business keeping up in fine shape since the first of the year. He says his greatest difficulty at present is to get enough disc records. He finds interest increasing rapidly in the Edison disc products, and at the same time has no complaints to make about cylinder business. Returns from Honolulu. L. V. Ridgeway, the well-known representative of Lyon & Healy, stopped over in San Francisco for a few days recently upon his return from Honolulu. Many New Edison Disc Dealers. A. R. Pommer, of the Pacific Phonograph Co., reports a very good month's business in Edison products for February. A number of new dealers have taken on the disc line, including J. T. Bowers & Son, here; the Hale Piano Co., in Medford, Ore. ; the Silvers Piano Co., in Tacoma, Wash., and Ramaker Bros, in Seattle, Wash. J. E. McCracken, traveler for the San Francisco house, is still in the Northwest, assisting in getting things started at Seattle. He is now making a trip over Oregon in company with Mr. Schwab, traveler for the new Seattle firm, which will look after that territory in the future. Another traveler has been engaged by the Pacific Phonograph Co., N. W., in the person of C. E. Lyons, formerly special representative of the phonograph department of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. He is making his initial trip around Seattle. Interesting Personal Items. Special representative, E. V. Chandler, of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., has been calling on the trade in southern California for the last two weeks, and upon leaving here expected to cover Arizona before returning. A. McDowell, dealer of Petaluma, Cal., was a recent visitor at local talking machine warerooms, placing orders for stock, also Mr. Logan, of the Logan Music Co., Salinas, Cal. Peter Bacigalupi, Jr., started in several months ago to do a cash business in talking machines, and he claims his plan is. working out very well, that there are plenty of people in position and willing to pay cash for machines, in spite of the liberal terms usually offered by dealers. L. E. Cooley, superintendent of schools in Imperial County, recently endorsed a plan for providing talking machines at all the schools in that county, in the near future. Byron Mauzy was the only representative of the music trade going to Los Angeles recently on the Exposition Flying Legion. He took along a playerpiano and a Victor Victrola for the entertainment of the "boosters.'' AN ORIGINAL SERIES OF RECITALS Held in Wanamaker Concert Hall, New York, Feature the Victrola in a Prominent Way — "The Study of Music" Well Presented. The Victrola played a prominent part last month in a "Study of Music," which was featured in the auditorium of the New York store of John Wanamaker. This interesting and original series of recitals purposed to present a chronological study of music, accompanied by interpretations of the dance in various forms. The Angelus player-piano was also presented as an important incentive to the present revival of dancing. Elaborate programs for these interesting recitals had been prepared, and the Victrola appeared to excellent advantage as a medium for furnishing the correct music to illustrate the dances of various periods. In certain selections the Victrola and Angelus were played in conjunction, the effect being most delightful. The "Study of Music" had been advertised extensively in the daily newspapers, and as a result, it was necessary to turn away many music-lovers who had been attracted by the originality of the concerts and appreciated the value of hearing the Victrola in such appropriate surroundings. Soprano solos, violin solos and duets were also included in the daily performances, which were given the lart two weeks of February. In addition to the unique presentation of this "Study of Music," these concerts served to impress on the minds of the music-lovers, the true value of the Victrola as an important factor in the cultivation of musical tastes. The musical prestige of the Victrola was never more emphatically pre sented than at this series of Wanamaker recitals, and it is interesting to note that the store's Victrola section closed a number of sales of expensive machines to visitors to the concerts who had been impressed with the character of the Victrola's performance. The New York store of John Wanamaker has now in preparation several other original plans which will serve to still, further illustrate the musical standing of the Victrola. PHONOGRAPH HIS GREAT SOLACE. An Affecting Story of the Late Col. Ralph B. Eads and His Admiration for the Phonograph. Instead of the reveille to which he had long been accustomed in the army, Col. Ralph B. Eads (retired), of Newton, Mass., each morning had his Edison phonograph play his favorite hymn, "Abide with Me." True, the second stanza, "Fast Falls the Ev'entide," seemed to make it more of a sunset than a sunrise hymn ; nevertheless, the Colonel wanted to hear each morning his favorite hymn on rising and was particularly fond of the last stanza. "Heaven's Morning Breaks at Last." At last it did break; the Colonel was dead, and among his effects was found a request that this favorite hymn of his should be played once more on an Edison at his funeral. His wish was complied with, and among the mourners present were several army officers and veterans, -whose eyes were moist ' as they listened. To an observer the scene suggested that wonderful painting entitled "The Last Muster." No honest purpose is ever wasted and no honest desire ever remains unanswered. 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.