The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1914)

20 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. A NEW SALTER STYLE SALTER STYLE No. 20. Separate sections for 10-inch and 12-inch records. THAT EVERY DEALER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT— is this elegant and novel cabinet that our designer has just completed and which we now offer to the trade. This new Salter feature has been designed to match the EDISON Disc Phonograph, and holds 132 Edison records in separate felt-lined compartments. It is also constructed with 159 such compartments to receive VICTOR or COLUMBIA records. Many owners of the latter named machines are using this cabinet as a "record stock" or "overflow" cabinet, and it. fills the bill most satisfactorily. The Style No. 20 is 44 ins. high and i7j4x24/4 ins. across the top. _It has a simple and accurate indexing device. It is finished in beautiful mahogany and oak veneers in a number of different shades. Ask for complete catalog. Salter Mfg. Co. 337-43 N. Oakley Blvd. CHICAGO MARCH A RECORD MONTH FOR CLEVELAND TRADE. Excellent Increase in Business Reported by the Majority of the Talking Machine Houses — -Columbia Co., Disposes of Retail Business and Opens Exclusive Wholesale Quarters — H. M. Brainard Piano Co., Moves — All Lines of Machines and Records in Demand. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cleveland, O., April 6.— March was a month of uncertainty and hesitation in business generally, yet in that month Cleveland made a fine record in several important phases, particularly in the substantial status of the talking machine trade, the increase in bank clearings and in the number of building permits issued, all showing remarkable evidence of exceptional vitality. The supply of machines is apparently ample, although there is a scarcity of two or three types, while the complaint of a shortage of Victor records is general. The fact is the growth of the business has created a demand for records far in excess of the supply, and which is likely to continue. The recent notable event in talking machine circles was the disposal by the Columbia Phonograph Co., of its retail business, and the establishing of an exclusive wholesale quarters for Columbia graphophones and records and the dictaphone, at 1375 Euclid avenue. The new store is located on the fourth floor of the Kinney & Levan building, which has a Euclid frontage of 100 feet, and extends 450 feet to the rear. The store has been fitted up in fine style for the business purposes of the company. Mr. Madson, manager, says the business is growing by leaps and bounds. Another event was the removal of the H. M. Brainard Piano Co. from 6525 Euclid avenue, to 1317-19 Euclid avenue. The company has fitted up a magnificent store for the piano and talking machine business. Six large talking machine demonstration parlors have been installed, together with manager and cashier's offices. The company handles the Columbia goods exclusively, and the manager says he expects to do as large a talking machine as piano business. In a talk with T. H. Towell, president of the Eclipse Musical Co., he said everything was very satisfactory, except that they were handicapped by a shortage of both machines and records, especially the latter. P. J. Towell, brother of the president, and who looks after the interests of the Eclipse Musical Co., generally, said business was good and would be 50 per cent, better, if he could get the goods. His birthday (he is still a boy) occurred a few days ago, and a luncheon was tendered him by the employes of the store. He was presented with a beautiful diamond pin by his brother. "Notwithstanding the fact that our record stock has been in awful conditions since January 1," said Wm. G. Bowie, manager of the Victrola department of the B. Dreher's Sons Co., "our business this year to date is almost double that of 1913." "Business is very good," said Norman H. Cook, of the W. F. Frederick Piano Co. — "in fact, is of such volume as to exceed our expectations." The magnificent window display continues to attract the attention of crowds daily at the Caldwell Piano Co.'s store. R. W. Schirring, manager of the Victrola department, said trade in the talking machine line, along with the piano business, was very satisfactory, but would be much more so if a sufficient supply of machines and records were obtainable. The Victor department of the Wm. Taylor Son & Co., is one of the attractive sections of the store. T. A. Davis, Jr., reports trade as brisk and constantly increasing. O. E. Kellogg, manager of the piano and Victrola department of the H. E. McMillan & Son Co., reports a very fine business for the month of March. He said several $200 machines were sold during the month, also a number of $100 ones. Evidence of increasing business is quite manifest at the store of the Phonograph Co. There has been an addition to the clerical force and activity prevails in all departments. L. N. Bloom, secretary, stated that trade, both wholesale and retail, during the past month, had been unusually good. "There were," he said, "a number of the highgrade Edison disc machines sold in tne best homes in Cleveland during the month, and a number of new dealers were assigned to handle the Edison goods, among others, the Moorehouse-Martens Co, Columbus, O. ; H. Ackerman, Galion, O.; the National Phonograph Co., Steubenville, O., and Cooley & Bentz, Wheeling, W. Va." Trade is reported excellent and conditions generally very satisfactory at W. H. Buescher & Sons Co., as well as at the Bailey Co , the May Co., Collister & Sayle Co., and the Euclid Music Co. EFFECTIVE DITSON ADVERTISING. One of the most attractive Victor advertisements that has appeared recently in the daily newspapers was that used this week by Charles H. Ditson & Co., 8 East Thirty-fourth street, New York, the well-known musical instrument house, whose Victrola department has been steadily enlarged to handle a fast-growing trade. This advertisement took cognizance of the widespread demand for dance records, and, in addition to an appropriate cut, mentioned the various dances, such as the maxixe, hesitation, tango and Boston, by name under the heading, "A Victrola for Every Home." The different models of Victrolas were featured with their respective style numbers and prices and attention was called to some of the most important records in the new April list. As a whole the text in this advertisement was interesting and convincing and well calculated to produce excellent results, in addition to forming strong publicity. Sometimes it seems as if a man ran for office merely to find out from his enemies how utterly outrageous his past life has been.