The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1914)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. SUBSTANTIAL GAINS THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR Reported by the Talking Machine Trade of San Francisco — General Outlook Most Pleasing— Eilers Planning Expansion — Sherman, Clay in Spokane — Columbia Co. to Make Records of Best Exposition Song — Interesting Budget of News from the Pacific Coast. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) 'San Francisco, Cal., July 3. — Talking machine interests in this city are fairly well pleased with the outcome of the first half of the year's business. In so.me instances the gains were hardly so large as were anticipated at the first of the year, but few complaints are being registered, as it is generally conceded by both wholesalers and retailers that talking machines have held their own better so far this year than most other lines of business, and now things seem to be taking a turn for the better all around, so no uneasiness is felt regarding the prospects fo.r fall. Country trade is already showing the effects of the harvesting of bountiful crops, and activity is being resumed in all the principal underlying industries of this section. One effect of the rather quiet spring is that business men generally are conducting more active campaigns for summer trade than in former years. Heretofore summer dullness has been accepted as inevitable and dealers in most lines of business, including music^ houses, have relinguished their efforts noticeably during the vacation period, but this year various ways and means are being tried out to stimulate business during what is normally the quietest period of the year. In the talking machine quarters the extra exertion is making itself felt, as no falling off in sales of either records or machines has been noted the past month. Additions and improvements of talking machine departments continue in order along the coast. The past month two more firms have inaugurated extensive alterations at certain stores, which will give talking machines considerable more prominence. Larger Department for Eilers. Eilers Music House in this city, which has given but little attention to talking machines in the past, is installing a well equipped department, and is preparing to carry a large stock, including Victor, Columbia and Edison products. The new department is being fitted up on the main floor of the establishment, where four large soundproof demonstration rooms are provided, besides general display space. Additional space is also available on the floor above. H. P. Rothermel has been named manager of the department. He Is well known to the Coast trade, and particularly in San Francisco, as this was his home until a few years ago, when he became identified with Eilers Music House in Portland He expects to have his stock sufficiently complete to make a compre hensive showing by time the department is ready for use, which will be in about two weeks. Modernizing Stores Everywhere. •Sherman, Clay & Co., Coast distributers of Victor products, who have spent large sums of money in the last few years modernizing their sto.res in various Coast cities, with the result that they have a chain of stores which would do credit to any section of the country, are this summer making extensive improvements in their Spokane establishment. Heretofore they have occupied only one floor of the building in which they are located there, but in the future they will have the entire four-story and basement. The plans for the alterations in the structure amount practically to its rebuilding, and necessitates the removal of the business to temporary quarters while the work is in progress. All departments will benefit by the enlargement of the store and none more than the talking machine section. The retail department will be located on tire ground floor, and quarters will be fitted up in the basement for the wholesale department. F. W. Stephenson, secretary of the company, visited the firm's interests in the Northwest the past month, and reports conditions improving in that section. Substantial Gain for Wiley B. Allen Co. J. J. Black, manager of the Wiley B. Allen department, reports sales for June showing a substantial gain over the corresponding period of last year. The demand for the smaller machines for vacation use was a feature of the month's business, but interest was not confined to the smaller outfits by any means. The new models X and XI Victrolas especially in fumed oak attracted very favorable attention. Clarence Anrys of the salesforce returned from the East recently after an enjoyable trip to the markets with his father. Frank Anrys, manager of the Allen Co. They combined business and pleasure, attending the national piano convention at New York, and visiting various factories with which the company does business. F. P. Corcoran and C. E. Edwards spent their June vacations in the Santa Cruz mountain district. Visitors to Columbia Co. The local headquarters of the Columbia Graphophone Co. were visited the past month by W. E. Henry, manager of the company's interests in Pittsburgh, and also by Chas. A. Prince, musical director of the Columbia Co. The latter is a native of San Francisco, and was visiting his 5 parents and renewing acquaintances in this city. Records of Best Exposition Song. An announcement published recently in one of the local daily papers has already brought many inquiries to the office of the Columbia Graphophone Co. It stated that the paper had arranged with the Columbia Graphophone Co., through the Pacific Coast manager, W. S. Gray, for the production and wide circulation of records containing the best exposition song composed by a California writer, the details of the contest to be announced later. Mr. Gray says there will be a substantial prize for the winner of the contest, and he thinks such a composition would do much to boost the Golden State and. the exposition. In a telegram to Mr. Gray, Geo. W. Lyle, general manager of the Columbia Co., said: "Assure the Bulletin that our confidence in the musical ability of California authors is such that we pledge ourselves to make records of and widely advertise prize-winning song obtained through its contest." Personals and Visitors. C. P. LeRoy, traveling ambassador of this office of the Columbia Graphophone Co., was married here recently, and is now away on his honeymoon. Wholesale Manager F. R. Anglemeier says country business is keeping up in splendid shape, and he attributes much of the increasing interest in talking machines to the dance records, which he says are in demand everywhere. Mr. Ridgeway, representing Lyon & Healy, Chicago, was a recent visitor to the Coast trade. J. E. McCracken, representing the Pacific Phonograph Co., jobbers of Edison products, called on the trade in southern California the past month, and A. R. Pommer, head of the business, says he was successful in lining up several new accounts in that section. HUSTLING BALTIMORE HOUSE. Cohen & Hughes Have Developed a Thriving Jobbing Trade. (Special to The Talking Machine WorM.) Baltimore, Md., July 7. — Cohen & Hughes, the well-known Victor distributers, are splendidly located in this city, where they have superb facilities to take care of the jobbing trade. This firm is conceded to be one o.f the most progressive in this part of the country, and the talking machine dealers in Baltimore and contributory territory have found that their service is excellent. They carry a large stock of Victor talking machines, records and accessories of all kinds and make a specialty of filling orders with promptness. In Baltimore this company stands admittedly high in business circles, and its enterprise has always been conducted along consistent and progressive lines. The Success of Your Talking Machine Department Is to a large extent dependent upon the service your distributor gives you. This admitted makes it important that you secure the best service obtainable. AND THAT IS EASTERN SERVICE To use it is to swear By it not At it. May we not have the opportunity to convince you that our service is exceptional? EASTERN TALKING MACHINE COMPANY 177 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON, MASS. EDISON FOR NINETEEN YEARS TALKING MACHINES EXCLUSIVELY VICTOR