The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1914)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 17 Prepare for Fall Business Increase Your Record Sales BY PLACING THIS HANDSOME FLEXIBLE COVER IN THE HANDS OF YOUR PATRONS This attractive flexible cover is designed to hold the Victor or Columbia semiannual record catalog, and is bound in mahogany colored imitation lealher, and lined with black silk cloth. The price of this flexible cover is so low that it permits you to give same free to your customers with the record catalog inclosed, thereby making a useful touvenir and a permanent advertisement; or you may charge a nominal sum for it if you desire. In lots of 1 00 or more, your name will be stamped on face of cover in gilt lettering free of charge. Send 20c. in stamps for a sample cover, with special trade prices. NEW YORK ALBUM & CARD CO., Inc. 23-25 Lispenard Street, NEW YORK (formerly New York Post Card Album Mfg. Co.) force sent to the bride a congratulatory telegram and a handsome present. C. S. Gardner, the Edison factory representative who has been working in this territory for six months, has left for the East. During his stay in this vicinity, Mr. Gardner placed Edison disc machines with more than forty dealers and became well known to the trade and was much in demand for straightening out sales tangles and machine difficulties. The Missouri Music Teachers' Association gave the stamp of approval to talking machines, if applause is a reliable judge. W. L. Calhoun, a music college proprietor of Carthage and Joplin, declared in an address that approval o.f classical music was more general than a few years ago. He declared that the increased appreciation was due chiefly to the influence of the talking machine and playerpiano. "Mechanical music devices," he said, "have put good music into the home." It is only necessary for a man to hear good music for him to. prefer it to the popular kind." The remarks were freely applauded by the music teachers present. Probably by the time this issue of The World reaches its readers the Columbia Co.'s local staff will be thoroughly settled in its new home. There is practically nothing of the old building left except the four walls. Floors, ceilings, roof and all interior arrangements have been changed. A ventilation system is installed and the interior is being finished at this writing and then will come new furniture, carpets, etc. On the main floor, besides a handsome office suite that can be enclosed or thrown open as may be the wish, there are six demonstration booths with record racks of easy access. The front part of the floor will be used fo.r machine display. The show window, larger than the two former windows, is one of the handsomest on Olive street and will admit of a splendid display. Retail Manager Duff will have desk room at one corner o.f the display floor space. General Manager 'Reid will have a private office and reception room at the rear of the main floor with both the accounting department and the order department within call and the shipping rooms and repair departments only a step away. Convenience, comfort and beauty have all been considered in the new arrangement. The lighting system is by the indirect system with silver hangings for the glass bowls that fits well into the dove and cream color scheme for the entire room. Of course, while these changes were being made the departments were somewhat handicapped as to business, but Manager Reid says the record for a month will be a creditable one, and Retail Manager Duffy has kept his force engaged by working on the summer trade, which is sold chiefly away from the store. The entire Columbia force is looking forward, to a seaso.n of big trade. Manager Reid talks of the rain that came the first of the month in the ideal season to relieve the fears in this section that there would be no late fall crops to support the bumper wheat crop that has been harvested. Manager Seager, of the talking machine depart ment of The Vandervoort Music 'Salon, is doing some unusual advertising work this summer. One of his first ventures was sending a fine Victor machine to Kansas Gity on the special train for the Elks who went there to attend the State meeting. The B. 'P. O. E. boys fell in with the idea for their amusement and they arranged for a "Tango Car" which was devo.ted to music and dancing. B. F. Martin, of the sales staff, accompanied the car to attend to the talking machine and have general charge of the amusement. The music made quite an impression on members of the party. His second move was to present a Victor machine and $200 worth of records to the museum department of the Bo.ard of Education for the training of teachers who care to investigate. This part of the Board of Education work is practically a training school for the city school teachers and the records available for the machine are those which fit into, the scheme of the school work and they will be explained to the teachers who then can carry the idea into their own work. In this city about the only way to provide talking machines for the school is for the Patrons' Association to buy the machines with funds which are raised in connection with these organizations. Most of the pianos in the schools are bought in the same way and the teachers' wishes and expressed desires have much to do with these purchases, as the committees of the Patrons' Associations keep in close touch with the school work. A third innovation to the credit of Mr. Seager is the introducing of a $200 Victrola into "Dream land," a popular dance hall, in the place of the orchestra that is on duty in winter. The Victrola is much liked because of the different character of music that is possible for the intermissions. The Field-Lippman Piano Stores are using the billboards to. inform the public that in their talking machine department the Victor, Columbia and Edison Disc machines can be compared and the customer is free to choose the one he likes the best. The announcement is in rather unusual form, as it is a full size, eight sheet bill and carries its message in the fewest possible words in large, plain type, and adds no comment and stands out well on the large boards. TEL=ELECTRIC CO. FALLS INTO LINE. Arranges to Handle Talking Machines and Will Carry the Entire Columbia Line. The Columbia Graphophone Co.. closed a deal last week with the Tel-Electric Co., 299 Fifth avenue, New York, whereby this well-known piano player house will handle the complete Columbia line. Gilbert A. Pond, general sales manager of the company, is well pleased with the outlook for closing an excellent Columbia business with the Tel-Electric clientele, and has made arrangements to have constructed seven sound-proof demonstration rooms, which will be ready in a very short while. The manager for this new Columbia department has not yet been selected, but will be announced next week. ICTOR A complete line of Victor products, from the smallest repair part to the biggest model of machine. Every shipment made promptly. DISON Cylinder goods, machines and records; full stocks and immediate deliveries. A good popular-priced line for most any territory. Louis Buehn Philadelphia