The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1914)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 9 TRADE CONDITIONS IN CINCINNATI. PROSPERITY REIGNS IN CLEVELAND. Ten Cent and Post Card Records Appear to Worry the Regular Dealers — General Business Very Satisfactory — John Shillito Co. Opens New Department — Dealers Well Stocked with Goods — News of the Month. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cincinnati, O., December 8. — Local retailers have another cause for complaint. Consumers during the past few weeks have been able to pick up records suitable for use on the Victrola and the Columbia instruments for 10 cents a throw. And it seemed that the news spread like leaves before a storm, for a tremendous sale of the cheap article has taken place. "Little Wonders" is the name of the record which is being sold at a five and ten-cent store, and while not a well finished article, the cheapness and the novelty of the plates have resulted in an unusual sale. Then, too, some owners of machines, having, friends in Germany, are talking about a postal card record, some of which have reached this city. They cost 10 cents and this novelty, when once properly introduced, will also have quite a run here. The Victrola line is now domiciled in th; mus'.c department of the John Shillito Co. The first announcement was made just a week ago. The company, through the Krell Piano Co., was considering such a line for months, and it was a fight between the two prominent houses of the company. The matter of payment of stock is said to have won. The goods are coming into this market from a Chicago house. The entrance of the Shillito concern into this field has caused the H. & S. Pogue Co. to give more publicity to its department. The situation here to-day is that the talking machine is receiving more publicity than pianos. "Business is not really what it should be, and yet we have left November so far behind that we have about cleaned out our stock," said Mr. Whelen when asked about present conditions. Mr. Whelen, manager of the local Columbia store, further stated that "December is starting in as a close second, and if we can get the goods which we badly need we will make last December results look like thirty cents. The demand is spreading out through the entire territory and while the smaller dealers are crowding in their orders, the larger dealers profited by experiences of former years, when the demand was heavier than the supply and stocked up beforehand. The factory, in order to save time, is shipping direct to the dealers, but even so our shipping facilities are taxed to the limit." The local "Dictaphone" headquarters at the Columbia store are busy working on new prospective sales, but the dictaphone is holding its own in the busy holiday rush handling correspondence with speed and accuracy in a way that makes its use invaluable to dictaphone users. S. H. Nichols, who was recently appointed district manager, spent a f;w very pleasant days in the Cincinnati Columbia store. Mr. Nichols was the former manager of the Cincinnati store preceding Mr. Whelen, the present manager, and it was like "old times" to have him back, if only for a few days. SUITABLE NEWLY-WED RECORDS. Hearts and flowers, Roses, roses everywhere, '1 he Bells, O promise me, For all eternity, A perfect day, In the evening by the moonlight, Dear Louise, You're just too sweet to live. Silent night, Sweet spirits hear my prayer, Ah so pure, You've got to get under, Get out and get under, Love me and the world is mine. Scenes that are brightest, A dream, Every little movement, Below the Mason-Dixon line. Draw me nearer, Close to thee, In happy moments. Beautiful isle of somewhere, Happy days, Call me your darling again. Where the Robins nest again, We have much to be thankful for, Some day, There'll come a day, Afterwards, And a little child shall lead them, Baby Rose, When it's apple blossom time in Normandy, Old Folks at home, Where the morning glories twine around the door, Bake that chicken pie, Good-bye sweet day, Home, sweet home. Both Wholesale and Retail Stores Very Busy — Many New Dealers for the Leading Lines May Break Last Year's Holiday Record. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) • Cleveland, O., December 7. — The activity manifest in the wholesale and distributing talking machine stores is reflected in the very prosperous business in all the Cleveland retail establishments. Increasing sales, of both Victrolas and records, is impelling the business to much larger than the normal volume of the Eclipse Musical Co. Demand for Victor goods from local dealers,, and from all sections in this territory, are reported good, and indicates, Mr. Towell says, a large holiday trade. G. R. Madson, manager of the Columbia store, reports the sales of Grafonolas and records as very satisfactory, largely of the higher grade instru ments. The Columbia dealers are all doing fine business. The Edison distributers for this territory, the Phonograph Co., is daily increasing its sales and extending its business throughout this section. Mr. Bloom, of the company, is highly pleased with the present and prospective business. The Collister & Sayle Co.'s sales indicate a large increase in the wholesale department. Mr. Dorn says the holiday trade will prove as satisfactory as usual. At the exclusive wholesale and distributing Victor store of the W. H. Buescher & Sons Co., on Chestnut street (entirely separate and distinct from its retail store), a good and growing business is reported. The store is larger, suitably fitted up, and carries a larger stock of Victor goods. In a line-up of the retail trade, indications are that this season's holiday business will exceed that of last year. UNION No. 1 .Patent No. 776-672, others pending. PRICES: Gold plated, Nickel or oxidized ¥2.50. ^4 Easy Sellers— PRICE. Gold plated, nickel or oxidized. . . .$1.00 THE upper illustration shows UNION No. i, for playing Columbia and Victor records on Edison Machines. UNION No. i contains the UNION Modifier featureThe second illustration shows the UNION Modifier, a quick-selling device, giving Edison, Victor and Columbia owners absolute control over the volume of sound. UNION TALKING MACHINE SPECIALTIES AT the right is the new UNION Sound Box, just out, taking Fibre or any make of needle. It is the latest improvement in sound r e p r o duction, and fits all Disc Machines. Ask for quantity prices. The UNIONNeedle Box shown below fills another long-felt want. Write to-day for descriptive folders and prices on these six easy-selling specialties. All persons selling g'oods infringing our patents are liable to suit for such. infringement. Nickel, or oxidized. PRICE Finished in Mahogany, Circassian Walnut or Fumed^ Oak, any finish. I I Increase Your Sales JUT ERE are two quickselling specialities that appeal to your customers : UNION TALKING MACHINE SPECIALTIES UNION No. 2 (upper illustration) plays Edison Records on Victor Machines. No ■ alteration is necessary. Price, goldplated $9.00, nickel, $8.00, with Diamond Point. UNION No. 3 (lower illustration) plays Edison Records on Columbia Machines without altering machine in any way. Price, gold-plated $9.00, nickel $8.00, with Diamond Point. Sapphire Point, $1.50 less. Liberal discount to jobbers and dealers Our tone arms and sound boxes are the best on the market. ASK FOR QUANTITY PRICES THE UNION SPECIALTY AND PLATING CO, 409 PROSPECT AVENUE, N. W. CLEVELAND, OHIO