The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

14 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. The Trade In Boston And New England JOHN H. WILSON, MANAGER, 324 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., January 9. — As the local talking machine houses review the business of December, and the whole year of 1914 for that matter, there is a general feeling that the business certainly took a leading place among the most prosperous of the commercial lines. Scarcely a house but reports a good holiday business, and the great trouble seemed to be that the scarcity of goods badly handicapped most of the houses. This applied equally to machines and to many records, and there were some of the latter of which dealers seemed continually to be without. There were several cases where local .managers went over to the home offices to try and get goods, but to no purpose, for it is reported that the cry from all over the country was the same; from the Victor, the Edison and the Columbia alike. Helped in Demonstrating Work. A group of men from the headquarters of Thos. A. Edison, Inc., who had been visiting various points in New England, have been visiting the Boston establishment of the Pardee-Ellenberger Co., Inc., at 26 Oliver street, where they helped greatly in demonstrating work. These men were Mr. Shearman, the manager of the department ; H. R. Moses, H. A. Brennan, M. F. Jolliff, F. Belldelli and F. G. Gilmore. They were thus brought into close touch with Mr. Pardee, head of the company, who has been making frequent trips over to Boston, and with Manager Silliman. These'men have been able to fit into valuable places in the business and they have found much to do throughout New England. Exultant Over Business Showing. Manager Erisman, who has been over in New York conferring with the head officers of the Columbia Graphophone Co., is quite exultant over the business which his department has been able to show not only for December, but for the whole of last year, the increase over the preceding twelve months having been something unbelievable. Mr. Erisman says that the business building club of his house is arranging for a busy season, and in a fortnight there will be a gathering of the office staff at the Hotel Thorndike. It is hoped that with hearty co-operation and with the help of the factory to double the business during the coming year. Joins Columbia Forces. H. Tosi, formerly with the Tosi Music Co., of Boston, and later the representative of the Thomas A. Edison Co. in Italy, with headquarters at Milan, is back in Boston and will associate himself with the Columbia Graphophone Co. He will take charge of the foreign record department for the Boston offices of the Columbia. As he is well acquainted with the talking machine business, Manager Erisman has made a good selection in him. Pleased with Season's Business. When The World correspondent called at the Eastern Talking Machine Co.'s Tremont street quarters a few days ago the season of stock taking had arrived and everyone was busy making out inventories. Thanks to a very busy season, the company did not have much stock on hand, and Manager Taft is well pleased over the holiday business, for toward the close of the year it was practically impossible to get goods. A Visitor from Canada. Harry Brown, pleasantly remembered a few years ago as one of the valued attaches of the Eastern Talking Machine Co., but who now is in Montreal, Can., with the Berliner Gramophone Co., was a caller in Boston a week ago and was cordially greeted by his many friends. Honors for Arthur Erisman. Manager Arthur Erisman, of the Columbia Graphophone Co., has been elected a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, and attended his first meeting of that body a few days ago. Mr. Erisman also has been elected a member of the product committee of the Columbia Co. and he will be called over to New York once a month to confer with the committee. Did a Great Victor Business. Business at the Victor department of the Henry F. Miller Co. in Boylston street made a good showing during the holidays, and Manager Batchelder reports that since the advent of the new year there has been a very good business in Victor outfits. To Visit Friends in New York. Chester J. Sylvester, manager of the talking machine department of the C. E. Osgood Co., and his brother, R. C. Sylvester, of the Columbia Graphophone Co., are planning to go over to New York for a week-end trip shortly. Both have many good friends in the talking machine business. Visited the Trade in Maine. Manager Royer, of the Arch street Victor quarters of the M. Steinert & Sons Co., was up in Maine for a few days looking over the field, and returning he said that the Maine dealers had had a good holiday trade, and the prospects were good for a busy winter and spring. Some Distinguished Visitors. Two of the featured people of "The Midnight Girl," playing at the Shubert Theater, are Miss Margaret Romaine and George MacFarlane, and during the week they have made several visits to ' the Tremont street quarters of the Eastern Talking Machine Co., where their records have been good sellers, especially by those who patronized the musical comedy. A visitor to the Victor department of the Henry F. Miller Co. has been George Waters Douglas, who has lately returned from Europe, where before the war he had been studying grand opera. Some of his teachers have been Mme. Eames, Plancon and Tomagno. Plans of the Talk Club. The Talk Club of the Eastern Talking Machine Co. is making its plans for a busy season, and some interesting sessions are likely to be held during the winter, which will prove of profit and enjoyment for the members. Developing Good Edison Business. The Edison business of the Furbush-Davis Piano Co. in Boylston street has been developing at a rapid rate since the warerooms were opened about two months, and a number of sales of Edison diamond disc outfits have been made to some of the leading people of Greater Boston. John A. Davis, one of the partners in the combination and who devotes his attention largely to the Edison line, has returned from a visit to East Orange, where he went to confer with some of Thomas A. Edison's lieutenants regarding business details. Demand for Gervi lle-Reache Records. It is interesting that quickly following the announcement of the death of Mme. Gerville-Reache, the opera singer, who had been one of the Columbia artists, there was a surprising demand for her records at the Boston quarters of the Columbia. Her work as Delilah in "Samson and Delilah" had brought her into considerable prominence, and the particular aria of the opera was always a favorite. Billy Fitzgerald Remembered. Billy Fitzgerald, manager of the wholesale department of the Eastern Talking Machine Co., received as a Christmas gift a fine photograph of Fred J. Hager, at one time connected with the Boston Talking Machine Co. in Boston and a man whose friends are legion in the business. At pres ARDEE-ELLENBERGER CO., L. BOSTON, MASS. NEW HAVEN, CONN. NO NEEDLES Real Music At Last DISON DIAMOND-DISC PHONOGRAPHS