The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. REPORT MOST SUCCESSFUL MONTH. Milwaukee Trade Tell Story of Tremendous Activity in Machine and Record Fields — Phongraph Co.'s Recital — Badger Co.'s Big Trade — New Columbia Agents — Bradford Co.'s Advertising Brings Results — Marked Shortage in Talking Machines with All Concerns — A Christine Miller Recital. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) ■Milwaukee, Wis., October 9. — September proved to be the most successful month that Milwaukee talking machine dealers have experienced outside of the holiday period, and the indications are that another new record will be established in October. The improvement in business is general and not confined to any one house or one line, a pretty sure proof trade is on a firm footing and that there are even better things ahead. The shortage of machines in all lines is the only thing that is giving dealers any anxiety at this time. Local jobbers are out of some of the larger types of machines in the various makes and many retailers have gone to Chicago in the effort to replenish their stocks in that city, but the shortage there seems to be as serious as it is in this city. Dealers in Milwaukee and all over Wisconsin are anxious to get their stocks up in shape for the holiday trade, but it looks as though they are going to have trouble in securing enough machines to meet the demands of the trade. There seems to be plenty of records available, the shortage of machines being the most serious. "We could dispose of 100 times the machines we are receiving," said Harry Goldsm'.th, secretary of the Badger Talking Machine Co., jobber for the Victor goods in this territory. "Dealers are insistent, but we simply can't get enough of the larger machines to meet the demands of our trade. I recently visited the Victor factory at Camden, N. J., and I know that every effort is being made to satisfy the trade, but the demand is too great." The Phonograph Co. of Milwaukee, jobber in Wisconsin for the Edison line, is receiving more of the $100 and $150 machines, but the arrivals of other machines are far from being equal to the requirements. "We received a carload of Edison machines the other day, but before the day was over we had reshipped out every machine to our dealers," said Manager W. A. Schmidt. "It is safe to say that we could dispose of twenty carloads of machines right now if we could get them. We have located about twenty-five new Edison dealers about the State during the past two months." A. G. Kunde, 516 Grand avenue, Columbia jobber and dealer, says that the shortage of machines is the only thing that is giving him any concern at the present time. The demands of new dealers and the trade in general keep the Kunde stock at a low point. George Cheatley, of the Talking Machine Co. of Chicago, and H. S. Gibbs, representing the Wurlitzer house, recently called on the local trade. Paul A. Seeger, manager of the Victrola department of the Edmund Gram Piano 'House, accompanied by Mr. Gram, was in Chicago on business recently. Victor sales at the Gram house this season have attained a new high mark. Louis Marks, manager of the Victor department at the Boston Store, has been reorganizing the Victor department at the Boston Store, and is meeting with a fine business. S. W. Goldsmith, vice-president of the Badger Talking Machine Co., jobber for the Victor goods in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, is taking treatments at the Mercy Hospital, in Chicago, and it is said Mermod Motors (BUILT RIGHT) Now being made in the U. S, A. The result of a century's experience. MERMOD TONE ARMS Diamond and Sapphire MultiPlaying JEWEL NEEDLES for EDISON, PATHE, VICTOR, COLUMBIA and all other makes of RECORDS MARC K. MERMOD KSDSTZ that his condition is showing steady improvement. The Warr Talking Machine Shop, one of the enterprising Victor establishments on the northwest side, has moved into new and larger quarters at 3414 North avenue, where a larger stock of Victor goods is on display. L. C. Parker, manager of the Victor department at Gimbel Bros.' Milwaukee store, is confident that the coming holiday trade will reach a new high mark, providing enough machines can be secured to meet the demands of customers. Mr. Parker now has a fine display of goods in his new quarters at the Gimbel store. The Flanner-Hafsoos Music House, 417 Broadway, closed an interesting deal recently when it sold a $250 Edison machine and an A. B. Chase piano to W. J. Shannon, a Milwaukee business man. The Gensch-Smith Co., 730 Grand avenue, featuring the Victor goods, is enlarging its sales force preparatory to the big trade which is expected from now on. Business with this house during September was double that of a year ago. The J. B. Bradford Piano Co., one of Milwaukee's oldest piano houses, which maintains a successful Victrola department, is still leading all the Milwaukee houses in the amount of advertising which it is doing in the local newspapers, featuring the Victor goods. Officials of the Bradford concern, say that it is money well spent. A. G. Kunde, Columbia jobber and dealer, has placed the agency for the Columbia line with several more well-known Milwaukee houses, including the F. W. Schenck Furniture Co., 259 Third street; the Sanborn Furniture Co., at both its stores ; the Marschalk Furniture Co., 2014 Fond du Lac avenue, and the William A. Conklin Piano Co., 731 Greenfield avenue. All these establishments have installed special quarters for the Columbia line and are meeting with good business at the very start. Beecher Burton, a well-known Milwaukee tenor, soloist at the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, said to be the highest paid singer in this city, has made several records for the Columbia Phonograph Co. Charles F. Baer, Chicago manager of the Columbia interests, accompanied by Frank Cook, one of the 'Illinois Columbia traveling representatives, was a recent visitor at the store of A. G. Kunde. Lawrence McGreal, recently appointed jobber in Wisconsin for the Pathe Freres line, is daily locating new dealers about the State. Miss Christine Miller, the noted concert contralto, is to be heard next Friday afternoon in Milwaukee. The Pabst Theatre has been engaged for this private hearing by the Phonograph Co. of this city, and in the neighborhood of 3,500 invitations and cards of introduction have been sent to the music lovers of the city. Miss Miller sings directly with records that she has made for Mr. Edison, and in some instances sings duets with her own re-created voice. Miss Miller has been selected as the artist who will illustrate the results of Mr. Edison's research work in recording and re-creating sound on "Edison Day" at the Panama-Pacific Exposition. The private hearing illustrates the complete success of Mr. Edison's effort to re-create music with the same tonal quality as the original performance. J. E. Curtis, supervisor of the Edison interests in the Middle West, is in town this week, and when seen in company with William A. 'Schmidt, manager of the Phonograph Co., expressed the opinion that the coming private hearing of Miss Miller in Milwaukee would be most successful. W. D. Andrews, Victor distributer, Syracuse, N. Y., was a visitor to the trade this week, calling upon some of his brother Victor distributers in local territory, including the Blackman Talking Machine Co., 97 Chambers street, New York. THE BADGER COMPANY BURROWS DEEP to supply its dealers because we realize that our business depends upon them and that their business, to a great degree, depends upon the service we give them. That's why we are never caught napping. We have learned that an ounce of foresight is worth a pound of explanations and have made "cooperation" not merely our slogan but also our habit. Victor only. Try us. BADGER TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, Milwaukee,Wis. HAWAIIAN UKULELES Next to Victor Goods, now the biggest sellers in the small musical instrument line. The Ukulele is the Hawaiian national instrument, guitar-shaped but smaller. The Ukulele craze is rapidly spreading over the United States — easy for anybody to learn. Can be sold at a low price and still make big profit. We are distributors of the entire output of Jonah Kumalae, the largest maker in the Hawaiian Islands. Kumalae Ukuleles were awarded the gold medal at Panama-Pacific Exposition. Write for illustrated price list. SHERMAN, CLAY & CO. 163 Kearny Street, San Francisco Largest Jobbers of ..—vaiian Music and Ukuleles in the United States.