The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

22 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. DEMAND FOR RECORDS HELPED BY ARTISTS' RECITAL. Opera and Concerts in Detroit Prove Great Stimulant — Grinnell Victrola Salesmen Meet — Association Takes Action on Approval Records — Larger Quarters for Max Strasburg — H. C. Shea Married — J. H. Goldberg to Move — Wallace Brown is Optimistic. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Detroit, Mich., November 9. — One short paragraph amply describes conditions in the talking machine business in Detroit : "It could not be much better." The month of October was far above expectations and far beyond any previous business during the same period. Dealers are not thinking about how much business they can do, but how much goods they can get. Tne fact that there is going to be a shortage this fall and winter, and especially at holiday time, is generally admitted, and the wise dealer is taking advantage of every" opportunity to increase his stock. The various recitals given here during the month of October by singers of national prominence, such as Miss Farrar and the Boston Opera Company ; also Elman, violinist, and the Anna Pavlowa Ballet, all have had a tendency to create interest in music and stimulate the sale of records. The Cable Piano Co. is organizing a "Christmas Victrola Club" in order to push sales for the holiday season. Manager Harry Zickel reports Victrola business as 100 per cent, ahead of last year. The marriage of Miss Jessie Baker and Harry C. Shea took place Wednesday evening, November 3, in the rectory of St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral, Detroit. A supper at the Hotel Cadillac followed the ceremony. The bride and groom left that evening for a short trip. Mr. Shea is general manager of the Pathephone Co., of Detroit, and is well known in business circles. Miss Christine Miller, under the auspices of the Wallace Brown Edison Shop, gave a recital at the Hotel Statler ballroom on October 11 and attracted a large crowd. She sang directly with the diamond disc records that she has made for the Edison Co. She was assisted by Abraham Bond, violinist, from the Edison laboratories. The Victrola salesmen from all of the retail stores of Grinnell Bros, gathered at the Hotel Charlevoix, Detroit, on Monday evening, November 1, and discussed plans for the coming season. About seventy-five were in attendance. It was an enthusiastic meeting and there were many topics discussed. One of the important ones was "How to Improve the Service to the Customer." Talks were made by C. A. Grinnell and S. E. Clark. A representative from the Victor Talking Machine Co. was present, and he gave a technical address, explaining the manufacture of the Victrola and enlightening the men so that they could talk intelligently to their customers on how the Victrola was constructed. C. H. Grinnell has been appointed manager of the wholesale department of the Victrola end of the Grinnell Bros, business, and will make his office at the wholesale warerooms on Cass avenue. Harry Rupp, who formerly had charge of this department, will hereafter give all of his time to the retail end at the main store on Woodward avenue. The Ecco Talking Machine Co., Peter Smith Building. Detroit, will have its factory at 256 Twenty-first street, and expects to be turning out machines at an early date. For the sixth consecutive time the Detroit branch of the Columbia Co. has been awarded first prize for being the best in the matter of collections. F. A. Denison, manager, feels confident that he will win this prize again for October. Several times during the past month Heynz Bazaar, Detroit, has devoted one entire window to a display of Columbia talking machines and records. This department was added about six months ago and P. B. Lang placed in charge. It has proven a success beyond expectations. Henry S. Doran, president of the Doran Phonograph Co., Detroit, celebrated his fifty-first birthday on October 13. He was the recipient of many congratulations. The new store of the Phonograph Co. of Detroit, exclusive agents for the Edison, will be ready about December 1, It is going to be unique in many re spects and one of the finest shops in the United States. William Maxwell, second vice-president of the Thomas A. Edison Co., was a visitor to Detroit during the early part of October. He called at the Wallace Brown Edison Shop and paid Mr. Brown many fine compliments. "Coming better all the time," said Wallace Brown to The World correspondent. "Our enlarged store is none too big to take care of our trade. We know that we are going to wind up the year with a record-breaking holiday business if we are fortunate enough to get enough goods to sell. We are more concerned about that than anything else. If we can get the goods we'll sell them." Mr. Brown celebrated his first year in business on October 28. On that date his store was twice as large as when he started. Manager E. K. Andrew, of the J. L. Hudson talking machine department, has been making a number of out-of-town trips in the past thirty days hunting for stock. Every week at the Hudson store shows a splendid increase in the talking machine department, and Manager Andrew is constantly increasing the force. Mrs. Clement, of the Charles R. Roat Music Co., Battle Creek, Mich., was in Detroit recently looking over the various shops and getting ideas, which she will incorporate in the new Victrola shop which her company will install after the first of the year in an adjoining store. R. F. Wright, manager of the Cable Piano Co., 619 South Saginaw street, Flint, Mich., is adding more space to the talking machine department. Raymond Gould, 193 West Goguac street, Battle Creek, has taken the Pathe agency. The Rex Talking Machine Co. has opened a store at 209 Griswold street, this city. The J. L. Hudson Co. has installed a recital room on the second floor of the piano building. It is in the front part and has fifty theatre seats. At one end is a small stage on which stands a Victrola, and on either side is draped a curtain, making a very artistic effect. There are recitals every day from 11.30 to 2.30, and they are absolutely free. The regular monthly meeting of the Detroit Music Trades Association was held November D. Jacob H. Goldberg, now at 236 Gratiot avenue, has leased the store at 162 Gratiot avenue, where he expects to move as soon as completed. Until after the holidays he will run both stores. At the October meeting of the Detroit Music Trades Association two new members were taken in — Sidney J. Guest, ">41 Dix avenue, and Larry Dow, associated with the Wallace Brown Edison Shop. The approval plan of selling records was taken up, and it was decided to adopt the method of the Cable Piano Co., of putting a red sticker on all approval packages which go out, announcing that records not kept must be returned in twenty-four hours, otherwise a charge will be made for them : also that the customer must keep at least one-third of the records sent out. All of the members of the association who sell talking machines agreed to adopt this plan. Max Strasburg, now in the Sherer Building, Grand River and Farmer streets. Detroit, has* taken a long lease on the store at 74 Library avenue, just three doors south of his present location, and is now having same remodeled and put into shape. He will open about November 15. He will continue his present store until the expiration of his lease, April, 1916, after which time he will be located at 74 Library avenue. Mr. Strasburg is installing fourteen booths. He reports that October business was 50 per cent, ahead of the same month last year. He reports the sale of two $2,500 Grafonola baby grands, one to Senator Robert Ogg for his Detroit residence, and the other to D. T. Crowley, of the Peninsula Stove Works. Dealers report a big demand for fumed oak talking machines. They say the demand is even greater than mahugany some weeks. Boston— Oliver Ditson Co. NewYork-Chas. H. Ditson & Co. YEARS of experience in co-operating with musical instrument dealers particularly fits the House of Ditson to anticipate and fill the requirements of Victor dealers. We know musical instrument conditions and we help you in every way. Many Victor dealers handle sheet music or musical instruments such as drums, cornets, violins, etc., and there is an advantage here in a saving of freight and express to those who send combination orders for goods of both classes. What we desire to impress as our greatest service, however, is the vast stock of Victor goods continuously on hand, including machines, records and other supplies, and a service of this kind is not only desired, but is absolutely essential to the dealer who wants to make the most profits during the next two months. Ditson Victor Service