The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

4 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. SAN FRANCISCO DEALERS OPPOSE APPROVAL PLAN Local Association Passes Resolution Against Trade Evil — Many New Concerns Enter Pacific Coast Trade — Business Continues to Be Unusually Active — Oakland Store Places Large Columbia Order — Shortage of Stock in Some Lines Reported — News of Month. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, Cal., March 4. — The rapid growth of the talking machine business on the Pacific Coast continues unchecked, February showing a decided spurt in business nearly everywhere. All the established jobbers or distributing stations give the same report of sales exceeding all records for this time of year, and several concerns new in this territory are opening up with every prospect of success. Scarcity of goods is the general complaint, and it looks as if the increased competition brought about by newcomers in the business would in reality be a great stimulus. Association Discusses Approval Problem. The local Talking Machine Dealers' Association met February 9, and the principal matter taken up was a continuation of the previous discussion of goods sent out on approval, the committee appointed for the purpose bringing in a set of resolutions which, with a few minor changes, were put through, declaring the association opposed to the practice of sending records on approval. Many wished to abolish the practice entirely, but some considered that action too drastic. The March meeting will be a banquet, and arrangements are being made for a well attended affair, all the employes of the stores being invited, and a number of interesting speakers will discuss trade topics. It will probably be held on the second Wednesday of March, but the place has not been definitely settled as yet. Many New Comers Enter Trade. The establishment of new talking machine concerns is the matter attracting most attention just now. The latest to open here is the Pathephone Shop, under the management of Louis Seely Blachly, formerly of Chicago, at 332 Post street An attractive store has been fitted up and the location, opposite Union Square, should be a good one for the business. The place was opened February 26, and Mr. Blachly is starting an energetic introductory campaign. Arrangements are being made also to conduct a wholesale business, and a goodsized stock of records has been received and will soon be placed in a building on Stockton street. Local people have been getting acquainted with the Pathe for some time, and considerable interest is taken in the new venture. Another new concern is the Stern Talking Machine Corp., which has just been incorporated, with a capital stock of $50,000, by Ferderick and J. Stern, D. Hadsell, M. Duffy and J. G. Sweet. The company has made all arrangements to handle the Rex talking machine line throughout the Pacific Coast territory. According to present plans, the first store will be on Market street and will be opened about April 1. Other stores will soon be added, and the company will establish a large number of agencies. Gus Eilers, manager of the talking machine department of the Eilers Music House, has gone East for a visit to several of the manufacturers. Columbia Co.'s Business Active. Fred A. Dennison, district manager for the Columbia Graphophone Co., says business is in excellent shape all over his territory, and even better in the South than elsewhere. He spent the early part of the month in Los Angeles, and is now leaving for a visit to Portland, Seattle and Spokane. The northern California district, which was for several years covered by a Sacramento jobber, has been handled since the first of the year direct from the San Francisco office, and Mr. Dennison finds the results much more satisfactory. W. E. Henry, of this office, recently returned from Sacramento. Mr. Dennison finds good talking machine men very scarce on the Coast. The Dictaphone department is going ahead in great shape. Joseph Johnson is a new man in this department in Oakland, and Miss Mitchell has been added to the local force. An experienced Western man is expected shortly to take general charge of this department. Kahn Bros. Place Large Order. Kahn Bros., the Oakland department store, recently placed one of the largest orders ever received by the local Columbia office, and are prepared to get behind this line in a large way. The department is being moved from the third to the ground floor, where a number of rooms are being fitted up in the most modern style. W. C. Henry, son of W. E. Henry, the local manager, is taking charge of this department, having come from Los Angeles for the purpose. C. J. Schmelzer, of the Schmelzer Arms Co., Victor distributer in Kansas City, was a recent visitor to Sherman, Clay & Co. in this city. Andrew G. McCarthy, of Sherman, Clay & Co., made a visit to Los Angeles early in February, and is well pleased with the outlook for the Victor line there. For the whole territory, he says he has never seen anything like the way the business is growing. A. R. Pommer, head of the Pacific Phonograph Co., has been away for a few days on account of illness. At the local headquarters it is stated that they are as far behind in deliveries as they were in December, and can't tell when they will be able to meet the demand. Kohler & Chase in Oakland. Kohler & Chase have leased a new location in Oakland, to which they will move in about six weeks, at Fourteenth street near Clay, across the corner from Sherman, Clay & Co. An attractive talking machine department will be fitted up. J. E. McCracken, the new head of the Edison Shop on Geary street, is too busy to talk these days. He is starting a very strong publicity campaign, and reports business fairly humming. Shortage of Sonora Stock. F. B. Travers, manager for the Sonora Phonograph Co., states that he is still badly hampered by lack of stock. He finds retail business very active, and is also doing a good distributive business, but is unable to make the new connections he would like to on account of deliveries. He hopes, however, to have plenty of stock within a couple of months. Byron Mauzy is still expanding his talking machine department, and has engaged W. C. Hiatt to conduct this part of the business, Charles Mauzy still having general supervision of the talking machine and small goods departments. A MULTIPLE~DISCTALKINQ MACHINE. Recent Invention Enables More Than One Disc to Be Played at Same Time. Playing two or more talking machines at a time as a means for increasing sound volume has often been tried, but generally with poor success. Only a slight difference in the speeds or timing of the two discs results in throwing the melody into a jarring discord, for one record soon plays far ahead of the other, says Popular Mechanics. To obviate these difficulties, and still secure the larger volume of sound resulting from the use of two or more records at the same time, a Paris inventor has devised a talking machine of a type different from the ordinary kind. All the records are attached to one vertical driving axis, and because of this mechanical connection must necessarily remain in unison throughout the playing of any given piece. Each disc is provided with its own needle and reproducer. All the sound goes into a common horn by means of suitable connecting arms properly pivoted at the large ends. In addition to greater volume, harmony effects may also be secured. This is done by using discs which individually play soprano, alto, bass parts, etc., the whole blending into one medley when run together on the machine. EASTERN VICTOR SERVICE IS WHAT SUCCESSFUL NEW ENGLAND VICTOR DEALERS USE IT HELPS THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL It helps them to attract and hold customers by placing them in a position to give prompt service to their trade, to supply the machine or record wanted, when it is wanted, to make profits. IT COSTS NO MORE THAN ORDINARY SERVICE THE EASTERN TALKING MACHINE CO. 177 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON, MASS. Largest Exclusive Victor Distributors in the East