The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

18 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. CASH PLENTIFUL IN MILWAUKEE. Number of Sales Made on Cash Basis Steadily Increasing in that City — Shortage of Machines Still Felt Keenly — New Companies Enter Field — L. C. Parker as a Speaker — Larger Shipments Being Received. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Milwaukee, Wis., March 8. — The talking machine business in Milwaukee and all over Wisconsin during the month of February showed continued activity, and a new high record for the present month is anticipated. General business has shown decided improvement, money is easier, and people are inclined to buy more freely. Milwaukee dealers say that the percentage of cash sales is increasing and that collections are decidedly better. James A. Fetterly, secretary of the retail division of the Merchants and Manufacturers' Association, says that collections in most lines of retail activity are above the normal point and that people are not only paying up their old accounts, but are buying much more freely. Judging from the orders which jobbers are receiving from dealers about the State, business with the average retailer is exceptionally active. While Milwaukee jobbers in all the leading lines of machines are receiving larger shipments from their factories, the shortage of machines is still acute. Dealers are all being allotted a share of the machines which are arriving, but jobbers say that they could dispose of more than double the stock which they are receiving. Dealers are not only looking for machines to satisfy the present demands of their customers, but they are placing orders for stock intended for their summer and fall trade, for they realize that it is going to be a difficult proposition to secure enough machines at that time. Plenty of records are being received, and the new March records of the different companies are taking unusually well with the trade. "Business is unusually good and we are unable to get enough Victrolas to meet the demands of our trade," said John H. Becker, manager of the Victrola and piano departments of Edward Schuster & Co. "The outlook is bright, considering the general improvement in all lines of business. February records sold very well, and the new March selections are creating much interest." Miss Adele Nero, assistant to Mr. Becker, has developed into one of the most successful young talking machine sales ladies in Milwaukee and has a fine sales record to her credit. L. C. Parker, manager of the Victrola department of Gimbel Bros.' store, who has been developing quite a reputation as a speaker, especially along the lines of salesmanship, was one of the leading speakers on this subject at a recent meeting of the Alexander Hamilton Club, held at the Hotel Pfister, Mr. Parker gave an outline of methods by which a sales force produces results, and said : "It is claimed that a man is worth $2 a day from his collar down and as much more from his head up as he can earn by applying the knowledge that he possesses. He will achieve success in the degree Victor Dealers Those who relied upon us this season to supply their requirements J of Victor merchandise are loudest in their praise of the excellent manner with which their orders were filled. Were you one of these fortunate Victor dealers ? A timely New Year's suggestion. Try the service of the BADGER TALKING MACHINE CO. 135 Second] St. MILWAUKEE, WIS. Victor Distributors (Exclusive) with which he makes use of his knowledge and ability." The Elginola Talking Machine Corp. has been incorporated in Milwaukee, with a capital stock of $10,000, by Frank Rose, Albert Salomon and S. R. Simon. It is understood that the new concern will engage in the manufacture and sale of talking machines. The Flanner-Hafsoos Music House, 417 Broadway, has remodeled and enlarged its Edison department, and now has one of the finest departments of its kind among the Milwaukee piano houses. The company has given up half of its first floor quarters to the department and has arranged five attractive new booths. The house is meeting with a fine business in the Edison line. The George H. Eichholz Co., 542 Twelfth street, handling the Victor and Edison lines, has been conducting a consistent campaign of street car advertising during the past year, and its attractive car advertisements have been an important factor in building up the successful trade which the firm now enjoys. The suit brought some time ago in the Milwaukee Civil Court against William P. Gensch, head of the Gensch-Smith Co., conducting an exclusive Victrola shop at 730 Grand avenue, by Max Lepak, who sought damages of $2,000 for remarks alleged to have been made by Mr. Gensch, was dismissed recently when Mr. Gensch proclaimed Lepak as an honest man. The Columbia line has been installed in the main downtown store of Stumpf & Langhoff, Ltd., at Grand avenue and Second street. Mrs. C. L. McDonald is in charge of the department and is meeting with a fine business. The Columbia goods are being featured in attractive balcony quarters. The stock of machines and records for the new department was furnished by A. G. Kunde, 516 Grand avenue, Columbia jobber and retailer. Despite the fact that more Columbia goods are now being shipped into Milwaukee, many more machines than are arriving could be disposed of, according to A. G. Kunde, jobber and retailer, 516 Grand avenue. Business has been so good since last fall that the brisk demand has kept the stock down to an unusually low point. Mrs. Kunde made two trips to Chicago recently and succeeded in securing several consignments of machines. Miss C. Gringes has joined the Kunde sales force. The shipment of Edison machines and records to Milwaukee is increasing steadily, according to William A. Schmidt, manager of the Phonograph Co. of Milwaukee, jobber in this territory for the Edison goods. Mr. Schmidt says that he is able to ship a few machines to all his dealers and that the shortage is not nearly as acute as it has been. Several new Edison dealers have been located at various points about Wisconsin. Mr. Buehlow has joined the sales force at the Edison Shop, the retail store conducted by the Phonograph Co. DEATH OF THOSU*. WHITE, JR. Thomas R. White, Jr., a vice-president and chairman of the board of directors of the American Graphophone Co., died Feb. 28 at Miami, Fla., where he had journeyed to regain his health after a siege of pneumonia. Mr. White had been con Thomas R. White, Jr. nected with the American Graphophone Co. for many years and was one of the foremost figures in the remarkable growth and progress of this company in recent years. He had a broad grasp of every phase of the financial and industrial world and was keenly interested in the affairs of the American Graphophone Co. notwithstanding his many other activities. He was admired and esteemed by his associates, who are deeply affected by his sudden death. PERFECTROLA Has Tone and Quality A Satisfactory Musical Instrument Models from SI 0.00 to $100.00 Cabinet finish and mechanical parts of the highest order insuring a minimum of trouble. Plays all lateral cut records — Our No. 100 is equipped with our new duplex reproducer, which plays all records without extra attachments — Made by Milwaukee Talking Machine Mfg. Co. Office and Factory, 416-418 4th St., Milwaukee Chicago Salesroom The Perf ectrola Co. No. 30 160 N. 5th Ave. Kansas City Salesroom Win. E. King Traders Building No. 55