The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 19 Note' There is a lot of business to be had in the Foreign Records issued by the Columbia —business for to-day and business for beyond the day after to-morrow. (Write for "Music Money," a book "fall of meat" for those Columbia GrapllOpllOnC Company dealers interested in quick and frequent turnover of capital.) Woolwortb Building, New York CINCINNATI DEALERS FIGHTING APPROVAL SYSTEM. Dealers in that City Organize to Combat Practice — Supplies of Goods Coming Along with Satisfying Regularity — New Phonograph Shop Opened — Volker & Co. Take on the Knabe-Crystcla — Heavy Sales of Aeolian-Vocalion — General Business Conditions. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cincinnati, O., March 6. — One of the interesting developments of the past month was the resumption of a fairly normal supply of goods in most all lines and the ability of the trade, particularly the small dealer, to dispose of his stock almost as soon as it was placed on the floor. Consequently this means a healthy state of affairs. "Sent on approval" may soon be relegated to the Middle Ages, so far as the Victor dealers about Cincinnati are concerned. Under the leadership of W. A. Davin, of the Cable Co., some of the Victor dealers have formed sort of an organization which includes the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. One result of this movement has been the elimination on the part of the distributer from his advertisements of statements intimating that Victor goods could be obtained only from one store. The association in time expects to take in all dealers about Cincinnati, and its main object will be to put a stop to sending goods out on approval. A new retail outlet has been secured by the Edison folks through the Phonograph Shop, which will be opened during the coming week by George Wabnitz, Jr., at 148 East Fourth street. Mr. Wabnitz will deal in Edison Diamond Disc phonographs and records. One of this assistants will be George Meek, who has been identified with the various phonographic lines for quite a number of years. Volker & Co., Kansas City, have been appointed one of the distributers for the Knabe-Crystola phonograph, according to an announcement to-day by Ernest Knabe, of the Knabe Bros. Co. The latter, in speaking of the Crystola, said : "We are receiving twenty orders for every one we can fill." The Starr Piano Co.'s factory at Richmond, Ind., is now able to supply its branch houses with a much larger record line. C. L. Byars, manager of the Vocalion department of the Aeolian Co., reports over 100 per cent, increase in February's business of this year over that of last February. There has recently sprung up a marked increase in out-of-town inquiries concerning the Vocalion. A number of good sales were made by mail and most of them bought the larger instruments. He reports that, in spite of the fact that he is not pressing the wholesale end of the business at all, yet a number of good dealers have been signed up. The dealers who have had the line several months are reordering with alacrity, and from all indications are finding the Vocalion business a big success. One Vocalion dealer in central Ohio disposed of his entire initial order within three weeks and placed a substantial order for new instruments — closing his letter with the following remark: "Kindly make us a substantial shipment of catalogs and advertising matter. There seems to be no end of possibilities with the Vocalion line." Manager Whelen, of the local Columbia store, says: "Business is great, orders are piling in and there seems to be no let-up in the demand since the holidays. There is still a pronounced shortage on account of the fact that as fast as machines come in they are rushed out to the dealers needing them. The dealers throughout the territory realize the wonderful possibilities ahead of them for the coming year and are placing large orders even now for future delivery. There is no doubt in my mind but that great things are ahead of us and all Columbia dealers." J. Greenfield, one of the best-known typewriter men in the country, has associated himself with the Dictaphone Co. with headquarters in Cincinnati at the local Columbia Graphophone Co. store. AN INTERESTING ANALYSIS. Statistics compiled by L. S. McCormick, sales manager of the Sonora Phonograph Corp., 57 Reade street, New York, since he undertook this office, which was announced in last month's World, show that one Sonora phonograph sells twenty more. This unit was arrived at after exhaustive study, both on the part of the Sonora representatives and the home offices. For one phonograph they could trace, they found that 200 machines were sold, but the average totals approximately MUSIC FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS. Talking Machines and Records Being Sent to Engl sh and French Hospitals. During the past few weeks twenty-one talking machines, 928 records, five mandolins and two guitars have been sent to the wounded soldiers of the allied armies by Miss May T. Moulton, who is working in conjunction with the Vacation War Relief, which was started by Miss Anne Morgan and her friends. Since the beginning of the present winter, Miss Moulton has been hard at work collecting talking machines and other musical instruments, and has supplied them to practically every battle front on which the English and French forces are fighting. Several base hospitals in Egypt, as well as scores of hospitals in France, have been supplied with musical instruments through this work. Appeals for contributions have been generously responded to, the charity forming a natural outlet for old records, of which the owners have tired. Landay Bros, are cleaning and packing the machines and records free of charge, and with each machine is packed a letter of cheer to the men and the officer in charge of them. Each talking machine sent over is accompanied by 700 needles and forty-eight records, and many letters of thanks have been received from the wounded soldiers, whose hours of pain have been made easier because of the music thus furnished to them. Miss Moulton asks that all who wish to help the cause along, either by donations of money, machines or records, send their contributions to her wenty. at 38 West Thirty-ninth street, New York City. Save Freight Charges The saving in freight charges (combined with better protection) is one reason over 75^ of the cabinet machines are shipped in ATLAS PACKING CASES {(3-ply veneer — clear spruce cleats) Expert |advice on style of packing"and"shipping costs. Write for convincing facts NELSON & HALL CO. MONTGOMERY CENTER VERMONT