The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

34 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. RECORD SALES A BIG FACTOR IN BALTIMORE TRADE Recent Visits of John McCormack, Billy Sunday and Others to That City Serve to Stimulate Business — Columbia Graphophone Co. Withdraws from Local Retail Field — Wholesale Trade Excellent — Stock Shortage in Various Lines Being Relieved — News. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Baltimore, Md., March 9. — A good talking machine business for February was reported by most of the houses, despite the fact that there was still a shortage of goods by most of the houses and there was not as good a supply of records the first part of the month as the demand required, but toward the latter part of the month the supply came along in good shape. There were several things that helped to stimulate the sale of records during the week. One was the appearance of John McCormack in a recital at the Lyric. A great deal of space was devoted in the newspapers to him, and many of the firms of the city used advertising space to call 'attention to his numerous records. All of the shops reported a big sale of the McCormack numbers. "Billy"' Sunday in Baltimore is also aiding record sales, especially those records that have the Homer Rodeheaver hymns. Rodeheaver, who is Sunday's musician, gave quite an interview on people dancing to his music in Philadelphia. One of the big changes in the local field was the announcement of the passing of the Columbia Graphophone Co. entirely out of the retail business in this city. In future the Columbia headquarters here will handle only wholesale business and take care of distributing to its customers in this city and the field it handles. A. J. Heath, who has brought the business of the Columbia line along by leaps and bounds in the less than a year and a half that he has been here, will remain in charge of the local headquarters of the Columbia. The Columbia headquarters on North Howard street where both retail and wholesale business was handled by the Columbia and which is a very attractive establishment, will be continued as a retail emporium under the name of the Columbia Grafonola Shop. A. & J. Oldewurtel, the pioneer Columbia dealers in this city, and who conduct Columbia stores at 307 South Broadway and 566 North Gay street, will conduct the Grafonola Shop. The entire Columbia establishment remains at the Howard street shop and an entire new and modern equipment for distributing the Columbia line will be established in a new five-story modern warehouse on West German street. "Business is good with us," said Mr. Heath. "Despite the cry of shortage of machines, business of February went ahead of February of last year by a good margin. The new Columbia headquarters, which will be strictly wholesale, will permit us to carry ten times the amount of stock on hand and we will also carry the full American and foreign series of records. In a little while there will be no shortage of machines." The entire Columbia staff will go with Mr. Heath to the new headquarters with the exception of W. E. Collins, who has become assistant manager to Mr. Crowley in the talking machine repartment of the Hub. W. L. Eckhardt, of Philadelphia Columbia headquarters, visited here this week. For E. F. Droop & Sons Co., Inc., Victor distributers. Mr. Roberts said : "February to us was a disappointment. We failed to get near enough machines and we ran back a little on February of last year. There was also a shortage in records, but toward the end of the month records came along in pretty good shape and that helped to stimulate the business, which was especially noticeable in the increased demand for McCormack records after his appearance here." Jesse Rosenstein, for the National Piano Co , Pathe distributers, reports a good business in bis line, with an increased supply of machines coming in and the customers of the firm are becoming better pleased. Two new firms — the Royal Furniture Co., 510 South Broadway, and William J. Wieland, 3509 and 3511 Eastern avenue — are now handling the Pathe line. The Sanders & Stayman Co., Inc., the Vocalion representatives, report a big business here. Last week twenty machines of the $100 and $150 style were received, and all were sent out with the exception of two before the close of the same day. The firm is well pleased with the way the line is going. The company will move to its new headquarters the latter part of May. Cohen & Hughes, Inc., Victor distributers, report a good business, but raise the cry of old — shortage of machines — but the business showed an increase just the same. H. R. Eisenbrandt Sons, Inc., are unable to meet the great demand for Victor machines, so great is the local demand. Milton Boucher, manager of the Victrola department of William Knabe & Co., reports that he is short of Nos. 10 and 11 machines. There has been a great increase in the record business. Five large, sound-proof booths have been ins' ailed by the Hammann-Levin Co., dealers in Vieto: goods. The facilities for handling records also have been doubled. These improvements have been made on the first floor. G. Fred. Kranz, president of the Kranz-Fink Talking Machine Co., is critically ill with pneumonia at his home. Alarm is felt for his recovery. He is one of the most popular men in the city in both the musical and business world and has a host of friends. A unique feature of the Junior Assembly ball at the Belvidere last week was the sending out of invitations on a talking machine record. Those who received the records had to have a machine to understand what it was all about, and quite a few machines were sold through the unique scheme. A new soundproof demonstration booth has been installed in the talking machine department of the Kipp music store at Manhattan, Kan. LONG CABINETS WELL MADE THROUGHOUT These With Others Comprise the ELEGANTLY FINISHED Most Complete Line of Record Cabinets D 77 Mahogany, Golden Oak, Fumed Oak, Weathered Oak. Height 34 in. Top 19 Z2$i in. Holds 192 12-in. Records. For Victrolas VIII and IX, and Columbia "Favorite." No countersunk holes In top. Sliding Record Shelf. Average weight, crated, 80 lbs. D 79 Mahogany, Golden Oak, Fumed Oak. Weathered Oak. Height 34 in. Top 19 225^ in. Holds 192 12-in. Records. For Victrolas VIII and IX, and Columbia "Favorite." No countersunk holes In top. Sliding Record Shelf. Average weight, crated, 85 lbs. PROMPT DELIVERIES ON ALL ORDERS Write for Illustrated Catalogue THE GEO. A. 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