The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 11 First recordings of Louis Gravcurc in the Columbia May List; also new selections by Godowsky the poetic genius of the piano; also other recordings of various type for every occasion to meet the demand for music. No chance at all of missing a sale. (Write for "Music Money," a book "full of meat" for those dealers interested in quick and frequent turnover of capital.) Columbia Graphophone Co. Woolworth Building, New York SAN FRANCISCO ASSOCIATION HOLDS BIG BANQUET Many Dealers in Wide District Attend the Session and Listen to Some Excellent Addresses and Discussions — Many Changes of Interest Reported in the Pacific Coast Trade — Interest in Pathe Line — Edison Tone-Tests Attract Much Attention — News of Month San Francisco, Cal., April 3. — The past month has been a busy one in the talking-machine trade all over the Pacific territory, as weather conditions have been more settled than earlier in the year, permitting a general opening up of the country business, which last month was still showing the effects of winter. The more remote parts of the country are expected to show a great growth this year, as the mining and lumber industries are especially prosperous, and the talking machine has become well established as an amusement feature in places where other high-class amusements are scarce. In the city trade, this department is holding up better than most lines of musical instruments. Goods are still scarce in most lines, but the situation is becoming a little easier than it was. Local Association Dines The monthly meeting of the San Francisco Talking Machine Dealers' Association on March 9 was made the occasion for a banquet, which was held at the Chantilly cafe. P. H. Beck, president of the association, set things in motion, but aside from the acceptance of some new members, the regular business procedure was suspended, and Mr. Beck presented W. F. M'orton, of Sherman, Clay & Co., as toastmaster. Mr. Morton kept things moving right along throughout the evening, calling on everyone present for a brief talk, and filling the intervals with many pertinent comments and amusing anecdotes. Every dealer in the vicinity of San Francisco was invited, and most of them came, including some from down the peninsula and a large crowd from across the bay. Including the new members, there are now twenty-five firms represented in the association, which takes in practically everybody in the business. The banquet proved a most enjoyable affair to all, and there is a general desire to have it repeated in the future. With all the dealers taking an active interest in the work, the association has already corrected some troublesome abuses, and if they oontinue to hang together the trade will be placed on a more profitable basis than for a long time past. Those present were: From P. H. Beck & Co., P. H. Beck, R. E. Day, H. T. Abies, J. H. Vejar, C. R. Berglund, George McManus ; from Sonora Phonograph Co., F. B. Travers, C. T. Compton ; from The Emporium, A. W. White, William Hoffmann; from Byron Mauzy, W. E. Hiatt; from Sherman, Clay & Co., W. F. Morton, E. B. Hunt, B. R. Scott, R. M. Bird; from Wiley B. Allen Co., J. J. Black, F. B. Corcoran, J. R. Scott, Jr.; from the Edison Shop, J. E. McCracken, R. P. Haycock; from Clark Wise & Co., J. J. Buffa, C. F. Lundberg; from Columbia Graphophone Co., Fred Anglemeies; from Hauschildt Music Co., C. M. Moran; and the following: George W. Scott, of Scott's Music Shop ; J. Raymond Smith, G. A. Finselen, Jr., F. A. Levy, of the Eilers store; George B. Spivey, of Sherman, Clay & Co.'s Oakland store; C. Anrys and B. F. Murphy of the Wiley B. Allen Co.'s Oakland store ; T. B. Watson and B. S. Goldsmith, of the Oakland Phonograph Co.; R. A. Leavitt, of Hauschildt's in Oakland; W. C. Henry, of Kahn Bros., Oakland ; R. J. Franck, of Alameda; J. C. Tupper and L. E. Reed, of Berkeley, and Frank E. Baskette, of San Mateo. Numerous Changes Reported The last month has brought a number of changes in the general talking-machine line-up on the Pacific Coast, due mainly to the introduction of new lines and the injection of new blood into old organizations. Fred A. Dennison, Coast manager for the Columbia, who returned from his Northern trip about the end of the month, reports several changes in that district. George Williams, formerly traveler from the Spokane office, has been made manager, succeeding Charles Jones, who is now manager at Seattle, where there is a great deal of activity in sight. Mr. Dennison made a visit to the South earlier in the month, and N. E. Henry, manager for this vicinity, is calling on the valley trade. The Columbia company has just renewed its lease on its old quarters for a number of years, and is preparing to make a number of improvements in the quarters, which will include a more convenient arrangement of the stock and a comfortable reception-room for customers. President Johnson, of the Victor Talking Machine Co., spent the latter part of March in San Francisco, but has returned to Pasadena to join his family. Improvements in Oakland Store Sherman, Clay & Co. are now making use of the new first-floor as talking-machine rooms in their Oakland store, the improvements to which are nearly complete. Andrew G. McCarthy, of this house, reports a continued increase over last year's business, and says there is still difficulty in getting many lines of goods, especially the Tungs-Tone needles, for which there is a great demand. Interest in the Pathe Line Louis S. Blachly, who opened a store here last month for the Pathephone, is just getting in shape for business, and has been visiting a few of the dealers, among whom he has found considerable interest in the Pathe line, though nothing definite has been done as yet in the matter of agencies. Gus Eilers, manager of the talking-machine department of the Eilers Music House, has just returned from his trip East, where he found business rushing, and says business here is in very good shape. The Eilers department has recently been considerably enlarged, and changes to the rear of the store have placed it in a more prominent position. Success of Edison Tone Tests Miss Elizabeth Spencer, who has been giving tone-test demonstrations with the Edison machine in all the principal towns of the Coast, has just brought her tour to an end at Spokane, Wash., having had a great success all along the route. The demonstrations were given to select audiences, admission being by invitation, and it was notable that in her recital at the Oakland Auditorium the attendance was almost entirely of the automobile crowd. A very successful demonstration was also recently given at Spokane by Thomas Chalmers, of the Boston Opera Co., and Marie Rappold is now on the way here to give a series of tone tests. A. R. Pommer, of the Pacific Phonograph Co., says business is growing rapidly in the North, and that many new dealers are starting there, as well as in California and Nevada. Mack Bros., of Reno, who recently took up pianos, have added the Edison line, and other new accounts are the Endicott Drug Co., at Oakdale, Cal. ; the Morgan Furniture Co., of Livermore, and the new branch of Ellas Marx, at Woodland. Omar Kruschke, of Berkeley, Cal., who has been in the piano business for some time, has joined the Pacific Phonograph Co. as sales manager. He and Mr. Pommer will soon leave on a Northern trip. The Stern Talking Machine Corp., which was organized here a month ago, has taken a large store in the Federal Hotel building, on Market street opposite Jones. The place is being elegantly fitted up, and a formal opening will soon be held. M. Klein, formerly with J. Raymond Smith, is now in the talking-machine department of the Wiley B. Allen Co. J. S. Bailey, formerly manager of the Edison Shop on Geary street, has taken the management of the Edison department for Byron Mauzy, who gives this line special space, while the Victor and Columbia departments are handled by W. E Hiatt. C. H. Hopper and E. P. Kelly, who have for two years been operating as the Eilers Talking Machine Co., at Seattle, Wash., have changed the business name to the Hopper-Kelly Co., opening a branch at Tacoma, Wash., which is considered one of the finest talking machine shops in this territory. The company has just placed an exceptionally large order for Columbia goods. M. Friedman & Co., a local furniture house, are preparing to take on the Victor line. EDISON DISC ON HISTORIC GROUND Model C250 Diamond Disc Phonograph Placed in Fort Atkinson (Wis.) Club, on Site of Fort in Black Hawk War of 1833 Memories of the Black Hawk War of 1833 were revived recently through the sale of an Edison Diamond Disc phonograph Model C2S0 to the Ft. Atkinson Club, Ft. Atkinson, Wis., which has an elaborate clubhouse built over the ramparts of an old fort made famous during the Indian War. Although Ft. Atkinson has a population of only 4,000, Geo. W. Toppins, the Edison dealer in that town, reports that 100 men of the community contributed $30,000 for the building and equipment of the clubhouse, the purchase of the Edison Diamond Disc phonograph giving the final touch of music. The store of August F. Korn, piano and talking machine dealer, of Michigan City, Ind., which was recently entirely remodeled, is now one of the finest music stores in this section. A full line of highgrade pianos and Victor Victrolas is carried.