The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

14 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD The Trade In Boston And New England JOHN H. WILSON, MANAGER, 324 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. Boston, Mass., April 7. — March proved an unusually good month in Boston and the dealers in the various types of talking machines felt highly gratified when examining the reports of these four weeks. The more enthusiastic members of the trade are making big predictions as to what the year 1916 will show, and in view of the experience of other years, it is a question if they are so far out in their reckoning. One dealer in speaking of the month's business said it exceeded the entire year's business of four or five years ago, which is some showing, and indicates, too, what the growth is under normal conditions. Grand Opera Helps Sales The presence of the Metropolitan Opera Company in Boston for a period of three weeks has accentuated the sale of the records of the prominent operatic stars. The windows of such stores as the Eastern, the Columbia, the Ditson Co. and others are filled with pictures, literature and records all bearing on grand opera and to the uninitiated it is interesting to note the increased sales as an operatic season draws near. These windows are attracting much attention and not an hour of the day passes that there are not crowds renewing acquaintance with the faces of operatic celebrities with whom they are most familiar. That Talking Machine Club When one starts to discuss the Boston Talking Machine Club, so enthusiastically born back last October, one must first ask where is it? What has become of it? So far as any activity is concerned it is no more than a name or a memory. Month after month the leaders have tried to arouse an interest in a dinner, but to no purpose; they are not even able to assemble a reasonable number of men for a meeting. Similarly the bowling teams have passed out of existence, for, after a month or two the men lost interest. From the outset the burden of work fell on a few men who were anxious to see the organization succeed and be a recognized factor in the business the same as other trade organizations; but their good intentions have met with discouragement. Now there is an attempt being made to get the boys together for a summer outing, to take place possibly on June 17, and some are even talking of a baseball team to play Saturday afternoons. We'll see! Joins the Columbia Co. Force One of the conspicuous additions to the Bos iniiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiittiiiiiiiH ton business at this time is Walter S. Gray, who comes here from the Pacific Coast, where he has been located for several years, to join the Columbia Graphophone Co.'s force. He will be connected with the wholesale department and will in every way prove a distinct addition to the company's Boston headquarters, for he is a capable man, possessed of much business tact and a fine personality. Mr. Gray at one time was manager for the Columbia concern at Detroit and he has also traveled in China and Japan making records for the house. While on the Pacific Coast he was in charge of the Columbia exhibit at the fair. He has long had a desire to get into the New England territory, as he has felt that in this section there is a distinct appreciation of music which the Columbia Co. is able to foster and encourage through its products in a most substantial manner. Steady Advance in Business Business at the Eastern Talking Machine Co.'s headquarters in Tremont street is showing a great advance week by week and every one of the staff puts in a busy day attending to the wants of customers. Manager Billy Fitzgerald of the wholesale department is preparing for a busy several months and the only spectre that looms up at the present time is his -inability to get sufficient goods to supply the demand for Victor outfits. The Eastern has lately put in a complete list of foreign records. Attended Anniversary Celebration Frederick H. Silliman. manager of the Boston headquarters of the Pardee-Ellenberger Co., Inc., spent a few days in Maine the early part of the month. Mr. Silliman, with L. H. Ripley and Guy R. Coner, went , down to New Haven the batter part of March for the anniversary celebration of the opening of the Pardee-Ellenberger Co.'s store in that city, when a feature of the occasion was a fine dinner tendered by the members of the firm. W. A. Bragdon is one of the latest additions to the Boston force of the Pardee-Ellenberger Co. He is in the shipping department. In Charge of Record Department At the Boylston street warerooms of the Vocalion Co., Miss L. Woodman is now in charge of the Columbia record department, these being the discs which the Vocalion Co. is using for demonstration purposes. Miss Woodman formerly was assistant to Manager Mason of the talking machine department of the Gilchrist Co. Install Tasteful Demonstration Booths Charles S. Norris, of 181 Tremont street, who conducts one of the large retail piano warerooms of the city, and who is one of the latest to become a Columbia dealer, has had a series of tasteful demonstration booths installed on the ground floor, which are proving of great value, as the Columbia business of the house is rapidly growing. A feature that is attracting much attention these days is the playing by a young man on an upright and sometimes on a banjo, to the accompaniment of a Columbia graphophone. He has a conspicuous place in the junction of two windows, one of which is open and the sound carries quite a distance and attracts a large and interested crowd. Arrange Attractive Department Business in Victor and Edison equipments at the warerooms of George Lincoln Parker, is making a rapid growth with the advent of spring and lately there have been some good sales made by Manager John Alsen and his hustling staff. With the new rearrangement of the suite of rooms a larger state of efficiency is now obtained in all departments of the business. Congratulations on Promotion Manager Arthur C. Erisman, of the Columbia Graphophone Co., is being congratulated on all sides for the honor which has come to him in his promotion to the post of district manager of New England, for it is felt that this is a deserved recognition of one of the company's most faithful and efficient employes. This appointment does not mean that Mr. Erfsman gives up his present offices, but his duties henceforth will be more defined and of a somewhat different character. He will make occasional trips into the New England field, but his idea is that the best results can be obtained by summoning the outside men to the Boston office for conference, and in coming here they will get into that atmosphere of business efficiency and hustle and economy of time in which Manager Erisman's staff has been so well educated. Proves Big Drawing Card The opening of a downtown office for the big "Elijah" performance on the Braves' Field on May 28, at the headquarters of the Eastern Talking Machine Co., has helped to draw a large number of persons and to acquaint them with what the warerooms have to offer in the way of complete Victor outfits. The manager of this big out-door performance is Sam Kronberg, but The tremendous prestige resulting from the huge artistic campaign for " Re-created music means a selling power to you that can t help hut increase your husmess. The Edison Diamond Disc Phonographs mean good music luxury. We are " Exclusively Edison THE PARDEE-ELLENBERGER CO., Inc. BOSTON, MASS. 26 Oliver Street NEW HAVEN. CONN. 104 State Street ■II