The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

18 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD RECITALS HELP CLEVELAND TRADE Appearance of McCormack, Hempel, Ober and Other Artists Followed by Big Record Sales — Shortage of Stock Still Apparent — Various Concerns Make Excellent Trade Reports Cleveland, O., April 4. — Every one connected with the talking machine trade in this city t is well satisfied with the unusual activity displayed at this season of the year. The industry has broadened materially and although up to a short time ago only one or two makes of talking machines had the preference now at least five distinct varieties enjoy popularity. March hasproven a phenomenal month in many ways and only for the shortage of goods there would have been even a better showing. The record trade has been stimulated through the recent appearance of such artists as John McCormack, Margarete Matzenauer, Frieda Hempel and Margarete Ober. The Eclipse Musical Co., exclusive Victor jobbers, reports a very substantial increase over the same month last year, despite the fact that there has been a tremendous shortage on Victrolas from the $75 model up. T. H. Towell, president of the company, just returned from a week's visit to the Victor factory. The William Taylor & Sons Co., Victrola and Grafonola department under the management of T. A. Davies, has enjoyed one of the largest month's business in the history of the department, being over 100 per cent, in excess of that of last year. The numerous Unico booths handsomely furnished and surrounded by works of art make the department one of the most attractive in the city. W. G. Bowie, manager of the talking machine department of the B. Dreher's Sons Co., reports excellent success with their two lines, i. e. the Grafonola and the Aeolian-Vocalion. There has been such a rush on Vocalions that the company has received numerous shipments by express. The Columbia Graphophone Co., according to Manager Madson, has had an excellent month's business. The Columbia Music Shoppe, under E. E. Gott, the former automobile man, has been opened in the exclusive Lakewood residential section. A beautiful Grafonola department has also been opened in the store of the Robert Young Furniture Co. The Columbia Co. now has over 150 dealers in Northern Ohio. The J. T. Wamelink & Sons Piano Co., Columbia dealers, report an unusually large record sale. G. E. Morton, manager of the Grafonola department of the G. M. Ott Piano Mfg. Co., reports that he is devoting most of his efforts to the electric Grafonolas with great success. The Phonograph Co., of this city, jobbers of the Edison Diamond Disc phonographs, has continued its tone-test recitals and has had excellent success. Over twenty tone-test recitals have been given recently and the principals in these tests were Madam Marie Kaiser, vocalist, and Alexander Bond, violinst. All these exhibitions were given to capacity houses and very pleasing results have materialized from them. The Diamond Disc Talking Machine Co., located in the east end of Cleveland, reports business equal to the preceding month. The company is dealer exclusively for the Edison Diamond Disc phonograph, and Manager E. A. Friedlander, formerly manager of the Bailey Co., of this city, is well pleased over the results thus far attained. The Harmony Music Shoppe Co., dealers in the Victrola, has added two new and beautiful booths and is amply equipped to take care of the increasing demands. According to Manager Phil A. Dorn, of the Collister & Sayle Co., the Victrola business has been very good and a very heavy demand has prevailed for the new Marimbo band records. Harr}' J. Drumm, special representative of the Unit Construction Co., Philadelphia, was in the city. He has taken many orders for the Unico demonstration booths. The May Co.'s Victrola department built a considerable number of booths a year ago to take care of the large business transacted at that time, but the business has increased to such an extent that the department needs more room to accommodate the increasing demands. Manager C. H. Johnstone, of the Stearn & Co. Pathephone department, says that March was the largest month's business since the department was opened last October. Fall in Join the Army of Nyoil Dealers and Let Us Submit Our Latest Proposition WM. F. NYE, New Bedford, Mass. HAS ANTIQUE TALKING MACHINE Edison Phonograph, Made in 1878, Is HandOperated and Uses Record of Tinfoil. pasted a certain kind of tinfoil, smoothly and carefully. This cylinder is turned by a hand crank while some one talked into the megaphone receiver. When the "record" was completed the operator ground out the message. Mr. Wilson well remembers the machine in operation and states that it produced a remarkably good record, considering the crudity of the machine and the reproducing apparatus. Records could not be preserved and interchanged, for they were easily destroyed in taking them off from the cylinder. Mr. Wilson is in communication with the Edison concern in order to see if they are interested in preserving the old relic. FRAZEE LEASES ANOTHER FLOOR Fairfield, Ia., April 10. — James F. Wilson, Jr., has a rare relic in the nature of a phonograph. It was purchased from the Edison concern in 1878 by Mr. Wilson's father, the late Senator J. F. Wilson. The bill of sale is with it and shows that the machine is No. 11 and was called the "Edison Speaking Phonograph." It is about as heavy as a letter press and not quite so large. It looks like a handy household grindstone. Iron and steel must have been cheap in those days and the instrument looks as if it might be dropped out a second-story window without great injury. The solid steel cylinder is about two inches wide and five in diameter. On this the owner In order to take care of the requirements of his fast-growing trade, James Frazee, manufacturer of Crystal Edge mica diaphragms, has been obliged to materially increase his manufacturing facilities, and has leased another floor in the building he occupies at New Brighton, S. I. Mr. Frazee states that new accounts are being opened daily with wellknown manufacturers, who are desirous of equipping their product with Crystal Edge mica diaphragms. Charles R. Williams, at present acting as assistant superintendent in the American graphophone factory at Bridgeport, was married recently to Miss Helen Starr Randall. We Fill Your Orders Records: You cannot afford at at this time to be without the services of a Jobber who guarantees to fill your orders. A Machines: ECLIPSE f Almost daily shipments by the Factory and by concentrating our efforts enables our extending unequaled service. Cleveland is the logical Center between New York and Chicago and our Shipping Facilities are unequaled. You save Time, Increase your Profits and reduce operating expenses. A TRIAL WILL CONVINCE ECLIPSE MUSICAL CO., VICTOR Distributors CLEVELAND