The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

4 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD FINE HALF YEAR BUSINESS RECORD IN KANSAS CITY Although There is a Shortage of Certain Types of Machines, Records Are Plentiful — Much Interest Displayed in Jobbers' Convention — What the Various Prominent Houses Are Doing to Stimulate Interest — Talking Machines Aid in Recruiting — News of the Month Kansas City, Mo., July 5— With the coming of July the talking machine jobbers and dealers are looking over the figures of their business for the first half of the year with great satisfaction, for the first six months brought a larger increase in trade than a similiar period in previous years. Incidentally the month of June, with many of the houses, proved the best month of the year. A liberal volume of orders are being placed for the holiday trade, for it is realized that with an actual shortage in some styles during the summer months the dealers who want to meet demands in the fall must be prepared. The Schmelzer Arms Co.'s talking machine department has had to scramble to keep up with the demand from dealers for machines. Every style of instrument seems to be going at top speed, and June was the biggest month so far this year, the close of the biggest six months' business the department has ever had. A. A. Trostler, manager, says that dealers are trying their best to build up their stocks, had, indeed, started as early as March to make preparations for Christmas business. But the dealers seem to be unable to make much headway, the goods moving as fast as they are secured. Mr. Trostler recently went with the Commercial Club, which visited ninety-six towns in a week. He found dealers most optimistic. Dealers of Kansas City territory have shown deep interest in the jobbers' convention at Atlantic City. They realize that the jobbers are looking at merchandising from the standpoint of getting goods into the hands of the customer and their interests are common. The convention will help greatly — if any help were needed — to build up a close sympathy between jobbers and dealers. E. A. Erisnian, district manager of the New England States for the Columbia Co , with headquarters at Boston, spent Saturday in Kansas City with E. A. McMurtry, manager of the Kansas City branch. The Western trip of Mr. Erisman was in line with the policy of the company to give its men an opportunity to see how other managers handle business, and it is a great help to them. Mr. McMurtry visited Mr. Erisman in Boston last February. The Columbia branch in Kansas City has been working at top speed with an especially strong sale of high-priced machines of the $150 and $200 type. There is a shortage of smaller machines which are popular in the summer. Mr. Blackman, manager of the Phonograph Co., of Kansas City, distributer for the Southwest, went to Wichita July 1 to assist in planning an exclusive Edison department for the George Innes Mercantile Co. The Innes store is one of the finest in Kansas — and it will go into the phonograph business "right." The Edison Shop, of Kansas City, recently used large display space to exploit the Edison, and gave the names of dealers in the Kansas City territory, including Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. It was a notable list of high class music dealers and merchants. It is said that there are only a dozen or so places in this territory where dealers can now get the Edison, all other desirable towns having Edison dealers now. The E. E. Trower Music Co. received its first shipment of Pathe machines June 30, and July 1 opened its retail store in Kansas City for business. It is a beautiful store, with the rugs, decorations, signs and every feature harmonizing for an impressive effect. The company started its local advertising July 1. R. L. Waters and B. W. Chappell, travelers for the E. E. Trower Music Co., distributer in the Southwest for the Pathe, are organizing the territory well, sending in many dealer-contracts. E. S. Hall, of the Hall Music Co., resurrected the record "They're on Their Way to Mexico" last week and revived the demand by playing it while the recruiting was going on in the same building. This record came out three years ago, but the words fit the present state of affairs. The head of the commissary department had his quarters in the Scarritt Arcade, where the Hall Music Co. is located, and altogether with the music and the khaki uniforms, the place had quite a military atmosphere. _r '*■ The Billy Sunday, Rodeheaver and Mrs. Asher records have been in constant demand, both by people in Kansas City and in the small towns nearby. '"" 1 / . The Victrola department of the Peck Dry Goods Co. has sold small machines to friends of soldiers and these have been sent, with a free donation of records from the store, to Nevada, Mo. The talking machine department of the J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music Co. has also sold machines to the different companies that went to Nevada, and has sent a large number of records to Battery B. Mr. Ditzell, manager of this department. will attend the Talking Machine Jobbers' Association convention at Atlantic City. E. C. Rauth, of the Koerber-Brenner Co., St. Louis, Mo., was in the city recently. C. R. Moores, representative of the Ross P. Curtice Co., Lincoln, Neb., both for their pianos and for the Victor goods for which they are jobbers, was in Kansas City recently, calling on A. A. Trostler, of the Schmelzer Arms Co., in reference to the jobbers' convention. Mr. Moores had just returned from a visit to the Victor factories. A series of concerts was held recently by the music department of the Jones Store Co., during which entertainments were given every afternoon for two weeks. The program included piano and player selections and Victrola numbers. The attendance was highly satisfactory, and the sales of Victrolas reached a considerable volume. The co-operation of the piano and player division with the Victrola section proved very profitable to both. Miss N. Williams, formerly employed by the Schmelzer Arms Co., is now in the Victrola department of the Jones Store Co. The Columbia retail store at Kansas City came within one or two machines of doubling business in June of June last year. There are several reasons for this increase, one of which is the special window display that the store has been putting up. There was a beautiful and striking display for Fourth of July records. The window was typical of the style and taste which George F. Stanke, retail manager, puts into them. There was one large machine in the middle of the window with white window streamers, forming the staff, running to each side. On the staff were the characteristic trade mark notes of the company. Two large, very stiff cardboard signs, lettered with especial artistry, were placed in corners of the window, and on them were styles, record numbers and soloists and each bore a record. The simplicity of the window was the important feature of its effectiveness, and it sold records. NEW PATHE DISTRIBUTERS • The Pathe Freres Phonograph Co., New York, announced this week the appointment of the Armstrong Furniture Co.} Memphis, Tenn., as Pathe distributer in that section. This concern is well-known throughout the South, and is now perfecting a sales organization that will concentrate on the development of Pathe wholesale : business. The Fraad Talking Machine Co. was incorporated for $100,000. and not for $10,000 as published recently in the New York Times. EASTERN VICTOR SERVICE IS WHAT SUCCESSFUL NEW ENGLAND VICTOR DEALERS USE IT HELPS THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL It helps them to attract and hold customers by placing them in a position to give prompt service to their trade, to supply the machine or record wanted, when it is wanted, to make profits. IT COSTS NO MORE THAN ORDINARY SERVICE The Eastern Talking Machine Co. 177 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON, MASS. Largest Exclusive Victor Distributors in the East