The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1917)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 57 INDIANAPOLIS DEALERS EXPANDING Many Concerns Find Larger Quarters Necessary to Take Care of the Growing Business — Stewart Co. Divides Organization — Columbia Line With Baldwin Co. — General News Indianapolis, Indv March 5. — The continued reports from talking machine dealers in Indianapolis that business was never better is emphasized not only by the addition to the number of dealers but also by the expansion in business making it necessary for both wholesale and retail dealers to make use of every inch of space in their establishments. The Stewart Talking Machine Co., Victor jobbers, has divided its organization to more distinct departments to adjust itself for meeting the heavier requirements placed upon it by increased business. The whole first floor of its six-story building on Georgia street will be divided by glass partitions into separate offices. Each department will have an office of its own. The big demonstrating room is to be reduced in size and the extra space is to be given the shipping room. Each department will be organized within itself to work upon sharp and distinct lines, cooperating with the others, yet accomplishing independent results as well. A new department, called "The Dealer Efficiency Bureau" will be organized and the patrons of the company will soon be receiving the benefits of this department. The Baldwin Piano Co. will open a talking machine department by April 1, handling the Columbia line. C. P. Herdman, who has had wide experience in the talking machine business and who has for years been connected with the Columbia Co., is to be in charge of the department. At the Pathe Pathephone Shop business has been booming and the shop has been so crowded for space that the Tobin Bros., proprietors of the shop, have been figuring on making improvements in the space arrangements. The wholesale department is also doing well. A. W. Roos, manager of the Columbia Co. store, reports that the business done in February exceeded the business for the same month last year by 65 per cent. F. J. Clark, in charge of the Dictaphone department, had one of the biggest months in the history of the store. The Edison Shop gave a recital Saturday afternoon that taxed the capacity of the concert hall with the crowd that came to hear Helen Clark, the Edison concert contralto, assisted by Herman Sevely, 'cellist. The famous tone test demonstrations won the approval of the audience. At the Pearson Piano Co., E. W. Stockdale, manager, reports that the biggest difficulty in the talking machine department is getting machines. The company continues to feature the "Hear Them Both" policy in selling the Edison and Victor machines. The Stewart Talking Machine Co. continues to do a big business in Victor records and machines. Both the Stewart store and the Pearson Co. have been doing effective advertising through moving pictures. Walter Kipp, of the Kipp Phonograph Co., who attended the Edison birthday celebration came back from the factory more enthusiastic than ever over the Edison machine. Mr. Kipp says his greatest worry continues to be the question of getting machines enough to fill orders. The Vocalion is going nicely at the Aeolian Co. store, Paul Furnas, manager, reports. M. C. Rosner, the floor manager of the Vocalion department, has been seriously ill for the last few days. J. L. Peters, of the FullerWagner Music Co., says that the sale of Victor records and machines is still a feature of the company's business. The Victor and Edison machines are also going well at the E. L. Lennox Piano Co. The Starr Piano Co. is featuring the Starr dance records in newspaper advertising. The fact that the tunes are the liveliest and that the records play four and one-half minutes on each side are emphasized. A STORY OF BUSINESS GROWTH How the Ott & Lehman Furniture & Talking Machine Co., of Huntsville, Ala., Have Expanded Within Eighteen Months Huntsville, Ala., March 5. — The Ott & Lehman Furniture & Talking Machine Co., this city, which moved to a new building on South Side Square on January 1, are finding that the additional space does not in any sense meet the requirements of the growing business. This company first started a talking machine business on October 15, 1915. It was established by Roy Store of Ott & Lehman Co. F. Ott who secured a store and installed the Victor line, his capital at the time being $150. On October 15, 1916, Mr. Ott took Luther D. Lehman in the business as partner, at which time it inventoried $4,000. On January 1 this year the company moved to its new store and installed an exclusive line of furniture. At the present time 9,000 square feet of floor space are occupied. Several sound proof demonstration booths have been installed; an automobile delivery system perfected; the sales force enlarged and other improvements made. It is estimated that the firm is now worth $11,000 which is quite an advance in about a year and a half from a capital of $150. Cultivate the acquaintance of the working people when they have time to talk with you. Better, in this case, to loaf in the daytime, unless you are one of those rare people who "improve each shining hour." The cheapest thing to be obtained in the way of raw material is courtesy. Yet how valuable it becomes when included among the permanent assets of a talking machine store. VICTOR RECORD SHORTAGE LIKELY J. Newcomb Blackman Sounds Warning to Dealers and Urges That They Replenish Stocks Quickly for Their Own Protection — Demand Catches Up to Increased Supply of Records Coming From the Factory J. Newcomb Blackman, president of the Blackman Talking Machine Co., New York, Victor distributor, and one of the best-posted members of the local trade, has been making a careful study of the record situation, and his following comments are therefore of more than passing interest: "Regardless of the extraordinary additional facilities provided by the Victor Co , as well as large stock orders placed by the leading jobbers last fall, a Victor record shortage has been quite apparent for the past two or three weeks. It is remarkable how well the demand has been taken care of during the past several months. It is beginning to tell, however, and dealers will conserve their own interests by replenishing their stocks and anticipating on the good selling selections in order not to be handicapped by any shortage of records during the next few months. "One only has to consider the enormously increased output of the Victor Co., as well as other companies to realize that the record business is constantly increasing. More important, however, for every dealer is the realization that his best profit as well as the future stability of his income lies in his record business. Lamps and oil consuming products, in the case of the Standard Oil Co., are regarded merely from the standpoint of oil consumers. Dealers should regard the essential importance of machine distribution and their continual use likewise as having for its prime object the constant consumption of records. "The large department store and dealer who quotes extreme terms which may prove disastrous to the dealer with inadequate capital are not given such an advantage in record business, for the smaller dealer can successfully compete and cash in by preparing himself to meet the resulting record demands which should properly be supplied locally. "In conclusion I cannot impress upon every dealer too strongly the wisdom of studying the policies and methods of the successful dealers, most of whom are making their success by realizing the above facts and by giving the most satisfactory service to their customers on record business." Get Acquainted with the VICSONIA It will play all "Hill and Dale" Records — Edison, Starr, Par-o-ket, Domino, etc. No Blast or Rattle — Pure, Sweet, Natural Tones Permanent jewel point — no needles to change — no loose jewels to lose. Easily and quickly attached — simply slip it on. Fits Victrolas, Grafonolas, Sonoras, Crescents, Pathes, etc. Special type for Aeolian-Vocalion. Mr. Dealer: — Send us your check for $3.50 and we will send you a sample Vicsonia. Compare its reproduction with any other equipment and note the vast superiority of the Vicsonia. We feel sure that if you give it a trial we shall add you to our long list of customers. VICSONIA MANUFACTURING CO., Inc. 313 East 134th Street :: New York, N. Y.