The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1917)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 109 TRADE CONDITIONS IN LOS ANGELES Business of More Than Average Activity — Shipments Delayed Owing to Freight Congestion Los Angeles, Cal., July 6. — Summer has finally arrived if the hot weather is any indication. Business has kept up to the standard in spite of the heat which has driven thousands of people to the beaches, still the shortage on machines and records continues in spite of the fact , that we are approaching the so-called off season in the talking machine industry. Every industry seems at the present time to be making a road scramble for freight cars and even when you get anything started it is liable to be . stopped somewhere in transit, unloaded and the car taken for something else. That is where' the extreme West gets the worst of it, being so far from the base of supplies. Everything looks as if this will be the biggest year for us yet and a great many of the merchants are already placing their fall and Christmas orders. J. W. Bootbe, manager of the talking machine department for Barker Bros., has just returned from an extended visit to the East. While there he made visits to both the Victor and Columbia factories. Mr. Boothe leaves this week by auto for the Yosemite, where he intends to remain for about three weeks. The Curtis-Colyear Furniture Co., local jobbers for the Pathephone, are doing a nice business now and are establishing new agencies all over Southern California. Harvey Lindsay, manager for the Wiley B. Allen Music Co., is leaving soon for a two weeks' stay in the Yosemite. The Taft Furniture & Hardware Co., of Taft, Cal., has just taken the agency for the Edison Diamond Disc phonographs and records. The Diamond Disc Distributing Co., of this city, expects big results from the Taft dealers as they have the largest store in the valley and do a large volume of business. Ed. Willow, proprietor of the Willow Furniture Co., Bakersfield, Cal., has been visiting in Los Angeles for the last week. How To Help the Sale of Records During the Summer WHEN people go away to the country or on short I usually do not take their phonographs along, because smallest type of table machine has packed, the records have to be packed with it or separately, packages have to be drayed, checked or expressed, they may be delayed, mislaid, damaged. Record business consequently is slow in summer. The Melophone Portable Phonograph is so easy to carry, so small, but 13Jxl4|x7f in., so light, but about 14 lbs., so compact, one can carry about 22 records right in it, so well made and equipped, so beautifully toned that it is bound to become the instrument of the vacationist, of the out-door man, etc., as it now is of the soldier. Handling it is profitable business. Inquire Melophone Talking Machine Co. 380 Lafayette Street, NEW YORK 1216 Heyworth Building, CHICAGO hort trips they even the to be SECURE EXCLUSIVE SELLING AGENCY The Mutual Talking Machine Co. Becomes the Exclusive Selling Agent for the Wooden Tone Arm Made by the Manhattan Phono Parts Co. The Crystola Co., Cincinnati, O., lias been incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 to manufacture musical instruments. The incorporators are Alfred J. Swing, J. P. Peurrund, O. E. Schulte, C. W. Miles and W. M. Dough The Mutual Talking Machine Co., New York, has closed a contract with the Manhattan Phono Parts Co. whereby it will be the exclusive selling agent for the latter company's wooden tone arm. This tone arm was introduced to the trade a few months ago, but during the past few weeks it has been undergoing severe tests and now embodies radical improvements which add materially to its merits. The Mutual Talking Machine Co. will concentrate its activities with this tone arm in the development of trade with the manufacturers of high class machines, particularly models re tailing at $150 and upwards. No effort will be made to sell this tone arm to manufacturers of cheap machines, as it is intended solely for high grade talking machines. The company has also made several important improvements with its Nos. 1 and 2 tone arms and sound boxes, which are meeting with pleasing success. Patents have been granted for these tone arms, and the company is planning to prosecute any infringements. A Needle Pointer That Points the Way to Big Profits The "Sharpoint" Phonograph Needle Sharpener has solved the needle problem. With it a needle can be sharpened in two seconds — less time than it takes to change it. It prevents rust and damage to records by dull points. The portable holder contains a composition which sharpens the needle point by jabbing it over the needle two or three times. Leading music houses have found by actual test that a single package of 100 needles, which ordinarily require changing each time, can be played five thousand times by using "Sharpoint." They'll sell like wildfire. Retails for 50 Cents With Big Margin of Profit to Jobbers and Dealers Some Exclusive Territory Still Open for Reliable Jobbers HEINEMANN SELLING AGENCY 501-2 Foster Bldg. Denver, Colo. CENTURY OF SERVICE H. R. Eisenbrandt & Sons, Inc., Victor Distributors of Baltimore, One of the Oldest Music Houses in the Country Baltimore, Md.,. July 6. — H. R. Eisenbrandt & Sons, Inc., Victor distributors of this city, have attained the novel distinction of admittance to the Century Club, having been in uninterrupted business for over one hundred years. The history of this firm dates from the founding of their first shop on the corner of Clay and Howard streets in that city in 1811 by the founder, Christian H. Eisenbrandt. The present organization, now headed by Wm. Albert and C. Henry Eisenbrandt, is now located in a large building on North Howard street not far from the original site. Mr. Eisenbrandt reports an excellent business at the present time, and looks for a very large fall and holiday season. RINTELMAN SELLING MANY NEEDLES Chicago, III., July 11. — A. H. Rintelman, manufacturer of the "Goldentone" needle, reports that he is receiving a very large business in the company's products. "There has been a very big demand lately for needles," says Mr. Rintelman, "and our Goldentone 'Platina' is going in big quantities. Its advantages as a permanent needle, but also noiseless needle, has made for it many friends. It eliminates all surface noise and by means of its modulator it may be softened in tone." N. Baruch & Co., Tribune Building, New York, manufacturers of the Enbeco Crystal Needle, have just acquired a plant for the manufacture of their product and are sending out to the trade letters requesting that all needles formerly put out be returned which will be immediately replaced by new goods. The product now turned out is greatly improved, according to officials of the company.