The talking machine world (Jan-June 1918)

January IS, 1918 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 65 EARLY ORDERING IS SALVATION OF SAN FRANCISCO TRADE Planning for Holiday Stocks Early in Year Saves the Day in Christmas Rush — W. S. Gray Opens Jobbers' Distributing Agency — Columbia Men Visit Headquarters — General News San Francisco, Cal., January 1. — While business .was hardly up to expectations at some of the local talking machine departments during the early part of December, it picked up about the middle of the month and the rush from then until Christmas more than made up for the comparative quietness of the preceding two weeks. As a matter of fact, the trade reports the closing of a banner holiday season, both in machines and records, and especially in the higher-priced machines and patriotic records. Notwithstanding the freight congestion and consequent slow deliveries on late orders, most of the local houses, at least, were very well supplied with stock with the exception of a few certain models, having placed their orders for holiday goods early in the year in anticipation of increasing difficulty in getting goods from the Eastern factories as the year advanced. In some instances holiday stock had been stored here for several months prior to the time it was needed. Reports from other sections of the Pacific Coast received by local jobbers indicate the closing of a verj' successful year not only in the San Francisco Bay district, but for the Western territory as a whole. In a few isolated spots business was hardly so good as might have been desired, depending upon local conditions, but it was sufficiently active in other vicinities to bring the total volume up to a very satisfactory showing. Opens Jobbers' Distributing Agency Walter S. Gray announces the opening of a jobbers' distributing agency in this city. It is his intention to supply the talking machine dealers of the Pacific Coast with all trade accessories, such as Lansing delivery covers, record delivery envelopes, steel needles, etc. Mr. Gray has been Pacific Coast sales agent for the Domestic Talking Machine Corp. for some time and will continue in that capacity, with headquarters at the same location on the fourth floor of the Chronicle Building. Closed by Holiday Trade James J. Black reports the closing of an exceptionally fine holiday business in the talking machine department of the Wiley B. Allen Co. Business was a little late deveoping, he says, but the week before Christmas was sufficiently active to bring the month's business up to a very satisfactory figure. The strong demand for high-grade machines was most noticeable and record sales were the best in the history of the business. Not only did December business show a substantial increase over the corresponding month of 1916, but the year 1917 was /TONE ARMS X SOUND BOXES Place Your 1918 Orders TO-DAY for Mutual TONE ARMS AND SOUND BOXES " Mutual Products Have Made Good " Mutual Talking Machine Co., Inc. 145 West 45th Street, New York better all through than the preceding one, according to Mr. Black. In checking over holiday business he was gratified to find that first payments ran larger than at any other time in the history of the firm's business, which, he says, was probably due to the fact that practically all workers are getting increased remuneration for their services nowadays. The Wiley B. Allen Co.'s store in Oakland, Cal., did an exceptionally heavy business in December, the end of the holiday season finding very little stock on hand there. The Saturday before Christmas was a banner day at the Oakland store. Very good reports are also coming in from other branches of the firm's business, especially from the Northwest. Only Difficulty Was Getting Stock In regard to holiday business, Andrew G. McCarthy, of Sherman, Clay & Co., says the. demand for Victor goods left no possible ground for complaint — the only difficulty was to get sufficient stock to supply the needs of the Western trade. The shortage was particularly noticeable on the large styles of machines. Record sales far exceeded expectations. Taking the year as a whole, Mr. McCarthy says Sherman, Clay & Co.'s Victor business showed a substantial increase over the preceding one. They do a wholesale business only in southern California, and the reports from that section are very gratifying. In the Northwest both wholesale and retail business has been active, according to the reports coming in from Seattle, Portland and Tacoma. Spokane, however, seems to be a little slower. Columbia Men Off for New York Just before leaving for New York, after Christmas, Fred A. Denison, district manager for the Columbia Graphophone Co., reported a banner holiday business on Columbia products in his territory. The object of Mr. Denison's trip was to attend a convention of the company's managers from all over the country. Others to go from the Western territory included C. V. H. Jones, P. F. West and T. O. Moore, of San Francisco; W. F. Stidham and Mr. Mathews, of Los Angeles, Cal.; G. H. Williams, of Seattle, Wash., and L. D. Heater, of Portland, Ore. Mr. Denison and the San Francisco delegation are expected back at headquarters about the middle of January. W. E. Henry, who represents the foreign record department of the Columbia Graphophone Co. on the Pacific Coast, has been successful in interesting a great many Western dealers in this branch of the business. In several instances large stocks have been installed, and Mr. Henry is getting very satisfactory reports from all along the line. He plans to leave shortly on an extended trip through the Southwest . Higher-Priced Machines in Demand At the Edison Shop, opposite Union Square, holiday business was well up to expectations, according to W. J. Carson, who was particularly well pleased over the large number of high-priced machines sold the last few days before Christmas — even on the Christmas Eve — which brought the month's business up to a much higher figure than was anticipated early in the month. Edw. Humphrey Goes to Byron Mauzy Edw. Humphrey has resigned as manager of the Victrola department at Hale Bros., one of the large department stores of this city, to go with Byron Mauzy as manager of his talking machine department. Mr. Mauzy was very well pleased with holiday business in that part of his establishment. In fact, 1917 was a very good $ 1 5 Retail Shelton Electric Talking Machine Motor FULLY GUARANTEED FOR ONEYEAR Cranking of the phonograph is now passe. Users can give the clockspring driving mechanism a rest by letting the Shelton Electric Phonograph Motor "do it electrically." This motor is not attached to the cabinet — simply placed on it. No changes necessary except unwinding or taking off* crank handle. Phonograph can then be played either electrically, or mechanically as before. Be the first in your locality to cater to a sure demand for these motors. U. S. Patent July 31. 1917 SHELTON ELECTRIC CO. NEW YORK— 30 East 42nd Street CHICAGO— 30 East Randolph Street BOSTON— 101 Tremont Street SAN FRANCISCO— 62 Post Street year throughout, everything considered, he says. Clark Wise, of Clark Wise & Co., reports an unprecedented demand for records during December, and machine sales were fairly active also, although not so good in proportion as record business. Geo. T. Hively, manager of the talking machine department of the Eastern Outfitting Co., which handles Columbia products exclusively, is very well satisfied with holiday business, and he considers prospects good for 1918, providing stock can be obtained the same as usual. Jas. D. Moore, who has been manager of the Victor department of the Lion Department St ore in Toledo, O., for the past five years, is receiving valuable assistance from Wallace Currier, who recently assumed the position of assistant manager of that department. Holiday business with this house has been excellent. A good question for a retailer new to the business to ask himself: Is your stock of goods such that your customers want and does it suit the conditions of your locality? PHILADELPHIA PA. CHICAGO, ILL. (Insulation Dept.) AMELIA CO. VA. MONTREAL CAN. WEST PHILADELPHIA PA. INTERNATIONAL MICA COMPANY MICA DIAPHRAGMS Let our Diaphragm Department take care of your Diaphragm Difficulties and be covered on this essential part for the futu Quotations and samples promptly forwarded upon request. Offices and Factory, 37th and Brandywine Streets, WEST PHILADELPHIA, PA.