The talking machine world (Jan-June 1918)

26 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD February 15, 1918 Dollar bait! Al Jolson has sung the great Dixie hit, "I'm All Bound Round with the Mason Dixon Line." A Columbia headliner for March. Columbia .Graphophone Co. Woolwortb Building, New York PORTLAND A BUSY TRADE CENTER Some Record Sales During Holidays and January— Furniture Stores Taking on Talkers — Manufacturing Activity Gives Labor Greater Increased Buying Power — Some Big Brunswick Sales — News of Month Worth Recording Portland, Ore., February 4. — The sale of talking machines in Portland during the holidays and the month of January far exceeded all sales of previous years. Eilers Music House had a tremendous trade. H. A. Rayner, manager of the talking machine department, and his assistants had more business than they could handle. One day's sales amounted to $7,000 and records were sold by the hundred. Such records as "Long Boy," "Joan of Arc," "LiT Liza Jane" and other popular "Rags" or "Jazz" music were also sold out quickly, and the higher-class records were sold in large quantities. The beautiful demonstration rooms of the G. F. Johnson Piano Co. were thronged with Victrola buyers during the month and the trade is excellent. James Loder, manager of the Victrola department of the Wiley B. Allen Co., says they were practically sold out of Victrolas at Christmas and the sale of records by this house is unprecedented. The Bush & Lane Co. report a big trade. The Sonora continues to gain in popularity among Portlanders. Several very high-priced Sonoras were sold by this firm. The Wakefield Music Co. sold twenty-two Brunswick phonographs during the last month. These phonographs are now carried by a number of Portland houses and are selling rapidly. The Hyatt Talking Machine Co., which carries the Columbia, the Edison and the Victrola machines, is one of the busiest places in Portland. E. B. Hyatt, manager of the company, says the business during the last two or three months exceeded that of any former year. C. Collins, head of the talking machine department of the Reed-French Co., says that the holiday trade was exceptionally good. Edison and Columbia machines went like hot cakes. H. G. Reed, head of the Reed-French Co., is well satisfied with the business outlook of Portland and the surrounding country. This house will devote much of its attention to rural trade. Meier & Frank's big department store carries Victrola, Edison and Columbia machines and has one of the largest stocks on the Pacific Coast. The trade of this house for December and January was immense. The Lipman & Wolfe department store handles the Victrola, and Miss F. Isaacs in charge reports big sales during the past two months. This department has been moved to the ninth floor and in connection with the piano department makes a very handsome display. A number of the principal furniture stores in Portland are selling talking machines. The Powers Furniture Co. had a big sale of Victrolas during the holidays. The Edwards Furniture Co. are selling the Brunswick and Unola phonographs and H. Jennings & Sons Furniture Co. sell the Grafonola and Windsor. Shops, ship yards and lumber yards are all busy and giving work to both men and women of Portland and vicinity. This puts much money in circulation and the music dealers are reaping the benefit with the others. Many schools are being supplied with phonographs and the edu cational value of the machines is daily becoming more evident. That the Victor is a favorite talking machine is evident from the fact that A. D. Hulburd, of Umatilla Co., Ore., came into the G. F. Johnson Piano House here and bought a Victor school machine, paying for it out of his own pocket, being convinced that the school directors of his district would approve of the purchase and buy it for the school. These school machines are very popular in Oregon and are materially assisting in the musical education of the children. Nat Dumphy, of the Bush & Lane Co., accompanied by Thos. Wilkinson, manager of the firm, went to Seattle, Wash., recently to attend the annual banquet given by the Bush & Lane people. Mr. Dumphy was kept so busy selling Sonora, Victor and Columbia machines that a little relaxation was greatly appreciated. The Stradivara machine, which is carried by a number of houses in this city, is becoming more and more popular. Eilers Music House had a big trade in these instruments during the holidays. The Remick Song Shop carries this machine and reports an increasing demand for it. The Hudson Arms Co., one of the most important sporting goods houses in Oregon, have added the Stradivara to their stock and are extensively advertising it. Taylor C. White, manager of the phonograph department of Sherman, Clay & Co. here, after an unusually busy month got a three days' vacation which he spent in Seattle, Wash. Mr. White reports big sales of Victor machines. A. R. Palmer, manager of the talking machine department of Olds, Wortman & King, this month visited Saginaw, Mich., to purchase Brooks talking machines for the firm. WESER PHONOGRAPHS For 39 years the piano trade has recognized in Weser instruments the highest piano and player piano value. It always has been our delight to invite comparison of the Weser products with those of other makers. Many of our best dealers have been acquired by such comparisons. Weser Phonographs are making rapid headway in the same manner. Compare them with the world's most expensive makes — in tone quality — in appearance — in reliability, and solidity of construction, and we are content to abide by your decision. . r—p xxr r»i l i \ \ 1 1 I I / / The Weser r*honograph will play any record. Made in satin finish mahogany. Other woods on special order. Electric motor will be furnished if desired. Write for catalog. WESER BROS., Inc. WESER BROS SWT, 520-530 West 43rd Street NEW YORK w AT IT SINCE 1879