The talking machine world (Jan-June 1918)

94 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD May 15, 1918 BUSINESS HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT SLOW IN LOS ANGELES Liberty Loan Campaign, Successfully "Put Over," Engaged the Attention of Public — Machine Stock Situation Improves — War Records in Favor — Harold Jackson With Wiley B. Allen — Other Items Los Angeles, Cal., May 6. — The month of April did not prove to be a very good month for business in the talking machine line. In fact, it was the poorest so far this year. Of course, there were several good reasons for this, and the best excuse, probably, was the great Liberty Loan drive, which has just been brought to a successful finish. The machine situation has cleared up to a considerable extent, and all of the local dealers have more machines in stock now than at any time since January 1. Records, however, are still hard to obtain and most stocks are sadly depleted with very little hope of any shipments in the near future. This shortage has been a sort of blessing after all, as it has made the merchants push the sale of many good records that were poor sellers before. The demand for the popular war records keeps up, and it is impossible to get some of the numbers at present. The call for patriotic music is good — the most popular being the "Star Spangled Banner" with "America" second. The French national air seems to be the best liked of the foreign songs. G. C. Beckwith, of Beckwith-O'Neal Co., Victor wholesalers at Minneapolis, Minn., paid a visit to Los Angeles after a month's sojourn with his family at Coronado, Cal. R. C. Daynes, who was connected with the talking machine department of Barker Brothers for several years, has left there to go into the farm tractor business. John Miller has left the Wiley B. Allen Co. to accept a. position with Sherman, Clay & Co., local Victor wholesalers. Howard Brown, manager of the talking machine department for Lyon-McKinley-Smith, is very much pleased with his last month's business, and says that, although he did not do as much as some months before, yet the cash business was larger and his average down payments on instalment sales was 22]A per cent. This company handles the Brunswick line exclusivelv. Harold Jackson, for many years connected with the Southern California Music Co., and for the last three years on the road for the Diamond Disc Distributing Co., now the Edison Phonograph, Ltd., has taken the management of the talking machine department for the Wiley B. Allen Co. Mr. Jackson is well known in southern California in the music business, and has handled the Edison line for years. The Wiley B. Allen Co. are also agents for the Victor. E. Holland, proprietor of the Vernon Music Co., says business has been as good with him as ever. This is certainly a ray of sunshine to the other dealers who have complained of a considerable slow-up during April and are glad to hear of some one whose business did not let up. Mr. Holland's business is located quite a way from the business center of the city, but he has a fine trade and is always hustling for more. W. G. Bailey, window trimmer for the Southern California Music Co., has had some very interesting displays for the talking machine department lately. One that attracted unusual notice was the "Spirit of '76." In this the figures were all working, the three dummies keeping time and even the flute player's fingers working to the tune of a lively piece. Mr, Bailey displays great ingenuity in his animated signs and has no equal on the Coast in this work. OPPOSE NEW POSTAL LAW Hear Protests Against Zoning Provisions for Second Class Mail Further protests against the application of the new postal zoning provisions for second class mail matter in the war revenue law were made public this week. Ex-Attorney General George W. Wickersham said: "There should be no law against limiting intelligence. It is against the public interest. The people are entitled to all the information they can get." Dr. Charles A. Beard called the principle of the provisions "contrary to the principles on which our Government was founded. Jefferson," he said, "promulgated the theory more than a hundred years ago that newspapers and periodicals were essential to the success of our democracy. It is wrong in spirit and wrong in theory to hamper the national development of the country." Newcomb Carlton, president of the Western Union Telegraph Co., said that the measure should be repealed and a more equitable method of raising revenue substituted. NEW INCORPORATION The Disk Phone Piano Method, New York, has been incorporated with capital of $100,000, by L. T. Fetzer, J. V. and T. H. Robinson. BROWN RECORD CABINET CATALOG The Globe-Wernicke Co., Cincinnati, O., has recently published a handsome catalog featuring the Brown disc record cabinets which are made in four sizes, and the Globe-Wernicke sec The Long -Horn Wonder The Greatest Jobber and Dealer Proposition in America Today Phone, Write or Wire Us for Territory in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri YOU want deliveries— you want action — you want service. We are in position to give you all three. We want to demonstrate the advantages of the Puritan to you. We want to show you how we are equipped to serve you and help you make a bigger thing of the talking-machine business than you ever made before. Come in and look over the line. Remember, it means an excellent line of records as well. All backed by a big advertising campaign. Factory Distributors: J4S-HVRTH &C& 422 Republic Bl*j. tbkaiv Pbwrc Wabash 7b3V Cover of a Globe-Wernicke Catalog tional cabinets which are manufactured in standard and art mission styles. This catalog is being generally distributed among talking machine dealers, who are using it to excellent advantage in developing disc record cabinet business. COLUMBIA DEALERS TO MEET Lambert Friedl, manager of the local wholesale branch of the Columbia Graphophone Co., has announced that the fifth monthly meeting of Columbia dealers in this territory will be held on May 17 in the Myrtle Room of the WaldorfAstoria Hotel, at 2 p. m. A very interesting program is now being prepared for this meeting. Arthur Goyet has taken over the music store of H. T. Provost on Main street, Woodland, Cal. He will handle talking machines. DEALERS EVERYWHERE ARE SELLING QUANTITIES OF OUR HANALEI BANJUKES (Ukuleles In Banjo Form) A bigger hit than the Ukulele because much louder and more pleasing in tone, and of more substantial construction. Perfect two octave scales. A thoroughly practical instrument for both solo playing and club work. Send for illustrated catalogue and price list today, as The Banluke Is One ol the Biggest Seller* In the Musical Instrument Line. SHERMAN, CLAY & CO. Sole Manulacturers 163 Kearny Street San Francisco