The talking machine world (Jan-June 1918)

June IS, 1918 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 35 ACTIVE CALL FOR TALKING MACHINES ON PACIFIC COAST All Sections Report Increased Demand Despite Campaign for Red Cross and Other Funds — Northwest Especially Prosperous— What Leading Talking Machine Houses Say About the Outlook San Francisco, Cal., June 2. — Taken as a whole the month of May was a thoroughly satisfactory one for the San Francisco talking machine trade, both wholesale and retail, according to reports from various establishments; in fact, better than might have been expected in view of the strenuous campaign for Red Cross funds and other diverting influences. Advices from other Pacific Coast cities indicate that the active demand for talking machines and records was not confined to the Bay district. Local music houses maintaining branch stores or selling dealers in other sections of the Western territory report very good returns from all directions. The Northwest is especially prosperous on account of the ra'pid growth of its shipbuilding industry, which makes toward activity in practically all lines of business including talking machines; the interior of this State is in splendid condition from an agricultural standpoint, and dealers in southern California, Arizona and New Mexico seem to be getting their full quota of business also. The increased freight rates did not come as joyous news, but the local trade shows little inclination to complain about war-time readjustments over which they have no control. Acting With Sherman, Clay & Co. "Business was never better at this time of the year," is the way Andrew G. McCarthy, treasurer of Sherman, Clay & Co., sums up the month's report for the Victor department, which he gives his personal attention. The only difficulty, he says, is to get stock. Shipments have been coming through from the factory in fairly good time and in fairly large quantities, but more goods could be used to excellent advantage on the Pacific Coast. Mr. McCarthy returned from an Eastern trip early in the month, during which he visited the Victor headquarters and looked after other matters for his company. Since he returned he has been interested in the extensive improvements Sherman, Clay & Co. are making at their wholesale Victor branch in Los Angeles, Cal. The work was started some months ago, but it was only this month that tenants occupying part of the additional space vacated, so the plans for expansion could be brought to a close. Now the company's Southern California quarters compare very favorably with any place of the kind in the entire country, it is claimed. The same plan of arrangement has been carried out in the Southern city as was worked out for the new wholesale Victor establishment, fitted , up last year by the company on Mission street, San Francisco. Trade in Southern Points Jas. J. Black, of the Wiley B. Allen Co., is back at the San Francisco headquarters giving his attention to the talking machine department of the business, after spending some little time at the firm's branch store in Sacramento, Cal., where a talking machine department was being added. R. R. Draper has accepted a position with the company as manager of the new department, and Mr. Black says he is sending in very good reports from the capital city. At the local store, business for May gave no ground for complaint. Frank Anrys', genera* manager of the Wiley B. Allen Co., has gone East on a combined business and pleasure trip. Conducting an Active Campaign Mrs. Helen Plummer Howard, who was placed in charge of the talking machine department of the Hauschild Music Co., in Oakland, Cal., a few weeks ago, has been conducting a very active campaign and is getting splendid results. At her instigation the company is giving away a talking machine each week to some training camp, cantonment or other branch of the army or navy service, and is collecting records for the use of the soldiers and sailors stationed in this part of the country. A call for records is incorporated in the firm's advertising, and a box has been placed at the Liberty War Hut. In this wav a great many are received, and Mrs. Howard says the men in the service are very appreciative. Machines have been placed on three submarine chasers built in this vicinity. Mrs. Howard now has associated with her Miss Fay Otis, formerly music history teacher at the University High School in Oakland. Together they are specializing along educational lines and have succeeded in working up considerable interest. A few days ago Mrs. Howard demonstrated a machine at the shipyards in Alameda, and she has arranged for a public demonstration at the Quericli branch of the Public Libraries in Oakland. The Hauschild Music Co. has recently added the Brunswick line of phonographs at its Oakland store. Columbia Warerooms Almost Cleaned Out The local warerooms of the Columbia Graphophone Co., under the supervision of F. A. Denison, are almost entirely cleaned out of stock, as a result of very active selling during the past month, and it now looks as if June business might be curtailed to a considerable extent by lack of machines to sell. The shortage of stock applies particularly to machines, as records are coming through in better shape than was the case a few months ago, according to Mr. Denison, which is largely due to the fact that he is having most of the shipments come by express instead of depending upon freight service. Move Mauzy Machine Department The talking machine department of the Byron Mauzy music business in Stockton street has just been moved from one of the upper floors of the building to prominent space on the main floor. Several soundproof demonstration rooms have been installed and the new quarters are being nicely fitted up. Edw. Humphreys has charge of the department. He reports business exceedingly good for this time of the year. Mr. Mauzy left for New York recently, accompanied by his wife and daughter. The White Music Co., which was organized several months ago by Arthur White, formerly manager of the talking machine department of the Emporium in this city, to engage in business in Berkeley, Cal., has been granted permission by the State Corporation Commissioner to issue fifty shares of its capital stock to Mr. White and G. H. Leathurby in consideration of money advanced to the corporation. A nicely fitted up talking machine department is one of the principal features of the new branch store opened by Byron Mauzy in Oakland. A new music store was recently opened at 531 Thirteenth street, Oakland, by Howard E. Brillhart, who is handling the Pathe line. ORDERS TWO CARLOADS OF PATHES Stern Talking Machine Corp. to Act as Pathe Dealer in San Francisco San Francisco, Cal., June 3. — Fred'k Stern, president of the Stern Talking Machine Corp. of this city, who returned recently from a two weeks' trip to the East, closed arrangements on this trip whereby his company will act as Pathe dealers in this territory. Mr. Stern states that he has already placed an order with the Pathe Freres Co. for two solid carloads of Pathephones and for approximately 20,000 records for immediate shipment. It is the intention of the company to carry a complete stock of Pathe records, having on hand every single number in the catalog at all times. The total stock of Pathe records will therefore be approximately 100,000 records. A permanent stock of Pathephones of about 750 to 1,000 machines will also be on hand, so that the company can adequately handle the requirements of its clientele. During the past month or so the Stern Talking Machine Co. received about 10,000 Pathe records and about 100 Pathephones from the local Pathe jobber, and these machines and records met with a ready sale. In fact, the business was almost phenomenal, and Mr. Stern is naturally enthusiastic regarding the prospects for Pathe business in all of the company's stores. In a chat with The World correspondent he said: "Having been able for the past two years to declare a cash dividend to our stockholders, amounting to about 20 per cent, at the close of each year, we feel that we ought to be able to do much better than that the coming year, as the result of our handling Pathe products, because we consider the Pathe line far superior to anything we have heretofore handled. If the Pathe Freres Phonograph Co. will supply us with merchandise as fast as we order it, and I have every reason to believe that they will, I am sure that our business during the coming year will far exceed our expectations. "One other item which will materially increase our volume of business is the fact that the* Pathe Freres Co. is so prompt in getting out new record selections of the new popular numbers. A Message to Phonograph Manufacturers Are you making Just Another Talking Machine? Is it your aim to manufacture a line of Phonographs for the future ? Do you realize that the Reproducer is the vital feature in a Phonograph ? The BLISS REPRODUCER meets all comparative tests both as to tone and volume. The diaphragm of the BLISS REPRODUCER is constructed along scientific and mechanically correct lines, and is a laboratory product in every sense. If you are interested in Quality First, write us. WILSON -LAIRD PHONOGRAPH CO., Inc. Factors and Distributors of the BLISS REPRODUCER 29 West 34th Street NEW YORK CITY