The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

FEBRU.-yiY 15, 1919 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 119 LITTLE RELIEF FROM STOCK SHORTAGE IN LOS ANGELES i i Dealers Disposing of High-Priced Models While Waiting for New Shipments of Medium-Priced Goods — Record Demand on the Jump — Many Concerts Help Business Los Angeles, Cal., February 4. — The talking machine situation has not changed here and many local dealers have begun to feel the shortage acutely. The demand for both machines and records is on the increase with the supply getting smaller every day. Just when the "low water mark" will be reached is problematical, but let us hope that it will be soon. The scarcity of the medium-priced instruments has boosted the sale of the larger ones and more "period models" are being sold this year than ever before. Many out-of-town people have been writing in for machines, being unable to obtain them from their local dealers. However, the larger dealer does not seem to be any better off at the present time than his small competitor, as a surplus stock is a rarity. Sherman-Clay & Co., Victor jobbers, say business is fine; that it would be finer if they could get more stock. Charles S. Ruggles, the man Important Notice to Dealers Why Every Dealer Should Handle The Highest Grade Phonograph Steel Needle in the World. The WALL-KANE First — Each WALL-KANE needle is guaranteed to play 10 records on any Phonograph, the tenth playing as clear as the first. Second — Phonograph owners will always purchase WALL-KANE needles, since they eliminate the troublesome changing of needles after each record. Third — WALL-KANE needles are scientifically prepared, and, by reason of special composition, are beneficial to the grooves of the record, thereby adding to its life. Fourth — WALI^KANE needles minimize the usual scratching sound of the ordinary steel needle and greatly improve the clearness and tone of reproduction. TEST PROPOSED TO DEALERS TO PROVE THE SUPERIORITY OF Wall-Kane Steel Needles Take two standard disc records of the same selection, play one ten times with the same WALLKANE loud needle; play the other record, the same selection, ten times, but with ten new, fulltone steel needles. You will find that the record played ten times with the same WALL-KANE needle will sound clearer, will have less surface noise, and that under the magnifying glass the grooves of the record played ten times with the ten steel needles will seem to be more disturbed. BEWARE OF IMITATIONS Package of 50 WALL-KANE needles, Loud, Extra Loud and Medium, greater value than 500 ordinary steel needles, retails for 15c, costs the dealer 7/2C., 8c. in the Far West. JOBBING TERRITORIES OPEN Progressive Phonographic Supply Co. 145 West 45th Street, New York ager, says they have very little goods on the way, but expect the shipments to get larger from now on. W. F. Stidman, manager of the Columbia Co., returned from the convention in New York, filled with "pep" and enthusiasm. He reports that the prospects for 1919 look particularly bright, and anticipates that the enormously increased capacities of the Columbia factories, together with the removal of restrictions, will insure plentiful supplies of stock. The demand for Columbia goods shows a wonderful growth which is being and will be still farther enhanced, as a result of the colossal national and local Cohimbia advertising campaign for 1919. The demand for records in Tjos Angeles is remarkable and most of the dealers are hard piessed to get sufficient stock to supply their customers. The record booths at all the stores are kept going at full capacity and a visit to most of these places gives one the impression of a Christmas rush. Miss Lucy Gates and the Trio de Lutece appeared at the Trinity Auditorium on January 23 and 24. A capacity house attended the concerts. They were charmed by the artistic programs presented. Miss Gates' beautiful voice thrilled the audience, who demanded encore after encore, and the Trio de Lutece delighted everybody by its faultless interpretation and purity of style. These artists record for Columbia. Harold Jackson, manager of the talking machine department for the Wiley B. Allen Co., is back oh the job again after a severe sick spell. Mr. Jackson says they had the best holiday business in the history of the Los Angeles branch. Great interest is felt among the dealers on account of the concerts to be held during the nionth of February by Pablo Casals, the French Army Band, Josef Hofmann and Cantor Rosenblatt. O. A. Lovejoy, local manager for the Edison Phonograph, Ltd., is much pleased with business during the last year. While they were out of different models for short periods, still they managed to keep their stock up in fairly good condition up to the present time. Mr. Lovejoy has a carload of machines in transit which will relieve his present shortage somewhat. The "Wedgwood" model of the Edison Diamond Disc, a new period design, has proven very popular and Mr. Lovejoy has orders for twenty and doesn't know just when he can fill them. Mr. Newton, of the Fox Co., San Antonio, Texas, arrived in Los Angeles for a few days' stay. Glen Ellison, the popular Scotch baritone singer, has just completed a two weeks' tour of tone tests in the southwest for the Thos. A. Edison Co. He appeared in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 20 under the management of A. R. Tavernes, local dealer. On January 24 he appeared in Riverside, Cal., managed by Keystone Drug Co., of that city. January 30 he gave a tone test to a capacity house at the Trinity Auditorium under the direction of the allied dealers of Los Angeles and on January 31 appeared in Santa Ana, Cal. The Carl G. Strock Co. are Edison dealers in that city. L. C. Ackley, of the Columbia sales department, recently started out on one of his territorial trips in a new Studebaker car (his second) of a Royal Purple hue, the envy of all. Walter S. Gray, who handles phonograph accessories with headquarters in the Chronicle Building, San Francisco, is in the city at present. Mr. Gray has the agency for the Pacific Coast for the Brilliantone needles and B. R. Forster, president of that company, is making the Southern trip with Mr. Gray. Newton Hancok, until recently in the V. S. Navy, has joined the Columbia sales force. He has had an extended experience in the retail and wholesale business in the past and will be welcomed by all whom he visits. TF you are inter^ ested in weekly news about PIANOS, PLA YERS, MFG. 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