The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

June 15, 1919 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 41 MACHINE SHORTAGE STILL RETARDS CALIFORNIA TRADE Sales Lost Through Not Having Advertised Goods in Stock — Conditions Improving— New Building for Clark Wise — Heine Co. Also Expanding — Trade Prospects Excellent in San Francisco San Francisco, Cal., May 28. — Spring business has averaged large in vohime with the leading talking machine dealers of California, notwithstanding the shortage of standard machines. The trade lives in hope that the manufacturers will soon again be in a position to supply goods promptly and steadily on all lines in popular demand. The inconvenience of not having welladvertised goods in stock is evident, and no doubt many sales are permanently lost because not clinched on the spot. High-class records are in steady demand, it being especially noticeable that McCormack records sold readily at the time the singer gave concerts in San Francisco. Small machines are moving well and a still brisker business in these machines and dance and song records is expected now that the vacation season is at hand. Sonora Business Shows Steady Increase The business of the Sonora Phonograph Co. on the Pacific Coast has shown a steady increase all along the line in recent months, and it is remarkable how large a proportion of the machines sold are of the more expensive models. Sonora jobbers report steadily increasing interest in Sonora goods. E. C. Johnston, manager of the Sonora Phonograph Shop, says the public appears to be much pleased with the new 1919 Sonora models which arrived here recently and that May business has averaged better than was expected. Several of the new $1,000 machines have already been sold. Clark Wise Signs Lease for New Building Clark Wise, who has been looking for a new location for many months by reason of his having to vacate his present store, has at last signed a lease for a long term on the entire building at 55 Stockton street. He will not be ready to move into the new quarters for some time yet, and the store will have to be remodeled. The new store has a frontage of thirty feet and is three stories in height. The location is exceptionally good, being in the heart of the retail shopping district. The owners of the building have promised to spend $20,000 on improvements before the tenant moves in. Mr. Wise expects to have his large talking machine department on the main and mezzanine floors, and the demonstration room will probably be located on the mezzanine floor. A new plate glass front will be built and the show window arrangements will be made as attractive as possible. Eight-Story Building Planned The Heine Piano Co., now located on lower Stockton street, has concluded a deal whereby it will have a new building on Stockton street, just north of Sutter. The plans call for an eightstory Class A building, which will cost approximately $125,000. A part of the building will be used as a conservatory. Stern Corp. Expanding The Stern Talking Machine Corp., of San Francisco, has completed plans for increasing its capitalization and expanding its business. The San Francisco branch will have an additional capital of $75,000, and the branch at Richmond, Cal., will have $15,000 additional. J. L. Mclnerney, formerly of San Francisco, is in charge of the Richmond store. Visitors in San Francisco William F. Stidham, the manager of the Los Carved Phonograph Posts, Grills. Moldings, Etc. We manufacture and design carved period posts, grills, moldings, carvings, etc. Can quote from cuts, sketches or samples. Catalogue on request Klise Manufacturing Co Grand Rapids, Mich. Angeles branch of the Columbia Graphophone Co., and Frank Dorian, manager of the Seattle office, were in San Francisco during May conferring with Nathan Milnor, manager of the San Francisco office. The two visitors were entertained by motor trips into the surrounding country as guests of Mr. Milnor. A Great Record Month Andrew McCarthy, of Sherman, Clay & Co., head of the wholesale Victor business on the Pacific Coast, says more Victor records were sent out in April than in any other month thus far. Mr. McCarthy expects the machine situation to improve steadily from now on. Otto Rothlin, of the wholesale record department, paid a visit to the northern branches during the month to install an improved system in distributing and ordering records. News of Wiley B. Allen Co. The Wiley B. Allen Co. are to make improvements in the talking machine departments of several of their stores this summer. Besides the enlarging of the department in the San Francisco store, the Portland store will be remodeled and the talking machine department enlarged, while the store at San Jose will be remodeled in some departments. The Los Angeles store may also come in for some improvement work. James J. Black, formerly manager of the talking machine department of the Wiley B. Allen Co., is out of the navy after serving about two years. Mr. Black is at present making a trip to the various branches of the company on the Coast. This house is highly satisfied by the way the public takes to the Brunswick machines and a large addition to the stock has just been received. The employes of the San Francisco and Oakland talking machine departments enjoyed a barbecue picnic at Niles Canon on Sunday, May 25. Other News of the Trade Hon. William H. Johnson, a vice-president of the Columbia Graphophone Co., was a visitor in San Francisco during the month. Mr. Hartley, a Columbia dealer at Mountain View, and James Coffman, of the Modesto Music Co., Modesto, Cal., were in San Francisco on talking machine business last week. R. H. Paulin, a well-known talking machine dealer of Santa Barbara, reports favorable results from his new store at Fillmore, Cal. A. Baronda is manager of the Fillmore shop. If FV'^ GRAPHITE PHONO J Jt spRiNc LUBRICANT Haley's Lubricant makei the Motor malte good Is prepared in the proper consistency, will not run out, dry up, or become sticky or rancid. Remains in itsoriifinal form Indefinitely. Put up in !, 5. 10, 25 and 50-pound cans for dealers. This lubricant is also put up in 4-ounce cans to retail at 25 cents each under the trade name of FTIRFKA NOISELESS TALKING MjnjM\.L.M.^t%. MACHINE LUBRICANT Write for special propoiHion to johhtn. ILSLEY-DOUBLEDAY & CO.. 229-231 Front St.. New York Z. J. L,oussac, a talking machine dealer of Anchorage, Alaska, was in San Francisco on one of his biennial trips during the month. He was entertained by Walter S. Gray, dealer in talking machine accessories, and he said business in Alaska was not brisk this year. Workers in the North have not had their wages advanced as fast as in other parts of the country and feel the pinch of high prices. J. P. Garber, a prominent merchant of Kingsbury, Cal., recently put in a Columbia line and is enjoying splendid success with it in his district. Mrs. M. Howell, of the Emporium record department, has resigned her position in order to reside at Portland, Ore., with her husband. ACTIVITY IN LOS ANGELES TRADE A recent visitor to New York was Sheldon Morris, general manager of the Southern California Hardwood & Mfg. Co., who is visiting the East for the purpose of securing equipment for the production of Hawthorne phonographs. Mr. Morris states that this phonograph is making exceptional progress, and that some of the bestknown dealers in Los Angeles are now handling it. He also commented upon the fact that 150 accounts were opened in the past month. TAKES ON COLUMBIA AGENCY The Reliable Furniture Co., of Napoleon, O., has taken on the Columbia agency for that section and will feature the Columbia Grafonola and records. The Columbia agency in Napoleon was formerly in charge of C. F. Clay. REMOVE TO NEW QUARTERS The Templeman Piano Co., Cynthiana, Ky., has moved into new quarters at 5 Pike street and the building has been altered and demonstration booths installed for display of Columbia Grafonolas and records. Illillllllllllllllllllllllli' BUV^ DiR£CT The BvTon Book(oip.c iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniii