The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

90 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD June IS, 1919 TRADE IN LOS ANGELES SCORES HIGH-WATER MARK The Past Month Showed Steady Advancement in All Branches of the Business — Stock Is Coming in More Plentifully and Dealers Are Commencing to Get After Trade — News of Month Los Angeles, Cal., June 4. — The talking machine dealers of this city have just wound up another very satisfactory month of business. There were, however, in May, short periods of slight dullness, but the net results, nevertheless, are found to be quite satisfying. In fact, several of the houses are again announcing that a new high-water mark has been established. Record sales have been especially good. The three concerts given here during the early part of the month by John McCormack naturally helped to boost the sales of the artist's records considerably, and there is also a big local demand for the late popular numbers. The month has found the dealers particularly liberal in the use of newspaper advertising space. . The establishment of new agencies and new firms has also been a rather notable feature of the past month. Talking Machine Dealers Meet at Dinner The regular monthly meeting of the Retail Talking Machine Dealers' Association of Southern California for May, which as usual was held on the evening of the second Tuesday, took the form of a banquet at the Hotel Clark, with twenty-two of the members present. The dinner was followed by an open discussion of various matters pertaining to the trade. New Phonograph Jobbing Company Organized Founded for the purpose of conducting a jobbing business in phonographs, records and accessories, the Western Jobbing & Trading Co. has recently been organized in this city, with offices at 724 South Broadway. The company, formed on a partnership basis, is owned by Clarence A. Barker, Lawrence Barker and Earle Barker, and is under the general management of John W. Boothe, who is also manager of the music department of Barker Bros., furniture dealers. The firm enters business as the Southern California distributor for Sonora phonographs and needles and Mandel phonographs, and as jobber for the State of California for Emerson records. Other lines will probably be arranged for later. G. S. Love is assistant to Manager Boothe, and H. E. Berryman, formerly with the Victor branch here of Sherman, Clay & Co., has been employed as traveling representative. Dealers Greatly Exceed Victory Bond Quota The' music dealers of this city exceeded the quota of Liberty Loan bonds allotted them in the recent drive by about 48 per cent. The "A Million A Year" HJVW^I ^ WHAT'S YOUR SHARE OF A DIAPHRAGMS OF BEAUTY ^ f ^^^A A — Phonographically Speaking — They Talk for Themselves — Manufactured for over ten years for the larger consumers by the INTERNATIONAL MICA COMPANY Factory and ( 37th & Brandywine Sts. Mines, Executive < 1228 Filbert St., Sales Dept. \ W. Philadelphia, Pa. Amelia Co., Va. Dept. ( Philadelphia, Pa. Send for samples and quotations now and eliminate your diaphragm difficulties amount expected from the trade was $75,000, and the amount actually subscribed was $112,000, or about $37,000 above the quota. The largest amount taken by the trade in any previous drive was $85,000, in the fourth. Glockner Co. Adds Mandel Line The Wm. L. Glockner Music Co., in addition to representing the Edison line of phonographs and records, has taken the agency also for the Mandel phonographs and the Emerson records. The new agencies were arranged for through the Western Jobbing & Trading Co. Herman Beck Joins Piatt Music Co. Herman Beck, who for a number of years has been manager of the Victor department of the Geo. J. Birkel Co , severed his connection with this company on May 31, and has become the new manager of the talking machine department of the Piatt Music Co. Mr. Beck was one of the organizers of the Retail Talking Machine Dealers' Association of this city and its first president, his term expiring in January of the current year. He is regarded as a most capable talking machine man. Geo. J. Birkel Co. Adds Columbia Stock The Geo. J. Birkel Co., in addition to maintaining its Victor department, has put in a complete line of Columbia Grafonolas and records. The initial stock amounts to about two hundred machines. The added department was first announced to the public on May 11, through the local newspapers with an ad five columns wide and about fourteen inches deep. The company anticipates doing an especially good lot of business with the Columbia art models. New Music House to Handle Columbia Line Richardson, Inc., is the name of Los Angeles' newest music house, which is located at 607 West Seventh street. The store opens for business early this month. It is centrally located, and the quarters are most attractive. The company has arranged to carry a complete line of Columbia Grafonolas and records, and also has the agency of the Baldwin line of pianos. The talking machine department contains seven attractively designed soundproof demonstrat ing rooms, besides a great deal of shelving for records. The organizer and general manager of the firm is Wm. Richardson, who until a few weeks ago was the manager of the talking machine department of the Southern California Music Co., and who is one of the best-known phonograph men in Southern California. Associated with him in the management of the store is Joseph Carter, also extensively known in the talking machine trade. Starr Piano Co. Completes Improvements Alterations and improvements have just been completed by the Starr Piano Co. by which the phonograph space has been materially enlarged and partitioned ofif into four attractively finished demonstrating rooms and a long record room. The rooms are finished in old ivory, with the upper part of the walls consisting very largely of glass. Remick Song Shop Adds Phonographs The Remick Song Shop, which recently moved from 522 to 427 South Broadway, has opened a phonograph and record department, as agent for the Columbia line. Seven demonstrating rooms, besides a large record room, all attractively finished in oak and glass, have been provided in the rear part of the store. W. Salveter is the general manager of the shop. Advertises Sales of Used Phonographs The music department of Barker Bros, has been advertising during May, with an ad four columns wide and ten inches deep, a special sale of used phonographs — Victor, Edison and Sonora lines excepted. The first ad of the series announced "over forty diff^erent phonographs of various well-known makes which we have taken in as part payment on Victors, Edisons and Sonoras." Trio Music Co. Gets New Phonograph Stock The Trio Music Co., which began business here at 832 West Seventh street, about two months ago, has just received its initial stock of talking machines, which7 manufactured for it by an Eastern company, it has named the Trio-Craft line. Gennett records are also car(Conlimicd on page 91) HERE IT IS FLETCHER UNIVERSAL TONE ARM and REPRODUCER Gives Proper Playing Weights for all Records. No Adjustment Screws or Springs. — • SAMPLES $8.00 • — FLETCHER. WICKES CO., 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois THE GEORGE McLAGAN FURNITURE CO.. STRATFORD, ONTARIO, EXCLUSIVE CANADIAN AGENTS