The talking machine world (Jan-June 1920)

February 15, 1920 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 177 You Talk Quantity ON— Gram, Brakes, Needle Cops, Needle Rests, Cover Sopports, Crank Handle Escutcheons (with fibre washer), Modifier Rod Escutcheons, Stylus Arms and on any Special Parts. AND We Will Talk Price Immediate Deliveries f^L llorentzert Phonograph Hardware Specialties Manufacturers GRAND STREET & WEST BROADWAY NEW YORK. CITY HOLIDAY TIMES IN DETROIT TRADE Opening Months of New Year Indicate That 1920 Will Be a Winner— Record Trade Unusually Active — Grinnell Bros.' Annual Convention— Other News of Interest Detroit, Mich., February 7. — It certainly looks as if every month nowadays is holiday month for the talking machine industry. Dealers say ' they are doing almost as much business right now as they did in November and December. Nearly every dealer is short on some style of machine or certain records and the demand really seems to be increasing for talking machine products rather than decreasing. The peculiar or rather interesting thing about the talking machine industry is that every day is a good day for selling and that every day brings its reasons for good business in records. A world-famed soloist may come to town to give a recital; right away the dealers work up advertising and displays on his or her particular records and they sell; maybe there is some new fox-trot that is making a big hit; it comes out as a record; the demand is greater than the supply. This is being proven every month. One of the biggest stores in Detroit advertised one day that starting "to-morrow" the new list of Victor records would be on sale. The writer himself went there at noon the next day and the very records advertised that he wanted had already been sold and the young lady at the counter said more were expected soon. Take "Dardanella" as a February record; the demand is unprecedented. All the companies who have this record report that it is a sensational seller. It so happens that no one company has the control on this record so that if people cannot get it on one record they'll try to get it on some other make of record. The announcement that both Enrico Caruso and John McCormack would appear soon in Detroit has brought out many fine window displays by Victor dealers. These artists were scheduled to come in February, but they cancelled their engagements and are now expected some time in March. Dealers are selling a great many talking machines for schools, churches, colleges and for commercial purposes, such as barber shops, retail confectionery stores, etc. R. B. Ailing, manager of The Phonograph Co. of Detroit, attended the recent New York convention of the Edison Disc Jobbers' Association, being elected to the board of directors. The J. L. Hudson store is doing a big business on all of the lines it handles in its talking machine department, which includes Victrola, Sonora and Cheney. Recently the department added the Emerson line of talking machine records and they are selling very big, owing to the late hits which this company is putting out. E. K. Andrew, manager of the Hudson talking machine department, was in New York for the music show and said he got many good ideas while East. Grinnell Bros, held its annual convention of branch managers the last week in January. Business sessions were held afternoon and morning for four days, and there were a number of entertainment features, including a banquet and a masked ball, to which were invited all of the company's employes. The business of the past year was gone over and plans were laid for the coming year. The company had a splendid year in 1919, and C. A. Grinnell is very optimistic about 1920 as being even better. He looks for the situation to ease up considerably so far as being able to secure merchandise is concerned. Sam E. Lind, Detroit manager of the Columbia branch, says that 1919 was such a tremendous year that he hardly can see how 1920 can "beat" it. yet his January business for 1920 is far ahead of the same month in 1919. "It is getting so that the talking machine business has no limit," said Mr. Lind. "When you think you have reached the peak of your business the next month you shatter it all to pieces and the surprising thing of all is where the business constantly keeps coming from." Fred Gennett, of the Starr Piano Co., was in Detroit recently to confer with W. H. Huttie, local manager. Mr. Huttie put up an awful "howl" for more phonographs and records, and Mr. Gennett assured him that with increased facilities all the stores would be better taken care of hereafter than ever. The various embargoes on merchandise coming to Detroit and the poor railroad facilities, as well as the cold weather and storms, have had considerable to do with creating a shortage of talking machines, but the situation is now clearing up steadily. On February 1 Wallace Brown announced an increase in the price of Brunswick phonographs. Max Strasburg reports that business is holding up exceptionally well for this time of the year and that both machines and records are selling faster than he can get them in. He says cash payments are larger than ever. The Stratford Phonograph Co., Ashland, O., has been incorporated with capital stock of $1,000 by E. C. Wolfe, A. J. Pejsa, L. M. Sewell, B. F. Levin and E. W. McGraw. We can ship you promptly all the hits on Retail I 1 |C 0 Retai> pie vyjxpjk price $1.00 -p^-1 ^ I ^ $1.00 Records WE INVITE COMPARISON Here are a few of our "sure -fire" hits Send your order today 4057 4000 4045 4049 Dardanella. Oriental Fox-trot Instrumental. Rega Dance Orchestra O — (Oh!) Instrumental. Fox-trot. Rega Dance Orchestra The Vamp. Fox-trot Instrumental. Rega Dance Orchestra My Cairo Love. Fox-trot Instrumental. Green Bros. Xylophone Orchestra In Your Arms. Fox-trot. Joseph Knecht's Waldorf-Astoria Dance Orchestra Pretty Little Rainbow. Waltz Instrumental. Joseph Knecht's Waldorf-Astoria Dance Orchestra I Want a Daddy to Rock Me to Sleep (From the "Greenwich Village Follies"). Fox-trot Instrumental. Green Bros. Xylophone Orchestra And He'd Say "Oo-La-La ! Wee Wee." One-step Instrumental. Fred Van Eps Quartet HEATH & GORHAM 26 South 15th Street Philadelphia, Pa.