The talking machine world (Jan-Mar 1921)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD February 15, 1921 Sell your customers who ask lor waltzes Baby Dreams" and «TU Be With You In Apple Blossom Time," played by Prince's Orchestra, and they'll be back the following morning for more. A-6177. Columbia Graphophone Co. NEW YORK REAWAKENING OF TRADE IN THE ST. LOUIS TERRITORY Higher Priced Machines Have Call — Collections corned — Jackson Tells of Brunswick Activitie in Excellent Shape — Ennis and Castleman Wels — How Co-operation Helps — News of Month St. Louis, Mo., February 7. — The talking machine business in St. Louis is still slumbering, but retailers and distributors think that they can discern stirrings which portend a reawakening. The most sanguine do not expect the awakening to be boisterous, but they believe that with the coming of Spring the awakening will be followed by a fairly active movement. In a retail way there appears to be a tendency to drop down from the highest priced machines to what might be called the second rank, machines that retail for $150 to $250. The only explanation suggested is that it is an expression of the general conservatism which prevails. On the other hand there is practically no demand for the cheaper machines. Most of the dealers in St. Louis and the St. Louis jobbing territory carried pretty full stocks over the holidays and they have been exerting them selves since to work this stock off in the expectation of reduced factory prices or the putting out of new models at lower prices. During this operation, naturally, they have not been buying. Reports are that they have been fairly successful and that they will shortly be in a position to begin buying. The overstocked condition after the holidays, it seems, was not so much in standard makes as in the other makes, but the effect is the same as if the dealers had been overloaded with standard machines, so far as their capacity for buying is concerned. One encouraging fact is the improvement in collections. Distributors say that, whereas a short time ago dealers had to confess themselves unable to make any payments at all, now there are few who are failing to make substantial payments. A better feeling is reported among the dealers than prevailed shortly after the QUALITY and SERVICE Both are synonymous with us Built on 18 years' experience of scientific experiment and accomplishments in the manufacture of high-grade phonograph parts. The New Mutual No. 3 Tone Arm and the New Mutual No.5 Sound Box, have proved a wonderful success. Write for sample. Ask for our new revised price list and full particulars /TONE ARMS 5 SOUND BOXES PHONO PARTS CORP. 149-151 Lafayette St. New York City holidays. The realization is general that they all have to get back to a selling basis. The sales of records have been but little affected by the general business stagnation. All retailers say that the demand for new releases is as keen as it ever was and that there is a steady call for the old favorites. Conditions Show Betterment The monthly report of William McC. Martin, Federal Reserve agent for the Eighth District, notes a decrease of general business pessimism and some improvement in conditions throughout the district. This explanation is given: "This reverse psychology is based on the opening up of scattered buying, not particularly noteworthy in volume, but of a character indicating that stocks of merchandise have reached a point where they must be replenished and that a good part of the war inflation has been absorbed by the leveling of prices. In lines where the readjustment has made greatest progress, buying is heaviest. The public is in need of goods and is more disposed to fill its requirements than was the case during the closing months of last year. In a number of important lines there seems to be a greater degree of stability, deflation having gone sufficiently far to restore confidence in future values. This has resulted in the placing of some fair orders by retail merchants, and .wholesalers have also begun to build up their stocks. Most of the buying, however, is for immediate delivery, there being relatively little done in the way of future commitment. Ultra caution is still the dominating feature among distributors of merchandise, and ultimate consumers have relaxed their recent regime of economy only to the extent of taking what they are obliged to have, or what they may require at very evidently reduced prices. "Generally the holiday trade was moderately satisfactory only. Great quantities of goods were moved, however, and the opening of the new year found stocks in much better shape than was thought possible two months ago." Welcome for Mr. Castleman St. Louis Victor dealers have been making the acquaintance of the factory representative recently appointed to the Missouri territory. Mr. Castleman. Missouri has been without a representative for the past six months and welcomes Mr. Castleman, as well as Morris de C Freeman, who has returned to the western Illinois territory. Mr. R. J. Coleman, of the educational department of the Victor Co., was also a St. Louis visitor recently, and is working in the schools of southwest Missouri at present. F. E. Ennis Takes Charge F. E. Ennis, formerly manager of the phonograph department of the Bloomingdale Store in New York, arrived in St. Louis late in January and took charge of the phonograph department of the Stix, Baer & Fuller Co., succeeding John Maunder, who had been temporarily in charge, following the departure of W. J. Medairy, who resigned to take charge of a department at Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Ennis has taken hold with energy, assisted by Mr. Maunder, who