The talking machine world (Jan-June 1922)

2C THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD February 15, 1922 PORTLAND, ORE. Trade Optimism Grows — Earnest Workers Are Getting Results — Tying Up With Great Artists Pays — Happenings of the Month Portland, Ore., February 4. — The first month of the new year has been encouraging to all dealers in this section of the country and, in most cases, January, 1922, has shown a gain over the same month in 1921. All dealers have been doing a great deal of newspaper advertising, setting forth the delights of owning a talking machine. The reduction in the price of records has also been pointed out very forcibly and all reports are that the record business has been greatly stimulated. Art W. Stein, new manager of the Victrola department of Sherman, Clay & Co., believes that, with the Portland public greeting the many artists that have appeared in concert so far this season with capacity houses, the Red Seal business, which already has shown a big increase in sales, will go ahead by leaps and bounds. After the appearance of Schumann-Heink and Jascha Heifetz in concert the demand for their records took a big jump. For the joint appearance of Alma Gluck and Zimbalist at the Municipal Auditorium, which has a capacity of 5,000, the house was sold out a week before the concert and 500 chairs put on the stage, as was the case with Schumann-Heink. The Wiley B. Allen Co., which has been located at the corner of Broadway and Morrison streets for the past fifteen years, has been forced to vacate and has taken a four-year lease on property at 148 Fifth street, and is preparing to move into the new store about February 15. Frank M. Case, manager, says, "The new store, which includes about 5,000 feet of space on the ground and mezzanine floors, will be fitted up in an elaborate fashion for the needs of the music house. On either side of the main storeroom will be built cabinets for the filing of talking machine records, following the style of large Eastern houses. The main floor also will be used for talking machines and there will be departments for pianos and player rolls." Frank Anrys, general manager of the Wiley B. Allen Co., and James J. Black, treasurer, from the San Francisco house, were in Portland conferring with Mr. Case. Paul B. Norris, for years the popular manager of the talking machine department of the Wiley B. Allen 'Co., has been transferred to the piano department and will travel for the firm. C. L. Neilson has been made manager of the talking machine department. R. C. Stevenenin, of the talking machine department of the Wiley B. Allen Co., and Miss Josephine Reynolds were married January 11. The honeymoon was spent at the famous Columbia Gorge Hotel, on the Columbia highway. J. C. Gallagher, manager of the Bush & Lane Co., reports January sales of Victrolas and Bush & Lane phonographs in advance of last year and anticipates an active Spring business in both machines and records. Deborah Jefferson, for several years manager of the record department of the Bush & Lane Co., has resigned her position and married Henry Hendrickson. Madeline Larson, former assistant, has been placed in charge. D. C. Peyton, manager of the "Big Four" phonograph department of the Meier & Frank Co., reports sales for January, 1922, far in ad vance of last year's sales, with a marked improvement in the Edison sales, which, he reports, were better in December and January than at any time for two years. Mr. Peyton also reports a big record business. Horate M. Hull, Western representative of the Aeolian Co., with headquarters in San Francisco, was a Portland visitor during the past month and called on D. C. Peyton, manager of the Meier & Frank phonograph department, who is handling the Vocalion phonograph exclusively in Portland. A. C. Ireton,' general manager of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., was a recent Portland visitor, calling on the Hyatt Talking Machine Co. and the Reed-French Co., two of Portland's active Edison dealers. M. C. Collins, manager of the Reed-French Edison department, reports business holding up in spite of the cold weather. The exclusive agency for the Cheney has been secured by Joe Andree, of Astoria, Ore., who has this month opened up an attractive new music shop on Commercial street. The Andree Music Shop is anticipating, a big business in the new field. Wm. E. Smith, the new Oregon manager of the Columbia Co., reports excellent business throughout the district and, upon returning from a trip through the Willamette Valley, was most enthusiastic over the outlook for the coming year. More activity is being shown among the farmers and the dealers are all placing larger orders than for some time. Mr. Smith has recently placed several new Columbia agencies, among them the Couch Pharmacy, of Grants Pass, Ore., which will be exclusive Columbia dealers. Paul Kuhl, manager of the Grafonola department of the Remick Song Shop, is feeling the effects of the reduced price in records and reports a decided improvement in sales. L. D. Heater, jobber in phonograph accessories, who returned from a recent trip throughout Oregon and Washington, reports excellent business. Unable to get enough Sonora machines to supply the increasing demand is the report of Roy Feldenheimer, owner and manager of the phonograph department of Lipman, Wolfe & Co. Mr. Princehouse, sales manager, says, "Four Sonora baby grands sold in one day is a sample of what is going on in this department." Jack Hoeg has been placed in charge of the Columbia Grafonola and record department of the McDougall-Conn Music Co., to take the place of Carl H. Williams, who resigned his position with the firm. The many Portland friends of Wm. H. Lawton, Northwest representative of the Columbia Grafonola Co., are extending him congratulations on the announcement of his marriage to Mrs. Lou Kirkendall, of the McCormick Music House, of this city. Art W. Stein, former salesman in the piano department of Sherman, Clay & Co., has been transferred to the Victrola" department to take the place of F. D. Addis, manager for several years, who has gone to Salem, Ore., to take a position with Stife & Co. NEW ZEALAND OPPORTUNITY New Zealand Business House Desires Connections With American Manufacturers of Talking Machine Motors and Accessories Washington, D. C, February 7. — A request from a concern in New Zealand has been received by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce that it be placed in communication with United States -manufacturers of motors, reproducers, metal fittings, etc., for talking machines. References will be given and payment will be made through New York and New Zealand banks. Further details can be obtained from the Bureau or any of its district offices upon application by mentioning inquiry No. 325. A talking machine store has been opened at 1221 Lexington avenue, New York City, by Walter Bahr. fli elite st StepinTone Reproduction The first successful commercial use of wood as a diaphragm for the phonograph reproducer Tonal purity, resonance, individuality, are perfectly reflected by the ideal medium — -violin spruce — scientifically adapted in the Violin Spruce Diaphragm. Tonal purity is reproduced faithfully because violin spruce, unlike mica, has no tone of its own to interfere with the original. The wonderful resonance is attained through the natural cellular construction of violin spruce — each cell in itself forming a minute sounding-board. Tonal individuality is reproduced with remarkable' faithfulness, each instrument and voice retain ing its distinctiveness in the highest degree. 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