The talking machine world (Jan-June 1922)

90 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD May 15, 1922 SAN FRANCISCO jjjj: = ti '^ihi f =iiH»n:iI^Hi£=i£l;ifiIIIiiiI!: E ■ ' nililHIildlnninniinniMu^.ii.i^ii.^uiniiiiii^i Trade Interest in Radio Growing — Brunswick Line Placed in Emporium— Fresno Dealers Meet — Prepare for Shriners — The News San Francisco, Cal., May 6. — -The talking machine trade of California is showing" more interest than ever in radio projects and many firms are featuring radio concerts in connection with their regular business. It is pretty well agreed that the public interest in radio equipment means a stimulated demand for musical merchandise of all classes, though a few hold the opinion that the talking machine business will be but temporarily benefited and that the "radio" is merely a passing fad. Certainly sending music by radio must be greatly improved before it can successfully compare with the excellence of the talking machine in reproducing music. April business is fair with most houses, though usually April is a busy month. General conditions in all lines of trade are not brisk, however, and the talking machine situation is not exceptional. The radio business is rushing. Sonora Business Improving . -The Sonora merchants report increased business since the second price reduction, which went into effect April 1, and the month has averaged well in sales volume. Morely Somers, manager of the San Francisco Phonograph Shop, is at present on the sick list, being confined in the Merritt Hospital of Oakland. Emporium Adds Brunswick Line Charles Mauzy, manager of the talking machine department of the Emporium, is gratified with the opening business on Brunswick machines and records, which have just been taken on in addition to the Victor line. The department gives two radio concerts daily. Mr. Mauzy is also manager of the radio department of the Emporium, and he is confident that the two departments are mutually beneficial. Music Men Prepare for Shriners Byron Mauzy is chairman of the Indiana committee for the big Shriner conclave, which will be held in San Francisco shortly, and Clark Wise is another local Shriner who is an active committeeman. The San Francisco music trade has a goodly number of Shriners among its members, and it is assured that visiting delegates in the music trades will be well taken care of. Sherman, Clay & Co. will turn over their entire top floor to the visiting musicians of Islam. The floor will Be a club and rest room for the dele gates, a place where they can congregate at odd moments and enjoy social intercourse with those of their own profession. G. Q. Chase Returning Home George Q. Chase, president of Kohler & Chase, who has been East since the middle of March, is on the way home. He left the East with Leon \l. Lang, the new manager of the retail piano department, who has arrived here already. The company gave a dinner at the Indian Grill of the "State" cafe in San Francisco last week in honor of Leon M. Lang, the new manager of the piano department, and the affair was attended by all the sales force. The talking machine department in San Francisco is being remodeled somewhat, both in the display and record departments, in order to provide better facilities for handling the growing business. Will Handle Radio Phonograph J. M. Abrams, manager of the wholesale and retail talking machine departments, expects to have for sale within two weeks the new Burnham Supertone Radio phonograph, which combines the standard phonograph with a complete unit of a radio receiving station. The receiver will have a radius power of about five hundred miles and the instruments will sell from $300 up. Mr. Abrams says the call for such a machine is insistent and that the firm expects to make a wide distribution of the innovation, not only in the city, but in the country districts as well. L. S. Giles a Visitor L. S. Giles, the field sales representative of the General Phonograph Corp., of New York, was a visitor in San Francisco this month. He has been calling on the trade in the Northwest and from San Francisco left for Southern California. The Sophie Tucker selections of the Okeh records promise to have a big sale on the Coast. News Brieflets Andrew McCarthy, manager of the wholesale Victor department of Sherman, Clay & Co., has gone on a visit to the factories in the East. Frank Anrys, general manager of the Wiley B. Allen Co., is taking an automobile trip through Southern California. The San Francisco store of the Wiley B. Allen Co. is undergoing a general Spring housecleaning. All the employes of the Wiley B. Allen Co. will gather for a picnic and general "jinks" near San Francisco on May 14. Over two hundred are expected to attend the jollification. I. S. Lesser, of the Blue Bird Phonograph Co., Los Angeles, has been in San Francisco for several weeks on business. His company is now manufacturing radio outfits in addition to phonographs. Dohrmann Co. Opens New Department The new talking machine department of the Nathan Dohrmann Co. is one of the most artistically appointed in the city, being equipped with four beautiful demonstration rooms and having ample display space on the mezzanine floor. The Blue Bird phonograph, which is made in Los Angeles, is featured, together with the Vocalion records. Walter McCoy is in charge of the department. Fresno Association Meets The Fresno Unit of the Music Trades Association of Northern California gathered at an informal dinner at the Commercial Club in Fresno recently, to discuss matters of importance to the trade. The meeting was presided over by S. S. Hockett, second vice-president, of Fresno, and addresses were made by President George R. Hughes and First Vice-president Shirley Walker, both of whom came down from San Francisco to attend the meeting. Remick Song Shop Remodeled The Remick Song Shop on Market street has been remodeled in order to provide better facilities for the handling of Columbia machines and records. Mr. Adkins, the manager, has his troubles in accommodating his many customers in the limited area of the song shop, but under present conditions it is impossible to acquire more space at the present location. SIMPLEX MOTOR POPULAR New Electric Motor Being Made in Large Quantities— Company Rapidly Expanding Montreal, Can., May 6. — The Simplex Electric Phonograph Motor Co. is now turning out its new electric motor in quantities to fill the orders received from all parts of the United States and Canada. A new catalog is now on the press illustrating the motor in detail and the company is planning to give this catalog wide distribution. The officers state that in every case where the company sent out a Simplex motor on a thirty days' trial basis it received a substantial order, and the reception accorded the motor by the trade is a source of considerable pleasure. During the past few weeks quite a number of orders have been received from talking machine dealers, but as the company is' confining its efforts to manufacturers and jobbers exclusively it is turning these inquiries over to jobbers for their attention. PATHE MAKING FAVORABLE PROGRESS Expects to Be Able to Discharge All Claims^ — Business to Go Back to Owners The Pathe Freres Phonograph Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., which has been operating under the direction of receivers in equity, is reported to be progressing in a favorable manner. Information emanating from a responsible source would indicate that a reorganization is imminent and that control of the company would soon pass back into the hands of the former management which was responsible for the growth of the Pathe organization. It is also learned from the same source that the company expects to be able to discharge all claims at 100 cents on the dollar. LOSE SUIT AGAINST REFLEXO CORP. The suit of Julius and Nestor Roos against the Reflexo Products Corp. was decided in the Municipal Court, New York City, in favor of the Reflexo Co. Each brother entered suit, asking damages of $1,000 each for alleged breach of contract between employer and employe. The trial lasted two days and it is reported that the evidence brought out through the trial was overwhelmingly in favor of the Reflexo Products Corp. The General Phonograph Mfg. Go. Model "E" Table Phonograph The Greatest Value on the Market IMMEDIATE DELIVERIES IN ANY QUANTITY New Model "E" Plays All Makes of Records Superior Tone Quality Write for our Proposition The General Phonograph Mfg. Co., Elyria, Ohio