The talking machine world (Jan-June 1922)

58 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD June 15, 1922 SAN FRANCISCO !in!Dinieii;;nHi^ Industrial Improvement Helps Talking Machine Trade — How the Aeroplane Played Its Part — Sherman-Clay Picnic — Live News of the Trade San Francisco, Cal., June 5. — Industrial conditions on the Coast have improved materially in the last month, but the effect of this as yet has not been felt very much in retail lines. The labor unions have been urging their members to economize on living expenses for a long time, and the effect of such propaganda is naturally felt in the music trade more keenly than in many other lines, but at the same time when the purchasing power of the people increases their desire to spend increases in proportion. The Shriner convention to be held in June will bring in millions of dollars to the city, and this will also help to stimulate the demand for musical merchandise. The outlook is anything but discouraging in the talking machine field. Annual Sherman, Clay & Co. Picnic The second annual picnic of the Northern California employes of Sherman, Clay & Co. was held on May 28 at Kendall-Dell. The picnic was under the auspices of the company's employes' association, and members came from this city, Oakland, Vallejo, Santa Rosa, Stockton, Sacramento and other places. The barbecue luncheon was engineered by Billy Morton, manager of the retail talking machine department of the company in San Francisco. Billy is a famous amateur chef as well as an expert master of ceremonies. The diversions were dancing, eating, games and hiking two by two. A large part of the company was transported to the picnic grounds in the large Sherman, Clay & Co. piano trucks fitted up with seats. Picnic Committee— Harry Anderson, Henry Rassmussen, Charles F. Moore and Miss E. Ireland. Miss F. Mattern Is Promoted Miss F. Mattern, who has been with the New berry Electric Co., on Sutter street, since the new store with the talking machine department was opened several months ago, has succeeded to the management of the talking machine department in place of Mr. McKellers, who resigned two weeks ago. The department handles the Sonora line and is enjoying a ready sale on Vocalion records. Passing of Morley Somers The death of Morley Somers, manager of the Phonograph Shop, 109 Stockton street, this city, recently, while not altogether unexpected in view of his late illness, nevertheless came as a shock to his many friends in the music trade. Mr. Somers was respected alike for his personal qualities and his business ability. He was one of those rare souls who make friends, keep them and at the same time do not neglect the work of making a success of their business. He was forty-six years of age and is survived by a widow and a son. For a number of years Mr. Somers represented the Victor Co. as a traveling salesman, and before coming to San Francisco was with Frederick & Nelson, of Seattle, Wash. While with the Sonora Co. he was active both in the retail and wholesale departments and was held in the highest esteem by his late employers. Emporium Celebrates Birthday Last week was the twenty-sixth birthday anniversary of The Emporium, and the event was duly celebrated by a special sale in all departments. The talking machine department won the prize for the largest attendance in proportion to the size of the department and was given a dinner of honor by the management. Charles Mauzy, the manager, was congratulated for his work in promoting public interest in talking machine merchandise. Porter Visits Dealers in Aeroplane There is nothing slow about the business methods of P. S. Kantor, the local manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co., and this fact is fully appreciated by Robert Porter, field sales manager of the Columbia Co., who is at present making a tour of the Coast territory. Mr. Kantor is a professional aviator with a war record, and he still clings to the aeroplane, making frequent business trips to California cities via the air route. He carried Mr. Porter as a passenger on a trip to visit the Columbia dealers in the Sacramento Valley, and the much-traveled sales manager protests that the aeroplane is the most enjoyable means of transportation he has yet experienced. W. Hamilton a Visitor W. Hamilton, traveling Victor factory man, is in San Francisco for a stay of several weeks, during which he will have a series of heart-toheart talks with the dealers on salesmanship and other topics kindred to business efficiency. He will also call on the trade throughout the State. G. R. Hughes to Attend Convention George R. Hughes, secretary of the Wiley B. Allen Co., is in the East on a business trip and will attend the Piano Merchants' Convention while in New York. J. J. Black, treasurer of the company, expects to accompany the Shriners on their trip to the Hawaiian Islands after the national Shriner conclave to be held in San Francisco in June. News Brieflets Henry Hauschildt, of the Hauschildt Music Co., has left for a business and pleasure trip to New York with his family. Sherman, Clay & Co. are increasing the facilities of their store at Vallejo, Cal., by adding some new demonstration rooms for talking machine records. Sherman, Clay & Co. are featuring radio concerts this month. Concerts are given daily from Flexlume Signs The Best Advertising At Smallest Cost T T costs only a few cents a day to operate a Flexlume Electric Sign. For this you get the best advertising in the world — your name and your sales story in letters of light right there where your goods are sold. Flexlumes are day signs as well as night signs. 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