The talking machine world (Jan-June 1923)

June 15, 1923 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 113 DALLAS Easier Money and Better Crop Prospects Indicated in General Activity in tlie Music Business Dallas, Tex,, June 6. — Business throughout the Southwest in the tallying machine trade is good, better in fact than it has been at this season in some time, according to dealers and distributors in Dallas. Good crop prospects, a good cotton crop marketed last Fall, good wheat crop now being harvested and good prices for live stock are reflected in satisfactory sales of all merchandise, including talking machines and musical instruments. Lester Burchfield, manager of the wholesale A'ictor department of Sanger Bros., reports thriving business, especially in the rural districts, and predicts the heaviest Summer trade in his department in the last twelve years, due to excellent prospects of rural dwellers. "The rural districts are the heaviest buyers of Victrolas, and the easier money conditions, the good crop outlook and good prices for the products of the farm have given the farmers and stock raisers confidence so that they are not backward in making purchases," declared Mr. Burchfield. "Wool is now selling in Texas at nearly double the price received last year. This is being reflected in heavy sales of talking machines in southwest Texas, where wool is grown chiefly." The Texas-Oklahoma Phonograph Co., wholesale distributor of Edison phonographs and records, with headquarters in this city, has recently fitted out its new quarters at 2025 Jackson street, the move following a fire in the old quarters, 908 Commerce "street, some time ago. O. G. Feltner, manager of the Dallas store, is optimistic as to the future, and reports better business now in Edison machines and records than in several years. "Edisons are going good in Texas and Oklahoma," Mr. Feltner said. "Retailers throughout our district are placing heavy orders, and we expect a most satisfactory Summer trade." S. E. Rhodes, manager of the talking machine department of the D. L. Whittle Music Co., 1213 Elm street, reports satisfactory sales. Bush & Gerts, 1311-13 Elm street, one of the largest music stores in Texas, has one of the most successful talking machine departments in Dallas, in charge of R. F. Coppedge. Reviewing business conditions and outlining methods by which his company has made an enviable record, Mr. Coppedge said: "The phonograph business for the last two months has doubled any preceding business in the history of the Bush & Gerts Piano Co. We attribute a large portion of this success to the large sales force, consisting of four record salesladies, eight outside men, two repair men and a delivery department, and a complete line of phonographs. The manager of the department acts as inside salesman. "A feature of this department is the Bungalow House. This house is mounted on a twoton truck, with a carrying capacity of two phonographs, one piano, and is equipped with compartments for carrying records and rolls. It has a seating capacity of eight. We usually have four men out with the Bungalow. This attraction has proved an excellent method of advertising. "We consider the largest part of our business due to the amount of pep instilled into our department. We have had several 7 o'clock 'Pep-Up' breakfasts. After one of these we always have a good day. We never have idle days, we are always on the alert for Hot Prospects. We have been very successful in closing up our customers on first visits. However, in cases where we cannot, we always follow the prospect up closely. "We are looking forward to the greatest business that we have ever had. We know that conditions point to a successful Fall business." The Leyhe Piano Co., 907 Elm street, is pushing a sale of talking machines, including Columbia, Sonora, Kimball and Telo-Tone. The company is putting out many machines, according to Mr. Leyhe. The Brunswick Phonograph Shop, 1311 Elm street, is also making a drive for business. MANY STORES INSTALL EQUIPMENT Van Veen & Co. Point to Many Recent Installations as Indication of Prosperity If the spending of money for equipment is an indication of activity in the talking machine field, of which there is little doubt, the coming Fall and Winter seasons will be exceptional ones in every respect, according to Leon Tobias, secretary of Van Veen & Co. In substantiation of his report on the general activity, Mr. Tobias mentioned a number of the important installations recently completed by this company. Among them are the following: Three stores of the Griffith Piano Co., the last one being in New Brunswick, N. J.; Albert Leon, Perth Amboy, N. J.; Harry Levin, Long Branch, N. J.; Charles H. Godfrey, Atlantic City, N. J.; Starke Piano Co., New York City; Philip Pravada, Brooklyn, N. Y.; S. Baumann, New York City; Main and Market Music Shop, Paterson, N. J.; Samuel J. Gross Grafonola Shop, of Scranton, Pa.; Schaeffer Music Shop, Batavia, N. Y. ; Kennedy's Grafonola .Shop, Worcester, Mass.; Curtis Art Co., Waterbury, Conn.; Joseph Feinblum Columbia Shop, Hartford, Conn.; Marshall Music Store, Bayonne, N. J.; Yonkers Talking Machine Co., at 451 Broadway, and 201 Ashburton avenue, Yonkers, N. Y. ; Broadway Music Shop, 17 Main street, and the Hudson Music Shop, at 42 Warburton avenue, also in Yonkers. Mr. Tobias recently left on a trip through northern Pennsylvania territory, and is entirely optimistic over the outlook for the future. CECIL ARDEN SCORES IN CONCERTS Cecil Arden, mezzo-soprano of the Metropolitan Opera Co. and an Edison artist, has been received most enthusiastically on her recent concert appearances, which included singing before the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, the American Penwomen, at their annual luncheon in that city, a dinner given by Fred Huber, of Baltimore, for the mayor of Baltimore, and at West SUMNER WILLIAMS IN NEW POST Made Purchasing Agent of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. — Succeeds William Dykeman Orange, N. J., June 7. — Sumner Williams has recently been appointed to the important post of purchasing agent of Thos. A. Edison, Inc., succeeding William Dykemaji, who has recently purchased an interest in the Jamestown Marble Co., at Falconer, N. Y. Mr. Williams has been a member of the Edison organization for about 10 years. He started Sumner Williams at His Desk in the motion picture division and later became assistant to Charles Edison, chairman of the Board. Mr. Williams assumed his new duties on June 1, and on that date was the guest of honor at a delightful luncheon at the Mushroom Farm at Orange, which was attended practically by all of the important Edison executives. BRILLIANTONE MEN AT CONVENTION Byron R. Forster, president, and Harry Acton, secretary, of the Brilliantone Steel Needle Co., New York, attended the "Prosperity" Convention of the music industries in Chicago, during the first week in June, after which they visited important trade centres in the Middle West and Canada. Brilliantone business is reported brisk. The new record cleaner container continues in active demand and the outlook for the future is linster College. bright. OPPORTUNIXY Knocking at 92 Doors Edison retail representation is wanted in 92 towns, cities and villages where freight rates are less than from the next nearest Edison Jobbing Point. If interested in an Edison Dealership write us. If not interested investigate and soon you'll not only be interested — you'll be eager! If the Edison Dealer in your town is not a live one write us and you may be able to secure the dealership. Only active, reliable merchants are wanted to represent the Edison Line. If it is lack of capital that bothers you see Page 166 of the Talking Machine World for May.