The talking machine world (July-Dec 1924)

160 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD October 15, 1924 New Orleans Dealers Launch Aggressive Drives and Overcome Buyer Resistance Demand for Better Music on Records Noticeable — Demand for Portables Continues — Philip Werlein, Ltd., Stages Drive for Business During Moving Season — The News New Orleans, La., October 6. — The talking machine trade in this city experienced a more profitable business during September than has been its lot for some months past. A slight buyers' resistance was evident during the Summer months, but it only served to put the dealers on their mettle and they went ahead and put Fall campaigns into operation before which buyers' resistance is slowly but surely crumbling, and the outlook for a brisk Fall and Winter business is extremely good. The upward trend noticeable in the volume of September business is divided between both machine sales and the record department. Better Music on Records Feature Sales One of the most encouraging features of the talking machine business in this city is the large percentage of classical and standard record sales. The people are true music lovers and practically every dealer reports that his proportion of record business is split almost evenly between the popular selections and classical and standard selections. This condition tends to keep the volume of record sales on an almost level basis throughout the year and at no time can record sales be said to have slumped. Satisfactory Portable Demand The Junius Hart Piano Co., distributor for Outing portable talking machines, reports that the continued demand for this instrument is gratifying. Dealers report that this instrument has won a high place in the popularity of the buying public because of its adaptability to the home and on excursion trips. Its reasonable price and attractive appearance, together with its excellent reproductive tone qualities, have proved strong selling points, making the Outing one of the most consistent sellers. Starts Fall Drive The Maison Blanche Co. is in the midst of its Fall campaign, and J. D. Moore, manager of the talking machine department, states that he feels certain the Fall and Winter months will be productive of excellent business. He also predicts that the year 1925 will be a banner one for the talking machine trade. He reports that conditions are reasonably fair, but adds that this condition only spurs the salesmen on to more strenuous efforts and, while it is a bit harder to complete a sale, there is business if one plugs and digs after it. Records are selling better than for some months past, with a very good percentage of the sales being of classical and standard selections. Dugan Co. Optimistic The Dugan Piano Co. reports that the outlook for Fall business is far brighter than it was at this time a year ago, with an increase in sales of talking machines being the outstanding feature of the business. Records continue to sell well. New Slant on Sales Promotion Philip Werlein, Ltd., Victor dealer, is enjoying a good business and is exerting every faculty to make it even better. In recent newspaper advertisements this live dealer sought to interest those people who have a "silent" piano in their homes, offering to accept the unused instrument in part payment on a new Victrola. He stressed the fact that those people who contemplated moving could arrange to trade in their piano and have the store's van call for it andle handles it ' Master of Movable Music' 4 Years Have Proved Outing Portables Are the Best Junius Hart Piano House 123 Carondelet St. New Orleans, La. Outing Distributor and have the Victrola delivered to the new home. In this manner an expensive item of moving would be avoided, for the moving of a piano is the bugaboo of moving men, and they charge in proportion to the difficulty and risk which they run in contracting to remove the instrument safely. A number of sales resulted. R. S. Peer Returns From Trip R. S. Peer, director of Okeh record sales for the General Phonograph Corp., returned recently from a visit to a number of important trade centers, including Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, New Orleans and Atlanta. Mr. Peer conferred with the Okeh jobbers in those cities and the reports he received were very satisfactory. New dealers have been established throughout these territories and apparently Okeh jobbers and dealers are closing a healthy Fall business. LAUTER TALKING MACHINES Model 3 Top 34x21 in. Height 33J4 in. "NOW" is THE TIME To Put in THIS LINE Sold From Manufacturer to Dealer Model I Top 35x22 in. Height 3454 in. Model H Top 35x22 In. Height Zl'A in. Our Console Cabinets are equipped with United Self Oiling Motors — Blood Tone Arms and Sound Boxes —which with "LAUTER QUALITY" Cabinets are a combination not to be beaten. Let Us Have Your Next Order — Write For Prices and Particulars THE H. LAUTER COMPANY West Washington at Harding Street Indianapolis, Indiana Model K gj Top 40x22. Height 36 in.