The talking machine world (Jan-June 1925)

90 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD May IS, 1925 Unaccountable Depression Felt by the Trade Throughout St. Louis District Fact That There Is No Logical Reason Why Depression Should Exist Is the Cause for Feeling That Improvement Is Due— Stanwood Miller Gets Control of Smith-Reis Co.— Important News St. Louis, Mo., May 8— Early May talking machine business was not materially better than April business, and April business was considerably short of satisfactory, but the most encouraging thing about the situation is that there is no cause for it. Being without cause, business logicians point out that it cannot continue that way. In other words, the conditions are right for good business. Bad business, therefore, is an anachronism, and again, therefore, it must pass away. Whether or not the logic is sound, it is a fact that nobody can' account for the depression. The favorite indoor pastime along Olive street is trying to account for it. And, as suggested above, the very failure to account for it gives encouragement. Music week was observed by most of the St. Louis music dealers. There were special window displays and special offerings of machines and records. It had a stimulating effect upon all branches of the business. Smith-Reis Co. Changes Hands The Smith-Reis Piano Co., 1005 Olive street, which was one of the first St. Louis piano firms to take up talking machines, has passed to the control of Stanwood Miller, of the Continental Piano Co., Boston. The change is an outgrowth of the consolidation of the Smith, Barnts & Strohber Piano Co., of Chicago, of which the St. Louis store was a branch, and the Henry F. Miller & Sons Piano Co., of which Mr. Miller was the head, to form the Continental Co. After that transaction the interest acquired by the Continental Co. in the St. Louis store was traded to Mr. Miller for his factory stock. The latter will be president and treasurer of the St. Louis house. Val Reis, who was general manager of the house' under the old control, retains his interest. Mrs. Dorothy Howard in New Post Mrs. Dorothy Howard, formerly with the Aeolian Co. of St. Louis, has taken charge of the record department of the new talking machine store in Nugent's. Her assistant is Miss Marie Schnurr. C. J. Hunt on Vacation C. J. Hunt, manager of the Victor department of Hellrung & Grimm, has been spending several weeks' vacation at his home in Minneapolis. This is Mr. Hunt's first visit to his home since coming to St. Louis. Celebrates Diamond Jubilee The talking machine department of the Scruggs, Vandervoort & Barney Co., under the direction of Manager Hosier, joined in the celebration of the firm's diamond Jubilee during the past month, by making special offerings in talking machines, which were conspicuously displayed on the piano floor as well as in the talking machine department. One striking exhibit was a specially designed Victrola placed in contrast with the Chickering piano to the accompaniment of which Jenny Lind sang in St. Louis in 1851. The exhibit was named "The old and new in music." Music Box Out of Business The Music Box, 415 North Seventh street, was closed April 30 because the building occupied by it is to be torn down. The closing was preceded by a clearance sale of talkingmachines and records. Columbia Portables Lead the Demand General Manager C. R. Salmon, of the Columbia Distributors, reports that business in the three branches operated by that company is exceptionally good. The movement of portables is said to be especially heavy, dealers having placed good orders in anticipation of a lively demand as soon as the weather warms up. A. J. Guttenberger, of the Columbia Phonograph Co.'s general sales department, visited St. Louis recently. Frederick H. Brandt, formerly connected with the Artophone Corp., has been engaged by the Columbia Distributors to cover parts of Tennessee, Arkansas and northern Mississippi, where he is well known to the trade and has many friends. Ted Lewis, Columbia jazz artist, appeared at the Orpheum Theater the first two weeks in May, and the sale of his records was greatly increased. L. C. Schooler on the Road L. C. Schooler, of the Silverstone Music Co., has been traveling in northern Missouri. The wife of M. Goldberg, vice-president of the Silverstone Music Co., has recovered from an illness. Classes for Salesmen C. C. Hicks, Victor traveling representative, held the first of a series of classes for Victor dealers and salespeople in the offices of Koerber-Brenner recently. The subject of the first meeting was "The Ideal Sales Presentation." The interest was such that Mr. Hicks plans to continue these classes from time to time. Tie-Up With Music Memory Contest Quincy, 111., has just completed its first Music Memory Contest, and the tie-up reported by dealers was excellent. The Scovill Co., under the direction of Miss Erma Trapp, threw open its hearing rooms at all times to pupils and general public to hear the contest numbers. The last day found certain booths set apart for them constantly filled, and both adults and children taking turns at listening. The contestants were divided into two groups, the first of children from the fifth to the ninth grades and the second of high schools, Notre Dame Academy and general adult public. Three hundred and fifty people took part in the final contests. There were sixty-nine prizes distributed. Another Music Memory Contest which brought good results to dealers was that at Evansville, a part of the Indiana State-wide contest. While this is nof new to Evansville, a contest of this kind having been a part of their public school music course for years, it was particularly successful. Miss Daisy Leffell, who heads the talking machine department of the Harding & Miller Music Co. of that city, reports the sale of almost 800 records of the contest list, an increase of 250 over last year. Artophone Corp. in New Home Need of increased office and sales floor space has necessitated removal of the Artophone Corp. from the third to the fourth floor of the Thiebes Piano Co. building, 1104 Olive street. The space formerly occupied on the third floor is now devoted to radio display. The fourth floor is utilized for the offices and the phonograph display. Charles R. Lee, formerly manager of the talking machine department of the Jones Store at Kansas City, Mo., has been appointed manager of the Kansas City store of the Artophone Corp. succeeding E. W. Guttenberger, who has been transferred to the St. Louis organization. Cliff Rogers, formerly for several years in business for himself at Springfield, Mo., has taken a position with the Artophone Corp. to travel through Missouri and Arkansas. His headquarters will be at Springfield. "Monterey" on U. S. Music Rolls "Monterey," music by Thomas Phillips, formerly of the Lehman Piano Co., and words by Carl Zerse, has appeared on a U. S. Music Roll and is being published in song form by the Elite Music Publishing Co., St. Louis. Adler Mfg. Co. Branch Shows Complete Line Louis Marks, who recently opened the St. Louis branch of the Adler Mfg. Co. in the Benoist Building, Ninth and Pine streets, has a complete stock of the Adler-Royal phonographs and neutrodyne radio products, and has met with substantial encouragement from the dealers he will serve in St. Louis territory. New Music Stores Opened Two new talking machine stores were opened here recently, the first, a branch of the Kaemmerer Music Shops, Inc., is located at 6315 Delmar boulevard and will carry a full line of Brunswick instruments. The other is the Tivoli Music Shop and is a branch of the FG Shop, of 327 De Baliviere avenue. Radio Incorporations The Hyde-Shotwell Phonograph & Radio Corp., Nashville, Tenn., was recently incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000. The incorporators are E. E. Hyde, J. A. Shotwell, H. Scott, T. W. Shotwell and Alfred T. Levine. HERE IT IS! The last word in Phonographs. The Minnelli Tone Arm, a new invention that revolutionizes the entire industry. The Minnelli Tone Arm can be placed on any kind of machine, either small or large. The Minnelli Tone Arm can also be placed on a table, writing desk, or any place that you wish, for it has a motor to turn the records. After placing the Minnelli Tone Arm you can obtain the best and the softest tone you have ever heard. Better information can be obtained by writing. We are interested in both dealers and manufacturers. Complete samples will be sent to any part of the United States for $10.00. MINNELLI PHONOGRAPH CO., Inc. Pittston, Pa.