The talking machine world (July-Dec 1926)

88 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD September 15. 1926 Favorable Industrial Conditions in the Toledo Territory Create Trade Optimism Dealers Anticipate a Busy Fall and Preparations Are Being Made to Launch Vigorous Sales Campaigns — Reports of Retail Merchants Show Satisfactory Sales Improvement Toledo, O., September 7. — In view of the favorable industrial conditions existing in this market phonograph and radio dealers are anticipating a successful Autumn sales volume. Employment is at least 25 per cent greater than it was a year ago. Consequently the buying power of workers is considerably better than at any time this year. The three-quarters' sales total has shown that trade is about 20 per cent above the corresponding period of last year. The County Fair season is at hand. During Fair-time merchants usually secure a good many live prospects from which a better than average number of sales are secured. Therefore, with a favorable basic situation merchants feel confident the coming season will produce good returns in sales. At the Lion Store Music Rooms sales continue to grow. Machine sales have averaged two a day. Manager Lawson S. Talbert is of the belief that when the season is under way the average will rise to four a day. Owners of old Victor and Brunswick machines will be offered a trade-in proposition toward a new model. In the radio d vision Doyle Wyre reports interest in the new RCA, Atwatcr Kent, Stromberg-Carlson, Garod, Freshman and Raniway lines. People are coming into the store uvery day eager to inspect the new types. Early sales are far greater than they were last year. The LTtah Book speaker and the Stevens speaker are new items of merchandise here. At the J. W. Greene Co. both radio and phonograph sales are above last year. The Panatrope is being plugged consistently, with the result that sales closed by the house have set a record. Salesmen here arc devoting practically all of their time to canvassing, with but an hour a day in the store. A Panatrope was recently shipped to .Atlanta, Ga., to a customer. The Brunswick correspondence course on salesmanship will be studied by the force one night a week in class. E. A. Kopf will attend the Cleveland Radio Show. W. W. Smith, president, has returned from a business trip to Chi cago. At Grinnell Bros, considerable school bu-^iness is awaiting the opening of grade classes. The Orthophonic will play a leading part in the musical education of children this year. The past weeks have been given to becoming acquainted with school heads and in lining up new Fall school business. For several seasons Chas. Bell, manager of the Victrola department, has specialized in school and industrial trade. O. P. Harries, special Brunswick representative, conducted meetings with each of the local Brunswick dealers at which sales and service methods and plans were discussed. In each instance the entire force of the department was present. The Lion Store and the J. W. Greene Co. staffs were loud in their praise of the constructive nature of tlic talk and the scope of the Fall Brunswick ad\ertising plan^ disclosed by the speaker. Henry Z. Unger, fo-merly with the J. \V. Greene Co., was recently appointed manager of the Gross Photo Supply Co. The enterprise maintains a radio department in which RCA. Atwater Kent and Day-Fan sets are carried. The Home Furniture Co.. Columbia and Brunswick dealer, is closing a very satisfactorj' business in the new models. .According to Miss Helen Canfield, in charge, the new Columbia types are evoking much praise from owners. The Goosman Piano Co. is preparing for .-\utumn business at both the Toledo and Bryan. O., stores. Fred. N. Goosman, past president of the Ohio Music Merchants .\ssociation, will deliver an address at the coming convention at the Hotel Deshler in Columbus, O. The Association now has an active membership of 430. Over 100 exhibitors have made reservations for display space at the gathering. Likewise over 125 rooms have been reserved by members at the convention hotel. The Hayes Music Co. will give special attention this Fall to the development of radio business. .Also Edison phono,graphs will be featured. Nicholas Baertschi, formerly manager of the store, has again assumed charge of this successful business. H. G. Pulfrey, Ann Arbor, Mich., music merchant, stopped here on his way East. He stated business will begin to move in Ann Arbor as soon as the students of the LTniversity of Michigan congregate and the several college musical organizations begin to function. Fred. Kloepfer Music Co., Bucyrus, O., ha< made extensive improvements in the store and added to its floor space. The house has obtained the exclusive agency for the RCA line in Crawford County. A branch house will be opened in Crestline, O., soon. Verne Maxwell, Toledo, has opened a radi<j service shop on Colburn street. He will deal in the Day-Fan line. Windsor-Poling Co., Akron, O., has taken on the Symphonic sound box. Hastings Go. Made National Jobber of Sonochorde Gone Hastings Electric Sales Co. Granted National Distributorship of Sonochorde Cone Speaker Line — Former Ball Player Is General Mgr. Boston, Mass., September 7. — From baseball stardom to radio stardom in sales is not such a long run, according to Claude Hastings, general manager of the Hastings Electric Sales Co., of 42 Binford street, this city, formerly of the Red Sox. In reality, it is just another example of what an indomitable spirit, coupled with a dynamic personality, can accomplish. I-ast year the Hastings Co. took over the sales in New England for the Chelsea Radio Co.. Chelsea, Mass. While the Chelsea Radio Co. is one of the oldest in America, he made ils New England sales eclipse the sales records oi any other district. Even more remarkable than this was his record with the Sonochorde cone speaker made by the Boudette Mfg. Co.. of Chelsea, Mass. This company, at the beginning; of the last radio season, was hardly known in Boston, only a few miles from the factory. So effectively did Mr. Hastings' method of distribution work that for the entire season Sonochorde loud speakers were so oversold that the factory worked day and night and had to restrain sales to the New England territorv aloni . As a reward for this record the Hastings Co. has been awarded the sales for the entire Sonochorde output in a big nation-wide campaign for the coming season. The method of operation of the Hastings Electric Sales Co. is quite unique. The company maintains a warehouse with a direct freight-car siding where goods may be sent most expeditiously and with a minimum loss of time in handling. This offers the firm represented a warehouse as well as a sales service. .\nd, in addition, it gives the customers just as quick deliveries as if the factory were right in Boston. It also greatlv relieves customer^ from Claude Hastings worry of delayed shipment when the market is at its peak. The factory, on the other hand, can ship direct into the New England territory in larger quantities at a time and is, therefore, relieved from the detail work of keeping track of a great number of smaller individual shipments. The Hastings Electric Sales Co. at present represents three prominent radio accounts. They are Chelsea Radio Co., radio sets; the Boudette Mfg. Co., with its Sonochorde cone loud speakers, and the General Dry Battery Co. The firm also is sales representative in New England for a long list of nationally known electrical supplies and appliances. Weber-Ranee Gorp. Distributes DeForest Tubes The DeForest tube Is the latest addition to the line of radio products handled in the metropolitan district by the Weber-Rance Corp., New York, well-known distributor. This progressive firm is the exclusive metropolitan district distributor for the Bosch line of radio receivers, speakers and accessories, in addition to representing many other nationally known lines. M. I. Miller, sales manager of the Weber-Rance Corp., states that the new season is opening up very well and everything points to a most successful vear. The Melody Music Shop, 111 Madison, Alemphis, Tenn., is planning to open a store on the S'Uitli of the Pantages Theatre Building, South Main street, to be used as a temporary demonstration store for Brunswick Panatropcs, and llrunswick and Columbia records. This will be the second temporary branch operated by this enterprising firm. VAN VEEN SOUNDPROOF BOOTHS are more necessary than ever before. You cannot demonstrate the wonderful volume and beauty of tone of the improved talking machine and records without booths. The new instrument has unlimited possibilities. Meet it half way by adequate demonstration. Complete equipment for musical merchandise dealers. tfrite for details and catalogue. VAN VEEN & COMPANY, Inc., 313-315 East 31st Street, New York City PHONE LEXINGTON 9956-2163