The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

68 The Talking Machine World, New York, January, 1928 Talking Machine and Radio Dealers in Toledo Report Satisfactory Sales Volume Talking Machines, Radio Receivers, Combination Units and Records All Share Favor of Public in Holiday Buying — Toledo Radio Co. to Hold Sales Meeting for Sparton Dealers Toledo, O., January 7. — At the Lion Store Music Rooms, Manager Lawson S. Talbert reported that during the two weeks preceding Christmas buying was heavy in talking machines. While a considerable number were delivered to patrons, many machine customers preferred combinations. In the radio division a great gain was made. Buyers purchased sets liberally. They demanded merchandise of quality and of standard makes. Unknown names were a drug on the market. At the J. W. Greene Co., December proved a successful month. Machine and record sales were slightly ahead of a year ago and radio sales were much better, according to W. W. Smith, president. A campaign of advertising which embraced newspaper, billboard, direct mail and windows is given credit for much of the showing. Buying centered around new merchandise — people asked for the latest in phonographs, radio and records. The Toledo Radio Co. on January 12 will hold sales and service meetings for Sparton dealers in this territory. Harry Sparks, sales manager of the Sparks-Withington Co., Jackson, Mich., will have an important place on the program. Executives and members of the engineering staff will also be present. The purpose of the gathering, Chas. H. Womeldorff, president, stated, is to better inform dealers and service men so that they may extend their efforts. The meetings will be held in the auditorium of the J. W. Greene Co. The new LaSalle & Koch Co., Brunswick Shop, according to Wilbur F. Cooper, manager, closed a very satisfactory holiday business. This fine shop caters to a class of buyers who prefer combinations. Miss M. Plotkin has joined the firm as manager of the record section of the enterprise. The Whitney-Blaine-Wildermuth Co., Brunswick and Victor dealer, experienced a renewed demand for machines during the two weeks preceding Christmas, according to Henry C. Wildermuth, treasurer. The call for radio sets was greater this year than in the past. Sparton and Atwater Kent lines are featured. Prospects for the new year are extremely bright, Mr. Wildermuth believes. The United Music Store experienced an increase in Panatrope and Victor sales, both for December and for the year 1927, according to Harry L. Wasserman, president. Radio volume also exceeded all previous marks. The electric sets were much in demand, including RCA, Atwater Kent and Sparton lines. The Columbia records of the "Two Black Crows" has been given impetus by the release of parts five and six, which, Miss Virginia Davis stated, are outselling the first four parts. At Grinnell Bros, gift certificates were featured as the ideal way to make Christmas presents. On account of this not a few persons availed themselves of the different way of gift presentation. Supplies of Orthophonic Victrola 7-25 and Radiola 17 were short. The Kellogg A. C. radio was featured in store and newspaper, as well as billboard, publicity. H. M. Wells and Warren L. Kellogg, of the Cleveland Talking Machine Co., made the rounds of local dealers this week. Mr. Kellogg reported many calls for the new Victor school machine. Several dealers have Orders awaiting arrival of the instrument, which promises to be very popular. Acoustical Development Corp. Has New Product Producing Stock Model Tone Chamber to Be Used in Mechanical or Electrical Reproducing Phonographs and in Radio Cabinets number of tone chambers to its regular stock models. The Acoustical Development Corp. maintains its general offices at 230 East Ohio street, Chicago, and its factory in Racine, Wis. The Acoustical Development Corp., Chicago, has announced the addition of a stock model tone chamber which may be used in mechanical or electrical reproducing phonographs and also in radio cabinets. This tone chamber, known as Model M-14, has an air column measuring sixty inches in length, and is said to faithfully amplify and reproduce the entire musical scale. This tone chamber is adaptable to practically all standard cabinets, is light in weight, yet sturdily constructed and the material is such that it greatly aids the low scale notes. In addition to Model M-14, the firm is adding a W. G. Fuhri, Columbia Executive, on Trade Trip W. C. Fuhri, vice-president and general manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co., New York, will leave on January 15 for a Pacific Coast trip, visiting as usual Columbia branches and wherever possible Columbia dealers in the important trade centers throughout the West. Before leaving on this trip Mr. Fuhri stated that December Columbia sales had been considerably ahead of last December, with the record volume particularly gratifying, and over 50 per cent in advance of November sales, an excellent showing.