The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

ifnlLADELPHIA and' iPCALiry Philadelphia Retailers Plan Summer Exploitation Campaigns Trade Prepares to Offset Usual Summer Slackness by More Aggressive Selling — New Models of Radio Receivers Are Being Shown — Record Sales Hold Up Well Philadelphia, Pa., June 4. — Though the seasonal reaction of sales for talking machines brought its customary quieter trend, there nevertheless was a fairly maintained buying interest on the part of the public in the newer types of talking machines, radio and combinations to warrant an optimistic attitude on the part of the dealers towards the future of business. While it is to be expected that a Summertime lull will intervene between the present and Fall, there is every evidence that customers can be secured with the proper sales efforts and specialized means of bringing the talking machines and radios to the notice of the consumers. To this end many dealers are planning Summer activities along concentrated and unbeaten paths such as campaigns in door to door sales drives, direct mail appeal and demonstration of instruments in the homes with exploited Summertime diversions that may be secured through these amusement devices, at the seaside, in the mountain or country resorts. Record sales are holding fairly well, with popular selections of nationally exploited entertainers the most active of the lists. Now that Winter days are past and the lure of the outdoors calls many to vacation pursuits, the lighter popular recordings are the most salable for the "going away" season. Portables are in demand, and new records that accompany these Summertime machines are likewise being stocked for the hot weather business. New types of radios are being shown here for the coming Fall stocking with the numerous concerns bringing out the latest improved AC sets. Distributors are preparing their Summer campaigns for these newer radios and are already demonstrating the improved models which will be the leaders for the anticipated Autumn revival of business. Ready for Summer While the trade is preparing for "Summertime campaigns, the dealers who compose the membership of the Philadelphia Victor Dealers' Association are looking forward with anticipated pleasure to the big annual gathering of trade associates in the wide open spaces along the Delaware at Kuglers Mohican Club on June 6th when the outing will be given over to a program of enjoyable pastime for the promotion of fellowship and sociability. This year the outing was extended to include the jobbers and dealers who attended the annual sales conference of the Victor Distributors held the week before. A special invitation was extended to the visiting distributors who attended the conferences at the Victor factory to join their fellows in the Quaker City trade at Morris on the Delaware, where the famous Kugler Club is located, and enjoy a day in the open after their labors. A diversified program of outdoor sports, funprovoking novelty events, baseball games, swimming races and dinner has been arranged by the committee in charge of arrangements, with Homer Davis, of the George B. Davis Co., as chairman. Others on the committee are A. C. Weymann, Richard Ertelt, H. Royer Smith, Morris Grass, George Witney and President J. Ralph Wilson, of the Association. The sportingevents have been arranged under direction of "Captain" Witney who has lined up a retail and wholesale nine to match on the baseball diamond and to test strength in the novelty of a tug-o'-war contest. Fat men and lean men will be matched in the running races, with swim The New Portable Victrola Automatic Stop, Orthophonic Type Sound Box and other features make it THE ARISTOCRAT OF PORTABLES No. 2-55 List Price $35-00 Metal Console Table List Price $20.00 To Match Complete $55-00 Wire, Phone or Mail Your Order for Immediate Delivery. H.A.WEYMANN & SONjNC. 1108 Chestnut Street -Philadelphia, Pa. Victor Wholesalers ming feats and boating for those who like the aquatic sports. The dinner hour will be devoted to feasting on planked shad and other seasonable good things. Interest in New Columbia Product The introduction of the new combination radio and talking machine recently perfected by the Columbia Phonograph Co., brought a broad list of buyers into the Philadelphia headquarters at 40 North Sixth street. In the late May days when the new model combination ColumbiaKolster radio was placed on display, the Quaker City branch was kept busy demonstrating the latest type. Orders were freely given after viewing the Model 960 and sufficient advance business secured to take care of shipments from the factory for several weeks to come. The Two Black Crow recordings have been the popular sellers of the Columbia group of artists throughout the month and the May releases on these artists were exceptionally attractive to purchasers of records. The Columbia is starting its big campaign1 on the Whiteman records during the current month, June 20th being the date set for the exploitation of the Columbia Whiteman renditions in the local retail field. To Show New Bosch Line With the mid-June days there will be shown the latest improvements in the 1928 Bosch Radio at the local wholesalers, the Lewis Radio Jobbers, 45 North Seventh street. These new sets are entirely of the 7-tubes, single dial, with push-pull amplifiers, AC electrical types. The complete line will be on display and ready for shipments a month later. Among them is a console model listing at $295. It has the dynamic speaker. Displays Feature Panatrope There was perfected during the past month a special window display of the Brunswick Panatrope under the local branch management of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., 40 North Sixth street. The leading music dealers along Chestnut street featuring the Brunswick were included in the special window attractions designed to aid the retailers in sales of the Panatrope. Those represented on Chestnut street were J. Ralph Wilson, Charles Stieff, Inc., and C. J. Heppe & Son. Herman's Music Shop, at 1721 Ridge avenue, was another music house featuring the special window attraction. Weymann Prepares Dealers' Aid The sales promotion department of H. A. Weymann & Son, Inc., has addressed a number of helpful letters to Victor dealers in the territory during the month. Particularly designed to increase the dealers record sales is a record ordering card evolved by the sales promotion department, attractively printed in two colors and with the dealers' imprint. This card features the Victor record hits of the month and should be mailed out by Victor dealers with the monthly record supplement. Zenith Exhibit Arouses Interest In a two-day demonstration convention the Penn Phonograph Co., 913 Arch street, gave first showing of the recently introduced 1928 line of Zenith radios. The demonstration attracted a wide circle of dealers from all sections of eastern Pennsylvania, south Jersey and Delaware, who were most enthusiastic over the latest devices. The programs of the convention were carried out at the Sylvania, where the junior ballroom was devoted to the display of the seven attractive, designs that complete the latest Zenith developments, May 28 and 29. Under the supervision of Sales Manager B. Wilson Mayberry, of the Penn Co., sales talks on the new Zenith were given for the benefit of the dealers, who were highly gratified with the (Continued on page 144) 142