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THE: MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MAIL ORDER BUSINESS
Has Not Enjoyed as Good a Trade as Usual in
the Small Goods Specialties-;—Not Cutting
Into the Small Establishments as of Old.
Western mail order houses, the establishments,
that cut into the regular trade with more or less.
damaging effects, have been enjoying far from
a prosperous business in small goods specialties.
Reports from influential concerns, who are heavy
buyers, are of this tenor, and direct importers of
musical merchandise are not at all pleased with,
prospects for the new year in this direction. As.
a matter of fact, business with these mail order
houses has been running behind for six months
past, notwithstanding special inducements and
prices offered the consumer direct. Shortly after
the first the solicitation for import orders he-
gins, and representatives of foreign lines have
no hesitancy in predicting a loss of trade through
this source, not at all to their liking. Perhaps
more encouraging information may materialize
before the "long trips" are on, but the present
diagnosis is of a decidedly disspiriting nature.
The new samples have been coming in for the
past few weeks, displacing many numbers in
every line which have been discontinued. No
radical changes in models are noticeable, but the
finishes are better, and the general make-up more
45
ary. Mr. S. is a great stickler for professional
construction and finish, and frankly condemns
everything that is suggestive of puerile or
"gingerbread" effects.
It will be remembered that a former shipment
from this firm, including many of the same
goods, is in the process of litigation and is now
pending before the board.
BOARD OF GENERAL APPRAISERS
IN THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD.
Render a Decision on an Invoice of Goods From
Ch. & J. Ullmann, of Paris.
(Special to The Review.)
Marcus A. Miller, managing partner of the
Bettini Phonograph Co., who has been abroad
for a couple of months, reached New York Fri-
day last. While in Europe he made a number of
important deals which promise to cut a great
figure in the American trade.
Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 27, 1904.
The findings of Board No. 1, of the United
* * *
States Board of General Appraisers, rendered
December 20, on an invoice of goods from Ch. &
Seavey Bros., Haverhill, Mass., is one of the
J. Ullmann, Paris and St. Croix; exported July 6 many dealers who have fitted up a special room
and June 18, 1904, entered here, is as follows: for the sale of all the different makes of talking
One hundred and fifty dozen bagpipes, entered at machines, carrying thousands of different selec-
5.30, reappraised at 5.30 francs per dozen; 6 tions of records. At their store will always be
dozen do, entered at 9.40, reappraised at 9.40 found an attendant willing to play any record
francs per dozen; 6 dozen do, entered at 13,20, wished to be heard, whether the visitor intends
reappraised at 13.20 francs per dozen; 30 doz^n to buy or not. They are live advertisers, their
rosin No. 1, entered at 3.60, advanced to 3.84 methods being original, seldom leaving an op-
francs per dozen; 5 gross whistles, entered at portunity slip to make the most of a suggestion
12.85, advanced to 13.97 francs per gross; 15 from whatever source presented.
gross ocarinas, entered at 10.80, advanced to 13.04
* * *
francs per gross; 12 dozen rosin, entered at 5.75,
Beginning with January the National Phono-
reappraised at 5.73 francs per dozen; 3 dozen graph Co. will mail two record bulletins (large
ocarinas, entered at 3, reappraised at 2.53 francs lists) to every dealer on their lists. This will be
per dozen; 2 dozen do, entered at 9.90, re- done to enable each dealer to hang one in his
appraised
at 8.33 francs per dozen; 9 dozen clari- show window and have a second copy for use in-
attractive.
net caps, entered at 3.40, reappraised at 8.33 side. Jobbers who find an occasional dealer ask-
francs per dozen; 9 dozen clarinet caps, entered ing for still another copy may have a small sup-
FRANK SCRIBNER'S SOUVENIR.
at 3.40, reappraised at 3.08 francs per dozen; 9 ply shipped with their orders for new records
dozen clarinet mouthpieces, entered at 12.25, ad- each month by advising the advertising depart-
A miniature harmonica, properly made and
carefully tuned, about two inches in length and vanced to 13.97 francs per dozen; 50 saxophone ment in advance. The company's new foreign
put up in an elegant leatherette, plush lined reeds entered at 13, advanced to 13.97 francs ner record catalogue, ready for distribution at the
case, with the inscription "Compliments of Weiss 100; 50 do, entered at 20.80, advanced to 22.70 same time, will contain a lot of Mexican and a
& Scribner" in neat gold lettering, h a s been francs per 100; 15 dozen toy music boxes, entered few more British records.
* * *
sent to the trade as a souvenir of the season. at 13.20, advanced to 15.35 francs per dozen; 6
The instrument has finely nickeled covers, a per- dozen do, entered at 16.20, advanced to 17-23 Next week the Universal Talking Machine
fect complement of reeds, and musically leaves francs per dozen; 36 pieces do, entered at 4.15, Mfg. Co. will have their January bulletin of nine
reappraised at 4.04 francs each; and similar and ten-inch records completed. In a month or
nothing to be desired considering its size
goods; entered values are subject to discount of
so several new machines—in fact, their entire
Frank Scribner this week received a new sam-
10 per cent, and 2 per cent.; advanced values are line—will be remodeled after the pattern of the
ple line of regular harmonica goods, which he
subject to discount of 2 per cent. only.
new style Zonophone, with tapering arm.
will show the trade on his, trip west in Janu-
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A DEALER IS AFTER A PROFIT
a n d
a c u s t o m e r
i s a f t e r
q u a l i t y
In the
TALK-O-PHONE
both of these are obtained
You are able to get a good honest profit, your customer is sure to get a * ood bar ^ ain
We make nothing that is poor in finish, and
therefore have maintained a reputation for quality that is not excelled
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1 A dealer is not trading in merchandise for health's sake, not giving a machine away for simply what it cost,
that is pretty to read about in the fairy books, but in these days the merchant is after some of the
simoleons, so a Talk-O-Phone in your store is worth two in our factory
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JVf O R A L
Buy T
» l k - ° - P h l o n e s riow a-rvd do not forget tKe ten-inch
^^^^^_^^___
records thsvt ».re selling a.t fifty cents apiece
They are creating the greatest stir in the trade that has been experienced in its history
MACHINES FROM FIFTEEN TO FORTY DOLLARS
RECORDS FROM US TO YOU AT FIFTY CENTS
The TaJk-O~Phoi\e Company,
CHICAGO
SAN FRANCISCO
T O L E D O
OHIO
NEW YORK