Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
With the Makers and Sellers of TaJking Machines
PROSPERITY IN CHICAGO.
Advance Over Last Year—Columbia Exhibit
at Business System Show—Victor Recitals—
Mr. Babson Goes South—Wurlitzer Enlarge.
(Special to The Review.)
Chicago, III., March 28, 1905.
All of the large talking machine jobbers and
dealers are more than pleased with the manner
in which business is moving this year. Without
exception, they report February and March as
showing a n increase over the corresponding
months of last year.
"Usually sales drop off somewhat during Feb-
ruary and the first part of March," remarked
Manager A. H. Dorian, of the Chicago branch of
the Columbia Phonograph Co., "but this year
they have kept up remarkably, and we have real
difficulty in getting goods fast enough, which in-
dicates, of course, that the same conditions exist
in other sections as well. So far as I know, the
other companies are having the same experience,
and it simply reflects the wide and ever-increas-
ing interest in the talking machine proposition
by the general public.
"Locally we have had a remarkable experi-
ence. We have started three branch stores in
Chicago this year: one at 864 Milwaukee avenue
in January, and the stores at 260 Blue Island
avenue and at 819 W. 63d street, in February,
and all of them are already on a paying basis."
Touching the wholesale trade, Mr. Dorian said
they were well pleased with the recently inaugu-
rated proposition on quantity purchases of rec-
ords, under which a liberal discount from list is
given. This discount is extended only to job-
bers who sign a price maintenance agreement on
their own behalf, and who also agree to enforce
contracts from the dealers to whom they sell.
Lyon & Healy are sending out the new monthly
records to dealers on approval for 48 hours,
giving the latter an opportunity to have buyers
come in and hear them.
F. K. Babson, manager of the Talking Machine
Co., Chicago, extensive jobbers of the Victor and
Edison machines, has not been well for some
time, and is taking a needed rest at his former
home, Seward, Neb. He will return in about
three weeks. His brother, G. Babson, is looking
after things in his absence. The company was
last week forced to greatly increase the quarters
occupied by them at 105 Madison street, secur-
ing additional space on the second floor for their
shipping room, and utilizing the space formerly
occupied on the third floor for records.
The Chicago house of Rudolph Wurlitzer &
Co. has greatly enlarged the talking machine
branch of their business the past year. They are
doing a larger retail business on the Victor than
ever, and have the past year taken up the Edison
machines and developed the business wonder-
fully, both in a wholesale and retail way. John
Otto, who has the talking machine department in
charge, has the record of putting the first talking
machines in a department store in Chicago.
When in the musical merchandise department at
Siegel Cooper's some years ago, he bought two
small machines and a half dozen records; ten
days later he bought another machine and six
dozen records. When he left them a year ago, to
go with Wurlitzer, they had a stock of 8,000 rec-
ords and 80 machines.
McNeil & Co. have opened a music store on High
street, Modesto, Cal.
A "WIRELESS" TALKING MACHINE
Is the Latest Specialty Talked of—P. S. Jones
Chats With The Review on the Subject—An-
other Invention for Reproducing Exact Tones
of the Voice.
A "wireless" talking machine is now being pro-
moted; rather, is in an experimental stage of
development. P. S. Jones, a New York attorney,
who is lauding the prospective merits of the new
invention, said in conversing with The Review
recently: "This is the next step in the talking
machine art, and, in my opinion, will eventually
knock them all out. The device has been demon-
strated as commercially practicable, and will re-
produce the sound of the human so as to be
recognizable between such widely separated
places as New York or San Francisco, or Paris.
We commence where Marconi leaves off and
every step so far taken is one of vast progress
and advancement. Our sending stations, how-
ever, will not be equipped with masts or an-
tennae, but properly attended instruments at
the termini answer for the transmission and
receiving of messages, vocal or otherwise. The
commercial end will be first looked after, with
the entertainment possibilities to follow."
Another invention, known as the Poulson pat-
ent, of Danish origin, also relates to the repro-
duction of the exact tones of the voice. As yet
it is reported as being barely beyond the scien-
tific stage, though the apparatus is said to be on
exhibition. So far it is not of any particular
commercial value, being quite expensive, but
while the results are feeble, the sounds are per-
fect and the device represents a distinct advance
in talking machine development that may be
momentous some day. Its purpose aims to re-
V
You are in business for a profit.
You recommend goods to your customer as good.
If the goods should not happen to be good
Your friend has had enough of you.
You state to him the article is worth the price,
He finds out later that he can buy elsewhere cheaper.
You lose another friend.
If you are selling him a Talk-O-Phone,
Then it is different.
You will not have these matters to deal with.
The machine is honest throughout.
The price tends to show that other machines are too high.
You want the respect of your customers.
You can get it and keep it by selling Talk-O-Phones.
>We are always at home for your inquiries and orders.
The Talk-O-Phoive Company
TOLEDO, OHIO
CHICAGO
SAN FRANCISCO
NEW YORK