Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
STEADY INCREASE IN ST. LOUIS.
Trade Report for the First Three Months Shows
Trade Growth of 25 Per Cent.—Columbia
Activity—Ramsdell's Report—Other Items.
(Special to The tteview.)
St. Louis, Mo., April 28, 1906.
Trade reports for the first quarter in the year
show an increase of about 25 per cent, for that
period over the same last year, and reports for
the surrounding territory are considerably better
than this. It can be said without any exaggera-
tion that the talking machine business is boom-
ing here, with a very bright future before it.
The Columbia Phonograph Co. have moved to
908 Olive St., where they have fitted up a very
handsome store, which includes handsome private
rooms for customers, where exhibitions will be
given. The new store has been arranged in a
manner that makes it one of the most complete
and attractive in the country. Manager W. C.
Fuhri, of this concern, returned from a short
trip to New York last week. In a conversa-
tion with your correspondent he reported trade
for the month of April to have been very good
both here and throughout this territory. This com-
pany have just opened up a fine new store at 315
Main street. Dallas, Tex., with Robert R. Sou-
ders as manager. Mr. Souders has been con-
nected with the St. Louis office for the past nine
years. Wm. F. Standke, formerly connected with
the St. Louis office of the same concern, has
been appointed manager of the Memphis, Tenn.,
office, succeeding R. P. Bartlett, who goes to Dal-
las, Tex., as assistant manager.
D. S. Ramsdell, vice-president and general
manager of the St. Louis Talking Machine Co.,
makes very favorable reports on the volume
of business transacted by his concern during
April and for the first quarter of the year. Mr.
Ramsdell has been giving a season of grand
opera exhibitions at their store during the past
week, and has sent out a number of invitations
in this connection. In view of the fact that we
have had a season of grand opera here, the time
was very opportune for these exhibitions. They
have been very much appreciated by the callers
at the store, and Mr. Ramsdell feels positive
that it will result in creating quite a demand for
his machines. Mr. Ramsdell reports the sale of
one of his finest machines to the O'Fallon
Cuivre Club, of O'Fallon, 111., composed of promi-
nent citizens of this city.
J. Frank Mahret, sales manager of the St.
Louis Talking Machine Co., who was taken sick
while on a trip early in the month of March, and
confined at a hospital here for several weeks, is
out of the hospital and slowly recuperating.
The Talking Machine Co., 923 Olive street, and
the Western Talking Machine Co., 925 Olive
street, have both received notice to vacate their
respective locations within the next sixty days,
as their stores are to be torn down to make room
for a new skyscraper. Manager Max Silver-
stone, of the Talking Machine Co., has secured a
fine location at 1010 Olive street, which he will
occupy within the next six weeks. The Western
Talking Machine Co. have been incorporated with
a capital of $9,000.
T. P. Clancy, manager of the talking machine
department of the Conroy Piano Co., reports a
very active trade during March, and that the
public is buying the better class of machines.
He states that their trade is steadily increasing,
and feels very optimistic regarding the future.
The Val A. Reis Music Co., the Thiebes-Stierlin
Musif Co., and E. B. Walthall, manager of the
talking machine department of the O. K. Houck
Piano Co., all report trade good with them on
talking machines.
In one of our recent issues the American Rec-
ord Co. gave notice to dealers and jobbers that
they would allow them to sell ten-inch American
records at 50 cents and one old ten-inch record
of any make or two seven-inch records of any
make; the seven-inch record for 30 cents and
one old-seven inch record of any make. We are
advised by the aoove company that this plan is
meeting with great success, and has largely aug-
mented sales for the American product.
The time is ripe for you
to get a larger share of the Victor business.
More than one-half of the population of
the United States is told every month about
the Victor. Our magazine advertising reaches
49,000,000 readers monthly and practically
covers the entire country.
It costs us hundreds of thousands of
dollars, but it makes the people want
Victor Talking Machines
and Records
That's where you come in, and the way
to come in good and strong is to let the
people know you have the Victor and get
them to your store.
Advertising in your local papers, window
displays and circular work will easily
accomplish this result. It strengthens the
impression we have already made by our
magazine advertising, makes the people
more anxious to hear the Victor, and you
tell them where they can hear it.
This plan can't help but give your busi-
ness quite a boost. Other dealers work it
to their advantage and the same opportunity
stands open to you.
Victor Talking Machine Company
Camden, N. J.
P. S. Here's a good plan that is worked by wide-awake dealers:
Place Standing monthly orders for the new records with your dis-
tributor, and push this feature. (Keeps your customers calling at
least monthly'—they look for them.)
Artistic Monthly Supplements furnished free for this purpose.