Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
JANUARY BUSINESS VERY GOOD.
Expected Dullness Did Not Materialize and the
Sales of Machines and Records Exceed Cal-
culations—A Chat with C. H. Wilson.
Contrary to expectations, business is almost as
active and brisk with manufacturers and jobbers
everywhere as in December. The demand for
machines and records at this time is going far
beyond calculations, and the manufacturers are
finding it no easy task to supply the goods. The
capacity of the plants would doubtless satisfy the
call, but the difficulty of obtaining raw material
—principally iron and steel—is the obstacle both-
ering the manufacturers. Possibly the trade, out-
side of manufacturing circles, pay little if any
attention to the condition of the material market,
and therefore wonder why machines should not
be turned out more rapidly. They ought to know
that the activity in the general machinery and
other trades utilizing iron and steel, are consum-
ing deliveries about as fast as the furnaces can
make shipments. The markets are bare of a
score or more of famous brands of fine castings.
Prices are steady on general lines, but for several
sorts for which the demand is far ahead of the
supply buyers are paying advances over the rates
that ruled until a few days ago. Consequently,
unless talking machine manufacturers are cov-
ered, they are in a predicament for the basic
goods almost at any price.
Echoing the reports concerning the develop-
ment of business since the first of the year, C. H.
Wilson, manager of sales, National Phonograph
Co., said: "The demand is stronger than ever
for machines. We had caught up slightly with
records, but the orders pouring in are putting us
behind again. Our grand opera records are tak-
ing, but being practically a new line, must take
some time to introduce properly, as lovers of
high class music are not so numerous as those
preferring the popular product. We will issue
fresh grand opera record lists every three
months, the next one in May."
Other manufacturers and a number of promi-
nent jobbers expressed like opinions as to the
trend of trade.
C. V. HENKEL ELECTED PRESIDENT
Of the Douglas Phonograph Co. and Devereux
Elmes Secretary and Treasurer—Business
Report Excellent.
At the annual meeting of directors last week,
C. V. Henkel was elected president and general
manager of the Douglas Phonograph Co., New
York, and Devereux Elmes secretary and treas-
urer, formerly secretary only. Mr. Henkel, who
had previously been treasurer and manager, de-
serves his promotion to the presidency of this
very successful jobbing house, claiming to be
the largest strictly in its line in the country, for
it has been through his acumen and excellent
business judgment that the firm occupies its
present commanding position in the trade. Mr.
Elmes has few equals as an expert talking ma-
chine man on the mechanical side, not to men-
tion his mercantile qualrfi cat ions, also of a high
order. The Review extends its congratulations
to both gentlemen.
REVIEW
Fourth avenue, which will be vacated. Wal-
ter H. Miller will continue as manager, with W.
H. A. Cronkhite, his old-time assistant, in the
same position.
TALKING MACHINE MEN ORGANIZE.
Form Permanent Organization of Jobbers—
Next Meeting in Pittsburg—Entertained at
Banquet.
(Special to The Review.)
Cincinnati, O., Jan. 27, 1906.
Ai a meeting of the Central States Talking
Machine Jobbers' Association held in this city
this week, the temporary organization was made
permanent, Mr. Ilsen of Cincinnati being elected
president, E. T. Ashton, of Detroit, vice-presi-
dent, and P. B. Whitsit, of Columbus, secretary
and treasurer. A set of by-laws were framed
and adopted, and a general discussion of trade
conditions was participated in by the sixteen
jobbers in attendance. It was decided to hold
the next meeting in Pittsburg within sixty days.
A vote of thanks was extended the Hawthorne
& Sheble Mfg. Co. for the courtesy shown the
association, and also to Ilsen & Co. and the Ru-
dolph Wurlitzer Co., of this city, for the elegant
banquet given those present.
EDISON JOBBERS ENTERTAINED
At Banquet at the Hotel Martin—A Most En-
joyable Affair in Every Way.
(Special to The liovlew.)
Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 31, 1906.
Mr. Sheble, of the Hawthorne & Sheble Mfg. Co.
of this city, in a recent interview relative to trade
conditions states that never in the history of the
talking machine business have they seen such
brisk trade as at the present time. He goes on to
say: "We have very largely increased our facili-
ties to manufacture talking machine supplies, and
since early in September have been running over-
time, but even then we have by no means been
able to accept all of the business which has been
offered us. We have instructed our salesmen to
refrain from soliciting new business, so as to give
us better opportunity to attend to the require-
ments of our old trade. Our well-known No. 5
Horn Crane has had such a phenomenal sale that
we have been obliged to rebuild our entire NickeJ
Plating Plant in order to largely increase the'
output. Our outfit of Flower horns alone is to
day nearly three times as large as was our entire
horn output one year ago, and we are still furthei
increasing our output by the addition of numer-
ous special machines so as to take care of trade
requirements. The demand for the better grade
Flower horns is largely on the increase, and 1
believe before very long the cheaper style Flower
horns will be used only on the low priced ma-
chines, while the better grade Flower horns will
come into universal use, So many dealers have
an idea that the talking machine business prac-
tically ends with Christmas. Such,, however, is a
very erroneous conception, as in our experience
,the largest business is done during January, Feb-
ruary and March, with March as the preferred
month."
In honor of a number of out-of-town Edison
jobbers attending the automobile exhibitions, the
National Phonograph Co. tendered them a dinner
at the Hotel Martin, New York, during the even-
ing of January 18. It was an enjoyable affair
throughout, the menu and et ceteras delightful,
the speeches brief, witty and to the point. The
company were represented by William Pelzer, of
the legal department; F. K. Dolbeer, chief of
PERTINENT AND PERSONAL.
credits; C. H. Wilson, general manager of sales;
Henry B. Babson, president of the Universal
C. E. Stevens, of the foreign department; L. C.
McChesney, advertising manager, and A. C. Ire- Talking Machine Manufacturing Co., who took
ton, assistant sales manager. C. V. Henkel, a hurried run West last week, returned to New
president and general manager of the Douglas York from Chicago yesterday.
Phonograph Co., was a special guest. About
Among the visitors in New York this week
fifteen jobbers were present.
were: W. Wagner, proprietor of the Pittsburg
(Pa.) Phonograph Co., and L. McCfreal, of Mc-
AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE CO.
Greal Bros., Milwaukee, Wis.
Increase Dividend to a Five Per Cent. Basis
Annually—Splendid Business Report.
Monday a directors' meeting of the American
Graphophone Co. was held at their offices, 90
West Broadway, New York. The annual finan-
cial statement of the company was submitted and
ordered issued to the stockholders. This inter-
esting document showed a surplus of $1,500,-
000, and detailed the improvements and enlarge-
ments made in the plant at Bridgeport, Conn.,
together with the unprecedented expansion of the
business. The plan for the new issue of deben-
ture bonds was indorsed and promulgated. A
quarterly dividend (No. 33) of one and one-quar-
ter per cent, on the common capital stock was
authorized to be paid March 15, 1906, to stock-
holders of record March 1. This is an increase
of one-quarter per cent, over the previous pay-
ment, and places the stock on a 5 per cent, an-
nual basis.
NEW RECORD LABORATORY OPENED.
A new record laboratory was opened Thursday
in the Knickerbocker building, Fifth avenue and
16th street, New York, by the National Phono-
graph Co. It occupies 4,000 square feet of space in
a special structure built on the roof, atop of the
sixteenth story, and is fitted up with every
known modern appliance and a number of the
company's own inventions, for the reproduction
of sound and the making of masters. The room
acquired is about double of that in the old place,
SHEBLE ON TRADE CONDITIONS.
The Well Known Talking Machine Supply Man
Is Most Opimistic Over the Outlook—En-
largement of Plant Necessary.
With the retirement of Fred Babson from the
management of the Talking Machine Co., of Chi-
cago, Arthur Geissler, son of L. F. Geissler, gen-
eral sales manager of the Victor Talking Ma-
chine Co., Camden, N. J., assumes the presidency
and active charge. The change took effect Thurs-
day, the 1st. Mr. Babson will become associated
with his brother in the firm of Babson Bros., of
the same place.
Daniel J. O'Neill, younger brother of Doc.
O'Neill, of the Western travelers for the Zono-
phone Co., recently entered the employ of the
house in the home office, New York. Being under
the tutelage of Mr. Miller, he is in the Jine of
making good.
Anything'
MEXICAN NATIONAL PHONOGRAPH CO.
Everything
Among the incorporations filed with the sec-
retary of the State of New York this week was
that of the Mexican National Phonograph Co.,
Lakeside avenue and Valley road, Orange, N. J.,
for the purpose of manufacturing pronographs
and all kinds of talking machines. Capital, $25,-
000; incorporators, Wm. E. Gilmore, Alfonse
Webster and John Randolph, all residents of
Orange.
in
TALKING
MACHINES
Wholesale
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