The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar 1903-Feb 1904)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. OUR POLICY. THE policy upon which the National Phonograph Company is conducting its business is embodied in the following notice, which now appears upon all of its catalogues : Every Edison Phonograph and every Edison Record and Blank is sold by the NATIONAL PHONOGRAPH COMPANY under restrictions as to the persons to whom and the prices at which such Phonographs, Records and Blanks are to be sold, and as to the removal or change in whole or in part of the serial numbers on such Phonographs. Any violation of such restrictions terminates the license to use and vend such Phonographs, Records and Blanks implied from the sale thereof, and any subsequent use or sale of such Phonographs, Records or Blanks is an infringement of the Edison Patents. The object of this policy, as every one in the trade knows, is to maintain uniform prices and prevent the sale of our goods at cut rates. It is a policy that should commend itself to every wise business man ; it should require no threats or persuasion to enforce. Indiscriminate cutting of prices brings no advantage to any one. Wherever permitted without check the cut of one dealer is met the following day by a competitor, who goes him a point better, and in a short time, both are selling at prices that do not yield a proper business profit. Before long the dealers are anxious to combine and find a way to induce people to pay list prices again. This Company purposes enforcing its polic> to the fullest extent. It is investigating cases of price cutting — cases where men have pledged themselves, over their signature, to comply with the terms of the Company — and as fast as conclusive evidence is obtained the offenders are placed on a suspended list and every obstacle put in the way of their buying Phonographs and Records, l.iis has a salutary effect in most cases. Where it does not we begin suit for injunction and damages just as soon as we can collect the necessary evidence. The demand for Edison Phonographs and Records is so widespread that it is simply impossible for a dealer in talking machines to do without them. The public know too well that Thomas A. Edison invented the Phonograph with its many improvements and they know, also, that other devices are but inferior imitations of his. A dealer may cajole a customer into taking some other machine, but in nine cases out of ten his customer becomes disgusted and wants an Edison Phonograph. Such has been the experience of thousands and must from the very nature of things continue to be the case. People want Edison goods and they will not be fooled. THE PHONOGRAM. SINCE we decided in December to discontinue the publication of the Phonogram we have received almost daily letters asking " Why are you discontinuing the Phonogram ?" " Are you going to get out anything else of the same character to take its place? " Then the mails have brought expressions like these : "I am sorry that you are giving up the Phonogram." "I have always thought the Phonogram a bright little publication and I shall miss it very much." "I shall miss the monthly visits of the Phonogram." We are not surprised that correspondents should express themselves in this regretful manner. We should have been disappointed in ourselves had we taken out of monthly circulation 60,000 copies of the Phonogram without quite a considerable number of persons missing it. We should have felt that we had gone to considerable expense without getting any return. When it was decided to discontinue the Phonogram it was not deemed of sufficient importance to get out a special letter informing the trade as to our reasons for doing so. The Phonograph Monthly is just the medium for saying a word on the subject. Briefly stated our decision was reached because of the conviction that the benefit to the business was not commensurate with the cost of the publication. It was found that a large majority of those who wanted the Phonogram sought it chiefly for the list of new Records given in it each month, a demand that was being met by the attractive Record Supplement that we are getting out in large quantities each month. Other reasons of a business nature entered into the decision that closed the Phonogram's existence. The fact that we have not had a greater number of protests against the discontinuance of the Phonogram confirms our opinion that we have made no mistake in stopping it. Concerning a substitute for the Phonogram, we might say that nothing of the same character is now contemplated. y\ NO MORE 180 PEG CABINETS. IT has been decided to discontinue furnishing the 180 Peg Record Cabinets listed in the Catalogue of Accessories. No more orders for them will be filled. The Edison Phonograph Monthly will be issued in four, six or eight page form as may be found necessary from month to month.