The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1916)

10 EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY, JANUARY, 1916 THO.VIAS P. WtbTENDORF AND DAUGHTER ITS NATURALNESS OF TONE WE want to go on record as enthusiastic believers in whatever Mr. Edison declares to be his best. We have had two of the "Needle Scratching" whirligigs in our possession and we would not hesitate to declare that there is no comparison between them and the "Little Old Cylinder" that has provided this institution with entertainment, enjoyment and instruction for the past two years, and is still as necessary to our comfort and happiness as — well, as is the sunlight. "If we were to say what is Edison Amberola's chief advantage, we would have to declare that we have a whole lot of fun, and no little satisfaction, in making our own records. Just think what we get out of it in this line. We have about two hundred of the home recording records that have been in use for the past two years. We would like to play some of these against the best of the "Scratch Needle" contraptions. Of course, so much depends on the quality of tone to be recorded — resonance, timbre, etc. — that some are better than others, but we have quite a number that we are satisfied can not be surpassed either for tone or real heartreaching naturalness. "The Blue Amberol has the advantage of durability without sacrificing the naturalness of the tone recorded. It does not require such careful handling, as other records, for it is indestructible. This is its chief advantage. The diamond point makes one feel that nothing is wearing out. "Yes, Mr. Edison came pretty near striking it the first time he tried." Thomas P. Westendorf and Daughter, Bartlett. Tenn. ITS WIDE RANGE OF SELECTIONS THE following letter, written personally to Mr. Edison, is of interest at this time: "You cannot know how much I appreciate the beautiful selections you are making on the Blue Amberol Records, both in the Concert and the Regular lists. There have been times when I felt awfully blue and lonesome, but these Blue Amberol Records cheered me up wonderfully. I have a $125.00 Amberola. "I watch very patiently from month to month and I am happy to say that there is a great uplift in the Blue Amberol Records. The recording is fine ! The records run smoothly and seem to be of a uniform excellence. "I notice I can get about the same music (and sometimes better) on the Blue Amberol as is put out on the Disc. This I appreciate ever so much. It is the fair thing to do toward owners of Cylinder machines and thereby you are giving us a square deal. Many thanks! "I feel so happy over the Amberola situation that I just had to express myself. "W. H. SURBER, Wabash, Ind." AN EDISON AMBEROLA ON THE FRONTIER uy AST December in company with a banker of 1 j wide influence from Chicago and a number of other persons interested in various lines of work," writes W. C. Olin of Denver, Colo., "I took a trip by auto from Winnemucca several hundred miles into the cattle country. One hundred and seventy miles from Winnemucca we came to a postoffice that has the reputation of being the most remote from a railroad of any postoffice in the United States. The name of this postoffice is 'Andrews, Ark.' "Fifteen miles beyond the postoffice we were entertained for the night at the headquarters of a very large stock ranch, the property of a Mr. Clerf. "After a sumptuous supper we were invited into the sitting room. Here, before big back-logs snapping merrily and flaming brightly in the fireplace, we enjoyed a concert that was most delightful. It was given to us by Mrs. Clerf on her new Edison machine, which her husband had recently made her a present of. "This was the first time I had ever heard an Edison. It had been my rare privilege to hear in person many of the musicians whose scores I heard repeated. The music as it came from this machine was so clear, so natural, that I was startled, for the moment thinking that the musician was in our very presence. "You may be able to imagine what a source of pleasure and delight this concert was to us in the environment of the wild call of the coyote, the lowing of the herd of cattle and the wide waste of seemingly limitless prairie stretching as far as eye could see all around us. "At the close of the entertainment our friend the Chicago banker thanked Mrs. Clerf for the pleasure of the evening and stated that it was one of the most pleasant concerts that he had ever attended, and that he could not remember when he had more thoroughly enjoyed an evening than he had this one.