The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1916)

THE EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTH LY Published in the interest of EDISON AMBEROLA PHONOGRAPHS AND BLUE AMBEROL RECORDS By THOMAS A. EDISON, Inc. ORANGE, N. J., U. S. A. THOMAS A. EDISON, LTD., 164 WARDOUR ST., LONDON, W. ENGLAND THOMAS A. EDISON, LTD., 364-372 KENT STREET, SYDNEY, N. S. W. COMPANIA EDISON HISPANO-AMERICANA, FLORIDA 635, BUENOS AIRES EDISON GESELLSCHAFT, M. B. H. 3 YORKSTRASSE, BERLIN COMPAGNIE FRANCAISE THOMAS A. EDISON, 59 RUE DES PETITES-ECURIES, PARIS Volume XIV FEBRUARY, 1916 Number 2 When a Competitor Says it, it's Probably Untrue What an interesting thing a competitor sometimes is. What a variety of things he can put into the mouths of his representatives to pass on to dealers who do not carry his line. The ingenuity he shows in "framing" is worthy of a better cause. He can "knock" with all the tools that make noises. The mean things he can write and say are a caution. And he is never exempt from the habit, no matter how great a measure of prosperity he enjoys. He just simply can't help hating to see the other fellow get business. The gentleman in the back row wants to say something. Certainly you may talk. You don't think their knocking is due to meanness, eh, but because they recognize the inferiority of their product, and are fearful for its ultimate fate. Perhaps that is it. We really don't know. After all it doesn't matter much. Then, too, all of this is beside the question. We wanted particularly to refer to one of the newest things being said about the Edison Cylinder product. Mr. Competitor is now having his people say that we are going to give up the Cylinder line. As a rule it isn't worth while paying attention to statements of this kind, particularly when the} are put out with questionable motives, but one of these statements made recently "smoked" us out and caused the issuance of the following trade letter, signed by Mr. Edison. Here is the letter: To all Iulison Cylinder Dealers: I'.y this time you know that the Phonograph Monthly hereafter is to be devoted exclusively to the cylinder lint — the Diamond Amberola and the Blue Amberol records. We have <pent a large sum of money since the fire in perfecting the Diamond Amberola instruments. Still more recently we have taken steps further to improve the Blue Amberol record. 'I'lie foregoing seems to me a complete answer to the malicious rumors that it is our intention to abandon the cylinder product. If we had had any intention of doing so we should certainly have done it after the fire last December, instead of spending enormous sums of money to resume its manufacture. Those among our dealers who are pushing the Diamond Amberola as it deserves to be pushed will find in their sales a complete refutation of the baseless rumor that we are planning to discontinue its manufacture. T wish to call the attention of every dealer to the fact that our cylinder sales in November, 1915, were 29% greater than our cylinder sales in November, 1914. Does it seem probable that in the face of these conditions we would now contemplate quitting, when last year, after the fire, we spent large sums of money to restore our cylinder phonograph and cylinder record manufacturing facilities? I wish every cylinder Dealer a happy and prosperous New Year and urge upon him renewed confidence and renewed effort. December 29, 1915. Yours truly, THOMAS A. EDISON.