The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1916)

10 EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY, FEBRUARY, 1916 Within the Edison Gate— Continued WHEN THE BOYS RELAX Just about three hundred days out of the year the several thousand employees of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., bend over their tasks with energy and enthusiasm perhaps greater than in most organizations because the atmosphere in office and factory seems charged with the industrious spirit of Mr. Edison himself. He is the great worker. But there is one day, or evening rather, when everyone lets down and that is the event of the annual banquet of the Edison Club, an organization of Edison employees. February 5th is the date on which loyal Edison workers journey to Newark for a general exchange of good fellowship and incidentally the consumption of food prepared by the chef of the Washington. Mr. Edison's part on the program is the holding of an informal reception, after which Edison vocal and instrumental artists entertain with favorite phonograph selection, and the motion picture division features some of its screen favorites in brief skits. The menu is gotten out in the same size and form as the Phonograph Monthly and is a veritable "riot of roasts" (edible and otherwise) in which no one is spared, from the chiefs down to Finnegan who puts the ice in the water coolers. Every department takes a hand in making the evening one to be remembered throughout the year. THE EDISON SPIRIT "Within the Edison Gate" on the top floor of the big concrete office building there has been fitted up a lunch room for the benefit of employees who live a considerable distance from their work. Tables have been set up where those who bring their lunch may order a la carte in addition to what they bring, while others have the regular table d'hote served from 12 to 1 o'clock. An interesting feature of lunch time is the phonographic concerts. In addition, there is a grand piano which employees have the privilege of playing, and of which they frequently take advantage. At times singing is indulged in. The point is this — if the great busy Edison organization has time to look after the personal welfare of their employees, isn't it a pretty good sign that we keep you in mind with the thought of helping you all we can to increase your business? That's the Edison spirit. OUR VISITORS During the past month we had the pleasure of extending the hand of good-fellowship to several jobbers and dealers who came within the Edison Gate. Jobbers and other representatives who fraternized with us were Messrs. H. A. Mosher, R. S. Williams & Sons Co., Ltd., Toronto; C. B. Haynes, Richmond, Va. ; N. G. Griffin and P. R. Hawley, American Phonograph Company, Albany, N. Y. ; Albert A. Buehn, Buehn Phonograph Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; W. CX Pardee and F. H. Silliman, Pardee-Ellenberger Co., New Haven and Boston; A. J. Pommer, Pacific Phonograph Co., San Francisco. The dealers were represented by Richard Nelson, Diamond Disc Studio, Albany, N. Y., and W. F. L. Rosenblat, Simmons Talking Machine Co., Bristol, Va.-Tenn., regarding whose business change we have another item. SUPERVISORS AND THEIR WORK Supervisors H. L. Marshall, C. S. Gardner, J. E. Curtis, H. R. Skelton and C. W. Burgess visited the factory during the holiday season. They brought in glowing reports from their respective fields and went out more enthusiastic than ever over the outlook for 1916. Supervisor Curtis, formerly covei\ ing the Chicago, Des Moines, Sioux City, Minneapolis and Milwaukee zones, has been transferred to the New York City, Philadelphia, Williamsport, Pa., and Richmond, Va., zones. The territories of the other supervisors are now as follows: H. L. Marshall — San Francisco, Los Angeles, Spokane, Seattle and Portland zones. C. W. Burgess — St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Denver, Ogden and Helena zones. A. P. Burns — New Orleans, Dallas and El Paso zones. C. S. Gardner — Pittsburg, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Detroit zones. H. R. Skelton — Bangor, Boston, New Haven, Albany and Syracuse zones. EDISON HONORED To be referred to as the most famous man in the world was the honor accorded Thomas A. Edison when, on the evening of January 15th, at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, Mr Edison appeared as guest of honor at the annua dinner of the Ohio Society of New York. Mr. Edison is a native of Ohio. Charles P. Bruch, President of the Society, made the reference noted above when a toast was drunk to "the Wizard of Menlo Park." Among the speakers was Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, who paid tribute to the patriotic devotion with which Mr. Edison, Chairman, and his associates on the Naval Construction Board had toiled for weeks for their country, dealing with the great problems before them. One of the features of the evening was the presence at one table of a group of former telegraph operators who had been associated with Mr. Edison, who is himself a veteran master of the key. A wire had been laid from this table to the place of Mr. Edison on the dais, and over it was sent the message to him, "73 to the Wizard of Menlo Park," to which he tapped out the answer, "Gentlemen, I thank you all. 73." The numerals in the telegraph code mean "Best wishes."