The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1916)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY, APRIL, 1916 Window Display for the Easter Season THE Easter season offers many opportunities for elaborate window displays because of the many attractive and beautiful features of the celebration of this holiday. The origin of Easter made it a season of flowers and music, and the adaptation of the pagan festival by Christianity added a most sacred significance to it. As it stands to-day it is one of the most beautiful of all our holidays, and its symbols are capable of forming the most exquisite combinations for window displays. As it is essentially a holiday of flowers and music, it is to nature and art that the decorator must look for his materials. The lily, with its graceful lines and its beautiful blossoms, is an ideal flower to use in floral decorations at this time of the year, and the Amberola will add the musical touch that is so essential in any Easter window. As a hint to dealers who are in search of novelty we suggest that some other flower than the lily be used in trimming Easter windows, as by this means you will depart from the conventional and secure a unique and striking effect. In case you desire to use lilies we suggest that you arrange a semi-circle of the plants for a back ground for a Model 75 Amberola. A card should then be secured containing some suitable design, of which the following may be taken as types: "The Flowers of Easter — the Music of Easter" or "The Perfect Flower and the Perfect Phonograph." Another card or a record list should be used to impress the public that the machine is an Amberola. For another window, a little more elaborate in arrangement, we suggest that a model of an old lady or an old man be placed in a listening posture near an Amberola. Let the furnishings of the room be very humble and the machine may be one of the portable type. The display should be called "Easter Voices," and it should be very appealing and attractive. The title gives the opportunity for a singlerecord display, as you can explain, by means of a card, that the figure is listening to a rendition of "Jesus Christ is Risen To-Day" (Blue Amberol Record No. 2578), sung by the Edison Mixed Quartet. The plans for these two windows are only in the nature of suggestions, and each dealer who handles Amberolas will undoubtedly be able to originate displays even more striking. PHONOGRAPHS SUPERSEDING ORGANS It will be of interest to those who deal in both phonographs and organs to learn that the Cornish Organ Company of Washington, N. J., after being successfully engaged in the manufacture of organs for nearly a half-century, recently announced that plans are under way to commence to manufacture phonograph cases in order to meet the reduction in its organ business. The concern admits that the market for organs practically has passed away, mainly because of the inroads that have been made by the phonograph in a few short years. The development, with others of a similar nature, give dealers in musical instruments some idea of the trend of business and indicate what a wide field the phonograph is filling. TYPEWRITING STUDENTS WORK TO THE MELODY OF THE LATEST DANCE HITS A phonograph is being used in connection with instruction in typewriting and English in the Ithaca High School. In the typewriting department one-step and foxtrot music is played and the students are expected to keep pace with the rhythm of the music. It is claimed that this is an excellent way to increase speed in the use of the typewriter and to give the beginner the sense of rhythm that is so essential in high-grade and speedy typewriting. In the English department the machine is used in teaching correct pronunciation and enunciation, and it has been found to be highly efficient for this purpose. In addition to the part it takes in the education of the pupils, it adds greatly to their pleasure on the various occasions when social affairs are given. OLD VIOLINS AND NEW EDISONS R. S. Williams & Sons Co., Ltd., Edison Jobbers at Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Calgary, have published a series of interesting little booklets dealing exclusively with the old violin department of their business. This department is the particular and special business and hobby of the firm's president, R. S. Williams. The late R. S. Williams, father of the present "R. S.," started the collecting of old fiddles. He gradually acquired what is considered one of the most complete and most costly private collections in the world, including the additions made since his death by the present head of the firm.