The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

Vol. I. No. i. THE PHONOSCOPE. 9 -* Xetters. ** * This column is open to any of our patrons who have a complaint to make, a grievance to ventilate, information to give, or a subject of general interest to discuss appertaining to Sound Producing Machines, Picture Projecting Devices, Slot Machines, Amusement Inventions or Scientific Novelties in general, jtjtjtjtjtjtjtjijt^t Boston.— Is there any redress for a person who gets buncoed in this business? I sent an order to the Phonograph Company last summer for twenty-five records, for which I gave twenty-five of my hard earned dollars. In about three weeks sixteen of these records were useless, as a foggy scum, or mouldy substance began to form on the outside of the record. This made the records useless. I wrote to the company and asked for a rebate or some satisfaction, and they told me that they could not help me out, as they didn't make the blanks, but purchased them from the Edison Works. This did me a lot of good. Not. Do you think that I could make them return my money or give me good records? C. W. (Will some of the companies answer this gentleman? Ed.) ~©ur ITattler The following communication, written on a postal card, was received by one of the Eastern Phonograph Companies: "Dear Sir: I have gut a talking machine. I here you make barrels. How much do you charge for them apiece. Please answer soon. "PROP. ." I should like to hear one of "Professor's" lectures. He must "do good." Hunting has written a song called "I Did It But I'm Sorry That I Did." So am I, and a good many others, but this is one of Russell's quiet jokes, so we'll let it pass. 1 ran up against George Gaskin last week. I noticed he wore a very careworn and anxious expression. George says — ■ is trying "to do" him, but he's going to "fool 'em all." Go it, George. Good luck! but don't sing any more comic songs. Our cousins across the herring pond stand aghast before a picture projected by the Cinematograph representing the Prince of Wales in the act of scratching his head. I fully appreciate their feelings on this score, but then 1 suppose Al scratches his coco different from us ordinary people over here. One of the young men connected with the United States Phonograph Company recently remarked that all the employes of that concern had wheels. (He meant bicycles.) 1 met Mr. Walcutt (of the firm of Walcutt & Leeds) last week, wearing the "same old smile;" on being asked how his lawsuit was getting on, he replied, "Which one; we're in five." P. T. Barnum once said (or wrote), "the American people like to be humbugged." What would he say if he were living now and .heard some of those lovely duplicates? —This is good. I read it the other day up in Maine: "For Sale— A Phonograph by a gentleman with a large horn and 50 Records." He'll do well if he makes money. A young man from Dover, Del., wrote me last week about a slot machine. He said he has a new scheme. If he has anything new he's a wonder, as I understand that a Chicago man has a machine where you drop a dog in the slot and get a sausage. "MIKE." Xlrabe Botes The Columbia Phonograph Company had a very creditable exhibit at the American Institute Fair, held at the Madison Square Garden, New York, last month. The Ohio Phonograh Co. are making some very fine band records. Their recording department is under the charge of Mr. C. G. Childs, late of the Columbia Phono. Co., and formerly with the New England Phonograph Co. The Manhattan Phonograph Co. pay one thousand dollars a year for the privilege of placing their slot machines in the different ferry houses of the Union Ferry Company. The United States Phonograph Co. have sold over five thousand campaign cylinders this season. We understand that the Columbia Phonograph Co. has already received an order from one party for $20,000 worth of the new "Columbia" model graphophone— their latest product. The Chicago Marine Band, which is a very popular organization in the West, is about to play for the Chicago Talking Machine Co. for record making. A bill was filed in the United States Circuit Court in New York City, Oct. 9, by the American Graphophone Company, of Washington, against LeRoy W. Baldwin, Loring L. Leeds, and others, for injunction, damages, accounting, etc., for infringements of letter patent of the Graphophone Company for talking machines. The New England Phonograph Co. are experimenting on new methods for taking their Baldwin Band Records. Col. Sampson promises to surpass any of his former efforts. We must candidly say that we doubt it, as we have heard "Baldwins" that were as near perfection as will ever be obtained with the present phonograph. There is to be a new phonograph parlor opened on Broadway, New York, in the near future. Mr. Geo. J. Gaskin, the ever popular tenor, is now spending about one-third of his time in front of phone horns. Mr. G.'s voice is a staple article and sells as fast as he can record it. The Gramophone Company are making exceedingly rapid strides in improving their machine. The latest type machine which they have put on the market shows a careful attention to little details whicii will benefit and interest their patrons. Our correspondents from the West in two different States write us that Mr. Frank Thayer has the most complete phonograph exhibition on the road. The Phonograph and Graphophone companies report July August and September last as the three dullest months ever experienced in the talking machine business. The cathoscopes which are being exhibited in the phonograph parlor on Broadway, New York, attract unusual attention. This machine is a great invention, inasmucn as it can be used for either scientific, amusing, instructive or educational purposes. The Chicago Talking Machine Co. are taking some new records of Bonnell's Orchestra. Some we have heard are very fine, and are destined to become very popular. The records taken with the Bettini MicroPhonograph Diaphragms are wonderful for their solidity of tone and resonant carrying powers. Records of the female voice taken with this attachment are truly marvelous. J. W. Myers, the popular baritone, has added a number of new songs to his already large repertobe. Mr. Myers is making and selling his own records, which have always been of the highest standard. We have recently seen a new mailing device for phonograph and graphophone cylinders. It is the invention of Mr. Sohow, of Washington, D. C. It is indorsed by the Columbia Phonograph Co., who have given it a practical test, by mailing cylinders containing personal Correspondence between their various offices. It will fill a long felt want. Mr. Henry C. Spencer has opened an attractive office in the new Hartford Building, Union Square, New York. He has completed arrangements with a number of the leading Phonograph and Graphophone companies to supply him with their latest products, for which he is receiving large orders as a purchasing agent. The films manufactured by the International Film Company are as fine as we have ever seen. Mr. Webster who has charge of taking the originals, is without a doubt the highest authority in this art in the country. He recently made a tour of the European cities, where he obtained some wonderful views. Walcutt & Leeds have reduced the price of their records from $1 to 50 cents. There is to be a new Talking Machine put on the market in a few months. The inventors claim that it will surpass any machine heretofore offered to the public. It is rumored that one of the New York Phonograph companies is about to go out of the business. — Russell Hunting is now selling his original records at 80 cents each. As Mr. Hunting makes his records one at a time and gives his personal attention to each and every record, this price is exceedingly low, considering the class of his work. Doings among tbe pbonograpb an& (Srapbopbone lEybibitors. A Phonograph Exhibition Where "Casey's" Brother Got "Twisted" The exhibition of the Edison Phonograph last evening, by Prof. Clifford Hunting, of Boston, eclipsed anything in the way of lodge entertainment ever given by Anchor, No. 40, N. E. O. P. Every seat in Red Men's hall was filled with those who came to celebrate the eighth anniversary of Anchor, the oldest Ldge in the city of this order. It was evident that they expected something out of the ordinary, and their expectations were more than fulfilled, for the instrument shown is perhaps the finest Phonograph ever made, being distinctly heard all over the hall. The collection of musical and talking records was one of great variety, comprising 81 numbers on the programme with several extras, and Prof. Hunting proved a most affable and accommodating exhibitor. The audience was permitted to nominate selections from the programme, copies of which were distributed to those present, and the range of selections given varied from topical song to touching ballad, from the ridiculous "Village Orchestra" to Sousa's classic selections, and from humorous records such as "Casey Taking the Census" to the awful ravings of poor John McCullough that were taken from in front of his cell in the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum. One selection, "I Loved You Better Than You Knew," was given an added touch of pathos in the minds of the audience by the fact, announced by Prof. Hunting, that the man whose clear tenor voice was then heard, George J. Gaskin, had died quite suddenly only a fortnight ago. The lodge entertainment committee had other attractions for the evening in the way of music, singing and recitations, but the audience would have nothing but the Phonograph and these were all crowded out, to be given at another time. Ice cream was served during the evening and Prof. Hunting was again called upon afterward, most of the audience remaining clear up to midnight to listen to the wonderful instrument, many of the selections being as heartily applauded as though the living actors were delivering them in person. It was a great night for Anchor lodge, and they have no words too strong in praise of their entertainer, Prof. Hunting.— Waterbury "News." (Gaskin called at our office last month and positively assured us that he was not dead. Ed.) I