The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

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The Phonoscope (Copyrighted, 1896) Monthly Journal Devoted to Scientific and Amusement Inventions Appertaining to Sound and Sight A Vol. III. a mew Simplifying Iborn It is interesting to note the growth and development of the various branches of the talkingmachine business. Heretofore the interest has been centered in improving the mechanism of the machines, the style diaphragms, and the process of making the records. The first radical departure from the old lines is an improvement in reproducing horns. This horn, or rather multiple horn, is being placed on the market by Messrs. Hawthorne & Sheble, whose advertisement will be found on another page of this issue. It embodies some entirely new and valuable features, on which Messrs. Hawthorne & Sheble have already applied for Letters Patent in the United States and foreign countries. It has been discovered by experimenting, that | a smoother, clearer and louder tone can be obtained by interposing between the horn proper and the NEW YORK, NOVEMBER. i899 diaphragm, a sounding box, providing the sounding box is of such shape and dimensions as to amplify the vibrations in place of deadening same. To further increase and distribute the sound, Messrs. Hawthorne & Sheble have attached three horns to the sound box. These horns are so arranged as to distribute the sound to all points, in place of confining it to one point, as is the case with the ordinary horn. The appearance of the grouped horns is most attractive as may be seen from our illustration. That the results justify the expenditure, which has been 'made in experimenting, is conclusively proven by the remark made by one of the largest dealers in talking-machines, after he had listened to the same: "There would be but little market for the Grand and Concert machines; if all small machines were equipped with your horn." The appearance of the horn has suggested a very appropriate name, "The Clover Leaf." Needless to say that the horn is made in the well equipped factory of Hawthorne & Sheble. It is being manufactured in both brass and silveroid. No. II On account of the size of the bells of this horn, it requires a special horn stand with an extra large ring to support the horn. This can also be obtained from the manufacturers at a reasonable figure. Enlarges its facilities Columbia Phonograph Company Builds a Factory in France and Opens a Store in London Following closely the announcements by the Columbia Phonograph Company that the volume of its business in the month of December, 1899, was by far the greatest in its history, and that the January, 1900, sales exceeded those of the prior January by nearly half a hundred thousand dollars, comes information that large extensions of its facilities abroad are about to be completed. A new sales office is being opened in London, and a plant for the manufacture of blank cylinders has just begun operations near Paris. About two years ago the growing foreign demand for the perfected talking-machine reached such proportions that the first European branch of the company was opened in Paris. Besides looking after the trade on the continent and in the British Isles, the Paris office made large shipments of talking-machines and supplies to South America and the orient. Soon followed the opening of the Berlin branch to help care for the interests of customers in eastern Europe and the Levant. The demands of the foreign trade have made imperative the opening of a London sales office, a step which has been in contemplation for some time. Acceptable premises have been secured after considerable difficulty, on the Strand between Trafalgar Square and the Charing Cross depot, on the opposite side of the street from the depot. This location is the most crowded section of the Strand both by day and night. It is in the neighborhood of all the principle hotels and theatres and is an ideal situation for the talkingmachine business. The store is now being handsomely refitted after the general plan characteristic of the elaborate scheme with which the public is familar, followed out in all the cities where the Columbia Company has branches. In addition to the London opening, the rapid growth of the service has necessitated the establishment of a factory on the other side, so that the foreign trade can be quickly supplied with blank cylinders and similar accessories for which there is an enormous demand. A site was secured in St. Denis, a suburb of Paris, where, after the various formalities of the French law had been complied with, the plant was installed. The blank expert of the American Graphophone Company was sent over from their Bridgeport factory to superintend the new work. It is splendidly equipped and is capable of a large daily output. Showing Side View of Clover Leaf Horn. Showing Front View of Clover Leaf Horn.