The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

14 gave expensive Phonograph to be had ; and we him our cylinder, taking several copies or duplicates of it for ourselves and his friends. This is easily done, you know, by connecting the "speaker" from the Phonograph that is playing the original to the "recorder" of 1 another machine, on which is a smooth blank. Of course, this copy is a little indistinct — all duplicates are. The original records such as you buy are always the best. But the copies we made were plain enough for us to distinguish Bert's voice, and we are proud of it, I can tell you, not only for the satisfaction c f having a hero record in our collection, but also that we were able to be of service to his father ; for the old gentleman holds that cylinder as one of his choicest possessions on earth. Copyright, 1 1!9, National Phonograph Company, New York. Kepiinted by special permission of the National Phonograph Company. H mew IReprobucing {Trumpet A reproducing trumpet has recently been invented and patented by Mr. G. L. Hogan which is creating a great deal of interest and enthusiasm among people interested in talking-machines owing to its wonderful simplicity and marvelous results. Instead of using a disc form of diaphragm as heretofore used in the construction of talkingmachines, Mr. Hogan dispenses with this entirely. This trumpet is composed of celluloid which is about i-ioo part of an inch thick and from iS to 30 inches long. A stylus is attached to the point end of this trumpet and the entire trumpet is made to vibrate, which increases the sound in volume. Owing to the fact that the vibrations of the trumpet produce the sound waves, it is heard approximately equal in all directions, obviating the necessity of having to stand in front of the trumpet, also owing to the fact that the sound waves are generated and delivered directly bj a conical trumpet. They are delivered on a diverging surface and free from foreign or counter vibrations, which renders the reproduction much more natural. This trumpet being made of very light material is easily carried on the feeding device of the machine without a tripod support, as is required with metal trumpets. The patents on this reproducer are owned and controlled by the American Micrograph Company of New York. Several European as well as American concerns are anxious to license these patents. It will doubtless display an important feature in the talking-machine business. Annual fleeting and Report of the National Gramophone Corporation The annual meeting of the National Gramophone Corporation was held on Saturday afternoon, February 17th, at the office of the company, having been adjourned from February 6th The meeting was of more than usual interest, for the reason that this is the first time that anything like a report upon this company's business has been submitted to the stockholders. The report presented on Saturday covered the ten months from March 1, 1899, to December 31, the former date marking the increase in the capital stock of the company from $200,000 to $Soo,ooo. The total income of the company for the ten months, including increase of merchandise, was reported at $456,229.88, against which were placed the following expenses : Merchandise and material purchased Dividends Expenses, including advertising Doubtful and bad accounts 8206,372 12 71,450 00 91,347 96 6,579 95 Sb75,750 03 Surplus (excess of income over disbursements) 604,79 S5 The report stated that the company had been handicapped by reason of the fact that in the expectation of placing a new model on the market during the year they had reduced the price of their old model from $25 to $18. Owing to delays the new model was not brought out, and the result was that the company continued to sell the old model at the reduced price. This, it is estimated, reduced the earnings by $100,000. The report, however, stated that profits accrued on foreign contracts but not yet accounted for in detail would safely add from $10,000 to $15,000 to the earnings as above given. "We have largely added to the assets of the corporation," the report continued, "by securing patents for improvements which we anticipate will greatly increase the profits of the business this year. January is not looked^upon as a good month in this business, yet our sales for January, 1900, show a larger net profit than for any January business in the history of the Gramophone. It may also be added that for the first 13 days of February our average daily shipment of machines was 75 and our average daily shipment of records has been 3,000. " The report adds that by the end of the year it is expected to increase the output of records to 4,000 daily, at an estimated yearly profit of $125,000 on this part of the business alone. The retiring board of directors announced that it had been decided to declare dividends quarterly instead of monthly as heretofore. The following directors were elected : Frank J. Dunham, George H. Robinson, . H. N. Higinbotham, H. C. Duval, Frank Seaman, O. D. La Dow and Waldo G. Morse. At a subsequent meeting the board re-elected the old officers, as follows : President, Frank J. Dunham ; Vice-President, George H. Robinson ; Treasurer, Frank Seaman ; Secretary and General Manager, Waldo G. Morse. The following article appeared in a publication issued by the Gramophone Corporation ; A WORD TO THE WISE IS SUFFICIENT. We wish to give a word of warning to our friends who may be solicited to purchase the Yitaphone, or the red, fiat disc records, manufactured by the American Talking Machine Company, or the Stylophone marketed by the New England Stylophone Company. These machines are undoubted infringements of the Gramophone. All persons who buy or handle infringing merchandise are liable for damages just as is the manufacturer. We therefore wish to say that we shall be obliged, in self-defence, to take suitable action immediately, looking toward a suit being entered against any one who is found to be handling the products of either the American Talking Machine Company or the New England Stylophone Company. Ipreacbes b\> flfcacbme Two talking-machines occupied the pulpit at Zion Tabernacle, Chicago, 111., and through them "Dr." John Alexander Dowie, while resting quietly at White Lake, Mich., conducted a service in Chicago. "Dr." Dowie's voice could be heard all over the auditorium. He not only preached to his congregation much in his usual tone of voice, but announced the hymns, made the prayer, and gave out the regular notices. "Dr." Dowie promised his congregation through the machine that he would be with them in person next Sunday and would take up his work again, conducting various services all day. He notified them of an important meeting to be held on the following Tuesday evening, at which some definite plans for the proposed Zion City will be discussed. The services opened, as usual, with a procession by the choir. Several of "Dr. ' ' Dowie's elders were on the platform, but none of them moved to open the services when the choir had finished. Only "Brother" Parsons, who operated the machines, had a part to play in the opening of the services. He turned the switch that controlled one of the machines and the next moment "Dr." Dowie's voice was heard in prayer. His followers listened reverently. The words could be distinguished easily. The services continued in this way, "Dr." Dowie filling in all the intervals, and even reading the verses of the hymns as they were sung. It was necessary to preserve perfect quiet in order to hear the reproduction. This was found difficult. The nervous strain of listening so intently tired the people, and they began to leave early. "Dr." Dowie preached a long sermon.