The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 37 over the revision of the copyright acts will be in full swing. Up to the present writing the record and mechanical instrument manufacturers appear to have the inside track, and unless a miracle happens, they will probably win out, or no legislation will be enacted. The composers and music publishers are striving hard to have Congress give them a monopoly, but it does not look as if they will succeed. In the event of a bill favoring the publishers is passed, the writer or composer will be an independent entity and he can make his own terms with the record manufacturers, as the reproductive privileges on copyright music will be a separate estate. The reproducers of musical compositions, whether for talking machine records or perforated music rolls, as has been made clear, are not averse to paying royalty fees or charges. They are fighting for an. open, not a closed, market. But how this can be arrived at legally, unless records or other devices or methods of reproducing sound are exempt from copyright restrictions, it is difficult to say. It is believed the right of lawful contract cannot be restricted. Many experiments have been made to make a sapphire reproducing point for disc records with a lateral or zigzag cut, and so far unsuccessfully. It Is claimed this "consummation devoutly to be wished" by those interested is nearing solution. On the undulating or up-and-down line, either a cylinder or the disc record, the sapphire is the only point used, as it has a ball finish and fits in the groove without injury. The sharp angles of the lateral sound wave have hitherto offered an insurmountable obstacle, unless the walls are broken down and the record ruined, as the sapphire is harder than steel and the wear is trifling, excepting by long usage. The steel needle, on the other hand, does wear appreciably, as is well known, hence its adaptability to the zigzag line. The sapphire point people believe they are close to the discovery or another development in sound reproduction and estimate its practical value in large figures; in short, talk of it as a "big thing." Commenting on the recent accession of a number of new members to the roster of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers, C. V. Henkel, chairman of the press committee, said: "While we were pleased to receive the applications of the jobbers in question for membership in the association, and which have been favorably acted upon, at the same time our aim is to have every jobber in the country join. The association should understand that its executive committee has not been idle. We have been in correspondence with each other constantly, exchanging views on various propositions for the benefit of, and to further the interests of, the organization. Naturally the steps so far taken, or the measures being considered, cannot be revealed or published until our plans are perfected, as much as we desire to take the members into our confidence. The dealers should also know that we are also working in their behalf, as well as that of the jobbers. As a matter of fact, the dealers are the distributers — the real backbone of the trade; they make the money for the manufacturer and the jobber, and what concerns them is of vital regard to the association. This point cannot be dwelt upon too strongly. -Further, if anyone — jobber or dealer — has any suggestions to make for the betterment of the trade, or of selling conditions in connection therewith, let him place them in the hands of any member of the executive committee, and they will receive due consideration. We invite ideas, and would be pleased to have the trade's co-operation in every move we undertake for their improvement." A writer commenting recently upon conditions in the United States Patent Office says that the greatest patentee in this country — and that probably means the greatest in the world — is Thomas A. Edison. He has rolled up the enormous total of almost 1,000 patents and shows no inclination to quit. Ask the Patent Office people who comes next to Edison and they will tell you that nobody is within hailing distance of the wizard. A good many men can count their patents by the score, and as some of them are much younger than Edison they may beat him out in time. Up to the present, however, he deserves the title of the Great American Patentee. That means a good deal, for it is undoubtedly a fact that an American will take out a patent on less provocation than any other man or woman in the world. TO MAKE WOODEN DIAPHRAGM. The Indestructible Phonographic Record Co. Purchase Patent Rights of This Device from Norcross Phonograph Co. Which They Will Manufacture. An important deal was consummated during the past week whereby the Indestructible Phonographic Record Co., of Albany, N. Y., through B, F. Philpot, became the purchasers of the patent rights of the wooden diaphragm invented and manufactured by the Norcross Phonograph Co., of New York. It is the intention of the Indestructible Phonographic Record Co. to manufacture this specialty on a large scale and push it in a manner that its merits deserve. It is claimed that by the use of the wood diaphragm a distinctive quality is given to the tone, owing to the fact that wood is the most resilient of all known substances. This diaphragm is made by a new and novel process and is a composite of two pieces of very thin wood and two of cotton stock tissue, all of which is compressed within a thickness of six--one-thousandths of an inch. The Indestructible Phonograph Co. are to be congratulated on securing the patent rights of this specialty. THE SOUVENIR POST CARD CRAZE. The greatest number of souvenir post cards ever mailed perhaps in any city in the world passed through the New York Postoffice on Dec. 24. It is estimated by the postmaster that nearly ten millions of these cards were mailed in New York, and the sales of one-cent postage stamps for use on these cards broke all records. One firm alone turned in 90,000 cards. They were used not only by private individuals, but by business houses, thus showing the immense popularity of these cards. On New Year's the New York Postoffice had to handle another phenomenal output of holiday post cards, which was estimated at almost 6,000,000. Extra men were put on at the different sub-stations to cope with the rush. The sale of one-cent stamps for New Year's did not reach as large a sum as on Christmas, when $90,000 worth were sold. It is impossible to get any estimate of the actual number of post cards mailed throughout the United States, but it is safe to say that the figures must run into enormous proportions. These, added to the cards received from all points in Europe, place the transmission of these cards in the United States beyond computation. It is best now to drop the word post card "craze," inasmuch as the post card has manifested its usefulness in varied ways. The numberless improvements in this souvenir field have given the post card a new position and a new prestige. It is virtually an industry in which tremendous capital is invested, and which is fulfilling an educational and helpful purpose. A new record for rapid transcription from graphophones was made in Sears, Roebuck & Co.^ department 159, where graphophones turned out 8,878 lines of finished transcript in one week, against 5,928 lines of transcript from shorthand. THE DIAPHRAGM The Name Tells What They Do 99 RECORDS PLAY RIGHT WITH THIS DIAPHRAGM PRODUCES FULL VOLUME THE TONE IS NATURAL A NEEDED IMPROVEMENT. /It Great improvements have been made in Talking Nl Machine Records, resulting in more volume and better tone. You cannot get the full benefit of these improvements unless the Throat of your Talking Machine is perfect. It is therefore important to improve the Throat of the Talking Machine as much as possible. The Throat is the Diaphragm. THE IMPROVEMENT ACCOMPLISHED. ^S. After careful experiments a specially prepared Fibre Diaphragm has been produced that gives the desired Volume and Tone combined. THE "PLAYRITE" DIAPHRAGM. ^Sl Records Play Right when this fibre diaphragm is fitted tI in the speaker, and it is therefore known as the "f^layrite" diaphragm for "The Name Tells What They Do." ' The Diaphragm Plays Right, for it produces a Loud, Clear, Natural Tone without blasting or smothering the lighter tones. Vocal Records sound like the natural voice, and Instrumental Records have that round, mellow tone that has been sought. ^ To hear a Record played with the "Playrite" diatI phragm means you will want one in your speaker, and that you will get all the music on the Record hereafter. ANY DEALER CAN SUPPLY IT. £j\ Any competent dealer can fit the " Playrite '" DiaNl phragm in a speaker, and satisfaction is guaranteed or money refunded. Each "Playrite" Diaphragm has a crosshead riveted to it, and therefore does away with loose crossheads. * Playrite" Diaphragm complete with crosshead, 25c. each Tie "PI^AYRITE" Diaphragm is made in two sizes to £t Phonograph Reproducers and Victor Exhibition Sound Boxes. State which size is wanted. Other sizes will be ready soon. PRICES ARE RESTRICTED. 25c. each with crosshead attached. FREE SA]VIF»LE To Dealers or Jobbers who write on business letter head and specify what machines they handle. MANUFACTURED BY BLACKMAN TALKING MACHINE CO. J. NEWCOMB BLACKMAN, Prop'r. 97 Chambeps Street MEW YORK