The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 43 MIRAPHONE Combination Music Box and Talking Machine In every respect a superior instrument Musically and Mechanically, Giving you and your customers splendid value. J Write for Catalogue, Terms and Trices Jacot Music Box Co* No, 39 Union Square, New York STATUS OF COPYRIGHT BILL. Changes Since Last iVlonth — Bills Introduced by Senators Smoot and Kittredge Whicln Oppose and Support Contentions of Publisliers — Hearings on Bills Will be Only for Those Who Can Present Something New — Petitions For and Against Various Bills. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Washington, D. C, Jan. 13, 1908. Since the last issue of The World, containing pertinent sections of the Currier bill (H. R. 243), introduced Dec. 2, Senator Smoot, chairman of the Senate Patents Committee, brought his bill (S, 2499) before the upper house, and which is of the same tenor and purport, possibly more explicit, as the House measure. Both re^flect the views of the record manufacturers, and other devices for the reproduction of music. Within a day or two of the Smoot bill's appearance, Senator Kittredge, still a member of the Patents Committee, introduced a bill of about the same nature as the one bearing his name in the Fifty-ninth Congress, taking the opposite position to that assumed by the Smoot and Currier bills. The House Committee on Patents met Wednesday last, but took no action on the pending copyright bill. Some matters affecting patent legislation were discussed, but the decision was reached not to take up the copyright measure until after the new members of the committee shall have had time to read the voluminous testimony already taken. Chairman Currier, of the House Committee, on the same day informed a representative of The World that no decision has been reached to hold hearings, that hearings will not in any event be held for several weeks, and that the sentiment of the committee is opposed to hearings unless those desirous of being heard have something new to present or argue. Other members of the committee express the same views. The older members of the committee are thoroughly familiar with the pros an,d cons of the copyright situation and the newer members have as much as they can well handle to digest the mass of testimony already adduced. There is a vacancy on the Senate Committee, caused by the death of Senator Mallory, that has not been filled. As the committee now stands it is divided about evenly on the copyright question — that is on the main point around which there has been a struggle, the contest between the music composers and the record and mechanical instrument manufacturers. Two members favor the Smoot and Currier bills, three favor the Kittredge bill, while Senator Brandagee. the new member of the committee, is set down as doubtful at present. Senator Mallory was for the Smoot-Currier idea, and it is probable that his Democratic successor on the committee will follow his example. This would make the committee stand 3 to 3, with one doubtful, with the chances favoring a 4 to 3 committee vote in favor of the Smoot bill. Congress is deluged with petitions both for and against all three of the principal pending bills, and there have been hundreds of protests against one feature or another of each meaeure. It becomes apparent as the days pass that it will be about as difficult to get a satisfactory copyright law as it would be to obtain tariff legislation. One difficulty about the pending schemes is that each of the measures undertakes to cover the whole field of copyright thought, and just as many schedules in a general tariff bill affect many separate interests, so the scores of branches of the copyright bills now pending open up wide fields for opposition from one interest or another. The greatest fight is between the publishers, composers, record manufacturers and their allies, but other interests are also becoming entangled. Members of the two patent committees will try to obtain action upon the copyright measures, but there must be public pressure to secure action and many present differences will have to be bridged before there can be agreement. Various leagues devoted to one or another phase of copyright are vigorously opposing certain features of the bills, and there are even strong declarations reaching members that certain affected interests would prefer no copyright' legislation to some of the items in the pending bills. One of the most prominent men in Congress said to-day: "The trouble seems to be that this is primarily a bill in the interest of the publishing interests." He said that certain desired amendments of the existing law could be made with only a few lines of added legislation, but that the publishing interests wanted an entirely new law, so sweeping in many respects, that numerous other important interests were jeopardized. Some careful observers would not be surprised to see the whole scheme of a new copyright law fail. Sentiment in both Houses is becoming as much split up over copyright legislation as among the various interests affected by its provisions. It looks now as if the whole matter will have to be very strongly urged by public sentiment to procure legislation at this session and as if it will all have to be fought out upon the floor before results can be accomplished. On January 9 Representative Barchfeld, from one of the Pittsburg, Pa., districts, introduced the Kittredge bill in the House. Mr. Barchfeld will be remembered as filing a minority report against the Currier bill during the closing days of the last session. BLACKMAN'S EXPANDING BUSINESS. Secures Additional Wareroom Space Which Gives Him Immense Facilities. J. Newcomb Blackman, proprietor of the Blackman Talking Machine Co., 97 Chambers street, has just secured a long lease on the wareroom property directly in the rear of his present establishment. This will give Mr. Blackman wareroom space running from Chambers street through to Reade street, three floors, 30 x 200 feet. This announcement will emphasize in the strongest possible manner the growth of the Blackman business, and shows the possibilities of the talking machine trade when there is well-directed energy behind the enterprise. THE SPAULDING LINEN FIBER HORN. The latest to seek favor in the line of talking machine horns is the Spaulding linen fiber horn, for which is claimed the ability to reproduce the human voice in the natural manner without a suggestion of metallic quality to the sound. The horns are made by J. Spaulding & Sons Co., Rochester, N. H., and are of linen fiber in one piece, without joints or seams. The new Spaulding horn is handsomely finished in mahogany, oaK and black enamel, and is claimed to be practically indestructible. In order to introduce the horn the manufacturers have issued a folder describing the horn, its construction and interesting features, and have arranged to have the jobber's name printed on the last page, thus giving the advertising an added value. The linen fiber hovn has been well spoken of by those authorities on talking machine acoustics who have heard it used in reproducing, and dealers will no doubt find a ready sale for the horn if stocked. Geo. G. Blackman made a very good trip through Pennsylvania early in the month for the Blackman Talking Machine Co., of New York. A fortnight since a delegation of Mexican talking machine men, with their wives and an interpreter, called upon Walter Stevens at the New York office of the National Phonograph Co., of whose export department he is the capable manager. Wholesale Traveler Wanted Experienced man, thoroughly familiar with the Talking Machine Trade, to travel in the interest of large Philadelphia Jobbing House. State experience in full, age, complete references, and salary or commission basis desired. Address "H. S.," Talking Machine World, Madison avenue. New York. Manager Will Make Change The manager of the Talking Machine Department of a Southern Victor Jobber desires to make a change within the next sixty days. Reasons for wanting to make the change can be given on request. Address "N. E.," care Talking Machine World, 1 Madison avenue, N. Y. City. WANTED Edison Phonographs, Victor Talking Machines, old or new, single or in any quantities; must be cheap for spot cash. Send full particulars at once to "Buyer," Box 72, care Talking Machine World, 1 Madison avenue. New York. "Talker" Salesmen Wanted Wanted : Several experienced talking machine salesmen. State experience and compensation expected. Address "P.," care of Talking Machine World, New York City.