Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1927-11)

56 The Phonograph Monthly Review November, 1927 cording of the full orchestra so good as is shown on these discs. I may also fearlessly award the palm to Victor for their Military Band March Sesqui-Centennial Exposition played by Sousa’s Band with side drums in it. Now Mr. Sousa, please add the tenor drums and a big (not too big) drum for your next record. If the recording engineer is afraid of the big drum put a deep-note kettle drum in place of it. Parlophone Extra brilliant recordings are no longer a rarity on this list; Edith Lorand, Dajos Belas and others from Germany are coming in as bright as diamonds, but just now two of their London recordings have come in which beat the world, each in its own class. They are only half crown ten inch records and Americans who get supplies from London should certainly include them in the next requisition. One is Sanctuary of the Heart by Frank Westfield’s Picture Palace Orchestra and the other The Sphinx, foxtrot played by Ron- nie Munroe’s Jass Band. Needles Mr Fassnacht’s article in the September num- ber seems to indicate that he has been using Sym- pathetic needles out of the grip. The Sympa- thetic needle is a little thicker than the Euphonic, and when used in the grip (having a little flat filed on the bottom of its nose) it is a little louder if used dead short—projecting not more than 1/32 of an inch. Omission Owing to a mistake either by myself or by the printer a couple of lines is missing out of my article in the September number and as its omis- sion a’ters the sense appreciably I will ask you to go nearly to the foot of the third column and after the words “the next and nearly equally noisy common pivotting is a pair of rocker pins” please read as follows:—“parallel with the stylus bar. A much better arrangement is a pair of rocker pins.” Imperial Records These ten inch popular numbers have, like the Grafton, been sold for the last few years at half a dollar each. Now we have another bombshell in the trade by the reduction in price of the Im- perials to 35 cents. They are strong records of ordinary composition with a surface sufficiently good for dance music and the like. British Brunswick The Panatrope with two loud speakers in it is going out to picture palaces all over the country and the demand is greatly in excess of the supply. On this side their mechanical machine for the coming season will not be the Prismatone but a new Cliftophone comprising some novel features. The acoustic system is a long one of sheet metal comprising three tubular members concentrically disposed with open ends to the first and the sec- ond and a tone reflex at the beginning of the sec- ond and the third. The needle angle is 50° and the track alignment good. The diaphragm is of very thin celluloid excellently stiffened by radial and also circular concentric corrugations and hav- ing a little circular central thickening pallet at- tached. I have tested the smallest size of the machine, the portable, and I like it immensely but in the larger sizes I fear the length of the acoustic system will be great enough to produce megaphone effect, but I cannot be sure about that until I hear one in an ordinary room. The new British recordings of the piano-forte are very beautiful. Edison—Bell A great catch on this month’s list is the Mozart Hour Concerto on two 12 inch discs at 4/6 each. One could not wish it better in any particular. The records are issued under the new label Electron and may safely be ordered from London by the most fastidious. The engineers of the company have just effected a further improve- ment in surface and on my machine I can find no difference between these records and new process Columbias. The ether day when I was at the Edison-Bell works Mr. Tom Hough, apropos the horn record, told me of an amusing incident that occured when a certain versatile engineer, well known on both sides of the Atlantic, was making his first at- tempt to record the orchestra. The performers were beginning to rehearse previous to the ac- tual recording when this gentleman made a rush in the direction of the horn player and shouted, “Take your hand out of your blinking trumpet you silly ass, or how the—can I record you!” The E. B. recording engineer has just return- er from Czecho-Slovakia with a set of recordings of all the finest talents in that country. Some recordings of ensembles and some of a tenor voice are positively wonderful and I hope that Mr. Hough will not keep them solely for issue on the continent but that they will also issue them in English speaking countries. The Casals Trio I hear (unofficially) that the Hayden Trio will be on the October H. M. V. list and the Mozart Trio on that for December. I have the Schubert Trio issued last Autumn, certainly if judged under every possible heading it is the grandest example of electrically recorded music I have in my collection, and I think the best value also, al- though it cost 8/6 a disc, because one can play it through every week and still find it always new. Accompaniment Records Good news. Some of these will soon be made over here. Hands and Ears Across the Sea! Contest conducted by VORIES FISHER W ITH the return from Europe of Mr. Vories Fisher, he will again resume ac- tive direction of the Contest Committee. Suggestions for works to be recorded should be sent to him, at 4928 Blackstone Avenue, Chicago, 111 .