The Phonogram, Vol. 1:11-12 (1891-11)

THE PHONOGRAM. 241 it controlled the balance of the State. For many reasons it appeared desirable that these interests slrrfuld be consolidated, and this was done in October of IS90, under the name of New York Phonograph Co. The capital stock of this company is §2,500,000, full paid and non-assessable. The board of trustees is as follows : John P. Haines, president; John D. Cheever, vice-president; Richard Townley Haines, secretary and treasurer : Noah Davis, W. SfiAvard Webb, William Fahnestock, Chas. A. Cheever. The very attractive offices of the com- pariy are located at 257 Fifth avenue. New York City. It is from this address that the greater portion of the business of the company is transacted, and thence through agencies distributed in various parts of the State.. The largest and most progressive agency is in the City of Buffalo. Other agencies are located in Rochester, Syracuse, lltica, Albany, Elmira, Nyack, Binghamton, etc. The business of the company is divided into several departments. First comes the commercial side of the enterprise,which consists in renting machines for use in business ollices to receive the dictation of letters or other matters, afterward to be transcribed by the typewriter operators or amanuenses. The public and young people about to study stenography are beginning to appreciate that a great saving in time and money can be accomplished by tin* use of these instruments. Next comes the amusement side of the industry, and it is most interesting to all classes and conditions of the human race, from the millionaire in his opera box to the bootblack with his grimy hands and his harmonica—all love music. The phonograph is a faithful recorder and re- producer of music of all kinds and degrees. The reproduction of phonograph music through the metal horn naturally carries with it certain vibrations from the horn itself, which make the music less natural in tone than it should be ; but not so when listened to through the small rubber ear tubes. Records of the human voice, carefully made, are as perfectly repro- duced through the rubber tubes as though the singer were present at the time. The voices of our friends as well as the songs of the best singers of the age can thus be stored up and repeated at will to the great and endless enjoyment of anyone possessing one of these marvelous instruments. Another interesting and profitable use to which this wonder of the age is put is the automatic, or nickel-in-the-slot device for reproducing music and other records % in public places. These machines, in attractive oak or mahogany eases, with beveled plate glass tops and sides, are to be found in nearly all the principal hotels, cafes and places of public resort. The- New York Phonograph Co. also make public and private exhibitions of the phonograph a feature of their business. A well-trained corps of exhibitors are ready at all times to give phonograph exhibitions at private residences, public institutions, dinners, fairs, and on all other occasions.* A moderate charge is made for these entertaining exhibitions, and families as,welljjsjnvalids (tan now be regaled at their houses with choice selec- tions from J;he operas, as well as with songs from the most celebrated singers. The Columbia T^ionookapji Co., of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, has its principal office at Washington, D. C., and agencies in Balti- more, Wilmington, and a number of smaller points. The officers arc Edward •D. East|n, president; William Herbert Smith, vice-president and treasurer; R. F. Cromelin, secretary. «Mr. Easton and Mr. (iromelin give their entire time to the work; The company was organized on January 15, 1881). It paid, on June IS, 1889, the first dividend ever earned by a talking