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

244 THE PHONOGRAM. direction, the automatic phonograph was introduced to the New Orleans public. These machines are remarkably success- ful. Great care was taken in the selection, of music, much judgment was used in placing machines, and the most-watchful care exercised in keeping things in a satis- factory condition. An inspector was assigned to every ten machines, who was required to devote his full time to this limited number, and was held responsible for their condition and success. Under this arrangement, the machines have been unusually profitable, and it is quite probable that this company has the largest sustained receipts from any one automatic machine in the country. The most successful machine took in over one thousand dollars (*1,000) in the first two months. The lowest receipts of any day for that period was ten dollars and ninety cents ($10.90) and the highest was twenty- one dollars and forty-five cents ($21.45). While these figures, of course, have not been maintained, the machines are still popular and profitable, and show no signs of further falling oil' in receipts. Outside of New Orleans, the policy of leasing exhibition machines, with re- stricted territory, has been pursued, and the phonograph has been placed in almost every part of the State. They are usually placed with the dilferent 'merchants of separate localities. In almost all of these instances the phonograph has been very successful and profitable. At the present time, with the revival of business in the city, the company is en- gaged in pushing the phonograph for business purposes. This phase of the business is under the immediate direction of Mr. 11. Lee Sellers, Vice-President of the company, whose efforts are meeting with the most gratifying success. While the number of machines placed is not large, they are all in daily and suc- cessful use in the offices of leading busi- ness houses of the citv, and cannot fail in * v * securing the proper recognition of the claims of the phonograph as a practical business necessity. The Louisiana company has convenient and comfortable offices in the business heart of the city, in Rooms 20 and 27 Equitable Building. The music ware- rooms and shops are located about three squares distant, at No. 10!) Baronne street. Here the company occupies an entire three-story brick building. The shops are located on the ground floor, and are unusually well equipped with tools and first-class workmen. As the distance to New York is so great as to render It unadvisable to return ma- chines there for repairs or renovation, almost all work of that nature’is done at the company's shops. Back of the shops are located the warerooms, and above, are the music, record and shipping rooms. The company is making a large amount of musical records, and some of its special- ties are unusually popular. “Brother Kushmus’ Sermons “ and “ Dixie as Ren- dered in the South " are good examples of this kind. The Texas Phonoguai’M (■<>. was or- # •»»•»*. "*•* t • ' *1 ‘ ' gunized in the summer of 1889, but did not begin active work until the fall of that year. Its general offices are located in Galves- ton. Texas. Its officers are as follows : 11. Lee Sutlers, President : Tims. Gunyngton, General Manager; Hugh R. (’unyngtom Secretary and Treasurer. •» The Texas Go. has worked under many difficulties and disadvantages, the principal of which, are its distance from New York, making it difficult and ex- pensive to secure supplies, and the vast expanse of thinly settled country com pris- ing its territory. Ill some eases, phono- graphs have been placed by this company at a distance of eight hundred miles from each other, and the expense and difficulty of maintaining machines at such distances can easily be imagined. For various other reasons, the Texas