The Phonogram, Vol. 1:1 (1891-01)

THE PHONOGRAM. 23 Phonograph Chat. The managers of the New York Phonograph Co. are fast bringing it into the lead as the banner Company—the result of pluck, good judgment, and indefatigable work. Mr. N. E. Russell, General Agent of the " Parent Co..” is making a tour among the " Lo- cals.” We doubt not that his visits will result beneficially to all. • It is surprising how many men have discovered ail heretofore unknown talent for "inventing” since the phonograph was introduced. To be sure, their efforts generally result in a poor imi- tation of the real article; fiut if they can only add a wheel or change the shape, they arc satisfied; and, after all. it amuses them. A LETTER was received, not long ago, by one of the agencies, containing an order for " three cans of talk," to be used for entertaining guests at a banquet. Thus are we getting nearer and closer to the commercial millennium. Hut. great Scott ! anflWC^thr*thought—talk by measure ! ALL " experts,” hereafter, will require a cer- tificate. signed by competent authority, stating 9 that th#V are such, before the N. A. P. Co. will recommend them for positions. Heretofore the . class of men filling this important position have not been at all times fully up to the standard. The new cylinder is a beauty, and is receiving praise from all quarters. It is' 4 >f uniform length, ami >hc records arc without scratch. It costs a little more, but is worth it. * 'Tm*j& is a man in the phonograph business whr; is so expert that he can talk to a pine board, and make a " record.” When he sings through a .hnpt-hole, the very fibres rattle. At least, so says Itrother Clephane, end he ought to know. Ui' to the, beginning of. October, the phono- graph toys had not reached France. Orders for them had to be sent to New York. f They are running motors for electric lighting by wind in France. v In Herrtb. March 31, iSSS. there were 2.249 arc lanfrsand 45.552 incandescent: the following year there were 3-.G22 and 62.816. respectively. In the - Leipzigerstrasse 104 arc lights burn until mid- night. The same number <%ver the Cnter der Linden; 56 of them burn all night, the balance ^ only until midnight. • - Among the incidents in the experience of xhe phonograph, is a marriage. A man waited upon the minister with a phonograph. The minister spoke into the apparatus the questions, and the bridegroom the responses, of the marriage cere- mony. The impression was then ported to the bride, some hundreds of miles away, and she and the minister of her village went through the same process/the last minister pronouncing the couple man and wife. What an everlasting idiot a clever man can make of himself when intoxicated ! Under such circumstances your phonograph is a real temper- ance lecturer, inasmuch as it would record the utterances of Philip drunk, and grind them out into Philip's sober cars. The boastfulness, the absurd lack of sense in the speeches, the insane jokes, the ridiculous conclusions, would point a moral to Philip's mind which no words, save his own, could. One of the hardest instruments that we have tried to take is the organ, and the easiest is the English concertina. Negroes take better than white singers, bccansc their voices have a certain sharpness or harshness about them that a white man's has not. A barking dog. squalling cat, neighing horse, and. in fact, almost any beast's or bird's voice is excellent for the good repetition on the phonograph. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. Reporting by the Phonograph. To th/ Editor nf The Phonouram: Since the publication of the report, made by means of the phonograph, of the pro- ceedings of the Phonograph Convention, held at Chicago last May, great interest in the subject has been awakened all over the country. Classes for instruction have been formed in New York, and expert stenog- raphers, as well as short-hand amanuenses, are daily practicing, so as to make them- selves thoroughly efficient in the work. In Indiana and Illinois, court proceedings are daily being reported in this manner. A prominent stenographer in Washing- ton, I). C.,one who has at times been en- gaged to assist the official reporters of the Lmited States Senate in reporting the de- bates of that l>ody. is now advertising to make reports with the phonograph at fifteen cents a folio, and with shorthand at twen-" tv-five cents a folio. In conversation a * short time since, he stated he thought of «