The Phonogram, Vol. 1:6-7 (1891-06)

THE PHONOGRAM. 139 THE AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH IN ST. LOUIS. • A NEW INDUSTRY YET IN ITS INFANCY. The nickel-in-the slot phonograph, while no longer a novelty in St. Louis, shows no decrease in public favor. The machines are controlled by the North American Phonograph Company, who own the Edi- son patents. Mr. J. C. Wood, the general manager of the Missouri Phonograph Company, con- trols the Indiana and Missouri territory, the Arkansaw territory being leased to the Arkansaw Edison Phonograph Company, with head-quarters at Little Rock, where Mr. II. G. Allis, President; Mr. N. Kup- ferle, Vice-President, and Mr. W. G. Brown, Secretary and Treasurer, are ably pushing the phonograph business. The cylinders upon which the sound is impressed are made of wax. The securing of musiAl selections has grown to be quite an industry. It is done mainly bv the Co- J • • lumbia Phonograph Company, of Washing- ton, D. C., the New Jersey Phonograph Company, of Newark, N. J., the New York ^Phonograph Company and the Ohio Phonograph Company. The Columbia 1 Holograph Company places from three to five hundred cylinders on the market each - day. Their specialty is music by the world- renownqd United States Marine Band, which plays at the White House. The next most pi pular band is Issler's, of Newark, N. J. The 14 Gondolier's Lan- ders 99 has the greatest success for phono- graphic dance-music. Cappa’sTTth Regiment Band and Gil- more’s, of New York, are world renowned; they captivate the ear and senses by their magnificent fnelody. % Mr. Wood, the general manager, says that from a monetary point of view the automatic phonograph is a great success. They have placed from fifty to one hun- dred machines in the large saloons and restaurants. It is surprising how well patronized they are. There is one machine on Broadway that nets one hundred dollars a week, while some on Olive Street net from fifty to one hundred dollars. Occasionally worthless coins are placed in the slot, but the percentage of loss by such deception is not near as great as the risks taken iu other businesses. The nickel-in-the-slot machine has kept steady growth with the other improve- - ments, and it is almost impossible to suc- ceed in operating them without placing the necessary nickel in the slot. Two men attend to the fifty machines each day, visiting them twice during the twenty-four hours. New airs are placed on the machines each day, unless by request a popular air is retained longer. Each cylinder can be used about fifty-five hundred times before its value is destroyed. Stiange to sav, in the saloons the most popular are vocal church hymns. The greatest success financially is the hymn 44 Nearer, my God, to Thee.” Mr. Wood says he placed it in one saloon as au experiment: when the man went around the next day to change it, the proprietor asked to have it left, and it was still in demand at the end of the week. Mr. McMillan, President of the Missouri Car Company, has one at his house, sim- ply for entertainment Mr. F. C. Brad- ford has one in his parlor. Mr. William Speed Stephens, the Booneville banker, has had a phonograph for several years, using it for business and entertainment. The most peculiar use to which the phonograph has been put is that of the Washington professor of languages, who speaks his lessons to the phonograph and sends them to his class in order to teach the -proper pronunciation.