The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1912)

10 Edison Phonograph Monthly, Jan., 1912 Calesthenics Taught to Aliens by Phonograph The Edison Transcribing Contest At least a thousand persons rilled the conrer« hill at Madison Square Garden, October 25th, to witness the Edison transcribing contest, which is held yearly during the annual business show in New York. Thirty contestants took their places on the stage each beside an Edison Business Phonograph. Representatives of the various typewriters used were in attendance with the representatives of Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, to see that all were satisfied with their machines for the best work. J. N. Kimball, who has charge of the international typewriting contests, was judge of the Edison contest; assisting him were six of the official counters employed in the typewriting contests. Mr. Kimball instructed the contestants in the rules as follows: "Each contestant receives a wax cylinder containing 800 words of strange dictation by an unfamiliar voice made at a speed of one hundred words per minute. Ten (10) minutes transcribing is required from the word "go" to the word "stop." For each error a penalty of five (5) words will be made. The contestant writing the greatest number of net words will be awarded the Edison trophies." The Edison trophies exhibited were two large hammered silver shields mounted on oak. One trophy to be awarded to the winner of an openfor-all contest with no restrictions concerning the contestants' previous employment. One trophy to be awarded to the winner of an Edison transcribers' contest, restricted to those who earn their daily living operating only an Edison Business Phonograph. The winners were as follows: Lottie E. Betts, open-for-all class, Underwood typewriter, wrote 709 words, with 16 errors, representing 63 words net per minute; Florence Smith, Edison transcribing class, Remington typewriter, wrote 628 words with 19 errors, representing 53 words net per minute. These results were made possible with the perfection of the modern Edison Business Phonograph. To dictate at 100 words per minute and transcribe from this unfamiliar voice and strange matter at 71 and 63 words per minute with less than 3 per cent, errors in ten minutes' writing, is indeed a wonderful performance for the individuals and machines included in this cycle of operation from brain to type. J. B. Prior, of Trenton, N. J., entertained the inmates at the Odd Fellows' Home, Wednesday afternoon with his Edison Phonograph, giving twelve sacred pieces of his own singing, and other selections. The entertainment was greatly enjoyed. Mr. Adams, the superintendent, was not present, owing to a death in his family. Two Pennsylvania schools have discovered a new use for the Phonograph. Finding great difficulty in teaching calesthenics to their many foreign pupils who were not proficient in English, these schools have decided to install Phonographs with Records in foreign languages. While these Records are being operated the teachers will perform the proper exercises, thus securing the desired harmony in the drills. Bessie Wynn Bessie Wynn, the "Lady Dainty of Vaudeville," has been scoring great successes in New York and Philadelphia, proving that the pretty little singer is steadily increasing her already great popularity. As the "headliner" at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, she received repeated encores and has occasioned yards of flattering press comments. Wherefore we take occasion to remind Edison owners that Miss Wynn has made the following excellent Records for the Edison: AMBEROL. 346 My Pretty Little Piece of Dresden China, Johnson, Mills and Scott Bessie Wynn STANDARD. 10441 I'd Love to But I Won't, Barron Bessie Wynn 10278 It's Hard to Find a Real Nice Man, Sherman , ~-,„~ „T , Bessie Wynn 10329 Not for Me, Wynn Bessie Wynn An interesting relic of one of Chambersburgh's (Pa.) most disastrous fire, in which two lives were lost, about twenty months ago, is being exhibited at the Harmon store, in the form of an Edison Phonograph. Nothing seemed to be left of the Phonograph but the iron, and it was so badly rusted when dug out of the ruins that it seemed worthless. Mr. Mickey, its owner, wished to preserve the relic for the tender memories surrounding it. Recently he decided to try rebuilding the machine and found that a new Reproducer and a few ninor adjustments were all that the old Phonograph required to make it run smoothly again. One of the most effective advertisements which have come to our notice lately, is that of the J. A. Foster Company of Providence, R. I. This advertisement covered nine and one-half inches, three columns wide in the Providence Evening Bulletin, featuring the new December list, together with the Harry Lauder and Marguerita Sylva "Gypsy Love" Records. Dealers will do well to note this spirit of enterprise and to fall promptly in line — it gets results.