The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

Vol. I. No. 4 THE PHONOSCOPE 9 General flews The railroad managers are taking qnile an interest in the pictures of their .different express trains. The B. & O. have made an agreement with one of film companies to pay for the coloring of all the films the}' send out of the Royal Blue Express, of which photographs have been taken while it was running at the rate of seventy miles an hour. The Edison Phonograph Company, of Philadelphia, on account of increase in their business have moved to more commodious quarters at No. 23 S. Eighth Street. E. Kulm and C. H. Webster, of the International Film Company, of New York City, are certainly up to dale. They inform me that they started for Washington, D. C, to take films of the Inauguration March 2d, had them phot* graphed March -)th, arrived home March 6th and had their, ready for delivery March 8th, and as they were the first on the market the "early bird" fable was practically illustrated in Iheir orders. They have just com' pleted their new gallery on the roof over their factory and office and have sonic film novelties in preparation which will be put on the market in the near future. We understand that at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Graphophone Company, held April 2d, a dividend of 1 per cent, on the common capital stock (the fourth during the current fiscal year beginning October, 1 886), was declared, payable on April 20 to stockholders of record April 12 and the regular quarterly dividend on the preferred stock at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum was declared, payable May 15, 1897, to stockholders of record May 1, 1897. The new talking machine men t inned in our last, issue is called the lyrophone and retails for $10. It will be placed on the market the latter part of April. It is claimed that this machine is the best yet produced for the money. I have been informed that Mr. Moore has severed his connection with the Multiplex Company and is now experimenting on a new talkiug machine and diaphragm. Charles Urban, the able manager, who opened the phonograph parlor for the Michigan Electric Company, has resigned that position and is now associated with Messrs. Maguire & Baucus, of New York City. Wm, K. Vauderbilt purchased four graphophones last month from the Columbia Phonograph Company. They were the Columbia model, five wind, antique oak cases. Lieut. Bellini claims he has perfected the automatic self-adjusting micro reproducer for the home graphophone, which will give a loud, clear and natural reproduction. We were favored last month with a visit from H. Brouse, of Ottawa, Canada, who was in this city patronizing several of our advertisers. He informs us that business is booming in his section of the country. The Columbia Phonograph Company have secured the exclusive services of Leu Spencer, who has been associated with the United Slates Phonograph Company for the past few years. Mr. Spencer's abilities as a phonograph artist are well known throughout the talkiug machine world. One of Muskegon's inventive geniuses has evolved a talking machine. The reproduction is mellow and clear, being free from the snapping sound heard on higher priced machines and can be manufactured and sold for $2 or $3. A lot of 10,000 will be turned out at once. I have seen the model of a new $"> talking machine that promises to revolutionize the business when it is offered to the market. Mr. Thomas W. Henry, the well-known comet player, died suddenly of heart trouble in Boston on Saturday evening, March 13, while on his way to fill a professional engagement. Mr. Henry was widely known, and as a coinetist held high rank. He had long been a well-known player to the phonograph, commencing as early as 1878, when he played into one of the original tin-foil instruments then being exhibited at the Old South Church in Boston. The celebrated Baldwin Cadet Band records were all taken while the band was under his direction. Mr. Henry was greatly interested in the phonograph and took as much pride in having the Ca 'et Baud records of a superior quality as the company that recorded them. In the most brilliant and dashing selections Mr. Henry's cornet, was a pioniinent feature and could be heard clear and sharp above the rest of the band. Mr. Henry was born in Manchester, Eng., and his early childhood was passed in the family of a musician, who gave him the first lessons on the cornet. He came to this country when twelve years old, and was soon afterward known as the boy coinetist. Mr. Henry was never married. He was a prominent member of the B. P. O Elks, by whom he was buried. — : ♦ • ■»■ ©ur fforeign Corresponbence Sydney, N. S. W., February 15, 1897. Dear Sir: Some one was kind enough to mail the writer a copy of your journal, which was read with avidity and thoroughly enjoyed. If you see fit to send me over a couple of dozen copies of the journal I will take pleasure in placing them where they will do you good and your advertisers as well. '! he writer was the first person to exhibit Edison's Phonograph to the Australian public in 187S on his first visit to this country, and then again he gave the first public exhibition in New South Wales in 1SS9 and 1890 of his perfected machine, antedating Prof Douglas Archibald by several weeks. Have delivered about nine hundred lectures in Australia and elsewdiere 011 "Edison, His Life and His Inventions," illustrated with oxy -hydrogen light and views, and the best of American productions in records. I have made Casey, Pat Brady, Gaskin, Ouinn, Len Spencer and At Lee, as well as hosts of others known in all of Australasia. Have even sent them to New Caladonia, Fiji, NewHebrides and places where they little dreamed of going. Now they can be heard daily at the parlors in this part of the world. Now everything is the new order of things, known here as "animated photograph}'." We have had the vitascope, the kinetograph and five or six kinds of cinematographes. The X-Ray machines are here, as well as the new home phonograph, gramophones, and graphophones. I would be very pleased to hear from any one contemplating a visit to this part of the world. If they will drop a line and let me know what they would like to bring, I will write and tell them honestly if it will pay them or not to come to this part of the globe. I am an American, born and brought up in the United States of America, and proud to say that I am a New England Yankee, from good old Pilgrim fathers' stock, and will do all I can to promote the welfare of anything genuine in the amusement line. Now, if you want a letter monthly from this part of the earth let it be made known to Yours faithfully, Dr. W. H. L. IHew Corporations A New Industry Likely to Be Started in Canton, Ohio Among the recent arrivals in Canton, are Mr. Norman C. Raff, formerly of Canton, and Frank R. Gammon. Mr. Gammon is president and Mr. Raff secretary and treasurer of the Vitascope Company, of New York. They are considering the advantages offered by that city for the establishment of a film manufacturing plant. These films are the strips' of pictures photographed from life on celluloid and reproduced,' lifesize, on a screen or canvass, with every motion true to life, by means of the vitascope and other similar machines. Their manufacture has become an important industry, and the market the whole world, as the superiority of American films is generally conceded in all countries. If located this will add another industry to the large number already located there, and every encouragement should be offered by their citizens to secure it. These gentlemen recognize the advantages presented by Canton in the way of transportation, central location, moderate cost of ground, labor, rents, etc., as compared with larger cities, and are disposed to locate there, but have not yet positively determined the question. One important benefit which Canton would derive from the location of this plant there would be the expensive advertising this section would receive through the exhibition of local views and scenes, not only throughout this country but the whole world, and in which every detail, act and motion is faithfully reproduced by means of that wonderful machine — the vitascope — which has already become one of the most popular features of the amusement world, although yet in its infancy. We understand that substantial inducements have already been offered to secure the location of this industry. We have no doubt that the Board of Trade will extend every possible encouragement to the Vitascope Company, and we can assure them of a most cordial and hearty welcome from our citizens generally. A company w-as forme incorporating itself as the North American Phonograph Company, to which Mr. Edison conceded the rights to handle the phonograph in the United States and Canada. This company, with headquarters in New York, established a number of sub-companies in different parts of ■ the country, but the machine proved a failure for practical use. It was found to be too complicated to be used for business purposes, as had been originally intended by the company. Mr. Edison, therefore, by continued efforts and experiments made improvements on this machine by dispensing with all complicated and troublesome attachments, and built a simple but practical machine that was a success. These machines were then put on the market in great quantities and have remained practically of the same design up to the present time. The Verescope Company, of New York City, was incorporated with a capital stock of f5,ooo. Directors : Frank C. Meehan, Robert I. Maisteu and Sheldon B. Cable, of New York.