The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

Vol. II. No. 8 The phonoscope n (Seneral IRewe It is estimated that fully 3,050 people visited the Columbia Phonograph Parlors in New York one day last week. Three distinct patterns of machines will be placed on exhibition at the Pittsburg Fair by the Multiplex Phonograph Company. The great cornetist, Wm. Paris Chambers, composer of "Gabriel" seems very jealous of his composition as he plays this selection only for certain phonograph people. Howard Cahill who has been connected with the Empire State Phonograph Company for some time is now employed as book keeper for the Norcross Phonograph Company. Messrs. Reed & Dawson have brought into prominence a new cornet player in the person of John C. Heed. We expect to hear some excellent solos from this gentleman. Some of our most popular whistling records are made by John AtLee, who is at present employed by the various Eastern companies. A list of his selections can be found in our column of new records. The Phonograph Sapphire Company have moved from the first to the fourth floor of the Judge Building, where, with increased facilities, they are able to fill all orders entrusted to them with promptness. Admiral Cervera and his party of Spanish officers, before they sailed for Spain, bought ten graphophones and a good supply of musical records from the Baltimore office of the Columbia Phonograph Co. Miss Emma Lisle, of the Norcross Phonograph Company, has at last consented to take a vacation for four weeks which this lady was greatly in need of. We expect some very fine records from her when she returns. Mr. Russell Hunting has returned from Cottage City, Mass., where he has been for the last three months, combining business with pleasure. Our representative almost mistook him for Mr. Johnson his skin was so tanned. The leader of the Imperial Band, Mr. John Hager, is proving to the trade that he is not asleep as he is introducing a large list of novelties, among which 1 'The Battle of Manila' ' and ' 'The Musical Contest" are considered gems. Owing to the large increase in business Mr. Bettini has been compelled to secure more spacious quarters and has therefore taken five of the largest rooms in the Judge Building on the south side, which are very handsomely fitted up. Mrs. Mann, of the Eyrie Phonograph Company, has recently returned from Louisville, after having had the sad experience of paying the last tributes to her niece, and judging from her appearance her birthplace does not agree with her as well as New York. Frank C. Stanley, a new aspirant for laurels in the phonograph world, has made a good start. We understand that Mr. Norcross has secured fortyfive master records out of seventy-five, and considering this is only his second effort, his work will not be in vain. We understand that the Popular Photograph Company have invented a small self-photographing machine which can be carried in the pocket. This machine can take a picture, develop and mount in twenty-five seconds. It will be sold at a very nominal figure. We mentioned in our last issue that John Kaiser, who recently returned from his vacation, "would run like the divil when he heard a phonograph," but we learn that he has changed his mind. The orders are coming in so thick and fast that he enjoys it immensely. Messrs. Maguire & Baucus are reaping the benefits of sticking to the business. Through all the trouble, this firm has stuck]to it, and during the past few months their business has increased fully 100 per cent. The London house also reports business as excellent. Mr. John Havens is enjoying a vacation in the Rocky Mountains for a few weeks where he expects to wrestle with the bears in that section of the country. If he is as successful in this undertaking as he is in bulling the phonograph record market, he will come out on top. Miss Annie Schaefer of Pittsbnrg, Pa., is a very petite young lady and has full control of her father's business. She has a complete knowledge of everything in this line and is recognized by all salesman, from New York to Philadelphia, to be beyond the standard. Wm. F. Hooley, who has taken the place of Roger Harding as manager of j| the ^Excelsior Phonograph Company, has been experimenting with a new diaphragm for band and vocal records and after many weeks of tedious work and worry has at last succeeded in improving the records to a great extent. Linen Fibre Diaphragms are in demand. Those who have not tried them should read the testimonials which appear in one of our advertising pages. Mr. I. W. Norcross, of the Norcross Phonograph Company, stated that he tried one of these diaphragms for making band records and they proved exceedingly fine. Billy Golden is gaining popularity with his negro delineations. Those that meet with greatest approval are : "The Mocking Bird," whistling solo with bird imitations running throughout the record, "Turkey in the Straw," "Roll on the Ground," "Medley of Coon Songs," and "Mixed Ale Party," including German, Irish and Coon songs. Our representative had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Authur B."Adamini, the tenor soloist, at the Edison works recently. He is at present staying in Asbury Park, N. J., and comes in the city every day. A great future for the record business is predicted by this gentleman. Among the many companies he has been connected with are the Lillian Russell and Francis Wilson Opera Companies. John Bazant, the inventor of the new horn support, fibre diaphragm, non-filling bottle, nonspilling feed bag and trolley pole, is working on a reproducer which no doubt will be a large improvement. He has been engaged by the Columbia Phonograph Company as salesman for the state of Ohio, with headquarters in the Philadelphia office of the company. He is a hustler and deserving of success. The talking-machines have been used to advantage by cigar manufacturers to advertise their brands. A talking-machine placed in retail cigar stands will be set going for the amusement of customers. A part of the discourse of the machine lauds a particular brand of cigars. A New York firm claims to have sold 2,000,000 extra cigars by introducing talking-machines. Other cigar men are beginning^to adopt the instrument. Len Spencer may be considered to be one of the smart people of the metropolis, but he certainly was not up to his standard recently when he left his gold watch and chain ( which he had been using while taking records) on the graphophone rack. He had been called down stairs suddenly, to see a lady friend, and when he returned, imagine his surprise when the above articles were missed. His bank account will be somewhat lessened for a new one. We are very sorry indeed, as we iear Mr. Spencer will not open so many bottles of wine for some time. The amusement loving public has a treat in store for it during the coming season in the form of moving pictures. P. F. Shea, of the firm of P. F. Shea & Company, was in New York superintending the taking of views of the naval parade on the Hudson River. He is connected with the American Biograph Company, and as the day was all that could have been desired for photographic purposes, it may be depended upon that good views were obtained. These pictures are to be displayed in the machines owned and controlled by the company. One may expect to see all the ships of the North Atlantic Squadron exactly as they appeared when passing Grant's Tomb, in the very act of firing the presidential salute. A strange sight may be witnessed any evening during the week at one of our popular phonograph parlors on Broadway, which is illuminated by hundreds of electric lights. After wending your way through enormous crowds of people who seem greatly interested in something in the center of the room, you see a raised platform upon which is a piano. Some two or three feet behind stands a rack holding three machines, each connected with a tin horn. Upon investigating, you learn that it is a device for recording cylinders. The other evening, when the temperature registeeed 107 degrees, a trio which consisted of Len Spencer, Billy Golden and Roger Harding were singing into these horns. There has been a great deal said about the enormous salary paid to these artists, but should you see them you would certainly admit that they deserve all they receive. The development and growth of the talking machine business has been due largely to three features; First, reduced cost of machines; second, improvement of records, and third, and by no means least, the vast improvement in sound amplifying horns. From the commencement of the business a prominent firm in Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, who are represented in the advertising pages of this issue, have been experimenting on making horns, and since the time when they placed the first brass horns on the market for use with talking machines, they have developed a complete line which show truly wonderful results. Their hard fibre recording horns mark an entirely