The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

t Vol. II. No. 10 THE PHONOSCOPE Hnswers to Corresponbence &11 questions pertaining to Talking Machines, PictureProjecting Inventions, Automatic Coin-in-Slot devices, Amusement Inventions, etc., will be cheerfully and fully answered in this column. Inquiries for this department should be addressed, Information Department, The Phonoscope, 4 East Fourteenth Street, New York, U. S. A. J* J* ^ J* "C S. K." Lima, Ohio. [You can obtain the record of the "Bugler of San Juan" from the Columbia Phonograph Company. — Ed.] "W. J. P.," Newark, N. J. [W. J. P. of Newark, N. J., desires to kuow why it is impossible to procure lecturers who can give a scientific explanation of the talking-machine. The reason is that few make the study of the art of recording: and reproducing, who can spare time and who are fully capable of appearing before a critical body of students and exemplifying the methods. A-uyone desirous of such services however, may secure the attention of a well-posted lecturer, Yale graduate, by making known such desire to the editor of this magazine. — Ed.] "H. H. C," Fresno, Cal. [H. H. C, of Fresno, Cal., enquires how it is possible to give exhibitions to passers-by along the street when the weather is cold and the street door must be shut. Mr. Kent of Binghamton, N. Y., who has many ingenious devices for the conduct of this business, solved the problem successfully. He placed his machine near the front window. Through a proper sized hole (half-inch) in the window casing he passed a rubber tube of the largest size. To the outer end of this tube he affixed a twenty-six inch japanned horn and made it stationary by additional cords. The inuer end of this large tubing he attached to the reproducer in the usual manner. The record is reproduced and the sound goes through the rubber tube and horn with wonderful volume. -Ed.] "R. H. P.," Elkhart, Ind. [In response to an inquiry from R. H. P., of Elkhart, Ind., it maybe stated with reasonable certainty that Mr. Edison would not take the "idea" off from your hands and perfect it. Mr. Edison is a very busy man and no longer dabbles in small things. If Mr. Edison wanted to put upon the market a talkiugdoll he would poke around in the recesses of his own laboratory and resurrect the perfected model of the one he threw into the corner some years ago. Mr. Edison has not only a talking doll, but a score of other wonderful things which would drive the public crazy if they could all be ' 'sprung" at one time. For your information it may be well to say that Mr. Edison is giving his undivided attention to his process for abstracting iron ore from the earth by electricity. He has expended vast sums of money in a long series of experiments with a result equal in importance to the telephone and the phonograph. This magnificent achievement is a fitting close, in the line of discovery, for this wonderful nineteenth century. You are seriously advised not to bother Mr. Edison with any importunities for assistance in perfecting your talkiug-doll. — Ed.] "H. J. P.," Wilmington, Del. [H. J. P., of Wilmington, Del., asks a very knotty question in relation to the composition and manufacture of wax cylinders. Briefly in reply it may be stated that two companies only have the right under patents to the use of these cylinders. It is true that thousands. of dollars have been expended in litigation, hoping to find the equitable owner of the right to use the cylinder. All legal complications to date have been settled by compromise— both companies, "Phonograph" and "Graphophone" to use their own formulas. The cylinders made by these two companies differ. The secret process of making these blanks is not so much in the compo nent parts (chemists have analyzed the wax-like compound with absolute accuracy), as in the method of mixing these parts and the temperature suitable to reduce the composition to a proper consistency. You would be sued at once if you start to manufacture these blanks. This is a vital feature of the trade and the secret has been most carefully guarded for many years.— Ed.] "A. K." Darien, Georgia. [The record which you sent us is mouldy. This mould cannot be taken off. The southern climate does not have any effect on cylinders if they are of the proper quality. The parent companies in making experiments to improve their cylinders, sometimes unconsciously turn out a few bad ones such as the one you sent us. You should return the records to the company that sold them to you. They will probably give you good ones in return. — Ed.] "J. W. G.." Halifax, England. [In reply to J. W. G.,of Halifax, England. It is almost impossible to answer your questions as you do not advise us what kind of a piano you use. It is a very easy matter to take good records of an upright piano. The results from a square or grand instrument are generally very poor. If you use an upright piano, elevate it about three feet from the floor. Place your phonograph back of the piano on an ordinary table and adjust your horn so that it will point towards the middle part of the lower register of the piano ; that is, if your piano is about five feet long, direct your horn to about one and a quarter feet from the bass end of instrument or rather the end of the sounding board over which the bass strings are strung, In playing the piano to the 'phone never use the forte pedal. The artist should play staccato instead of legato. The distance from the mouth of your horn to the piano varies according to the sensitiveness of your diaphragm. The best way to experiment is to move the machine and horn while the artist is playing, announcing on the record the changes in distance as they are made. — Ed.] 1ft is IRumoreb ^bat — Zither records are popular. — Christmas trade will not be as brisk as it was last year. — The clerical force at Columbia Parlor lias been greatly reduced. — ■ Talking-Machine offices will soon be opened in Berlin and Buenos Ayres. — Len Spencer's minstrels will be the finest troupe that ever took the road. — The Columbia plant for the shaving of blanks is the finest in operation to-day. — Several employees of Columbia Parlor are to be transferred to the Paris office. — Mr. Edison will take a phonograph with him when he goes to Russia next month. — A large block of Graphophone stock was recently sold in Washington for 134-. ■ — The Columbia Company 'next year will not retain all of the present force of talent. — The new London Phonograph Company, has $1,000,000. with which to begin business. — The Columbia Phonograph Company recently sold 1,000 machines to be shipped to India. — A phonograph patent of much importance has recently been granted to Thomas A. Edison. — F. M Prescott has a new horn stand which is a recognized improvement over all others. — Maguire & Baucus will soon give up the talking-machine department of their business. The Polyphone will be very generally used by all owners of Phonographs and Graphophones — George J. Gaskin will devote his salary to the paying of his bets (on Van Wyck) for some time to come. — A new leather carrying case, made the same as a dress-suit case, will be used by all swell owners of machines. — Col. Evans will have a fine trade for his Continental Phonograph Company, from his many G..A. R. friends. — Russell Hunting's record of Cyrano de Bergerac has led the collections from the slot-machines in Columbia Parlor. — The Columbia Company will allow all employees a commission, in addition to salary, for all sales they may make outside the office. — Phonographs and Graphophones with Polyphone attachments will be quite generally used in furnishing music for swell cotillions this winter. — One of Columbia's crack salesmen has been offered the management of a compnny recently formed for the manufacture of a clock which will run for two years and a half. The winding apparatus of the clock is operated by chemicals. Ebitorial Comments on IRecorbs Frequent requests have been received for editorial criticism of certain records. In response to such requests it has been decided to devote this column to brief mention of any and all records sent us as samples. No advertiser owns this column and comment here is on the merit of the records* & The vocal record sent by Mr. Chapman is absolutely without merit. Tone — "mushy;" quality — very poor. * * * "The Snow Baby" as sung by Miss Minnie Emmet is worthy of special notice. The record is loud and clear, free from blasts and withal beautifully rendered. * * * The record of the song "The Holy City," as made by Albert Campbell, calls for special mention. The sustained high note at the end of the song is as good as any we have ever heard. * * * The record "Honolulu Belle" as sung by Mr. Hooley is worthy of mention. Mr. Hooley's good articulation in this song was specially noticeable. The tone was full, round and pleasing. * * * The xylophone solo "Fire-fly Galop" as played by Mr. Chas. P. Lowe is a masterly performance. We have a record of this selection which is the loudest xylophone record we have heard. * * # The record of "The Palms," as rendered by Mr. Steve Porter, is one of the loudest records we have ever heard. The piano accompaniment is especially fine, a feature generally lacking in this selection. * * * The Trinity Church Chime record submitted by Mr. George Emerson is very fine. The tone is wonderfully strong. We notice that the tones of the bells do not run together, a fault generally found in chime records. * * * The sacred selections sung by Mr. Fisher for the Columbia Phonograph Company are masterly efforts. The tone full, the phrasing beautiful. He should sing "The Armorers Song" anil similar selections witli more intensity of spirit. * * * The orchestra record, "The Awakening of the Lion," as played by Geo. Rosey's Orchestra for the Universal Phonograph Company, is an exceptionally beautiful record. The execution of the closing bars (especially the bass movement) is very striking, -x -x * The record of "Bugle Calls," as rendered by Bugler Cassi, of "Roosevelt's Rough Riders," for the Columbia Phonograph Company, is a most excellent record. The tone is marvelously strong, the execution very brilliant. The "taps" call however, is not played as written in the manual. * * * The violin record of "Cavalleria Rusticana" as rendered by Mr. Hager for the Harms, Kaiser & Hagan Company, is one of the very best records we have heard. This record is especially praise worthy as the phrasing and expression is not sacrificed to obtain volume of tone. * * * The band record, "Light Cavalry Overture," as played by the Metropolitan Band, for the Norcross Phonograph Company, is worthy of praise. The sustained bass notes in the first movement and the execution of the selection generally, merits special notice. Volume of tone — grand. * * * The vocal record "She Was Bred in Old Kentucky," as sung by Miss Mabel Taylor King for the Excelsior Phonograph Company, is the very best record of this song we have heard. The story is rendered with proper feeling. The voice sweet and mellow. * -X * The dramatic selections from "Cyrano de Bergerac" as recorded by Russell Hunting, for the Columbia Phonograph Company, are unexcelled. The tone, intonation, articulation and expression is beautiful. The dramatic effect, realistic and impressive.