The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

Vol. II. No. 10 THE PHONOSCOPE 15 IFlew literature Peter Bacigalupi, the San Francisco hustler, has opened large parlors at 950-952 Market Street and claims the finest show rooms west of the Rockies. The new catalogue issued by him, the frontispiece of which contains likenesses of the stars of the profession, is truly a novel departure in the method of listing records. Mr. Norcross has perhaps done more consistent experimenting on band records than any other man. His records secured from the Metropolitan Band are really fine. He intends to put upon the market a cornet and clarinet duet of rare merit. Mr. Norcross's latest catalogue can now be had by addressing him at Broadway and Thirty-seventh Street, New York City. The Lyric Phonograph Company announce in their new special catalogue dated Nov. 1 that they can now supply church organ records. '1 his is a new departure and should meet with deserved success. Other fine records by the Lyric Trio, Hooley, Simonds, Madeira, Weber, Miss Mann, Havens, etc., are always in stock at the laboratory, No. 114 West 34th Street. This company gives undivided attention to record-making and does not deal in machines. The board of directors of the American Graphophone Company has reorganized for a year by the re-election of the old officers, as follows: Edward D. Easton, President and General Manager; William E. Bond, Vice-President; William Herbert Smith, Treasurer and Thomas J. Godwin, Secretary. The Board elected at the annual meeting of Stockholders is composed of Messrs. M. E. Lyle, Andrew Devine, F. J. Warburton, Edward D. Easton, R. F. Cromelin, William E. Bond, Philip Mauro and William Herbert Smith. The general offices of the Company are at Nos. 5, 7, 9 and it Broadway, New York. F. M. Prescott, the leading exporter, has issued to the trade a comprehensive catalogue. It is from the press of Madison & Co., Newark, N. J., and the cover, in green and gold, shows fine taste on the part of its designer. Mr. Prescott can furnish gold platea and nickel-plated phonographs on demand in addition to the usual lines. He makes no specialty of the records of any company but can supply those of any artist in the business. No. 44 Broad Street, New York City is his address. It may be well to add just here that Mr. Prescott issues more catalogues than any other dealer. His new special catalogues include those for new master records, fifty-cent records, Graphophone records, Bettini records, new films at seven dollars, new horn-stand, Polyphone, Gramophone slot-machine and for miscellaneous supplies. The Universal Company furnishes the records of the famous orchestra of George Rosey. This artist, who has just returned from a trip to Europe, has brought back with him several artistic productions as yet unpublished in this country. A march "Under Victory's Banner," is one of the new ones. Others will be produced which are sure to rival in popularity such of Mr. Rosey's arrangements as the "Handicap" and the "Honeymoon." "Mail us your order or call and take the records off the racks as they are being made, like many of our customers do, ' ' seems to be a sufficient assurance that original records are the ones really sold to purchasers. "A Night Off" a march written by Mr. Rosey and played by his orchestra exclusively for the Universal, will be the orchestra hit of the season. The polyphone circular comes to the editor's desk in truly breezy western style. It could easily be recognized as a Chicago production did it not have on its title page its home address, No. 10^ Madison Street, Chicago, U. S. A. Two statements contained in the neat little book (from the press of Booth) are characteristic : "We guarantee the polyphone more than twice as loud and many times more musical than any other talking-machine. We allow you to judge. The moment you hear it you will be convinced. We don't ask you to send us any money. Deposit enough money with your express agent to guarantee express charges and we will ship polyphone for your examination." "The polyphone is the sweetness of many echoes instantly combined." All New Yorkers who have heard this double wonder are satisfied that Leon F. Douglass has in the polyphone an attachment which all owners of talking-machines will need. The Edison Phonograph, made in two types and five styles, is minutely described in the new compendium published by the National Phonograph Company of Orange, N. J. One quotation is culled from the introduction to the work. "In preparing this list, Mr. Edison desires to state that the only machine manufactured by him for recording and reproducing sound is the Edison phonograph, and to explain that none of the instruments offered for sale under similiar names (belonging to the family of "graphs'' and "phones" and the several variations of these names) are made by him at his factory." At least three other catalogues devoted to special features of the business also are published. One more than interesting pamphlet, with artistic transparent cover, is entitled "Phonograph Short Stories." Slot^flfcacbine Mar Terre Haute police are down 011 slot machines. A tax of $2.50 is placed on all slot-machines in Virginia. Kinetoscope exhibitors in Pennsylvania are liable for a war tax. Two men have been arrested charged with stealing a slot-machine from the saloon of R. H. McDonald, in South Omaha, Neb. Mayor Bohaman of Stamford, Conn., likes slotmachines for chewing gum and for weighing, but is a terrible foe to slot-machines used for gambling. The merry click of the slot-machine has been silenced in Dowagiac by the Anti-Saloon league. There were eight of them, and they were coining wealth. Judge Bill of the Hartford, Conn., police court convicted four men recently who where charged with keeping gambling devices. The judge also ordered the machines destroyed. Slot-machines are more numerous than ever in Detroit. Justice Whalen has taken a firm stand and proposes to rid the city of such nuisances. His last search warrants, however, were returned to court, because it was claimed that all owners of slotmachines had been warned. The officers made no arrests and no machines were captured. A Rochester, N. Y. , jury recently ruled that a slot-machine is not a gambling device. This verdict was handed down in the case of the people of Rochester, vs. Charles A. Leimgruber. Mr. Leimgruber was charged with having a slot machine, which was used as a gambling device in his place. Richmond, Va. , will have no more nickel in-theslot-miichines to contend with, unless they are run so secretly that the officers of the law cannot find them. This vice has been effectually wiped out of existence by the action of Justice Crutchfield, of the Police Court, and he was firmly backed up by Judge Witt of the Hustings Court. As will be remembered Frank Morrella,an Italian, was arrested and taken before the Police Court some time ago on the charge of running a slot-machine without a license. He was fined $5.00 and sentenced to serve one day in jail — the minimum, penalty. He secured learned counsel, and appealed to the Husting Court, it being agreed to make a test of his case. The matter was tried before Judge Witt, there being elaborate argument made on a motion to quash the indictment against Morrella, his counsel claiming that the act of the last Legislature licensing slot-machines gave him a right to conduct such device. Commonwealth's Attorney Richardson held that the machine was in the nature of lottery, the same being contrary to a constitutional provision. The jury agreed with him, and affirmed the judgment of the lower court. Morrella's attorneys asked for time to consider the question of asking an appeal. Subsequently his attorneys announced that no appeal would betaken flew Companies Continental Phonograph Company A new company has recently been formed under the laws of the State of New York, under the name of the, "Continental Phonograph and Record Company." The President of the Company is Colonel L. E. Evans who has been connected whh the talkingmiiclnne interests >ince 1888. The advertisement of the company will appear in the next issue. IHew flliacbines It is rumored that a talking machine is being made for use at the Paris Exposition of 1900 which is expected to be of sufficient dimensions to be heard by 10,000 people. [We have in fact viewed and heard a working model of this really marvelous machine, and at the proper time our readers will be fully informed as to its possibilities and actual results.— Ed.] IRew Schemes The Columbia Phonograph Company tried a novel advertising scheme at the recent St. Louis Exposition with excellent results. Ten thousand small cylinders were given away. Interested visitors were allowed to speak to the machines thereby recording their voices on the cylinders. The records were then neatly packed in a small box upon which the following was printed — "Graphophone Record of the voice of made at the booth of the Columbia Phonograph Company, St. Louis Exposition, 1898." The Columbia Phonograph Company has a new shaving-machine for their "0" and "P" cylinders. It consists of a "main" casting, mandrel, shaving knife, etc. It is'' very simple, being operated by hand power instead of electric or spring motor. It is a most practical device as the regulation and speed of the machine is absolutely under the control of the operator at all times. A very clever advertising device is being put on the market. It consists of a cabinet with an apparatus which displays a number of advertising cards. As the cards are set in motion by a motor inside the cabinet a Phonograph, which is operated by the same motor, reproduces a number of speeches commenting on the various ads simultaneously as the cards move into position and pause a moment for your inspection. It is proposed to place these machines in every possible place where people congregate; ferry-houses, railroad stations, seaside resorts, etc. The machine is very attractive as it is supplied with a large brass horn, which, as the Phonograph is concealed from view, excites natural curiosity. Mr.'Norcross of the Norcross Phonograph Company is experimenting on a reproducing diaphragm. He proposes, and promises to build a diaphragm that will magnify the vibrations so that the reproduction of the record will be much louder than it would be if an ordinary diaphragm were used. i [Mr. Norcross generally does as he promises, consequently we expect to see him put an excellent reproducer on the market in the near future. — Ed.] "dFafce" Schemes Every day brings to the surface of the talkingmachine art a new schemer with a new fake for the market. The latest one is an alleged mechanism for making soprano records. The promoter of the scheme wishes some one with unlimited means to put the ''new idea" onto the market. Controlling interest is not for sale. No one can see the apparatus "till the judgment day." It any one wishes to put $1,000 into an alleged invention, not even patented, which he cannot even touch or see, he can now find such an opportunity in a field which is already well supplied with records better than those submitted as sample productions of the new, secretly guarded device.