The talking machine world (July-Sept 1921)

112 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD August 15, 1921 The Clouds Arc Lilting VVcstern Division op Tnu Would, Chicago, III., Ai r,. 10, 1921 July has been fairly Ihibv around these parts and the lir>t pari of August is displaying a great deal more in the way of excitement of every kind, We have the Pageant of Progress going strong as these words arc written, with every indication that the crowd of visitors from all parts ofthe mid-West will continue to pour into Chicago until the last day of the festivities, which will be the day before the publication of the present number of The Talking Machine World. The talking machine industry, we may observe in passing, is pretty well represented among Ihc exhibitors, as our news columns show. But what to us mid-Westerners is really most important at this moment is the undoubted fact thai the terrible cloud of depression is slowly but surely lifting from men's minds. Men of the business world arc beginning to sit up and clear the cobwebs from their brains. We sec thai the world lias not come to an end, and, in fact, is not going to come lo an end just yet. I luring the past few weeks, for example, we have had in Chicago the annual meetings of quite a number of national trade and commercial associations. Naturally, at all these meetings Ihc question uppermost has been the slate of business, And whal d< :ic thing, despil ■ago, which has i the pies ' all find when they all the bead-shakings, lie reputation of always ress earlier than any other id of July only about 40 p yet had lo organize bread gn t city lit of J-lines and Ihc coming in distress, our energy crying look at facts'? Well, for on they find thai qui cit) ol I liic showing signs of industrial d of the country, reports al thl unemployment. We have nt 6VCry (Jay tllC prOSpecl Of extraordinary distress Winter diminishes in intensity. The world, of c< Inn if we know that much wc ought to spend the in working hard [0 overcome the trouble nbOUl them and in wondering bow long it will be before we arc all in the same condition as is Soviet Russia. What we need, in oilier words, i- more work and less talk, Which statement applies precisely and specifically to the talking machine business. Let the doubters note carefully the facts disclosed in Ralph Freeman's talk out ai Colorado Springs on the Victor business for 1921. Thai will give t hem something lo think about. It is well worth reading afresh now that we arc entering a Fall and Winter season lhal will bring results for those who work earnestly and persistently to achieve. Speaking of our Pageanl of Progress reminds us that the various papers nf our fair village, both morning and night, have had a lot to ! their descriptions < Magnavox: The Great Voice say, m the course Indies, about Ihc opened the Ma bis \ When tl carried to chest ends of the Municipal Piei n'avox. When the prize song ot the Pageant v an gel it on a Columbia record, don'l forget), i in aeroplane, magnavocalizcd Ins tin* the fese Mayor the furleans of Magst sung (yon iuposer, from leans of Magto the crowds lclline dealers rations of the id lungs I U8.V0X and conveyed his tones five thousand feet do ou the pier. Some of our mure enterprising talkitlj have been using Magnavox for daily outdoor demt latest records for the benefit of the crowds passing in front of their doors along the streets Magnavox is simple and easily attached to any talking machine. We have had a number of demonstrations of the possibilities of an adequate voice-magnifying apparatus in Chicago during the lasl year or so, in fact, ever since the Republican convention of June, 1920. and we arc finding new uses for it daily, Tin7. Eastern shore of l-akc Michigan is tins year simply studded with camps for hoy scouts, for hoys taking military training, and for just boys. Siime friends of the writer have been taking a trip along the Michigan side of the 1-ake lo see what the kids are up to, and find them all having one deuce of a good time. One of the best things they do is drill. The setting-up exercises and the mild military drill arc very useful and are making the kids strong ami healthy. Boy Scouts and "Portables" I Int or two of the large encampments have bands, but it is noticeable that in the others portable talking machines arc being used to supply music for alt purposes. For instance, in this matter of exercises and general drill, music is extremely useful, even if not indispensable, seeing thai movements which have to be carried out simultaneously and in rhythmic unison can be done much better to music. So the portable talking machine comes in very useful. This being the case,, why don't dealers make an effort to get the names of boys who are attending these camps? The portable machine is just the thing for a hoy to have in bis room in Wintertime when he is trying to keep himself in good shape by exercises of various sorts. And that is only one side of it. The young folks like portables and will find uses for them twelve mouths in the year. For any kind of open-air doings the portable is the best of all, and even when the mouths of Winter lire with ns there is plenty of opportunity for using them. Why not run a campaign among the families whose sons have been camping out and doing their setting-up exercises to the music of a portable lalking machine? EVERYBODY is, or ought to he, glad that the Brunswick people have opened a recording laboratory in Chicago. We out here have often counseled patience among ourselves, knowing that if we but waited the Eastern monopoly in that respect would some day be broken. Of course there have been excellent reasons for planting the great recording laboratories in or near New York. But the midWest has a superabundance of talent which has never been able to get a hearing without transplanting itself one thousand miles cast of I^akc Michigan. For that reason, as well as for many others, we hope most decidedly that the Brunswick wise men will arrange to give to local talent in voice, piano, violin, 'cello and many other instruments an opportunity to make good in the record game. The fact that a Chicago laboratory for recording now exists is tantamount to confessing that the object of commercial recording is more than merely to provide a lot of records which the people can somehow be induced to buy. The talking machine interests of America are not unaware that they have a responsibility toward American music, and the more they come in contact with the general run of American musical talent the better it will be for all of us. We have here in Chicago an army of potential bit-makers, in every branch of music, Not only so, but there is a constant stream of inquiry coming into the Chicago office of The Talking Machine World from persons who want to know where they can get records made for private purposes. Whatever be the commercial value of such inquiries, the fact is indicated by them that a Chicago laboratory has long been a need. Well, now we have it. And the Brunswick people have given us another reason to be glad they are members oMhe great talking machine industry. A Western Laboratory! Wi welcome the Far East Welcome Home, Mr. Hall! D. Hall back home from bis half year's tour of The father of the fibre needle has been away all this time in those far-away lands buying up suitable bamboo poles for the great needs of the Hall Mfg. Co. There may be some who suppose that one kind of bamboo is as good as another kind for making fibre needles, but this is not so. A good many years of experimentation were needed in order to discover the precise species ol the bamboo best adapted for making fibre needles for talking machines; and ever since then Mr. Hall has been selecting his own wood personally. It was for such a purpose that he recently went to the East. It has been more and more difficult to obtain through ordinary import sources the needed qualities, and Mr. Hall, who has acquired extraordinarily deep knowledge of the requirements in his raw material, thought it best to make a personal investigation of its sources. He is now hack, better equipped than ever before to satisfy the growing wants of his big factory. He iias had a good time and we are glad to see him home again ready to resume his accustomed place in our trade circles.