The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

18 THE TALKING MACHINE WOIILD. DEVICE TO AUGMENT SOUND. John Swem Inventor of Attachment for Whieh Remarkable Things Are Claimed in the Way of Sound as Applied to Talking Machines. (Special to The Talking Machine Woi-ld. ) Colorado City, Col., March 8, 1906. John Swem, of this city, has perfected a device which increases the volume of sound of the ordinary record considerably more than double. "The volume of sound," said Mr. Swem, "can be increased so that the human voice can be heard more than a mile away. A record no larger than those in use on an Edison phonograph can be made to give forth every note of music played by a brass band as much louder than the band played the piece, as may be desired. A speaker's voice can be heard clearly and distinctly in the largest auditorium." In support of his claims, Mr. Swem produced a record upon which he had been experimenting, and placed it in an Edison phonograph. When the machine was set in motion the words, "Modern inventions have revolutionized the world," carne out clearly and distinctly in an ordinary tone, but when he applied his device to the instrument, the sound came forth as if uttered by a giant, so that in the small room it was almost deafening. Mr. Swem will immediately apply for a patent, as he feels assured it will meet with a ready sale to the manufacturers of phonographs, as it will be in public demand. Co. The second issue of the ten Edison grand opera records will be in April, and will be by the same artists as sang the first list. It has been decided not to issue these records more frequently than once every three months, the dates for 1906 being as follows: May 1, August 1 and November 1. Steps are now being taken toward having Edison grand opera records made by other noted singers. VICTOR CO. EXPLAIN DELAY the near future. Temporarily, we are working night and day with our present plant, though under some difficulties, as a great many girls are employed in this work who object to going home late at night. To overcome this, we have been obliged to get carriages to take them home. 1 only speak of this small incident to show you that everything is being done that can possibly be done — regardless of expense — to take care of this enormous unlocked for increase, and we trust that distributers and dealers will be as patient as possible under the circumstances." In Shipments of Records — Demand Exceeded the Most Sanguine Expectations — Working Day and Night — Erecting New Plant That Will Insure All Demands Being Met. PRICES REDUCED, EDISON GRAND OPERA RECORDS. The grand opera records issued by the National Phonograph Co. are in great demand, and reports from dealers everywhere state that they are an immense success. Dealers at first were a little careful in ordering, but the demand is now increased to such proportions that there is no question but a big business will be transacted with these latest products of the National Phonograph Leon P. Douglass, vice-president of the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., has just sent out the following communication to Victor dealers: "We believe an explanation of our inability to supply the demand for records is due to our distributers and dealers. Before reducing the price on records, we took precautions to work up to a capacity double the demand for records. You will recall we estimated that the reduction v/ould double the demand; instead of only doubling it, it has increased it four times. Notwithstanding we had double the capacity when we made the change, we had previously ordered — at an expense of $100.000 — sufficient machinery to enable us to turn out four times the quantity of records for which there was a demand last fall. This machinery has just commenced coming in, and in the near future, our capacity will be above the present demand. "We just completed a power plant last fall which we thought would take care of our increase for the next two years. We have already been obliged to abandon this plant — which cost us $50,000 — tear down four buildings and have started up a new plant far beyond what we thought we would need in the next five years so that we can surely promise you full relief in The reduction of prices on Leather Post Cards from $3.70 to $3.10 per hundred, announced by The Risley-Bird Mfg. Co., will enable dealers to make a profit of $6.90 per hundred. On trial orders an assortment of 67 styles is sent with each hundred, and the name of the dealer's town stamped on each card without any extra charge. These leather cards are quick sellers and since sofa pillow covers made with them have become a fad they are moving much more rapidly. Any further information will be sent on request by The Risley-Bird Mfg. Co., 94 Fifth avenue. New York. HAWTHORNE & SHEBLE VERY BUSY. Hawthorne & Sheble Manufacturing Co. report the sales of their talking machine cranes as steadily increasing, and as the United States Patent Office have allowed them very broad claims for letters patent they are largely increasing their facilities to manufacture so as to be able to supply the growing market. These cranes are now on sale in every large city in the United States, as well as in foreign countries. John Rose, who purchased the talking machine business of Harry Jackson at 219 Bowery, New Y'ork, with various branch stores, has removed the jobbing business to Astoria. EALERS are beginning to learn that it is to their advantage to purchase the best records, and because the record quality is being scanned more closely than ever before is one of the reasons v^hy the demand for the ZONOPHONE RECORDS continues to increase so rapidly. We invite the most critical examination of our product, because we are convinced the closer the dealer goes into the subject the more he will become captivated by the results obtained from the Zonophone Records They sound different than other records, and they sound better. We might add that our list for April surpasses any previous list that we have put forth. There are included in it a larger number of vocal records than has appeared in some of our previous lists, and they are all good. They are bound to be big sellers, particularly when the Ten Inch Zonophone Records sell for Fifty Cents. THe Universal TalKing MacKine Co. 28 WARREIN STREET, INEW VORK