The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

THE TALKING MACHINE WOULD. 19 TRADE NOTES FROM CINCINNATI. An Interesting Chat With Rudolph Wurlitzer, Jr., Who Speaks of the Educational and Enjoyable Features of the Talking Machine — New Department at Wurlitzer's — The Value of Association. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cincinoati, 0., March 10, 1906. Rudolph Wurlitzer, Jr., of the firm of Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., agents for the "Victor and Edison talking machines in Cincinnati and vicinity, spoke very interestingly on the general scope, usefulness and future of those instruments, when seen by the World representative the other day. From an educational standpoint the talking machine will, in the estimation of Mr. Wurlitzer, assume a distinct stand. It offers to persons who have neither means to attend concerts of good music, nor ability to play upon an instrument, the opportunity to become familiarized with high-class selections and the personal interpretations of the best instrumental and vocal artists. The advance of the Victor talking machine in the way of producing highclass records, Mr. Wurlitzer considered remarkable and praiseworthy. The Edison machines move along more utilitarian lines. Within the next few weeks the Wurlitzer Company will establish an exhibit of the Edison machines, giving language lessons on a graded scale. These machines have, as is well known, already been established at West Point and Annapolis. The talking machine business is increasing at such a pace that the Wurlitzer firm will establish a new department entirely separating wholesale from retail. The third floor of the new store will be given over to the wholesale line of the talking machines under the direction of Mr. Dietrich, while Mr. Strief will attend to the retail in the basement of the store, which is fitted up with a series of sound proof booths. The purely commercial advantages of the phonographs and talking machines obtain but slow recognition in this vicinity. Speaking of the advantages expected to accrue from the newly formed association of talking machine jobbers, Mr. Wurlitzer said in substance, that each member of the association was bonded in the sum of |500 to maintain the agreements decided on. These mainly concern uniform rates to jobbers and dealers, matters concerning the delivery of records to the public on a certain specified day, irrespective of actual date of reception, and an effort to obtain the records at stated periods from the original companies, in such fashion that the express charges, which are enormous on records, would not absorb all the profits thereof. Mr. Wurlitzer did not detail the manner of this arrangement, but stated the amount of express charges paid monthly by his company in an effort to obtain records in time to offer to the public. The sum thus disbursed amounted to a handsome figure. PLATING DISC RECORDS. Some Suggestions in This Connection from a Man Who Has Been Through the Mill. The probable cause of metal disc records not being on the market is the great expense of material, according to an English talking machine man, who suggests that with little trouble it will be easy to copper-plate composition records, and so make them practically everlasting. It seems almost impossible to wear them out. The only drawback is the needle requires changing every time instead of every two or three times. "I suggest," he said, "a smooth 7-inch first, and choose a record with a deep wide cut. If instructions below are followed, any one can do them successfully, as I have done." See that face of record is free from grease, sprinkle face with powdered plumbago, polish with a very soft camel's-hair brush till a bright polish is obtained all over face. Great care must be taken not to scratch record. Make a saturated solution of pure copper sulphate (free from iron sulphate), add a little sulphuric acid, bring a length of wire from carbon of battery, join to a copper plate; suspend in sulphate solution; bring another wire from zinc of battery. Make a loop thus ^ , join through center hole of record; bring wire out at back of record; suspend it in solution, facing copper plate, about two inches apart. An electrical deposit of copper is thus obtained, which in no way interferes with reproducing qualities of record. If desired a deposit can be obtained all over by polishing all over with plumbago or block black-lead. In this case it is best to bring two wires from carbon of battery and suspend record between two copper plates. A bright deposit is thus obtained all over record, and deposit of copper is less likely to chip off, as copper is practically all one piece if done correctly. This method is similar to that by which the original matrices are made. Tree has introduced into his theater. By the use of the machine Mr. Tree now supplies his sound effects. In "Richard III." he had his entire company rattle swords and chains before the instrument, and then used the discs in the theater. The advantage of this method is that he always gets precisely the same effect. The talking machine company grasping at once this new field for the use of their instruments have secured records of chimes, organs, pianos and violins to be used in theatrical productions. The manufacturers have progressed so far that in case of labor troubles with stage hands they can supply a machine of immense size that will furnish a complete selection of the music of the Coldstream Guards Band almost as well as if the band itself were playing. SPEECH IN A PHONOGRAPH. CLUB SCHEME FOR SELLING President Underwood Talks by Proxy at Erie Association Dinner. Seems to Have Had Its Origin in England — What J. F. Greenwood, of Manchester, Says in This Connection. In a recent issue of The World reference was made to one of our subscribers, a dealer, having adopted a club scheme for selling talking machines. While the idea is not entirely universal in this country, it seems to have had its origin in England, for J. T. Greenwood, of Bacup, Manchester, writes: "I have had similar clubs in operation for nearly three years, and they have been a great success. I run them on the forty weeks' system. If a subscriber requires a £2 ($10) machine he pays Is. (25c.) per week; if he requires a £4 ($20) machine, 2s. (50c.) per week; a £5 ($25) machine, 2s. 6d. (72c.) per week, and so on, at the rate of Is. (25c.) per week for every £2 ($10). If there were twenty members in the club a draw would take place every two weeks, and the subscriber whose name was drawn would get his machine even if it were a £5 ($25) one and he had only paid twice. So you see the English club goes one better than the American." TAKES PLACE OF "SUPERS." Beerbohm Tree Gives "Richard III." With Disc Records of Armies in Fierce Fight. The Erie Railroad Association had its eleventh annual family dinner at the Hotel Savoy recently, and 250 officers and men, ranging from vicepresidents to chief clerks, attended. They came from all over the United States to attend the dinner, some from San Francisco, some from Boston and others were represented from Portland, Me., and New Orleans. The representatives from New York filled the foreground. F. D. Underwood, president of the road, was on his way to California, but that his voice might be heard he had a little speech carefully preserved in a phonographic record which was let loose at the right moment. The programme for the entertainment was full of surprises. An orchestra, for once clad in modern clothes, rendered the Erie anthem to the tune of "John Brown's Body." It was full of local hits and was heartily applauded. A moving picture machine added to the amusement. Pictures of the robbery of an express train were displayed. To those not initiated, the comments of the railroaders were not to be understood. But it was very realistic and impressed everybody. One old man was observed to reach for his revolver when the robbers boarded the car. A dispatch from London, England, says that the disc talking machine as a substitute for "supers" is the latest device which Beerbohm Langley & Winchell, one of Boston's big jobbers of talking machines, have opened an attractive establishment at 35-37 Aborn street, Providence, R. I., which is under the management of J. H. Magner. MEGA " Flower Horns FOR CYLINDER OR VICTOR TAPER ARM MACHINES Most Attractive and Best Amplifying Horns Senior Flower Junior Flower ^iSTaSIi^efoW 24 inches long, 16^ inch Bell Made in Five Colors: CRIMSON, BLUE. OLD ROSE, VIOLET, MAGENTA. For Cylinder Machines 32 inches long, 23 inch Bell Made in Five Colors. 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