The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

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THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 31 MATERIAL USED IN DISC RECORDS. Important Decision Handed Down Feb. 19 by Judge Hazel in Favor of the American Graphophone Co. Who Dismissed Complaint of Victor Talking Machine Co. — Strict Construction of Part of Berliner Patent. Under the ruling of Judge Hazel, United States Circuit Court, New York, a strict interpretation 0' construction is placed on that part of the Berliner patent relating to the material used in the manufacture of disc records, and the complaint of infringement is dismissed. The decision was handed down Feb. 19, in the equity suit of the Victor Talking Machine Co. and the United States Gramophone Co. against the American Graphophone Co., Horace Pettit, of Philadelphia, appearing for the complainants, and Elisha Keller Camp and Philip Mauro for the defendants. The patent which the defendants were charged with infringing, is No. 548,623, issued October 29, 1895, to Emil Berliner, who assigned it to the complainants, "for sounds records and methods for making same." The decision goes into the construing of the meaning and intent of patents, and how broad they should be treated in their practical application. In reference to the process employed the court cited one of Berliner's claims, in which the ifoGlow/ing positive (Statement was made: "A sheet of hard rubber and celluloid to be excellent material from which to make such duplicates." Judge Hazel then declared the patentee should be held down to his claims of invention, no more, no less, under the rulings of the courts in parallel cases, in finality saying: "My conclusion is that in the manufacture of said records the defendant does not embrace the material specified in claims 3, 4 and 5 of the patent in suit, and therefore is not an infringer of such claims. It follows that the complaint must be dismissed with costs." The case will probably be carried up for review to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, which will be final. The contention over the validity of the Berliner patent relative to the use of the free swinging stylus i reproducing sound, sustained in the lower court, is now pending on appeal, argument having been heard January 17. THOS. A. EDISON VISITING ELORIDA. Thomas A. Edison, the eminent scientist, whose connection with talking machines and sound reproduction is world famous, left his home in Orange, N. J., on Feb. 24, for a trip to Florida, accompanied by his family. He is enjoying the balmy climate of that country at Fort Myers, and will be away about six weeks. The "wizard's" general health is excellent, his mental vigor and physical energy is a marvel to his associates and assistants in the great experimental and manufacturing plant of which he is the active head and presiding genius. While the phonograph department is only a section of the works bearing Mr. Edison's name, its development, improvement and progress still holds his personal interest. CERTAIN TO BECOME A FAD At Banquets Is the Napkin Ring Record Which Holds Response to Toast and Is Carefully Preserved by Diners. The latest novel use ascribed to the talking machine is as a post-prandial entertainer. At a dinner recently given in this city the host provided a number of Columbia "napkin ring" records and as each guest arrived, they were invited into a small room and requested to respond to a toast into the graphophone. When 'HIE N.VI'KI.N K1,\G KECllRD. the dinner had ended, and the toastmaster began his duties, the machine was brought into the room, and as the name of each guest was called, and the toast announced, the record made by the guest was slipped on the machine, which made the response. At t'ue conclusion of the banquet the records were distributed among the guests as souvenirs. The records were packed in neat boxes, on one side of which is a space for the picture of the maker and a place for the inscription of their name, while on the obverse is a space for the date, autograph and address. These cylinders are made by the Columbia Phonograph Co., and will soon become a popular fad, as they are of a size adapted for a short message, greeting or speech, and can be easily mailed. The Columbia Phonograph Co. report the sales of these records as greatly increasing in all of their stores. PRICES IN LONDON AND HERE COMPARED. George F. Chippendale, of Bradford, Yorkshire, England, writes as follows: "I notice in your issue of December, 1905, that it is stated on page 30 the English prices for disc records are much lower than in the States, and in some instances much too low. I give below comparisons of prices here and new and old prices in the States: VlQTOK Recoeds. 7-iii. disc 10-in. disc li!-in. disc Englisli prices. 2s. 6/os. 0/7s. 6/ Americau , prices New. Old. Is. 6/ 2.S. 2s. 6/ 4.S-. 4s. 0/ 6.V. "I am sure a reduction in price of disc records on this side of the water would mean a much greater sale of this class of records." AN EDISONIA CO. SPECIALTY. The clever repeating attachment for Standard and Home phonographs manufactured by the Edisonia Co., of Newark, N. J., is winning for itself an enviable position with the trade, and the above company can well congratulate them selves on the buying of the sole rights of this clever invention. During the past two months they have been overwhelmed with orders for this device, which they have been delayed in filling on account of the congestion in the metal market and the difficulty in getting supplies fast enough. They are now prepared, however, to make shipments pi-omptly and will be glad to mail sample, prepaid, to dealers or jobbers for Standard or Home machines on receipt of .$1.50. Their advertisement in another part of this paper is worth reading. It was omitted from last month's World through an error in make-up. TALKER ENTERTAINS SOCIALISTS At Reunion in Newark, N. J. — Speeches and Songs by Noted People Heard. (Special to tUe Talking Machine World.) Newark, N. J., March 7, 1900. Talking machines have been used on many occasions for many purposes, but at Harmony Hall recently. Branch 7 of the Socialist party, utilized a phonograph, operated by William H. Leffingwell, to supply an entire evening's "enlightenment, entertainment and recreation." The many records heard included songs, instrumental music and reproductions of speeches by Joseph Wanhope, Eugene V. Debs and Gaylord Wilshire. Tne records were distinct and sufficiently effective, holding the attention almost as well as flesh and blood oratory, living, present, musical, gymnastics. Gaylord Wilshire's speech gripped more tightly than any of the other members. Mr. Wilshire is the publisher of a socialist magazine, and those present for the most part had read it. He argued against throat-cutt.ng competition, advising solidarity, organization and mutual aggrandizement. Mr. Debs also spoke against the theory that "competition is the life of trade," which he said was instilled intb children when at school writing in their copy books. NEW COLUMBIA JOBBERS. Walter L. Eckhardt, manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co.'s wholesale department, returned quite recently from a two weeks' run through the middle west, giving the most of his time to Ohio, where he has accepted the following jobbers additional to those already announced: Eclipse Musical Co., Cleveland; BallPintze Co., Newark; Perry B. Whitsit Co., Columbus, and Hayes Music Co. Others are under consideration. It is Mr. Eckhardt's purpose to establish five jobbing houses in Greater New York, whose names will be made public early next month. C. S. Gardiner is doing great business for the department, his sales reaching surprising figures as per official statement. The Saunders Music Co., of Minneapolis, Minn., has a window display made up for a contest given by the Victor Talking Machine Co. A picture of the window was taken recently and sent to the company for advertising purposes. Plain Morning Glory Decorated. AIN means the obscuring of one object by another. It is in the value and quality of our stock that we ECLIPSE our competitors. Our 1906 model, hand painted Flower HornS possess an individuality not found in any similar line. Write for price list. A large stock of these horns is carried in stock and we are prepared to make immediate shipments. VVe carry the largest and most complete line of Edison machines, records and supplies in the State. TRY us with an order. ECUIRSE PHOINOGRAF>H CO. A. WM. TOENNIES, Proprie(or 203 Washington St., Hoboken, IN. J.