The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 5 TRADE GOOD IN SAINTLY CITY. Some Dealers Behind on Supply of Stock — Vlctor-Victrola and Auxeteophone Admired — T. P. Clancy's Good Report — Thiebes-Stierlin New Department — Phipps Co. Adds "Talkers"— Twentieth Century Graphophone a Big Seller — Some Recent Visitors — Other Items. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 8, 1906. The talking machine trade for the past four weeks has been quite fair considering the season of the year, and the indications point to a decided improvement from now on. The St. Lotus Talking Machine Co. report a very fair trade, and that they are still behind on orders for Victor seconds and thirds. This concern has just received an Auxetophone, which sells at $500, and a Victrola, which sells at $200. They are on exhibition at their salesrooms, and are commanding a great deal of admiration. W. C. Fuhri, western representative of the Columbia Phonograph Co., reports that trade is seasonable, and that everything points to a big Fall and Winter trade. Mr. Fuhri has just returned from a business trip to New York. T. P. Clancy, manager of the talking machiiTe department of the Conroy Piano Co., reports a much better trade for August than for the same month a year ago. He also reports the sale of a number of high priced instruments. 0. K. Houck, president of ,the 0. K. Houck Piano Co., who was a recent .visitor here, stated that he looked for an exceedingly big trade in talking machines this Fall and Winter, and that he expected that all the companies would find great difficulty in filling orders, both for machines and records. The Val A. Reis Music Co. have just finished up a handsome room for talking machine purposes on their first floor. It is partitioned off from the main department, and it Is nicely equipped in every way. The Thiebes-Stierlin Music Co. will have their new talking machine retail department ready for the trade about October 1. It will be located on the first floor, and it will be thoroughly up-to-date. L. A. Cummins, salesman in the talking machine department of the O. K. Houck Piano Co., has returned from a two weeks' vacation, which was spent in Chicago and other points. Paul Ware, formerly salesman in the talking machine department of the Conroy Piano Co., has accepted a position with the talking machine department of the O. K. Houck Piano Co. The H. A. Phipps Piano Co. have established a talking machine department, and are now ready for business. S. Y. Bradley, of the International Record Co., was a recent visitor here and did a nice business with the local dealers. Manager Kelly, of the Columbia Phonograph Co., states that the demand for the Twentieth Century instrument is better than ever before, while the $45 aluminum tone arm is selling faster than they can get them. Manager Charles A. Regan, of the Columbia Phonograph Co., New Orleans, spent a few days of his vacation here recently renewing old acquaintances. "Dick" Guttenberger, formerly with the Columbia Phonograph Co. here, and now with the same concern at Kansas City, spent a few days here recently visiting his folks. BUSY TIMES m ST. PAUL, MINN. (Special to The Talking Machine Woi-ld.) St. Paul, Minn, September 6, 1906. The talking machine dealers of this city are of the kind that are "tip and doing," as is evidenced by the recent move of the Minneapolis Phonograph Co. in engaging a traveler to cover territory as far west as the Coast. The company handle the Victor, Edison and Zon-o-Phone lines, and in their section have built up a very prosperous business. Another hustling concern is W. J. Dyer & Bro., whose talking machine department is continually growing and who place reorders almost as soon as original shipments are received. The Edison line is the basis upon which the concern is increasing this department of their growing business. NEW USE FOR TALKING MACHINE. A Johnson County (Missouri) woman found a new use for the talking machine the other day. Her husband was cavorting around trying to settle a swarm of bees by ringing a bell, beating on a dishpan, and hammering the daylight out of a lard can, when she thought of the new phonograph in the parlor. She brought it out, started it going, and in a few minutes the swarm of bees was settled and hived. INTERVIEWING DENIZENS OF JUNGLE. Miss Ida Vera Simonton, who, with Prof. R. L. Garner, will spend several months in steel cages in the heart of the African jungle for the purpose of studying the language and life of our YOU HAVE WAITED FOR THIS! AN ATTACHMENT FOR HOLDING SOFTERTONE AND MEDIUM TONE NEEDLES IN THE NEW SPRING CLAMP NEEDLE ARM OF THE VICTOR EXHIBITION SOUND BOX Here it is attached to the sound box. The sound box is turned up and the attachment inserted with its flat side opposite the lever, as shown in illustration. Here is the Needle Clamp Attachment separate. Without this a tachment it is impossib'e to use softer and medium tone needles on the spring clamp needle arm. It is perfectly simple, easily attached, holds like a vise and is made in two sizes — for softertone and for Medium tone needles Order as NEEDLE CLAMP ATTACHMENT and specify which needle is to be used. Price, 25 cents each Special prices to jobbers and dealers npi,^ ^r»'ftf»1*+r»TlP ^J<^<^f11p growing in popularity every day. The loud tone needle, of course, is a necesX lie OUILCIUJIIC I^ICCUIC sity to the dealer tor selling machines, but it is often too loud for home use. When a customer taltes a machine home he fiads the softertone needle a great relief Instead of tiring it perpetuates the use of the machine. This means record sales. C^f\cfc T PtJ"? Softertone needle will play six records. Less time is used In changing needles, and there is XL V^LJola X^Coa j^gj wear on the records. W record untL last tkrre times as /oni' when the softertone needle is used. We did not accept this fact until satisfied by numerous tests. You owe it to yourself to malte a test if in doubt. FOR SAUE BY L,V01N <& MEAL, V, CHICAGO Simian brethren, will take a talking machine as part of her equipment. Whenever curious gorillas or chimpanzees visit the locality of the cage the phonograph will be made ready to receive and record their •chatterings. Then, again, the machine will be started and the animal's language repeated back to him and a friendly conference held. Doubtless upon her return to civilization, Miss Simonton will be able to throw much light upon the truth or falsity of the Darwinian theory through facts gleaned from the conversation of the denizens of the jungle themselves. SPEAKINQ BOXJ,000 YEARS OLD. Discovered, of Course, in Cliina, Where So Many of Our IVlodern Inventions Have Been Anticipated — i nteresti ng Contribution. A correspondent of the New York Sun sends the following bit of information concerning the alleged origin or discovery of the talking machine: "I found the following in an article entitled 'China, Reform and the Powers,' in the Fortnightly Review for May, 1901, page 7.59. The article is by Sir Robert Hart: 'In 18.58 the goveror of Kwang-tung, Pih-Kwei, told to incredulous me how some old books of 2,000 years ago related how, a thousand years before, the prince of one of the Chinese States of those days used to send messages to a brother prince in a curiously shaped box made of special wood — how he spoke his messages into it, closed and sealed it, and sent it by a trusty messenger — ■ and how .the recipient on opening it heard wit'ii his own ears the actual words and voice of the sender. In 1898, the first phonograph that came to Peking brought me a message from Lo Feng Luh, now Chinese Minister in London, England, and as the cone revolved and I heard his words and recognized his voice, I heard also Pih-Kwei telling me once more — but no longer .incredulous— about the prince's wonderful message box.' " NAVAL METTBIQ USERS Of Talking iVIachines — Big Purchases IVlade by Sailors of Fleet Recently in These Waters for Inspection by President Roosevelt. The songs to the tune of the bosun's pipe on board of the men-of-war of this nation at least is a thing of the past, the talking machine taking its place. There are few if any of our naval vessels that have not several of these machines on board, and whenever at a port where English records are sold Jackie always is ready to make an investment. During the recent naval inspection at Oyster Bay an enterprising Brooklyn dealer secured the attention of the Jackies to his wares, with the result that over a quarter of a hundred talking machines are now furnishing enjoyment to the various crews. It is not an uncommon thing for a "mess" to club together and purchase a talking machine and a large assortment of records, and in addition form a pool monthly for adding to their stock of records, each one selecting what most appeals to his taste, and all having the benefit of the others. As a rule, the disc machine gives better results at sea, as the rolling of the ship does not affect its playing to the extent that it does to a cylinder machine. It is also claimed that the salt water tends to disintegrate the wax records. As there is a growing demand for sea chantys, it has been suggested by a sailor that the talking machine people put a lot on their records, and it is thought that they will prove as acceptable to the landsman as to the tar. Manii|acturers of a certain breakfast food have devised an excellent scheme for attracting attention to the various wagons they send out and which are covered with advertising matter. A large talking machine is placed within the wagon with the horn protruding out over the driver's seat. A catchy tune being played assures the attention of everyone in heai ing distance and they cannot avoid seeing the signs.