The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 25 GEO. W. LYLE WELCOMED On His Return from Europe by a Strong Force of Columbia iVlen Who Went Down tlie Bay in a Special Boat. After negotiations were under way to secure Marconi, the wireless wizard, for the experimental staff of the Columbia Phonograph Co., General, George W. Lyle, general manager of the company, made a hurried trip to London, England, to complete the deal, which was accomplished in his usual thorough and happy manner, and Mr. Marconi will be officially known as consulting physicist. Mr. Lyle, going over early In August, returned on the 24th, aboard the "Lucania," of the Cunard line, a host of his company and social friends meeting him at quarantine on GEO. W. LYLE. the ocean-going tug, "Charles T. Raymond." A Twentieth Century Imperial graphophone was a part of the joyous equipment, and the returning general manager was made to understand that between the strains of the graphophone and the songs and cheers of the enthusiastic group on the tug, he was the recipient of a home-coming that he will remember with pleasure for many a long day, as it was wholly unexpected. Those on the "Raymond" to welcome Mr. Lyle follow: Edward D. Easton, president; Paul H. Cromelin, vice-president; E. 0. Rockwood, secretary and assistant treasurer; T. D. Merwin, director; L H. Dorian, assistant general manager; E. Keller Camp, of the legal department; Walter L Eckhardt, manager wholesale department; J. W. Binder, manager business graphophones department; Walter P. Phillips, manager advertising department; Mortimer D. Easton, S. S. B. Campbell, Merwin E. Lyle, E. F. Sause, F. A. Vollane, John C. Button, S. Yano, Thomas Ware, Mrs. George W. Lyle and the Misses Jessie Brown and M. A. Elmendorf. HAOT)SOME LINE OF UDELL CABINETS. The new line of cabinets for holding sheet music and piano player music rolls, made by the Udell Works, Indianapolis, Ind., is the most complete ever shown by them, owing to the importance attained by this department of their business. There are more designs shown, and the general beauty of style and finish are greatly enhanced, making the Udell line one that should find a place in the stock of every progressive dealer. It is not a "dead" line full of high priced goods that frighten customers, but the prices are attractively low, ensuring quick sales with good profit. It must be said, however, that while the prices are low the quality of the goods is of the high grade order, fully in keeping with the Udell reputation for producing what is good in furniture. Talking machine and music dealers should obtain catalogue and wholesale prices of these cabinets with the object in view of increasing their business. THE "TALKER" ON THE SEA. How the Lives of the Fisher Folk Down Cape Cod Way Have Been Made More Pleasant Through Use of the Talking Machine — The Views of an Old Sea Captain — Wants Records of Ditties of the Sea. The popularity of the talking machine in all sections of this country cannot better be illustrated than by a visit among, the fisher folk 'way down East in Cap Cod. Here, far removed from musical centers, with only the songs of the country church choir and the ruder chantys of the sailor, the development of the art was necessarily slow, tiut within the past few years it has taken a forward movement, and in conjunction with hymn tunes of a century ago, are heard the arias of the metropolitan concert hall. This great change is due to the introduction of the talking machine. From the Race to Buzzard's Bay they can be heard, both on land and sea. It has become a household necessity in those homes where the male members "go down to the sea" for a livelihood. In the long evenings, while the "wimmin" folks anxiously await the return of the breadwinners, it brings them both comfort and pleasure. The toilers of the sea also find it essential to their happiness, as it assists in whiling away many a tedious hour, and takes away the thoughts of the men from the discomforts of their life. A former sea captain, who for forty years has been a whaler, said to The World recently; "Had the talking naachine been invented a half a century ago, life on the ocean would have been much easier for the captains. If you could only realize the dearth of amusement and the love of music among the sailors, you would appreciate what a boon it would have been. To-day it is becoming as much a part of the equipment of a sailing vessel as its sails, and often I hear the crew joining in the chorus of some familiar song. I think it would pay the talking machine companies to give a little study to the needs and desires of this class of patrons. If the words of the newer songs could be attached to the records, it would do much to popularize them, as the sailors would soon commit them to memory. Then, too, the old-time ditties that we have always sung are always in requisition. Religious selections naturally appeal to those born and bred along the New England coast, and no collection of records is complete without a. -'good sprinkling of the hymns we sang as children." As to the class of machines in demand, the disc variety is far in the lead. Experience has proven that the cylinder type cannot be used on a vessel that is in motion, and that the salt air tends to disintegrate the wax records. With the disc even in quite rough weather the needle will not leave the groove and the record is not affected by atmospheric conditions. The taper arm machine has been found to be the best for general use, and practically no other kind is sold for marine use. There seems to be a field for a specially constructed nautical phonograph that will meet the demands on the dealers in the seaports, and as was suggested by the venerable captain, a collection of the sea ditties so popular on shipboard would appeal to the landsman as well. GRAPHOPHONE LEADS REVIVAL. " At the 'Dig tent revival meeting held in Collingwood, 0., early this month, the Twentieth Century Columbia Graphophone played a very prominent part in the exercises, rendering a delightful program before the services, which was followed by the crowning surprise of the evening— the delivery of an eloquent address which was clearly heard by everybody assembled, and which made a profound impression. The singing of the hymns by the machine was so realistic that the congregation joined in the singing. In addition, the pastors of the Collingwood churches spoke, but the star of the evening was the Columbia graphophone. ; Frank A. Bowman, editor of the Collingwood ' Citizen, published, a very interesting story of the proceedings, and paid a proper tribute to the. tremendous value of the talking machine in its. new sphere of activity. It is apparent that there is no end to the uses to which the talking machine can be adapted, and while narrow minded people abuse it once in a while, yet, it has done, and is doing, more to bring joy into the lives of the people at large than any device that has ever appeared in our time. LAMBERT PATENTS PURCHASED By Geo. J. Snowden Who Is Interested in New Company Making an Indestructible Record Which Will Not Possess the Weakness of the Lambert Records. (Special to the Talking Machine Woi-Id.) ; World Office, 195 Wabash avenue, ,i Chicago, 111., September 10, 1906. A deal which promises to lead to important, developments in the talking machine trade of the country occurred last month when the assets and patents of the Lambert Co, were sold under court order to George J. Snowden, a wealthy oil man and capitalist of Oil City, Pa. The consideration is given as $25,000. Mr. Snowden secured the Lambert indestructible cylinder record patents in the interests of a com-pany recently incorporated under the laws of Maine, with a capital stock of $1,000,000, as the Indestructible Phonographic Record Co. A change of name will have to be effected, however, on account of this name having been used by another concern. Full information regarding the organization of the new concern is difficult to obtain at this end, but B. F. Philpot, trustee for the Lambert Co., and one of its former officers, outlined in a general way the intentions of the company as received by him from its promoters. "The new company secured the Lambert patents in order tn protect a new indestructible record they are to place on the market," said Mr. Philpot. "It will have all the advantages of the Lambert celluloid record, but will te re-enforced, thus, preventing warping, the only weakness of the ' old Lambert record. The company have unlimited capital behind it, and have already, I understand, secured a factory within a hundred and twentyfive miles of New York, and will have offices and headquarters in New York City. The factory will be equipped to produce 3,000,000 rec • ords a year, and will also manufacture their own cylinder machine which will have an entirely , new reproducer. They expect to make 25,000 machines a year. Every department will be in charge of experienced men. It is expected that the company will be able to issue their catalogue and show sample lines next spring, and have their product generally on the market by next .' fall." ; The new company control the Lambert patents ' absolutely except for England. The Lambert Co.' went into bankruptcy in January of the present year. The failure of the [ company is said to have been because of lack of capital, and the heavy expenditures in defending suits against their patents by the Edison and other companies. These suits Mr. Philpot declares resulted in the validity of the Lambert patents being fully established. HIS RECORDS OF THE FAMILY. A prominent resident of Pittsburg is said to have records of the voices of every member of his family (his wife and six children), in which they express various sentiments. He intends to have these taken every few years, and to give each child a set of his own records. The collection will be interesting and highly-prized by each one. He has for illustration a yearly record of the voice of his fourth child, now 7 years old, one record having been taken on each birthday. ^