The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

26 THE TALiaNG MACHINE WORLD. the blank or record, the object being to mount the styles on the diaphragm and tilt the diaphragm to obtain such alternative engagement ■without rotating it, as will be clearly understood from the accompanying sketches showing the diaphragm in both positions. No. 17,016. George Winfield Gomber's "Improvements in phonographs and the like." Date of application August 22, 1905. Complete patent accepted August 22, 1906. This invention relates to a tablet carrier and mandrels for talking machines whereby a plurality of tablets are grouped together in one machine so that any one of the tablets may be moved into co-operation with the reproducer as desired, and as shown the tablet carrier comprises a disc-like plate 6 having a plurality of bearing seats struck up therefrom and arranged in pairs, a sleeve secured to each pair of seats, a shaft rotatably mounted in the sleeve and designed to receive upon its extended end a tablet mandrel and means to rotate the shaft, also means to rotate the carrier in either direction whereby the tablets on the mandrels are moved in a common radial path. The tablet mandrels ar€ so arranged as shown as to yield when the tablet is forced home thereon, and at the same time afford a positive or unyielding form of support for the tablet and truly center the same around the axial plans of the mandrel shaft. BRITISH COPYRIGHT BILL. F. M. Prescott, General Manager of the International Talking Machine Co., Berlin, Germany, Takes Issue With Sections Exempting Records as Infringement. In the appended letter, F. M. Prescott, president and general manager of the International Talking Machine Co., Berlin, Germany, takes issue with that provision of the new British copj'right law exempting records as infringements. The exemption, Mr. Prescott contends, precludes the copyrighting of records in any form, and in this he believes it works an injustice. In other words, he takes the same position as Horace Pettit, counsel for the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., does toward the bill now before Congress. The communication follows: Weissensee, Bei Berlin, Sept. 25, 1906. The Talking Machine World, New York: Gentlemen — I have received a copy of the new British copyright act of Augusr, 1906, and am surprised to see that this exempts mechanical contrivances for the reproduction of words or music as being a copyright infringement, and on account of this I cannot but think that the British legislators have given very little thought to this important subject. I believe that the recent act of Parliament is a slight to our honorable trade of talking machines a^d all other mechanical contrivances for the reproduction of words and music. In other words, I insist that the phonograph or gramophone records or the cylindrical roll of an automatic piano or a music box is just as much an edition of the music as the printed sheets of music to which the copyright law alone gives protection. To illustrate, the edition of sheet music is only cue way of recording or preserving the musical composition, both words and music, or either singly. Any one understanding to read the notes on the sheet music and the words, and who is competent to play these notes upon any musical instrument or sing the words with the proper notes as written in the music is able to give a more or less proper reproduction of the composition as composed by the author. Now what are our reasons for considering a phonograph or disc record of a mechanical piano roll an edition of the music? In such countries as Turkey, Egypt, Arabia, India, Burmah, Siam, and others which we might mention, there are no such things as notes or written music by which to record the musical compositions of the composers of those countries. When a composer in one of those countries composes anything new, he composes the song in his head and learns it by heart, and teaches it by the singing of it to other persons, and in this way, from person to person and generation to generation, the songs of the composers are handed down and made public. One can readily understand that in this way the musical compositions of those countries deteriorate, and by the time they have passed from person to person, before long they are no longer the original song or music of the composer. Now, what part does the mechanical record play? After the author has composed his song or music he sings or plays it to a talking machine, thus making an absolutely accurate and faithful record of his composition, which, if put upon any other talking machine reproduces at once the new composition accurately and faithfully as composed by the author. Here we have another means than that by notes and sheet music of recording correctly and accurately musical compositions, in other words, it is another way of editing music and songs. This new song can then be sold broadcast all over the world, and it does not deteriorate or change in any way from the original composi TOPHAM'S CASES are the original -ind standai'd. Build up your trade by carrying the standard rather than the imitation. For 72 Records For 36 Records These are a few styles only. 1855 Canadian Distributors R. S. Williams & Sons Co., Ltd. Toronto and Winnipeg, Canada. For 96 Records Something New and Exclusive With Us. -Pioneer Manulaclurer Write for complete catalogue and price list. 1906 New England Distributors for Disc and Machine Cases, M. Steinert & Sons Co. Boston, Mass. For 48 Records All our cas^s are made from select lumber, covered with a genuine book cloth, imitation of seal gi'ain leather. An inside flange, which is cut from the solid wood, forming the top, thus giving strength and keeping out dust and dampness, is a point I claim exclusive to our case. Cylinders are made on especially constructed machines and are correct size and uniform diameter. By my special method of fastening in, they are absolutely secure. JAMES S. TOPHAM WASHINGTON, D. C. 10 and 12 inch