The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 9 PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS. DOING AWAY WITH "ASIDE" EFFECTS. William F. Hunt, talking machine dealer of Wanatah, Ind., writes The World regarding the atove subject in the following vein: "In my opinion the time is ripe to do away with many cE the 'aside' effects recorded in the records. By this, I mean, for instance, the whistling, clapping of hands and shouting in minstrel records, etc. I think such effects rather detract than add to the attractiveness of the reproduction. The talking machine has reached the point of perfection where it quite ably takes the place of the actual performer, and one feels as if he were really in the presence of the living artist and not a machine when listening to one of its reproductions. Would it be natural for a vaudeville artist to spring the joke and then laugh at it himself? Not quite. Well, that is just what a talking machine is made to do. If many of these effects were eliminated from the records, I btelieve the few who are now prejudiced against the talking machine would learn to admire it. Some of the records are certainly too noisy to be enjoyed by any one, especially when they are often repeated by an over-enthusiastic neighbor, who has a better ear for noise than music. No one objects to good, wholesome music, but when it comes to plain noise, I as well as most others will call the limit. The above mentioned effects were not so objectionable, when the talking machine was in a crude state — when it produced sounds only faintly — but since it produces them with all its natural volume it is most raking on the nervous system. Another word in regard to unnecessary effects in records are the announcements. For instance* many are now using the talking machine in church services. Is it not rather out of place to advertise a record mamifacturer during church services. 'Nuf said." CARING FOR THE EDISON PHONOGRAPH. In answer to a number of questions on the above subject, propounded to the editor of the New Phonogram, the assistant superintendent of the National Phonograph Co. has prepared the following replies, hence their reproduction here: "In regard to the parts that need oiling in the phonograph, they are those parts which are moving, as in any other machine — the bearings of the shafts, both on top of machine and in the motor; the back rod on which the diaphragm arm slides, and the main shaft screw on which the feed nut travels. "As to how often it needs oiling, your own judgment should determine this. As long as there is a slight amount of oil in the bearings they need not have any more. The main spring is graphited here in the factory and this should last quite a long while; as long as the main spring unwinds evenly, without any jumping, it shows that it is properly lubricated. "In regard to your record slowing up, or rather your mandrel slowing up in the center of almost every record, this would tend to denote that there is a bind in the travel of your diaphragm arm at this point. We would judge that the trouble might be in the feed nut or the thread of the main shaft. If you would let the arm down and feed it across, holding the finger very lightly on the feed nut spring, you could feel whether there was any. roughness in the thread of the main shaft. Sometimes rust accumulatesin these threads and makes considerable friction at that point, which would cause your trouble. There can be no other reason for slowing up at one point every time. We think if you examine this closely you will find the trouble. "If the humming noise in your motor is appreciable when the cabinet is closed, then there is some part which is fastened to the motor frame that touches the top part of the machine. This motor frame is suspended between spiral springs to neutralize the vibrations in the same and not transmit them to the top plate of the machine. Possibly your starting lever, when thrown over to start the machine, touches the side or end of slot through which it comes. This would cause the trouble you speak of. Or, the crank may be touching the thimble hole in the cabinet. If neither of these two parts are causing the trouble, we would suggest that while your machine is running you take hold of motor frame with the cabinet opened up, and twist it around a little on the springs and see if this overcomes the hum. If you find that it does, then one of the screws which goes through the springs probably touches in the hole of the motor frame where it passes through. These screws, which pass through the spiral springs and which screw into the top plate of machine, should not touch any part of the motor frame casting, for if they do they will transmit all the vibrations of the motor frame casting to the top part of the machine and cause the humming noise which you speak of. SOMETHING OF A LEGAL NATURE. A prominent dealer writes The World as follows: "Certain manufacturers are infringing on a patent which I control, and I am contemplating sending out a circular to the trade, calling attention to this fact. A friend of mine, who presumes to have some legal knowledge, tells me that I have no right to do this, but I can warn them personally, but cannot warn their customers. What do you think of it?" Really this is a matter outside of the province of the editor, who has not graduated from a law school, but we may say that it has been held by the courts many times that a circular forbidding persons to buy articles claimed to be infringements is not a libel calling for damages or injunction if made in good faith and the circulators' patent is valid or apparently so. Parties claiming rights on a patent may publish their own claims and warn others, and if they are acting in good faith will not be restrained. It must be borne in mind, however, that excessive and derogatory language must not be used beyond what is necessary to give the proper information. Any excessive and superfluous adverse comment against an existing patent becomes a libel for which the owner of the rival patent may have redress. NO SCARCITY OF REPAIRERS IN WICHITA. Bberhardt & Hays, general music dealers, Wichita, Kan., write The Talking Machine World as follows: "We read with interest and no little sruprise the article on page 6 of the October number of The Talking Machine World, under the heading of 'The Scarcity of Repairers,' written by a 'subscriber' to The World from Wichita. In justice to ourselves we do not care to let this pass without comment. If the writer of this inquiry will call at our place of business, he will find a well equipped repair shop, under the supervision of workmen who are competent to do anything asked for in the way of repairing any and all up-to-date talking machines. We are in the talking machine business 'for keeps,' and can furnish anything in the way of repairs for any standard talking machine. We do sometimes get hold of a premium or mail order house machine that we or nobody else can get repairs for, because they were sold with the understanding on the part of the seller, at least that they were not to be repaired, but we do not stand back for any of the modern machines, and can repair or regulate them with a guarantee on our work that it will be entirely satisfactory. If the writer of the article referred to will call at our place of business in Wichita, we will be glad to show him that we know something about talking machines and will repair or regulate his machine to his entire satisfaction." BEST VOICES FOR RECORDS. A Laboratory Expert Discants on the Making of Good Records. A well-known talking machine expert connected with the manufacturing end of the business in chatting recently about record making said: "It is a curious fact, and one which I do not wish you to lose sight of, that the best voices do not always make the best records. A bass voice in a man and a contralto in a woman as a rule are more effective than a tenor and a soprano respectively. For this reason SchumannHeink has a better effect than Melba, while Plancon is superior to Burgstaller. However, T think there is one exception, and that is Caruso. No voice rings out better or with more realistic effect than Caruso's, and one could almost believe it was the man himself who was singing and not the record. Throaty tones are fatal, and the man or woman who sings from the back of the throat is no good for the talking machine. What is wanted is a clear, unaffected tone which will cut cleanly into the wax record and with a sharpness which while avoiding the shrill, is so distinct that every word and note comes back with the clearness of a bell." George Ackerman, Scranton, Pa., proprietor of Phonograph Hall, has one of the largest and handsomest stores in eastern Pennsylvania. New England Dealers will be interested to know that we have for six weeks past been preparing to supply their wants promptly when the Fall and Winter rush is on. <]f We had on hand by October 1st a surplus stock of over twenty-five hundred Edison and Victor machines and over two hundred thousand Edison and Victor records. This surijlus with the deliveries the factories will make us during the rush season will enable us to give dealers' orders the same attention as we would ordinarily during the Summer. <]f Prompt and Full Shipments on daij order is received. <If Send for our new list of "Live Ones" of the Edison Record List. <|f If yoti are not already handling the Mega Flower Horns (plain and decorated) send for descriptive circulars and prices. NEW ENGLAND DISTRIBUTING HEADQUARTERS THE EASTERN TALKING MACHINE CO. 177 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass. Distributors of EDISON and VICTOR MACHINES, RECORDS and ALL SUPPLIES. Eastern agent for HERZOG DISK and CYLINDER RECORD CABINETS :: ::