The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

10 THE TALILING MACHIKE WORLD. EDISON'S GREAT ACHIEVEMENT. A New Storage Battery Which Is to Revolutionize Industry and Transportation — The Originator of the Phonograph Adds Another Great Invention to His Credit. Thomas A. Edison, the inventor of the phonograph, has accomplished a surprise for the world. He has worked out successfully the problem of cheap power. He promises to put on the market within six months a new storage battery which will enable every man to travel in his own private carriage at about the cost of car fare. Without danger, without breakdowns, without cost almost, a carriage, once supplied with the new power, for $200, will travel without repairs for fifteen years, for a hundred thousand miles, if necessary, says the wizard. He reiterates the declaration that he has invented a storage battery which will solve the problem of congested traffic in the big cities of the world as soon as he can manufacture enough of them. He is erecting two large factory buildings, now nearly completed, and is installing in them new machinery especially for the manufacture of a motor battery that will be as common a factor in the business life of the world as the telephone is now. He says that he will be able to sell at the cost of $10 a cell a storage battery that is almost indestructible. It will travel a hundred thousand miles before it is worn out. Twenty cells will be all that is needed for a runabout or brougham, and sixty cells will be enough for the largest and heaviest truck used. For $200 one will be equipped with motive power that will need no renewal for fifteen years. "Now, it lies with rubber tire manufacturers to meet this commercial reduction of motive power," said Mr. Edison, gayly. I i^^l Mr. Edison, it seems, has had quite some trouble in providing the principal ingredient of the battery. Many chemicals were tried, but he considered he did not attain success until he experimented with cobalt; this being one of the rare metals, however, the matter of expense was something to be considered. Mr. Edison, therefore, set to work to find cobalt in sufficient quantities to warrant its use, and was most successful in discovering lots of it in Canada, in Wisconsin, in Oregon and in Kentucky. The next problem was to separate cobalt from the ores with which it is associated. This has been done at great expense, but within the past few months Mr. Edison has devised a plan in which to get cobalt out of the ore cheaply and within a ratio of cost already calculated for the price of each cell. He has succeeded in every respect in his experiments, according to an authority in the Times, and he now promises that a new battery will be on the market in the spring. This is not a haphazard prophecy, for he has had thou-* sands of batteries working within the past three years so as to insure success. According to Mr. Edison, "in fifteen years from now the horse will be a curiosity. We shall be paying 50 cents to look at him in side shows." The actual cost of recharging the new battery is a matter of a few cents per cell, the greatest achievement being in making a motive power of light weight, in compact shape, and, above all, endurable. Speed is not the purpose that Edison had in mind. "I am a commercial inventor, strictly commercial," he said. The popular phonograph has shown that; in fact, nearly everything Edison has ever done shows it. A 3 per cent, tjuarterly dividend has just been paid to stockholders of the Texas Phonograph Co., which does a wholesale jobbing and distributing business in talking machines. It is said that nearly 300 dealers throughout Texas are supplied by this progressive Houston concern. A BETTER SELLING PROPOSITION. For the Dealer Is Found in Tall<ing Machines and Supplies Than In Pianos According to Manager McConnell of Wurlitzers — Great Activity in Every Branch of This Great Business — Big Stock Kept in Hand. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cincinnati, O., Nov. 7, 1906. Something of an idea of the remarkable increase in the demand for talking machines throughout the entire country, but particularly through the Middle West, may be gathered by the expansion of the departments of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. agents in this city and vicinity for the Victor talking machines and Edison phonographs. This department was practically organized about three years ago, perhaps as an experiment, deponent sayeth not, and has now increased to a proportion of the firm's business that, considered with the piano business, averages up to almost as numerous an output, always comparing the relative difference in the price of the instruments. Mr. McConnell, who has charge of the talking machine department on the first floor, spoke of the ever increasing demand for talking machines. Much of this demand is ascribed to the new and valuable improvements made in the machines, which increases their tone and trueness to the human voice or musical instruments by doing away with the "scratch," as it is technically known. Mr. McConnell feels that the small dealer has a better selling proposition in talking machines than in the piano trade merely. He argues that to sell pianos successfully in any but the largest cities, a dealer must provide himself with several fine instrurnents as an initial expense, a demonstrator of no mean ability is required to prove the excellence of the piano tone and a considerable store of sheet music must be provided to fill out the programme. The first expense and the running expenses of selling the talking machines is considerably less, and these reach the taste of a greater number of people many of whom have no special skill in playing the piano, but who are still desirous of hearing good and lively music. The machines afford a greater variety of entertainment, such as band music, recitations, vocal selections and instrumental numbers. The difference in price of the pianos and the machines gives the latter a decided advantage in many a home where the question of the extra dollar is necessarily paramount. For the Edison phonograph, Mr. McConnell says all salesmen have a special soft spot in their heart. Its educational features give it an additional and growing value. The splendid im provements of the Victor Victrola have made that instrument almost peerless in its reproductions of even the best qualities of voice of the great singers and artists. The great variety of entertainment provided by these instruments offers the small dealer so attractive a line that the business is steadily expanding. Mr. McConnell believes the talking machines are the instruments of the future for the great mass of the people. The Wurlitzers keep in stock not less than 100,000 records, all of which are hermetically sealed in specially made envelopes the moment they ' leave the factory. This firm maintains an immense library on the third floor of their establishrjent, where records are kept in the most methodical and careful manner. A vast number is ordered each month for distribution. SOME STORE POINTS WORTH NOTING. Just at this time of year arise three important questions to be settled by every merchant in the United States: (1) Proper fire protection. (2) Proper store lighting. (3) Suitable store fixtures. The question of fire protection is the most important and should be looked to first. Good insurance is essential, and every store should be fitted up with a good reliable fire extinguishing system. The right kind are eflicient and not very expensive. Such a system may save thousands of dollars and is always protection against fire. Lighting is very important now, as. the days are growing shorter and shorter, and the store that gets the business is the store that is well lightea. If you live in a town where there is no gas or electricity, or even if you do and want to save money, there are several safe, sure and eflicient gasoline lighting systems on the market worth looking into. Store fixtures are always an important consideration, but now that the fall openings are on. Thanksgiving next, and then Christmas, the merchant should be very careful to see that his fixtures are fitted to his store and the class of trade he caters to. ECHOES OF THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN. "The phonographs used in the New York stump speaking campaign ought to be lined with gutta percha to keep them from corroding." This clipping is from the Columbus (0.) Times. Really! Judging from the speeches the records carried, a lining of asbestos would have proven more necessary to prevent the heated remarks from melting the wax. Everything points to a big winter trade in 'tireless musicians" ("talkers"). 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 !s impossib'e to use softer and medium tone needles on the spring clamp needle arm. I is perfectly simple, easily attached, holds like a vise and is made in two sizes— for softenone 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 The Softertone Needle is growing in popularity every day. The loud tone needle, of course, is a necessity to the dealer for selling machines, but it is often too loud for home use. When a customer takes a machine home he finds the softertone needle a great relief. Instead of tiring it perpetuates the use of the machine. This means record sales. Tu. f^ncfc T P<5<? Softertone needle will play six records. Less time is used In changing needles, and there is v-<UDLa l^Coo jgsg wear on the records. A record unit last iJtree times as long when the softertone needle is used. We did not accept this fact until satisfied by numerous tests. You owe it to yourself to make a test if in doubt. POR SALE BY U V O IN & HEAL V, cmicago