The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 15 "TALKER" POSTAL CARDS. ODEER USES OF MACHINE. Have Not Won Any Large Degree of Favor Spreading Anarchistic Doctrines in France — at the Hands of the Trade or Public — How Discovered — Gave a IVlodest Violinist Although Somewhat Popular Abroad. Courage to Bring His Talents Before Public. A little while ago great things were expected of the latest development in souvenir postal cards — those that talk their message to the receiver instead of convej'ing the written word — but they have not become as popular as expected. These cards originated, like all other varieties of souvenir post cards, in Germany, but have up to the present obtained their widest vogue in France, though there are a few made and sold in England. Th"e cards are about three times the thickness of the ordinary post card, this thickness being contributed by the disc in the center of the card on which the phonographic message is recorded. When a person wishes to send one of these remembrances home he goes to the office where the cards are sold, makes his little speech into the recording instrument, which is then transferred to the disc on the card. After the address is written on the other side the card is mailed and the recipient puts the card into a talking machine and hears the friend's voice. All this costs, in Paris, ha'f a franc, or 10 cents. The makers of "talkers" in New York are not particularly interested in this new device. They declare the combination of the paper on which the record is made and the sharp point of the needle used in transcribing the record is one that does not make for any lasting quality, and they have doubts as to whether in the ordinary course of mail transmission the record would not be made either partially or wholly illegible. The scheme has, they declare, no possible value commercially, bearing the same relation to a written message as an ordinary souvenir post card has to a work of art. That the spread of the pretty custom would increase the sale of talking machines does not appeal to them seriously. They believe the new cards could te turned out to sell at a profit for five cents, instead of the ten charged in France. In England, although there are diminutive records of this kind on sale, they have not reached such a state that they can be sent through the mail without protection of some sort. There the phonograph men are particuary keen over the novelty, and declare it will be a matter of only a short time before the talking post cards will come into general use. The Bureau of Manufactures at Washington, D. C, in one of its recent publications, stated that a Spanish firm desiring to purchase disc talking machines and records of every description manufactured in the United States would be glad to get the names and addresses of the largest dealers in New York, who are exporters of such specialties. While those interested can address the Bureau of Manufactures, stating that their letter is an answer to query No. 416, we may say that we have forwarded to this concern a copy of The Talking Machine World, which contains the advertisements of every live house in the United States. The Columbia Phonograph Co., through their Chicago manager, A. D. Herriman, have leased the store at 118 West Third street, Davenport, Iowa, and will open a branch there. Wottid Make a Change A. Thoroughly Experienced man wants position to manage a large talking machine enterprise. Years of successful results is my record. Do you want it? Is it worth anything to you? If you want a perfect system in your wholesale, retail, instalment, buying and selling departments, ask me for it. Correspondence strictly confidential. ADDRESS D Care of The Talking Machine World, New York City Another of the a.ueer uses a talking machine is put to was revealed some time ago d.uring work by the French police on an Anarchist case. A raid had been made on the house of a suspected Anarchist, but to the surprise and disgust of the authorities nothing more incriminating than a talking machine, some blank wax cylinders, and one containing sound vibrations were found. The latter was reproduced in the hope that something incriminating might be exposed. But it was discovered to be only a reproduction of a stump speech, and the record had evidently been badly used, for here and there irritating lapses in the piece occurred. These did not arouse any suspicion at first, but on the record being again reproduced some time later it led a wily official to investigate what exactly were the words lacking. Securing a printed copy of the speech, he compared the two together, making a note of the missing words. The result was successful beyond his fondest hopes. The missing words proved to be nothing other than an Anarchist message of great importance, and led tip to further disclosures which convicted not only the stispected man, but several of his confederates. Another curious story connected with a talking machine is told of a Scotch violinist, who has since become famous. At that time the violinist had no idea of his real skill with the instrument and only played for the benefit of his friends. One day, however, he was persuaded to play a selection of music into a graphophone, and when the selection was reproduced a minute or two later the violinist received a pleasant surprise. Queer as it may seem, he was amazed at the beauty of his own execution, and for the first time an ambition seized him to appear in public, which shortly afterwards he did with pronounced success. VICTOR PUBUCITY AND THE DEALERS. Thoroughly believing in widespread and persistent publicity as is illustrated by large spaces in the leading magazines, trade and daily papers, ^ihe Victor Talking Machine Co. are making earnest efforts to impress the value of advertising upon their dealers and have issued a pamphlet under the title of "How to Advertise," which is illustrated with sample advertisements, showing the good and bad forms and with reading matter, giving a comprehensive idea of what really constitutes good ptiblicity and why. As an added incentive to dealers to advertise the Victor liberally in their locality the company have offered a series of prizes for best advertisements and great results are anticipated. MADE NEW UNIVERSAL CO. JOBBERS. On the 1st H. W. Macminimen returned from a trip through New York and Pennsylvania, touching the large towns only, for the Universal Talking Machine Manufacturing Co. He made a number of new jobbers. Mac has been in the business upward of thirteen years, and says he knows the "game" as well as the man who made it. H. R. Breeder is the latest addition to the company's traveling staff, starting out November 5. making his trip through Pennsylvania, and later going into New England permanently. C. D. SHAW IN BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF. In the early days Cortland D. Shaw was manager of sales of the Victor Talking Machine Co., and subsequently in charge of their premium machine department before it was cut out. Now Mr. Shaw has become a dealer, having opened a handsome store at 1061 West 52d street, Philadelphia, Pa., a fine residential district of the city, and is carrying the Victor, Edison and Zonophone lines. He is doing a fine business. Are you prepared for the holiday rush? The Christmas season is the time of all times when a dealer mustn't let his stock get behind. Customers can't wait indefinitely for goods you haven't in stock, and excuses and apologies don't go. You should have everything in ship-shape for this holiday trade. It gives you more than an opportunity for present profit. It is the greatest chance in the world to cultivate new customers and an abundance of good will that means much for the future of your business. The fact, however, still remains that no matter how careful you are in selecting goods, you're almost bound to fall short in some places and have to send a rush order to your jobber. What if your jobber isn't equal to the emergency? Then you're in a pretty fix ! You can't put the blame on the jobber — it's your fault for having such a jobber. The people look to you, not to the jobber. You'll not find us wanting in any particular. \"ictor talking machines and records, trumpet horns, English needles, fibre cases and other accessories are here in large quantities and you can get whatever you want whenever you want it. All orders are shipped the same day they reach us. Better send for a copy of our latest catalogue and keep it where you can easily refer to it. The Victor Distributing and Export Company 77 Chambers Street New York Keg. U. S. Pat. Off.