The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

24 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. FROM OUR LONDON HEADQUARTERS— Continued. time, is that emanating from tlie now famous Beka Record Co., of Berlin. The title, "International," will of itself convey to the mind some idea of the far-reaching associations this catalogue embraces. Original records have been made in all the principal European countries. The list of selections covers all tastes from classical to comic, and the whole are systematically tabulated and arranged, according to class and country, under their particular headings. I do not know how many — it would take a day or more to count— but the "titles" in this book must reach many thousands. Just think of the amount of time, trouble and expense involved in obtaining and recording all these selections, and the enormous quantities of patience required to compile such a unique catalogue as the one under review, and — well, I am rather inclined to the belief that some of us would have had enough "thinking" to last for the rest of our earthly term. And yet, there it all is, contained in this one book, which can be had by application to the company's offices in Berlin. As a last word or two, I would say that the general get-up is without a fault, the printing is good, on line art paper, and the excellent, not to say very pertinent design on the front cover, speaks of a very clever brain among the Beka -Record Co.'s members. An idea of the scope of the Beka records can be gleaned by a perusal of their advertisement on page 20 of this issue. Columbia Co. in Their New Quarters. During the past month the Columbia Phonograph Co., General, have taken up their abode in their new premises at 64-66 Oxford street, jiist above Tottenham Court Road, and the crowd of people always to be met at this busy point have watched, with undisguised interest, the transformation of the empty building into an attractive depot stocked with inviting goods. The advertising value of the new establishment has thus been early demonstrated. Meanwhile business has proceeded apace within. The staff have found themselves most comfortably housed, with every facility at hand for the efficient discharge of their respective duties. Every department, however, has not moved west, and, while headquarters are to be at Oxford street, the company will still utilize their city premises in Great Eastern street. Grand Prize for Columbia Exhibits. The adjudicators' awards at the Milan Exposition give grounds for congratulation to the Columbia Phonograph Co., General. The Columbia exhibits have gained the grand prize, and the company have thus added another link to their unbroken chain of unrivaled exhibition successes. Needless to say, the Columbia people are very gratified with the triumph. Turning Out Disc Records. The Columbia Co.'s London factory is turning out disc records at a great rate. The new plant, including the necessary hydraulic presses and other costly and up-to-date machines, is quite completed, and the company are therefore thoroughly well equipped for big business. Like the "Symphonic" and "Lyric" gold moulded records, Columbia discs now come under the denomination "Made in England," and the nearness of the source of supply is a guarantee of prompt execution of orders. IMPORTANCE OF DRIVING BELT. A Good Many Machines Spoiled by an IIIFitting Strap — Some Pertinent Pointers by Philip Neal, the Talking Machine Expert. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) London, England, Nov. 3, 1906. Philip Neale, the talking machine expert, contributes the following talk on "Driving Belts" to The "World, which will doubtless interest its many readers throughout the world: "A good many machines, and I may add some of the best, are completely spoiled by an ill-fitting strap, an uneven strap, a crooked pulley, etc. This is noticeable in records of a lady's voice. You are listening, say, to Mme. Narelle singing that beautiful song, "Silver Threads Among the Gold." You notice every few words a slight failing of her vo-ice, the more educated you are to good singing the more you will notice it, and if you think your machine is the cause, where would you look for it, not to that innocent little piece of leather. You go at once to the motor: you fancy a wheel touches at each revolution, perhaps a faulty tooth, or the spring wants oiling; but should you happen to examine the strap you will find a bad join, a part of ihe strap thicker than the other, or uneven sides sometimes. If the strap is all right, you will find the little pulley which "takes up the slack" is not working freely; but whatever fault you find, that fault will be more or less noticeable in the singing, because it is directly connected with the cylinder. You go to the phono, repairer, whether amateur or not. I will explain this little pulley. The Russell Hunting Record Co., united MANUFACTURER'S OF THE "STERLING RECORD Are the LARGEST MANUFACTURERS of RECORDS IN GREAT BRITAIN. OUTPUT 125,000 WEEKLY. Every SterKng Master is Recorded by RUSSELL HUNTING WE GUARANTEE EVERY RECORD TO BE PERFECT The Originator of the "Michael Casey" Series. "STERLING" GOLD MOULDED RECORDS 25 CENTS EACH. LIBERAL DISCOUNT FOR EXPORT. Canadian, New Zealand and South African Importers will save Duty by Importing BRITISH HADE RECORDS. THE RVSSELL HUNTING RECORD CO., 81, City Roa-d, London, E. C, England Limited You will notice that the outside, upon which the strap runs, is oval in shape. This is done to encourage the strap to keep to the middle and not ■run off, because the strap will always run to the largest part of the pulley. It also, if properly adjusted, will keep the strap running in its proper place on the cylinder and driving wheel. To remove oil from the strap, wash it in benzoline. To join a new or broken strap trim the ends and cement with mendine. Use a thin strap, especially for the Koh-i-nor type. Of course, there are other causes for flat notes in the singing, but they are more easily detected, i. e., the feed screw too tight, cylinder ditto, motion wheels uneven, feet nut not true on the thread, especially in the "Home" machine; but I will deal with these more fully in my next article, "Governors of All Machines" (illustrated), which I think will interest the Talking Machine World readers. I shall explain with illustrations how the governor of the Koh-i-nor, although, properly made, is put together wrong, always has been, and, I suppose, always will be. Take the "Gem," for instance. Why is the little pulley put on the down-hill side of the stop different to all other machines and decidedly wrong." PATHE FRERES ADVANCE. This Distinguished House Issues New Goods — New Disc Record and Machine — A New Sound Amplifying Device. (Special to The TalliiDg Machine 'n'orld.) London, England, Nov. 4, 1906. Sometime back it was announced that the famous house of Pathe Freres, London, would soon place on the market entirely new goods. In the case of the forthcoming manufacture of disc records, we were promised certain improvements in the recording system that would practically cause a revolution in the trade. Then again many ■nhispers were in the air of a special arrangement and other new departures in connection with their machines. We waited, and we were not disappointed. All promises have now been fulfilled, and to-day sees great advances, both in the new cylinder machines and tonal qualities of the records, while we have also a new departure in the shape of disc records and disc machines. Such is the general information, and in order to obtain detailed particulars I sought an interview with Mr. L. H. Courant, who courteously supplied news of much interest to The Talking Machine World. "Yes," said Mr. Cour Electro-Mech&nical Engineering Works 211 HACKVEY ROAD, LONDON EXPERTS FOR RECORDING. nScrc Xj CvUndoVd DUPLICATING and MOULDING « V/J'UUUCia Try our London Popular Record PHILIP NEALE, PMOINO. EXPERT, 5 Chalk Farm Rd. LONDON, N. W Talking Machines of every description repaired. Special terms to the trade. City address and price list on receipt of postal. No job too small— no job too large. Have You a London Representative ? If your goods are not represented in this market, they should be, as there is a good opening for smart American Talking Machine Accessories or Novelties. Communicate with Box 100, Talking Machine World, office, 69 Basinghall Street, London, England. LATEST NOVELTIES The "Cordock" Concert Reproducer for Puck and similar type machines. Acknowledged by experts to be the finest reproducer on the market for small Phonographs, 50 per cent. louder than any other reproducer of its kind. For volume, clearness and distinctness of tone, it stands alone unequalled. Factors should write for sample and wholesale prices, to G. W. CORDOCK & CO. High Street. Scunthrope, Line's, England.