The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 31 TIMELY TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS. ■"Dubbing" is now talked of in the trade as if no particular offense is committed in its practice. The World has had occasion to refer before to the production and sale of these illegitimate records. There is no defense for those engaged in the manufacture of these spurious goods. On moral grounds the "dubbers" have not a leg to stand upon, and presumptively they are equally culpable in a legal sense. It must be remembered that the only case on record — Victor Talking Machine Co. against Albert T. Armstrong (American Vitaptione Co.) — was carried only as far as the United States Circuit Court, who issued a preliminary injunction, and consequently it was never tried on the merits, because of the defendant's death. In granting the enjoining order Judge Lacombe's remarks are so pertinent as to almost foreshadow what his ultimate decision would have been were further argument heard to make the injunction permanent. novel and interesting question as to whether the defendants have no right to take the discs produced by the plaintiff as records of a piece of music specially executed and reproduce from them duplicates thereof * * * need not now be discussed. * * * Thus they save themselves the expense of securing an execution of the musical piece by singer or orchestra." It is needless to quote farther, as this is sufficient to indicate the animus of the judicial mind. Significant, indeed, are these words. Therefore "dubbers" and their allies, who glibly contend the long arm of the law is unable to reach them in restraint of their nefarious business — for such it may be truly characterized — should give heed ere it is too late. That "dubbing" on a large scale is being considered, if not actually engaged in, the trade seems cognizant of, hence The World's warning. Companies who have expended large sums of money to secure "masters" cf the world's great vocal artists will not stand idly by and humbly submit, without even a prottst, not to mention a battle royal, against being robbed of valuable property acquired by their enterprise and foresight. Possibly the game so far has been too insignificant to waste powder upon; but in view of possible developments, of which those directly concerned are doubtless aware, what threatens to be a wholesale launching of spurious records may be summarily checked by legal process. Some time ago quite some interest was aroused among the city's theatre-goers by a machine displayed in the vaudeville houses under the title of the Immensaphone. As both the program and announcer informed the audience, the contrivance was built and operated on the principle of the phonograph. It was. Its shape reminded one of a phonograph, and it had a brass horn from which issued instrumental and vocal music. There the resemblance ended. The whole contrivance was an immense "fake," although it fulfilled its mission in entertaining the audience for a quarter of an hour or more. It may be said right here that "home" immensaphones will not make their appearance on the market in the near future, as it has not been found profitable to send the case with a brass band and vocalists out to the consumer at nothing down and a dollar a month. The "lawyers" in the trade who speak lightly of "dubbing," and doubtless believe the manufacture of "dubbed" records is without the pale of the law, should look upon Judge Lacombe's opinion in the foregoing suit, reported in full on page 11 of The Talking Machine World, Mairch, 190.5. ' The "dubbers" and their defenders or apologists, as you please, should "read, ponder and inwardly digest" when reaching that portion of the decision where the judge says: "The Much interest is attached to the suit of the Victor Talking Machine Co. against the Keen Co., reported on another page. It is evident the courts are not taking any backward step regarding the enforcement of the principle that a patentee can control the price of his invention under any and all conditions. The defendants were selling Victor records at a price, and contended they could not be enjoined; but they were, nevertheless, and it appears they must have been advised the case would go against them, for they withdrew their appeal and permitted the final decree and permanent injunction to be entered without opposition. C. N. Andrews, of Syracuse, N. Y., president of the Eastern Talking Machine Jobbers' Association (and by the way, what has become of the organization'?), is one of the wealthiest jobbers in the business. At one time he was heavily interested in stock operations, making a fortune, but now he is greatly interested in talking machine affairs, and has been very successful. WELLS PHONOGRAPH COMPANY Wholesale Headquarters for Edison and Victor MACHINES, RECORDS AND SUPPLIES "Never Slip" Belt Dressing Fur all Talking Machines. Positively prevents tile belt £rom slipping. Tlioroughly preserves the leatlier. Protects its elasticity. RETAILS 10 CENTS Our New Line of H and S ARTISTIC FLOWER HORNS ARE MADE IN THE FOLLOWING STYLES : Brass, nickel-plated and polished outside, brilliant enamel background inside, with or without floral decoration. Brass, polished outside, brilliant enamel background inside, with or without floral decoration. Silk finish outside, brilliant enamel background inside, with or without floral decoration. WRITE IMMEDIATELY FOR SPECIAL PRICES If you want your orders lilled promptly, try us 45 North 9th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Andrews is a man of strong individuality and force of cliaracter, combined with a natural dignity of manner which carries great weight. In addition he lias the faculty of making friends, and this combination is hard to beat in any condition of life. At one time the traveling salesmen had formed an association for "mutual benefit and protection." They were to open headquarters and maintain a place for the "gentlemen of the grip," when in New York, to be perfectly at home. It was a splendid idea, but the practical working out of the scheme has been suffered to lapse for one reason or another. While the great plant at Orange, N. .1., known far and wide as the home of the Edison phonograph, has a diversiiied product — four separate manufacturing companies operating — 85 per cent, of the output is talking machines. Leading jobbers have requested the manufacturers of disc records to use envelopes for the standard line the same as is done with the highpriced goods. Those broaching this matter propose to have the associations take the matter up and thereby formulate an official request, as it were, for what is spoken of as a very desirable improvement. As it is a number of jobbers are "enveloping" their discs at their own expense, but they believe the manufacturers should do this so as to have a uniform and distinctive cover that the public would learn to look upon as a guarantee of genuineness, even if an additional charge were made. The progress in talking machine developments are so rapid that one cannot leave the trade for even a comparatively brief time and expect to keep abreast of affairs. This comment was made by a prominent manufacturer, who in engaging the services of a superintendent Ivuown for his inventive genius, remarked: "Oh, yes, the gentleman is all right in a way, but he has not kept up with the procession. You see, he was abroad for awhile, and then on his return here became engaged i^ another line. Well, the consequence was that when he returned to this business so much advancement had been made that he almost seemed a back number. Not but what he has natural aptitude, and all that, still he is not quite in touch, and I tell you no one can afford to lose much time experimenting these days. You have got to be right up to the mark. This is true right through, from manufacturing to jobbing and retailing. Improvements are materializing almost daily, in one way or another, and one must keep in close touch with manufacturing methods and practices in order to produce the right goods." A student of sound, who objected greatly to the metallic ring from the horn of his phonograph, recently discovered a new way of preventing it. He took a half a dozen wooden clips, such as are -used to hold paper together, and put them on the edge of the horn. He found it had the desired effect, and recommends their use to all who desire to do away with the metallic tone. Leeds & Catlin Co.'s new feed device machine is announced as being ready for the market. This old-established company — one of the first to manufacture records — have never made a machine, and this is their introductory in that line. The company are also nearly in a position to furnish round or cylinder records, their list containing selections that will attract attention. A tall hall (grandfather's) clock, constructed of graphophones and records, is one of the novelties in the window of the uptown branch of the Columbia Phonograph Co., at 872 Broadway. The body of the clock, containing the mechanism, is made of one of the old-style square graphophones. The face is a 12-inch record, the word Graphophone taking the place of the figures, while across the face are the two words "on time." The supports are made of X P records and the base of disc records. A 7-inch disc record forms the pendulum and the weights are made of mandrils of the X P style machines.