The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

18 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. DEVELOPING OUR EXPORT TRADE. Edward N. Burns Discusses the Development of the Talking Machine Business in Foreign Countries — Takes the Reader to India, Siam, China, Japan, and Dilates on the ^ustoms of the People and the Difficulties in Making Records to Suit Popular Tastes. There must be something unusually fascinating about the export trade. At least those devoted and allied with that branch of the talking machine business never wearj' of expatiating on its of the talking machine in foreign countries. As usual Mr. Burns became an excellent talker and a source of information of absorbing interest as he briefly outlined the diflBculties encountered in CHINESE KECOBD MAKING OKCKKSTr.A. superior attractiveness and value as compared with domestic dealings. At any rate, this seems to have been the experience of Edward N. Burns, vice-president of the American Graphophone Co. and manager of the export department of the Columbia Phonograph Co., general. After a desultory exchange of views on general trade topics with The World, Mr. Burns drifted back, naturally it would seem, to his favorite subject, namely, the export trade and the development this special field of activity, and what obstacles had to be overcome before success crowned whatever efforts may be put forth. EVEN TEMPERATURES IN MAKING ORIGINALS. "First and foremost," remarked Mr. Burns, "is the condition of the original wax records from which the masters are made. In our plant here everything is in perfect condition. The wax blanks, the tools and every accessory must be, and is, kept at a uniform temperature, so that when an original record goes into the 'bath' producing the copper shell, from which the 'master' is made, it emerges with the surface entirely free from oxidation, is smooth as glass, and consequently the best results are obtained. The slightest imperfection or blemish will ruin the record. Now, then, in going abroad to reproduce whatever we are after the utmost caution, and care must be exercised to protect the wax blanks from sudden or violent changes of temperature. Carelessness in this respect spells failure, disaster and no inconsiderable money loss. For a long time the proper method of shipping these blanks was unknown. After repeated failures it was found necessary to ship each blank in an individual package, especially wrapped and protected. "Of course, when our recorders, who are always the pick of the laboratory staff, are sent abroad they are accompanied by an assistant — one of some mechanical skill and ingenuity. In other words, two men always travel together, each an expert in his line. Generally they are strangers in the countries to which they may be despatched, knowing little, if anything, of the language or customs of thie people and ignorant of the material from which to choose suitable record-making talent. Of course, iI^ the tropical and semi-tropical countries there is no provision for heating the houses, and in the City of Mexico, for instance, which is 7,500 feet above Our Spring; Catalog ^TT Showing a complete line of III Cabinets for Disc and Cylinder ■ i Cabinets is now ready for mailino-. Don't fail to (jet one. Designs, Finish and Prices that are rio-ht. Good stock on hand for fillnig orders promptly. Try us. The Cady Cabinet Company No, Lansing, Mich, AX OlilKXTAL CO.Mrii.MiOB. sea level, the cold at night and in the morning is intense, and in the middle of the day the heat is at the other extreme. Therefore, you may imagine to what trouble the men are put to keep their records from being ruined absolutely. The tools and apparatus are also exposed to the same danger. In shipping wax originals from Japan and China they may be forty to sixty days in transit and subject to many changes from very warm to freezing temperatures, so that the