The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 29 TIMELY TALKS ON TIMELY TOPCIS An announcement of the gravest importance was made on the first of the month by the National Phonograph Co., Orange, N. J., regarding the future attitude of Edison jobbers, and dealers who may handle other cylinder records. This is the first official notice sent out over President Dyer's signature, and doubtless the step therein made must have had serious consideration for some time. The National Co. seldom make a hasty move that may in any way affect the marketing of their products, and the present, it is assumed, is no exception. The company notify their jobbers and dealers that on and after October 1, 1908, they must not handle cylinder records other than those bearing the Edison trade-mark. This date may be extended to December 1, where large stocks of the prohibited lines exist, and even further special arrangements will be conceded when expedient. The main point, however, is that the Edison line must be sold exclusively, or suspension will be in order. Frankly, this is a radical move; in fact, it is drastic and far-reaching. The details in full of this important circular, which reached the trade only last Saturday, may be found elsewhere in this issue of The World. The even exchange proposition on "Cut out" records by the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., in effect from August 1 to 6, was a most generous offer. They estimate it will cost them fully $100,000 to carry it out, but as the company candidly stated in their circular letter of July 25 to the trade, "it will introduce an element of security and encouragement to the trade that should soon return this investment to us in increased business. ... An exchange on 'Cut-outs' virtually solves all the dealers' troubles over bad selling stock." With this circular went another furnishing complete details as to shipments and explanations concerning the issue of certificates of exchange, etc. This liberal proposal had no more than reached the trade before some dealers — possibly a large number the country over, for all that is known to the contrary— endeavored to impose on the distributers or pick flaws with the arrangements. These foxy dealers, who, like the poor, are always with us, demanded that instead of immediately forwarding to their distributer, on receipt of the certificate of exchange signed by the company, "an order for an equal quantity of records returned, class for class," that the credit be extpnded over several months or at their convenience, as it were. Dealers in this category were not loath in threatening distributers with the loss of their accounts unless this peremptory request was complied with forthwith. They absolutely ignored paragraph 9 of tbe stipulations, as follows: "Distributers are only authorized to honor this certificate when accompanied by a new order for immediate shipment, for records selected from the June, 1908, Numerical Catalog, and for a like number of records in the respective classes, according to the terms of this exchange proposition. No back order whatever to apply, and the value represented by this certificate cannot be applied to the credit of a dealer's account, without an exchange. All distributers will be held to a strict account for their action in this regard." With this unlooked for development a number of prominent distributers in the leading centers got together at once and agreed to support each other in maintaining the Victor Co.'s promulgation in letter and in spirit, the recalcitrant dealers to the contrary, notwithstanding. Evidently, however, distributers elsewhere were more or less perturbed by this unexpected development, and made representations at Camden headquarters that drew forth promptly the following terse supplemental pronouncement, from General Manager Geissler, on August 5: "Immediately Important. — We want you to read again paragraph No. 11 of our 'Cut-out record' exchange proposition to distributers; also paragraph No. 9 of the same proposition to dealers, and respect them. We are in receipt of a letter from one of our distributers stating that some of his dealers telephoned and have written to him within the last twenty-four houis requesting that he permit them to place their order on condition that these records be consumed within several months, they claiming that this proposition was made to them by several eastern jobbers. Such a proposition is simply absurd and an atrocious imposition. All we have to say is that we shall take pleasuie in searching out any distributer who does this and shall either suspend him or cut him off." This was taking the bull by the horns with a vengeance, and the refractory dealers who were hit between the eyes by this thirteen-inch shot will probably never know what struck them if they still continue their efforts to impose upon their distributer. All the latter are called upon to do in the premises is to stand firm and "turn down" every dealer who may be guilty of so gross an impertinence; for the Victor Talking Machine Co. know their business and are prepared to back up and support their distributers to the end. ■ The copyright situation, of course, will remain in status quo until Congress meets again in December. Then, as the session is a short one, the passage of a bill revising the existing statute is extremely problematical. The courts in the European countries are adjudicating their laws on appeal, the latest decision coming from France, a summary of which appears on another page. In the meanwhile the music publishers here, notwithstanding their aggressive attitude on copyright — that is, that part to bring in additional revenue to themselves — are moving heaven and earth and possibly jolting a few stars, to get their music on the records. When the manufacturers, who make their own selections irrespective of the urgings. special requests or protestations of the publishers or alleged writers, do reproduce the so-called popular "stuff" — the word is used advisedly — it is only after infinite pains and tests have been made as to its salability. Were the record makers to reproduce all the pieces sent them by the publishers they would accumulate a stock of junk themselves and swamp the dealers and jobbers with goods that would materially add to their burdens by having immediate additions to the "dead ones," the crying evil of the trade. As one of the leading cutters of perforated music rolls — placed in the same class as records by judicial decree — recently stated to The World, "The publisher does not figure in this copyright controversy. He represents, not primary but secondary interests, and the question is 'where does he get off?' Nevertheless the publisher is making more fuss than any of the interests concerned in the ultimate fate of a revision of the copyright laws; but in the meantime secretly making the best deals they can with the record manufacturers, whom they denounce in public as 'robbers of their property', etc., etc. It is a pretty kettle of fish, so to say, with the publishers occupying not only an inconsistent, but a ridiculous position as well. :i! * * * Professor Rubner, of the University of Berlin, has just invented a registering apparatus which enables one to calculate the number of noise waves striking upon the ear in any given period. The new apparatus proves beyond question that the prolonged labor — it is none the less existent, though we are frequently unconscious of it — to which the acoustic nerve is subjected in large cities or large establishments has the effect ultimately of paralyzing its efficiency and consequently of creating a breach in the intellectual center which may be the beginning of cerebral dissolution. Rubner points the moral of his investigations by showing that insanity is rare among the inhabitants of moderately sized country towns. It is, he says, greatest in cities and in great solitudes. On the principle of "the identity of countries," according to Hegel, continuous existence in a tomb-like silence would have as bad an effect upon the brain as the noises of a vast city. J. B. LANDAY ARRIVES FROM EUROPE. James B. Landay, of Landay Bros., Victor distributers, and secretary and treasurer of the Zed Co., Zonophone jobbers, New York, got in JAMES B. LANDAY. from Europe, August 10, where he had been since early in June. It was Mr. Landay's wedding trip, and he and Mrs. Landay had a most enjoyable time touring the United Kingdom and visiting the principal continental cities and famous points of interest. They came back on the "Nleuw Amsterdam," of the Holland-American line, from Rotterdam, and had a delightful voyage. Brother Max, who is on jury duty in the criminal branch of the Supreme Court for a month, got excused long enough to meet Jim and his bride at the pier. W. D. Shafer, president, and W. L. Ryan, secretary and treasurer of the Talking Clock Mfg. Co., of St. Louis, have been spending the past week in New York calling upon manufacturers. The Diaphragm is King Everybody indorses our WOOD DIAF»HRAG]VI for Cylinder Reproducers PRICE, including Cross Head and Link, $1 EACH. NORCROSS PHONOGRAPH COMPANY New Lang Building, 662 Sixth Avenue ^= NEW YORK CITY ==