The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 9 prosperous conditions in the agricultural sections and from the agricultural sections money naturally percolates through the various channels of trade until all sections are benefited. Of course, : there has been a tremendous shrinkage in business over last year, but conditions in all lines of trade are improving. The fact that there are no idle freight cars on the sidings and that orders have been placed for many thousands of additional cars demonstrates the fact that the railroads, the great arteries of trade, are again pulsing with normal life. While business has lacked snap and vim, it has been growing better. This is evidenced in the financial reports and, too, there have been few failures, which shows that the country is buttressed around by a greater financial strength than ever before. On the whole, the outlook is much better than it has been any time since the panic dropped rudely in upon us without proper notification last October. WHAT a struggle we are having at all times over patent rights and after all the granting of a patent seems to be the open Sesame for litigation. The amount of money which has been spent in the talking machine trade during the past ten years in litigation would approximate one million dollars. This at the first blush might seem an ex: travagant statement, but a careful analysis of the litigation which has occurred in the talking machine trade by reason of the contest over patent rights and other matters has cost the litigants a sum approaching a cool million. Think of the amount of time, energy, money wasted in the struggle to defend a business situation! It seems as if our government should afforfl a patentee better protection than is now given under our present patent law. The granting of a patent frequently is simply the beginning of a struggle and the profits of a valuable invention are gradually sifted into the pockets of lawyers who make a specialty of patent cases. Should there not be some better method devised whereby the rights of the patentee would be protected. Under the present conditions, it cannot be successfully argued that even fair protection is afforded. Better have protection or else abandon the Patent Office and if the next Congress would enact some legislation bearing directly upon the patent' laws of the country, it would materially assist the men whose inventive minds have given employment to millions of people, but who have not profited in many cases financially themselves. The product of a man's brain should be protected just as well as his real estate holdings and the government certainly owes it to inventors to safeguard their interests in every particular. WHILE we do not believe in urging men to go beyond a reasonable limit, yet every business man must know that one of the first conditions necessary to the profitable handling of the talking machine trade is a complete stock. Now stocks in any industry to-day cannot be procured with the same promptness which they could a year ago. Manufacturers in most lines have not been piling up big reserves, and orders must be placed in order for them to determine their business policy for the months to come. It would seem to us that every business man is justified to-day in making reasonable plans for a good business in the fall, and long dalays in preparation may prove costly in the end. A state of preparedness in business counts as much in winning a victory as preparedness in war times, because, after all, commercial battles are fought on as unrelenting lines as actual warfare. No quarter is given when rivals seek for trade. JOHN HERZOQ OPTIMISTIC Over Business Conditions — Factory Will Soon be Running Full Capacity — Collections Good — Trade Shows a Falling Off of 25 Per Cent, as Compared With Last Year. ( Special to The Talking Machine World.) Saginaw, Mich., Oct. 1, 1908. John Herzog, treasurer and general manager of the Herzog Art Furniture Co., in the course of a chat the other day regarding trade, present and prospective, said: "Business with us is very good now, and increasing steadily every day, so that the factory will run full capacity in a very short time. In fact, it is running now from the finishing room to the packing room, but with the machine room we are going rather slow as yet, and will do so until after the election." When asked how trade compared with that of 1907, Mr. Herzog replied that it was about twentyfive per cent. less. He said, moreover, that collections had steadily improved, and as a whole had been very good with the Herzog Co. all this season. In closing, he added: "The business outlook from our standpoint, and judging it from last month, is steadily growing better. Of course, now we are making goods for the fall and winter trade. It is usually the very busiest season of the year, as it is the time when everybody buys goods for the holiday trade. It is not improbable that business may fall off again after the first of the year; therefore, it is rather uncertain to figure upon conditions ahead to any extent. Employment is becoming more general in all branches of industry, and thi3 must have its effect in bringing about not only an improved and healthy condition of trade in our industry, but in all other branches of trade." CLEVER AUTOMATA. Ingenious Mechanical Figures Which Closely Counterfeit Life Being Imported from Paris. The newest automata, which not only counterfeit life in their actions, but also speak, will be seen before long in this country — imported from Paris, which is the manufacturing center for all such ingenious contrivances. It is safe to say, remarks The Technical World, that nothing in the world, exhibited in a shop window, attracts attention so quickly as a "show piece" — the name by which automata are known in trade. Thus it happens that many of them are used in this country for advertising purposes, invariably engaging the eager interest of crowds which gather to gaze upon them. Counterfeiting life with a cleverness that is often little short of marvelous, and actuated by mechanism artfully concealed, they appeal both to curiosity and to the appetite for the mysterious which is latent in every human breast. To lend the automaton a voice, by the help of a phonograph, is a matter simple enough. The real marvel of these contrivances lies in the ingenuity employed to give them such lifelike movement; and the simplicity of the mechanism used does but add to the wonder of it. They might be regarded as representing an ultimate stage in the development of the mechanical toy, inasmuch as not a few toys nowadays are to all intents and purposes automata — as, for example, the walking doll — and the plaything which has become seemingly animate is raised to the highest power. Well, Jack, what makes you look so weary and tired? Jack — I bought one of those talking machines, and the two weeks that I have owned it it will play only the one record and not run down. Dang the luck anyhow. Friend — Well, take it back and exchange it, or get your money back. Jack — Can't now, I married it. It's my wife, you know. H. C. Fabeh. Self 'Selling Assortment of Harps, with over 75i in Profits FR. HOTZ Harmonica Assortment THIS ASSORTMENT consists of a dozen Harmonicas made up of our best selling styles to retail for twenty-five cents each. In each dozen there will be found an assortment of keys and three different styles of Harmonicas. The Harmonicas are all furnished in neat hinged boxes and have ten single holes and twenty reeds. All the instruments have the finest nickel-plated covers, solid brass plates and are given the best tuning. The goods are offered in a handsome display case which can be used to advantage either on a show case or in a show window. An assortment of this kind combines a variety of instruments with attractive display which is bound to bring results, The Entire Line of FR. HOTZ HARMONICAS No. 015 to retail from 10c. to $1.00 offers the best value for your cnstomers and big returns for you. These goods were originally produced 80 years ago, and have always been looked upon as being the first Harmonicas manufactured. During this long term of years, the strictest attention has been paid to the perfect construction of the instruments, so that to-day the purchaser is assured of an excellence in Harmonica manufacture which time only can acquire. ■ Jlsk Your Jobber. Send for our Handsome Catalog giving all prices and descriptions FR, HOTZ, 475 BROADWAY, NEW YORK ''"'rJS;:\:t.£li,'Ul^Z'''"'''