The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 33 TIMELY TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS understood distinctly that any make or size of disc machines can be placed in these cabinets by simply using a smaller horn. In a heart-to-heart talk with the many customers of the Salter Mfg. Co., the inventors of the "Salter Grand" say: "Every one of your disc customers ought to have a cabinet of this kind, for the reason that it obviates the necessity of setting the disc machines on table or stand when they wish to give an entertainment to a party of friends, and after the evening is over, place the machine in some obscure closet or corner. This is not so where a 'Salter Grand Cabinet' is used. The talking machine, being placed inside of the cabinet, is kept free from dust, and it always has a place. Secondly — ^The 'Salter Cabinet' is handsomely finished and has the appearance of a beautiful music cabinet, and by simply opening the door on the front of the cabinet and starting the machine going, the instrumental or vocal music is reproduced with all the volume your customer may desire, at the same time any foreign sounds are entirely eliminated by the clever arrangement of the almost invisible wire screen in the front of the cabinet. It all leads up to the result that your customer is proud of having something unique and different from his neighbor. Last but not least, in addition to being a receptacle for the talking machine, it has the combination of space for 100 disc records. This is a particularly strong selling point with these cabinets. The two vital points that will appeal to your prospect customer are: "First — That they have an enclosed receptacle for the talking machines. Second — An enclosed compartment for the records." The Salter Mfg. Co. are decidedly strong on new things this fall. Their latest is a handsome line of disc and cylinder cabinets, illustrated in this issue and which possess unique features. The disc cabinets present a radical departure from the conventional in that the records are plac«d flat in the cabinet. The shelves are covered with soft felt to prevent scratching, and there is a shelf for each disc. This cabinet was devised by the Salter Co. on account of the demand by many dealers who declared their records warped when standing on edge. The one record in a compartment idea is, of course, particularly desirable in view of the introduction in a large way of the double-faced record. Their new cylinder cabinets also possess non-scratchable and non-breakable features, in that the records are placed on the shelves in cartons, and each carton has a little compartment for itself. HANDY FOE FILING AND CATALOGING. Now that the double-disc record is realized, the Eureka Library Cabinet, one of the specialties of the Douglas Phonograph Co., Inc., New York, recommends itself for filing and cataloging. It is a most practical cabinet, combining accessibility and protection. With the Eureka Library Cabinet there is a place for each record and each record in its place. The possibility of readily locating any desired record and returning such record to its proper place without error, are the features of importance. It provides a separate and definite place for each record, and every record filed is protected against damage or dust, prolonging the life of the record and its perfection of reproduction. "STARS" THAT SHINE AND SING. The Hawthorne & Sheble Mfg. Co., Philadelphia, Pa., are putting forth a line of machines and records which are meeting with lively demand. Their latest models in Star machines have greatly interested dealers and, as a result, increased orders are reaching the big Philadelphia concern. The Star records are also steadily growing in popularity with the dealers. The Hawthf-ne & Sheble line, which Includes talking machine, records and supplies, is a comprehensive one, and it is playing an important part In the talking machine distribution for 1908. As a test of salesmanship the territory of Long Island, N. Y., is given the palm for being the "toughest" in the country, bar none. The gentlemanly trade ambassadors whose professional duties take them to that section tell some rueful stories of their experiences. Being so close to New York, of course. Long Island is literally overrun, not only by representatives of the manufacturing companies, but from the jobbing houses also. They follow in each other's footsteps so closely that one is almost in sight of the other ahead, and it is a clear case of superior generalship to get an order. Even automobiles are brought into use, and the latest from that "seat of war" is that the auto man somehO'W beat the rest of the travelers in coming behind them and picking up the most desirable orders. The machine must have impressed the Long Island dealers, for they "coughed up" easy. Perhaps this may turn out to be a suggestion worth adopting. Elsewhere appears the emphatic denial of W. B. Gilmore, former president of the National Phonograph Co., Orange, N. J., that he intends re-entering the talking machine trade as the head of a disc record manufacturing concern. He apparently makes himself clear on this point, and a close friend of his contributed further details to the subject when he said to The World: "Mr. Gilmore has been approached by a number of persons since getting back from Europe with projects of a talking machine nature, but he has turned them all down in the most peremptory manner. I have known his views on this matter before he went abroad and I was satisfied his future would not be in this business again. Of course, Mr. Gilmore has said in connection with these rumors that should anybody hand him a real soft thing in the line he would take it up. Otherwise, not." No one questions Mr. Gilmore's word, but sometimes strange events have occurred at the most unexpected times. Last month a lot of Victor and Edison machines were auctioned off in New York city in the nature of a "fire sale." They were advertised openly, but doubtless the quantity of goods was too small to call for any action on the part of the manufacturers to enjoin the sale. Another "auction" case occurred recently in Paterson, N. J., in which Taft and Bryan records were about to be disposed of, though no one but the auctioneers seemed to know where they came from. That, however, was immaterial, but the National Phonograph Co. immediately secured a temporary enjoining order on September 3, on which argument to make it permanent was heard by Judge Crass, of the United States Circuit Court of New Jersey. An officer of the company, in discussing the suit, said that "licensed auctioneers believe they can sell anything at any old price, but they will be brought to a realizing sense of their true position by the application of the rule covering the sale of patented articles, to which the entire trade have bowed under its enforcement by the United States courts. These Taft and Bryan records of ours are in active sale, and unless we have the auctioneers permanently enjoined it will be detrimental to every dealer in the land." In one of the mechanical feed machines that will soon be placed on the market the turntable and record thereon follow the reproducing point or needle. The contrivance is claimed to evade the Berliner patent, which provides for the sound wave line absolutely controlling the movement of the needle. This is a reminder of what one of the United States judges recently laid down as a rule in one of the talking machine cases argued before him, namely: That if an appliance was devised to get around a patent and had accomplished its elusive purpose, it was no less an infringement. That is a broad interpretation, but is conceded to be just. Not long since Mrs. Thomas A. Edison called at Chas. H. Ditson & Co.'s, the leading retailers of musical mei-chandise in New York, to buy a 'cello for a young friend of hers connected with the church she attended in Orange, N. J. H. L. Hunt, the manager of the department, waited upon the wife of the distinguished inventor of the phonograph, and the lady was an extremely interesting customer. She asked all sorts of questions, and many of them about the various instruments, and in being shown through the several floors occupied by the firm she came to the section devoted to talking machines. At once she noticed that only the Victor line was handled, and asked Mr. Hunt why the Edison goods were not sold, when she said: "So you do not handle the Edison phonograph! Now, I came in to buy a 'cello for a young friend of mine, but as you have the Victor machines and records only, I should not even come into your store." Mrs. Edison, however, ordered the 'cello sent to Orange. A GIANT! Our Smallest Revolving Rack THE MONARCH MIDGET IS OUR GIANT SELLER Here it is and it can speak for itself in appearance and convenience. Is but 37 inches high and 20 inches square, yet it holds 200 Cylinder Records. ^ Can be set up on the counter adjacent to the machine, so that salesmen may face the customer all the while ; as the rack holds about an eight months' assortment of records, it is sufficiently extensive for use when demonstrating. Is very popular in homes — you can sell numbers of them to those who own machines. The neat appearance of the rack on your counter will attract customers and its convenience will appeal to them at once. PRICE TO DEALERS. $10.00 Order from your jobber — he has them Canadian Representatives The R. S.WILLIAMS & SONS CO. TORONTO and WINNIPEG Syracuse Wire Works SYRACUSE, NEW YORK