The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 33 sf»ecial-kabrik: CARL SCHROETER BERLIN S 42. PRINZESSINNENSTR. 21 THE GERSON COMMERCIAL CABINET. Clever Device for Use With Business Plionograplis or Graphophones — Equipped With Letter and Record Tray — A Convenience for the Busy IVIan. Louis J. Gerson, manager of the Musical Echo Co., has just perfected the Gerson commercial cabinet — a clever device for use with the business phonograph or graphophone. While the commercial talking machine has, after the severest tests, proven itself a time and money saver, there was one drawback, namely. Its unhandiness, both the machine and records being awkward to handle and in the way when not in use. As will be seen from the illustration, both these difficulties are overcome by the Gerson cabinet. It is especially constructed to fit all styles of machines, and the record tray keeps the records from the danger of breaking. Another feature is the upper tray in which all letters answered on the machine are deposited, doing away with any chance of mixing, or other confusion. Mounted on rollers, the cabinet can be easily swung one side after the work at hand is finished until needed further. This device is substantially and neatly ibuilt, and is bound to have a large sale. The Musical Echo Co., who are sole distributers, are making the trade an especially attractive offer, which it will pay all to investigate. WANT mJUNCTION DISMISSED. Yesterday (Friday) in the United States Circuit Court, New York City, before Judge Lacombe, the case of the American Graphophone Co. against the International Record Co., Auburn, N. Y., was down for argument. The motion is to show cause why the injunction granted by the same justice some time ago should not be dismissed, the argument being originally on the calendar for Oct. 23. With the decision of Judge Hough, holding the Jones patent for the duplication of disc patents by the electrotyping process invalid, this step was taken by the International Co., who had been enjoined when the United States Circuit Court of Appeals restrained the same patent per curiam. FEATURING FONOTIPIA RECORDS. The Columbia Phonograph Co., General, New York, have inaugurated a great campaign of advertising in the New York daily papers, in which they are particularly featuring their Fonotipia op eratic double disc and indestructible cylinder records. This is timely, in view of the opening of the opera season. George P. Metzger, manager of the company's publicity department, is doing good work along this very effective line. TALKING PAPER THE LATEST. New Records May be Folded Up and Carried In a Man's Coat Pocket — Reproduction Very Satisfactory — Immense Possibilities of the New Records — The Result of Twenty Years of Work by the Inventor. Notwithstanding the high state of perfection reached in the manufacture of records, it has always been a moot question why something could not be discovered, originated or invented — as you please — that would or could reproduce an entire score of an opera, for example. In the earlier numbers of The World this query was ably propounded in an interesting editorial. Are we on the eve of this "consummation devoutly to be wished?" Simply as a matter of historical progression it seems something of this kind is about to be placed on the market. The World had the privilege of hearing a number of records made of paper, and while allowing for the crudity of laboratory samples, as a whole they were very satisfactory. The material resembles celluloid in appearance only, but is much more elastic and pliable; in fact, to such an extent that the record can be folded into a small compass so as to be carried in a man's coat pocket, the creases not interfering the slightest with the sound waves on the surface, and which, by the way, are neither vertical nor lateral, but differ entirely from the lines on the familiar cylinder or disc records. Doubtless the composition has a basis of fiber, but will not burn nor explode. The inventor claims he has been working on the problem for upward of twenty years. Be that as it may, the record in question is paper — "talking paper," the discoverer calls it — and if all he claims can be supported by practical demonstration in other than a laboratory way, it looks as if the trade were about to witness a revolutionary change. On this "paper" record loudness over brilliancy is not the object, but rather quality of tone, which is claimed to be perfectly natural and true. Trained voices are not required for reproduction, and the methods of reproducing is by a species of photography, the surface of the material being sensitized so as to receive clearly and distinctly a whisper, according to the say so of the enthusiastic inventor. Primarily, this new record is intended for commercial purposes, as telephone messages can be taken or transcribed on the surface in the natural voice of the person talking, and dictations may also oe taken direct and sent through the mails, the same as ordinary correspondence. At present the concern owning this seemingly wonderful product are employing the ordinary disc machine and steel point needle for reproducing. By the time the company are ready for the market they will have a sapphire point and a machine of their own, which will make a vast difference in the sound results. It cannot be denied that, so far as known, progress is being made in the direction of continuous sound reproduction, and on a scale to arouse the curiosity, if not the wonder, of the inventors, who have done so much to bring the talking machine appliances to their present exalted stage, in itself a marvel. Rolls of this new material can be made and utilized, it is alleged, and the duplication of records is practically instantaneous, tens of thousands can be turned out daily, in the same manner as paper is run through a printing press; and a record can be made easily from every present-day record while being "run off" by a machine. Here arises a question of equity — but that is a contention for the courts to settle, should it ever arise. It may be The World is anticipating what may never be accomplished in a commercial sense. At any rate, the foregoing is a narration of facts, and therefore deserving more than mere passing mention. Time — and short at that, the inventor claims — will establish the falsity or truth of what now may be regarded as a most interesting development. The telegraphone, it may be remembered, aimed at this same purpose; but as yet it has never emerged from an experimental state. This apparatus is costly and of the most delicate mechanism, whereas the "talking paper" record is simplicity itself, and the cost of production so low as to appear ridiculous in the telling! AN AMUSING INCIDENT. While manager of the Columbia store at Milwaukee a great many amusing incidents came to the observation of the writer. Two carpenters were engaged to place a stairs from the store floor to the basement. One was a German, the other an Irishman. They were both fond of listening to music, and after each piece they would each make their respective comments. After they had completed the opening they placed a plank across and were surveying their work and incidentally listening to the music, when a diabolical idea came into the head of some one to put on the record "It was the Dutch." The antics of the German teasing his pal was worth the price of admission, and when the piece was finished he commenced to mimic the machine: "Who always leads the Irish whenever they parade? It is the Dutch." His fun ended very suddenly, however, when from the machine came the strains of "It takes the Irish to beat the Dutch." Pat's inning. He swung his feet to a level with the German and pushed him off the plank into the cellar and sat there singing, "It takes the Irish to beat the Dutch." This incident occurred about three days before St. Patrick's day, and on the following morning a buxom Irish lady came into the store and asked for some Irish pieces appropriate for the day and she was told of the incident and the fate of the German. "What was the name of the record?" "It takes the Irish to beat the Dutch." "Give me three of them." — A. E. Thomas. The World is in receipt of an autographed record of Emile Berliner's address at the banquet of the N. A. T. M. Jobbers at Atlantic City, last July, with the compliments of the Victor Co. FLURSTEDT bei Apolda i. Th., Germany E. SAUERLANDT CHEMISCHE FABRIK The largest manufacturing plant in the world devoted exclusively to the manufacture of Master Waxes for Gramophone and Phonograph Recording Sole Manufacturer of Sauerlandt's Material for Hard Moulded Records Attention paid to the Manufacture of any Special Material. Master-Wax ALIv MATERIALS PROTECTED BY PATENTS.