The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

26 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. FROM OUR LONDON HEADOUARTERS-(Continued.) railway works resume their full activity. John H. Roberts, The Arcade Music Stores, handles Gramophone, Zonophone machines, etc., and in disc records, Gramophones, Zonophones, Twins and Bekas, while at the same time keeping a good stock of cylinder goods. Summer trade has been just moderate, but he hopes that In the near future sales will very considerably increase. We have recently seen a new type of machine that is about to be placed upon the market by Mr. Powell, Alexandra Works, Morledge, Derby. Several improvements have recently been made and various patents been taken out by him, especially in connection with sound arms, etc. In using this patent sound arm a small horizontal bar is fitted slightly behind the axis of the turntable, and upon this bar the sound arm rests while traveling along the bar by means of two small wheels. The object of this is to enable the needle in the sound box to travel across the record in a perfectly straight line, instead of a circumferential line, governed by the axis of the sound arm. To obtain this movement, the tone arm is designed with a horseshoe attachment to lift the sound-box on and oil the record in the usual way, and the connections are such that they are air-tight and work upon a universal movement in each case, so that whether the needle is at the outside or the inside of the record, there is no loss of tone, and each movement harmonizes with the next one in proportion. The usual type of motor is used with this machine, and the front is fitted with a double fall movement to open or close the cabinet. This invention may be used with or without a horn, and in either case gives exceptionally good results. We understand that Mr. Powell's patents and inventions will be put upon the market shortly, and good business is likely to result from them. For those of our readers who remember ma chines like the "Pathe Perfecta," Mr. Powell's arrangement (as far as the traveling of the sound-box is concerned), resembles somewhat the well-known "Orpheus attachment," which was supplied by Pathe Freres to their phonographs a few years ago. MANCHESTER NOTES. Manchester, Dec. 4, 1908. Since writing our notes for the November issue of The Talking Machine World the cotton strike has ended. Cottonopolis is now beginning to resume its normal condition, but the mills will not be running full time yet awhile. It may be several weeks before the full complement are at work. Nevertheless, in the course of a month we hope that the effect of this dispute will be a thing of the past. From the latest figures given the loss in wages has been approximately £900,000 ($4,500,C00), besides which, trades union firms have suffered to the extent of £200,000 ($1,000,000). Needless to say, it will be some considerable time before the talking machine trade resumes the conditions that were expected from it during the present months. Trade generally is, without a doubt, very slow. Approximately, only about one-third of the business is being transacted that was generally expected, but a very optimistic feeling exists in the trade that things will brighten up at the beginning of the new year. The new Edison "Amberol" records are being well taken up by the trade, and appear likely to result in good business from those who already own the larger size of Edison phonos. At Messrs. Duwe's, in High street, business is reported as moderate. Mr. Duwe has every hope that in the next few months trade will brighten up very considerably. Messrs. Burrows Si Co. state that, although business has been somewhat flat, it has picked up considerably during the past few weeks. They have done very good business with the "Apollo" machines, for which they are wholesale agents, and their own specialties, the "John Bull" disc machines, and the "Bull Dog" needles, which are in good demand. Messrs. Richardson's, Shudehill, are pushing very extensively the new^ "Amberol" records and attachment, their faith in both being unlimited. Hitherto, as Mr. Geddes puts it, the ordinary cylinder records have been far too short, but the new record at once remedies this defect, as one record contains as much music as two of the ordinary size; besides which, the price being only Is. 6d., it is a saving, not only of half the space that two records would take up, but also of 6d. if the purchaser had to buy two distinct records. Messrs. Edison's agreements are coming in very freely at Messrs. Richardson's, and altogether they expect large business with this particular article. We understand that Brown Bros., of London, and Deansgate, Manchester, will make a special display of Zonophone machines and records, and ako of Edison machines and records, during the forthcoming season, in which they expect to do a large business. nVERPOOL NOTES. Liverpool, Dec. 4, 1908. Liverpool, like many other towns in the North of England, is suffering from a very general depression. Customers wanted is the requirement of most of the traders, and although in some cases orders are obtained from the smaller retail houses, money is very tight. There is no doubt whatever but that where a sale is effected in talking machines it is a good one, fairly high in price; but for the moderate and lower price goods there is scarcely any demand at all. About one-third of the business is being transacted this "CLARION" FULL-LENGTH 10-in. DOUBLE-SIDED CYLINDER RECORDS PHONO. CUT DISCS Money-Makers All Jobbers and Dealers should get into touch with us. We can interest you The Premier Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 81 CITY ROAD, -: -: -: LONDON, E. C. Accredited Agents in u. s. A. THc PortlanJ Talkliig Machinc Co. JOBBERS, PORTLAND, MAINE, U. S. A.