The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

36 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. wiere the Edison Phonograph is known. What a testimony all of this is to the thoroughness and value of organization and advertising! A perfect trade organization backed by the expenditure of a comparatively small sum of money has in four months taken an unknown word, applied it to a new product and made both itself and the product known to millions of people. It will be interesting to the trade to know that the word "Amberol" was originated by no less a person than Thomas A. Edison. The name he suggested — ^"Amberol" — won out over a large number of others that weie suggested by his associates in the laboratory and the oflBcers and employes of the Edison works. The exigencies of the export trade often call for novel expedients to successfully meet emergencies. For example, the majority of Chinese dealers or factors are not always competent to write out their orders for records; or, not having the essential chirographic implements at hand, are not in a position to make their wants clearly understood by the wholesaler or jobber. To overcome this diflBculty the Columbia Phonograph Co., General, had a special order blank made up, the Chinese characters being "brushed" in by the Japanese attache of their foreign department. The worli was done entirely by hand and occupied a month in its completion. In size the original copy is 4% x 2% feet, and is marvelous in its execution. This has been reduced to a sheet 9 x 12 inches, and lists 650 records. There are four lines of description to each selection. The first gives the number; the second, whether the record is that of a male voice imitating a female; third, if a male voice; fourth, if vocal or instrumental. The merchant can read if not write, and having these blanks supplied him by the company, he can make out his order easily and quickly by checking off the number as well as the character of the record he wants. This blank solved a vexing problem and is regarded not only as a happy conception, but commercially of great value. The original has been framed and hangs in the office of Edward N. Burns, manager of the Columbia Co.'s export department. Trouble was also encountered in the selection of colors for record labels. When first entering the Chinese field, and probably inspired by the gorgeousness of the imperial banner with its great dragon, yellow was chosen, and considered a brilliant idea. On making inquiry it was ascertained that the use of yellow, excepting by the reigning family, was prohibited by royal edict; in short, this color found in the possession of other than the privileged class merited death. Red was substituted, and then there was no objection. In Siam white is sacred to the dead, and if it had been employed as a label, not a Siamese would have touched a record. Numerous other peculiarities in this regard were revealed as one country after another in the Orient was entered, and the labels had to be colored in accordance with traditional customs and prejudices. What is termed a "Certificate for Victor Goods" has been originated by Arthur D. Geissler, president and general manager of the Talking Machine Co., Chicago, for a Christmas gift. To be sure, an order for goods current during the holiday season is as old as the hills, so to speak. It relieves the donor of choosing what may prove undesirable articles, and the worry, anxiety and time inseparable from this by no means agreeable task. Well, Mr. Geissler has made a vast improvement In the form, style and appearance of this Christmas blank order, which permits the recipient to buy his Victor machine and records at his leisure and according to his own taste and judgment by presenting it to any Victor dealer it may be drawn on. Mr. Geissler's blank is about 8 x Zy^ inches, printed in orangecolored ink, and with its heavy border, has the substantial resemblance to a bond; in other words, like "real money." At any rate, this method of remembering friends during the festal season with machines or records — the price in advance, of course — acceptable and elegant gifts to everybody, has few equals for convenience and satisfaction. Dealers who have seen the Geissler Christmas certificate pronounce it a winner, and are adopting it in its entirety or something similar. It is to be recommended. McWilliams is an enthusiastic young man and a fine salesman. A new line of machines and disc records will be introduced to the trade probably next month, if not earlier. The machines are made abroad, with the records manufactured, or at least pressed, in the United States, and the sound wave or line is undulating or vertical, or what is sometimes designated the "up-and-down cut," such as is used on cylinder records. The sapphire reproducing point is employed. The manufacturers avow these goods confiict with neither the Berliner nor Jones patents, and therefore are entitled to enter the American market free and untrammeled, in so far as litigation may be feared. CHICAGO PIONEER DIES. Father of Local Regina Manager Passes Away — Came to Western Metropolis in 1850. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Chicago, III., Dec. 5, 1908. Maximian Faber, father of M. J. Faber, Chicago manager for the Regina Co., died at his residence in this city on November 28 of ulceration of the stomach. The deceased was 67 years of age and one of the pioneers of Chicago, having come here from Treves, Germany, his birthplace, about 1850. At the funeral services at St. Francis Church yesterday morning solemn high mass was celebrated and the ceremony was participated in by Revs. Peter and William Faber, sons of the deceased, and the Rev. Father Thiele. Fifty clergymen were present. The burial was at St. Boniface Cemetery. McWILLIAMS APPOINTED MANAGER Of the Wholesale and Retail Talking Machine Department of the E. E. Forbes Piano Co. of Birmingham, Ala. (Special to The Talliing Machine World.) Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 8, 1908. J. W. Lewis, who has been manager of the wholesale and retail talking machine department of the E. E. Forbes Piano Co., has resigned his position and will be connected with one of the prominent coal companies, purchasing an interest in the business and assuming the title of secretary and treasurer. Mr. Lewis was succeeded by Bruce R. McWilliams, who has been connected with the E. E. Forbes Piano Co. for several years past as head salesman in the department. He has also had wide experience as a talking machine man, having been connected with other distributers before going with the Forbes people. The E. E. Forbes Piano Co. are extensive distributers of talking machines, being jobbers for l)oth the Victor Co. and the Columbia. They also operate large stores at Montgomery, Mobile, Anniston, Memphis, Jackson, Rome, Ga.. and Jackson, Miss. The future of the department is looked forward to with much interest, as Mr. The "MELLO-TONE" is the only PERFECT ATTACHMFNT for modifying and regulating the volume of sound on any style or size of TALKING MACHINE or PHONOGRAPH. Produces Natural Tone Makes Talking Machines More Musical PRICE $1.00 EACH Manufactured by THE MELLO-TONE CO. SPRINGFIliLD, MASS. New York Office and Export Deportment 92 Beaver Street, New York, U. S. A. GEORGE N. NISBETT RESIGNS. (Special to The TalliiDg Macliiue World, i Chicago, 111., Dec. 9, 1908. George N. Nisbett, manager of the wholesale talking machine department of Babson Bros., has resigned. Mr. Nisbett is one of the best known Edison men in the country and was manager of the Chicago office of the National Phonograph Co. up to the time of its discontinuance in 1906, when he went with Babson Bros, and opened their wholesale department. Mr. Nisbett has several propositions under consideration and will probably close with one of them very shortly. Babson Bros, have not as yet appointed a successor. FAILURES DECREASING. Business Mortality Still Above the Normal, but Liabilities Growing Less. The commercial failures in the United States for November as compared with the came month in the previous year show a larger falling off in the total of defaulted indebtedness than in the number of commercial fatalities. According to the statistics compiled by R. G. Dun & Co., there were 1,120 commercial failures last month, involving 112,999,912. In the corresponding month of 1907 there were 1,180 failures with a defaulted indebtedness of $17,637,011. In addition to this improvement in commercial failures there was also a decrease in banking losses, ten suspensions this year for $863,181, comparing with thirty similar failures last year, when the amount involved was $9,144,225. Manufacturing failures were 273 in number and $5,277,420 in amount, against 305 similar defaults last year, when the amount involved was ?10,927,598. Trading failures were 799, against S40 last year, and liabilities of $5,731,104 compared witli $5,640,065. In the third division alone does there appear any material increase over last year's losses, 4S failures for $1,591,388 comparing with thirty-five for $1,069,348. This increase was due to one or two speculative failures, one brokerage house making the entire difference. Dun says the shock experienced a year ago was much too severe to be quickly overcome, and there are still indications that the aftermath is keeping the insolvency returns above normal. That there is reason for encouragement is found in the gradual improvement, however, liabilities of failures in November being smaller than in any month of the last year. GREAT EXPORT TRADE. The export department of the Columbia Phonograph Co., General, was never so busy as at the present time, to quote the language of Edward N. Burns, the Chesterfieldian manager. Several unusually large orders for South America and China for double-faced disc and Indestructible pressing factory of the. plant at Bridgeport, Conn., running night and day. The office force under Mr. Burns has been augmented this month in order to cope with the pressure of business. The new foreign catalog is being rushed to completion. The December list of Zonophone double-side records are twenty-five in number. As they are aptly described, "two songs with but a single disc." The Universal Talking Machine Mfg. Co., Newark, N. J., claim "no other record at any such price enjoys the established reputation for supreme quality, musical or technical, as Zonophone records. Their artistic interpretation of music, extraordinary clarity of natural tone, smooth freiMlom from scratching, extra length and long wear are all featured in the double discs." As long as the public demands them, the company will also continue to manufacture single-siilo records at the new list price of 50 cents.