The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1909)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 23 FROM OUR LONDON HEADQUARTERS(Continued. 6th Grand Opera Record, i. e., "Ah, Minii!" the famous duet from the opera "La Boheme," the recording of which is superb. In this duet Messrs. Ernest Pike and Peter Dawson appear at their best. The popular Black Diamond Band is responsible for several fine selections, of which I would mention: "Raymond" overture, "H. M. S. Pinafore" and "Russian March." Mr. Ernest Pike gives a truly sympathetic rendering of "Tell Me, Mary, How to Woo Thee," while Mr. Dawson makes a fine record of "The Gallants of England." "The Lass of Killiecrankie," by the one and only Harry Lauder, needs no recommendation. Signor Francisco's xylophone record "Intermezzo" is splendid in every way and should be a good seller. Other well-known artistes figure in this list with selections of a popular character. A Talking and Singing Doll. H. Langes Successors, Ltd., are marketing a real novelty in the shape of a talking and singing doll, who will make her debut under the name of "Arnoldia." She can sing and talk in any language, is a good companion to the children, and, above all, promises to obey always. She will sell for 50s. upward. Wireless Marvels. The Wireless Marvels are further demonstrated by a report from Paris, which gives details of a successful conversation held over thirty miles during an experiment with a wireless telephone, the invention of two lieutenants in the French Navy. The conversation was heard with great distinctness by either side, and the experiment was in every way a complete success. Universal Talking Machine Co., Ltd. Universal Talking Machine Co., Ltd., issue of debentures, dated March 12, 1909, to secure £2,000 charged upon the company's undertaking and property, present and future, including uncalled capital. Holder, Aldridge. Salmon & Co., Ltd., 4 Fenchurch avenue, E. C. Gramophone News. Intimation has been conveyed to gramophone dealers that hereafter the Senior Monarch, Monarch and Junior Monarch machines in mahogany will be sold at the same prices as the oak models. The most important news this month from the Gramophone Co. is the announcement of quite a new style machine called the "Pigmy" Grand. The novelty of this model is that there is no horn at all, excepting a very small aperture in the case through which the sound is carried. The "Pigmy" packs into a neat leather case measuring only 17 in. long, 15 in. high and 8 in. wide, and its compactness and portability renders it very suitable for picnics and boating parties. In fact, the "Pigmy" Grand undoubtedly fills the proverbial long-felt want for a really good summer selling line. Dealers should take full advantage of this opportunity to increase their returns. The new Gramophone celebrity list just issued contains some magnificent records by artistes who have obtained high positions in the La Scala opera at Milan. In the current list of ten and twelve-inch records, the company must be congratulated upon both the quality of the artistes and selections given, for this is unquestionably one of the best lists ever, "Evening Hymn and Last Post" (Makenzie Rogan), "Phoenician Dance" — Herodiade (Massenet), and "Amina Egyptian Dance" (Lincke), are splendidly recorded by the Band of H. M. Coldstream Guards; "La Paloma," a beautiful selection by Sousa's Band; Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar" is faithfully rendered by Evan Williams, as also is "On Wings of Song" (Mendelssohn). "The Pipes of Pan" (Elgar) is a lifelike record, by Frederic Austin, while of "Revenge" (Hatton) nothing could be more realistic than Robert Radford's rendition; "Softly Sighs," from Weber's great work "Der Freischuetz," receives sympathetic vocal treatment by Miss Perceval Allen; "Best of All," by Madame Jones-Hudson; while another good record is "Ah! Rendami quel core" (Rossi), sung by Miss Alice Lakin. The Whitney Quartet give a wellbalanced rendition of "Hail! Smiling Morn." George Edwards latest continental musical piece, "The Dollar Princess," cannot be heard to better advantage than the three gramophone records by The Dollar Princess operatic party. So good are these records that it is safe to say the success of the theatrical production of this musical comedy will be considerably enhanced thereby. "I Used to be Afraid to Go Home in the Dark," a good comic by Billy Murray. One of the most interesting talking records issued is that by Cyril Maude, the great actor, who records a speech on behalf of the Actors' Benevolent Fund; the Gramophone Co. are giving a royalty of 6d. on every record sold toward the fund. An excellent piano solo, "Prelude and Fugue in C Sharp," is given by Herr Wilhelm Backhaus, while one of the best 'cello records we have heard is "Mmuetto," by Hugo Becker. Other good records are: "The Electric Polka" piccolo, Eli Hudson; "Larghetto," by the famous Renard Trio, and the famous old song, "Cherry Ripe," is whistled by Charles Capper. Will Not Drop Queenstown. The Postmaster-General has refused to drop Queenstown as a port of call for the Lusitania and Mauretania on their outward voyages to New York, and thus make a saving of ten to twelve hours in the voyage. Selfridge's Line of "Talkers." Selfridge's great American store in Oxford street, as may be expected, have a complete range of gramophones, and stock Irvin, Gramophone and Zonophone records in large numbers. They feature these goods effectively in their advertising announcements, making special mention of the daily demonstrations by means of hearing tubes, which from all accounts is highly successful and much appreciated by their customers. Such an innovation might with advantage be adopted by other dealers, for it is originality The Best Disc In the World The Largest and Most Comprehensive Repertoire in German Croatian Siamese English Bohemian Abyssinian French Grecian Tamil Italian Arabian Malayian Russian Turkish Burmese Polish Chinese: H industanee: Spanish Swatow Urdu Portuguese Guakau Marathi Hungarian Pekinese Gujarathl Dutch Shansinese Hindi Danish Kiangnanese Tarsi, and 1 Jewish Cantonese other dialects. Roumanian Japanese REPERTOIRE ALWAYS UP-TO-DATE For terms, etc., apply to Beka Record, G.m.b.H., 75-76 Heidelberger Strasse, Berlin Sole Agents for British India, Ceylon and Burma: THE TALKING MACHINE & INDIAN RECORD COMPANY 15 Elphinstone Circle, FORT, BOMBAY Sole Agent for Great Britain and Ireland : O. RUHL, 77 City Road, LONDON, E. C.