The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 7 prices, in order to raise funds, values would have crumbled and the industry would have gone temporarily to pieces under the shock. We may as well look at things exactly as they are, hut because there were enforced rules governing the talking machine situation it was saved and it is on a splendid foundation to-day and there is no good reason why the men whose interests lie in this industry should not materially advance during the New Year. They will, if good common sense is applied to the conduct of business, supported by energy and progressiveness which is necessary in all lines to achieve success. Certainly, manufacturers have been exploiting, and are to-day showing up the qualities of the talking machine to millions of readers in great advertising space in leading periodicals. Now, all this is helpful to the trade, but it must be supplemented by the right kind of work on the part of the retail selling forces. Trade to-day in all lines is not easily gained. Competition is too keen, and unless men are fully awakened to the necessity of improving to the utmost possibilities which lie 'round about them, they will be lost. Now, every man in the talking machine trade should bend his energies to the end that the New Year may be made profitable and thereby happy. HENRY F. MILLER AND THE VICTOR. The Famous Boston Piano House Devoting a Special Department to the Victor Talking Machine — An Important Acquisition to the Victor Line of Representatives. The announcement in our Boston letter last month that the Henry F. Miller & Sons Piano Co. are handling the Victor talking machine marks the addition of a very important house to the line of progressive piano dealers who have taken on this instrument. The Miller & Sons Co. have always maintained the most dignified methods in the conduct of their business. Their aims are always artistic, and in taking on the Victor they pay a decided compliment to the artistic standing of this creation, which has won a tremendous vogue, owing to the merits of the instrument itself, and to the great line of artists in both vocal and instrumental fields who can be heard through this medium. The Victor Victrola is being strongly featured by the Miller house, and the department is in capable hands. Both parties interested are to be congratulated on this important move. MUSICAL MOTOR HORN. Some Reflections on Its Possibilities as a Musical Creation. The possibilities of the musical motor horn are many, and one may readily expect further developments. Like the professor of music whose ear rebelled against an unresolved discord, a fact of which his pupils took advantage at every possible opportunity for the pleasure of seeing him return to the pianoforte and play the resolution, one puts in a plea for the motor horn which shall give us the sequel to the tale begun, a tale, however, which only Wagnerians can appreciate. Every such person knows the force of the triad of E minor, which introduces Brunnhilde's awakening in "Siegfried," and which is used again in a flat key at the opening of "Die Gotterdammerung." This chord is sounded forcibly enough toy certain motor horns, too forcibly for the "Ring" enthusiast, who longs for the succeeding harmony, which his imagination but lamely supplies. As a matter of fact there are two kinds of musical horns now in use, the melodic as well as the harmonic. For the latter, one might suggest the sounding of the chord of the augmented fifth, two major thirds that is, the curious chord which enharmonic-ally remains the same in all inversions, and by its frequent use by modern French composers has become seemingly the peculiar property of that school. To the majority of people it is still strange enough to make a sufficiently arresting and warning signal. For the melodic horn the counterpart would be the notes of the tonal scale ; five at least of the six •would be necessary to get the most old effects and, with such, many peculiar changes would result of an out-of-tune kind, again sufficient to clear the road effectually, one would think. and records. The department will be in charge of Theodore Terlinden, who held the same position with the Denver Music Co. for some years. 9,000 THINGS EDISON WON'T DO. PAYNE & CO. OPEN IN LITTLE ROCK. Head of the Firm an Experienced Talking Machine Man — Will Handle the Victor and Columbia Products in That City. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Little Rock, Ark., Jan. 3, 1910. Payne & Co. is the title of a new talking machine concern, which opened for business in this city recently wth a full line of Victor and Columbia machines and records. The members of the firm are E. S. Payne, formerly manager of the graphophone department of the Hollenberg Music Co. for the past five years, who is president and general manager, and George Danaher, who is vice-president and secretary. The store, which is located at 709 Main street, is handsomely fitted up, and the new company should succeed in building up an excellent following, as Mr. Payne is one of the oldest talking machine men in the way of experience in this section of the country. He has devoted his entire time and attention to this end of the business for the past ten years. Mr. Edison is still busy with his new storage battery which he claims will solve the traction question. In his experiments with these batteries, says the Bookkeeper, Mr. Edison has had men at work for years with a patience unparalleled. More than half a ton of reports on experiments with batteries have toeen made. Two of his best men had to give up the work because of its unending monotony to save themselves from a nervous breakdown. The work was continued night and day for more than three years, and more than 9,000 experiments were made without obtaining the results which Mr. Edison wanted. A visitor to whom this was told exclaimed: "Then all those experiments were practically wasted?" "Not at all," said Mr. Edison, "I now know 9,000 things not to do." MEYERS WITH MINNESOTA PHONO. CO. TO HANDLE TALKERS IN DENVER. The new T. P. Pattison Music Co., Denver, Col., will, besides handling an extensive line of pianos, also conduct a large talking machine depal tment, carrying Victor and Edison machines W. L. Meyers, who, for the twenty years past, has been the buyer and advertising manager of the T. M. Roberts Co., Minneapolis, Minn., has resigned and located himself with the Minnesota Phonograph Co., and in the future will act as the sales manager for this concern. This undoubtedly will be a great surprise to the small goods musical merchandise brokers, owing to the fact that Mr. Meyers has purchased many thousands of dollars in small goods and accessories. He has cast his lot with Laurence H. Lucker, and no doubt* with his assistance Mr. Lucker will have a valuable man, as Mr. Meyers understands the mercantile business thoroughly and is quite well versed in the advertising line. won ( you Have a Lesson in Spanish? It's so easy to learn by the I. C. S. system — and a knowledge of Spanish is so useful nowadays. The I. C. S. system of language instruction by means of the phonograph makes easy the mastering of a foreign language, and appeals with compelling power to thousands. The dealer in phonographs that does not carry I. C. S. Language Outfits is neglecting a quick and sure way to increase his business. The new $35 Language Outfit of the I. C. S. is a marvel. It represents the highest art in the teaching of languages, and embodies a method that has won the warmest praise of thousands qualified to speak authoritatively. The Spanish, French, and German Embassies at Washington, as well as the leading colleges, have cordially indorsed the I. C. S. method of teaching languages. The I. C. S. Language Outfit consists of an Edison Gem Phonograph made especially for language work; small horn; headband hearing tube; oil can; and 25 Conversational Records teaching pronunciation guaranteed to be absolutely correct, with native intonation and inflection. In addition to these Conversational Records there are pamphlet Instruction Papers teaching the theory of the languages. The new Outfit is at one and the same time the best and cheapest ever offered — the price being only $35. If you want to increase your business, write today for full particulars. International Correspondence Schools Box 918, Scranton, Pa.