The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 17 FROM OUR LONDON HEADQUARTERS(Continued.) the second floor nicely arranged as recording rooms, while further up, on the top floor, is apportioned out the stock rooms, which, by the way, were crowded with machines, motors and accessories. I should have mentioned that for convenient handling of the records large racks have been fitted up on the ground floor. The premises are really two buildings in one, and though of spacious extent, there is little or no room to spare. Before leaving I had the pleasure of hearing a few of the new "Polyphon" records, the price of which has now been fixed at 2s. 6d. My impression is that the all-round quality of these discs is excellent. Great care had been taken in the recording, as was demonstrated by the clear enunciation of the vocal selections, and ol the instrumental — good volume and brilliancy. Next month I shall hope to give a list of titles and artists. Traders in all parts of the world should in the meantime send a card to the Klingsor Works for particulars. The Bankrupt British Sonogram Co. In giving notice of his intention to apply for release, H. Brougham, senior official receiver and liquidator, has sent me a statement of affairs to date, from which it is shown that according to the company's statement the assets should have realized £8,555 lis. Id. The actual receipts amount to only £334 5s. 4. Of this sum £149 17s. 3d. represents total costs of the liquidation; £11 12s., from claim for telephone charges, payable in full, £172 10s. lOd. among 10 preferential creditors — dividend of 16s. in the £ on £215 13s. lid., with balance 5s. 3d., makes a total of £334 5s. 4d. As stated in the official receiver's observations, the company never completed the purchase of the letters patent or the licsnse for the exclusive use of Hans Knudsen's recording machine, which stood at the valuation of £3,000 and £5,000, respectively, in the statement of affairs. These properties were not therefore available as assets in the liquidation. The result of the official receiver's investigation was reported to the court on December 4, 1908, when an order was made for the public examination of the directors. The evidence obtained disclosed grounds for claims against the directors, but as three of them Were impecunious and the address of the fourth could not be ascertained, it has not been possible to recover anything. As the amount realized is only sufficient to satisfy the costs and expenses and to pay a dividend of 16s. in the £ on the preferential claims, there is nothing for the unsecured creditois, and the official receiver proposes to close the liquidation, and thus ends one of the most novel attempts to introduce the co-operating system of trading in this industry. The idea was not entirely without merit, but as in other instances warped enthusiasm won the day against lack of sufficient capital, with the inevitable result — bankruptcy. Out of the ruins there shines a moral. May it act as a deterrent to others, for in the talking machine industry an important part of the foundation of success is an extremeiy long purse. Gramophone Publicity. In addition to their many publicity schemes for dealers, the Gramophone Co. show a persistent enterprise in advertising their goods through the medium of large spaces in the best newspapers. One does not expect to find manufacturers taking whole pages in June, the socalled off season, and it was therefore all the more a pleasure to see the whole front page of the Daily Mail— the paper with the largest circulation— occupied by the Gramophone announcement. The company evidently mean their agents to have a good time, and needless to say, Gramoprone sales are excellent. The next balance sheet will surely gladden the hearts of the shareholders. Special 10-Inch Rena Records. The Columbia Co. announce a special issue of a ten-inch Rena record of "Flanagan" and "Bridget McCue," two big song hits of the music hall stage, and which will no doubt figure prominently in the 1910-11 pantomimes. Desired Name Restored. A recent application in the courts had for its object the restoration to the register of the name of the Indestructible Record Co., Ltd. The registrar had struck out the name only after compliance with the regulations as to notices and publicity of the same in ths London Gazette. An order was made in the Palatine Court for the sale of the whole of the company's assets, consisting mainly ot American patents. The purchaser had difficulty in making good tht validity of the assignment, and the judge was asked to restore the name to the register so that the company could be wound up, and thus legalize the purchasers' title to the patents. An order was therefore made declaring valid the assignment of the patents. Gramophone Co. Gleanings. A new Gramophone needle outfit, comprising 2C0 each of the loud, medium and soft tones, has just been issued. In July the company promise to issue some wonderful new records by Mme. Melba, made by the new recording process. Foremost among manufacturers to support their agents in every possible way, the Gramophone Co. have just recently formulated an interesting little sales scheme which should prove of incalculable value to dealers at this time of the year. In a letter emphasizing the fact that summertime is Gramophone time, the eompar.;not only suggest but offer the practical means whereby dealers may respectfully approach possible would-be customers in their district. Tac t fully written specimen letters to send out, attractive window cards, booklets, and other forms, of publicity literature are all at the service of Gramophone agents free of charge. As a direct result of this liberal policy it is not surprising to learn that Gramophone business is progressive "all the time." The new monthly impressions— for July — comprise the usual variety of quality selections, and are as follows: By the Band of H. M. Coldstream Guards — 12-inch rec ords: "Falka," selection 2 (Chaissaigne) ; "Genevieve de Brabant," selection (Offenbach) ; and "Golden Legend," choral epilogue (Sullivan). Dance music — Iff's Orchestra, "'Way Down Colon Town" (Hoffmann) ; "La Petite Bonne Femme"; "The Girl in the Train," waltz (Leo Fall). 10-inch — Radio's Tzigane Orchestra, "The Girl in the Train," waltz (Leo Fall); "The Girl in the Train," march (Leo Fall); "The Girl in the Train," "On the Trail" (Leo Fall). 12-inch records — \ iennese Orchestra, "The Girl in the Train," selections 1 and 2 (Leo Fall). 10-;nch records — "Because" (Guy d'Hardelot), John Harrison; "Auld Lang Syne," Evan Williams; "I Hear You Calling Me" (Marshall), John McCormack; "Ho! Jolly Jenkins!" (Sullivan), Harry Dearth; "Come Over the Ferry," The Minster Singers; and "The Waterfall Polka" (Stobbs), xylophone, W. H. Reitz. 12inch records, "Rejoice Greatly" (Messiah) (Handel), Hubert F. G. Langley; "Swallows Waltz" (Del Acqua), Miss Lucy Marsh. A Subject of General Interest. A matter of great interest to traders generally cropped up in the courts the other day. Plaintiff, it appeared, posted a letter with a postal order enclosed for 7s. 6d., but somehow it miscarried in the mails, and was subsequently traced to defendant, who had accepted it bona fide from a person unknown in exchange for goods. In giving judgment for plaintiff, the magistrate said that it did not appear to him that any general practice had grown up to give postal orders tire character of negotiability, and that persons dealing with these orders as if they were cash should take note of the risk they ran in case the person from whom they were accepted should prove not to be the true owner, as in this instance. Louis Sier ing Visiting America. To the accompaniment of hearty good wishes from a host of friendly traders who were on the platform at Euston to bid him bon voyage, Louis Sterling^ British manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co., left for Liven ool to catch the boat sailing June 21 to the States. The northern factors, too, assembled in force to add their quota of wishes for a real good time. It is over seven years since Mr. Sterling saw his people, and his trip is therefore mainly private. But for all that he intends to look up his old friends in the trade, and it is more than probable a visit to Columbia headquarters at Bridgeport is contemplated. Mr. Sterling will make New York his h eadquarters, .and is expected to arrive home again in a month to six weeks' time. I join my friends in wishing him a speedy and safe return. Latest List of Rena Records. Some fine titles appear in the July list of Rena records, of which the following are characteristic: 12-inch — "Star of Love" (Tellier), and "Scenes That Are Brightest" (Wallace)-, violin, flute and harp trio; "Praeludium" (Jarnefelt), and "Chant Sans Paroles" (Tschaikowsky), Court Symphony Orchestra; "A Sergeant The Needle of To-day— The Needle of the Future An all-British Needle of the finest tone-reproducing quality, discovered after exhaustive laboratory tests in combining the correct extreme in hardness and flexibility. The whole product is British Sheffield Steel throughout. LOCK WOOD'S Largest English Talking Machine and Record Factors 43 City Road, LONDON, ENGLAND SOLE SHIPPERS CILLUM & BEST 91 Finsbury Pavement London, E. C. S\MPLES AS FOLLOWS (prepaid with order) 15,000 Needles carefully packed by Parcel Post lndta, Canada all Colonies except Australia, Rhodesia South America O. R. Colony and Elsewhere 18/ Sterling 20/ Sterling