The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

18 THE T A-LlvlJN G MAClll.NJh: WORLD. FROM OUR LONDON HEADQUARTERS— (Continued.) catalogs and terms of trading, for there are wonderful sale possibilities in these instruments, of which, by the way, no less than 27 distinct models are listed! Alex. Hesse Optimistic Over Business. A short, interesting chat recently with Alex Hesse, one of J. E. Hough's -several travelers, revealed this fact — that despite trade disputes, laboi troubles, etc., talking machine business is remarkably healthy throughout the country. Modestly discounting any credit due to himself, Mr. Hesse reports that Edison-Bell goods are very popular with dealers, because they sell on merit alone. He is particularly optimistic of the results of his recent visit to Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Birmingham, Staffs, etc., in which towns some nice orders " were secured. The Qualities of the "Flex" Diaphragm. Considered from every point of view the "Flex" diaphragm is certainly one of the most satisfactory lines a dealer can handle this season. Its tone quality is powerful and sweet, and it sells at a reasonable price, providing, too, good profit to the dealer. The '"Flex" is well and favorably known in England, while in foreign countries it is regarded very favorably. Daws Clarke is prepared to receive applications for agencies where not represented,, and being assured that the "Flex" is one of those selling lines of least resistance, my readers should certainly take advantage of this opportunity. The latest Indian recruit is Sen & Sen, who, I am told, are doing a very good trade with "Flex" diaphragms throughout the chief centers of that Empire. Wireless Lighting. From Copenhagen comes a report of Valdemar Poulsen's successful experiment of his latest startling discovery — wireless lighting. While his assistant stood in one room holding two incandescent lamps the inventor went to another room and placed his transmitting apparatus in position. On pressing the two contacts the lamps were lighted and extinguished as by magic, for there was no connection of any kind between the apparatus and the lamps. How the Dealer Is Helped. The dealer is a much pampered man these days. Not only do the manufacturers (some of them) spend large amounts of money in advertising to the public, all for the benefit of the dealer — creating his trade, in fact — supply liberal quantities of publicity literature, show cards, etc., and arrange and pay for concerts, but must even now relieve him of all worry and responsibility in regard to devising ideas and selling schemes ! Really, Mr. Dealer, you are of a privileged class.. Nothing to 'do but take the money, and in that, perhaps, you'll soon want some assistance. No? Well, I believe you. But seriously, despite such valuable assistance, there is much you can do locally in the direction of advertising and other means of getting into touch with the prospective buyers of your immediate neighborhood. If only the healthful and enterprising example of such firms as the Gramophone Co. can rouse and stimulate your activity and enthusiasm in the direction of making a special effort this season to create a record turnover, then such liberality of press advertising, and such helpful assistance as they offer you, will not have been made in vain. New Edison Amplifying Reproducer. One of the coming Edison innovations is a new amplifying reproducer having a somewhat larger diaphragm than the present model. It will play both the 100 and 200-thread records, and is said to increase the volume without loss of detail and sweetness of tone. More anon. An Enterprising Sales Scheme. One of the most enterprising sales schemes I have heard of came under my notice recently. Keys, the well-known North London dealers, are out to push Edison goods all the time, and their latest publicity idea is certainly worthy of mention here, because, apart from its example to other dealers, it represents a degree of merit and origi nality seldom met with this side of the water, anyway. Their plan was to stock up a cartload of Edison "Fireside" instruments and plenty of nice records, and deliver an outfit to good-class residents in various districts. No charge or obligation to purchase was made, and the goods were collected after three days' trial. Backed with good literature, etc., the scheme proved very satisfactory. And you may be certain those who did not purchase will receive an appropriately worded letter in due course. A very commendable idea ! Van Allen Shield? on Copyright Question. Over the name of Mr. Van Allen Shields, of the Columbia Co., a very interesting letter upon the copyright question recently appeared in the Times newspaper. After dealing very exhaustively with the pros and cons of the situation, Mr. Shields' letter winds up with the following : " 'Compulsory license' is only one of the thorny problems that crop up when this question of musical copyright as applicable to mechanical players, is considered. The amount of royalty to be paid, the manner of its collection, the prevention of double royalties on records exported, the rightto use the text when words and music are reproduced, and the right of adapting compositions for reproduction are some others. It is to be hoped that when Parliament comes to deal with the subject it will give full and careful consideration to all these matters. The evidence taken by the copyright committee should be of material assistance. Nevertheless the bill introduced just before the adjournment is silent on the point of 'compulsory license,' and apparently leaves much to be desired so far as direct and illuminating references to the other knotty questions of a difficult subject are concerned." In view of the near reassembling of Parliament and the influential character of the Times newspaper, Mr. Shields' timely letter is almost certain to have come under the notice of the Parliamentary promoters of the bill, and it is perhaps not too much to expect that his reasonable remarks may exert some influence upon the situation. ROYAL APPRECIATION of the j Gramophone To H. M. the KING OF ITALY BY APPOINTMENT To H. M. the QUEEN MOTHER To T. M. the KING and QUEEN OF SPAIN HIS MASTER'S VOICE H. H. the KHEDIVE OF EGYPT THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, Ltd. 21 CITY ROAD, LONDON To H. M. the SHAH OF PERSIA FRANCE . . Cie. Francaise du Gramophone, 15 Rue Bleue, Paris GERMANY . Deutsche Grammophon-Aktien Gesellschaft, 36 Ritterstrasse, Berlin ITALY . . . Compagnia Italiana del Grammofono, Via S. Prospero 5, Milan EGYPT . . The Gramophone Co., Ltd,, 13 Rue Stamboul, Alexandria SCANDINAVIA Skandinavisk Grammophon Aktieselskab, Frihavnen, Copenhagen Appelbergsgatan 52, Stockholm RUSSIA . SPAIN INDIA The Gramophone Co., Ltd., Krasnaja Ploschjad ; Mittlere Handels Reihen 312-322, Moscow Fontanka 58, Petersburg Also branches at Riga, Kharkoff, Rostoff, Omsk, Tiflis Cie. Francaise du Gramophone, 56 Balmes, Barcelona The Gramophone Co., Ltd., 139 Belleaghatta Road, Calcutta