The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1911)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 23 1 GRESHAM BUILDINGS, BASINGHALL STREET, LONDON, E. C, W. LIONEL STURDY, MANAGER. Business Keeps Up in a Manner Satisfactory to Factors and Retailers — Wfiere Enterprising Man Wins Out — New National Phonograph Co. Productions — Will Not Record Coronation Address — The Copyright Bill Now a Topic of Interest — Musical Instrument Traders Meet to Discuss Exhibition Plan — Carl Lindstrom and Beka Record Co. Make Excellent Report for 1910 — Gramophone Lose in Appeal to House of Lords While National Phonograph Co. Win Their Appeal— The New Record List Reviewed — New Exchange Scheme Introduced by Pathe Freres — Some Attractive Columbia-Rena Records — The International Musical Congress— New Gramophone Booklet — One Frenchman Who Fell Down — Getting Clo.se to the Continent — Recording Cries of Street Hawkers — Sheffield Choir to Make Tour of the World — The Trade Happenings in the Provinces — The Talking Machine as an Aid to Study of Modern Languages — Other News. (Special to the Talking Machine World.) London, E. C, March 1, 1911. Things here in the talking machine industry have been decidedly good this last week or so, and business continues to hold up satisfactorily. True, sales have not an upward tendency; it is hardly to be expected, perhaps, at this particular time of the year, but of one thing there is sure evidence, and it is that talking machine trade in bulk is very considerably ahead of even time last season. Signs are not wanting, too, of a prolongation of the period usually ascribed to the season proper, without doubt to a great extent due to the sustained activity of certain manufacturers in the advertising field, one efifect of which has been to arouse renewed interest among some of the talking machine distributers in the cycle trade section. And while many of the latter class of dealers have allowed interest and energy to lag, others of a more enterprising nature — and who shall say but what they are not on the increase? — are stimulated by the vitality of the manufacturers to maintain at least some semblance of concrete effort in the "selling" direction — more especially, perhaps, in records. But the real reason of this prolonged trade activity is in part found in the ever-increasing and more desirable class of distributor, to wit, musical instrument dealers, in whose hands we have confidence that a proper regard to the requirements of talking machine trading is best exhibited. In some regard the future prosperity of this industry is centered in the exercise of musical knowledge applied to record salesmanship, and if only for this reason, the handling of talking machine goods by the musical instrument dealer should be assiduously cultivated ; not necessarily to the entire exclusion of the cycle section, for, while faults may be found, the fact remains that they are responsible for an enormous turnover each year. Like it or not, we can scarcely dispense with this channel of trade, and who knows but what after all the muchmaligned cycle man will reform? Treat him well, introduce more frequent exchange schemes, and it is possible the error of his price-cutting ways may in time be revealed to him. National Phonograph Co. Plans. From time to t'me reference has been made in these columns to certain new Edison productions which the National Phonograph Co. intend putting on the market in the near future, but detailed information is still withheld for reasons which must be fairly obvious to my readers. In common with ourselves the factors and many dealers are more or less acquainted with an idea as to the nature of these goods, and it is generally agreed that the company are exercising a wise discretion in. withholding the news from the public until such time as sufficient stock is on hand to meet the big demand expected immediately the company make known their proposition. One thing the National people will shortly put into effect is a new plan to increase the sale of combination attachments with a view to stimulating the Amberol record sales. To successfully launch the proposition the company require information as to the exact number of attachments dealers and factors have in stock, and as soon as this information is tendered the scheme will go ahead quickly. More anon. Will Not Publish Coronation Address by Gramophone. The King has decided not to publish his coronation address to the people by means of the gramophone, more's the pity. Model O Reproducers for Concert Types. Owing to the success of the model O reproducer, the National Phonograph Co. have advised the trade that they will now issue it for the concert type of phonograph. Anent the Copyright Bill. Little information is available as to the actual late upon which the Copyright bill will be introduced, but it is expected to be dealt with during the present Parliamentary session. G. R. Askwith, of the Board of Trade, advises me that in accordance with the usual practice, the fact that the bill passed through one or more stages in the previous Parliament will not exempt it from the necessity of passing through all stages in the present Parliament. During the remainder of the session now in force government business only is to be legislated upon, so that a first reading of the Copyright bill will not be long deferred. Whether or not amendments are contemplated it is impossible to glean with any certainty. Clause 24, par. (D) of the bill published last year provides that "the sole right of making and authorizing the making of records, perforated rolls, or other contrivances by means of which literary, dramatic, or musical works may be mechanically performed shall not be enjoyed by the owner of the copyright in any literary, dramatic, or musical work for the mechanical performance of which any such contrivances have been lawfully made within the parts of His Majesty's dominions to which this act extends by any person before the 26th day of July, 1910." The latter date was probably fixed in expectation of the bill passing into law about that time, and it is a matter of common knowledge of how the delay in getting it through the necessary Parliamentary stages finally resulted in its entire suspension for the time being. Then came the dissolution of the 1910 Parliament in November, and with it, of course, all chance of the bill becoming law that year vanished. Under the circumstances we may, therefore expect the Copyright bill to carry certain amendments, not the least of which will probably be an extension of the aforesaid date to July, 1911, when the bill may pass into law. In one clause of the Copyright bill it is expressly stated that authors will not be assigned under the act any retrospective rights in the matter of the mechanical reproduction of their copyright compositions which shall have been lawfully done before the act comes into force. Whether or not this will actually apply in the Copyright bill shortly to be reintroduced in Parliament is a question which only future events can determine. Discuss Music Trades Exhibition. At the invitation of F. W. Bridges, a representative meeting of musical instrument traders was recently convened at the Holborn Restaurant to discuss the advisability of holding a Music Trades Exhibition. Among those present were : W. H. Green (the Gramophone Co., Ltd.), H. J. Cullum (Cullum & Best), and H. H. Glaussent (Pathe Freres), in addition to a large number of pianoforte manufacturers. After discussion, the following resolution, proposed by Mr. Cullum and seconded by Mr. Wood, was carried unanimously : "That in view of the fact that F. W. Bridges has decided to organize an International Pianoforte and Music Trades Exhibition, for the trade only, AFTER MARCH 25 THE LONDON OFFICE OF THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD WILL BE LOCATED AT 1 GRESHAM BUILDINGS, BASINGHALL St., E. C. at the Royal Agricultural Hall, from August 14 to 19, next, the entire responsibility and liability for which will be undertaken by himself, all at this meeting hereby form themselves into an honorary advisory trades council, with power to add to their number, with the object of co-operating with the organizer in order that the exhibition may be thoroughly representative and of the greatest benefit to the pianoforte and music trades generally." An executive committee was then elected. Such an exhibition should afford profitable scope for talking machine manufacturers to get into direct touch with the best class of musical instrument dealers, and we trust they will not neglect this favorable opportunity. The hall is admirably situated for the purpose, easy of access from all parts of London, and there is every reason to feel that the time chosen — August — is very suitable, in view of the fact that it is the month when provincial dealers can best afford the time for a trip to London. Mr. Bridges has organized similar exhibitions in the past, and in his hands we have no doubt but what the one in prospect will prove highly successful. Carl Lindstrom's Excellent Report. Carl Lindstrom's balance sheet for 1910 has just been published, and fully indicates the remarkable progress of talking machine trade in general, and of Lindstrom machine sales in particular. The year's figures show an increased turnover of over 50 per cent, against the previous year, and the number of employes has increased in the same proportion. The actual figures are 6,520,000 marks gross turnover, as against 4,035,000 in , 1909, the gross profit amounting to 1,600,541 marks. After allowing 838,.871 marks for working expenses and writing off 209,000 marks for machinery, patents, etc., and placing 629,750 marks to reserve, the net profit available for dividend amounts to 575,754 marks. The dividend declared is 20 per cent. These figures speak for themselves; and we congratulate Messrs. Lindstrom upon a very successful year. Beka Record Co. Have Good Year. A similar satisfactory report is to hand from the Beka Record Co. This concern, it will be remembered, absorbed the Fritz Puppel Talking Machine Co. during the year, and they in turn were STROH VIOLS VIOLIN, VIOLA, ETC. The mellow and matured tone of these instruments, which are constructed largely of aluminum, yet possess none of the characteristics of the gramophone or wind instrument, is only one of its many points which are fully set out in an illustrated booklet which will be mailed free on request to One String Fiddle the sole makers. GEO. EVANS 94 Albany St. V/V/« London, Eng. OR in U. S. A. to their sole representatives Oliver Ditson Co, 150 Tremont Street BOSTON NEW YORK and PHILADELPHIA Violin