The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1911)

24 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. DEATH OF THOMAS H. MACDONALD. Passing of the Consulting Engineer of the American Graphophone Co. Sincerely Regretted— Inventor of Renown in Talking Machine Industry — Sketch of His Interesting Career — Walter P. Phillips' Tribute. In the death of Thomas Hood Macdonald, director, consuhing engineer and chief of the experimentation bureau of the American Graphophone Co., the talking machine industry suffers the loss of one of its brightest and braniest exponents, both from an inventive and progressive standpoint. Mr. Macdonald's death occurred at his home at 1590 Fairfield avenue, Bridgeport, Conn., Sunday', December third. He was first taken ill in January last, but at that time it vi^as not deemed anything of a serious nature and he soon recovered sufficiently to continue his work, and in April of last year he made an extensive business trip through the West. Returning from this trip he was taken very ill in Chicago in June, and his family, who were in Europe, were cabled for. He recovered sufficiently to be brought home. His physicians, Drs. C. C. Godfrey and D. M. Trecartin, advised an operation and this was performed THOMAS HOOD MACDONALD. by Dr. William Mayo, one of the most eminent surgeons of the country. Apparently it was successful and Mr. Macdonald returned to Bridgeport apparently much better. In August he suffered a serious relapse and for a few days his life was despaired of, but he rallied, and hopes of recovery were again entertained. Since August, however, he has been a very sick man, and required constant care. The best that medical science could do was invoked, but the malady had obtained too strong a hold. A short time ago he suffered another relapse, and since then had been steadily sinking, although he retained consciousness and suffered little pain. Even the preceding Saturday he recognized those about him, and seemed very cheerful. The end of his long illness came peacefully and he passed quietly away surrounded by the members of his family. Mr. Macdonald was one of the best known men of Bridgeport, and his death is a decided loss to the city, for during his residence there of about 20 years he was ever watchful of its interests, took a full share of the burdens of the government of the city, served in a number of official positions, and several times was urged to become the candidate of the Republican party for mayor. During his twenty years with the American Graphophone Co. Mr. Macdonald contributed many inventions which are almost the foundations of the fortune of the company. Among these were the gold moulded records, the first device for the moulding of duplicate wax records, and which enabled the production of records in almost unlimited numbers. He also perfected the Graphophone grand, for which achievement he was awarded a certificate of merit from the Franklin Institute. To him also belongs the credit of applying a spring as motive power to a phonograph. He is also credited with contributing materially to the perfection of the disc record, now so familiar,, and which also opened up a wide field of usefulness for the graphophone. Mr. Macdonald was recognized by all as an authority in the making and use of talking machines, and ranked as one of the foremost men in his field. In 1909 he was relieved of the charge of the factory of the American Graphophone Co., was made a director of the company and appointed consulting engineer and chief of the experiment bureau. Thomas H. Macdonald was born near Marysville, Cal., July 25, 1859, and lived in that place until he became a young man. He attended the public schools of that place, and after a year at sea he was graduated from the Napa county normal school and taught for a time. Afterward he entered the army and in a short time was transferred to Washington, where he served under the surgeon-general of the army and studied medicine. It was in Washington that he met Sophie Bild, and they were married in that city in 1891. Previous to his marriage, however, in 1888, he became connected with the North American Phonograph Co., at the time when talking machines were first coming into vogue. After two years with that company he went to Bridgeport, Conn., and cast his fortune with the American Graphophone Co., which he continued to serve in various capacities until his death. Mr. Macdonald was an enthusiastic yachtsman and was the means of heralding the name of Bridgeport around the world when he built a challenger for the Seawanhaka cup, held then, 1902, in Canada. A number of boats were built, and the trial races were held off the Bridgeport Yacht Club, of which Mr. Macdonald was at the time commodore. After a series of races lasting over several days the boat built by Mr. Macdonald, the Tecumseh, was selected by the committee as the challenging boat. The races were held in Canada, but unfortunately the Tecumseh did not win, although she made a good showing under the conditions of the race. For three years Mr. Macdonald was president of the Long Island Yacht Racing Association, commodore of the Bridgeport Yacht Club from 1902 to 1904, and was always prominent in water sports of all kinds. He was a member of and an ex-representative of the New York Yacht Club, and of the New York Athletic Club. In social circles he was prominent and exceedingly popular. An ex-president of the Algonquin Club, a past master of Corinthian Lodge, A. F. and A. M., past eminent commander of Hamilton Commandery, Knights Templar; past potentate of Pyramid Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason. He took a wholesome interest in all public questions and several times held important offices under the Bridgeport city government. Mr. Macdonald is survived by his wife, Mrs. Sophie Bild Macdonald ; a son, Russell Y., and a daughter, Miss Margaret Macdonald, and by several brothers and sisters in California. The funeral was conducted by Hamilton Commandery, Knights Templar, with the full ceremony, and was held from St. John's Episcopal Church, of which he was a member, Wednesday afternoon, December 6, at 2:30 o'clock. Hamilton Commandery attended in a body and other organizations of which he was a member were represented. A large delegation of officers and mmbers of the staff of the Columbia Phonograph Co., the employes of the American Graphophone Co., as well as other members of the talking machine trade were present. The interment was in Mountain Grove Cemetery at Bridgeport. A really touching tribute was paid the late Mr. Macdonald by his old friend and associate, Walter P. Phillips, in the Bridgeport Morning Telegram the day of his death. It was written in a warm, intimate, appreciative style, and was a history of 1911 Talking Machines, Typewriters, Phonographs, Dictaphones, Adding Machines, Cash Registers, Guns and Tools, and on all Polished Instruments. The finest Oil Made. You can see it's better at a glance and when you have once tried it you know that it has no equal. For polishing varnished woodwork it is extremely satisfactory. No oil is so clean ^^^^ Absolutely Prevents Rusf Sold Everywhere in Hardware Stores and other Progressive Places WILLIAM F. NYE NEW BEDFORD, MASS the life of Mr. Macdonald from his earliest days to his death. It was a scholarly and graceful tribute that was worthy of the writer and of the man in whose honor it was written as may be judged from the opening and closing paragraphs herewith : "When Bayard Taylor died suddenly in Berlin in 1878, Thomas Bailey Aldrich, his life long friend, said in writing of his contemporary that he could not make it seem that he had passed onward. He finished his beautiful tribute with the lines : " 'But when the summer winds sweep over Cedarcroft He'll come again I cannot make him dead.' "I find myself sharing Mr. Aldrich's emotions when I attempt to realize that the angel of death has touched with his icy finger the strong valiant, powerfully endowed man who was with us, but yesterday and whom we shall not know again until we meet him face to face in the far beyond. Indeed T cannot make him dead.' "Thomas Hood Macdonald was a man of whom it might honestly be said as Colonel Ingersoll said, in Washington, in 1879, as he stood near the casket in which rested all that was mortal of his beloved brother Ebon : 'The loved and loving brother, husband, father, friend, died where manhood's morning almost touches noon and while the shadows still were falling toward the West. He had not passed on life's highway the stone that marks the highest point, but, being weary, for a moment, he lay down by the wayside and, using his burden for a pillow, fell into that dreamless sleep that kisses down his eyelids still. While yet in love with life and raptured with the world he passed to silence and pathetic dust. This brave and tender man, in every storm of life was oak and rock, but in the sunshine he was vine and flower. He was the friend of all heroic souls. He climbed the heights and left all superstitions far below while on his forehead fell the golden dawning of the grander day. He loved the beautiful and was with color, form and music touched to tears. With loyal heart and with the purest hands he faithfully discharged all public trusts. "But great as he was his most prominent characteristic was kindness. He was a natural follower in the footsteps of Matthew Arnold, the apostle of sweetness and light and his loss is something appalling to contemplate. Our only consolation is to say in reverent and submissive tones: 'It is God's way; His will not ours be done.' " A method of preventing the raising of checks, which it is claimed is effective, is to place a piece of double-faced copying carbon paper against the back of the check, insert both in a typewriter iwhich has a copying ribbon and typewrite the check. The amount will be printed on both the front and back of the check. Any attempt to change the figures will soil the paper and disclose the criminal act.