The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1912)

26 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. adopted a rubber cloth cover to save space. A pneumatic desk device is provided for starting and stopping the machine several feet away with the fingers. Detachable support arms are connected to the steel cabinet with a universal friction joint, holding either the flexible speaking tube or the steel dictating horn, which allows the hands to be free; the support arms are also desirable to elevate the tube or horn similar to an adjustable telephone bracket. The pedestal, however, is recommended wherever floor space will permit. It is made so as to "knock-down," the top and middle platforms detaching from tongues in the legs. The middle platform is convenient for holding the cylinders and rack. When the cabinet is placed on the pedestal top a steel strip projects over the molding to prevent any tendency to tipping when the top of the machine is raised. The steel cabinet is hinged at the back to allow convenient examination of the mechanism under the machine, and handles are provided on the sides. While these features have made the cabinet more expensive to manufacture, the manufacturers believe they are necessary and will be appreciated as essential parts of good design. In this age, when economy in time and "service" are the dominant factors in commercial life, the Edison business phonograph is playing a very important part. GREAT ADJECTIVES! Workman's Ode from Edison's "Lab" Is Truly I nspired. In Thomas A. Edison's library at Llewellyn Park hangs one of the inventor's cherished possessions. It is a piece of white cardboard on which is printed an "Ode to the Horseless Carriage.'' There was discussion a while ago as to the inventor's greatest creation, and one of the workmen at the "lab" deemed Edison's greatest his batteries for the "horseless carriage." At once behold the ode prized by Mr. Edison : Noiseless and odorless, safe and reliable, Gentle and tractable, docile and pliable, Perfectly fearless and free from duplicity, Easily managed, run by "Electricity." Gliding along through the country's cool byways, Traversing safely the city's broad highways, Ready and willing, stylish and beautiful, Always responding, faithful and dutiful, Simple of parts, so a child can manipulate, No special requirements that one needs to stipulate, Meeting the wants of a restless humanity, The very perfection of reason and sanity, Adapted to pleasure as well as utility, No restrictions to limit its great versatility, The perfection and type of amodern miracle — There is none can surpass the electric vehicle. SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT. Success is in the blood. There are men whom Fate can never keep down — they march jauntily forward and take by divine right the best of everything that earth affords. They do not lie in wait, nor scheme, nor fawn, nor seek to adapt their sails to catch the breeze of popular favor. Still, they are ever alert and alive to any good that may come their way, and when it comes along they simply appropriate it. and, tarrying not, move steadily on. Good health ! Whenever you go out of doors draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high and fill the lungs to the uttermost ; drink in the sunshine; greet your friends with a smile, and put soul into every handshake. Keep your mind on the great and splendid things you would like to do, and then, as the days go gliding by, you will find yourself unconsciously seizing upon the opportunities that are required for the fulfilment of your desire, just as the coral insect takes from the running tide the elements that it needs. Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you desire to be. and the thought you hold is hourly transforming you into that individual. Thought is supreme, and to think is often better than to do. Preserve a right mental attitude— the attitude of courage, frankness and good cheer. To think rightly is to create. We become like that on which our hearts are fixed. Many people know this, but they do not know it thoroughly enough so that it shapes their lives. We want friends, so we scheme and chase 'cross lots after strong people and lie in wait for good folks — or alleged good folks — hoping to attach ourselves to them. The only way to secure friends is to be one. And before you are fit for friendship you must be able to do without it. That is to say, you must have sufficient self-reliance to take care of yourself, and then out of the surplus of your energy you can do for others. BUSY TIMES IN SAN FRANCISCO. Talking Machine Business for December Broke All Records — Outlook for New Year Reported to Be Most Auspicious — New Model Edison Phonograph "The Opera" Highly Praised — New Stores and Changes — While Call for the Popular Priced Hornless Machines Was Enormous, the Higher Priced Victrolas, Grafonolas and Arrrberolas Were Greatly in Demand — Other News of Interest. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, Cal., Jan. 6, 1912. A. R. Pommer, manager of the Pacific Phonograph Co., 818 Mission street, states that the talking machine business of his firm was better in December than in any other month in the history of the concern. November was a dull month, and in view of that fact a restricted holiday trade was naturally expected ; yet it seems that the retailers were merely delaying their Christmas orders to the last moment. Business at the first of December opened with a rush and kept up right along. Some inconvenience was experienced through delays in shipments caused by the railroads, but on the whole the trade of both jobbers and retailers was handled most satisfactorily. The Pacific Phonograph Co. has just received a new model Edison phonograph called the "Opera," which is said to be the finest instrument yet made by the Edison Co. Already a big demand has sprung up on the Coast for the new machine. This machine has 50 per cent, less working parts than any of the older models, and has an automatic stop. By the first of March, Mr. Pommers says, the long-promised Edison disc machine will be put on the coast market. New Stores and Changes. Charles M. Miller has succeeded to the talking machine business of Tormey & Co. at Chico, Cal. A. J. Harvey, the phonograph dealer at Chico, Cal., has sold out his business to Schindler & Schuler. F. W. Medlin, of Riverbank, Cal., has opened a talking machine business in Riverbank. Miss Delia B. Rogers, .of Hughson, Cal., has just opened a phonograph agency. A new phonograph agency has been opened at Patterson, Cal., by J. W. Kerr. Embarks on Sea of Matrimony. Miss Margaret Russell, of the office force of the Pacific Phonograph Co., San Francisco, is the latest member of the local talking machine fraternity to hazard the perils of matrimony. Heavy Victrola Business. Peter Bacigalupi & Sons, the Market street jobbers of talking machines, report a very good holiday trade. With them the Victrolas sold ahead of anything else. Mr. Ackerman, manager of the Edison business phonograph department of the company, has just received a shipment of'the new Edison steel cabinet machines, which embody all the latest improvements in this class of instrument. The company will inaugurate a special selling campaign after the first of the year for the business phonographs. Large Increase in Business. The business of the talking machine, department of Benjamin Curtaz & Son has trebled during December, says Mr. Curtaz. By special advertising and modern store methods this firm has succeeded in landing a big share of the local business. Frank L. Sharp, formerly manager of the Kohler & Chase talking machine department, is now the manager of the department of Benjamin Curtaz & Son in the place of W. Gardner, who resigned recently. Big Holiday Trade in Columbia Goods. Manager Wortley, of the talking machine department of Kohler & Chase, announces that the holiday trade in his department surpassed all records for the department in selling the Columbia phonographs. Due to the concerts held here by David Bispham and Kubelik, an extra interest was inspired in the Columbia records of these two artists. Among the best selling records at present time are "Oh, My Beautiful Doll," and "That Mysterious Rag." The best seller in phonographs for Kohler & Chase during the holidays was the Columbia Favorite, the $50 machine. Run Short of Stock. The Hauschildt Music Co. ran short on $15, $25. and $50 Victor machines during the rush last week. This company has just received a shipment of Salter record cabinets, for which there is a big demand. The talking machine department of the Wiley B. Allen Co. experienced its usual difficulty this month in not being able to get enough Victrolas from the factory to supply the demand. The talking machine business of this firm for the year, both in San Francisco and all their branch stores throughout the Coast territory, was much better than for 1910. Pianos Taken in Trade. W. S. Gray, Coast manager for the Columbia Phonograph Co., is very well satisfied with the extraordinary success of his company's machines in the Coast market. He says the number of pianos and other musical instruments being traded in at retail stores as part payment for high-class talking machines is something to marvel at. The Dictaphone trade is holding up well, despite the usual holiday lull in this class of business. After New Year's this branch of the business will pick up as it always does when business firms have laid out their plans for the year. Personal Items of Interest. H. C. Warden, formerly a phonograph dealer in Los Angeles, has been appointed manager for the Dictaphone in the Los Angeles territory. A. G. McCarthy, treasurer of Sherman, Clay & Co., reports an unusually fine holiday business in his talking machine department. This season the sale was especially large for the big types of machines. On December 17 A. G. McCarthy became the proud father of a nine-pound boy. L. F. Geissler, manager of the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., spent the holidays in California resting up and shooting ducks. J. S. Baley, of the Chicago house of Babson Bros., is now the manager of the local store. S. E. Babson, formerly in charge, is about to return East. THE SMILE THE KEY TO NATURE. A Study of the Various Permits of an Accurate Measure of the Man. Laughing and smiling are keys to human nature. Study a man's laugh, watch him smile, and you will know more about him than you could know by listening for hours to his talk. There are frank smiles, sour smiles, crafty smiles, cruel smiles, tired smiles, sickly smiles. Study them and learn to know them. Laughter describes character. The loud laugh sometimes does betray a vacant mind, but sometimes it tells of superabundant health or of another nationality. A laugh natural and pleasing in an African might surely indicate intoxication in a certain type of white man, and the charming laughter of Italy or Southern France might mean insanity in some cold Northern being. Remember also that smiles and laughter tell not only of different characters in different men, but tell also of the condition of the individual.