The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1912)

34 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. LATEST VITAPHONE VOLUME DESCRIBES PRODUCTS. Six Styles of Vitaphones Illustrated and Described in Detail in New Catalog Issued in English and Which Follows Others Issued in Foreign Languages. "Xot living and breathing — but the same" is the introduction opposit; the title page of the new catalog recently issued by the Vitaphone Co., Plainheld. X. J., which aptly describes the new machines of this company in conjunction with the meaning of its name. This catalog is not a large one, as catalogs go, but for style and quality it ranks with the best. The cov:r is in two shades of green with gold and white stamping, while the printing of the text matter is in black and red. The foregoing catalog is for English speaking countries and is the first one issued for this country. Previous editions have b:en in foreign languages, being printed for the export trade. Six styles of Vitaphones are illustrated and described. The Vitaphone grand type No. 185 retails for $185 and is a big, magnificent machin:. This machine is furnished in mahogany, or quartered oak . with . choice of golden, early English, weathered, fumed, antique gun metal or Flemish. Interchangeable diaphragm connection, while either amplifier or 'horn may be used. This plays either needle or sapphire records. This type is equipped with an extra motor that can be wound while playing. The lower part of the cabinet has a filing capacity for 250 records, the entire cabinet beingfinished beautifully. Type No. 100 retails at $100. This is four feet high ; two feet deep ; 1 foot 8V2. inches wide and has a 12-inch turntable. Furnished in mahogany, golden oak and mission oak only. It presents a very clean-cut appearance. Type No. 75, retailing for $75, is along the same lines as style No. 100, only the design is more severe. It is created to fill the demands of those who wish a good talking machine at that price. For $50 retail, type No. 50 was designed. This machine has no record cabinet, but instead has a shelf where six record albums may be kept, with a capacity of 96 records. This machine has a teninch turntable, and is 3 feet 7 inches high; 1 foot 7 inches deep; 1 foot 5 inches wide. Furnished only in golden or mission oak. Type No. 15, retailing at $15, is the popular price Vitaphone. This is quite a little machine for the cost. It is furnished with an artistic flower horn at no extra cost. This machine plays both needle or sapphire records, and the spring motor can be wound while playing. Considerable space is devoted to Vitaphone needles, a peculiar spear pointed needle that is made especially for Vitaphone machines. Owing to this peculiar shape, any tone is secured, soft, medium or loud. Quite an extensive line of talking machine horns are illustrated and described on the last page, including Vitaphone solid wood horns, veneered and not veneered, Vitaphone solid spruce horns and Vitaphone wood pulp horns. The prices run up to $20 each retail. In the spread of the catalog, that is, the inside two pages, is an illustration of the Vitaphone reproducer, patented in United States and other countries, which is one of the mainstays of the Vitaphone itself. As taken from this brochure, below are several paragraphs which are of interest : "Why is the violin so sweet toned? Would it be so if made of metal? The answer is too obvious to require an answer. The wood arm of the Vitaphone is the result of many thousand experiments to determine the right kind of wood to use, 11. e proper length, the correct angle from diaphragm to record, and most important of all is the process by which it is treated. Carefully selected straight grain wood is placed into a caldron of chemicals and permitted to boil for a certain length of time. When taken from the solution, the fibre has been shrunk, every atom of moisture and air extracted and every pore permanently filled. By this exclusive Vitaphone method the vibrations of the record travel smoothly to the diaphragm where they become the life-like tones of nature. "Sound vibrates from 16 to S,192 times per second. Under this intense strain metal fatigues becomes tired as it were, but wood never seems to be so affected. Again, the older wood becomes the greater the resonance. It is because of that reason men pay fabulous sums for the Stradivarius violins, and the old wood pipes of cathedral organs are not to be purchased at any price. The Vitaphone stands unique as the only Talking Machine not relying upon metal vibratory parts, and which actually improves with age. "Another novel feature of the Vitaphone is the stationary sound box, rigidly fixed to its supporting frame and made of 'few and simple parts. This construction permits the use of a tension spring to maintain the necessary pressure holding the stylus in the groove of the record. Not ' carrying a floating sound box oscilating and tearing out the delicate wave-impressions, a record used on the Vitaphone lias a much longer life than is possible on any other talking machine. "Two different systems of recording are in vogue. One, the better known, has the sound-waves imprinted on the side of the groove, reqviiring a steel needle or other sharppointed stylus. In the other system, the sound-waves are at the bottom of the groove and a blunt-nosed jewel is necessary to bring out the reproduction. A traveling sound box must be in one position to play one record and reversed for the other; therefore, a certain amount of mechanical ability and considerable time is required to make the change. In some machines this is impossible to the average owner, while others supply at extra cost the necessary tools and parts. Here is an important and exclusive Vitaphone feature; neither time, tools nor ingenuity are required to change from one system of record to the Other, simply alter the position of the diaphragm spring, place the needle or jewel in the needle arm and the operation is complete. "Sound travels upwards, and in the cabinet Vitaphone this principal is taken advantage of by placing the amplifier, or sounding board, over the diaphragm and not under as hitherto customary. ".Much of the efficiency of the Vitaphone depends upon the spring motor, which rotates the record turntable. It must turn with unerring regularity in order to insure perfect tempo. It must maintain an even silent power until the last ounce of tension in the spring is exhausted, otherwise the stylus will drag on high notes and injure the tonal qualities of the reproduction. The Vitaphone motor meets every exacting requirement; it is simple and positive in every feature, and revolves absolutely uniform until the spring is entirely run down. Invented several years ago by the same master mind and patentee of the Vitaphone, it has been used with the greatest success in over a million tallying machines now on the market. "The housing of reproducer, motor, amplifier and connections in an artistic cabinet is a distinctive Vitaphone characteristic. The design conforms to mechanical ' requirements, and it is at the same time pleasing to the eye. The finish is polished and re-polished until it is the kind that, with ordinary care, lasts for generations." H. N. McMenimen, general manager, announces several small improvements in the general construction of the Vitaphone since this volume was published, and these improvements are now incorporated into all Vitaphones. EDISON BLUE AMBEROL RECORDS Score a Great Success at Wanamaker's and a Big Business Is Being Done with Them — Victor Business with This House Is Active. "This will be one of the greatest years in our department's history," states Harry B. Bertine, assistant manager of John Wanamaker's talking. machine department. "We are closing a record-breaking business each week and from present indications will have a banner holiday trade. Our chief difficulty is in securing sufficient goods to fill our orders, and this shortage is becoming more pronounced each day. Shipments from the Victor factory at Camden, N. J., are way behind the dates of our orders and we are severely handicapped by this lack of enough machines. ''One of the most pleasing features of our recent business has been the remarkable reception accorded the new Edison Blue Amberol records. People are asking for these records faster than we ever expected, and they all seem to be delighted with their wonderful tone, which is remarkably clear and brilliant. The enunciation of these records is very distinct, and we are looking forward to a heavy sale of the new records. "We have sold a very large number of No. XVI Victrolas, which sell at $200, and as a matter of fact our sales of this style have been greater than that of all the other models put together. Many of these sales have been in Circassian walnut cases, and the call for the higher priced products is rapidly growing. Another favorite is the No. XIV. Victrola, which sells for $150. Our .Victor records are selling fine, and there is a constantly increasing call for the November selections that were recent-" ly produced by the Victor Co. I hear nothing but words of commendation for the worthy features of the latest Victor records." GETTING THE MONEY. When you decide to close an account, make up your mind as to about how the debtor should be able to pay you, as regards dates and amounts, and go after the money accordingly. Don't let him forget he owes you. You will usually find that he is playing his talents as a slow payer against yours as a collector, and it all depends on your ability to extract money as to how long he will succeed in "stringing" you. Talking Machines, Typewriters, Phonographs, Adding Machines, Cash Registers, Guns and Tools and all Polished Instruments. THE FINEST OIL MADE. It absolutely prevents rust. NYOIL now cold everywhere by all hardware and sporting goods men. Larce bottle (cheaper to buy) 25c; trial size, 10c. WM. F. NYE, New Bedford, Mass. For polishing varnished woodwork it is extremely satisfactory. No oil is so clean. Jlsk your watch repairer whose oil he uses on your watch. MODEST AND PROGRESSIVE. The Elements That Have Led to Hayward Cleveland's Success in the Talking Machine Field — "Snapped" for the First Time. Hayward Cleveland, the popular manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co.'s store at 35 West Twenty-third street, New York, is one of the oldest and most enthusiastic workers in the talking machine field, as well as one of the oldest employes of the company, with which he has been so long and honorably associated. . Any endeavors to exploit Mr.. Cleveland or to Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland. bring him to public notice by means of a photograph have hitherto been unsuccessful, despite every effort of his associates and well wishers. This summer, however, while Mr. Cleveland was at the Shelter Island House, Shelter Island, L. I., where he enjoyed the first vacation in several years, he was "snapped," with the result that we are able to present to our readers a counterfeit presentment of this exponent of Columbia merits with Mrs. Cleveland. Mr. Cleveland has grown up with the Columbia business and has seen it expand from modest proportions to its present important place as one of the great companies of international fame. He is a hard worker who believes in doing things rather than speaking about them — the elements truly that proclaim the man. AN EXCELLENT IDEA. Beginning with the December records, Thos. A. Edison, Inc., will enclose in each carton a fourpage folder giving detailed information concerning the selection. This is an excellent idea and one that will be appreciated by the users of the phonograph.