The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

THE TALKING MACHINE WOULD. 53 brating membrane to which the engraving stylus is attached is not free to vibrate as desired, and to respond to the minutest variations of sound. Hence, the deformations due to the engraving are great enough to render the voice unrecognizable and. in most cases, not clear. Moreover, the amplitudes of the vibrations engraved on the wax plate are limited in extent, depending upon the character of all three — the membrane, the disposition and length of the engraving stylus, and the hardness of the substance engraved. These amplitudes cannot be increased beyond what has been attained in practice up to now, and so the intensity of the sound r e p r o duced is limited. Again, the mechanical vibrations produced by the act of cutting or engraving on the surface of the wax plate are superimposed on the original vibrations due to sound and therefore the record is imperfect and is not free from disturbing and secondary or unnecessary scratching sound vibrations. It is the object of this invention to remove the disadvantages above set forth, and this invention consists in the process of recording sound by the aid of light, a ray of light being caused to vibrate in unison with a vibrating membrane by means of a mirror attached thereto, and then allowed to impinge on a rotating photographic sensitized plate, whereby the vibrations due to the sound waves produced on the membrane are fixed on the sensitive plate by the chemical action of light, and the photographic plate after development by any of the known photographic methods carries a record of the original sound. The process of recording will be explained clearly by Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a suitable apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are side and end views, respectively, of a constructional form of the apparatus above mentioned. TALKING MACHINE DEALERS MEET IN BERLIN. Some of the Important Matters Discussed at the Recent Congress of the Talking Machine Dealers of Germany — Gives an Idea of Conditions Prevailing Across the Water. GRINNELL BROS. ANNUAL MEETING. Old Officers and Directors Re-elected — Branch Store Managers from All Over the State and Canada Also Come Together and Indulge in an Interchange of Views — Enjoy Social Pleasures as Well — Entertained at Banquet. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Detroit, Mich., Feb. 8, 1913. The annual meeting of Grinnell Bros, was held Tuesday, Jan. 28, when all the old officers and directors were re-elected. The personnel is as follows: President, I. L. Grinnell; first vice-president, C. A. Grinnell ; second vice-president, A. A. Grinnell; secretary, S. E. Clark; treasurer, C. I. Nye. There are no other members of the board than the five officers. The annual gathering of the Grinnell Bros, branch store and department managers from all over the State and Canada also was held this week. The two meetings came in conjunction because many of the managers in other cities are stockholders. Altogether half a hundred piano men were at the two meetings. The managers' meeting lasted throughout the week, owing to the large amount of business to be transacted. Reports on last year's business were duly made, account taken of stock on hand, estimates of what will be needed for the 1913 trade, etc. The cares of the business sessions were lightened by entertainments in the evenings. On Tuesday the convention went to the Automobile Show in a bunch. Wednesday evening there was a banquet at the Charlevoix, and on Thursday evening they all went to the Detroit Opera House. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Berlin, Germany, Jan. 30, 1913. At the close of the year a congress of German talking machine dealers was held in Berlin. Many important points were down for discussion. The first question taken up was that of public demonstrating salons for talking machines. In these handsome salons, of which, for instance, several are situated in Friedrichstrasse, the main thoroughfare of Berlin, the public for a trifling payment can listen to any disc, seated in comfortable settees in a handsomely furnished apartment. A salon of this nature is not only a source of revenue on account of the money inserted into the talking machines, but it is above all an advertisement calculated to further the sale of the discs and indirectly of the machines themselves. The dealers therefore proposed that the manufacturers should furnish them with machines for such demonstration purposes at specially low prices (say 150 to 200 marks) to assist them in opening up such salons. Professor Reko spoke on the use of talking machines in teaching foreign languages. The speaker referred to the favorable experience he had had as teacher in Vienna in the use of talking machines equipped with proper "language" discs. He was successful in interesting the authorities in Vienna in the matter, so that a definite amount is set aside every year for this purpose. The ideal machine for teaching languages, especially in cases of self-instruction, must comprise a repeater and a recorder, both of which must be easy to handle and not too expensive. Anotther speaker pointed out that the numerous vocal societies could probably 'be induced to parchase talking machines by demonstrating to them a few selections from their repertoires from records obtained from eminent choirs. In practicing new and unfamiliar pieces it would be a great help to the choirmaster to be able to first play the piece over on a talking machine. Dictating machines are making but little headway in Germany. Their use entails a great strain on the typist especially if the record is at all in distinct. In certain exceptional cases, however, the machines are indispensable; for instance, if a man wishes to dictate letters in the evening when no stenographer is available, which letters can be transcribed the next day. It is cited as a great drawback in connection with the talking machine trade that manufacturers use different velocities in making their discs. Every talking machine should at least be equipped with a velocity scale and each disc should bear a corresponding number. This is the only way in which dealers and private users can play each disc at the proper tempo. Tlhe responsibility of dealers for the cutting of prices was the subject of a lengthy discussion. Many dealers make a practice of endeavoring to deceive the manufacturers into the belief that competing firms are selling at much lower prices. Cutting of prices is the Tesult. But even among themselves the dealers often make the mistake of not adhering to the selling prices laid down for them. Above all, there is a great tendency to stock the cheapest possible kinds of discs. In many places discs are offered for sale at one mark and even at one-half mark. It is true that these discs emanate from manufacturers who soon went out of the business, but in view of the demoralizing effect which such inferior goods have on the market in general, it is very advisable that reputable dealers in talking machines should have nothing to do with such trash. Apart from this, the far-sighted dealer will refrain from stocking discs of too many different makes. By dealing with only one or two manufacturers it is always possible, in return for comparatively large orders, to obtain better terms than if the orders are spread over tea or twelve firms. Another speaker pointed out that the dealers suffered considerably owing to the manufacturers selling to their employes at reduced prices. The employes often resell to private users and thus become competitors of the legitimate dealers who adhere to the prices fixed for them. The congress was very well attended, so that it will doubtless be repeated next year. NEW QUARTERS IN TORONTO. R. S. Williams & Sons Co. Hold Formal Opening of Handsome New Building in That City — Great Growth of the Company's Business. Ireland, with the compliments of T. Edens Osborne, the enthusiastic talking machine factor and trader of that city. The calendar bears a brilliantly colored scene of a New Mexican scene entitled "The Aztec Bride" and is most attractive. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Toronto, Ont., Feb. 6, 1913. The new building of the R. S. Williams & Sons Co., at 145 Yonge street, was formally opened to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Special musical entertainment by prominent artists, including piano soloists, orchestras, string quartets and music produced by playerpianos, Victrolas and Edison disc phonographs served to attract a host of visitors and keep them interested. The old Williams' home has witnessed a great measure of success. Over forty years ago the present five-story building was erected — when Canadian industry was in its infancy and musical instruments were a comparative luxury. The announcements and progress of this firm during these forty years relate much of the history of musical instrument development in Canada. From a small local piano business the old home witnessed the development of one of the greatest musical instrument industries in the country. There has been assembled a wonderful collection of antique instruments, many of which are almost priceless, representing an investment of thousands of dollars, purely in the interests of art. In this old home was also collected one of the finest collections of rare and expensive old violins now in existence. QUALITIES OF A LEADER. Features in the Make-up of a Man That Put Him in the Front. If you want to lead men successfully in business you must have the qualities of a leader. You must be sympathetic— but inspiring. You must be patient — but firm. You must be fair — but in dead earnest. You must feel the weight of the responsibilities resting on you, and make your men realize the responsibilities that rest on them. You and they owe a common duty to each other and to your company. You should be fair to them — and slee that they are fair to you. In that way you will do your duty by them, and they'll do their duty by you, by the company and by themselves. A REMINDER FROM IRELAND. One of the most welcome holiday souvenirs received by The World is a calendar from Belfast GRAND OPERA IN DALLAS. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Dallas, Tex., Feb. 1, 1913. The approaching grand opera season in this city is attracting great attention, both in the music houses, the music lovers and the talking machine houses. The talking machine houses have window displays of Mary Garden, Tetrazzini and other stars that will appear in Dallas, and many are enclosing folders announcing grand opera with their mail. Several of the talking machine companies have already made page advertisement reservations for the souvenir grand opera program and expect to Jo a great deal of advertising incidental to the coming of the grand opera stars.