The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

The Talking Machine World Vol.9. No. 3. BIG DISPLAY OF TALKERS Made at American Woman's Exposition in Cleveland — Columbia, Edison and Victor Lines Strongly Featured and with Excellent Results — Many Sales Made of Machines. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cleveland, O., March 10, 1913. The attractive event of the season was the American Woman's Exposition in the auditorium of the largo Central Armory, held during the last week in February. Cleveland business men and women vied with the manufacturers in producing displays which daily attracted thousand of visitors. Among the thousands of exhibits the talking machine display was prominent, including all the different makes and styles. Crowds were constantly hovering about the two booths of the Columbia Graphophone Co., attracted by the varied demonstrations given, the musical program keeping up constant interest. The feature of the company's display was the Columbia Grand, electrically operated. The sale of four of the instruments on the first day of the exposition is evidence that it has struck a popular chord in the hearts of the people. There was a fine display of the various types ol Edison machines. The new disc phonograph, one of which gave concerts in the Oriental tea room, was acclaimed the acme of instruments by those who know and appreciate fine music. The exhibit of Victrolas and Victor machines of the different types was one of the most attractive displays. The musical numbers of the great artists, from Caruso to Melba, furnished entertainment to the throngs who were clustered about the booth throughout the exhibit. A number of purchases of both machines and records were made. GRAPHOPHONE ENLIVENS LECTURE. Illustrated Discourse on Fleas Affords Opportunity for Clever Use of Records. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Indianapolis, Ind., March 8, 1913. The Columbia Company was a party to a ludicrous affair at the Columbia Club here the other night, the Indiana section of the American Chemical Society being the chief offender.. The company supplied the society with a grap!hophone. Frank B. Wade, professor of chemistry in Shortridge High School, did the rest. While producing stereopticon views of fleas, the graphophone played that Missouri classic about "You Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Around'." A view of a mosquito brought '"Way Down Upon the Swanee River" ; the sand flea was pictured on the screen to the tune of '"Till the Sands of the Desert Grow Cold." Waterbugs on the screen brought "The Old Oaken Bucket." And then there was the kissing bug with "Comin' Through the Rye." E. F. SKINNER BECOMES THE OWNER Of the Business of the Schafford Album Co., Manufacturers of Talking Machine Record Albums and Other Specialties in New York. E. F. Skinner has purchased the interest of T. C. Schaffuss and will hereafter operate the business of the Schafford Album Co. as sole owner. The Schafford Album Co. has been in business for a considerable length of time and is a large manufacturer of albums for talking machine records. This house also makes albums for prints and photographs, as well as a line of desk pads. Mr. Skinner has a number of new plans in mind, for not only new styles of record albums but for the general featuring of the Company's products that will hold them in closer esteem with the trade. The Schafford Album Co. is located at 126-128 Lispenard street, New York, where it has a large and complete organization for the efficient production of these goods. New York, March 15, 1913. BURBANK SELECTS VICTROLAS. The Famous Horticulturist Selects Three Expensive Victor Instruments for Installation in the Fremont, Lincoln and Burbank Grammar Schools — Teachers and Pupils Appreciate the Gifts of This Famous Man. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Santa Rosa, Cal, March 8, 1913. The teachers and pupils of Fremont, the Lincoln and Burbank grammar schools are the proud possessors of modern Victrolas presented to them by Luther Burbank, Santa Rosa's famed horticulturist and plant breeder. The gifts came as a complete surprise and teachers and pupils alike cannot express their gratitude and appreciation for the kind and thoughtful spirit which prompted the action on the part of Mr. Burbank. The Victrolas are encased in handsome fumed oak cases and stand about four feet high, having a place under the apparatus for records. The teachers and pupils of the various schools greatly appreciate the gift and express the deepest gratitude to the donor. They feel the spirit which prompted the gift is one which is imbued with the welfare of the school children of the city deeply at the donor's heart. The gift came through the Wiley B. Allen Co., of which J. E. Bradley is the local representative, and carried a characteristic note from the donor reading as follows : "To the Teachers and Pupils of the Santa Rosa Schools : "Believing that the emotions should be as carefully cultivated as the intellect and that music is of fundamental importance I take great pleasure in presenting you with a modern Victrola with the hope that it will be an inspiration toward the best in each of you. "Luther Burbank." NEW EDISON LINE IN CINCINNATI. Demonstration Recital at Hotel Sinton Arouses Enthusiasm — John Arnold First to Sign Up in City — Starts Work Immediately. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Cincinnati, O., March 8, 1913. Local jobbers and dealers last week had their first peep at Thomas Edison's noted disc phonograph. Although the Middle West trade has heard much of this new invention on the part of Mr. Edison since it was first announced several months ago, it was up to the Kipp-Link Phonograph Co., of Indianapolis, to bring the instrument to Cincinnati. The presentation took place at the Sinton Hotel last week under the direction of Walter E. Kipp, the Indianapolis Edison jobber, and his assistant, Eugene Beacham. John Arnold, the Elm street dealer, was the .first to give an order for several of the diamond-pointed reproducing machines. It is also understood the Kipp-Link Phonograph Co. have negotiations on with one or two piano houses which have never heretofore featured talkingmachine goods. KHpp is enthusiastic over the prospects of the disc machine in his territory. While at the hotel the machine became a great favorite, causing many persons to believe there was a "live" recital going on in the parlor reserved for the use of the instrument. The staging helped to carry out this delusion, since the machine was hid behind portieres and all the audience could hear was the reproduction of the record. Arnold, as soon as he signed up, secured an emergency machine and gave concerts at his neat talking shop. The United Talking Machine Co., Chicago. 111., was recently incorporated, with a capital stock of $2,500, for the purpose of manufacturing talking machines. The incorporators are : E. E. Johns, A. F. Johns and Robert Johns. Price Ten Cents "DER ZIGEUNERPRIMAS" RECORDS. How Henry Savage Came to Select for Presentation in America the Reigning Operetta Sensation of Vienna — Records Made of the Entire Opera and Sent to Him in New York. Sitting in his New York office one day recently, Henry W. Savage listened to the music of "Der Zigeuncrprimas" (the Gypsy Chief), the reigning operetta sensation of Vienna, and, finding it emphatically to his liking, cabled his European representative to buy for him the American rights to the production. Negotiations for the purchase had been in progress for a month between the American producer's agent and Joseph Weinberger, the Leipzig publisher who owns the operetta, but could not be concluded before, because Mr. Savage had made it an absolute condition before giving a final decision that he must hear the score. Anxious that Mr. Savage make the American production, Weinberger decided not to wait until the producer could find time to go to Vienna; he gathered his cast for a special performance and had. all of the numbers sung into a talking machine. A set of the records was then dispatched to the United States. Thus while "Der Zigeunerprimas" has not been sung except in the Johann Strauss Theater in Vienna, Mr. Savage, having sent out for a machine which the records would fit, some four thousand miles away from the place of its performance, enjoyed the melodies which have made their Hungarian composer, Emmerich Kalman, famous. The producer has decided to follow the same plan before purchasing other European productions. "Der Zigeunerprimas" has been running in Vienna for nearly a 'year, and according to predictions will be running at this time next year. The American production will be made next September. CHANGES IN STEWART T. M. CO. W. E. Ludlow Resigns as Manager and Is Succeeded by W. S. Barringer — To Move to New Location at 221 North Pennsylvania Street. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Indianapolis, Ind., March 8, 1913. The Stewart Talking Machine Co. not only announces a change in location at this time, but a change in managers as well. W. E. Ludlow, who was associated with Alexander M. Stewart when the latter owned the Wulschner-Stewart Music Co., and who became manager of the Stewart Talking Machine Co. when that company was organized by Mr. Stewart after he had disposed of his holdings in the Wulschner-Stewart Co., has resigned. W. S. Barringer, who was assistant manager, becomes manager, and W. M. English will act as his assistant. The Stewart store is being moved from 110 North Pennsylvania street to 221 North Pennsylvania street. Elaborate decorations mark the new quarters of the company, and an effort will be made to make them the most inviting in the city. THE ART OF LETTER WRITING. The writing of a good letter is perhaps the finest art in business. It is an art which comes with the development of the man. To convince and not dissuade, to attract and not repel, to please and not offend, involves first the mastery of self and then the fine art of expression. The letter is the measure of the man. His character shines through his words. Letter writing is a matter of training and character development. The short-visioned, unprincipled and ungracious man will write the letters you would expect from such traits, and the happy, bigsouled and big-minded man who has large experience and character will write letters that impel trade.