The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

28 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. NEW KEEN=0=PHONE CATALOG A Very Complete Publication Containing Illustrations and Descriptions of the Company's Very Attractive Styles Just Issued. The Keen-O-Phone Co., Philadelphia, Pa., has just issued a new catalog devoted to its products — a very excellent sample of the printers' art. It is a volume of twenty-four pages, each page being printed in black on a light tint block. The cover is of heavy stock, embossed in gold. The first few pages are devoted to the special features of the Keen-O-Phone, an apt description being given of the Keen-O-Phone stationary spiral tone arm, all-metal sound box, the Keen-O-Point jewel-tipped permanent needle, the sound modulator, sliding turntable, double spring motor, amplifier, etc. A description also follows of the various KeenO-Phone models that are illustrated, together with some details of Keen-O-Phone records. The styles illustrated are: Style XXX, retailing at $225; Style XXV, retailing at $175; XX. retailing at $125; IV, at $85; VII. at $75; V, at $60, and 1, at $35. Illustrations also appear of the two positions of the sound box, one when playing the Keen-OPhone record and the other when playing other disc records. It is a very comprehensive publication, and will be mailed to dealers upon application. SALESMANSHIP TALK Issued by the Steinert & Sons Co., Boston, Interests Dealers — Manager Royer Reports Unusually Active Victor Business. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., May 10, 1913. Business at the Arch street Victor headquarters of the M. Steinert & Sons Co. is reported by Manager Herbert L. Royer to be unusually good for this time of year, especially in the sale of machines. Several improvements are under way at the headquarters which will considerably facilitate the handling of business. Manager Royer has just prepared a cleverly-worded leaflet on salesmanship which will be sent out to the various agencies and jobbers who have business relations with this house, and if the advice therein incorporated is followed unusually expert salesmen should result. BLUE AMBEROL RECORDS POPULAR. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., May 10, 1913. At the large salesrooms of C. E. Osgood & Co. Chester J. Sylvester, who manages the talking machine department, states that his business for April was $1,000 ahead of what the same month of 1912 produced. The Blue Amberol Edison records, he says, are selling wonderfully well. The rack accommodations in the department have been considerably improved in the past few weeks, and the demonstration rooms have been enlarged. Wanted— Talking Machines and Accessories Rosefsky Installment House, talking machine dealers, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, would like to hear of anything new in machines or accessories. When writing send catalog prices and sample, if possible. The CLEANNOTE Pad. If owners of talking machines only knew that the use of the Cleannote Pad would improve reproduction 50 per cent., reduce scratching to the same extent, and double the life of records, all would buy quickly. The Cleannote Pad dusts, polishes and lubricates. Money returned if not satisfactory. Price, 25c. Discount to trade. VOX HUMANA TALKING MACHINE CO. Nantucket, Mass. A REAL TALKING MAN. Designed to Exploit Certain Commercial Specialties Has Made His Appearance in France — This Machine Is Humanlike in Its Completeness and in Its Results. Talking by machinery is not new, for we all know about the talking machine, and advertising by machinery is done in endless ways, but to have a "man" lecture on the advantages of a certain article, making the proper gestures and facial expressions, is a novelty that has made quite a stir in France where it was invented. Talking dolls, with a small phonograph inside them, have been on the market quite a while, but this automaton is distinctly new. A great number of the movements are given to this body, which give it a life-like appearance, the mouth moves, the eyes also move, it makes many gestures with the whole arms, forearms, hands and fingers, all of which are operated by motor-driven mechanism in the base or platform on which this man stands. The most remarkable thing about it is that it can be so adjusted that its movements will fit any "speech" that is placed in the talking apparatus for deproduction. In all it can assume 5,600 different positions. It can also sing, and it is now being used in Paris in several places to advertise songs and all sorts of articles that are demonstrated by lecturing about them. Some of the phonographic records are songs which this automaton sings with proper gestures. It can be dressed in various costumes, and the inventors are now at work making the same thing in the form of beautiful women, with a view of h?ving it serve as a model for new gowns and talk about the gowns at the same time. Of course, it is available in any country, as the record can be made in any language. It can also be so arranged that the figure sits level with the floor by having the base that contains the mechanism sink into the floor. BOSTON qTrLS^ JHGH SCHOOL Has Just Installed Two Columbia Talking Machines Which Are Used in the Gymnasium — Thirty-eight Columbia Machines Now Being Used in the Boston Public Schools. (Special to The'Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., May 12, 1913. The Boston office of the Columbia Co. is highly elated over the way that schools are taking hold of the idea of installing machines in ,the institutions of learning. Since February 11 thirty-eight Columbia machines have been placed in the Boston schools, and Manager Erisman reports that many highly-encouraging letters have been received as to the satisfaction that their machines are giving. In the Girls' High School two machines lately have been installed especially for use in the gymnasium. JOINS KEEN=0=PHONE CO. William Sibley Dowdell, a baritone of wide" reputation in the East, is now connected with the Keen-O-Phone Co. in an executive capacity, having forsaken the artistic field for the commercial side. Mr. Dowdell's last church position was with Grace Church of Orange, N. J. DISCUSS "TALKER" VALUE IN SCHOOL Frederic E. Goodwin, manager of the Columbia Co.:s educational department, spent a week recently attending the National Convention of Supervisors of Music, held at the Hotel Seneca, Rochester, N. Y. The Columbia Co. exhibited its entire line, with the exception of the Grand, at the convention, and Prof. Goodwin delivered an interesting address at one of the meetings. The use of the talking machine in the school was discussed at length, and the supervisors of music in attendance were apparently deeply impressed by the demonstrations of the various types of machines on exhibition. Members of the new Grafonola Co., of Rochester, Columbia jobbers, were in daily attendance at the convention, and assisted in the demonstration of the Columbia line. VERY DEAR TO US ALL. "Some Day" the One of the 365 That We Couldn't Do Without. "Some day" is the one day of the 365 that has no place in the calendar and is still the most popular day for making disagreeable engagements. It • is the day that every idle dreamer chooses to begin the monumental work that is to make his fame and fortune. To-day is always huddled, crowded, too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry. To-day is out of the question. But "some day" lies in the far golden halze of the future that seems to have in it the infinite leisure of eternity. And so we defer, till the more convenient season that never comes, what ought to be done instanter, without talking heed of our own feeling's, our plausible objections, and permitting the creeping paralysis of over-much debate that keeps the arm from striking while the iron is hot ! These prophecies that begin with "some day" and a good resolution are rarely converted into the past tense. The man of action makes his plans soberly and takes the facts where he can get them that will help him to decide what to do. But when his mind is once made up he goes ahead without telling you much about it. He does not boast. He is too conscious of his own fallibility to be cocksure of brilliant and secure results. He knows that human agents may fail him, if not his own wit or his own strength, and he does not greatly care to describe the deed till after the fruition of his thinking and his striving is the accomplished fact. The lesser man overlooks "some day" with the tardy, heavy transmittendum of yesterday and today, serenely unmindful of the fact that the future has problems of its own ; the future needs its own clear field and has no room for the heritage of procrastination. GOOD CALL FOR VICTOR GOODS. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., May 11, 1913. Ubert Urquhart reports a good call for Victor goods at the Chickering & Sons warerooms in Tremont street. This is a. very convenient establishment, and the Victor apartments in the basement are admirably arranged and comfortably furnished for the accommodation of customers. WHY WINKELMAN IS PLEASED. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Boston, Mass., May 11, 1913. Ask Henry Winkelman, manager of the Victor department of the Oliver Ditson Co., how business is, and his face becomes wreathed in a broad smile which tells the happy story. He reports a heavy call for some of the new records which have become the most popular. . Two suits have been instituted in the United States Court at Trenton, N. J., alleging large damages against the Victor Talking Machine Co. The plaintiffs are Samuel Levin, of Highland Park, 111., and the Permanent Disc Needle Co., an Illinois corporation. The suits are based on a warning issued by the defendant company against the use of the jewel disc needle made by plaintiffs. WANTED TO BUY WANTED TO BUY— Dealers' surplus stocks or close-outs of Zonophone Single Disc Records. Address "Zonophone," care The Talking Machine World, 373 Fourth avenue, New York City. FOR SALE— 5,000 Edison 2-minute records, 10c. each ; 5,000 Zonophone 19-inch records, 15c. each ; all new, clean stock. Deninger, 335 North street, Rochester, N. Y. WANTED TO BUY— Dealers' surplus or closeout stocks of disc machines and records. Address "Buyer," care The Talking Machine World, 373 Fourth avenue, New York City.