The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

36 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 1 GRESHAM BUILDINGS, BASINGHALL STREET, LONDON, E. C, W. LIONEL STURDY, MANAGER. General Outlook for Summer Business Encouraging— Many Disc Records of Cheaper Sort on Market — Talking Machine Men Interested in Coming Music Trades Convention — New Records Issued by Prominent Companies— Plans to Record Songs and Dialects of African Savages — Suffragettes Wreck Record Factory — The Amended Bankruptcy Law — English Record Company with New Selling Plan Fails — Gramophone Co. Announces New Stock Issue — News of Month. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) London, E. C, England, May 5, 1913. As springtime progresses and we approach the trade prospects in store during the quiet summer months ahead, a little pessimism is apt to guide one's thoughts in dovetailing the various opinions expressed upon the trade situation. Undoubtedly business is slack; it is not usually bright at this particular period, and the question arises whether a comparison with last year's conditions is favorable or otherwise. After a careful survey of the situation, I feel convinced that the order of the day is progress. About this time last year the great trade-disturbing element was the coal strike. It held up almost every industry and seriously affected business tor weeks. 1913 has so far experiences no similar trade-disturbing element, although the disquiet engendered by the near Eastern troubles is a factor for consideration. It has produced a great amount of uneasiness in business circles; nevertheless, general trading conditions are good so far, although orders have been held over in many directions pending the dispersing of the war clouds. With this general feeling of confidence absent, new enterprises and" expenditures were for a time arrested. Fortunately, apprehension of the future is calming down; the conclusion of peace between the belligerents is, at the moment of writing, within sight ; and, given an early adjustment of the allies' own difficulties, the future is undoubtedly one of bright promise. Bright Outlook for Summer Business. The position in the talking machine industry is, therefore, ■ not unsatisfactory, and summer prospects would appear of good omen. Many dealers proposeto specialize an outfit consisting of hornless machine and a dozen records — offered at an inclusive price. This policy, backed up by local publicity, has been found to be the line of least resistance, because such an outfit makes a very wide appeal these days of picnics, boating excursions and various other outdoor entertainment plans. Market Flooded with Cheap Disc Records. In the disc record field, competition is just as keen as ever, if not more so, for within the last week or so two or three new records have either made their appearance, or will do so shortly. It, of course, exercises a beneficial effect on the volume of trade, yet individually the dealer is, if anything, worse off. It may read somewhat paradoxical, but the solution is found in the fact that the market is flooded with cheap records sold at any old price. Profits are cut to the flimsiest possible margin, and what the dealer nets goes in fighting each other. Interrogated recently, a dealer friend of mine said that things were so. bad in his neighborhood he was going to shut down. "It's suicidal to remain open any longer. I am losing money," was his parting remark. And, unfortunately, this is but one of many such cases. Interest in Coming Music Trades Convention. The third annual convention of the Music Trades will be held at Buxton from May 22 to May 27, both days inclusive, and from all reports it would appear certain of strong support. Inquiries elicit the information that every section of the music industry and profession will be in evidence, and many subjects of a practical and far-reaching nature are down for discussion. The talking ma chine trade will not be so strongly represented as it should be, but lack of numbers is, to some extent, counterbalanced by the pleasing knowledge that some of the troubles with which this trade is beset will be ventilated. The Music Trades convention at its previous meetings did not, I believe, afford an opportunity for debate on talking machine matters, and the present convention will, therefore, be the first at which our trade, in this sense, will be recognized. In the capable hands of H. J. Cullum, proprietor of Lockwood's, the big factors of City Road, we have no doubt that his paper, "The Necessity of Price-Maintenance and Agreements," will arouse a keen degree of interest and give birth to useful debate of a farreaching nature. As a successful business man, Mr. Cullum has established for himself one of the few big reputations in the talking machine industry, and his wide experience eminently fits him for the task of introducing a subject of such supreme importance as the regulation and maintenance of fixed prices. To attain this consummation, whether by written agreement or otherwise, is the aegis upon which the future good welfare of the trade, for the most part, depends. Big Demand for Edison Bell Products. Messrs. J. E. Hough, Ltd., manufacturers of the well-known Edison bell disc and cylinder and other records, are experiencing considerable inconvenience at their factory. Those who know the place will concede it as one of the largest and most efficient in this country. Yet it is not large enough to cope with the remarkable demand upon its resources. And that is the trouble. It is really pleasant to report such a state of prosperity these times, and we congratulate the firm upon the increased dividend of 10 per cent., less income tax, paid on the ordinary shares for the third quarter — January to March — of their fiscal year, which is a splendid augury for the future. Attractive List of "His Master's Voice." Notwithstanding the advancement of the season, "His Master's Voice" monthly program of new records shows no sign of diminishing, and indeed it is not expected ; for, despite the company's huge repertory, there yet remains a seemingly endless number of good things from which to make a choice each month, apart from the topical stuff in demand all the time. The patrons of the Gramophone Co., Ltd., represent a wide variety of taste, and to this consideration is due the issue each month of selections covering every phase of music. The May issues in their comprehensiveness emphasize, in this respect, a discrimination which calls for special mention. Be your mood gay, serious, or sad, there is a record to meet the situation, and we feel every confidence in recommending to the attention of dealers a supplement of exceptional merit. The full list is as follows: Double-sided (twelve-inch. — "II Trovatore," Miserere (Verdi, arranged by Franklin), and "Die Loreley, Paraphrase" (Nesvadba) ; "Princess Ida," Selection I and Selection II, (Sullivan, arranged by W. Winterbottom) ; Band of H. M. Coldstream Guards. "That Ripping Rag" (Collis Wildman), ragtime orchestra, and "Charm of Life Waltz" (H. Jaye), May fair Orchestra. Ten-inch. — "Danse des Aborigines" (C. le Thiere), and "Intermezzo — Endoria" (Andre), Band of H. M. Coldstream Guards; "The Wedding Glide" (Hirsch). and "How Do You Do, Miss Ragtime" (Hirsch, arranged by Neat) ; "My Honolulu Honey Lou" (Melville Gideon), and "Ragging the Baby to Sleep" (Muir and Miller), Hirsch's Ragtime Band ; "Hedi ■ Waltz," "Chauffeur In's Metropol ! ! !" and "Lady, I Love You," waltz, "Chauffeur In's Metropol ! ! !" (R. Nelson), Palais de Dance Orchestra ; "The Girl on the Film," waltz and march (Walter Kollo), Palais de Dance Orchestra. Single-sided Records. — "Marche Militaire" (Schubert), New Symphony Orchestra; "Take, Oh, Take Those Lips Away" (Bennett), Mr. John McCormack; "The Lost Chord" (Sullivan), Mme. Kirkby Lunn; "Parted" (Tosti), Mr. Hubert Eisdell; "In Summertime on Bredon" (G. Peel), Mr. Thorpe Bates; "Drake Goes West" (Sanderson), Mr. Robert Radford; "O, Peaceful England, Merrie England" (German), Mme. Edna Thornton; "Minuet" (Mozart), violin, Mr. Francis Macmillen ; Gems from "Oh ! Oh ! Delphine," Part I (Caryll) ; Gems from "Oh! Oh! Delphine," Part II (Caryll) ; Gems from "The Dancing Mistress" (Monckton), light opera company; "The Venus Waltz," "Oh! Oh! Delphine" (Caryll), Miss Dorothy Jardon ; "Too Much Ragtime" (Zulueta), Mr. George Grossmith ; "Everything's at Home Except Your Wife," "Oh! Oh! Delphine" (Caryll), Mr. Stanley Kirkby and chorus; "Tempt Me Not" (from a woman's point of view) (Wise and Dean), Mr. George Robey ; "Ragtime Gems" from "Hullo, Ragtime" (Hippodrome Revue) (Louis A. Hirsch), the Ragtime Quintet. To Record Songs of African Savages. Captain Steele (Royal Field Artillery), who is making a trip to Central Africa, includes among his equipment a complete phonograph recording outfit supplied by Messrs. J. E. Hough, Ltd. It is Captain Steele's object to secure records of native music, war songs, and other interesting data, which should prove of permanent scientific benefit. For purposes of easy transport by native bearers, the outfit was split up into cases, each of about fqrty pounds weight. Oxford Diploma for Business Training. Apropos the recent discussion upon the relation of science to commerce, it is interesting to observe that at the university town of Oxford a congregation to be held on May 13 will promulgate a statute establishing a diploma suitable for persons intending to pursue a business career. The granting of it will be entrusted to the Committee of Economics and Physical Science, and the diploma is to be called a "Diploma in Commerce and Economics." A Self-Speaking Telephone. We have already a telephone that receives and transcribes messages automatically, but the latest advance, as reported from Copenhagen, is a telephone apparatus that is self-receiving and afterward self-speaking. Evidently some form of recording outfit is attached. Experts are agreed that the invention is of practical utility. Suffragettes Wreck Record Plant. The Disc Record Co., late of Stockport, which recently opened up at Harrow, near London, has attracted the attention of some militant suffragettes. The new factory, it appears, was in course of preparation, and the chances of an early commencement of operations were good. But prospects are often deceiving; and, as if to remind one of the truth of the old adage, "There's many a slip," etc., the suffragettes descended in force upon the building. It' is assumed they chose a dark night, under cover of which the chances of detection were infinitesmal. Not content with smashing the windows, pulling down the electriclight fittings, quarreling with the telephones, and destroying the boiler fittings, they must needs break off the water taps after seeing that the main was turned fully on. Of course the place was soon a veritable wreck and, aside from the annoyance and expense, loss of trade, etc., it will require a considerable time to make good all the damage. Beka Meister Records. There is no secret concerning the remarkable popularity of Beka Meister twelve-inch records. Of the latest Meister issues, we could scarcely say more than that they are really superb, and we accord this praise, feeling confident it will be endorsed by all who hear them. The records are : (M lOfi) "Light Cavalry," overture', Parts I and IT (Suppe); (M 107) "Lohengrin," Selections I and II (Wagner), rendered by the famous Meister