The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

40 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 2 GRESHAM BUILDING, BASINGHALL STREET E. C., LONDON, W. LIONEL STURDY, MANAGER. Talking Machine Men Looking for a Strenuous Season — Few New Models of Machines Offered— Market Flooded with Cheap Records Which Cause Considerable Worry — Shilling Disc in Sight — Conditions in German Market Also Unsettled — Talking Machines at British Music Trade Exhibition — Gramophone for Heart of Africa — Some Recent Developments of Copyright Law — Interesting Titles in New Record Lists — Gramophone Co. Brings Suit. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) London, England, August 5. — Vacation time is in full swing, here, and a fair percentage of talking machine men have seized the opportunity presented by the slack period to recoup their health and brace themselves for the exigencies of what is generally believed will prove a more than ordinary strenuous time ahead. 'At the moment attention is directed to the production of new season's catalogs embodying the latest machine models — in which, by the way, no very striking changes in comparison with last year's styles, excepting the Columbia, is to be noted. The season promises to be exceptionally competitive in the record field and certain manufacturers have special plans in preparation, the operation of which will produce the keenest conditions ever experienced in this industry. In price disc records have reached a very low level, and coincident with the introduction of several new eighteenpenny records, it is generally believed one or two firms will endeavor to operate on a shilling basis. The restrictive conditions surrounding the American output is almost to be envied in comparison with those prevailing this side. By next October, I compute we shall have thirtyfive to forty discs on this market, 50 per cent, of which retail at eighteenpence or less. Perhaps my American readers find it difficult to imagine the possibility of a good record production at this price, but on these discs some of the best material is obtainable. The quality of recording, and standing or reputation of a good proportion of the artistes is for the most part equal to the half-crown standard, and we are even promised a speeding-up in this regard. So many concerns operate here, and the bankruptcies during the last few years, have combined to contribute a glut of old master matrices which has considerably weakened trade stability, in that pressing form then made possible the cheap production. Not altogether perhaps, but certain it is that were it not for this condition, I believe we should have seen, little of the very cheap records. Having no artistes' fees and the hundred and one expenses to pay incidental to recording, the holders of these old matrices are in the happy or unhappy position of being able to show a small profit on a 10-inch double disc retailing at one shilling. Although not the official price in every instance several makes are sold at this figure and doubtless there will be increased numbers this season. One of the latest is the Bob Record Co.. "bob" being a colloquialism for one shilling. Surely, it's the limit ! Conditions are apparently much the same in Germany, where the Zonophone Co. has aroused a storm by the proposal to issue a record at Is. 3d. as from September 1 next. This price is said to cover royalty charges under copyright into the bargain. The German press is loud in its condemnation of this policy, and practically the whole trade is combining in an endeavor to offset such a radical departure, which, it is claimed, cannot but act disastrously upon the future stability and welfare of the industry. For my part T despair of that elusive stability which is always "to come," but never does. So long as these competitive price-wars last there can be no such thing as stability— future or otherwise. Competitive efforts of this nature are financially exhaustive alike to all who engage therein, and must eventually — ; but there, I see that consolidation of interests — that Record Manufacturers' Mutual Protection Association, which I have for so long advocated, looming a little more brightly upon the horizon of discord and jealousy. It will come! Talking Machines Will Be Exhibited. At the British Music Trade Exhibition, which is to open up at Olympia next September, several talking machine houses have secured space for comprehensive exhibits. Ample provision in the way of sound-proof rooms for demonstration of records is promised, and the very attractive musical competitions in which the successful entrants will receive as prizes high-class pianos, etc., will insure a big public attendance. This exhibition — the largest ever held by the musical instrument industry in this country — is generally expected to result very profitably for all exhibitors. New Bait for Hunters. Captain Kelsey and his intrepid companions, who are venturing upon a motor car journey by way of the Cape through the very heart of Africa to Cairo, will carry^ "crystallized" entertainment in the form of a gramophone and ample supply of carefully selected records, chosen for the variety of enjoyment they offer. An interesting experiment is to be made on the journey. With the object of attracting big game for photographing or shooting, a lamb is sometimes tethered to a tree, its cries often drawing the game. This method is inhuman and is now superseded by an efficient substitute. A record has been taken of the bleating of a lamb, and it will be interesting to see how far the African animals are taken in by the deception. Imagine, for instance, lions or other wild beasts seeking a supper off the gramophone; what a disappointment for them ! Some Sidelights Upon the Copyright Act. In the courts recently Messrs. Chappell & Co., Ltd., music publishers, made application for an injunction to restrain Thomas A. Edison, Ltd., and G. W. Bulkeley Byng from infringing the plaintiffs' copyright in the music of the "Girl on the Film" by making manuscript parts of the music for records. On behalf of both defendants, counsel gave an undertaking not to issue any records pending trial of the action. Having regard to this decision, the Gramophone Co., Ltd., has given a similar promise. Other firms are, of course, involved, and the action will result in making plain at least one of the several obscure provisions of the Copyright Act. According to the latest views of the copyright owner, usually a publisher, it is regarded as infringement to use band parts other than those sent out. Any alteration or adaptation a record manufacturer may make places upon him the onus of proving, should it be required, that it was reasonably necessary for the purposes of recording. The above action should throw light upon this difficult question, and the judicial finding is awaited anxiously by the whole trade. By the way, a writer in the London Music Trades Review computes that during its first year the Copyright Act has cost record manufacturers about /14.000, over £8,000 of this being apportioned to the cost of royalty stamps. The act imposes additional charges in its second year of operation, for, as from July 1, 1913, copyrighted compositions made prior to July 1, 1910, free in the interim, are now subject to royalty tax. The article to which reference is made throws an interesting light upon the attitude now taken up by publishers and that which obtained prior to the act coming into force. When the copyright committee was taking evidence it was maintained by publishers that record issues seriously affected the sales of sheet music. This, with little or no qualification, lie it noted. To-day a number of publishers, recognizing the ephemeral character of the majority of so-called "popular" songs, etc., have given record houses carte blanche permission to record any and every thing of this particular kind of composition which they issue ! New Columbia Designs. Two new machines just introduced here by the Columbia Graphophone Co. have created great interest on account of their very unique style of construction, by which the whole motive power is embraced in a unit independent of and quite isolated from the cabinet. The distinctive features are a metal motor board (with speedometer), breech-locking tone arm and "Regal" reproducer — a convenient combination, beautiful in appearance and excellent in results. A full description, with illustrations, of these new Grafonolas was -given in our June and July issues. It may be as well to state that the first consignments of these improved instruments are now being delivered to the trade, and they will be known as Columbia Nos. 22 and 23, for the oak and mahogany models respectively. Either model will sell at ten guineas. An Attractive List of '"H. M. V." Records. By way of preliminary to our usual comments upon the "H. M. V." monthly issues, we would draw attention to an excellent idea brought forward for the first time in connection with their latest list. In conformity with the company's regular practice each artiste's photo is published side by side with his or her contribution, and this month a further "illustrated" step is noticeable. An attempt has been made to illustrate the message conveyed by each title, as, for instance, "At Dawning" provides scope for a pictorial landscape setting showing the sun just rising beyond the hill in the distance. But, like everything else, this ingenious scheme has its limits, for we were distinctly disappointed to find that "Tbe Parting Kiss" is not pictorially presented. It is not a difficult subject to depict, surely! However, any deficiency in this respect is more than counterbalanced by the delightful contents of the supplement itself, which provides an exceptionally attractive range of titles, as follows: Double-sided (twelveinch). — "The Dwellers in the Western World" — The White Man, part I. and II. (Sousa), Band of H. M. Coldstream Guards ; Selections from the Alhambra Revue — "8d. a Mile" — covering the most popular hits therein, by the Ragtime Orchestra; "Lancashire Clogs" and "A Black Coquette" (Grimshaw), banjo solos by Oily Oakley. Teninch double. — "Tarantelle Belphegor" and "Tarantelle des Salons," Band of H.M. Coldstream Guards, who also present "Berceuse" (Lacombe) and "La Cinquantaine" (Gabriel-Marie) ; "Molongo from the Congo," two-step, from "The Chauffeur in the Metropole" (Nelson), with which is coupled "La Baya," two-step (Christine), by the Palais de Danse Orchestra ; waltz and march from "Madchenmarkt" — The Marriage Market (Jacobi), by the Metropolitan Band. Single (twelveinch). — "Funeral March of a Marionette" (Gounod), New Symphony Orchestra; "Balatella" (Bird Song), from "Pagliacci" (Leoncavallo), sung in Italian by Miss Alma Gluck ; "Chorus, Gentlemen" (Lohr), Stewart Gardner; "The Gleaner's Slumber Song" (Walthew), Miss Marion Beeley; "The Parting Kiss" (Pinsuti), quartet — Miss Perceval Allen, Mine. Edna Thornton, John Harrison and Robert Radford ; "Hungarian Dance, G minor" (Brahms-Joachim), Herr Fritz Kreisler; "The J. P." (Blascheck), Joseph Biascheck. H. M. V. (ten-inch)— "At Dawning" (Cadman), John McCormack; "Where My Caravan Has Rested" (Lohr), Hubert Eisdell ; "A Spray of Roses" (Sanderson), John Harrison; "Summer Roses" (Dunkels), Mine. Alice Wilna; "Scherzo from Sonata, opus 31, E flat" (Beethoven) , Mark Hambourg; "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," Edna Brown and James Harrison ; "I'm the Guy" —from the Alhambra Revue, "Kill That Fly"— (B. Grant), Harry Carleton. Suit for Infringement. There was no defense in the action brought by