The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

01 "II you do not already know it, you will be interested to learn that the lowest priced instrument in our list will play any record in our catalog (or in any other catalog ot disc records) so well that only a tone expert can distinguish where tone superiority begins." (From "Music Money," a book "full of meat" for every Talking Machine Dealer interested in quick and frequent turnover of capital.) Columbia Graphophone Company Woolworth Building, New York HAPPINESS A BUSINESS ASSET. Comfort and Peace of Mind of Employes Means More and Better Work — The Policy of Large Corporations in the Treatment of Employes. It was not so very long ago that manufacturers, when told they ought to give their employes more light or more air or better quarters, would exclaim, "They've got room enough to do their work in; that's all we want of them, to do their work; they can get light and air outside." Perhaps it sounded logical at the time, but now the clever and up-to-date manufacturer understands that ith is is a wrong view entirely. He understands that human life is a business asset, just as a piece of machinery is a business asset. The manufacturer makes certain his machinery is of the best. He sees that it is kept in repair, that it is well taken care of, because he realizes that it is a valuable asset. Now the up-to-date manufacturer also realizes that human life is a valuable asset in his factory, and that the better care he takes of the human lives in his employ the longer they last and the better v. ork they do. The man who comes to work in a factory where the light is poor and the air foul soon acquires a headache and a grouch. He is unhappy and suffering and cross, and he slams through his work as slovenly as possible. The result is he does not do as much work as he could if he were feeling well and happy, nor does he perform that little as well. Let the same workman come into a factory where the light is good and the air clean and pure and everything comfortable, and he feels light-hearted and happy. The result is that his work is a pleasure and he 'turns out far more work and far better work than under the previous circumstances. This is the reason that the manufacturer of today has come to learn that human happiness is just as much of a valuable asset in his business as modern and well-kept machines, says the Sunday World. He knows that he is employing human machines, in a way, and that the better treatment these human machines get the better work they do. Employers of large numbers of human machines are realizing the surprising fact that, as a cold business proposition, it pays, not in sentiment, but in dollars, to take good care of their employes. Business men are learning that well-fed, wellclothed, contented men and women, working in well-lighted, well-ventilated quarters and on schedules arranged in accordance with our modern knowledge of psychology and physiology, actually turn out more work and better work than underpaid, discontented help, working under uncomfortable and unsanitary conditions. Therefore large corporations are spending money liberally in playgrounds, rest-rooms, libraries, gymnasiums, sanitary lunchrooms, moving picture shows, safety devices, ventilating systems and similar devices for the well-being and enjoyment of their employes. If one asks these men why they are doing these things, they will disclaim any charitable or philanthropic motives. "This isn't charity," says one PROMPTNESS A FACTOR IN CENTRAL AMERICAN TRADE. Arrangements Should Be Made to Have Consular Invoices Arrive at Destination Simultaneously with the Goods or Before Them — Claimed That American Business Houses Are Not Inclined to Be Accommodating to Their Customers in Small Matters. A subject of complaint among merchants and importers in Central America is the failure of some business houses in the United States to make prompt shipments and to exercise care in getting off consular invoices so that they will arrive simultaneously with the goods or before them. With boats arriving once a week where the service is the best at a Central American port, and two or more weeks apart at the smaller ports, to miss a steamer with a shipment when the goods are confidently expected by the importer is a serious matter. If the buyer is a merchant in the interior, he has probably sent a pack train or has engaged a force of Indian cargadores to be at the port, relying upon the assurance that the goods will be shipped on a certain vessel. Failure to ship according to instructions means a delay of at least a week, and in all probability two or three weeks. The houses that hold the trade are the ones that arc most careful about getting shipments off on time. Commercial Agent Gerrard Harris points out in a recent report, is the matter of having consular invoices available when the shipments arrive at Intimately connected with prompt shipments, their destined port. If merchandise has been sent according to schedule and the consular invoice comes along a week later, the goods cannot be cleared from the custom house until the invoice is at hand. The general idea is that the people of Central America are easy going, but it is an error to assume that business men there do not care for the observation of strict business methods in dealing with their shipments. A third cause for complaint against American business houses is that they are not inclined to be considerate and accommodating in small matters. As an example is cited the experience of a business man in the interior, who gave an order of considerable size to a house soliciting the business. In addition to the goods handled by the firm to which the order was given, a request was made that there be included in the shipment an article that the Central American did not know where to purchase. The export firm that received the order could have bought the article and included it without any trouble, 'but instead of so doing the United States firm listed the article on the invoice and after it merely wrote "Don't handle." There was no explanation. Some three months afterward the traveling representative of the firm was astonished when the Central American informed him that he did not care to have any further business relations with it. firm, "we want that clearly understood. This is simply good business management and common sense. A well man is of more use to us than a sick man. A happy, contented woman turns out more work and better work than an unhappy one. Therefore anything we can do to make the people who do our work at ease in mind and body we regard as good business management, just as we regard fire insurance, improved machinery and labor-saving devices." The firms that have realized the enormous importance of this discovery are already reaping the benefits. The conservation of health of employes will be a fundamental principle of good business management in the future. When it is fully recognized by the industrial world that sickness is a material liability and that health is a realizable commercial asset, contagion and preventable diseases will be hunted down and exterminated as relentlessly as modern industrialism now pursues counterfeiters, forgers and other criminals. tone arm, No. 6 reproducer, unobstructed tone chamber, Columbia tone control leaves and regular Columbia double spring motor. In appearance the "Jewel" is typical of the graceful lines of the entire Columbia line of machines, and, as will be seen from the accompanying illus ANNOUNCES A NEW STYLE. The Columbia Graphophone Co. announces the addition to its comprehensive line of a new machine to be known as the "Jewel." This machine, which will retail at $35, is featured by the company as the only talking machine with a top cover at this price. The Columbia "Jewel" Grafonola embodies all the distinctive merits of the Columbia product, including the new metal motor board, bayonet joint The Columbia "Gem." tration, presents a most atractive appearance for display in the dealers' showroom. Dealers who have seen the first samples of the new machine are enthusiastic over its many merits and predict a splendid sale for it this fall. It takes time and much effort to overcome certain obstacles ; this is done by recognizing them and figuring with them and not worrying about them.