The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

66 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. FROM OUR CHICAGO HEADQUARTERS — (Continued from page 65). EXHIBITS OF COMMERCIAL DICTATION MACHINES At the National Business Show Recently Held in Chicago Attracted the Attention of Progressive Business Men to Good Purpose, Judging from the Orders Booked. THE UNIT RECORD CABINET Made by Lyon & Healy, Which Is a Clever Adaptation of the Sectional Bookcase Idea, Is Destined to Have a Great Vogue. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Chicago, III., October 8. — The commercial dictation machine exhibits are always an important feature of the National Business Show which is held in Chicago in alternate years, and the 1913 show, which was held at the Coliseum from September 8 to 15, was certainly no exception to the rule, the displays of the two great companies being more elaborate than ever and exciting an unusual The Columbia Graphophone Co.'s Booth. amount of interest. Some very dramatic "stunts" Pahlman, sales manager; were pulled off at both exhibits, causing much comment among the crowds of business men and women who attended, and serving to center the attention on the value of the commercial dictating machine in lightening the labors and reducing the expense of the modern office. A most important feature of the show was the breaking of the world's speed record in transcribing on a typewriter from a dictation machine. This happened on the evening of the day succeeding the typewriter speed contest and took place in the The Display Made by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. Edison booth, which was in charge of Edward C. Barnes & Bros., the Chicago representatives of the Edison dictation machine. The very remarkable speed of ninety-five words per minute was attained by William Ehrich, of the Underwood speed team. Mr. Ehrich typed from the phonograph in the same manner that stenographers write letters from the dictation machine in offices where this device is used. The test was made particularly severe by the fact that the matter transcribed was entirely new to Mr. Ehrich, and even the dictator's voice was strange. The former speed record was eightythree words per minute and was held by Miss Gertrude Adler. A splendid exhibit of Edison dictation machines was made, and the force in attendance was kept busy demonstrating the machines and explaining some of the new improvements recently introduced. These embrace the automatic dictation ind e x that automatically shows the stenographer the length of letters dictated on the cylinder, extra carbons when required and correction, the collapsible mandril, which prevents the sticking of cylinders when left on the machine for a period of time, and the Edison sanitube, a new device to receive the (dictation, replacing the speaking tube and horn hitherto used. E. C. Barnes, head of the firm of E. C. Barnes & Bros., was in charge, assisted by J. 0. C.Dentzler, J. W. Almony. A. G. Moore, G. W. Thiell, Edward Parker, E. Humphry and M. H. Spies. The illustration of the Columbia Graphophone Co.'s booth shows it on Wednesday, which W. W. Parsons, district manager of the dictaphone department, had sent out letters to all the operators of the company's machines in the city announcing dictaphone day, and enclosing admission tickets. Over a thousand responded, and the aisles in the vicinity of the booth were jammed all evening. The young women were received by Miss Carpenter, in charge of the employment department of the Chicago offices, and all were presented with napkin ring records of their voices, or blanks, as they wished, and were decorated with boutonnieres and souvenir banners. Miss Madison and Miss Stuetzer, two of the dictaphone office employes, surprised Mr. Parsons by showing up that evening decorated with silk banners of their own making, bearing the legend "Dictate to the Dictaphone," and spent the evening parading through the Coliseum, leading the crowds to the company's booth. The interest of visitors to the booth during the week was centered on the new features shown on the new models A-7 and B-7 dictaphones, including the new enclosed rheostat, a feature of both types, and the back-spacing device and hand control on the A-7. The booth was in charge of W. W. Parsons, district manager, assisted by E. A. Parsons, A. B. Walker, C. C. De Bruller, W. G. Saunders and Frank W. Zing, who expressed great satisfaction with the management of the show this year. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Chicago, III., October 9.— The accompanying illustration shows an interesting development in talking machine record cabinets for home use just introduced by Lyon & Healy, Chicago. It is known as the "Unit Record Cabinet," and is, in short, a most clever adaptation of the sectional bookcase idea to the record problem. As explained by L. C. Wiswell, manager of the talking machine department of Lyon & Healy, it is especially adapted for the use of those having the larger Victrolas in their homes and who have rapidly growing record libraries and wish to avoid 'the necessity of having several cabinets. One can start, if he wishes, with one section or unit, with top, drawers and base, and then as the library increases one can add units at a minimum expense, the retail price per unit averaging about $10. Each unit or section accommodates seventyfive records, and a three-unit outfit as shown in ■M One of Lyon & Healy's Unit Record Cabinets. the illustration, therefore, has a capacity of 225 records. The sections fit securely and the whole presents a solid and most attractive appearance. The glass doors slide up and back into the cabinet in regular bookcase manner and travel with exceptional smoothness. There is a felt-lined compartment for each reord, preventing the records from being scratched or marred. Each compartment is numbered and a neat index book is provided with the cabinet and is kept in one of the drawers, which also provides facilities for supplies and accessories. A feature on which Mr. Wiswell lays especial stress is the versatility of the cabinet. The interior of any section comes out instantly by loosening two screws, and record albums can be substituted for the compartments, or the shelf used in whole or in part for music rolls, books or any other purpose desired. The unit record cabinets are finished in any finish of mahogany, walnut or oak to match the Victrolas. The units are made in two sizes, accommodating ten or twelve-inch records. The combination of, say two twelve-inch and one teninch unit with top, base and drawers, makes a symmetrical and handsome appearance. A large demand for the cabinet is anticipated, and some excellent orders have already been booked.