The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1914)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 27 H. J. THOMAS APPOINTED MANAGER Of Talking Machine Department of Hobart M. Cable Co. Store in Clinton, la. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Clinton, Iowa, February 11. — H. J. Thomas has been made manager of the talking machine department of the branch store in this city of the Hobart M. Cable Co., of La Porte, Ind. The talking machine department is a new feature of the store and a large space will be fitted up for its accommodation, with several handsome demonstrating booths. Mr. Thomas is a talking machine man of experience, having been for four years with the Chicago branch of the United States Phonograph Co., of Cleveland, starting as a local salesman and promoted as traveling salesman and was later in immediate charge of the sales of the Chicago branch. The opportunity offered Mr. Thomas to locate in Clinton was an exceptionally fortunate one for him, as it is his old home town, and he was but recently married to Miss Jennie Lee Fairchild, an accomplished young woman of this city. ADVERTISEMENTS NOT COPYRIGHTED Artistic and Literary Devices May Be Protected, Not Advertising Articles, Rules Judge Foster in Decision Just Handed Down. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) New Orleans, La., February 7.— That advertisements are not subject to copyright unless possessed of sufficient artistic and literary merit, is the substance of an opinion handed down by Judge Rufus E. Foster, of the United States District Court, last week, in the case of Stone & McCarrick, Inc., vs. the Dugan Piano Co., Ltd., in which the motion to dismiss was sustained. In the original bill complainant alleged that it had published and copyrighted a book entitled "Manual of Instruction, in Use of Stone & McCarrick System of Salesmanship"; that the book was specially intended for use by its subscribers for reprinting parts thereof in a series of articles intended for advertising purposes and was printed in such forms as to be specially adapted for use as "copy" for advertisements in newspapers, magazines, periodicals and other literature, and that the Dugan Co. and its officers had infringed the copyright of the said book by publishing substantial parts of the copyrighted work as advertisements of the wares offered for sale by the said company. Defendants moved to dismiss the bill on the grounds that advertisements are not copyrightable, and hence advertising copy is not copyrightable, and that the copyright of a textbook or manual of instruction of a useful art, science or system does not confer upon the proprietor of the copyright the exclusive right to make use of the art, science or system explained in it. The decision of the court, which will no doubt have a far-reaching effect on the right of merchants to insert advertisements designed and originated by others, is as follows : "As to whether advertisements may be copyrighted there are cases both ways, but conceding, for the sake of argument, that advertisements in the forms copyrighted by the complainant would possess sufficient artistic and literary merit to be the subject of copyright, it seems to me that the second ground of objection is destructive of complainant's case. WANTED Job lots of any make talking machines and records. Will buy for cash second-hand machines, shop-worn records and supplies. Correspondence strictly confidential. Address "Cash Buyer," Talking Machine World, 220 So. State Street, Chicago. WILL BUY Edison two or four-minute records, also Victor or Columbia' regular or cut-out stock records; will also buy machine stocks. Give full particulars and lowest prices. L. Paradis, P. O. Box 356, Chicago, 111. "Complainant has copyrighted a book and not an advertisement. Defendants have published an advertisement and not a book. The book is in the nature of a manual of instruction and is designed to teach piano dealers how to attractively advertise their wares, and contains forms, or models, or diagrams of advertisements, just as we may choose to term them. "If complainant had published or copyrighted a manual of instructions designed to teach a piano maker how to build the instruments any person would be entitled to follow the instructions and diagrams to construct a piano. I can see no distinction between a system of instruction as to how to make a piano and a system df instruction as to how to draw an advertisement. The copyright of the book did not prevent the general public from making use of the book for the purpose for which it was designed, notwithstanding such use results in the publication of a part of the book in the form of an advertisement. In my opinion the case is on all-fours with the decision in Baker vs. Seldon, 101 U. S. 99. The motion to dismiss will be sustained." PROSPERITY IS COMING FAST Says Secretary Redfield of the Department of Commerce — Tariff Found Not Harmful as Foes Feared — Business Conscience Awakened and Readjustment Welcomed. Before the Chamber of Commerce at New Haven, Conn., last Saturday night, Secretary Redfield, of the Department of Commerce, made an address in which he stated that business conditions are rapidly working toward prosperity in this country. Reminding his hearers that trade depression has been world-wide and less acute here than abroad, and that the rising tide is first 'felt in America, he turned to the political reforms recently made effective by legislation and their promise of abundant benefits. "It was perfectly proper," he said, "that business men whose output was affected more or less by the new tariff should give thoughtful heed how to readjust themselves to it. Now they are saying that the readjustments are over and the new tariff at its worst is nothing like so bad as they feared, and at its best is helpful. "Big business has often failed to see that its methods have aroused a justly popular resentment, and that many of its past purposes were impossible and intolerable in a democracy. Business conscience has now awakened, and men of might in finance are becoming men of light in the necessary readjustments that are pending. "The sense of what is fit, the knowledge of what is due to their own honor are now so keenly alive in the business community that when the achievements of our recent discussions shall have been finally wrought into law business men will be found ready for such further work as may remain to be done." IT CAN BE DONE. Somebody said that it couldn't be done, But he, with a chuckle, replied That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one Who wouldn't say so till he tried. So he buckled right in, with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried, he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done — and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done; There are thousands to prophesy failure; There are thousands to point out to you, one by one. The dangers that wait to assail you; But just buckle in with a bit of a grin. Then take off your coat and go to it; Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing That "cannot be done" and you'll do it. Cleverness may, after all, be merely an ability not to attempt the things we know we can't do. FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE. 4,000 10-inch double face Zonophore records (brand new) in Spanish. What h ive you in disc talking machines and supplies for spot cash? Correspondence invited. ROSEN'S TALKING MACHINE EXCHANGE 3 School Street Boston, Mass. EDISON PRAISES MACHINES. They Aid the Working Man and Shorten Hours, Says the Great Inventor in the Course of Some Recent Interesting Remarks — Will Enable American Manufacturers to Compete Most Successfully with Europeans. Thomas A. Edison expressed the opinion at West Orange recently that the Ford profit-sharing plan was the beginning of a new period in industrialism and was due to high efficiency with machinery. If generally adopted, he said, it would do away with labor unions. "This great scheme of Mr. Ford's will do a world of good," he said. "When we use machines instead of humans and have a single apparatus to do the work of 250 men, then employes will enjoy real benefits. This is already true in the Ford factory in Detroit. It is a case where scientific management has rolled up enormous profits, 'because an article can be very cheaply manufactured on that plan. "Mr. Ford struck the right note when he found he could sell his. car for $50 cheaper some time ago. Then, when efficiency in manufacture made it possible to complete the car for another $50 less, he decided that his employes should reap the benefit. It is a good scheme, while the Ford people are prosperous, but I suppose if their business decreases it is only natural that the wage of the employe will decrease. "The time is passing when human beings will be used as motors. We are to-day putting brains into machinery, and are replacing by machinery the energies of thousands of humans with only a few men to see to it that the apparatus keeps working. If other concerns were to set about to study the question of efficiency and reduce operation to the minimum cost, then employes would profit." Improved machinery, went on Mr. Edison, would necessitate men working fewer hours, and at the same time would enable them to accomplish much more. He said that he had perfected a machine, used in the manufacture of his storage battery, which could be operated by a girl and which did the work of forty men. Continuing, Mr. Edison said that in a few years, with the new machinery, American manufacturers would be able to undersell the Germans and other manufacturers. "Machinery is the salvation of the American manufacturer," he said, "and will result in the United States leading the world commercially in a few years." Mr. Edison also had a few remarks to make about. the present system of education, saying that it was a remnant of the old Latin institutions and was too involved. "What we should have," he said, "is education by demonstration." Write today for our new catalogue giving you rock bottom prices of our specialty. Springs for any kind of Talking Machines No doubt you will find it interesting. EMIL RIEDEL Sachsische Sagen u. FederstahlwarenFabrik. Chemnitz-Gablenz, Postfach 10, Germany