The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 49 REMARKABLE TRIBUTE TO THE TALKING MACHINE. The Editor of The Canton Daily News Writes of Its Wonderful Influence as an Educational Factor in Stimulating Musical Knowledge and Appreciation — An Editorial That Is Out of the Ordinary — "Have You a Talking Machine?" the Editor Asks. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Canton, O., March 8. — There was recently published in the Canton Daily News an editorial entitled "The Talking Machine," which, in the opinion of prominent musical authorities and educators, is one of the finest tributes to the talking machine that has ever appeared in the editorial columns of any American newspaper. The Canton Daily News, it may be noted, has more than a local standing, and is recognized throughout this State and even in the adjoining States as one of the most progressive and thoroughly highgrade newspapers published. Its recognition of the wonderful strides being achieved by the talking machine well indicates the attention it is paying this important field. The editorial in question, which is decidedly unusual in its handling of the subject in a broad and friendly way, follows : The Talking Machine. "About a score of years ago men used to go around to village churches and city school rooms with a magical instrument which reproduced the sounds of the human voice. One zuch man came to Canton. He went to the superintendent of schools. T have here,' he said, 'a wonderful invention, the product of the ingenious brain of a man named Thomas Edison — perhaps you have heard of him — a machine which will talk. Think of it ! This machine of wood and iron and steel will talk.' "The superintendent of schools had heard of this marvelous invention and he was half disposed at the start to grant the desired permission to exhibit the instrument for a small fee before the pupils of the high school. What entirely won him over was this : 'Here ! You talk into this machine and then I will give your oration back to you,' said the demonstrator of the magic box which could talk. The superintendent did so, and sure enough he heard his own voice repeating his favorite sentences. "So he said to the man who was trying to interest the American public in Edison's invention : 'All right. You may take this machine into the school rooms and show the pupils how man has been able to invent an apparatus which will talk and sing.' "The man did so, and some of the pupils of Canton's sehools heard for the first time the wonderful Edison 'talking machine.' So it was in the village churches and in the crossroads stores. And Thomas Edison was to the imagination of America the most captivating personality of that day. "All that was back in the nineties. The boys and girls who then heard for the first time the tone-reproducing machine which America's greatest genius had constructed are now men and women with boys and girls of their own. "That crude talking machine which they all remember— a little box with rubber tubes and pieces which you put into your ears has vanished. In its place are the new Edison machine; the Victrola, the Grafonola, and their accomplished tribe. The old early days of whiney, scratchy music, the old early days when the ravings of John McCulloch, great tragedian unfortunately gone mad, made up the favorite record, have passed away. "To-day it is not a little oblong box, with projecting rubber tubes, from which issues this mysterious speech and more mysterious melody. To-day the great artists of the world step forth from a beautiful cabinet and are almost in a:tual person present. "Have you a 'talking machine?' They come in all sorts of designs and at all sorts of prices — from $25 up to hundreds of dollars. One hundred dollars will buy a good tone-reproducing instrument and bring to your fireside the musical genius of the world. "This is not an advertisement of the Victrola or the new Edison or the Grafonola or any other 'ola.' Merchants pay for the publication of big type elsewhere in this newspaper of the merits of their respective wares. And mention in this column they cannot buy with all the wealth of the Indies, with all the gold the 'forty-niners' won from creeks on the sunset slope of our land. This is just a heart-to-heart inquiry. Have you a 'talking machine?' Perhaps you cannot afford one. If so — and many of us are in that plight— do not buy one. But if you can 'raise the wind' it will blow you sweeter melodies and greater surcease from care than any other similar expenditure. Surcease from care ! It is what we are all after. "And all this little time-wasting talk grows out of the fact that one of the boys in the office — in our office, the Daily News office— bought a talking machine as a Christmas present to his family. He has children— three dandy youngsters— and the present writer has been interested in watching the contribution of that 'talking machine' to the home of its purchaser. "What has been the result? Why, little Doris Ann goes around the house now humming 'what? Not 'High-lee, high-low,' but such melodies as Traumerei, and the Sextet from Lucia and Massenet's Elegy — the best of the old and the best of the new operating numbers. When she grows up.' if that 'talking machine' does not break down,' this little Doris Ann is going to have quite a musical education. "The other day the machine was out of adjustment. For one whole long twenty-four hours they waited for it to be put into shape. And there was quite a bit of silent gloom thereabouts — quite a bit of homesickness for this latest visitor to their home. "Have you a talking machine? Perhaps you cannot afford one. If so do not buy one. But if you have the money there is no better way in which to spend it. The 'talking machine' has done more to spread the knowledge of good music and an interest in good music among the homes of the average Americans than any other agency. For a few cents per appearance you can have with you the great artist whom to hear in person costs you a $2 bill — oh, rare commodity ! "You want your children to like music, and you want them to like good music. How often have you or they a chance to hear the latter? Almost never, save through this wonderful 'talking machine,' which demonstrators exhibited before high school pupils a score of years and more ago. A musical education for your whole family for a couple of hundreds of dollars at the most! It is worth thinking about." CLEVER NEEDLE HOLDER Arranged for Use in Small Machines, Such as Victor IV and Victor VI, Put on the Market by Bristol & Barber, of New York. One of the new talking machine specialties for the month is the B. & B. needle holder for use on such machines as the Victor IV and Victor VI and other small machines, which is manufactured by Bristol & Barber, 115 East Fourteenth street, New York. ■ . This little specialty is made of metal, heavily nickeled, and consists of a metal ring which is screwed onto the tone arm. From the metal ring are suspended three metal boxes, one for used needles (this has several cross pieces at the top to prevent getting the fingers in), while the other two are for different styles of needles. It is made to retail for $1, with liberal discounts to the trade. The company also handles a line of khaki and canvas moving covers, for use in the shipping of talking machines, as well as a line of covers made of light material for covering phonographs while in the warerooms. A RE you using the old-fashioned method of delivering phonographs wrapped with paper ? If you are, let me show you how you can cut this expense into a tenth of what it is now costing, to say nothing of a better delivery service. Why should you waste all this paper and twine, when for $6 you can get a Lans Lansing Khaki Covers are made of Government Khaki interlined 'with cotton, heavily padded and quilted, furnished complete with No. 3 strap. ing Khaki Moving Cover (complete with No. 3 strap) and can use it for 15 years for wrapping your machines. The same amount of paper and twine would cost nearly $100. Send your $6 today, on the money back unless O K basis, and make a test with the Lansing Cover. ? E.H.LANSING, MFR. 611 Washington Street Boston LANSING KHAKI VICTROLA COVER