The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

58 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. REG. TRADE MARK TO WHOLESALE BUYERS OF Gramophone Records A BRITISH FIRM of REPUTE is prepared to offer SPECIAL QUOTATIONS to OVERSEA BUYERS— IMMEDIATE SHIPMENTS. SPECIALIZING OWN BRANDS or Customers' own Labels. RECORDING EXPEDITIONS dispatched to any part of the WORLD CORRESPONDENCE INVITED FROM INTERESTED HOUSES Address "Export Manager," SOUND RECORDING CO., Ltd., Swallow St., Piccadilly, London Cables, "GRAMMAVOX, LONDON" FROM OUR LONDON HEADQUARTERS— (Continued from page 57). Altogether the list under review is one of the most interesting and perhaps the best yet issued by the Beka people. "Fall In" Proves a Popular Record. The march, "Fall In," founded upon the famous bia list this month as one of the ever-welcome contributions by the regimental band of H. M. Scots Guards. It is a rattling good march, too, and for mate on the disc carries "Are We Downhearted ?" march, on the famous song of that War Office recruiting song, figures in the Colum name. A VISIT TO "HIS MASTERS VOICE" LONDON FACTORIES. Interesting Facts Regarding This Gigantic Plant, Which Is an All-British Enterprisetion of Busines Excellent — Factory Is Working Day and Night. -Condi (Special to The Talking Machine World.) London, Eng., April 4. — Notwithstanding the present importance of the gramophone industry we who are engaged therein — either in the departments View of Cabinet Factory Taken December 21: Showing Extensions (Four New Floors;. Proceeding as Usual Despite the War. of production, sales or trade journalism — often give expression to our belief that from a commercial and scientific point of view it has yet to emerge from the cradle of infancy. To this someward hackneyed phrase point is given with additional emphasis when one considers the comparatively large annual output of gramophones and SPECIAL OFFER 250,000 lOin. Double Sided Disc Records of a celebrated manufacture to clear at a low figure. Good Titles. Write for full particulars EXPORT RECORD CO. 94 SHUDEHILL MANCHESTER ENG. records in relation to the limited British manufacturing facilities. It is a significant fact — the elimination of Continental competition considered — that the whole trade field is practically catered to by less than half a dozen firms. And the largest of these being the "His Master's Voice" Co., a brief article on its splendid factory at Hayes, Middlesex, will doubtless prove of extreme interest to World readers. It stands not only as an illustration of the marvelously rapid expansion of the gramophone industry as a whole, but by those very progressive attributes it alines our belief in a future trade development of unlimited proportions. That preliminary expression leads me to the recollection of a pleasant visit to the Gramophone Co.'s home, conveniently situated on the Great Western main line at Hayes, where I was instructed and crammed with interesting information apropos the ingenuity and marvels of the only all-British gramophone instrument works extant. My guide, philosopher and friend — a veritable walking encyclopedia — was W. J. Wyatt, to whom I am indebted for most of the details here set forth. The "H. M. V." works consist of three separate buildings of gigantic proportions. These are, respectively, (a) record factory, (b) cabinet factory, (c) machine factory, and in addition there is a large separate block devoted solely to the clerical departments. Nineteen hundred and seven witnessed the commencement of the first building — an historic event celebrated by the great Diva, Mme. Melba, who very graciously consented to lay the cornerstone. Since this date the whole series of buildings has sprung into existence, and even today, despite the war, expansion is proceeding. After a quick tour of the office block, where is installed all the latest labor-saving devices, we visited the great machine factory. This is built on the reinforced concrete plan, is six stories high, has a floor space of 140,000 square feet, covering an area of five acres, and cost to build and equip over £120,000! With a roof tank of 30,000 gallons capacity, the building is so constructed as to render it virtually fireproof. If left open when fire broke out the metal doors leading from wing to wing would close automatically by the firing of a fusible part of the pulley which releases the counterbalancing weights. Another ingenious constructional feature is the staircase arrangement whereby communication between each floor takes place over open balconies. A fire in any one department could thus be confined to the floor on which it broke out. The arrangement also prevents congestion on the staircase and affords ample means of escape for the employes in any case of emergency. It is to be noted that two passenger and several goods lifts form part of the equipment. Innumerable windows provide a maximum of natural light and ventilation — a point of the utmost importance to the health and power of productivity of the employes. Apropos the physical well-being of the workmen, it is pertinent to interpolate here that "His Master's Voice" directorate has given this matter very special attention. The factory boasts possession of a fully equipped hospital under expert medical supervision. All but cases of grave accident can be handled. It is pleasing to learn that owing to proper machinery safeguards accidents are few. As a matter of fact, since the departure of the resident nurse to the war area I was told there had been no patients at all ! But that by the way. In point of machinery equipment this wonderful factory conforms to a highly scientific standard, the plant being throughout of the most modern description. It includes mechanism of seemingly human intelligence, almost weird in its accomplishments. On the ground floor is installed a series of heavy hydraulic presses, and although each is designed to exert a pressure of 600 tons, their operation causes absolutely no vibration in the building. At the time of my visit these mighty instruments were stamping out discs from a solid strip of brass, about % inches thick. On another The Patent Silver -Sheath Needles SECTION They come between steel and fibre needles and wear your records less than any metallic needle whatever. Each S/Sheath will play 400 to 500 records, with occasional resharpening. Medium loud tone — clearest results possible— scratch almost done away with. D ' „ ) 1 S/Sheath Needle $0.26 rrlCeS I 6 Needles with sharpener 1.65 T">„ „ j. Cm.— — . 1 Aluminum Sharpener, rOSt r Tee : ) separately ....... .50 Ask for particulars of the FLEX loud speaking diaphragm, etc. DAWS CLARKE, 14 Lome Grove FALLOWFIELD MANCHESTER, ENG. WANTED AGENTS. Good Trade Discount.