The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 59 FROM OUR LONDON HEADQUARTERS— (Continued from page 58). floor there were machines which in turn "operate" on these brass discs until, process by process, is evolved complete the famous "H. M. V." gooseneck tone arm. It is all really wonderful, and especially interesting was the seemingly simple action of bending the elbow without so much as a crack or a split in the metal. Of intense interest, too, is the process of "drawing" the cold tube so that by degrees it reaches the correct tapering gage. All these and other processes I, as a layman, naturally viewed with a certain fascination almost akin to awe. In another department were machines for smoothing down the flange of the steel record molds, one of which my guide placed on the machine bed, afterward requesting me to lift it off. Neither I nor the strength of a Hercules could move that mold. An invisible agency held it fast. No chucks, screws or bolts ; just magnetism. On another floor machines were turning out all sorts and sizes of screws and much other production in the way of parts for motors, sound boxes, etc. These latter, by the way, were all imported THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY'S FACTORIES HAYES, MIDDLESEX. ,4'-! GERMANY RUSSIA INDIA AUSTRIA FRANCE SPA Power House of the Company at Hayes. from America until the completion of this fine factory rendered it unnecessary. It is something of which to be justly proud that each little item, part or adjunct of the "H. M. V." instruments is manufactured at Hayes. Take, for instance, the various grades of gramophone motors — single, double and triple spring. The visitor to this modern all-British factory can see each machine in operation for the production of every single part that gees to the completion of a beautiful and smoothrunning gramophone mechanism. There is one huge section exclusively reserved for assembling and the testing of every motor that goes out. On this particular work a large staff of skilled mechanics is constantly employed, and when the assembled motor is "passed" it bears the seal of that supreme merit which has made for "His Master's Voice" a reputation of reliability and extreme value the world over. It may truly be said of "H. M. V." instruments that "they have built their name by the way they are built." The exigencies of space forbid further mention in detail of this most wonderful plant, and we will therefore pass to the cabinet factory. To do this I was taken via the woodyard, where is stacked over £20,000 worth of mahogany, walnut, oak and other timber. The process of drying and seasoning covers a period of several months, and every piece of wood is thus thoroughly matured before using. Entering the cabinet factory I was at once impressed by the remarkably clear atmosphere — this notwithstanding the working of sawing, plan(Continued on page 60.) 'His Master's Voice' — the trade-mark that is recognized throughout the world as the HALL-MARK OF QUALITY "His Master's Voice" Copyright This intensely human picture stands for all that is best in music — it is the "His Master's Voice'' trade-mark, and it brings to you, no matter where you are, the very best music of every kind, sung and played by the world's greatest artists — the greatest singers, pianists, • violinists, orchestras and bands — all enshrined in the unequalled "His Master's Voice" records. | Branches \ AUSTRIA: Oesterr. Grammophon Gesellschaft, m.b.H., Graben 29, Trattnerhof I, "Vienna I, Austria. BELGIUM: Cie. Frangaise du Gramophone. 51, Avenue de la Porte de Hal, Brussels. DENMARK: Skandinavisk Grammophon-Aktieselskab, Frihavnen, Copenhagen. FRANCE: Cie. Frangaise du Gramophone, 115 Boulevard Richard Lenoir, Place de la R€publique, Paris. GERMANY: Deutsche Grammophon Aktiengesellschaft, 35, Ritterstrasse, Berlin. HUNGARY: The Gramophone Co., Ltd., Kossuth Lajos-Utcza 8, Budapest. SPAIN: Cia. Francesca del Gramophone, 56, Balmes, Barcelona. SWEDEN: Skandinaviska Grammophon Aktiebolaget, Drottning Gatan No. 47, Stockholm. RUSSIA: The Gramdphone Co., Ltd., 45, Nevsky Prospect, Petrograd (Petersburg); 9, Golovinsky Prospect, Tiflis; Nowy-Swiat 30, Warsaw. INDIA: The Gramophone Co., Ltd., 139, Balliaghatta Road, Calcutta; 7, Bell Lane. Fort, Bombay. | Agencies \ AUSTRALIA: S. Hoffnung & Co., Ltd., Sole Concessionaires of The Gramophone Company, Limited, 163, Pitt Street, Sydney. NEW ZEALAND: E. J. Hyams & Co., Post Box 45, Wellington. SOUTH AFRICA: Darter & Sons, Post Box 174, Capetown; Mackay Bros., Post Box 251, Johannesburg; Mackay Bros. & McMahon, Post Box 419, Durban; Ivan H. Haarburger, Post Box 105, Bloemfontein; Franz Moeller, Post Box 108, East London; B. J. Ewins & Co., Post Box 86, Queenstown; Handel House, Kimberley; Laurence & Cope, Post Box 132, Buluwayo; The Argus Co., Salisbury. EAST AFRICA: Bayley & Co., Lourenzo Marques. HOLLAND: American Import Co., 22a, Amsterd "Veerkade. The Hague. ITALY: A. Bossi & Co., Via Orefici 2, Milan. EGYPT (Also for the Soudan, Greece and the Ottoman Empire) : K. Fr. Vogel, Post Box 414, Alexandria. Great Britain : The Gramophone Company, Ltd. HAYES MIDDLESEX ENGLAND