The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

60 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. The Pablo Casal's records are among the fastest money makers in the exclusive Columbia list— just as we predicted, only more so. Two new recordings in the May list. (Write for "Music Money," a book "fall of meat" for those dealers interested in quick and frequent turnover of capital.) Columbia Graphophone Company Woolworth Building, New York FROM OUR LONDON HEADQUARTERS— (Continued from page 55). ing, smoothing, mitering and a host of other machines. Inquiry showed that an elaborate system of compressed air shafts reached throughout the whole building. Every particle of sawdust was, by this means, carried off, to be utilized as fuel for the big furnaces. Among this maze of remarkable machines, all playing more or less the same tune, a not unpleasant hum of stentorian proportion, I was extricated by my faithful guide, who proceeded to have demonstrated to me the cabinet-factory alphabet. The proceedings were, to say the least, fascinating — to watch the various processes from the rough plank to the polished cabinet. Who would not find it so? Here a machine to roughshave, as it were, the plank under operation, then the smoothing, the cutting into apportioned lengths, a marvelous piece of mechanism that in one operation would cut the male and female joints, glue and slide them together; thus the formation of a cabinet side. Again, more and still more machines busily engaged in mortising, tenoning, dovetailing", all in the twinkling of an eye. So accurate and perfect are these automatic woodworking instruments that once set they require little or no attention. The operators seem to work more or less mechanically ; they cannot go wrong. I possess a trophy in the form of four small pieces of various woods jointed together; and, though not glued, it is impossible to slide them apart, so perfect is the fitting. Passing acioss "Gramophone Lane," which runs between the cabinet and the record factories, we entered the latter through a set of specially designed iron gates which, upon our approach, opened by some unseen agency. Inside, the "material" mixers were working at high speed. An interesting operation to watch is what is known as blanket rolling. This consists of drawing a blanket of the plastic record material over a steel bed, where it hardens and is cut up into squares. These squares find their way in turn to the record pressing department, and are here converted to the finished record, each of which undergoes a special examination by actual test before being passed for sale. It is to be observed that the "H. M. V." organization has reached that stage of perfection which insures such good workmanship throughout all processes that few records are re jected by the examining experts of the company. As I wended my way to the station, it struck me very forcibly that since my last visit to Hayes a few years ago the village had attained to great importance as a manufacturing center. A few new works were noticeable, but the dominating feature from all angles was "His Master's Voice" series of factories, upon which to-day rests the name and, one might justifiably say, the fame of the village of Hayes. My impression is one of unbounded admiration of the organizing genii responsible for the ideal layout and scientific equipment of this undoubtedly model record and gramophone enterprise. It is the embodiment of all that goes to the maintenance of British commercial supremacy, and in its particular channel represents an example of high efficiency in productive capacity unique in the talking machine industry As the link that places mechanical music on the highest plane of art, Englishmen will ever feel a just pride in the activity of "His Master's Voice." A final word of thanks to Mr. Wyatt for his patient and exhaustive disquisition of points upon which I needed enlightenment. To him I am indebted for a most interesting, not to say instructive, tour of "His Master's Voice" factories. ARTISTIC JAPANESE ROOM Of J. Henry Ling, Detroit, Used Effectively to Display Talking Machines. in that sense. A room like that of Mr. Ling's is a contributory factor to this viewpoint that cannot be lightly overlooked. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Detroit, Mich., April 9. — Art in interior decoration was evidently kept in mind when the Japanese room of the new talking machine department of J. Henry Ling, in this city, was designed. It is something entirely out of the ordinary — so dainty, so attractive, so restful — that ladies visiting the warerooms find it a most delightful place to pause and listen to the Grafonola while a Japanese girl pours tea. This room, of which an illustration appears herewith, gives an idea of how the art atmosphere in connection with talking machines has been developed. No better form of exploitation can be conceived than the Japanese Room in Ta artistic parlor, or special room, such as the one under discussion, as a means of interesting and selling talking machines. It demonstrates particularly that the talking machine is now a musical instrument par excellence, and must be considered MEANS OF CLARIFYING TONE. A tone clarifier, recently invented, apparently provides !a satisfactory cure for the tendency of MAGNET DECALCOMANIE NAMEPLATES FOR TALKING MACHlNt r CABINETS Etc "E SOLD BY HURTEAU.WILLIAMS&CO.I° MONTREAL OTTAWA EASILY AND PERMANENTLY APPLIED. BE THE FIRST DEALER IN YOUR CITY TO USE THIS POPULAR METHOD OF ADVERTISING. 500 Minimum Quantity Manufactured. SEND FOR SAMPLES AND PRICES. GEO. A.SMITH & CO.inc. 74 CORTLANDT ST.. NEW YORK St Music House Hi VA" i Q3 fsii(g[aKi®Ki[30m. . @SG£> ETC Iking Machine Department of J. Henry Ling. the diaphragms used in telephones and phonographs to emit a shrill, squeaky sound in which the low and characteristic tones are nearly if not entirely obliterated, says an exchange. This tendency is due to the fact that the natural rate of vibration of one of these small diaphragms is many times higher than the natural rate of vibration of. the tones commonly used in talking, singing or playing. The new device works on the principle of weighting the diaphragm to retard its vibration and of damping the vibrations of the separate parts without interfering with the vibration of the diaphragm as a whole. It consists of a combination of metallized rubber discs, stiff celluloid discs and soft paper cushions, which are secured to the rear face of the diaphragm, says the Scientific American. c3ogo§TrL^W®(?}® Columbia Graphophones and records have been added to the line of the Cable Piano Co., in Toledo, 0.