The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

The Talking Machine World Vol. 11. No. 10. NO HINDRANCE TOLIVE SALESMAN. How W. B. Bailey, of Eureka, Cal., Made Sales of Ed i sons in the Willow Creek District. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Eureka, Cal., October 4— W. B. Bailey, of the Eureka Phonograph Co., of this city, is a hustler and nothing daunts him in the way of promoting sales of Edison phonographs. When it is a little quiet at the store he gets out into the country and never fails to book orders. During a recent trip in the Willow Creek district, from which he just returned, he hit upon the idea of giving a concert demonstrating the perfection of the Edison diamond disc phonograph, which he represents. Instead of renting a hall, he went to the hotel at Willow Creek and because of the difficulties of Scenery in the Willow Creek District. reaching the widely separated homes of the residents of that section he gave a concert at the telephone exchange of the hotel and located all the subscribers by bringing the music and the merits of the Edison phonograph into the homes of all the people of the neighborhood. As a result several sales were made, and the machines were delivered satisfactorily, with some inconvenience to the salesmen, as several large cabinet machines had to be carried by pack horses over the mountain trails that could not be traveled by the everfaithful Ford. An idea of the country traversed by Mr. Bailey may be seen from the photograph herewith, and which, by the way, shows his portrait in the lower left-hand corner. TALKING MACHINES FOR SCHOOLS. Congress to Be Asked to Supply Machines and Records for Washington Schools. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Washington, D. C, October 5. — Installation of talking machines in public schools may be asked of Congress by the Board of Education. The ways and means committee of the board, in public hearing yesterday, listened to suggestions from a representative of a talking machine company. E. L. Thurston, superintendent of schools, is in favor of the plan, declaring that he believes talking mach'nes will be used "more and more" in schools. The machines may be used in playing marches at assembly and dismissal, furnishing music for dances and providing accompaniments for physical exercises, as well as other purposes. New York, October 15, 1915. WHAT THE VOICE LOOKS LIKE. Dr. Conta, of Paris, Predicts Some Remarkable Things for His Photonograph. If Dr. Conta, of Paris, has his way every prospective bride will have to furnish a photograph of her voice before marriage. This French psychologist has tested the voices of a large number of people who have appeared in the French courts as defendants in divorce actions, and he declares that most of them have voices which "set one's teeth on edge." He has worked out a combined recording phonograph and camera, called a photonograph, which shows exactly what a voice looks like. The invention is apt to prove of great value in the musical world. A singer cannot hear himself sing, but has to take the advice of a teacher — and teachers are human and might err. Suppose Caruso were told that one of his notes was harsh. He might believe it; on the other hand, he might only be annoyed. If, however, after he had sung the note, the photonograph showed him that, while all his other notes were smooth and round, that one was jagged, what a boon to him it would be ! Public speakers would have to file with the committee on arrangements photographs of their voices. Then the rest of us would never have to listen to a squeaky utterance, nor would they have to strain their ears to hear what the speaker had to say. His manner of delivery would have to be up to the photograph of his voice. The photonograph would be a boon to teachers. Instead of having to listen to all the children speak their "piece," they could make them talk it into the machine and then look at the photo. Dr. Conta believes that his invention can be made to record a difference in vibration between the utterance of a falsehood and of the truth. CHINESE TOURIST GORGEOUS. Got His Gold Medals Selling Talking Machines in Cuba — Homeward Bound for Shanghai. San Ton Sui, a wealthy Chinese merchant, who arrived in New York last week from Cuba on the Ward liner "Havana" on his way home to Shanghai via Vancouver, B. C, attracted the attention of the immigration and customs inspectors by the gorgeous blue and gold uniform he wore, something between that of an admiral of the fleet and the head porter of a Swiss hotel. He was so dignified and radiant with epaulets and medals that the Government officials at the pier imagined he must be a mandarin of high rank. Mr. Sui, who said he had been in Cuba seventeen years, and spoke Spanish fluently, explained that the gold badge on his naval cap with broad band signified that he was Emiliano Aton, his commercial name, and a merchant of Matanzas. He added that his gold medals had been gained selling talking machines in Cuba, and that he had money enough to spend the rest of his days in China, which he had left when he was a small boy. INCREASES ITS CAPITAL STOCK. After eight months of business the Acme D'eCasting Corp., Bush Terminal No. 5, Brooklyn, N. Y., reports that it has met with such success that it is necessary to increase its capital from $125,000 to $200,000. E. N. Wolf, treasurer, further adds that the organization has worked to full capacity up to the present time and has even been obliged to refuse business because of the inability to guarantee deliveries. "At present," said Mr. Wolf, "we have a new contract for more space and are increasing our plant so we can double our capacity within the next four months, so we are now in a position to accept new orders for prompt delivery, partxularly with those talking machine houses desiring efficient die-casting service for sound boxes, etc." Price Ten Cents DOING EDUCATIONAL WORK. How Miss Hilborn and the Columbia Graphophone Have Played Important Parts. The growth and success of the educational department of the Columbia Graphophone Co. in the past few years has been marked. Miss Wanda Hilborn, special school representative and assistant to Frederic Goodwin, head of this department, has contributed much to this success. Miss Hilborn is in charge of the physical training work of the department and also directs Columbia school activities in playgrounds and kindergartens. Miss Hilborn is eminently equipped for her work for the Columbia educational department, as prior to joining the Columbia forces she was for several years a kindergarten teacher in the New York public schools and is thoroughly familiar with the problems which confront the teacher in her efforts to make work both pleasant and profitable for children. In addition to her other activities Miss Hilborn Using Story Records at Vacation Playground. has recorded two selections for the Columbia school record library, known as story records, which have been used in kindergarten and playground work with marked success. The accompanying photograph, taken at the vacation playground of P. S. No. 61, New York City, illustrates one phase of the Columbia educational department work. Children of foreign born parents, with comparatively little knowledge of the English language, evidence the keenest interest in the Columbia story records, and after listening to their rendition a few times repeat them clearly and distinctly without difficulty. HELD FOR MAIL FRAUD. Joseph H. Mayers Accused of Selling Inferior Phonographs Through Misrepresentation — Held for Trial in Federal Court. Joseph H. Mayers, 196 East Houston street, was arrested by Post-Office inspectors some weeks ago on a charge of using the mails to defraud in the sale of inferior phonographs to poor people who were persuaded to believe that music would lighten their troubles. The Federal Grand Jury returned an indictment against Mayers on September 29, and on September 30 the case came up for hearing before Judge Lacombe, when Mayers pleaded not guilty. The defendant was held in $3,000 bail for trial. Mayers did business under the names of the International Phonograph Co., the Independent Phonograph Co. and the Supreme Phonograph Co. According to the Federal authorities he advertised a high-class machine to be paid for in easy instalments. When he delivered the secondhand machines, it is alleged, he demanded an immediate payment of from $15 to $20. His case was turned over to the postal authorities by L. C. Wagner, a special agent of the State Department of Labor who placed the matter before the legal department of the Federal Government. The Cirelligraph Co., Inc., has been incorporated under the laws of Delaware with capital stock of $200,000, for the manufacture and sale of reproducing devices to be known as the Cirelligraph for the reproduction of the human voice.