The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

42 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD CONVENTION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TALKING MACHINE JOBBERS — (Continued from page 41) skid crossbars. One operator drills about 9,000 holes per day. Another machine which is used principally for lid clamps is a special type, fitted with spindles which can be set at any degree for boring angular holes. One operator will bore about 6,000 holes per day. Then too, we have specially constructed power belt conveyors, made in the shipping department, on which corks are inserted in guard rails, gauged, coated with paraffine wax and assembled with screws while the conveyor is in motion, at the rate of twenty-four guard rails per minute. Instead of hammer and nails, we have nailing machines which are used for framing boxes, i e., fastening the sides to ends, after which operation, the box moves on to the next machine, which nails on' the back These two machines are equipped with the latest improved power feed tables, and special cleat shelves to hold the veneer panels rigid while being assembled. These machines, with four operators, average a little better than three boxes per minute. Another special attachment which was designed and made in the shipping department, is a Yankee screw driver, equipped with special attachment for driving screws, and permitting the operator, after screws are started, to place the sleeve over the head. The blade automatically finds the slot, drives the screw home, and then throws off. We have also portable electric hand drills, which are used principally in drilling holes in the packing case to fasten the skid to the case. We also use special portable electric screw drivers, which have the same attachment as the Yankee screw driver. This is used for driving screws into skids, attaching them to the packing case. A very interesting machine which we use is what is known as a Jumbo Mullen Tester, and is used for testing the strength of all paper, corrugated and fiber board used by the shipping The "One Price" Brothers, Homer G. and M. G. Price department. This machine insures us that these materials are of the proper strength, and that we are getting what we pay for. As you know, in the packing of our small machines, they are imbedded in excelsior. We found, however, great difficulty in getting packers to properly pull this excelsior apart, and so we installed what is known as an excelsior picking machine. The excelsior is placed on a belt conveyor by an operator, and is run through this machine at the rate of one hundred pounds per minute, and is pulled apart much better and finer than could be done by hand. We use approximately one-half a car of excelsior per day. As you know, all manufacturers have drawings covering the ditterent parts they manufacture, but I know of none that have drawings covering the packing material they use. But with us, all packing material is covered by blue prints. Each piece of packing material is gauged and carefully inspected for defects to insure quick and accurate packing. We use from four to eight carloads of packing material daily. We carry in stock at all times from 75 to 125 carloads of packing material, the bulk of it being in outside warehouses. I think by this time I have convinced you that great care is exercised in the shipping department in preparing the packing material. The packing of our machines is carried on very similarly to the manufacture of them, each man performing his little bit as the machine passes him. The first operation is attaching back stay to cabinet. The cabinet factory has attached angle irons in the back of this cabinet where machine bolts are to go, which means absolutely accurate boring is necessary on the back stay. The next operation is attaching guard rails to the back stay. The ends of the guard rails overlap each other in such a manner that when placed around the cabinet they have great strength and permit the packing case to be severely crushed without marring the cabinet, because the latter is held at a uniform distance from the guard rails by paraffme wax coated corks End-wood is depended upon to take the strain instead of the screws. Considerable time and money was expended before we found that natural cork, properly coated with paraffme wax, could be placed against the finish of cabinets without harmful results. The next operation is fastening the skid to bottom of the cabinet, and fastening guard rails to them by means of upright strips. The cabinet then moves on, where the lid clamp is fitted to the lid and fastened to guard rails. Then it moves on to where the albums, outfit and turntables are packed, after which operation the cabinet is ready to be placed in the packing case. I wish to call your attention to the fact that while we utilize the inside of the cabinet for packing purposes, we do so without harmful results to the inside finish. The Victor Co. spends yearly, many thousand dollars in the packing of their goods, which could be saved if they did not consider the unpacking conditions. As an example, screws are used in the packing of all our large type machines, when nails would answer the purpose from a packing point of view, equally well. Here is a case where both material and labor are an extra expense to us, but we aim to have our machines reach destination in firstclass shape; and we make the packing as simple as possible for the one who must unpack. After the cabinet is placed in the packing case, it is placed on the conveyor system, which elevates it four feet, six inches from the floor. The case then moves by gravity around to the point where holes are drilled through the packing case into the skid — this work being done by portable electric drills. As the machine passes this operator, another operator starts the screws in holes just bored, and machine continues to the next operator, where the screws are driven by a portable electric screw driver. After the machine leaves this operator, it goes into the other end of the building, and is there laid on its back. At this point the lid is fastened on This work is done by two operations, one being the starting of the screws with a hammer and the other driving them home with the Yankee screw driver. ' After reaching the end of this conveyor, they are then placed in an upright position and moved along on the conveyor system to another elevator, which again raises them to a height of approximately four feet six inches, where they again start traveling by gravity. The packed machine is then weighed on an automatic scale. This scale is more accurate than an ordinary beam scale, being much more sensitive, and is tested several times per day with government test weights. About four years ago we adopted three-ply crossgrain veneer to take the place of solid wood for many of our boxes In other cases we adopted corrugated and fiber board boxes. In this way we have cut down weight wherever it could possibly be done and be consistent with safety. You will doubtless recall that Mr. Geissler advised you two years ago that improved methods of packing had reduced the shipping weight of our product to such an extent that for the year of 1913 it saved in excess of 350 carloads of freight. It might interest you to know that the changes in vogue then and additional changes represent a saving to you in freight charges on more than 450 carloads for the year of 1915. This represents a saving to you in dollars and cents of more than $50,000. This year's saving will be on more than 650 carloads, and in dollars and cents, means more than $80,000 saved to our distributers. This saving in transportation charges not only affects you, but is again enjoyed by the dealer. When we come to the point of shipping our product! we load practically all of the cars. We do this for two reasons; first, to insure proper loading; second, to get the greatest possible weight into a car. As you know, all machines are shipped on schedules issued by our order department, and these schedules are followed out to the letter by the shipping department. We endeavor at all times, to load cars that will give you the best and quickest movement. We often ship machines in the afternoon that are received in the morning. This applies to machines which come through in quantities sufficient to cover allotment scheduled for all distributers in one city or territory. At all times the matter of transportation charges is considered, and when shipment can be billed as a carload showing a saving to you, it is so billed. Shipments going forward via boat line are necessarily hauled to Philadelphia, and such shipments we endeavor to deliver in ample time to make the next sailing. Freight conditions, however, are in a very congested state; every transportation company apparently having more business than it can handle and give good service. Some of the boat lines go so far as to stamp bills of lading, "subject to delay." Whenever possible, in making shipments, I can assure you that your interests are carefully watched, both regarding service and transportation charges. All shipments which go forward via express, are watched with the same care as far as service and transportation charges are concerned. In many instances goods receive special packing, reducing the weight and likewise the express charges. In many instances, express shipments leave our building direct for the trains, special arrangements having been made with the express agents, in order to insure quick deliveries. During the holiday season, all express shipments are hauled direct from the shipping room by the express companies, direct to the trains. Express wagons call for shipments four or five times a day regularly, and whenever necessary, special wagons are sent upon request. Parcel post shipments, when compared with the other business, are very small of course, but we still maintain good service in this branch, merchandise being delivered to the post office four times per day, and oftener if necessary. Cars are moved directly from our shipping department, where they are under cover at all times, and even under lock and key, until our own electric locomotive switches them onto the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. Gentlemen, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. After taking a high railroad official through the shipping department, he informed me that he knew of no article shipped where the care and protection were used to guard against damage while in transit, that Victor goods were receiving. He was up-to-date too, for after glancing at the veneer boxes he said, "You have the maximum strength, but the minimum weight." We feel that we are packing our goods well, but wish your co-operation to better conditions in the packing, in the same manner as in other branches of the business; therefore, should you receive any of our goods in an unsatisfactory condition, when advising us of this condition, won't you go into detail as far as possible, and any suggestion that you can make, I assure you shall be given careful consideration. While complaints are not pleasant to receive, I can honestly say they have been a great benefit in strengthening weak points in the shipping end of our business. I figure that men who make no mistakes do nothing, and try to impress upon my employes the fact that every mistake made, should be a lesson and improvement made from same. E. T. Kieffer, Superintendent Cabinet Factory Ladies and Gentlemen: — The birth of the Victrola inaugurated a demand for all that was best in materials and a construction heretofore never deemed necessary in producing woodwork. Shortly after its incipience it was decided to cut away from the hide bound processes of the woodworking field and introduce what was at that time thought, and since proven, to be, better methods and worth in the selection of the materials that go to make the Victrola what it is today, standing in comparison to other woodwork, in about the same relation as a plated watch does to a solid gold one. African mahogany, which enters into its construction almost exclusively, at that time was not a wood universally used by the cabinet makers of the world; no one had ever attempted to analyze its richness of figure and lustrous beauty in comparison with its domestic brother, the Mexican, so when the Victor entered the field of purchasers it did so much the same way as our forefathers hewed their way into new fields, flatly refusing to follow a beaten path in their search for the best that could be had, and decided at that time to use this class of mahogany exclusively. How wise their course was, has been shown by the fact that at this day African mahogany has become the one wood used exclusively throughout the woodworking trades and had it not_ been for the foresight of the Victor Co. in anticipating and preparing against a shortage, we would today be like the other factories throughout the country, facing a famine and compelled to use substitutes, but fortunately, the markets of the world were gone through in time and we have plenty for our needs, while others are, as before mentioned, using substitutes. When the Victor Co. first began to use this wood, it did so much as others would do; simply went into the markets and bought it and all the comments it made was that Victor wanted African wood. How different, however, today we now hear the word "Victrola" all over the world used to designate the kind of wood wanted and we find its name coupled with this wonderful .product of nature; we hear today of men sent specially into the forests of Africa to find trees that will make Victrola wood, trees that will be six feet in diameter, in order to produce wood twenty-four inches on the quarter; we hear of the markets of the world being combed for Victrola wood and instead of a man's waxing enthusiastic over a big log and saying what a magnificent piece of wood, he says there's a Victrola log; we hear of ships being char tered to bring Victrola wood here, of fabulous prices being paid insurance companies for its protection while en route to our shores during war time. Every effort of brain and brawn being used to enable us to give you a Victrola that is a fitting child to "its magnificent parent. The true African mahogany or Kahaya Senegalensis, as it is called, unlike its domestic relation, grows to enormous dimensions, standing alone, a veritable monarch of the forest; overtopping and of greater girth than its companions, it presents to the searcher the fulfillment of all his efforts, in locating this king of the forest and fully repays for the trouble of hewing and transporting to the coast, all of which has to be done through almost impassable forests, reeking with fever, reptiles and dangers that would try the courage of the bravest constitutions, and which has claimed its toll of human lives, in order to bring this wonderful product of nature to beautify our homes. Another wood that enters into the construction of the "Victrola" is walnut. A great many people have the idea that the selection of this wood is left to the general customary merchant-scheme. In other words, the purchaser goes out and selects what he can get. This, however, I can assure you, in the grade of wood demanded in the manufacture of our machines, is impossible. The class of wood we require can only be obtained by diligent search and great expense. As an illustration of the above statement, I would call your attention to the accompanying photograph, which I regret not having brought before you in a large picture, but owing to the need of this material, the tree was cut up before we ever decided to bring the matter to your attention. This tree, to which I refer, is one cut of about a thousand that were looked over and rejected because they did not measure up in beauty and figure to that which is required for our machines. Like the proverbial story of finding a pearl among swine, this tree stood out in its Left to Right— L. L. Roush, P. B. Whitsit, R. H. Morris, N. Goldfinger, L. J. Gerson Watching the Bathers beauty above everything else, representing one of the largest and finest specimens ever taken out of the State of Maryland, measuring five feet six inches in diameter, and producing more than seven thousand feet of perfectly sound and figured wood. Standing on the North Point Shore of the Patapsco River, about eighteen miles east of Baltimore, it was a monument to the most beautiful and historic spot in the State of Maryland, being the scene of the Battle of North Point An old colonial mansion stands there at this date, one hundred and thirty years old, which was the headquarters of General Ross while the British were landing for the invasion of Baltimore. In the ensuing battle, General Ross was killed. Walnut trees of this size have become a rarity, and the Victor Co., following its usual custom, on noting the perfections of this piece of timber, its size, soundness, color and figure, decided that it was to be Victrola wood. The veneers into which that tree was manufactured have justified this judgment in every respect, and will soon be submitted to you clothing a Victrola. I only point out to you this fact in order to make you appreciate what it means to select and procure our class of wood. In a like sense the construction has also called for all that was new and best in the minds of efficient and capable constructors, designed as a musical instrument, it has achieved a distinction with the priceless violin, the piano, harp, etc, to give us the renditions of the master, both of the past and present. Its peculiar dimensions lending itself to the caprices of shipping companies throughout the country demand a construction that will resist wear and abuse, to an almost unheard-of extent, to insure which, workmanship of the highest character has to be devised and followed in tie minutest detail. If I were to take you step by step throughout the factory and stop at each operation, I would only be successful in establishing one fact in your mind that would stand out indelibly, like a beacon light to a shipwrecked mariner, and that would be the merits of hundreds of inspections that take place before the Victrola finally takes its last plunge across the bridge into the machine department After the last cabinet factory inspectors agree to let it through it bids adieu to its home, there to be pounced on and turned over and divested of all its glamor by some of the most cold-blooded, unemotional inspectors that can be found, who absolutely refuse to let anything pass that does not meet with the Victor standard. This brings me to the point that affects you more than any of us and that is tne care of the cabinet after it leaves our hands Having shown you to what extent we go to produce a worthy instrument it is certainly not too much to ask you to continue on with the same desire to place it in the homes with the same adherence to details as called for in its manufacture Many a little scratch and bruise which mars its beauty can be readily obliterated if the proper method be employed; to this end I would ask you to study and develop a knowledge of this part of your work Efficient and capable instructors are always at your command in the factory, and an hour of your time spent among them will be of the greatest assistance and help to you in handling the cabinets as they pass through your hands. A great part of the causes for complaints from our distributers is traceable to careless handling and the climatic changes to which the product is subjected. ^ After the, case is unpacked, sometimes bruises and scratches are found, and the finish rubbed off or paper sticking to the cabinets, and it is my desire in connection-^ with this matter to offer a few suggestions, which may be of help in the successful handling of such minor repairs as may be necessary to place the cabinet in an A-l condi