The talking machine world (Jan-June 1918)

106 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD March 15, 1918 Al Jolson never sang a livelier song than ^There's a Lump of Sugar Down In Dixie." It's one of the many sure-fire sellers in the Columbia April program. A2491. Columbia Graphophone Co. Woolworth Building, New York THOS. A. EDISON AS A PROPHET Article Written by Him Forty Years Ago Gave Accurate Forecast Regarding the Wide Sphere of Usefulness of the Phonograph An article written by Thomas A. Edison for the North American Review May-June, 1878, recently came to light during a search among some old documents in Mr. Edison's laboratory. In this article Mr. Edison presented a number of categorical questions to which he appended answers, covering almost every phase of phonographic development, showing what has been successfully accomplished, as well as certain possibilities which subsequent developments prove that Mr. Edison was a prophet in his own country. This North American Review article, which by the way, is being reprinted in full in the current issue of the Amberol Monthly for its historical importance, emphasized Mr. Edison's ideas regarding the future of the phonograph, almost forty years ago, in which many of the accomplishments of to-day were then set forth as among the certainties. In his questions and answers he covered sound production in its various phases, record making and multiplication as well as the. preservation of sounds. He said further: "Conceding that the apparatus is practically perfected in so far as the faithful reproduction of sound is concerned, many of the following applications will be made the moment the new form apparatus, which the writer is now about completing, is finished. These, then, might be classed as actualities; but they so closely trench upon other application which will immediately follow that it is impossible to separate them; hence they are all enumerated under the head of probabil TEST offered to dealers to prove the superiority of Wall-Kane Steel Needles Take two standard disc records of the same selection, play one ten times with the same WALL-KANE loud needle; play the other record, the same selection, ten times, but with ten, new, full tone steel needles. You will find that the record played ten times with the same WALL-KANE needle will sound clearer, will have less surface noise, and that under the magnifying glass the grooves of the record played ten times with the ten steel needles will seem to be more disturbed. Beware of Imitations Package of SO WALL-KANE needles. Loud, Extra Loud and Medium, greater value than 500 ordinary steel needles, retails for 10c, costs the dealer 6j^c. Jobbing territories open. Progressive Phonographic Supply Co. 145 We.t 45th Street, New York ities, and each specially considered. Among the more important may be mentioned: Letterwriting, and other forms of dictation, books, education, reader, music, family record; and such electrotype application as books, musical boxes, toys, clocks, advertising and signaling apparatus, speeches, etc., etc." Mr. Edison treats these subjects in detail and shows how phonographic books may be used in the home; how the phonograph may be used for educational purposes; as a musical entertainer; as a family record; for toys of various kinds, and points out the possibilities of the phonographic clock that will tell the time of day, how phonography may be used for advertising, for transmitting the great speeches of prominent men, posterity and lastly, and in quite another direction, tells how the phonograph will perfect the telephone and revolutionize present systems of telegraphy. The article, which is very lengthy, certainly demonstrated Mr. Edison's complete grasp of the phonographic field four decades ago. TELLS OF COMPANY'S PROGRESS Phonograph Clearing House, Inc., Fills a New Field of Usefulness for Phonograph Manufacturers Generally — Centralizes Supplies In a recent chat with The World, S. N. Rosenstein, president of the Phonograph Clearing House, Inc., New York, gave some interesting ideas in connection with the foundation of his house, and the success which it is achieving. Before he established the Phonograph Clearing House, Inc., Mr. Rosenstein was connected with the phonograph industry in various ways for a number of years, and he states that he realized the need of a central depot for the busy manufacturer wherein he might find whatever he wanted without the least waste of energy. "To this end," said Mr. Rosenstein, "I established connections with the manufacturers in the East and West, and can now supply the manufacturer with anything he wants from a needle to a finished machine. I wish to call the attention of the manufacturers, however, to the fact that, as a rule, when the manufacturer is in the market for a new tone arm, sound box, motor, or other part, he does not know exactly just what he wants, and is desirous of learning just what is on the market that would best suit him. "He is, of course, hardly willing to enter as yet into direct communication with the 'parts' manufacturer, and that is where our clearing house can help him. We give the manufacturer the benefit of absolute tests on every article, and then sell him whatever he chooses to adopt without any additional cost, and certainly with less worry. In addition, we help many manufacturers dispose of overstock through our study of the sources of supply and demand." The Texas-Oklahoma Phonograph Co., Edison jobbers, with headquarters in Dallas, Tex., have leased a large storeroom measuring 50 by 200 feet, at 906 Commerce street, that city. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES HELP Why the Brown Disc Record Cabinets Grow in Popularity With the Trade The sales manager of the Globe-Wernicke Co., Cincinnati, O., manufacturer of Brown disc Brown Disc Record Cabinet No. 4-T record cabinets, in a recent chat with The World pointed out that the success of these cabinets may be attributed to the practical utility of its distinctive filing arrangements, and the favorable appeal which its other features make to the talking machine owner. The Brown disc record cabinet is so devised that a record may be found instantly, and the compartment from which it was taken is left open for its return. There is no danger to the record, as it is either on the ma 1 Hl^^ chine, in the hands ^^SSmM^^ of the operator or Br in its compartment. From the standpoint of attractiveness the Brown disc record cabinet harmonizes c o m pletely with the most expensive furniture in the living room or music room. It is splcn didly constructed, and is made in four sizes; two-drawer, four-drawer, six-drawer and twelvedrawer. The Globe-Wernicke Co. has prepared an artistic catalog, designated as No. 317, which is devoted to the Brown disc record cabinet. How It Operates