The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

The Talking Machine World Vol. 15. No. 7 TALKER AIDS AERIAL NAVIGATION Recent Experiment in Washington Opens Up Another Use of the Talking Machine — Sound Transmitted to Airplane Over the City One of the most unusual developments relating to the use of the talking machine in new fields is its adaptation as a guiding hand to aerial navigation. Experiments recently made public in Washington embody the talking machine in connection with the radio telephone and were demonstrated by the United States Signal Corps. By means of the device the voice of the talking machine was carried into the upper air regions and was audible to aviators flying over the city and announced to them that they were above the Capitol. The demonstration was conducted by Lieut. R. D. Duncan, Jr., of the Signal Corps, and is the result of long investigations by Major-General George O. Squier to make aerial navigation safer for the aviator. In the experiment the motor attached to a Victrola was started and the wireless transmitter adjusted to carry the vibrations to the desired distance. The aviator, according to a prearranged schedule, sailed over the city and his receiving set picked up the words "Washington Beacon, No. 1," sent out into space by the machine below him. E. F. Droop & Sons, wellknown music dealers of Washington, furnished the machine used in the experiment. TALKING MACHINE AN AID TO ART Mrs. Ethel Brasel, Manager Sherman-Clay Victrola Department, Shows Value of Talking Machine in Education of Children Mrs. Ethel Brasel, manager of the Victrola department of Sherman-Clay & Co., Spokane, Wash., was recently quoted in the newspapers of that city on the subject of the value of the talking machine in the schools as an aid to the appreciation of art. The public school officials in that city have expressed themselves in favor of this method and are using it with success Mrs. Brasel said: "The child whose home contains a talking machine is presumably a child who has a keener appreciation than the child who has not this advantage. Not one American child in a hundred, as the taste of the people now stands, is really musical from birth. We find only a small minority of children gifted with executive or creative talent in music, but every normal child has the capacity to enjoy music, and they should become acquainted with the good classics when the opportunity under proper guidance is available. "The children should be taught to listen iriteliigently to music in the home through good records of world-famed artists. The talking machine presents the most interesting, most efficient and most attractive of all means for producing musical feeling and knowledge of standard classics. "The child mind presents a field for promotive work in the love and appreciation of the noblest of all arts. We come to see more and more that music is something to be taught through constant presentation, and that a taste for good music is the most important element in -the development of the strongest character and mind." SHIP RECORDS BY AIRPLANE At the inauguration of the first aerial transportation service in Boston the Grafonola Co. of New England sent a shipment of records from Franklin Field to Swampscott in one of the planes operated by the North Shore Aerial Transportation Co. New York, July 15, J 9 19 HOLD ANNUAL OUTING NEXT MONTH Plans Perfected for "Big Time" of Talking Machine Men. Inc.. at Rye Beach August 13 — Sports and Eats Chief Features on Program The annual outing of The Talking Machine Men, Inc., the organization composed of talking machine dealers of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, will be held at Rye Beach, Wednesday, August 13. The trip to the beach will be made in buses and private cars, and the members will be notified of the time and place of the departure of the buses. J. J. Davin, the only "active associate member" of the organization, with a committee, has made arrangements for the afifair and it is probably the best-planned outing in the history of the association. Aside from the elaborate dinner that will be served in the evening, a light luncheon will welcome the guests upon their arrival. Arrangements for water sports, including row boats, a J. J. Davin ball game and field sports, are programmed, and in the evening the members and their guests will be entertained at a theatre party. The tickets will cost $4.00 and will include the bus ride, luncheon, dinner, theatre and an opportunity to take part in the activities of the day. The members will return to the city at 10 o'clock in the evening. The various affairs of the program have been placed in the hands of individual committees. This arrangement, together with a perforated card divided in a manner entitling the holder to luncheon, dinner and theatre, etc., will, it is thought, make for efficiency in carrying out the day's program. Much of thecredit for this year's affair, as usual, must be given to Mr. Davin, who, for the past few weeks, has placed much of his time at the disposal of the organization. Following are the names of those in charge of the various activities: Transportation from New York to Rye Beach and return, Cass Riddle; luncheon and dinner, E. Leins and F. H. Ponty; bathing accommodations, John Hunt and Al Adelstein; water sports, row boats, etc., Mr. Saunders; baseball arrangements and field sports, Messrs. Spillane and Thaw; dancing arrangements, Mr. Bouregard; publicity, finance and printing, A. Galuchie and J. J. Davin; pennants and buttons, Sol Lazarus; reception committee, Messrs. McCoy, Stiles, Clinton and R. Tusting, Sr. Pennants will be especially designed with the insignia of the association, and buttons to carry the name of each member will be provided. Price Twenty-five Cents "JAZZ" MAY START ANOTHER WAR! Nations Vying With Each Other for Credit of Originating the Jazz Band Idea — Paris Daily Has Story Claiming France Has the Honor V/ell! It looks as if France and the United States may have a little war all their own over the origin of the jazz band! There has been much speculation in the press of late in this country as to just where this tantalizing melody really started and while each one tried his hand at giving the only true history of its origin, placing the birthplace anywhere from the sunny South to the frozen North, everyone agreed that it was somewhere in this country. But now comes word in the shape of a cablegram to the New York Times stating that the well-known Paris daily, "Le Matin," declares the credit for inventing the jazz band belongs to France. It is not clear whether this statement is a part of the anti-American propaganda just now so prevalent in the French press, but it is made with evident feeling of conviction. The report goes on to say: According to this report the jazz idea originated in Paris in the time of the Directoire, when the people used to go with great frequency to ball concerts. The report goes on to say: "In those days as well as now people did not know what to do to amuse themselves; so they made a noise. Those who had great taste for noise went to the concerts of the Cat Orchestra. There were twenty cats with their heads in a row on the keyboard of a harpsichord. The performers by striking the keys worked a device which pulled the cats' tails, causing a caterwauling which gradually took on as much volume of sound as the jazz band and was fully as musical and entertaining. This so-called American invention is only a recurrence." And there you are! TALKING MACHINE EXPORTS DECLINE Exports, Including Records, for Ten Months, Ending April 30, 1919, Total $3,572,154 Washington, D. C, July 1. — In the summary of exports and imports of the commerce of the United States for the month of April, 1919 (the latest period for which it has been compiled), which has just been issued, the following figures on talking machines and records are presented: The dutiable imports of talking machines and parts during April, 1919, amounted in value to $30,402, as compared with $25,039 worth which were imported during the same month of 1918. The ten months' total ending April, 1919, showed importations valued at $233,128, as compared with $284,724 worth of talking machines and parts imported during the same period of 1918. Talking machines to the number of 3,743, valued at $141,057, were exported in April. 1919, as compared with 8,558 talking machines, valued at $254 022, sent abroad in the same period of 1918. The ten months' total showed that we exported 41,184 talking machines, valued at $1,244,583, as against 78,293 talking machines, valued at $2,168,752, in 1918, and 62,606 talking machines, valued at $1,612,957, in 1917. The total exports of records and supplies for April, 1919, were valued at $266,730, as compared with $177,973 in April, 1918. For the ten months ending April, 1919, records and accessories were exported, valued at $2,327,571, as compared with $1,653,390, in 1918, and $1,257,530. in 1917. The National Vitaphone Sales Corp. has been incorporated under the laws of New Jersey to manufacture talking machines, records, etc. The capital is $125,000. See Index of Advertisers on Last Page