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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Symphonion Co. Quarters.
Che Small Good* trade
A New Permanent Record
For Talking Machines—Edison's Latest Im-
provement of Great Value.
When the phonograph first made its ap-
pearance, in 1878, it took a remarkably strong
hold on the imagination both of scientific
men and the general public. It was prophe-
sied at the time that public speeches would
be dictated and reproduced before audiences
in any part of the country; letters would be
spoken instead of written, and re-uttered in
the accents of the sender's own voice; and,
greatest of all, perhaps, the voices of great
singers and noted men would be preserved
for the instruction and delight of future gen-
erations.
Up to the present time, the instrument has
been put to these uses to a very limited ex-
tend, to the last one scarcely at all. The wax
records ordinarily used are not adapted to
the purpose, because they are not sufficiently
durable. They are frail and easily defaced,
and gradually wear out after being used a
few times. There are now, however, two
or three satisfactory ways in which phono-
graphic records can be preserved indefinitely,
the most interesting of which, perhaps, is
described in a recent patent of Mr. Edison's.
From an ordinary wax record he produces
a very perfect duplicate made of silver with
a thin plating of gold. There seems to be
no reason why such records will not last for
centuries, and a collection of them, preserved
perhaps by our museums and learned insti-
tutions, should be of the highest value to
the future student of history, language and
music, more especially as it is possible, by
processes already well known, to obtain from
them at any time an almost indefinite num-
ber of excellent copies.
The reproduction of the voice given by the
phonograph is still somewhat disappointing,
and leaves much to be desired as a means
of studying language; but there can be no
doubt that if we had a collection of records
made, say, in the age of Elizabeth, and as
perfect as those now produced, we would
learn much of the speech of the sixteenth
century.
Mr. Edison's process is simple, but inter-
esting. He takes a copper electroplate of a
wax record. This copper relief obtained is
then electroplated with silver, the surface of
which, next the copper, of course, has pre-
cisely the form of the original wax surface.
BAY STATE
TRADE MARK
BOSTON
BOEHn SYSTEM
FLUTES and
PICCOLOS
USED BY THE GREATEST ARTISTS
Send for Descriptive Booklet
EVERY INSTRUMENT THAT'S MUSICAL
JOHN C. HAYNES & CO.
BOSTON, MASS.
"Yes," remarked Ged. Varrelman, who has
lately assumed the general management of
the Symphonion interests, and who also is
president of the corporation, "things are
moving along very satisfactorily with us
at the factory. I have had a prodigious
amount of work to do in order to re-organ-
ize the plant according to my ideas of music
box manufacturing. What is specially grati-
fying to me is the number of.orders which
1 am receiving from my old friends in the
.trade. Naturally, I shall incorporate im-
provements in the Symphonion boxes, and I
intend that they: shall be much better in ma*
terial and workmanship than ever, before.
Wherever weakness has existed it will be
remedied, as you know I am a veteran in the
music box business, and I feel that I know
just exactly the needs of the dealers in this
respect."
J
The Symphonion Mfg. Co. have secured
New York quarters in the Decker Building,
33 Union Square, where they will have their
general offices and also will carry a complete
line of samples.
.
--.'..
The copper matrix is then dissolved away
with acid.
In the electroplating process the wax rec-
ord is revolved under a bell-jar, in a Crookes
vacuum, through which an electric discharge
is passing between electrodes of gold. This
causes a discharge of a vapor or infinitesi-
mal particles of gold, which attach themselves
to whatever they strike, forming a continu-
ous coating of excessive thinness, and fol-
lowing the outline of the surface with ab-
solute fidelity. Upon this coating the cop-
per matrix is plated, to form the inside sur-
face upon which the silver is deposited when
the wax is removed.
The gold, like the silver, being unaffected
by the acid used, remains as a plating on the
silver record when the copper matrix is dis-
solved away. The amount of gold used is
scarcely appreciable, and the silver may, of
course, be a thin shell, backed up by other
material, so that the records are not as ex^
pensive as might be supposed from the mate-
rials employed.
May Dissolve the Company.
[Special to The Review.]
Here's Another Strad.
Newark, N. J., March 25, 1901.
The
stockholders
of the United States
W. J. Huckaby of Greenville, Tex. has a
Phonograph
Company
will hold a special
very old violin which is prized very highly
meeting
at
the
office
of
the corporation, 87
for its rich tone. It has been in the family
Orange
street,
this
city,
at noon on April
for about twenty years and Mr. Huckaby dis-
19th
next,
for
the
purpose
of deciding
covered this week that the instrument- had on
whether
or
not
the
concern
should
be dis-
the inside the following inscription: "Fried.
solved.
The
directors
have
adopted
a reso-
Aug. Glass Verfertigte nahr Antonias Stra-
lution
setting
forth
that
"in
the
judgment
divarius Fies Favis bat in Cremona A. D.
1736." The owner is now of the opinion of the board it is advisable and most for the
that the instrument was made by the cele- benefit" of the company that it should be
; ;
brated Italian maker of violins who was born '' forthwith dissolved."
in Cremona, Italy, in 1649, and died in 1737.
Tonk's Display.
fir. Wurlitzer Returns.
Rudolph Wurlitzer, Sr., of Cincinnati,
who for the past two months has been tour-
ing Mexico, returned to his home last week.
His trip was largely one of pleasure, al-
though his observations regarding the music
business are of considerable value. Busi-
ness in all departments of the Wurlitzer en-
terprise is brisk, the Howard mandolins and
guitars are in great demand in all sections
of the country, and the prospects are for a
good trade this year.
The local warerooms of Wm. Tonk & Bro.
are well stocked with new instruments of all
kinds and musical merchandise. This enter-
prising house has never been better able than
it is to-day to meet all requirements of the
progressive dealer.
Now the Phonautograph.
Among the certificates of incorporation
filed with the secretary of State of New York
on Monday was that of the Phonautograph
Co., with a capital stock of $60,000. The
object is to manufacture phonograph records,
etc. The incorporators: Francis J. Meeker,
Wm. Brooks, Jr., and John Weber.
The " Bay State" Exhibit.
It is a question whether any retail musical
instrument establishment in the United
States makes a better or more complete
showing than now appears at the local ware-
rooms of John C. Haynes & Co., 867 Broad-
way. The variety is almost endless. Every-
thing on exhibition is brand-new and really a
pleasure to examine.
;
1
HOWARD
mandolins and Guitars excel
all otters
T h e y are made on scientific prin-
ciples, and for volume, purity and
sweetness of tone, have never been
equaled, write for catalogue and
prices. J* J* j * jt' j *
Che Rudoipb UJurlitzcr Co.
manufacturers
121E. 4th St., oJt
Cincinnati
•A.-'-A