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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
33
THE CONNfSUPREMACYj||~
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Che Small Goods trade
ENGRAVED CELLULOID RECORDS.
[Special to The Review.]
Newark, N. ]., July 23, 1901.
A patent case recently decided in favor
of Ademor N. Petit, of 7 Sydney Place,
this city, brings to light the character of
the new invention—an engraved celluloid
phonograph record. This is not, nor does
Mr. Petit claim it is, the first celluloid
phonograph record ever made, but it is the
first of its particular kind that has given
satisfactory results. Celluloid phonograph
cylinders have been tried before, but the
records on them have not been engraved.
By Mr. Petit's device the records are en-
graved upon it in the same manner as on
wax. It was while employed at the Edison
Phonograph works in West Orange that Mr.
Petit conceived the idea that celluloid pho-
nograph records could be made that would
serve the purpose required as well as wax.
In 1896 he began his experiments. It was
apparent to him at the start that the ordin-
ary celluloid in commercial use was too hard
to receive the impressions of the stylus, and
so he used a solvent to soften the surface
of the cylinder, and a fatty matter to act
as a lubricant for the stylus while the pho-
nograph was in operation. This method
gave only fair results.
Two year later he conceived the idea of
using an acid of oil. Its good results were
at once apparent. At first he feared the acid
might cause the quality of the celluloid to
deteriorate, but no such result ensued.
As the celluloid tubes on which the records
are engraved are inclined to warp, he at
first placed wax and then paper inside to
reinforce them. They proved scarcely sub-
stantial enough. At length he hit upon a
material which answered the purpose exactly
and which he is still using. It is a compo-
sition, the same as that used in the manu-
facture of telephone receivers. Into each
end of the celluloid tube Mr. Petit slips
two of the composition tubes, each one-
half of the length of the celluloid. They
fit tightly in the outer tube. Then he dips
the double tube into alcohol, which, be-
ing a solvent for celluloid, and also for
the composition matter, causes them to be-
come cemented together. Excepting for its
hardness the hollow cylinder, now a solid
tube, is all ready to be engraved.
Before the tube is placed on the phono-
graph or record-duplicating machine to re-
ceive the impressions which will make a
flutes, Piccolos,
Guitars,
mandolins, Banjos, Zithers
Mi
Clwi's musical • «
JOHN C HAVNES & CO.,
Importers and Manufacturers,
451 'Washington St., Boston, Mass.
ts
«
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complete record, he allows the celluloid to
absorb about one-quarter of an ounce of a
mixture composed of one part of acid of
oil and five parts of a liquid which is a sol-
vent for celluloid. By this process the sur-
face of the celluloid becomes of the same
degree of hardness as the ordinary wax
cylinder and therefore receives the same im-
pressions as wax would receive.
To facilitate duplication of the records
he uses in his experiments, Mr. Petit has
of his own, on which he has obtained three
patents. While other machines used for
duplicating have the two records on sepa-
rate revolving shafts, he has his both on a
single shaft, so that in course of transcrip-
tion no slip of the belting or other accident
can cause the shafts to move at different
speeds and thus impair the accuracy of the
process. The delicate adjustment necessary
in making and copying records is shown
by the fact that the average indentation on
the cylinder is sixty-three one-thousandths
of an inch, while for every inch of its length
the cylinder has about one hundred threads
running around it, making about four hun-
dred for the whole cylinder.
One of the big advantages claimed for
the celluloid is its durability. Patents on the
engraved celluloid cylinders have been taken
out all over the world, and in England a
preliminary company has been formed. The
inventor is trying to interest capitalists and
form a company here.
Mr. Petit's claim that he is the inventor
of the engraved celluloid record is disputed
by Frank J. Capps, of this city, who carried
the case before the patent examiner, Walter
Johnson, who decided in favor of Mr. Petit.
It is likely the case will be appealed.
In the Band Instrument Field Explained Succinctly
by W. Paris Chambers.
The Review, in passing through the
Chambers warerooms, 34 East Fourteenth
street, on Monday, noted that W. Paris
Chambers, who is a Conn enthusiast, was
disengaged for a moment, and said to him:
"Mr. Chambers, The Review has often
heard you speak in terms of unequivocal
praise concerning the merits of the Conn
instruments. Do you mind stating briefly
three good reasons why you prefer the Conn
instruments to those of any other make?"
"That is easy," was the cornet expert's
reply. "First and foremost, the valve-action
of the Conn instruments is so perfect that
absolute reliance can be placed on it. As
much cannot be said of many I have exam-
ined and played.
"The wind-passage construction in the Conn
instruments is another strong feature. They
are 'clear-bore,' which means, as you know,
that the valve-tones produce the same qual-
ity as the open tones.
"There are two reasons for you, and a
third is the superior intonation of the Conn
instruments. They are, in my opinion, far
ahead of any other in this respect, the valve-
pipes being made on scientific principles.
"I could give you, without effort, a dozen
other good reasons, at least, such as superior
durability, finish, style. But to an expert,
the three reasons I have stated definitely
count much more than almost aught else,
as they are vital when perfect rendition is
sought for."
HE MAKES MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Edward Tompkins of Hopedale, 111., is
a man who has a genius for making musical
instruments.
He has recently completed
six guitars of red wood and poplar, which
are of elegant tone and appearance. He
has also made half a dozen violins which
are claimed to be as good as any. A ma-
"SMALL GOODS" VACATIONISTS.
chine for bending the wood for these musical
William Tonk, of William Tonk & Bro.,
instruments has also been made by Mr.
is summering with his family at Kiemesha
Tompkins and may probably make him some
Lake, Sullivan County, N. Y. He spent money.
last week there, returning to business on
HOW DISTIN GOT HIS START.
Monday.
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In the early part of Queen Victoria's
Ludwig Tietz, of the Regina Co., is spend-
reign
a very talented family of the name of
ing a brief vacation with his family in the
Distin
earned considerable fame both in Eng-
vicinity of Niagara Falls.
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land and on the Continent by their singing
Joseph Mock, of William R. Gratz & Co., and admirable performance upon a quintet
starts on Saturday for a sojourn in the of saxhorns. Subsequently the party broke
country. He will be away two weeks, if up, and one of the members essayed to start
business permits.
a musical instrument shop in Cranbourn
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William H. Freeland, manager of Ham- street, Leicester Square, London. He was,
ilton S. Gordon's musical merchandise de- however, in very indifferent pecuniary cir-
partment, is arranging for a trip through
Scientifically Constructed.
Pennsylvania with Mrs. Freeland on a "bi-
Wonderful tone and carrying
cycle built for two."
p&wer,
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tArtistic
in
design and finish.
R. R. Duffin, traveler for the Symphonion
Manufacturing Co., begins a short vacation
Mandolins, Guitars,
Banjeaux, flandolas,
at Asbury Park to-day.
Banjeaullns, Harp-
Guitars, Handocellos,
John H. Tilton, the man who forged
Piccolo and Bass
Banjeaux.
checks on the Joiner-Kennedy Music Co., of
Indianapolis, pleaded guilty before Judge
Kent last week, and was sentenced to con-
WALDO MFG. CO.,
finement in the state prison at Michigan
City during the indeterminate period of two
SAGINAW, MICH.
to fourteen years.