Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
With the MaJters and Sellers of TaJking Machines
NO LONGER MECHANICAL.
AUXETOPHONE DESCRIBED.
FUTURE OF THE POSTCARD RECORD.
Loud-Sounding Machine Which May be A Novelty Which Has Captured the Fancy of
the Public—Some of Its Possibilities—Ex-
Heard Some Miles—Controlled in This
periments in This Field Going Steadily on.
Country by the Victor Talking Machine Co.
The Talking Machine Less Open to the Charge
of "Merely Mechanical" Than the Piano
Player—Its Artistic Possibilities.
A
Commenting upon the growth of the talking
machine trade among establishments other than
those engaged in the selling of pianos and other
musical instruments, our London namesake
treats of the matter very effectively and perti-
nently when it says:
"The reasons why this branch of business has
not been taken up by music dealers are as un-
accountable, whether on artistic or financial
grounds, as those which should have recom-
mended it are obvious. No objection could pos-
sibly be raised on the score that a talking ma :
chine is a machine merely, and so not worthy
of the consideration of dealers. The piano player
13 just as mechanical and automatic in its ac-
tion as a talking machine. Moreover, nobody but
a faddist will deny the many artistic and pleas-
ure-giving qualities of the latter. Nowadays rec-
ords, whether disc or cylinder, have attained
such perfection and such minute fidelity of re-
production, that not only are the purely enter-
taining properties of the instrument acknowl-
edged, but also its position as an educational
factor is indisputable. The singing student, who
by circumstances or distances is debarred from
hearing Melba or Caruso sing can do so at any
time and as often as he likes for a moderate
outlay. The British Museum has recognized this
and has caused records by our famous statesmen
and singers to be preserved for future genera-
tions.
"On purely business grounds we cannot think
of any adverse argument, not even the one that
such a machine would oust the piano from its
position as chief household instrument. A talk-
ing machine was never intended to enter into
competition with a piano; but in the case of, let
us say, two young married people, who are not
overburdened with wealth, and who, while un-
able to play any instrument, are yet sufficiently
musical to want some kind of music in their
home, a talking machine will meet their require-
ments admirably. A piano player, with which
a piano is necessarily required, would mean too
heavy an expense in the majority of cases. A
talker, on the other hand, represents the outlay
of a much smaller sum and in our typical case
would answer the purpose required. Why should
music dealers then allow this valuable addition
to their business to escape them? More especial-
ly in these times, when they complain of their
inability to sell expensive instruments, should
such an additional source of income be very wel-
come, especially as the outlay on each machine
is not overmuch, nor is the space required ex-
cessive."
There can be no doubt that the postcard at-
The auxetophone, a tremendously loud-sound-
tached
to which is a disc-record has begun to
ing talking machine, the invention of C. A.
capture the fancy of the public, and that the
Parsons, inventor of the steam turbine, is con-
trolled in this country by the Victor Talking Ma- demand for this interesting and amusing novelty
will be increased steadily. But the future ideal
chine Co., of Camden, N. J. Just how soon they
of the "speaking" postcard will be of a far higher
will place it on the home market is indefinite,
utilitarian value, if once the problem to convert
as careful study is being given to its utility and
what is to-day a very ingenious toy into a me-
particular field of value, preliminary to its for-
dium of exchange of thoughts (taking the place
mal introduction.
of written communications) is solved.
This ingenious invention is capable of produc-
This ideal letter should be composed in the
ing sounds that on a calm day may be heard dis-
tinctly for two or three miles and by it a speech following manner: The sender places a piece
may be followed in every word from 200 to 500 of paper into his machine, speaks his commu-
nication into the receiver, and then dispatches
yards at least. In this device, which is called
the letter in the ordinary manner. The addressee
the auxetophone, -the usual diaphragm of glass
will then place it on his own machine, and its
or mica in the producer is replaced by a small
contents will be spoken to him as often as he
valve, which controls the admission of com-
wishes.
pressed air to the trumpet. The air is supplied
It stands to reason that the paper used will
from a small pump or bellows contained in the
pedestal supporting the instrument at a pressure have to be of a special kind. An attempt has
of about two pounds to a square inch. The valve, been made recently to manufacture such a let-
ter or postcard by using so-called "chalked"
though of small size, consists of a fine comb of
paper, employed in art printing. Upon this
aluminum or magnalium, and the teeth of this
paper a phonographic record was made without
comb just cover the gaps in a corresponding
the help of galvanoplastic and hydraulic pressure,
comb of brass, through which the air tries to es-
with the result that this record can be repro-
cape from the compressed air chamber connected
duced on a suitable machine (which looks very
with the supply tube.
similar to a "Neophone") without the impres-
The little magnalium valve, which is very sions suffering to any great extent. We hear that
light, is hinged on steel springs, so that when its an influential syndicate has been formed in Paris
teeth are slightly lifted from the brass comb or to exploit this invention, and will soon be in a
valve seat, the air is allowed to escape at both position to place suitable machines, which will
sides of each tooth in very large quantities up be able to record and reproduce such letters, on
through the tooth combs and into the trumpet. the market.
When, however, the two combs approach closely
With the above experiments it seems as if we
and almost touch, the escape of air is checked
were entering into a new epoch in phonographic
and almost ceases. It will thus be noticed that
industry. Proofs exist (says the Phonograph-
the slightest movement of the magnalium valve
ische Zeitschrift) that it is possible to make and
on its supporting springs greatly varies the ad- reproduce direct records on thin paper. Further
mission of air into the trumpet, and being con- and more complete improvements can only be a
nected to the needle of the talking machine, the question of time, because the real crux of the
motion of the valve corresponds exactly to the mo- matter lies in finding a coating of the paper
tion imparted to it by the record, and also to the which will be soft enough to allow of an impress,
original wave of sound as recorded by the record- and at the same time hard enough to permit it to
ing instrument when the record was made.
be recorded. Whether this be done according to
The auxetophone reproducer may therefore be the phonograph or the gramophone system—that
called an air relay, for by its use the is to say, with a horizontal or perpendicular dia-
record has only to work a valve of special
phragm—is per se quite immaterial.
construction, which controls the power of the
compressed air. It is therefore of much greater
CARRIES ADVANCE RECORDS.
power and volume than the diaphragm repro-
ducer hitherto used, while it has the additional
A shrewd plan is that adopted by a traveling
feature of enforcing the harmonics, which gives salesman for a prominent jobbing house whereby
increased fulness of tone. Another feature of the he carries the advance records with him and
auxetophone is an ingenious little 'viscous con- plays them for the dealer he calls upon. The
nection,' as it is called, introduced between the selections are made on the spot and the order
needle and the valve, which adds to the softness sent in with neatness and despatch. This saves
of the tone, and its action may be compared to the dealer a trip to his jobber and all the time
the effect of the moisture in the throat of the used in what is generally regarded by a busy
singer, or the effect of age and playing in mel- man something of a nuisance. Dealers in refer-
lowing and loosening the fibers in the wood of
ring to this idea speak of it enthusiastically as
the violin.
up to date and a credit to its originators.
TRADE CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.
The latest reports from Berlin are that busi-
ness, particularly in disc records, is on anything
but a sound basis, and dealers in talking ma-
chines are talking of forming a union to protect
their interests. Records are being hawked about
by unscrupulous people, who sell them at a small
profit, thus creating a false idea of the business.
There is a great run in Germany on small disc
machines which sell from $2 upward. They play
a ten-inch record right through, and will doubt-
less find their way to the American market in
due course. They should prove a big factor
around the holiday season, and a strong com-
petitor for the cheap cylinder machine. The
disc talking machine seems to be growing in
favor, but the fight for trade is so keen that
prices are being cut and the outlook is anything
but a healthy one.
A NEW MACHINE.
Anything'
Hid
Everything'
in
TALKING
MACHINES
Wholesale
VAN BUREN ST.
James I. Lyons, 192-194 E. CHICAGO
A new machine, invented and made by a
genius of Cleveland, O., will be ready for a pri-
vate view of its powers in a couple of weeks.
Those who have been favored with a hearing in
the rough have been delighted with its perform-
ance; in fact, they pronounce it the best ever,
and something that will open the eyes of the
trade. The promoter tells this story, but as he is
no mean expert in talking machine devices, his
judgment must be taken for its face value. The
newcomer will be exhibited in New York before
a select few before the close of the month, and
then announced to the world.