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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
FORMAL LAUNCHING OF THE AEOLIAN VOCALION.
The New Product of the Aeolian Co. Attracts Attention of Music Lovers and Wins Much Fa-
vorable Criticism—Some Special Features—The Graduola Device—Plans for Exploitation.
I he announcement made in these columns some
time ago that the Aeolian Co. had entered the talk-
ing machine manufacturing field naturally caused a
good deal of comment in music trade circles, for
Aeolian moves are always of interest to piano
merchants and allied enterprises everywhere.
This great music trade organization has received
most favorable criticism upon its new product,
termed the Aeolian Vocalion.
This new claimant for talking machine patron-
age possesses individual characteristics. The tonal
effects are most satisfying. In fact the tone of
the Aeolian is surprisingly clear and musical and
entirely free from discordant and detracting influ-
ences. Perhaps KS most remarkable feature is a
device termed the Graduola, which enables the
user to control, or modify, tone volume. Musicians
and artists have b^en particularly interested in
this new device, and they have not hesitated to
comment most favorably upon i:. A special fea-
ture is the Symphone ic horn, which is made up
of a series of wood sounding-boards under tension.
Also a new sound box. In fact, no one after hear-
ing the Aeolian Vocalion can deny its origin.il
features. It shows that Aeolian trial experts have
accomplished distinct results in the realm of tone.
The illustrations which accompany this article
will show two styles of the Aeolian Vocalion. The
company, however, proposes to put out a large
policy of close energetic co-operation with the
dealer will be followed.
Views are also shown of the Vocalion Salons
11
earnestly advised him to show his model to the
Aeolian Co.'s London house, assuring him of con-
sideration and courteous treatment if nothing else.
This advice he followed, and A. J. Mason, head
of the Aeolian Co.'s European business, was so im-
pressed that he secured an option on the patents
and sent Mr. Kmpson to the home office in New
The Vocalion Salon on Third Floor of Aeolian Hall.
York, where the Empson invention appeared so
at Aeolian Hall. This new department was opened
to the public shortly before the holidays, and has obviouslv valuable to the officials in New York
handled an unprecedented large volume of busi-
ness—a volume which • has been surprising, and
which indicates that when any product has Aeo-
lian backing it necessarily receives the attention
of v. large proportion of the musical public in th's
city.
The history of the product will be interesting:
In the latter part of 1012 F. J. Empson, of Sydney.
Australia, appeared in London, England, with an
invention for controlling phonographic tone. He
Aeolian Vocalion, Style L.
expected the English manufacturers would jump
number of models, so that there will be a wide at the chance to buy his patents. Instead he met
with a series of rebuffs which so discouraged him
range of prices in the finished product.
The Aeolian Co. is planning to build the new that he purchased his return ticket and made prep-
instruments in great quantity. They will be mar- arations to sail for home. Just before leaving,
keted throughout the Aeolian organization in however, he called to say "good-bye" to II. S*
America and abroad. The methods will be con- Spottiswoode, chairman of the famous old English
s.ruetive and creative, typical of the Aeolian Co. linn of piano manufacturers, Hroadwood & Sons,
Extensive advertising is being prepared, and a with whom he was acquainted. Mr. Spottiswoode
Aeolian Vocalion, Style K.
The
Aeolian Vocalion Quarters on Second Floor Aeolian Hall.
that exclusive rights for the entire world were
secure 1 and Mr. Empson returned to Australia
not only enriched financially, but highly pleased
with the recognition and courteous treatment he
had received.
In the two years that have elapsed Aeolian ex-
perts have been intensively at work developing the
mechanical principles of phonographic construc-
tion, bringing to the task the wide knowledge of
the science of sound which lias enabled these men
(Continued on page 13.)