Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
low price of the Edison records (they are job-
bers of the Edison goods) has proven a boon to
Other Uses for the Talking Machines Than as the small dealers out of town, enabling them to
an Entertainer—Fills Many Important Roles carry the entire catalogue with a comparatively
in a National Way.
small outlay of capital.
The other dealers, including Sherman, Clay &
That the talking machine has been an active Co., Kohler & Chase, the Columbia Phonograph
agent in the spread of civilization, in assisting Co., Cline's Piano House and William Martins are
exploration and in substituting peace for war, is all getting results from this branch of their busi-
shown by its history.
ness. Mr. Martins is the latest addition to the
Col. Colin Harding, the English explorer of the ranks, but he is holding his end up with the
wilds of central Africa, had many difficulties Victor line.
smoothed from his way by this instrument. Part
of his projected journey through Barotseland
EDISON PLANS AUTO TRIP.
and about the headwaters of the mighty Zambesi
river lay through a wild country peopled by W i l l Take Family and Friends in Three
blacks, who objected to the passage of a white
Machines on a 2,500-Mile Ride.
man's expedition.
Plans have been made by Thomas A. Edison
King Lewanika, of that country, approved of
the expedition, but the difficulty was to transmit for a 2,500-mile automobile trip, on which he
his wishes to the thousands of his subjects in the proposes to start this week. Accompanying Mr.
Edison will be his wife, his daughter, Miss Made-
remote corners of his dominions.
The phonograph was brought into requisition. line Edison, and his son, Charles Edison. The
The Barotse sovereign uttered his commands into inventor also expects to take along a few friends.
Three automobiles will be provided for the ac-
the instrument, and in this way records were ob-
tained in which the monarch exhorted all his commodation of the party. One of these ma-
chines will carry the cooking utensils and camp-
subjects to assist Col. Harding in every way.
Armed with these records, the explorer set out ing equipments, food and other paraphernalia.
upon his hazardous journey. As he penetrated The Edisons will take in a roundabout circuit,
into the country, the native chiefs displayed un- including Buffalo, Toronto, upper New York,
mistakable signs of hostility. On such occasions, Maine, other points in New England, and then
the colonel simply set the talking machine in up through Canada, where Mr. Edison will con-
action, and the unsophisticated natives were al- tinue his researches into the cobalt deposits. He
most prostrated by terror when they heard the thinks Canada will be found particularly rich in
tones of their august monarch proceed from what deposits cf this element.
they termed the "speaking iron."
PHONOGRAPHS NOT TOYS.
They looked at the instrument in awe and with
gaping mouths, expecting every moment to be-
In a decision by I. F. Fischer, the Board of
hold the form or spirit of Lewanika to issue
United
States General Appraisers overruled Tues-
from the "witch thing." When they heard the
royal commands they were very obeisant, and day a claim filed by Marshal] Field & Co., of
proffered their advice and assistance with the Chicago, it being held that phonographs are not
toys, and therefore cannot be given the benefit
utmost prodigality.
of the 35 per cent, duty accruing under the toy
In this way Col. Harding traveled over 8,000
schedule of the Dingley tariff law. The Collect-
miles without the slightest molestation and never
or's action in returning the phonographs as
had to use his rifle oh a single occasion in self-
manufactures of metal at the rate of 45 per cent.
defense against the blacks.
is affirmed.
1
When the Americans were extending their oc-
cupation of the Philippine Islands, the people of
GRAPHOPHONEJN VERSE.
a certain sovereignty manifested a disposition to
rebel. The sultan was induced to visit a war- Owner of One of These Machines Grows Elo-
ship, and, while in the captain's cabin, was en-
quent Over the Possibilities.
tertained by the productions of a phonograph.
So greatly was he pleased with the instrument,
E. D. Marsden, Mill Ash, Derby, Eng., writes
that he agreed to sign a treaty and "be good" if interestingly of his recent effort to arrange a
the phonograph was presented to him. This was program for a small cojicert. He says: "In
done, the treaty was signed, and the sultan de- addition to the ordinary songs, etc., a selection
parted in high glee with his new treasure.
of pieces was played on a sound-magnifying Co-
lumbia graphophone. The machine started its
BUSINESS RUSHING IN SEATTLE.
performance with a record which I had made for
the occasion, supposed to be the graphophone's
Getting Trade Diverted from San Francisco—
description of itself. This I had written in the
Difficult to Keep Stock Required—Johnston
form of a piece of poetry, and recited into my
and Other Leading Dealers All Very Busy.
machine with all the eloquence I could muster.
I do not profess to be a poet, but I managed to
•
(Special to The Review.)
Seattle, Wash., July 25, 1906. compose the following lines, which served my
As a result of receiving a large portion of the purpose in spite of their shortcomings:
"In me a wondrous instrument behold,
talking machine trade temporarily diverted from
For though I only do what I am told,
San Francisco, the dealers of this city have been
All music I can play! And such my skill
experiencing considerable trouble in keeping
That I can talk, or sing, or what you will.
their stock up to the usual size. Not long ago
The different languages—I speak them all
one house received over 20,000 Victor records in
With joyous laughter or in solemn drawl.
a double shipment, and within a short time such
My voice is ever changeful—loud and strong—
inroads had been made into this immense stock
One moment ringing out in glorious song:
that the company was short on many popular
And then you hear a tender, soft refrain
numbers. And as orders were taken for future
That leaves you sad. But now I change again:
delivery of the leading numbers, incoming ship-
With lovers' vows all passionate I cry,
ments were depleted almost as soon as received.
Or I can sing with dreamy lullaby.
The record famine does not apply to any particu-
I'll sing you anything! Would you be gay?
lar line of goods, for all are equally affected.
The merry music of the dance I'll play.
The outlook for continued good business in the
No instrument's too difficult for me;
•talking machine line is excellent, everybody be-
In bands I play them all in harmony.
ing busy.
Yes! Every sound I can command, and so
The D. S. Johnston Co. have found that the
HELPS TO SPREAD CIVILIZATION.
41
I'm welcomed and beloved where'er I go.
As king of entertainers I am known—
The new Sound-Magnifying Graphophone.
"This left room on the record for a short
speech, somewhat as follows: 'Ladies and gen-
tlemen, it gives me much pleasure to be here in
to-night in order to contribute to your
amusement. I shall do my best to entertain you.'
The record was not very loud, but on the 'Mag-
nophone' it was heard distinctly in every part of
the room, a large one. For anyone who wishes
to make use of the idea, I might say that any
local references and jokes are particularly ap-
preciated. It was amusing to watch the puzzled
expression on the faces of some of the audience
who did not understand how it was done. It is
surprising how many people there are who have
never realized that the talking machine can be
made to say anything by having the record pre-
pared beforehand."—Talking Machine World.
REGINA CO. NOW_V[CTOR JOBBERS.
Formally Appointed This Week—Will Also
Handle Edison Goods—Will Make Magnifi-
cent Display—Quarters Being Handsomely
Fitted Up for This Purpose.
The important announcement was made by
the Regina Music Box Co. on Tuesday that they
had been placed on the list of Victor jobbers,
and would in the future carry a complete line of
the celebrated Victor talking machines and rec-
ords in addition to their regular stock. They
will also deal in all lines of the Edison goods,
carrying a full stock of machines and records.
The magnitude of the equipment of the new
warerooms at 41 Union Square, becomes apparent
when a visitor is taken by Manager Wilbur to
that part of their establishment under ground.
There they will find a series of rooms, magnifi-
cently furnished in the most artistic style, the
rugs and furniture harmonizing with the beauti-
ful cabinets and pianos and player-pianos therein
exhibited. Each of these rooms will contain some
one particular line of the Regina product, rang-
ing from the smallest music box to the most elab«-
orate cabinet, and from a chime clock to their
1 (autiful Sublima piano, which is making such
a great hit with the dealers in coin-operated ma-
chines. In addition, two large parlors will be.set
apart exclusively for the talking machine busi-
ness, one to contain the Victor line and the other
that of the Edison. These rooms are very large,
and their acoustic properties are such that the
machines can be heard to the best possible ad-
vantage.
In the rear they have constructed large stock-
rooms, and have equipped a complete repair de-
partment, which will be under the charge of
their most experienced workmen.
They are bringing out a new line of hall clocks
with chime attachments, which they will soon
have on display in their main showroom. These
clocks have won a well deserved popularity, and
dealers are finding in them a work of art that
meets with a ready sale.
T. J. MURRAY OFF ON TRIP.
T. J. Murray, who has already made his name
famous as a salesman of the product of the
Columbia Graphophone Co., of 90 West Broadway,
left the early part of the week for an extended
tour through the Southwest and Mexico. It Is
his intention to make the name "Columbia" a
household word in that country.
J. E. Poorman, Jr., one of the leading talking
machine jobbers of Cincinnati, Ohio, was in
town the past week after a pleasant sojourn in
Atlantic City, N. J. He left on Tuesday for
Schenectady, en route for his home.
J. B. Kinsey, of the Crown piano store, Ft
Wayne, Lnd,, has added a line of "talkers."