CENTIMETERS

,aSd Uoru

A SELECTIVE MICROFILM EDITION PARTY (1911-1919)

Thomas E. Jeffrey Senior Editor

Brian C. Shipley Theresa M. Collins Linda E. Endersby Editors

David A. Ranzan Indexing Editor

Janette Pardo Richard Mizclle Peter Mikulas Indexers

Paul B. Israel Director and General Editor

Sponsors

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey National Park Service, Edison National Historic Site New Jersey Historical Commission Smithsonian Institution

A UPA Collection from

LexisNexis*

7500 Old Georgetown Road • Bctlicsda, MD 20814-6126 Edison signature used with permission of McGruw-Edison Company

Thomas A. Edison Papers at

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey endorsed by

National Historical Publications and Records Commission 18 June 1981

All rights reserved. No part of this publication including any portion of the guide and index or of the microfilm may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means — graphic, electronic, mechanical, or chemical, including photocopying, recording or taping, or information storage and retrieval systems — without written permission of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The original documents in this edition are from the archives at the Edison National Historic Site at West Orange, New Jersey.

ISBN 978-0-88692-887-2

THOMAS A. EDISON PAPERS STAFF (2007)

Director and General Editor Paul Israel

Senior Editor Thomas Jeffrey

Associate Editors Louis Carlat Theresa Collins

Assistant Editor David Hochfeldcr

Indexing Editor David Ranzan

Consulting Editor Linda Endersby

Visiting Editor Amy Flanders

Editorial Assistants Alexandra Rimer Kelly Enright Eric Barry

Outreach and Development (Edison Across the Curriculum)

Theresa Collins

Business Manager Rachel Weissenburger

BOARD OF SPONSORS (2007)

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey National Park Service

Richard L. McCormick Maryanne Gerbauckas

Ziva Galili Michelle Ortwcin

Ann Fabian

Paul Clemens Smithsonian Institution

Harold Wallace

New Jersey Historical Commission Marc Mappen

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD (2007)

Robert Friedel, University of Maryland Louis Galambos, Johns Hopkins University Susan Hockey, Oxford University Thomas P. Hughes, University of Pennsylvania Ronald Kline, Cornell University Robert Rosenberg, John Wiley & Sons Marc Rothenberg, Joseph Henry Papers, Smithsonian Institution Philip Scranton, Rutgers University/Hagley Museum Merritt Roe Smith, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS

We thankfully acknowledge the vision and support of Rutgers University and the Thomas A. Edison Papers Board of Sponsors.

This edition was made possible by grant funds provided from the New Jersey Historical Commission, National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and The National Endowment for the Humanities. Major underwriting has been provided by the Barkley Fund, through the National Trust for the Humanities, and by The Charles Edison Foundation.

We are grateful for the generous support of the IEEE Foundation, the Hyde & Watson Foundation, the Martinson Family Foundation, and the GE Foundation. We acknowledge gifts from many other individuals, as well as an anonymous donor; the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies; and the Edison Electric Institute. For the assistance of all these organizations and individuals, as well as for the indispensable aid of archivists, librarians, scholars, and collectors, the editors are most grateful.

A Note on the Sources The pages which have been filmed are the best copies available. Every technical effort possible has been made to ensure legibility.

PUBLICATION AND MICROFILM COPYING RESTRICTIONS

Reel duplication of the whole or of any part of this film is prohibited. In lieu of transcripts, however, enlarged photocopies of selected items contained on these reels may be made in order to facilitate research.

EDISON GENERAL FILE SERIES

1915

Edison General File Series 1915. Phonograph - General (E-15-65)

This folder contains correspondence, interoffice communications, and other documents relating to the commercial and technical development of Edison's cylinder and disc phonograph. Included are letters pertaining to the selection of talent, music, and musical instruments for recording; customer relations; and activities among Edison’s agents and competitors. Many of the incoming letters bear Edison's draft reply in the form of marginalia. Among he documents for 1915 are numerous items regarding the marketing of the Edison Diamond Disc phonograph. A communication from Walter L. tcKert general auditor of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., lists monthly expenses for recital and demonstration work from September 1914 through January 1915 There are also references to recitals sponsored by local phonograph dealers. In addition, there are testimonial letters and reports by demonstrators in regard to a series of non-commercial recitals at churches, hospitals, schools, police and fire departments, fraternal lodges, and other organizations. A sample of these documents has been selected.

Other items relate to the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego and the Panama-Pacific Exhibition in San Francisco, the preservation of sound recordings, and product quality testing. Also included are recommendations of songs and recording artists, complaints about the technical and artistic quality and limited repertoire of Edison recordings and suggestions for improvements in the phonograph, some of which Edison referred to members of the laboratory staff for consideration and comment. Several documents refer to an attachment that would allow the lateral-cut records produced by Victor and Columbia to be played on Edison Diamond Disc phonographs. At the end of the folder is a 72-page pamphlet with annotations by Edison, entitled Edison Retail Salesman's Sales Manual along with a promotional brochure for the Edison Dictating Machine entitled The Goose, the Typewriter, and the Wizard.

The correspondents include George L. Babson and L. S. McCormick of the Phonograph Corporation of Manhattan M M. I B|acJman of ^ Phonograph Co. (Kansas City), Herbert E. Blake of Blake & Burkart, H. H. Blish and George C. Silzer of Harger & Blish, C. E. Goodwin of th Phonograph Co. (Chicago), and numerous other phonograph dealers and marketing representatives. There are several letters by Thomas P.

Westendorf, composer of "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen," which reportedly was Edison’s favorite song. A letterfrom investment banker, benzol supplier, and phonograph enthusiast Clarence Dillon recounts an amusing anecdote about his six-year-old son (and future U.S. Secretary of the Treasury) C. Douglas Dillon.

Approximately 25 percent of the documents have been selected. The material not selected includes unsolicited suggestions and inquiries from inventors and other unsolicited correspondence receiving no substantive reply from Edison. Also not selected are lists of phonograph dealers, letters of transmittal and acknowledgment, and daily and weekly reports concerning quality testing, sales, and other commercial matters.

Edison General File Series 1915. Phonograph - General (E-15-65)

July - December

Doar Mr. Meadowcrof t :

The Edison Phonograph arrived a few days ago and it was put into opera¬ tion by the man you kindly sent. It is oortainly a wonderful instrument and I have greatly enjoyed some of the splen¬ did rooords.

Please aooept my best thanks for your kind interest in this matter.

Mr. YJ. H. l.toadoworoft ,

Edison Laboratories, Orange , H . J .

JL„

My dear Mr. Edison:

I wish to express to you my best thanks for your kindness in send¬ ing me the new phonograph and reoords and particularly for the highly valued dedioatory plate. I have already enjoyed several of the splendid reoords, among which I have found the Female Solos and Violin Reoords to be exceptionally fine.

I shall treasuro this gift most highly and valuo it also for the friendly continent with whioh it was convoyed, as indicated by tho namo plate.

Again thanking you most sin-

Thomas A . Edison , Esq . , Orange ,

Hew Jersey.

Master and Miss Paradofska

WJ at

^ j July 6, 1915.

u / -r(^ <P.s^« '>vt'( — — nd uer

Mr. Thomas A. Edison. . ) ixurfi*—

— "• “• j- on. ^ ^ ^ ..-4-

Dear Sir: at^' " j

It is with a great degree of satisfaction that I offer the recital of Master and pHUs E&r adof ska r ^

In these two children we have a jreally distinctive musical novelty. Already they tove made a place for themselves here in Town, and have been accorded the recognition of the musical world.

I am now hooking their Summer engagements and should he very glad to arrange an appearance for you.

Yours faithfully,

-fcr,«£ <-cc*<n-"'4aS:

-i

[ATTACHMENT/ENCLOSURE]

Once in a blue moon tbe musical ’world is startled bp tbe appearance of some Mouthful pro¬ digy who, bp bis Voice or playing seems to con¬ trovert all known rules and theories as to study and practice. Last Winter there arrived in New York two such musical phenomena in the per¬ sons of Master Alado and Miss Olga Paradofska. They are brother and sister and are sixteen and fifteen pears of age, respectively.

The boy has a vJonderful personality and is a truly great pianist. He plays the composi¬ tions of Chopin, Grieg, Schumann, MoszkovJski, Bach, etc., vJith all the soul and temperament and fire of a master. He has committed to memory oVer one thousand pages of^music, and plaps such difficult things as the “Tann- hauser Overture,” the “Spanish Rhapsodp of Liszt and the “Riggoletto Paraphase” with finished individuality.

[ATTACHMENT/ENCLOSURE]

The girl has a coloratura-soprano voice of surpassing beauty and tone. It is permanently placed and has a Wonderful range. She has a repertoire of over thirty arias from grand opera, and sings the “Mad Scene from Hamlet,” “Vissi de Arte from Tosca” and the “Pleading Song from Robert le Diable” with the grace and force¬ fulness of a Prima Donna.

From a cultured family and speaking over six languages, Master and Miss Paradofska are a most picturesque little pair. It seems extraordi¬ nary that at their age they should be able to gWe a recital worthy of the critical attention of the most discerning music lover, and at the same time retain all the sweet and simple ways of children.

Unassuming and modest vjhen they appear in public, their audiences are thrilled and aston¬ ished at the positive power and musical expres¬ sion of these two children.

This Summer they will accept a few en¬ gagements to appear in private drawing-rooms, and vJill furnish a complete surprise to those who can arrange to have them.

Peter NevJton.

Aeolian Hall,

New York.

Telephone, Bryant 8538

July 6, 1916.

Mr. Mitchell:

In the minutes of the sixth engineering committee meeting, will he found a memorandum as follows .

"A test was made to determine whether the Edison Diamond Grease which is now used in the Assembling Department could he smeared on steel parts to prevent rusting. A pieoe of steel was partially ooated^with this greaie and left e^osed out of doors for several weeks. When the grease was removed, the metal was found to ho in A-l .oondition. 0/e ,,

this grease for use for such gurposo.

. Is:: i ISr

indicated.

M. S. HUTOHISOM.

^ V ffn-rrr1- Kt24 Olivs St. . 3 1 . Louis. .

y®*2S£Sa^ J«U 8. If IJ. J. Jo w

».. A. BAUon.-fC ^

Orange, A Hi <vw\

N* J- itr f t? ^^*4

Bear Sir. Heoently> j ‘h^'g^jnterr^iew^ ^Lth Cha^es^Jiankel the composer who has set helore theWrld snesd “aaterfly musical themes a^K‘p!S|§pxtl^y ^ }ff PJfif

This man',1'' ^ ‘feTar n'^'i e ,, a 'ataunch friend of Philip

lv*- «*--■£ ^ * *"

Sousa many of whose Best compositions havejjsen submitted to him (Kunkel) for criticism. Mr. Kunkel egj^Llarge £®es for his criticisms of other composer'e themes.

This Kunkle is an admirer of the DIAMOND DISC and the object of the interview, at hie own solicitation, was to

records and instrumental solos. He criticises these severely, not alone our instrument but all reproducing machines claiming that these accompaniments far from being executed correctly as to balance etc. Ee informs me that this Pall he intends negotia¬ ting with the Victor Co. to produce some "perfect piano records" and "perfect piano accompaniments such as have never been known before". He imploys, he tells me, a' method ¥hat renders the ree- ording of the piano nearly perfect and, as relatives of his (one a son) are local representatives for the DIAMOND DISC under the name of Kunkel & Kenkel he is as willing to perfect these accom¬ paniments and produce piano records for you as for the Victor Co. if sufficient inducements are tendered him.

Mr. Kunkel' s address ie *2828 Nest Pine 3oulevard,St. Louis. Very respeotfully ,

01tc Ituiuersity nf jEttutcanta

(Enllrgr of Srlcitcr. Sitcralurr. anil tljr Arln ffllm iirnlta

July

Mr. Thomas AlvaJjt Edison,

Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Dear Sir:-

The enclosed circular is self-explana¬ tory, and X need not dwell on the national im¬ portance of the undertaking. Permit me to men¬ tion, however, that under no circumstances is there any hope for personal gain of any kind whatsoever connected with this on the part of those who are starting this enterprise. We are sending thi3 letter to about fifty men of na¬ tional standing with the intention of using their endorsements as an exhibit in our petition to the Carnegie Institution, and should be very glad if you would consent to express your approval by your signature on the enolosed card.

Permit me to add a request for commercial advice , which I ask you to refer to the appropriate department. In submitting the petition it will be essential to give an appropriate estimate of the probable oost of the undertaking. On the basis of collecting one thousand records a year — assuming one thousand to be a minimum which could be multi-

piled as the financial appropriations may permit— what would he the cost of preparing these records merely from the technical side; that is, not count¬ ing expenses for field work, correspondence, and similar matters.

Trusting that you will he willing to co¬ operate with us in this important scientific enter¬ prise , I am

P-P

<dn .

Very sincerely yours.

[ATTACHMENT/ENCLOSURE]

To the President, 'Jarnegie ins

intt rrusuees 01 me Dilution ,

Washington, J).0.

I support the petition for the estab¬ lishment of a national Phonogram Arohivo for the purpose of collecting, preserving, reproducing and distributing records of American speech, and for the purpose of preparing an American dialect atlas.

July 10th. 1915.

Ur. EDISOH:

Here are all the papers relating to this invention. I suppose there Is no such Immediate hurry that it cannot wait un¬ til 1 return from vacation. If you think it can wait, this memo¬ randum and these papers can go to my stenographer and he will file them so that I will take them up again on my return.

M5ADOWCROFT .

3 ^

•‘THE HOUSE WITH THE GOODS

$av£ii§omMttSfeQ‘ ?

Efotam StfrtrUmtora Exfluaroelij

n JiJUUtUJWUUXi » -

_ /l) TRAN S APII0NE3

im 0L1VB STREET eomuLMr 1 N TELESCWBES

ST. LOUIS, MO. July 12( 1915, V

A. Edison, \ C “ '

ange , N, J.

dieon: Uca>

We are enclosing herewith a, com: a ~uJ

3 V

M/WWVWV fcafJMrtWjr

e Globe-Demo crav; one of our leading da:

have forwarded a copy to all of

Thie series of articles was gotten up by our Ur* Silverstone and published twice a week

- Automatic) Stop Arm

Mr. Edison:-

A model of this device, like the attached photograph,

has been made and teeted out.

There many difficulties in the nay to make it success¬ ful and believe that the call for it uould be small.

Advise that nothing further be done uith it, and can see no objection to aliening Hr. Pettlbone to manufacture this de¬ vice as an attachment to the phonograph, if he nisheo to.

John P. Constable. Assistant Chief Engineer.

_ k. wnnTXNO

jit-ubvjicn statpje oticbis*

FRAMHNHJIIIA.M CENTER IHL^SSACJJUUJSllCTTS

^7

/

'Summer addrees Box 231 ::::::

Ogunquit Maine

Ogunquit, Maine, July 15th 1915

Bear Mr, Edison:

In one of your kind letters you Bpoke of a new series of Diamond Disc phonographs. May I trouble you once more, to aek if the mechanism of the later instru¬ ments io "an improvement" over the present machines, or just the same? As soon ,as they are ready my intention is to order another (my fifth order, by the way!) and thiB is why I ask. I take a sincero interest in the ”£(d this afternoon a party of music-loving f our bungalow to hoar what the diamond d Very truly yours,

Mr.Thos A. Edison.

tiU**** 2-

\ ( p 4-t— 1

Keokuk, Iowa

July’ 17, ISIS .

. . with off Ar> OOO

Kr. H. t . Miller, Secretary,

Thos. A. Edison Laboratory,

Orange, H. J.

Dear Sir, ^ b(jg to ROknowledge yours of the 14th. inst. viith Ar < ■

th- invention that 1 made for you. I will accept on those terms thrft tn- invou draw up your contracts at once if you ffflBn

proceed to Jet the asoiSenfmade over to you exclusively. > can correspond to me concerning what I should do, and I will meet/our commands. /

As for getting a patent, I think you will have no tXble.

T .h1nk that thisSwill not conflict vith the French patent i/^lOlas, L 5; os not encase the speaker like the French patent but i filler of Rubber which is a marvel and peculiar to itself on the 2d i- son monograph. Ijill^end to ^ich^you c^

and"sof tness of the tone is marvelous in the voices especially.

Have Mr. Edison inspect this devise that I send and Judge as + n merits . I sent the diaphragm arm that tho oevise v.as attached tn T'r readoweroft, Mr. Edison's assistant. This diaphragm arm has a feed nut of the series #22409 *hich I cannot get from the agen- rv If “on can send me a duplicate so that I can preserve my machine, I will remit on price if it is at your convenience.

vou will understand that any improvements that I may be able to make at any time will be gratis to the ;,d is on Co., that is, if it is anything of Importance to your corporati n.

Yours respectfully,

<T

E. Eo FITZHUGH & CO.

FIRE INSURANCE

Waco, Texas, _ iTvtly 17th 1915 —

.Thomas A. Edison )

_ Oronge N.J.

r Sir -' Sometimes a valuable idea strikes even an ordinary brain which if followed up would be of value- This has probably been worked out already-

The idea I have is that a contrivance might be invented by- means of whioh a record may be made on a tablet or something of the kind in connection with the telephone to record the number of the phono whence the call eminatos.

This would bo a great convenience to the owner of a phone- should ho be absent from his offioe and return and find a rec¬ ord of the callB that had been made, during his absence- . this would give him the information,^ to who had called him. Has anything of this kind ever been- tried out- An answer would be highly appreciated-

d. <£.

■ ^y^/9 '9/*~

~774*- ^ 7*~ ^Oc^C^-y

J^~

OcLu^-lrL*. zxr£t-*mJL* •$■ **v+*-A~<4~ #V**-*-<^

y"^ 3 a£^j-

^4,

<lsv W<. .

X-<^CC.

Frederic A. Whiting

t.-'Vftrc,.

I*'1' 4^1 tJatfa3ti9i5

I "hato awfully" to corua ao 3oon with another quoation.but it io not a matt or of curiosity but deep intaro st and musical enthusiasm.

About two months ago you spots of the improved mechanism of the now phonographs, and the now circular announcements, which I 'nave seen, speak of the same feature . . . improved mechanism. That io vrhat X wieh to make suro of. If there is to be any improvement in the mechanical construc¬ tion X wish to wait for that; but if not (ao you* note just received implies,) I might as well order my fifth "Edisona" now. Your note says "the improvement is in the records. " Good'. Maybe you'll oliminate the friction and noise.

But-— io tho mechanical construction to remain unchanged? That is what I auk

I heartily approve the largo orches¬ tra and the reproduction of Boothoven's works. They will bo received by music lovers with enthusiasm. Some of the bout impressions I have made on listenors is with the oorioua and sacred records. .the oimvle hymns (such as O; love that will not let ma go'Caung so evenly and well, by a well balanced quartet; ). .and when any one questions the supremacy of the "Edi- oona" I wive one of the bout Victor rec- ors -one of Yelba's- and follow that with your #82059 . . or 82525.. or 82076.. or some othor absolutely truthful reproduction of a perfect voice.

The Canadian Mutoscope Co.

OFFICE: 282 ST. LAWRENCE BOULEVARD

MONTREAL, CAN . Jm? 81 / 15

Thomas A. Edison, Inc, ORANGE. N.J.

Dear SirB:-

There is a Big Demand for the £

WEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING,

I enolose a Newspaper Clipping from The Montreal Daily Star.

You ought to make a Record of this Song by Manuel Romain. and get-tout as soon as possible,

making

There are Two Singers that you have been^Rocords from and putting on good Songs and they have been Killing them,

No One will listen to the Songs they sing,' even at a Cent Game, these Singers are Frank X.Doyle and Owen J. McCormack,

You should Cut them from your Record Making, for they are Punk,

another thing I would like to draw your attention to,

is the Blue Amberol Records are not near as Good now as they were

at First ,

They Tone is not near like what they used to be, they have a far Off distant Tone as though the Singers were Singing Through a Megaohone ,

You ought to look into this matter and see where the trouble is,

I Told Mr Coleman of The R.S. Williams & Sons Co .Montreal, several Times about the this defect in the Blue Amberol Records,

I dont know how you expect Dealers to Sell these Records @ 70^ when the Public refuse to Pay One Cent to listen to them,

I am speaking from the experience I am having in Our Arcade,

Your3 very truly

262 St Lawrence Blvd,

MONTREAL. CAN,

[ATTACHMENT/ENCLOSURE]

THE MONTREAL DAILY STAR: SATURDAY, JULY

A SERIOUS COMPETITOR WITH "TIPPERARY" A T THE FRONT 1

"When Irlih- Eyes -Are Smiling”— an extremely catchy tune which is familiar to most Londoners— has to a certain extent ^challenged . “Tipperary” in popularity qt the front. . Its .original melody and sirong -'undercuri-ent of 'em otion appeal strongly -to . Tommy’s fancy. All up-to-date regiments, are humming -it, says the London Sphere. Here is the chorus:

• H . chorus ' " 1 . ; s' ’ - v

July 23, 1916.

aA

Hof erring to the attaohod memorandum from Hr. Edisoh. X thoroughly agree that we should he able to place a Diamond Disc Phonograph in every good motion picture theatre.

In the past we have made several abortive efforts in this direction. The obstacle encountered in the ordinary solicitation +vn+ +Vi« i Yin'fc-mmprit . not being ablo to ploy music cues for the pictures, simply represented an added expense in no way neoesBary to the oonduct of the theatre. It requires actual demonstration in a motion picture theatre and proof that music on the Edison Diamond DIbc draws patronage to separate a h. P. man from his money. The Phonograph Company, Kansas City, is experimenting in the motion pioturo field and urging its dealers to** do so, hut as yot no very satisfactory plan of procedure has been developed.

One plan of prooodure that we might try is to run an ad in tho Kinetogram, the Motion Picture Division's house organ whioh reaches a largo numhor of motion picture oxhj.bivorB.

In this advertisement we could urge motion pioturo theatres to add the Diamond Disc as a special feature of their program, and suggest that thoy try tho experiment hy borrowing an instrument from the looalnBdison dealer. A y^y jfgotlve could he written along this lino ///that the theatre would m, cmnA Anal of monev to have Anna Case oomo there and sing. ^Jests CS si that when Caso sings with her Diamond Di^c records

tho recreation of her voioo cannot bo distinguished from the original, eto., etc.

in the Phonograph°°tonthlyfetheradvertileSenthwe run In *£®t^t0"

fheatras^for^the opportunity^to'demonstrate^hetoer the Edison

SS&3S S?i

and we would of course invoice the co-operation of the Jobbers.

The foregoing is simple enough ,

•d) Should we prepare a one sheet poster to he state that the artist is singing at the theatre?

Mr. Hlley -2-

(2) If a one eheot poster 1b not the thing for ub to use , should we have oomo oort of placard?

(3) Should wo prepare b ample advertisements and preo8 notices for the theatre to uso?

(4) Should we prepare slides, and If so, along

what lines?

I should like it very much If you would have your men, or at least your squad managers, give ub their suggostions.

WH-AB

C.

L.

U. to Messrs. C. MoChesney

2- / 9 / 4 *■'

7*vu J-f slfo-sU^

■Z^rtr- 7ry.<r+l*^ c*s&-*

"jb> </4 t-*-T-zsas£Zs*xs£~‘ 6t>

jzrf

,/S. .■«« <f ca£/<~/.. a-t.'.-oS.e-*-i^£y ff-t*-

J 6%.

~?>l.c**-£*-<r{. "^y CZ^r-L-Ji syrJtA&J*-*- **J-a~*

■ t)

'~p£^ed~- (*szu

A6-*^o-,

c*s<(r. -i*sf

A^^,o-CC a^T ^/U~^(^

SLY XSO Ck,

1

July 26th. 1910.

Regarding the use. of the Amberola "30" for the International Corron-

Same tine ago, when we decided to make experiments on Eamo Recording fo/^this machine. It was deoided to sell the same equipment, if it was ssooeosfnl, e International Correspondenoe Schools.

I enclose correspondence from Ur. Durand and understand from him that . 0. S., require a two-minute machine. For home recording we axe working on >! th/e four-minute machine only and 1 would like to he advised as to whether we want to go Into this matter for two-mlnute machines , which will necessitate a twoemin- ute Recorder, a two-mlnute Reproducer, two-mlnute Feed Sorew, and a two-ainate Feed Hut, which will he different from the regular standard tohorola "BO".

As I understand at the time the I. 0. s were to use our standard equip¬ ment for the Anfcerola "BO" except the Recorder end Roprodnoer, and that would he standard for the Home Recording on this machine. Kindly . advise me on this

matter and I will take It up with Ur. Edison, to see what he wants me to do on the subject.

Might report for the present, that the Home Recording hoe been held up for some more Important work vtoloh Ur. Kennedy has had to take care of ftoe for lhax Mr. Edison. Also that this work shows progress, hut it will be some houtho be¬ fore we will be able to put anything on the nniket for Home Recording, and that there are still a good many difficulties to be overcome.

John F. ConB table.

P

j . o Assistant Chief Engineer.

O* t*-' - v* <F§

KRUDKIUO A. WBITINO \{Lp* ^ .^X'P'^'\ \ eJf '\ /V

nLUJVBNSTATESTKBBT lCK^ ^ W „

FBAMINOnAMOENTEtt ^ - O* ^ ^ V\ x/T . jfi

-

t\)^[ ^pg^uitjMaino, July 28th 191^/r

My dear Mr. Edison: ■ . „ _Jk} &$&v> f/^Ct

tiger • comas that plaguoy Mr .Whiting againl Tou floa I am an^disona" enthusiast, and am studying my inatruj^^^ y>J

°°nwh^ri1«pra8Bed tha personal opinion thaVthe inatruuente of the a ana number or prioe did not give equal results, the agents in Boston \ ^

smiladl Wall, I an constantly more sure of it, and there must be a reason, and the reason is important to you, Whatever it may be. . J/ux

• Yesterday I received the large and impressive folio of kta the ^ lA < Aeolian-Vocalion. It is surely costly advertising, but is very inter- iUt^

eating to real mueio lovers, instructive if true,and giving many sug- ^ gestions in regard to phonographs generally. Of course you have seen this, but if not by all means send for it to the Aeolian Company, Hew York. /h_i I"/ Part of it tends to confirm my opinion that the construction of LJ v

the motor is far from the whole. That the box or case has a good deal '

to do with the result. Experiments along this line might lead to something. 1 ■

Aside from my personal experience or ob servation, other sliave re¬ ported to me their ideas. Yesterday a guest who was delighted with the little "80" we have here, was surprised to findit an Edison.

A friond and neighbor of hers, at her home,had a "250" Edison and it was inferior to the Viotrola next door. I gave a son and a daughter eacg a "250" Edison. One of the sane aiae was bought^ a friend (at Framingham, Mass. ) and is inferior to the first two. Now I realise that this may be partly owing to environment. The room may be unfa¬ vorable to best re suits; but I think the instrument is not equalto the others. I have ordered from F.H.ThomaaCo. .Boston.thefirst of the new series Model A-I00, that is received by them. But this "80 I have here is so dear, so free' front defsots of tone-reproduotion, from noise (comparatively,) that I would not give it up for anr larger instrument unheard.. So I am still more convinced that the in¬ struments of same sise vary, and that they cannot be turned out auto¬ matically, like the parts of a Ford Motor.

You seo I am a sort of volunteer and unreoompensed preBS agont for The Edisona.out of personal enthusiasm and admiration,and also gratitude for the pleasure I have realised and given others; so I can't feel it quite intrusive when "an idea" comes to me that may possibly be of value, to pass it along. Sometimes oven .the Pulpit may get a useful hint from the Pews!

I have taken a page or two from the Vooalion folio and enclose it on the mere chanoo that you may not have seen it.And if I “*®“ “ aive or over-persistent, pray lay it to genuine and admiring interest and not at all to oritlcism. __

Yours very truly, y

Ur.Thos A. Edison;

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“TIIK GllADUOLA”

I1E second great fenlure of The Aeolian- Yociilion is Ihe means it offers for controlling tone.

The desirability, if not the actual necessity forsueh a feature, is obvious. That it is recognized by all manufacturers is shown by the various methods provided, such as doors, shutters, mules, etc., the use of different toned needles, and by dozens of inven¬ tions on record in the Patent Offices here and abroad.

It may be said, however, without fear of successful contradiction, that The Graduola, invented by Mr. F. J. Empson and used ex¬ clusively on The Aeolian- Yocalion, is not only the most simple and efficient means of phono¬ graphic lone-control yet devised, but that it is the only device that fully meets both scientific and musical requirements.

It will be perhaps just as well before going on to describe the uses and construction of The Graduola to explain that it is not an arbitrary feature.

Tone-Control is no more a necessity with The Aeolian- Yocalion than with the ordinary phono¬ graph.

Indeed, the ability of The Aeolian- Vocalion to render a more perfect reproduction of the performances of a great artist, renders tone- control less necessary than with other phono¬ graphs.

It must be understood Unit The Aeolian- Vocalion will play a record without any more attention than other phonographs require.

It is only necessary, however, to hear The Aeolian-Vocalion played with The Grnduola

in use, to immediately grasp the enormous possibilities offered by this extraordinary fea-

One listens with delight while some favorite record is played ; hears the masterly inter¬ pretation of the artist given delicate varia¬ tions in detail that impart to it fresh beauty and interest.

And one realizes that at last a method has been found to prevent these marvelous rec¬ ords ever becoming monotonous through repe¬ tition — a method for introducing just those subtle and changing shades of expression with which the artists themselves, vary each per¬ formance.

If the Graduola could do no more than this — change valuable records from stereotyped per¬ formances into warm, living, personal renditions without essentially altering the artist'sexpression — it would be immensely valuable to both the phonograph and to those who buy it.

The Graduola has other vital functions, how¬ ever. It compensates in large measure for the limitations of record making by present methods, and it furnishes a well-nigh perfect means by which every music-lover may give expression to his musical instincts.

si Remedy for Faults in Reproduction

As has already been said, no machines have yet been made which can record a tone-wave with scientific exactitude.

While it is perhaps not necessary that they should do so in every particular, there is one vital point where their shortcomings seriously

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u fleet, the niusicul result. This is in their inability to record a perfect pianissimo.

This defect is recognized by manufacturers, but is apparently impossible yet to overcome.

The reason for it lies in the fact that if the artist whose performance is being recorded sings or plays as softly ns he would ordinarily, the lone-waves he creates have not sufficient in¬ tensity to make a distinct impression.

been used by the artist himself when ho made the record.

Personal Interpretation It is probably safe to say that, no one who has ever owned a phonograph, has not felt the desire more or less keenly, to lake some part in its performances.

It. mny .be to vary ever so slightly some of his

Hence in making records the artist is not

Everyone familiar with music can realize the seriousness of this.

The pianissimo is one of the most important as well as beautiful musical effects. Its absence must definitely mar an otherwise perfect per¬ formance.

Here the Crnduola on The Aeolian-' Vocation is invaluable. Its marvelous capacity for tone¬ shading permits it to be used to produce an ideal pianissimo, and its wonderful construction is such that the most experienced ear cannot tell that this delicate and beautiful effect has not

best records that are becoming tiresome; to give a needed lone-contrast to records which entirely lack this feature; or simply to grul ify the creative musical instinct which every normal human being possesses to some extent.

Whatever the desire, however, the Graduola furnishes the means to gratify it.

Its simplicity and the manner of using it lend themselves to the perfect expression of the performer’s musical taste. Its controlling motions are so slight and the fact that one may stand, or sit, at an appreciable distance from the instrument, arid greatly to its artistic value and charm.

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Till! frequency of these vihral ions may be very high, particularly in the ease of the upper notes of the musical scale. For example, the fundamental of the lowest note on a piano (tuned to international pitch) is 27-2/10 lmek and forth movements to the second; that of the fundamental of middle C is 258-0/10 to the second, and that of the highest note, 4138-1/10 to the second.

The lower notes on the piano have the greater number of part inis (20 or more), while the highest note probably has no more than 1 partial, besides its fundamental. JCven so, however, the frequency of this 1 partial is twice that of its fundamental, or approximately 8270 movements to the second.

Marvelous Delicacj/

When it is realized that the reproducing dia¬ phragm of the phonograph must definitely move backwards and forwards with the frequency of vibration not only of every fundamental in a musical tone, but with that of all its partials as well, the marvel appears that anything can be made so inconceivably sensitive and delicate.

And it must be remembered that these in¬ credibly swift movements must be transmitted from the sound-line on the record to this dia¬ phragm; that they must be taken up by the needle, carried through the needle and needle- bar and so accurately impressed on the dia¬ phragm that it will itself vibrate and start new sound-waves of the same frequency and character as the originals.

II will not be necessary lo go further lo convey

some idea of the prof . id problems eonneeled

wi(h making a .scientifically aeeurate sound-box.

While exact accuracy is not claimed for The Aeolian-Vocalion sound-box, it is claimed and can be demonstrated that this feature comes much closer lo scientific exactitude than any other yet produced.

It would be impossible for any one lo judge by casual inspection the technical efficiency ol this new and patented sound-box. Such an inspection will disclose, however, the unparal¬ leled degree of care and obvious skill shown in its construction.

Tiik Tonk Arm

The shape of the tone-arm used in The Aeolian-Vocalion is absolutely cylindrical from end to end. It has been demonstrated by experiment that this is the most practical as well as satisfactory design that can be used.

This tone-arm is of novel construction. It swivels freely on the neck of the horn without, either exerting a retarding movement to the revolving record or affording any opportunity for leakage.

This latter defect, particularly, is a serious