The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-21
CONCERTS in The HOMES
ENORMOUS SALE OF PHOTOGRAPHS
AND GRAPHOPHONES.
Six Hundred Have Been Sold in This
City Since the First of the
Year.

The invention of the photograph and
graphophone has now made possible con-
certs and entertainments in the homes of
private families. The inventions have at
tanned such a degree of perfection that all
but the spectacular effect of vaudeville
performance may be enjoyed in the parlor.
on the veranda or on the lawn. So great
has been the demand for monographs that
one can scarcely pass more than three or
four squares on the residence streets of In
dianapolis without hearing the sound of the
little instruments repeating a dialogue,
speech, song or instrumental selection.
Especially of evenings are monographs
noticeable. Parties gather on lawns and
listen TO a complete concert rendered by a
photograph.
Fred Warner, dealer in monographs on
South Illinois street, says the jobbing
houses Of this city have sold more than 600
monographs and graphophones since the
first of the year. The prices range from $40
to $3.50. but the average machine costs SIS
or $780, The sale of records is something
enormous. Persons buying machines usually
purchase at least a dozen records to start
with and from that time on become regular
customers for new pieces. Some buy as
many as five or six dozen records with their
machines and keep stocking up as fast as
new pieces come on the market. Mr. War
ner says the jobbers in the city have sold
40,500 records since Jan. !. and that the
business promises to remain lucrative a
in the past six months. The records cost so
cents each. and the sales for this part of
the talking machines alone represent an
expenditure OF S20,25O. This statement is
based upon the figures of the jobbers who
have kept account of all their sales, and
they themselves can hardly believe that the
sales have reached such enormous proper
lions.
The figures of the jobbers do not repre-
sent by any means all the talking machines
that have been purchased in Indianapolis
since the first of the year. There are OUT
side firms that have shipped many ma
chimes into the city TO individuals. and the
number OF Photographs thus purchased
cannot be determined. There are perhaps
more Photographs sold than graphophones
Mr.. Warner says there is practically no
difference in the machines. but the fact
that Edison invented the phonograph
makes Ii the best seller. Everybody wants
10 buy something that Edison invented
The sale OF the records is an interesting
business Mr. Warner says there Is not a
day but he has calls FOR records OF vocal
and instrumental music and speeches that
few people have ever heard OF He saws il
is the general understanding that nearly
everything in print and all that IS heard
on the stage or platform is reduced to a
monograph record. and the people wish 10
II themselves OF a continuous pro-
sl1mme that once suited their fancy
They are not far wrong he says when
they come 10 this conclusion as about
everything lit TO hear and that has made
hit" is recorded for the phonograph.
Popular songs are especially in demand
but some of these are not recorded until
the singers have closed their seasons
Some fn hcfV
songs sung into a monograph, and let the
PEOPLE have them secondhand at their
pleasure.
Another feature OF the record business
Mr.. Warner says is the shaving or OF ole
records which are then used BIZ families
having Photographs TO record the singing
or speeches OF friends. The cylinder can
be shaved al "A nominal cost and returned
10 the owner Of the machine. who then uses
them to record whatever he chooses This
Is quite a practice, and most persons hav-