Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1909-04-06
TALKING MACHINES POPULAR
Demand For This Wonderful Inven-
tion Increases in American
Homes.

ing TWO IdlhluB machine OutHtS WnlC
Mt he had just sold. Inquiry ELECTED th
fact that one of these outfits was fo
the home of a well-known musician
Dallas and the other for farm hem
near town. Having a curiosity t
know how many of these machine
were owned in Polk County, the write
asked Mr.. Stockwell the question, anC
was informed that the number was
not less than 200-and that it was
probably nearer 800.
"The talking machine isl just coming
into its own," said Mr.. Stockwell
"The invention bas been before the
American people for several years,
but, like its companion wonder, the
moving-picture machine the real
beginning of its popularity is only of
recent date. When Mr.. Edison first
gave to the world his marvellous
: invention that would actually repro
duce the human voice, the whole
civilized world sat up in wonder and
amazement So great was the marvel,
however, that the people did not seem
to realize or appreciate its great posi- |
bilities as home entertainer, and for |
many years the popularity of the
machine was confined to street-stands |
and penny arcades, where for nomi-
nal sum its pleasures might be
enjoyed. Strange to say, it was only
few years ago that it began to grow
popular as home instrument. Today
$4,000 dealers are selling the Edison
monographs, and probably an equal
number are handling the Victor and
other tirst-class machines. Factories
are being enlarged, newspaper and
magazine advertising is making the
talking machine known in every nook
and corner Of the world, and the
making Of these instruments is rapidly .
becoming one of the important indus
tries Of the United States"
When one considers the rich fund l
OF entertainment afforded by a talking
machine, one does not wonder at the |
truth of Mr.. Stockwell'5 statements
With an Edison or a Victor machine 8
ID your home, you can entertain your
self, your family, and your guests j,
With the performances of the worlds
greatest musicians and speakers at a >,
cost next to nothing. The dWeller on
he farm, or in the smaller towns, can
near as grand sermon as any city le
weller; no city choir renders finer
lymns; no city theater can show b
greater and more varied line of talent
t is not strange, therefore, that for
ocial gatherings, churches, lodges
nd clubs, the talking machine has D
% equal as an entertainer at a moder- flu
te cost. The price of these machines ht
comparatively low, and the easy De
ayment plan under which most NJ
callers sell them place them within Dc
lie reach of all. tn
"One notable feature connected with N,
lie sale of talking machines" con- tu
nued Mr.. Stockwell, is that the an
reatest demand for them is among str
ngers and talented instrumental mi
srformers. This fact efTectually dis co
'ses OF the slurring remark so often tor
'ard that the machine is only a dis
nser of canned music There IS
arcely a musician Of note in America ov
Europe but owns a Victor or an
ilson phonograph. II the invention n.
I'd no value from a musical stand
int, these artists would waste neither :
ne nor money on them. Right here o.
Dallas, by far the greater number r.
Families owning talking machines ad,I at !
we pianos, organs, or other musical wol
struments in their homes This ''FF F
CT alone is worth tons of argument ,In, the
favor of the phonograph or graph T
hone. But the greatest feature of r
concerning the talking machine is an, an
At it edueates the children. 1t to ,
Iches them what good music is. 1t ii
cps them informed as to the latest eaiS
pular music and familiarizes them thai
Lh the grand old classics. For this Tbe iH"i
'son alone, no music-loving family ady ,fa,
afford to be without a machine disc
d liberal number of records"
I might be added in this connec-
u, that the talking machine is being :
lstantly improved and simplilied. tur
enotable improvement is the repeat.
attachment, by the use Of which
y record can be repeated at will. q.
other is the enlarged record, by
ich the most pretentious musical e"'
ections can be rendered ia their
irety. The Victor company has
this result by inventing 1
l2-inch disc record which can be hal
ID on any Victor machine. Mr.
lsou has recently discovered a new
nposition for records upon which G
can make a record twice as long as in
Old one, although the cylinder Bro
mains the same length, This new
loerol record plays four minutes.
has the same smooth, velvety tone II
he old twO-minute record. As il g.
IS Tor only IS cents more than the r.,
minute record, and as the most
oorate overtures aud selections can
by its use, it is easy to
iict that it will revolutionize the IL
land for the already popular Eli suns
machine. Mr.. Stockwell carries Ol'S
omplete stock Of these Amberol
rds, and will add all the new ones
apidly as they are manufactured SO