A MILLIMETERS

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KjmaoCt £dlt>oru ^ap£A^>

A SELECTIVE MICROFILM EDITION

PART IV (1899-1910)

Thomas E. Jeffrey Lisa Gitelman Gregory Jankunis David W. Hutchings Leslie Fields

Theresa M. Collins Gregory Field Aldo E. Salerno Karen A. Detig Lorie Stock

Robert Rosenberg Director and Editor

Sponsors

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

University Publications of America Bethesda, MD 1999

Edison signature used with perm

of MoOmw-Edison Company

Rutgers, The State University 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, inciudingphotocopying, recordingor taping, or information storage and retrieval systems—' without written permission of Rutgers, The State University, 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.

THOMAS A. EDISON PAPERS

Robert A. Rosenberg Director and Editor

Thomas E. Jeffrey Associate Director and Coeditor

Paul B. Israel

Managing Editor, Book Edition Helen Endick

Assistant Director for Administration

Associate Editors Theresa M. Collins Lisa Gitelman Keith A. Nier

Research Associates

Gregory Jankunis Lorie Stock

Assistant Editors Louis Carlat Aldo E. Salerno

Secretary Grace Kurkowski

Student Assistants

Amy Cohen Jessica Rosenberg

Bethany Jankunis Stacey Saelg

Laura Konrad Wojtek Szymkowiak

Vishal Nayak Matthew Wosniak

BOARD OF SPONSORS

Rutgers, The State University of New National Park Service Jersey John Maounis

Francis L. Lawrence Maryaiuie Gerbauckas

Joseph J. Seneca Roger Durham

Richard F. Foley George Tselos

David M. Oshinsky Smithsonian Institution

New Jersey Historical Commission Bernard Finn

Howard L. Green Arthur P. Molella

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

James Brittain, Georgia Institute of Technology R. Frank Colson, University of Southampton Louis Galambos, Johns Hopkins University Susan Hockey, University of Alberta Thomas Parke Hughes, University of Pennsylvania Peter Robinson, Oxford University

Philip Scranton, Georgia Institute of Technology/Hagiey Museum and Library Merritt Roe Smith, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS

PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Charles Edison Fund The Hyde and Watson Foundation National Trust for the Humanities .Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

PUBLIC FOUNDATIONS National Science Foundation National Endowment for the Humanities

National Historical Publications and Records Commission

PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

Alabama Power Company

Anonymous

AT&T

Atlantic Electric

Association of Edison Illuminating Companies

Battelle Memorial Institute The Boston Edison Foundation Cabot Corporation Foundation, Inc. Carolina Power & Light Company Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.

Consumers Power Company Cooper Industries Corning Incorporated Duke Power Company Entergy Corporation (Middle South Electric System)

Exxon Corporation

Florida Power & Light Company

General Electric Foundation

Gould Inc. Foundation

Gulf States Utilities Company

David and Nina Heitz

Hess Foundation, Inc.

Idaho Power Company

IMO Industries

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley II. Katz Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Midwest Resources, Inc.

Minnesota Power New Jersey Bell New York State Electric & Gas Corporation

Nortli American Philips Corporation Philadelphia Electric Company Philips Lighting B.V.

Public Service Electric and Gas Company

RCA Corporation

Robert Boscli GmbH

Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation

San Diego Gas and Electric

Savannah Electric and Power Company

Schering-Plough Foundation

Texas Utilities Company

Thomas & Betts Corporation

Thomson Grand Public

Transamerica Delavol Inc.

Westinghouse Foundation Wisconsin Public Service Corporation

220

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.

SERIAL PUBLICATIONS

Edison Business Phonograph Company Tips

Starting with the issue of August 1 , 1 908, Tips was a publication of the Edison Business Phonograph Co. Issued roughly once a week, it provided dealers with technical and promotional information, usually in a single-sheet, broadside format. The publication was continued by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., in February 1911 and endured into the 1940s.

Edison Manufacturing Company The Kinetogram

The Kinetogram (originally called The Edison Kinetogram) was published by the Edison Manufacturing Co. during the period August 1909-January 1916. The semi-monthly issues provided descriptions of the latest Edison productions and general news about the motion picture business to exchanges and exhibitors.

Edison Portland Cement Company The Edison Aggregate

The Edison Aggregate was a monthly sales brochure published by the Advertising Department of the Edison Portland Cement Co. Each issue highlights a particular ornamental residential, or industrial application for Edison's cement. One issue concerns construction projects in Haiti and Cuba; another involves the New York City subways. The March 1910 issue, selected as a sample, identifies factories and warehouses that were constructed with Edison's cement and includes an illustration of his concrete factories in West Orange.

National Phonograph Company The Phonogram

Written by Herbert A. Shattuck, advertising managerof the National Phonograph Co The Phonogram was a company publication from May 1900 until Shattuck's resignation in October 1902. It succeeded a publication of the same title, which was issued by the North American Phonograph Co. during the early 1890s.

National Phonograph Company The New Phonogram

Starting with the issue of July 1904, The New Phonogram was a monthly publication of the National Phonograph Co. The publication was continued in February 1 91 1 by Thomas A. Edison Inc. Its title was changed to Phonogram in November 1912.

National Phonograph Company Edison Phonograph Monthly

Starting with the issue of March 1903, the Edison Phonograph Monthly was a publication of the National Phonograph Co. The monthly issues provided jobbers and dealers with technical, promotional, and other information, including articles on products, matters of corporate policy, and the progress of litigation, as well as lists of new records, available printed matter, current jobbers and suspended dealers. Each issue printed numerous communications from jobbers and dealers who related their experiences or posed questions regarding the sale of Edison phonographs and records. The publication was continued by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., in February 1911 and it was renamed the Edison Amberola Monthly in 1 91 7.

Primary Printed Series - Serial Publications Tips

Starting with the issue of August 1, 1908, Tips was a publication of the Edison Business Phonograph Co. Issued roughly once a week, it provided dealers with technical and promotional information, usually in a single-sheet, broadside format. The publication was continued by Thomas A. Edison, Inc.! in February 1 91 1 and endured into the 1940s.

The archives of the Edison National Historic Site contains nearly a complete run of Tips. The extant issues for the period August 1 908-December 1913 can be found in a bound volume with a cover marked "Tips 1-199." The issues through May 13,1911 (number 100) have been selected. An index to numbers 1 -49 appears at the end of the issue of December 1 5, 1 909. An index to numbers 51-100 is bound between the issues of June 10, 1911, and June 26, 1911. The indexes have been filmed first.

BIRTHDAY THOUGHTS

Number 35

July 27, 1909

Foreign dealers now represent the Edison Business Phonograph in many countries. London is a distributing point for the continent while other foreign dealers are supplied through The National Phono¬ graph Co., Foreign Department No. 10 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The universal motor has made it possible to successfully market our product under electrical conditions in the old world that heretofore have been a positive barrier to any practical use. The fact that the Edison Business Phonograph provides an amanuensis that records letters in every language, where before it has required stenographers of different nationalities, is one of the best recommendations for its use abroad.

WE give a good .upply of cylinder, wilh our outfil.— other, do not; make that fact clear with your customer*.

Number 37

Aug. 14. 1909

Number 44

Fac-Simile of the Original Patent Drawing Edison Business Phonograph

December 18, 1909

December 28, 1909

if.Vvcr. " " 1 ' NO ORDERS FOR REPAIR

C PARTS CAN BE FILLED UNLESS

« ach.m ..fhfi.nc *l.c nrm is ol,- ^ ^ pLAjNLY 5JATED XHEY

,ficT'amlLlVro7i!ln,.[TVira''c.m! ARE FOR A CERTAIN SERIAL Z «T.0*»? arranlrcmcn'/.' iml for«c- NUMBER MACHINE.

Go Right On W o r k i

n g

Number 61

March 15,

ISSUED OCCASIONALLY I

c/ovps

. . , . rite y t

..ic voice-writing trade machine salesman of competition, wl understands quite why they lost out.

We suppose that as long as talking

attraction. But with the inachi and system” in which any dcak largely influence a purchaser.

that the shape of the machine 01 improvement— although these may Edison design — is the whole reasor

The Electric Motor, Second Edition, •

1 12 illustrations. .

Electric Incandescent l.ujhlttuj, 1 hiri

Yesterday? Forget

' work ' it ^ri^IiL* wilMnnke yesterday. Alls well with

additional.^ ^

It is endorsed hy M

re than 85.000 copies up to

cribing machine.

NEW CHIP PANS i«d”!lyounMd«nyfor)roul

TO-DAY

«"l«rpriK Write it on your heart that every day • oilier., if is the best day in the year. No man hai learned anything rightly until he i knows that every day is doomsday.

1 Today is a King in disguise. Today : always look, mean to the thoughtless,

("7, in the face of an uniform experience that all good and great and happy ■" '7 actions are made up precisely of these kioi- blank todays. Let us not be so de- >' S'"1 ceived, let us unmask the King as he passes. — ‘Ralph Waldo Emerson.

. nmSDNIZKI) MOTHER GOOSE,

fft “The man who is worthy of be- $ $ ing a leader of men will never com- W * plain of the stupidity of his help- jjj

% “Whenever any good comes our W $ way, let us enjoy it to the fullest w •g and then pass it along in afiother $

e £6 6-e eeee 6 ee eeeee ee e«s 6*^

COMPLAINT FROM A DEALER

ISSUED OCCASIONALLY I

N BUSINESS PHONOGRAPH C

"CREDIT”

A Talk By Our Credit Manager So many of on rcspondcnce t

ic whole Edison selling plan is built on uni- ....lit outfits— uniform prices — uniform treatment. It iynuch tlic^sanuMts if aU the present dealers

fair to all of you if' I were the person intrusted with the collection of accounts for facturer, and, knowing yc

other in * business ; and t exceptional tt

. ns of the Agreement, that perhaps I

n indirect force for business progress. I reasor

id ‘those that take

we should he more lenient in requiring prompt payments; perhaps ^ we are too conservative in

dealership requires a

One little point and I must finish:— Many of ■“ dealers take advantage of the Cash Discount cl «ft -i~— jn doing this, I believe they are

dealer. If only a proportion of your cus- tomers take the 2% cash discount, you should figure this out and take 2% on the same propor-

dnes* take hitT 2%— then you arc out 4%.

SELL SATISFACTION

Success in the selling game doesn’t simply mean goods sold. It means customers satisfied.

It means treating a man after you sell him as well as you do before. It means bills paid outside of court, and complaints han¬ dled on square-deal principles.

Irritating back talk and aggravating threats never got a good-will settlement nor brought back a disappointed customer. A “Chip- on-the-Shoulder” attitude drives trade away.

But courtesy, tact, frankness, fairness — disarm antagonism, melt opposition, bring back business.

Sell satisfaction — and your goods will sell themselves.

WHAT A PITY *h:„

properly maul jr temperament

Number 68

The New Edison Dictation Records

rm ..... i . — ami descriptive circular

vc been prepared for advertising. Order these be shipped with other goods weigh-

Curtiss recently flew in Ins * ' in Albany to Gov-

. . . . They say this is

the beginning of real aerial nav¬ igation. Well, if that’s the case may as well begin to circularize the aviators that we can sell them an Edison Business uiograpli when they get “up in the air” w* ’

it lady stenographer

1 of ours, it will be a case of meeting us at machine weight — 50 pounds— which will ex- Ic'thc “experienced old stenographer.” Bus!- * is surely looking up. “Pot-hooks” won't hold

son Business Phonograph,

nirTvi'inv WHY ,hou,d ond 1 work nnd #lrive

; GI-NEHAL- ■ to overcome difficulties in order that

three good reasons why we might fail?

The Passing Year

Here it is Christmas! Another year nearly gone-crowded with recollections

■L SB of three bund red strenuous days of business.

■IW' To the individual dealer it may not

MU -/M seem that we have made remarkable 1 mr~ M progress. You are right from your stand-

IMfe- ■ point. From ours, we have done the

frank L. dyer best year's work of all.

o”.“°L Let any dealer manufacture Business

Phonographs for himself alone— supposing he were compe¬ tent to do so-and he would make quick changes, rapid progress, until his business grew. The slowing up process would continue in proportion to his growth, and his pro¬ gress ill the past.

we think of to-day may require a month or a year to become operative, depending on the magnitude of the change.

Look through the pages of Tips, and you will find a con¬ tinuous stream of betterments. Depend upon it, that progress¬ ive idea of yours will show up in practice, surely, if slowly.

And stop to think that Edison progress is not limited. We do not confine ourselves to new yearly models. We goat it. hammer and tongs for improvements every day in the year. We acknowledge criticisms for immediate correction. We try to be sympathetic and helpful in making the salesman’s work easier. Besides, we carry the principal stock at the Edison Works so as to put the latest and best in the dealers’ and customers’ hands.

But the greatest progression we believe lies in the im¬ proved attitude of the dealer, the public and the customer. I n the past year the dealer has become bigger and better satisfied, and the public, as well as the customer, has be ¬ come more appreciative and enthusiastic.

Take it all in all, 1910 was the greatest year in our history.

Nineteen Eleven

EHj The important fact that voice-writing

J| S- ti" ^ ^ ^

• L0U“ . D- , Brand«*. Counsel’ for the "A°" Shippers in the R R 1 • ,

rsely defined the National needs: h“nn* has

“Whatw . -.1 .

is™01 n,"h“,s

Postmaster Hitchcock is wiping out the deficit of hL

irmSsy the application of simpie- —able L!;;:

t)mrlnr° fTT °f spent in advertising could have

produced the demands for economic appliances which have become almost a factor in National growth.

Doubt, prejudice, pessimism can no longer stand in he way of progress. Economy is now a question of necesi ;Per- Preferen,ces give way before the greater principle of hfe-namely, existence. So we feel that voice- JZS P'°ventyim Nlneteen Eleven is only limited by all ac ivities. Let us go out into the New Year with these conditions fully in mind.

Surely a Happy and Prosperous New Year awaits us.

To be a success in any job you must get

Hillfillli a perspectiveof theentiresubjectand calcu- 3S;J tite to omit the unimportantdetailsasfar as possible, so that you can concentrate on the big things that are worth while. Wi’'S3rk*-' ^ Now your problem of selling the Ed-

ison Busi ne8s ph°iTtvi«i^

nelson C. DURAND 'i^dred — five bund red -business con¬ cerns’ or individuals that should buy in your territory. Have vou prepared a file with their names ?— The best man

_ number of stenographers, etc i

' Yes? Then, realize that the big thing to do is to get i„ touch with these prospective purchasers. ' ou i can cir¬ cularize and advertise— that will help— but you must get out and talk to the firms, also, knowing that advertising has

''“^No^ist of prospective purchasers ? No canvassing plans? Well, you are not selling the Edison Business Phonograph— nrobablv you know that.

1 S cce ful salesmen keep working among heir pros¬ pects with a systematic follow-up and a nose for business ; they are like reporters for the newspapers who are constant¬ ly circulating in the channels where news is found.

This reminds me of the cub reporter who was detailed to report a society wedding. He came in late. The forms had been held waiting for his story.. He said, I didn t get anything, for the couple eloped.’

If you ‘‘go up against prospects like that reporter vou will soon learn your faults and how to sell successfully —hut never if you sit at your desk and wait for experience.

illiancy is not so necessary as plugging.

Tips can’t help this opportunity to lecture a bit even intgli we know that we have the most loyal and interested esmen on earth.

Cheer up! And a bright and Happy Holiday to you all.

Our Office

JtL rJhk — •

is Clone hereCl;'hne ..K°ornreSPfn,denCe Work ■■H i,s s°me Has said le0f the red ta‘le"

from President Dyer do, vn Buf ^Phorograpt'

partment for the general work o An W inscribing S? sists of ten employees who tvrite Ietterf ' ComPaniescon- . All dealers’ mail is p|ace[i i f°.r three cents a folio, •dent and Sales Manager to it? the °ftce of the Vice-Pres- of two secretaries and Wderk,8^ ^ the

Hie trade and prove the1 claims KWn°iT,n,ptne" t0 greatly by conning ort™P£*n“* ^nlers'can' assist us

10US officials or employees^ Vc the attention of var-

Our office fully realizes tint „„ 1 i ent business men who must be infWm dT* ®jS a,re indePend- fhan criticised, unless our crft cis? ™d,andl educttted rather interesting advice. nticism can he accompanied by

sonally, for then tve could dj°P U kne'V cacl' d(-‘aler per-

»i.i, h«cr ,;;x“ r' - <K

many faces we do know-and to von ? S -ye 've see and to those we hone to It 1 ^°u— our acquaintances— possible Holiday and a New Year ol Prosperity!'1 ***

“S>r- you are very welcome to our house-

Therefore PTascnnt0fperkWay,S than 'vords:’

'ore- 1 scant this breathing courtesy.”

Manufacture

/S 1 many ways, more difficult and exacting

Lm 1 i San making a time-piece, winch latter is

I-VS the popular idea of accuracy in manutac-

If your watch runs slow or fast, runs down or becomes noisy, your business is “ „ not affected— with a business phonograph

SU,T- perhaps it is. .

Constancy and uniformity of motion in all moving jarts of a phonograph are required, It is easy to detect a variation of less than 1% in the speed of revolution of a :ylinder playing a musical note.

And what makes it easily the most unique and wonder- ful machine manufactured to-day is that it performs its luiman-like work successfully without assistance. No extra¬ neous power can compel a more perfect operation. _ When it leaves our hands we have practically endowed it with in¬ dividuality’'— we have almost placed the breath of life in the wheels and wax— improved over the human, if possible.

We believe that we build the mostperfect Voice-writing Machine obtainable. This is not conceit. Our customers demand it, and the inventor of the original machine still has the aim, desire and ability to fulfill the most exacting requirements. Our dealers— considerate as they are — be¬ ing independent of the factory, must necessarily regard us as strictly business connexions. We operate without branch offices, and we ask. prompt payment for our shipments in return for goods that operate successfully.

But, build as we will, the occasional ills of the machine must be understood in the field to be corrected.

With pride we acknowledge that as manufacturers we could not succeed to-day but for the intelligence and me¬ chanical interest that our dealers display in their daily work.

advantages' of' ^ S'?0winff de"rly tlle amuntages of voice-writing, and unWn* immediate investigation throng he T0? cl Icier hoe me and ddre ap pears on an enclosed postal card readyto

up of the salesman wh^XMe^ft ** ^ cut out all lost motion, all " «£, , ™ V?® ll8t* ^ have

thneTmd place!*181 °Unce a^vert'slnK cffor^at^lieTdes^re'd

country accordhigtoffib growdrd^ma'nds0'!^ d the entire local representation. IHs estimated tint f ”n lnterest°f flle letters have been mailed from Orange in the’fiv'^ m‘ ll0n

• i '\emcmber that mailing card returns are not always an ndex to effectiveness: often-times the better— larger— more

a cataloguT Cw^'T0"1'"!' himKlt to writing for ital oguc but, we find he knows the Edison product well

' °l The' A rlv' 1 ■e-Salnman milkes Ills Personal follow-up.

The Advertising Department wishes you all a most pros¬

perous New Tear, and, with your co-operation, will surely

Credit

A dealer's credit is like his shoe; if small, it pinches; hut, if large, it causes him to stumble.

Small capital— small credit— is some¬ times an unfortunate accompaniment to energy and ability in selling the Edison Business Phonograph.

g H p„IUPS Large capital and credit are very de-

sirable, but they usually indicate the side¬ line” dealer, who does not always secure the specialists who could make the most of such favorable conditions.

Can you sell Edison Business Phonographs? Then, your first duty to yourself is to obtain capital sufficient to meet the manufacturer’s terms on purchases that you know must be made if you yourself are to be satisfied.

The raising of this capital must remain a local issue with the dealer. If he has ability to sell goods which he cannot purchase, it is a logical conclusion that local connections are in a position to know and investigate the truth better than the manufacturer. After all, the manufacturer can do no better than to treat all dealers uniformly; make the goods worth handling by high standards of credit; and, by a mini¬ mum of risk, have more profits for the advancement of the growing industry.

We urge upon all dealers operating on small credit to give this subject the consideration that the growth of the business demands. Local capital can be interested now that could not a year ago. Capital must increase with the growing public demand for the voice-writing system.

It is a pleasure at this holiday time for our Credit De¬ partment to reflect upon our close and friendly relations with the trade— a condition which could only exist with a fixed and honorable policy toward all.

May you enjoy a Merry Christmas, and may the New Year bring you added prosperity.

Engineering

after1,t las ?nce been created, but quite another problem to obtain that starting wmm; P0111,1; ln tlesiKn which will repay the ex- JpTJgC- penditure for tools and material to satisfy the sa,es of a great organization like ours.

.X. 'rhen you come to visit tile Edison Works, you wil1 find that Invention and

Engineering form a distinct branch of the

industry. I Ins branch is independent of manufacturing and % 3£'ly »W' i« power plant anil fh„"

hi. L?b.™“™*. Mr- Edison apenda

i i 1 be ®illes departments of many other concerns suffer for lack of this engineering ability and the spirit of progressive development, whmh in our case encourages the men on the firing line to assist in keeping the product up to the most advanced standard.

liri,Hrf“rtll“.e jt » f°r Ac future of the Business Phono- I graph that the Edison Works are so thoughtfully organized. ; for a bales Department to know that an open ear is offered at all times by a capable engineering force constitutes a key- j note of success. j

Furthermore, the close association of Engineering and I sales is one of the most attractive guarantees of the value of 3 an Edison Dealership. To know that selling efforts will j continually be made easier by active invention and progress- j ive design is a distinct consideration for those who give their '• time, energy and capital to disposing of our product. I

With renewed efforts we will plan ami work to make } your New Year both Happy and Prosperous. J

Simply “shipping k ‘‘

aSSSBWSS^

i Department, such as ours.

I .|.jlis S(.rvii;e is more valuable to the T R,T“S dealer than would appear at first thought.

' It embodies an expert s study of tralhc tions. avoiding routes .hat are in trouble through

paUUw then,, to advise the manufacturer.

5o let us have as much co-operation as possible. Tr; k'ulate your future demand for goods in time; carry t ie stock; consult the local freight agent about de even before consulting us; anticipate slow deliver* [lg the storms of winter. And, in other ways, help h Sc Department to make a better showing with lei espondence, or telegraph charges, and to a record fc ig better satisfaction.

After all, let us say that we appreciate the position ( dealer as an independent business concern desiring i

STENCIL IT ON

i youit memory.

“I must work outside these golden months of the New Year when ambition is young and new resolutions for economy are made by every office manager. ”

Number 96

April 7, 191

Number 98

April 22, 1911

Selling Plan No. 9

(Local Newspaper Advertising)

The Edison Business Phonograph

not only saves SO per cent of your actual dictating time, reserving that time for other equally important work, nearly SO per cent of the typist’s actual transcribing time, but it saves all the time in which she is ordi¬ narily occupied in taking your dictation. This econ¬ omy of time results in a re¬ duction in the cost of your correspondence of at least 50 per cent.

Ask us to prove it on some of yourown correspondence.

AS A IIASIS FOR SUCH ADVERTISING. OUR ADVERTISI NO DEPART M ENT HAS PRE- PARED A SERIES OP PIETEEN SINGLE AND DOUIILE COLUMN ADVERTISEMENTS WHICH ARE ELECTROTYPED AND READY EOR ANY DEALER TO USE: UPON APPLICATION THEY WILL FURNISH PROOFS FOR THE DEALERS SELECTION AND LOAN ANY OF THE. ELEC¬ TROTYPES WITHOUT CHARGE.

order for advertising placed liv a dealer will often pro¬ duce a similar interest in purchasing Business Phono¬ graphs; this should not he an “exchange for advertis- ing” sale (which is not permitted in the argument) hut a distinct purchase in each case of phonographs and advertising.

Newspaper advertising in small towns which the dealer works with an outlying representative will he es¬ pecially profitable, livery business man in a small town reads the advertisements and. if accompanied by reading notices of successful users, the publicity will bring quick returns by helping the salesman in his transient calls.

small banks in different localities;

using the li. H. P. .

Primary Printed Series - Serial Publications The Kinetogram

The Kinetogram (originally called The Edison Kinetogram) was published by the Edison Manufacturing Co. during the period August 1909-January 1916. The semi-monthly issues provided descriptions of the latest Edison productions and general news about the motion picture business to exchanges and exhibitors.

The archives of the Edison National Historic Site contains a complete run of The Kinetogram, as well as a card-file index to the publication. The first issue (August 1,1909) has been selected as a sample. It contains an announcement about the inauguration of the publication, along with statements by Edison and Frank L. Dyer.

e€Xe EDISON

KINETOCRAM

AUGUST 1, 1909

ISON FILMS RELEASED FROM IjUGUST 1 TO 14 INCLUSIVE

Vol. I.

AUGUST 1, 1909

No. 1

The Kinetogram

Usting b'.dison Films from August I -14, 4900

A Bi-Monthly Bulletin of Moving Picture News, with the emphasis on Edison Films and Kinetoscopes. Published b\ The Edisok Manufacturing Company, Orange, N. J., U. S. A.

Announcement

The Kinetogram is the outcome of a belief that the time has arrived for a better and more dignified medium of inform¬ ing the trade about Edison Kinetoscopes and Films than was possible with the supplements, bulletins, etc., heretofore issued.

It has also been designed to bring the Edison organization into closer touch with the Exchanges and Exhibitors. Its pages will furnish a new opportunity to tell the trade about our work, our aims and our products.

It will provide a better way of illustrating and describing new Films and will make it possible to list more of them at

The Kinetogram will be dated the 1st and 15th of each month. The issue of the 1st will include all Films issued be¬ tween the 1st and 14th; that of the 15th all Films issued between the 15th and 31st.

™s> the tirst issue. has some matter from the pen of Mr. Edison and also an interesting article from Mr. Dver Vice President. ’

The Kinetogram will be mailed without charge to all present and prospective Exchanges and Exhibitors handline or exhibiting Edison Films. ' B

We want the trade to feel that this publication is being issued for its benefit, quite as much as it is for ours, and we hope that all receiving it regularly will co-operate with us in making each issue better than those that have gone before.

The August 1st KINETOGRAM

The Aug ,

1st KINETOGRAM

Edison Film No. 6496

The Tobacco Edict

Old New York, 1648

(A HISTORICAL COMEDY)

Code, VERROOKEN c«»rleht«d, Auau.t, 1909

R.l..,ed wilh No S4BB App. Length, 199 feet

In the early days of New York, when this whole district svas known as New Netherlands, an early Governor, fatnil- iarly known as “William the Testy," is- sued an edict against the smoking of tobacco. The story of the effect this edict had on the burghers of the town is shown in Boughton’s famous painting, but the real reason for the Governor's issuing the edict has never been made known until now. The rebellion of the burghers

Old Dutch New York, with its quaint houses, costumes and characters, is repro¬ duced here with human and comic touches that will appeal to any audience.

Edison Film No. 6497

Apprentice Boys at Newport Naval Training Station

(A NOVELTY PICTURE)

Code, VERROSTEN Co„,ri,M.d. Ao.u.t, 1909

Released August 10, 1909 App. Length, 2!6 feet

The August 1st KINETOGRAM

VERRUCAIRE

The August 1st KINETOGRAM

prisoner to his benefactor’s li Realizing tlmt the convict i can he saved, the good old in the police by greeting Jean

and spoons?”

Such heights of magnanimity at ness overcome Jean’s despair an

Furnished Rooms to Let

couple turned back— although not themselves.

Their son and his chum had rented rooms during the absence of the old fc

lodgers attempted to flirt with one of ladies whose husband objected rat strenuously.

It was during this exciting scene t the old couple returned, and— well, wh the use of spoiling it all by telling.

New Copyright Law

law, which was made a misdemeanor to wilfully at ent into effect July profit infringe any copyright secure is of the courts, mo- der.the act, or to knowingly aid 01

The August 1st KINETOGRAM

A Word from Mr. Edison

-I- “d the 7d7 P-'«urc in the summer of .883. I

k !l,c cyc w,mt tl,c Phonograph had done for the car. The nn- n thB 7 S!n,“ tl,c ''is1' character of the pictures made by ' “?’T,y,|and °'l,crrA,,nCrlCan Bnd forci'Rn manufacturers under my patent., and thc thousands of theatres, many of which were built cspcciaily for the purpose, represent a development that has far exceeded my most ambN

I an. proud of the Moving Picture industry, of the effect it has had and mentPofX AmeI°cV,nS P,C1tUrc wil1 do m"cl> towards thc intellecmalTvelop"

mmutes books, poems and dramas that wc’may not havcTeTme nor'inclinv t on to read may be brought before us, in tabloid form it is ,r„„ i " *

cfently in detail to be perfectly comprehensible ’ ^ ^

to If t

to come t r travf r zzz

on this culturc of our c,w wm b-d

THOMAS A. EDISON.

Mr. Dyer to the Trade

The August 1st KINETOGRAM

:ars, operate three large studios in New York City, and maintain an exten- ve developing and printing plant at the Edison Works, Orange, N. J.

For the production of our pictures we require the services of four sep- ratc theatrical companies, each in charge of a highly skilled stage director, ipablc of interpreting the lines of the plot or scenario and developing from a finished and artistic theatrical performance.

Many of the actors arc on our permanent roll; others are specially cn- Jged, because of particular qualifications, for individual pictures. We spare a time nor expense in these pictures, nor in the scenery, properties and other traphernalia.

We intend from time to time (as we have in the past) to put out espe- ally high-class pictures, based on familiar themes or plots of well-known layrights and literary producers, with actors of known reputation, and these iccial pictures, sold as they will be at the same price, will, we believe, com- icnd themselves strongly to the trade as an indication of what the Edison 'ompany is willing to do to advance the interests of the business.

Some of our recent pictures, such as "Brothers in Arms,” “The Legend f Sterling Keep,” and "The Man Without a Country,” compare most favor- )ly with any pictures ever put out in the United States or abroad, and we ly to our friends that if hard work and the expenditure of money are factors I the business, we intend that there shall be no backward step from these andards.

Recognizing that the Exchanges and the Exhibitors prefer two pictures :r reel, we will endeavor to meet their wishes in this regard; and we will it out single reel pictures only when the character of the subject requires . Comedy and special “trick" pictures will also be produced, of as high a laracter as we are capable of making.

We take this opportunity of thanking our many friends for their