Los Fonógrafos Edison en México a inicios del siglo XX

La filial mexicana inició operaciones en febrero de 1906 y de ello la revista corporativa de Edison publicó un breve texto en The Edison Phonograph Monthly (Vol. IV, No. 1) de marzo de 1906 donde menciona a los inversionistas de Nueva Jersey y la cantidad: 25 mil dólares como inversión principal.

Para 1907 se nombra gerente de la oficina mexicana a Rafael Cabañas como se informa en The Edison Phonograph Monthly de marzo de 1907 (Vol. V, No. 1, p. 4)  en el artículo las nuevas oficinas para la filial mexicana.

Según una nota de The Talking Machine World (Vol. IV, No. 5, p. 313) publicada el 15 de mayo de 1908, la Compañía Edison abrió un estudio de grabación temporal en México en Santa Clara # 20 1/2. Los responsables fueron G. J. Werner y Frederick C. Burt.

La Mexican National Phonograph Co. filial de los Fonógrafos Edison tuvo sus oficinas principales en la ciudad de México originalmente en 5 de Mayo # 67 para posteriormente alquilar un edificio entero para ello en Av. Oriente # 117. Hecho que habla por sí solo de la importancia que la industria tuvo en el país. En el artículo reproducido a continuación se promueven los fonógrafos y discos, en especial una línea de música mexicana. También se promueven los kinetoscopios y película virgen. El texto y la fotografía fueron publicados en The Edison Phonograph Monthly (Vol. VII, No. 11, p. 12) de noviembre de 1909.

National Branch Companies

The Mexican National Phonograph Co. was incorporated in New York State last month. It will do business in Mexico, with headquarters at Calle Prolongación del Cinco de Mayo, 67-77, Mexico City. It capital stock is $25,000 and its incorporators are William E. Gilmore, Alphonse Westee and John F. Randolph, all of Orange, N.J.

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New Quarters for Mexico City Branch

On account of its rapidly increasing business, our Mexican Company, located in Mexico City, has found it necessary to procure much larger accommodations, to successfully handle its trade in the Republic of Mexico. We have, for several years, enjoyed a large Mexican business, and, until the early part of last year, this was handled by our Foreign Department at Union Square, New York. Believing, however, that a much larger trade could be secured by direct representation, and following out the policy of extending our business in foreign territory, a company was organized (the Mexican National Phonograph Company), and Rafael Cabañas was appointed Manager. Immediately this company was organized, quarters which were thought ample to meet their requirements were secured at Calle Prolongación del Cinco de Mayo, 67-77 Mexico, D. F.

After the lapse of a few months, however, it was realized that the accommodations at the address above given were inadequate to care for their constantly increasing trade, and the matter of securing larger and more commodious quarters was given careful attention. A thorough canvass of the City of Mexico resulted in our people securing the greater part of a large building on one of the main thoroughfares of the city, No. 117 Avenida Oriente. The several floors will be utilized for office, exhibition, stock, packing and shipping rooms, and with this increased space, our Mexican Company will be enabled to carry a much larger stock, and more successfully meet the requirements of their constantly growing trade.

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Make Edison Records in Mexico

A temporary recording plant of the Edison Phonograph Co. has been opened at Santa Clara No. 20 1/2 for the making of the new Mexican records. Records will be made from masters of the leading singers and brass bands of the republic. Up to the present time fifteen new selections have been made. The work will be continued for the next three months, during which time the company will secure the best talent of Mexico for the making of its models. G. J. Werner, assisted by Frederick C. Burt, of the New York recording plant, are in charge of the work in Mexico.

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Our Mexican Office

Below we show a cut of our Mexican office, which is situated on the Avenida Oriente, 117, Mexico City, Mexico.

The Edison Phonograh Monthly (Vol. VII, No. 11, Nov. 1909, p. 12)

Prior to the organization of our Mexican Company, all our business in the Republic of Mexico was handled direct from the New York office; but as our trade increased, we found it necessary to organize the Mexican National Phonograph Co. in order to meet conditions as existing and more thoroughly exploit our products there. The company was organized in January, 1906, and immediately established at the premises Prolongacion del Cinco de Mayo, 77, Mexico City, at which time we occupied only a part of this building; but realizing we were much handicapped for want of room, the entire building shown above was leased in December of 1906. The entire building is now occupied by our Mexican Company, with the exception of the first floor, the general offices being situated on the second floor, and the third and fourth floors used for storing stock.

They carry a full supply of our several types of Phonographs, together with a large stock of both foreign and domestic Records, besides a stock of special Mexican Records. They also carry a full line of Projecting Kinetoscopes, Films, Batteries and Numbering Machines manufactured by the Edison Companies here at Orange.

In order to meet the large demand for Mexican Records made by native talent, we have been sending our recording experts to Mexico City for the past three years, and have already issued 444 Standard and 41 Amberol Records of this kind. These have already been placed on the market and we still have several hundred selections, both Standard and Amberol, which we shall issue monthly.

Mr. George M. Nisbett, formerly manager of our Chicago office, now has charge of the Mexican Company; and under his management we expect the season of 1909-1910 will be a recordbreaker, as the prospects for doing a large business in Mexican territory were never brighter than at present.

Entrevista con el representante de la Columbia en México (1913)

La entrevista que otorga el empresario Rafael Cabañas a la revista especializada Talking Machine World no difiere mucho de lo que hoy expresan los representantes de las cúpulas empresariales. Sin ser un empresario totalmente imbuido en la industria cinematográfica, ser presidente de una compañía de fonógrafos le da certidumbre a lo que expresa en relacion a la industria a la que pertenece y es muy probable que los empresarios del cine no fueran muy ajenos sus ideas.

Según Cabañas, el negocio ha crecido y la revolución se circunscribe a solo ciertas regiones; su percepción de la publicidad es muy moderna; termina por alabar a Huerta y justificar su gobierno. (Detesto que en inglés no exista la letra ñ; por fonética cambié todas las enes por eñes).

The Talking Machine World (Vol. IX, No. 10, Oct. 15, 1913, p. 82)

The Talking Machine Trade in Mexico

Reviewed by Rafael Cabañas, President of the Mexican Phonograph Co., Which Handles the Columbia Line—Says Disturbances Are Confined to Few Districts and Have Been Greatly Magnified—Displays Faith In Future by Advertising «Talkers» Heavily.

Rafael Cabañas, president and general manager of the Mexican Phonograph Co., Mexico City, Mex., was a visitor for several weeks recently at the headquarters of the Columbia Gramophone Co., Woolworth building, New York. Mr. Cabañas enjoyed a ten days’ vacation at the summer home of Vice-President Burns, of the Columbia Co., at the Thousand Islands, and the rest of his time he spent in conference with the officials of the Columbia. Co. on plans and outlines for the ensuing year’s business.

The Mexican Phonograph Co., which represents Columbia products exclusively, occupies an unique position in the talking machine realm by reason of the wonderful extent of its business. Some idea of its magnitude may be gleaned from the statement of Mr. Cabanas, that it does from 65 to 70 per cent, of the entire talking machine business closed in Mexico, and the Mexican public is recognized as one of the foremost exponent of the musical qualities of the talking machine.

Rafael Cabañas has been connected with the talking machine industry for more than twelve years, and possesses a detailed knowledge of the business. His views on conditions in Mexico arc therefore interesting.

«Our business this year has naturally suffered considerably from the ill effects of the Mexican revolutions.» stated Mr. Cabañas in a chat with The World. «At the same time, however, there is an exaggerated idea apparent in this country regarding the extent of the business losses sustained by the merchants of Mexico, and the actual loss is not nearly as great as the average American business man believes.

«The one redeeming feature of the serious Mexican revolutions is the fact that the fighting and disturbances are confined to certain parts of the country districts, and arc not by any means universal. In the sections of Mexico where the disturbances have made their presence most strongly felt we naturally do not expect to close any business! which is, of course, at a standstill. The heavy losses in these districts arc more than offset, however, by the satisfactory status of business in the sections under Government control, and when our fiscal year closed the first of July we showed a gain over the business consummated the previous year. This gain was not, of course, what we expected, nor what it would have been with normal conditions, but it affords evidence that business is not at an absolute standstill throughout Mexico.

Novedoso método para anunciar la Columbia en México

«The revolutionary disturbances have, of course, retarded the expansion of our business, as the matter of credits must be carefully watched and considered during these periods of uncertainty. This is particularly true in the country districts where the troubles have been most pronounced, but we are all hoping that normal conditions will soon be enjoyed.

«Our company showed its faith in the ultimate settlement of all disturbances by continuing to advertise throughout the entire period of revolution and trouble. We have always been liberal advertisers in the Mexican newspapers, and advertising is one of my hobbies. There are three or four leading newspapers in Mexico in which our advertising can be found year in and year out, and this advertising is producing gratifying results. We also advertise regularly in a few Mexican weeklies, and in addition utilize billboards and other means of publicity which we have found of considerable value in maintaining and increasing our prestige and business. One of these publicity «stunts’ is the installation of an immense sign advertising our products in the official bull fight arena, and I may add that this sign is one of our best advertising novelties.

«From July 1 to date we have done about 60 per cent, of the business we closed during the similar period of 1912, and we have no cause to complain at this record, considering the severe handicaps to Mexican industry. Our branch offices throughout Mexico are inclined to be optimistic in their reports and the future is promising.

«The popularity of the Columbia products in Mexico is growing by leaps and bounds, and they have far out-distanced all competitors in point of sales. The Mexican records issued by the Columbia Co. have experienced a phenomenal sale, and as each new list is issued our clients’ enthusiasm regarding the prefect reproduction increases in proportion. The cheaper class of machines are at present at the height of their popularity in Mexico, but the more expensive types are gaming ground fast.

«The subject of politics is, of course, the question of the day in Mexico just now, and there are many variances of opinion. Personally I believe that President Wilson of this country is making a serious mistake in failing to suitably recognize the Huerta administration. Those acquainted with the -true conditions in Mexico fully understand that the Huerta Government has the situation in hand as well as can be possibly done under the handicaps it is proceeding under. What the Huerta Government needs most is money, and this can only be secured when the Government is recognized by the foreign countries.

«The election of President Huerta, contrary to newspaper reports, was absolutely legal. The fixed succession of officers to the Mexican Presidency was faithfully carried out and there is no question but that Huerta’s election was every bit as legal as that of Madero. This country should recognize Huerta, as by doing so it will confer a blessing on the entire populace of Mexico.»

Texto y fotos de Talking Machine World, Vol. IX, No. 10, Oct. 15, 1913, p. 82.