“ THE DICTAPHONE ” 1946 PROMO FILM FOR OFFICE DICTATION AND TELEPHONE RECORDING MACHINES XD60994a

Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website Made in 1946, this industrial promo film presents the new and exciting technology offered by Dictaphone that allows the recording of phone calls and improves office dictation, and improves business communications. The Dictaphone company was founded by Alexander Graham Bell and after the Second World War, it introduced a new feature known as the Dictabelt. This had the capabilities to record higher quality and more permanent than wax recording cylinders. This film was created as a way to advertise their new features and encourage business owners and executives to use the voice recording equipment in their offices. The name Dictaphone was trademarked in 1907. The film opens with a newspaper executive taking a phone call over “some of the worst fires in the city’s history” (:16). The reporter blasts information from a telephone booth (:32). Over dinner, the reporter tells his associate how the paper had installed telephone recording machines (:48). A secretary sets up a Dictaphone for use in the office (1:03). Mr. Baker informs the reporter that his business would have no use for the Dictaphone (1:37) and from here the film uses Mr. Baker to prove any business can benefit from the product. Back at his office, his secretary delivers a memo with incorrect information (1:54). She complains of being unable to understand what the caller was saying (2:20). Mr. Baker worries he may lose the sale (4:00). Another call comes in, Mr. Baker calls his secretary in (4:11). As he begins to dictate a note, another call comes over the line (6:13). Confusion ensues as a sloppy note is sent for Mr. Brown and (6:50) the executive is further interrupted as a third call comes in. The film notes if the calls had been recorded, Mr. Baker could have gone over each call later with ease saving himself embarrassment and profit (8:08). A Dictaphone is shown in use recording a call (8:34). Notes are easily transcribed from here (8:55). Business executives arrange a meeting over alcoholic beverages (9:18). Mr. Baker compares his machine to a female secretary (8:39). The microphone used to record information is noted (10:10). Mr. Baker informs his guests the machine frees up his secretary from having to dictate memos (11:01). Incoming calls from other countries can later be translated (11:46). Weekend work is completed with ease and without dragging in his secretary (11:59). The doctor’s secretary contacts him as the executive’s prepare for an evening of recreation (12:49) over a pertinent case. He states he must abandon the game as the secretary is unable to handle the details of the case (13:39). Mr. Baker suggests the doctor put the Dictaphone to use (14:10). The call is recorded with ease as the men enjoy their recreational time (15:40). Dictaphone’s parent company began in 1880 after the discovery of the first practical telephone (17:13). A montage of sound recording machines through the years follows (17:26). A Dictaphone factory in the 1920’s is presented (17:53). Engineers work on the recording equipment (18:08). The film concludes with a final advertisement for the innovative equipment (20:30). This was a Transflim production (20:55). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit