"The Talking Machine.  Cause of the Delay in Introducing Phonographs to Public Uses," New York Times, March 24, 1889.

The North American Phonograph Company, which was organized with the tremendous capital of $6,600,000, is not turning out the phonographs with the rapidity that was promised.   It was asserted at the outset that 10,000 phonographs would be ready by Feb. 1, and that in a short time city customers could be readily supplied with them.  The reason for the delay, as explained by officers of the company yesterday, is owing to difficulties in the construction of the instruments.  The machinery used is necessarily delicate, and the work upon the talking machines most careful.  As as result of the delay orders for phonographs amounting to more than 10,000 have not been filled.

It is claimed that about 250 phonographs are being turned out of the factories each day.  Officers of the company will visit the factories this week and an attempt will be made to hasten their manufacture.  In the meantime subsidiary companies have been formed all over the country, and they now reach the number of 32.  The capital of these companies varies according to the district over which they have control.  The company in this city called the Metropolitan has a capital of $1,000,000.  Altogether the capital stock of the companies is in the neighborhood of $20,000,000.  The phonograph has not found its way into general use by business men in this city as yet, but the company think that as its practical uses become better known there will be a larger demand for the machine.