The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-11-22
From the Scientific Americana
A Wonderful Invention-Speech Capa-
BILE of Indefinite Repetition from Au-
tomato Records.

Q
A Wonderful Invention-Speech Capa.
BILE of Indefinite Repetition from Au.
tomato Records.
1t has been said that Science is never
I sensational; but certainly nothing that
/ can be conceived would be more likely
\ to create the proioundest sensations, to
arouse the liveliest Of human emotions
/ than once more TO hear the familiar
/ voices of the dead Yet Science now an
/ nounces that il is possible and can be
/ done. That the voice of those who de
/ parted before the invention of the won
/ derful apparatus described in the letter
| given below are forever stilled is too ob.
/ vious truth but whoever has spoken
or whoever may speak into the mouth
/ piece Of the phonograph. and whose
words are recorded by it, has the assur-
ance that his speech may be reproduced
audibly in his own tones long after he
| himself has turned to dust. The posi-
bility is simply startling 4 strip OF in
dented paper travels through a little ma
chine, the sounds of the latter are mag
nified, and our great grandchildren or
posterity centuries hence hear US as
plainly as if we were present Speech
has become, as il were immortal.
The possibilities of the future are not
much more wonderful than those Of the
present. The orator in Boston speaks,
the indented strip of paper is the tangi-
BILE result; but this travels under a sec.
ond machine which may connect with
the telephone Not only is the speaker
heard nor in San Francisco for example,
but by passing the strip again under the
reproducer he may be heard to morrow,
or next year, or next century. His
speech in the first instance is recorded
and transmitted simultaneously. and in
definite repitition is possible.
The new invention is purely mechan-
ical-no electricity is involved IL is a
simple affair Of vibrating plates, thrown
into vibration by the human voice IL is
crude yet. but the principle has been
found and modific atoms and improve
ments are only a matter Of time So also
arc its possibilities other than those al.
ready noted Will letter writing be a
proceeding Of the past? Why not, If by
simply talking into a mouthpiece our
speech is recorded on paper. and our cor
respondent can by the same paper hear
us speak Are we to have a new kind OF
books There is no reason why the ora
tions of our modern Cicsroes shorld not
that we can run the indented slips
through the machine, and in the quiet of
our own apartments listen again. and so
often as we will 10 the eloquent words
Nor are we restricted TO spoken words.
Music may be crystallized as we'll Imag.
inc an opera or an oratorio. sung by the
greatest living vocalists, thus recorded,
and capable OF being repeated as we de-
sire
The invention, the credit of which is
due to Mr.. Thomas A. Edison, should
not be confounded with the one referred
to by US in n previous number and men
toned in our correspondents letter.
That device is illustrated on another
page Of this issue. and is of much more
complicated construction. Mr.. Edison
has sent us sketches Of several modifica-
tions and different arrangements Of his
invention. These we shall probably pub
lish in a future number.
"To the Editor OF the Scientific American:
"In your journal Of November 3. page
273 you made the announcement that
DR.. Rosapelly and Professor Marcy have
succeeded in graphically recording the
movements of the lips. of the vail OF the
palate, and the vibrations Of the larynx.
and you prophesy that this among other
important results, may lead possibly to
the application Of electricity for the pur-
pose Of transferring these records to dis
tant points by wire
Was this prophecy an intuition2 Not
only has it been fulfilled to the letter,
but still more marvellous results achieved !
by Mr. Thomas A. Edison, the renowned |
electrician, of New Jersey, who has kind |
ly permitted me to make public not only
- Al 4
Edison i'm the course Of series of ex-
tended experiments in the production Of
his speaking telephone. lately perfected.
conceived the highly bold and original
idea of recording the human voice upon
a strip of paper, from which any subse
duent time il might be automatically re-
delivered with all the vocal characters
tics Of the original speaker accurately
reproduced A speech delivered into the
mouthpiece OF this apparatus may fifty
years heuce-long after the original
speaker is dead--he reproduced audibly
TO an audience with sufficient fidelity to
make the voice easily recognizable by
those who were familiar with the origin
al As yet the apparatus is crude, but is
characterized by that wonderful simplici-
Nv which seems to be trait Of all great
invention or discovery. OF
course Mr. Edison, at this stage Of the
invention, finds some difficulty in repro
ducing the finer articulations. but he
quite justified by results obtained, from
his crude efforts. in his prediction that
he will have the apparatus in practical
operation within year. He has already
applied the prime pie of his speaking
telephone. thereby causing an electro
magnet the indenting diaphragm. and
will undoubtedly be able to transmit
speech, made upon the floor OF the Sen
ate, from Washington to New York, re-
cord the same in New York automatic
ally, and by means of speaking tele-
phones redeliver it in the editorial ear Of
every newspaper in New York. In view
of the practical inventions already con
tributed by Mr. Edison, is there any one
who is prepared to gainsay this predic
ton? | for one am satisfied il will be
fulfilled, and that, too, at an early date.
"EBwARD II. JOHNsoN,
Electrician.
4 little boy Of our acquaintance who
had lust learned that the names John
and Jack were used iutnrchangcably
took occasion, not unnaturally, to air hi-
knowledge on the different readings o.
Scripture by calling his sisters attention