New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-26
SPEECH BOTTLED Up.

SPEECH BOTTLED UP.
When the veraciOus Munchausen described
the trumpeters music as freezing OH an ex-
cessively cold day, and thawing ont during
mild weather. in audible sounds, the tale found
fixed place in literature because of its APP
parent utter absurdity. Yet if the newly in
vented phonograph does what is expected of
it, music and speech itself may be boxed up
and set aside for indefinite periods, and when
needed be again produced in sounds similar
to the original ones. The telephone has shown
us how sound can be transmitted; the phono-
graph is to show us how sound may be pre-
served. The former has pointed the way for
the invention of the latter, and as a mere mat
ter of probability, judged from its mechanism,
the phOnOgraph would seem more likely to do
its work than the telephone did when the
idea of transmitting sound was first brOached.
In the telephone, sOund-waves must be trans
lated into electrical pulsatiOns, and these trans
lated back into sOund-wayes and nothing
short of the actual experiments would have
proved that electricity could perform this
Office In the photograph, the whole pro-
cedure is simply mechanical; electricity is not
employed.
An invention that promises to speak for
itself; to give to our ears sounds when weeks,
months or years may have elapsed since their
utterance; that may even restore to us the
voice of the dead, is of sufficient importance
to Justify brief explanation of its character.
The sound that is received in the photograph
vibrates a small disk which carries a steel
point at its centre. The vibrating movements
of this point are impressed upon sheet OF TIN
foil by an ingenious contriyanCe. A cylinder Is
provided, whose axle is screw; hence when
the cylinder TcvOlvcs it also moves IN the di-
rection Of its length. The cylinder Is grooycd
spIralIy; its grooves correspond to the screw
threads of its axle. Around this grOovcd cyl
inder tin foil is wrapped. The cylinder is
then rcyolved while the steel point of the disk
touches the f0il-cOvercd surface, and the Vi
brations Of the disk are impressed upon the
foil Here, then, we have a record OF the
speech or song which has caused the disk to
yibrate. To reproduce this sound, it Is only
necessary t0 reproduce those vibrations. This
may be done by again turning the cylinder, so
that the foil may press against the point Of
the disk Whatever has been impressed on
the foil will thus occasion in the disk cone
SDOlUlDS NIDidllollN. tIt NpuIlbN tiuS lNplb-
duced are said to he distinctly recognizable,
both as to tone and words. OF course, the
cylinder must rcvOlve at the same rate when
giving as when receiving speech or music; if
thai point is kept in view the pecularities of
voice which constitute It's quality may also be
reproduced.
As this whole contrivancc Is purely mcchani-
CAL means will doubtless be found for inten,-
flying the sounds, but already they are said
to be recognizable to an audience of ten or
twelve persons. Perhaps it may also be made
capable of recording and preserving any sounds
uttered within hearing distance. \ tesla
tor, sound in wind, may read his last will
and testament at such machine, and then
have it carefully boxed up and put aside
Then when the expectant heirs are gathered
around, the cylinder can be started, and
from it, in the very accents of the deceased,
will come the solemn words, In the name
"of God, amen" A relay of successive cyl
inders might be provided for an opera or
debate in Congress, and the whole sound
may be reproduced by means of telephones
at localities miles away, or perhaps he stored
up for reference and use hereafter. The tcle-
phone can only be used where there
is communication by wire; the phono-
graph can be sent by messenger, and
would insure a secrecy that the telegraph or a
written message cannot provide, since if the
cylinder be turned at a wrong rate, nothing
but nonsense can be uttered. For cipher mes
sagcs this would be safer than Nephew PeltOn's
dictionary. If the tones of delivery can be
sufficiently increased Congressman may save
themselves much trouble. They may deliver
their set speeches to the machine, and lay it
aside till the opportunity comes for delivery
when the auspiciOus moment arrives, the ma
chine can be set up in front of the Speaker
and being started will address the House
without risk OF interruption or calls to order.
W it'll relays of machines, n member who had
the floor could thus talk against time if need
full, indefinitely, while personally he was en-
loving a cigar in the corridor or drinking iced
tea in the restaurant.
We have indicated few uses for the talking
machine, but really, in this land of free speech,
it is impossible to forecast its full career.
---------