The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23
The Latest Invention.

AerophoDe. what II Is ana what IL VIII
do are told by an 'interview or" connected
with the New. York World:
81 am very sorry" said Mr.. Edison,
"that cannot show you the aerophone
to-day; l have just sent the application
for patent to Washington, and have
taken the machine | had here to pieces"
That he has invented a machine which,
placed upon locomotive, will raise It's
voice and announce in giant tones, that can
be heard for miles, 81 am engine Marina
duke, and will stop at Boonton Station,
or whatever other warning or iutorma-
ton it chooses, there is not the least reas on
to doubt The vibrating diaphragm
principle in use in the marvellous phono-
graph is made key to the mystery.
The vibrating plate which in the phono-
graph moves sharp point over revolv-
ing cylinder, in the acrophone operates
as a valve to shut off and open the flow
of steam through pipe leading from
the boiler to Il peculiarly arranged horn
or whistle. BY this continuance the
steam, instead of producing long, con-
tinuous foot, is made to pronounce words.
at is quite simple" said Mr.. Edison,
smiling upon the rerplcxed reporter,
shut il you don't understand it altogether,
lust take my word for it that thi, thing
will utter words which can be heard dis
tinctly four miles off, and wait patiently
for a few weeks, when | will demons trate
what l say to YOU"
With this, for the present, the reporter
had to content himself, Mr.. Edison first
having called his attention to the immense
value it would have on shipboard in time
of fog, or in lighthouses on stormy coasts,
from which, by its aid, the keepers could
hail all surrounding vessels, informing
them of their whereabouts, and of the
peculiar dangers of each particular coast.
II have been so busy in perfectng the
phonograph," said Mr.. Edison, THAT
have thought of but little else for the last
two weeks. All the monographs that
have as yet been exhibited are, you know,
very imperfect, or rather very meaore in
their results. They have been mere ex
periments. | have, however, perfected
the instrument, and in few days talk
ing machine that is a talking machine
will be completed' So saying, he led
the way down stairs to a machine shop.
where eight busy machinists were indus
triously at work, and where perfect net
work of leather bands, attached to all
manner of machines, was in animated
motion. Among the workmen, looking
over their shoulders and giving instruc
tons here and there, this little man, whose
brain had supplied the occasion Tor all
that was going on, moved quietly about,
while the reporter. lost in admiration,
followed behind. Eight men, and these
men all of them-are employed at an ex-
pense of several hundred dollars a week,
merely TO make in iron and brass the
myriad inventions that are constantly
taking form in his mind.
"Ah, here it is, said he, picking up Il
circular piece of brass, the surface Of
which was reamed with a foe thread,
which, starting at the centre, ran around
the plate many thousand times before the
circumference was gained. This is to
take the place of the cylinder in the new
phonograph. 1t reyolves, you see, in this
way (placing it upon a pivot and twirling
it around like a platter, and the pointer,
which is attached TO the diaphragm, will
follow the thread 10y means of movable
arm. The plate will he turned 10y clock
a
Instead of having to put the sheets of tia
foil directly on a cylinder, with the risk
of tearing in removing them, by the
means of this fat plate we will be able
TO have the tin-foil made secure to card
board frame, which, having holes at the
four corners, that viii just fit over four
pegs, can be easily lifted from the ma
chine when used, and put away in safe
place until wanted again"
The reporter asked how many words
could be put upon sheet of tin-foil suf-
fciently large to cover this plate, which
is about ten inches in diameter. Mr..
Edison replied that he was confident any
ordinary so cent novel could easily be
regulated upon it. To perfect the Guilt
walton Of the monographs voice so
that it will be capable of transmit
ting precisely the same tones of voice
that are spoken to il, Mr.. Edison is en-
gagged N making an affair to take the
place of the metallic funnel which is now
used to bring out the sound. He pro-
poses to construct tube which shall be
shaped like the interior of the human
mouth, and which shall be supplied with
teeth somewhat similar to those employed
in the ror huBsGnG orsan-stop.
II have another idea said be- IL pro-
pose, in sending the exhibit of several of
my inventions to the Paris Exposition, TO
have large photograph running in the
machinery department. | will have
piece of tin-foil electrotyped SO that the
impressions upon it will not wear out by
constant use. A very simple continuance