Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-17


question as will bring your government FULLY
to realize it would have been wiser policy on
its part to have paid a bonus for the importa-
ton of our lumber, if by such means it could
have been saved for the use of your people,
than the course it has adopted in driving it |
away to foreign markets by the imposition of |
duties to any amount.
EDISON EcL1PsEs HIMSELF.
The Latest and Most Remarkable Inrcntio,s
Yet Falls to Hare Eurs--4 Spy II, ErerY
Household--A Great improvement on the
monograph.
N. Y. Star.
While Mr.. Edison was testing one of his
lately improved machines last Monday morn
ing, his restless intellect conceived the posi-
bility of making it record and speak stimuli
taneously. TO think with him is to act. To
conceive new problem is to set about its
solution, which, in this instance, was soon
accomplished. By the introduction of
second, or following needle, and diaphram to
the recording needle, and in close proximity,
the one plate and its system of clockwork
causes the machine to both record and talk
almost simultaneously. In two DAYS Mr.
Edison had one in successful operation, and
off into new fields of conquest.
Parties who have personally inspected and
listened to the "Taiking Machine now on
exhibition in this city, will recall to mind
the metallic hoarseness of tone as well as
slight falling off in volume Of its utterances.
Many attribute this to the use of tin
trumpet in delivering the sound, and ex-
pertinent has since shown this superstition
to have been correct Long ago Mr.. Edison
had realized the necessity Of utilizing some
other and less defective medium, more sensi-
| tive, and less resonant in material and con-
struction. After many failures he at last
succeeded in supplying this want by con-
structing delivery horn out of new sub
stance, compounded mainly of Catchouc gel
atine and the sensitive carbon, which enters
| SO largely into Mr. Edison's manufactures.
A modification was also made on its shape
and construction, more especially adapt
ing it to the needed purposes. Upon the
very first time, it was found to be almost
perfect in action. repeating the voice with
such absolute fidelity in tone and infection,
as to actually startle the experimenters
themselves. Upon the subsequent day,
while again testing its merits, the tube por-
ton OF the trumpet accidentally became
twisted, when the ever watchful ear of the
|
ume of sound. His attention was ut once
directed to the economy of the convolution
of the human ear, and the problem pre-
sented itself as to whether they do not en-
body a mechanical principle. It was not
long before this secret yielded itself to the
prying search of the wonderful inventor,
w-o discovered that by cooling the neck OF
pipe of the trumpet in a peculiar way, and
by adding to its convolutions, the faintest
sound-wave could be made to re.
call itself through the medium of the Ola
phragn, upon the receptive plate or matrix
as deeply as the loudest tone uttered under
ordinary conditions. In short, he succeeded
in demonstrating the fact absolutely that by
means of proper mechanical arrangements
the volume of sound capable of being emitted
by the photograph was actually imitless
and entirely independent of the application
of steam, air, valves or any extraneous force
Impressed with the value of both these
discoveries, it was natural in Mr.. Edison tc
set about combining the two, result ht
} accomplished with little difficulty, the opera
ton of which is to be witnessed at his
laboratory in Menlo Park, and which he has
nomed the 'Aur1phone.'
This new invention of Edison's is brief,
described as follows: In the ceiling Of hi.
r exception of a small ear-shaped funnel, o.
dark color 10 has fitted between the rafters
and the floor above one of his double reced-
ing and speaking machines. In the room
above portion of the machine rises through
: the floor, and attached to it is a small woode1
7 box, said to contain the coils of the pipe OF
f the trumpet, the bell or mouth of which
opens through one side, and is made of thu
new substance discovered by MIR. Edison
and alluded to elsewhere. With the excep
: t1on of the box, oil other portions O.
l the machine are open to inspection. Ever,
, word uttered in the room below is repeated
, IN the room above, with about treble or qua
druple the volume of sound (although it cal
be arranged in vast excess of this). Will,
at the same time it is being recorded on tn,
matrix- plate for future reference and pre-
servation through the electrotyping process
) The effect produced by the auriphone is no
only comically weird, but, in many ways
alarming. Sending an assistant to the room
below in order to test it's capacity for catch
ing whispers, the orator, directed by Mr.
Edison. bent down his ear to the little DO.
, only to be deafened by the inquiry, s'Wha
do you think of the auriphone?'' shouted i,
tones that almost made the hous
: rock, followed by a laugh SO mock
ingly hideous and unearthly a
> to make the blood curdle with horror. Thi
we soon discovered to be one of the peculia
jokes incidental to an introduction to th
auriphone, always hugely enjoyed by the in
ventor and his attaches. Subsequent expert
( ments proved the exquisite sensitiveness O
3 the machine. The faintest whisper. the tick
, ing of clock, the rolling of lead-penci
over the desk, the tearing of q small piece O
newspaper, sigh, a tune hummed in tn