The New York herald., 1878-10-07
THE AGAPHONE.

WHAT A HoosIER INVENTOR HAS DONE tow
ARD SIMPLIFYING THE TELLPHoNE-A SOUND
GATHERKR OPERATED WITHOUT ELECTRIC
CURRENTs-rHE CRUDE MACHINE TESTED.
ST. oxEa, Decatur County, Ind, Oct !, 1873.
There is rustic Edison here VINO cnsrishes the bc-
lief he has invented an Improvement the tel
epnone and greatly simpliled tho workings OF that
wonderful instrument. He has one OF hts instruments
IN use hers-one OF very crude shape Il must be ad
miled. He is experimenting with It all the time, to
the wonderment and delight OF his neighbours
but It's success hinges manly upon the question
whether II is an original invention which
infringe upon Edison's patents Israel Jewett-lor
tha. is the name of the inventor here-calls his
chine the agaphone, by which name be means 10 con-
vey the idea that It Is sound gathering instrument.
Edison calls his the telephone, or simply sound
bearer Yet the object Of both Is the esame-namely,
70 converse by the voice wnle the spsakcrs are at
long distances apart
THE INVENTORS HOME.
St. Omer is q little country village, I've miles
IRON the railroad just on the line between Decatur
and Shelby Counties Ind-a little cluster OF houses
and single church, with a country store, black
smith shop and drug store representing Its sole
dences OF very .sone horsen country town
Inoiana, in fact, with all that the implies
The drug store is where our inventor lives, for ne
keeps H. with the Post Ofhce here he spends
spare umeaud most OF 1t Is spare, because the trade
IN physic and letters is very meagre Indeed-in max
ing Inventions. Here the agapnone was born and
here the only one yet made is IN operation. Al dis
tance OF lilo rods, say one-:hrd OF mile. stands
the only good, substantial building in st. Omer 1t
rather handsome brick house OF modern STYLE and
the Residence OF the elder Jswet father OF
tor the agaphone connects the arug storo with the
paternal residoncs.
WHAT He CLAIMS
The principal claim OF Mr.. Jewett Is that his app-
anco Is sim pier dong away with the electric
elogether, ana that instead of losing In It's
Transmission gatners or holds rather, all that It
receives giving the tone OF voice with a. m en- dis
tinctness at long distance short one, though
on IN Is latter point has had The test oil expe
ience, tho longest Inc TO which II has been applied
having been only u trine over mile
THE ISsTRUMRST.
The construction OF the instrument Is apparently
very simple Indeed cubical box say OF Ave inches,
tniu snee OF metal Tor its back, hiIe front
open. This thin sheet OF metal 10 the diaphragm
OF The instrument, aud 10 IT IS fastened small brass
wire no larger tnan agrandmothcrs knitting needle,
which transmits tue sound current and this Is ali
that can b. seen, though the inventor claims that
at each end OF tnis wire hc has sound collector,
which, however,, he declines TO exp an. as also the
nature OF the metal winch orms the diaphragm he
latter, however, open for inspeciion ana though
painted black on ono side inc other bears
close resemblance 10 sheet Of tin or platinum.
Tux SOUND CARRIER AT WORK.
An elderly lazy, tne mother oil the Inventor, 10 Eat
home" at The other end Of the ugapnoDs aud the
versduon Is carried ON with her. the speaker in the
drug store standing two or three feel from the box
mou hpiecs, and addressing her at that distance in
ordinary conversational touc. Mr.. Jewst father OF
the Inventor, opens the conversation by rapping
ihc box Presently an answer com ss back, "whAt do
you waat ~
"is that you. Melindy3" Answer-eYes"
"Won't you count ten tor gentleman who is
here?" Answer In rather uaistinct tones but still
easily enough recognized Ouc. Two, three four, Ave,
six, seven, eight, nine, len-lners will tuat DO Z"
What that she saia last?n the investigator in
qurcs. Answer-'She said, 'Will that doP You
she hasn't tooth 10 her head ana can't talk plainn
The toue was as loud as though tue speaker were
hftfl ntnl.t
ciaton. Perhaps u the loothless misfortune OF
Melinda that caused Il, though more likely the fault
was In the diaphragm being too thick.
Tho elder Jewet taps again with his knife loud
Woo door frame OF tho post Office depar OF
the store. moment alter the inquiry comes from
The agaphon., "Vhat's thatf"
son, was just tapping against the deor frame
here. Can't you play Us u piece on the organy"
The instrument referred to, ne explained, was
small caDInet organ situated on the opposite OF
the room aud behind the moutnpiece oi the aga.
pnone. Soon alter the notes OF odd sCninan
her voice and continued through two verses Melinda
can evidently sing better than she talk.
Alter II had been concluded asked, "Do you hear
everything gong on over neref"
"Yes, hear everything you say" was the reply.
"What Is thisf" opening my watch and placing u
IN the Dox
Il hear a watch tcking,n was the answer that
came promptly
Tnere quite long conversation kept up in this
way, but enough has been given 10 show qualities
OF the aguphonc ls inventor says tnat he ztom
10 OBTAIN the use OF the telegraph wires
est railroad point but was refused He belle
Their rcason for doIng this IS because the Western
Union Telegraph Company control Edison's Invention
and do not desire 10 have other inventors their
Tor experiments what he is pleased 10 be-
lIeve will do away with the one they control