The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-04-04

"A Il IA AOAA. 49 :
DNDERs OF THE PHONOGRAPH
he experiments made with Profess
Edison's Recording Phonograph
Eeomething wonderful. The instru
bt itself is said to be of very simple
Dtruction, and does not occupy
- space than volume of Webster's s
Aeidged. A thin diaphragm, made
&rpe metal, is inserted in a gutta
: nha mouth-piece. The vibrations
= lh0 voice jar the diaphragm, which
10 its center, on the under side, q
steel point. Around q finely
pved brass cylinder is wrapped a
= Of tin foil. Turning the cylin-
with crank, the operator talks
= the mouth-piece, and the vibra-
- caused are recorded by the steel
nt upon the revolving tin foil, in q
1bs Of dots like those made by the
: Norse recording telegraph. After
oentences are completed the ope-
- 14lfhss.t the scylinder back to the
point of starting. The steel point kept
down by = rubber spring, trips from
hole to hole in tho tin foil, causing the
diaphragm to vibrate just as it did
when the operator was talking. Their
vibration causes corresponding op-
ening and closing of the valves of the
diaphragm, and reproduces the words,
lntonations and accents of the speak
er with perfect accuracy. It is said
that no mimic could do so well. There
is in it the accuracy of mechanism
Matrices in sulphur of the indented
tin foil are easily made, and can be in
definitely multiplied. So that it is pos.
sible to reproduce not only the langu-
age, but the tones and accents of q
speaker as often as one may desire,
Simple as the contrivance is it is mar.
velous in its results. Like other in
yentions, it is doubtless, capable of
great improvements. Its sensitiveness
to sound, for example, will be so re.
fined a. not to make it necessary to
speak into the mouth-piece in order to
set the diaphragm and steel point in
motion. It will become like the hu-
man ear. in it's acute reception and
transmission of sounds. All that will
then be necessary will be to possess q
photographic instrument, and turn
the crank when speaking is in order,
to have it accurately recorded. AL
ready one instrument has been con-
structed capable of recording $4,000
words.
Now, with one of these Instruments
(and they are of portable size) under
his arm, one can attend lecture or q
public meeting, and not only enjoy it
himself, but take so faithful record
of it that he can reproduce not only
word for word, but tone for tone.
The audience of the future will pre-
sent q curious spectacle-each auditor
not only lislening, but turning the
crank of photograph instrument
with the motion of hurdy-gurdy,
that he may haye it for reproduction
in the home circle.
Such An instrument must prove in
valuable in Courts of law. For exam
pie, if there have been matrimonial
difficulties leading to suits for divorce,
the domestic phonograph will be call
ed for as the highest form of evidence
and the exact words of husband and
wife be reproduced in the hearing OF
Court and jury. For we take it for
granted that every prudent husband
and faithful wife will be provided
with one of these little instruments, to
take down any words that may pass
between them which may have bear.
ing on the case. Even the Courts will
need them to take down the evidence
of Witnesses. They can not err; and
even short. hand reporters may dc
that. But the Photographs will be al
faithful as the photographs, and if dis.
putes arise, as they frequently do be.
tween opposing counsel, all Court will
need to do will be to call for the sheet
of tin foil on which John Smiths o.
Bill Jones testimony is recorded, and
have it repeated. That will end the
dispute.
Indeed, there is hardly coDceiva
BILE circumstance in human life where
the phonograph will not be invaluable
In verbal transactions between mer
chants and business men, in inter
course with distinguished people, al
that is said and done may be put OF
record, and in such a way that when
ever required, in business or pleasure
it may be reproduced with absolut,
accuracy. The notes of Patti, of Nils
son, of Cary, and of all the great sing
ers and dramatists, may be bottled up
so to speak, and carried home will
you. They may be multiplied, i
worth the trouble, ten thousand times
Everybody can have prima donna
or great tragedian, or a fine como
dian, barring presence and gesture, il
his own house, and whenever he re
Quires them, If he wants to know hov
Edwin Booth interpreted doubtful
passage in Shakespeare, or how Patt
rendered difficult aria in Verdi o
Rossini, or how great reader accent
ed q sentence is paradise Lost" O