The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-05-21
The Phonogrsph.

The nineteenth century Wall forever con-
tinue to shine as . brilliant spot in the his
tory Of the world, on account Of its numer.
Gus valuable and most wonderful inven-
tons.
America may justly be proud. Her sons
have led the world in progress, improve
ments and inventions. The application OF
steam a. motive power, the telegraph. the
telephone and finally the phonograPh, have
been evolved from the inventive mind OF
American genius. Very few people have
any idea or conception Of the principle on
which the little instrument. called the
photograph, is operated.
The inventor is Mr.. Edison he lives at
a village called Menlc Park, situated on the
Pennsylvania road, about .wenty-four miles
from New York City and about midway
between Railway and New Brunswick. NJ.
He has besides this about one hundred and
fifty other valuable inventions from which
he derives : considerable revenue.
But the phonograph is his fAvorite. and
he is constantly at work improving and per-
fecting his machine so that even now the
human voice can exactly be initiated and
reproduced with the greatest ease.
The great wonder Of this instrument Is
its absolute simplicity. One would sup
pose in machine Of that kind very intri-
cate machinery would be necessary; that it
would require reeds. tubes, wheels, pipes,
springs, etc. But such is not the case, and
if you will Just listen for moment We will
give YOU q correct idea of how the thing
works.
The photograph is simply cylinder Of
brass, revolving horizontally, supported by
two upright braces at either end. A
mouthpiece, o: wood, enclosing a diaphragm
of ferrotype or tin-type, is SO adjusted that
it may be placed directly over the cylinder.
On the under side of this metal diaphragm
a needle point is affixed. A sheet OF tinfoil
is wrapped smoothly around the cylinder
and as the voice speaks into the mouth
piece the diaphragm vibrates, and as the
cylinder revolves the needle pricks or rather
dots the tinfoil, thus literally recording the
sound wave produced in the atmosphere by
the voice The diaphragm is raised = little,
SO that the needle will not touch the foil.
and the cylinder is screwed back to the
original starting point and tine Leedie re-
arranged and the cylinder revolved as be-
fore. As the needle traverses the dots
originally made, the diaphragm or sounding
board vibrates and produces the same sound
waves, thus reproducing the voice and tone.
Then the instrument Is talking to you, in
stead OF you to it. 1t will talk, sing songs,
crack Jokes, initiate birds and beasts, in fact
faithfully reproduce any sound that Is
made into the mouthpiece.
Mr.. Edison is now engaged on an i'm
provement in his instrument, substituting a
circular fat disc for the cylinder. The
sound dots being then recorded, fiat sur
face can he elec,rotyped and the sheets may
be duplicated at will. Those people having
monographs can purchase these electrotype
plates, adjust them in the machine, start
the clock work and be entertained by listen
ing to an eloquent speech made by the Hon.
So-and-so, or listen with delight to a
choice opera by some prima donna.
1t is undoubtedly one of the greatest inven-
tions Of the age and it is to be hoped that
before many days the instruments may be
manufactured SO as to be within the reach
of all.