Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-25
FOR THE STAR.
THE PHONOGRaPH
By DR. A. W. ADAMS

choose this certainly very interesting and
!l nfffGEfReet'Se 'nN'"N " wa
1t will not be my object to give a detailed
account of the construction OF the phonOgraph,
for that subject has long since been exhausted
In the various monthly magazines of the day !;
but to bring before you in as concise manner
as practicable few of the more prominent
successive steps which have led to its discOv-
cry, and also to bring to your attention the
fact that Mr.. EdisOns monograph, wonderful
as 1t Is, Is simply an Improvement upon an
instrument the existence Of which has long
since been known to professors and students
OF natural philosophy, although not to the gen.
In none of the departments OF science within
the last few decades have there been such
rapid progressive strides towards perfection
as have been made In these two, viz: Sound
and electricity. Probably 1t would be difficult
to attribute any particular reason for this
other than mythical one, such, for instance,
ages to the effect that the gods presiding over
these two elements, who had lain in a quiescent
state In their undiSturbed realms above for
centuries past, were now suddenly aroused to
the importance of insr1tuting an activity which
would so influence the human intellect as to
cause it TO make discoveries of hidden myS-
teries which would place the subjects over
which they had dominion in an unrivalled
position amongst the long category of wonders.
1t is strange, but nevertheless true, that there
exist at certain irregular intervals in the
worlds history what might be appropriately
s yled eraS of invention or discovery, during
which time all prominent discoveries are re-
strieted to certain field. Many facts, were it
within the domain of this article, might be
cited in support of this assertion
The researches which opened up the present
field OF discoveries were instituted about forty
by Prof G. q. Page, of Salem, Mass, in 1887 of
the fact that musical intOnatiOns might be
conveyed for limited distance by electricity.
He based his hypothesis upon the observance
by himself of the emission, from a soft iron
rod, of a peculiar sound or click, which Oc
CURED at the time Of breaking a current of
electricity which was then passing through
the longitudinal axis of this soft iron rod.
This was OccasiOned by molecular movement
which produced a change in the length of the
bar. When the bar was created a magnet, by
the passage of this current of electricity, it
elongated about l25,0O0 of its length: and
when Invested of this electrically created
magnetism, by suddenly breaking the circuit,
it resumed its original length: and synchro-
nous with this peculiar molecular change
came forth Prof. Pages characteristic click.
1t is to Prof Henry that We owe gratitude
and contraction OF soft iron rod upon the
passage through it of an intermtted electrical
current. Prof. Pages discoveries, however,
own hand, and his work in this direction was
sunk into oblivion, not TO be resurrected until
the year 1871, when Philip Reiss, of Friedrichs-
dOrf, Germany, began investigation where
Prof. Page left off. He ushered in the dia-
phragmaiic system of investigation. by utiliZ-
ing diaphragm which would receive sound
waves as an armature to make and break
an electric current. And thus virtually created
the germ which has led 10 the recent discuv-
cries.
Long before this, however, the character of
sound was thoroughly investigated its degree
of velocity was accurately measured the con-
StitutiOn of sound wave was studied the
number OF vibrations per second necessary
for the production of the various musical
tones was determined. and the limits of audi
bility were aScertained. In all this series of
investigation HelmhOltz figured cOnSpicu
OuSly.
Almost simultaneous with all this came the
PRONUNCIATION of the theory that articulate
sounds were caused and accompanied by the
expulsion OF air from the mouth, causing i'm
pulses varying in quantity, pressure, and in
the degree Of SuddenneSS with which they
commence and terminate. The next step
then to be accomplished was the construction
of an instrument by means of which this
theory could be proved and the supposed
vibrations observed.
This was first accomplished by Kong, Lis
salons ard Others, who worked on the Drinci-
pie of reflected light, and produced an fnstru-
ment similar in principle to the one by means
OF which We now receive electric hashes''
produced zigZag outline which represented
the sound vibrations. He was followed by
others, who invented more perfect inJtru
ments, to which were given the name of pho
nautOgraph or monograph. These were able
to very accurately record these impulses, or
yibratOry movements of the atmosphere.
By means of this style of instrument series
Of sounds. whether simple, or (when repre-
Senting articulated sOunds) complex may be
graphically expressed upon an endless strip of
paper, IN the form of tracing consisting of
an irregularly curved line, resembling some
what in appearance the tracingS produced by
the sphygmOgrapb, an instrument by means
Of which the exact character of the pulse beats
are graphically recorded.
The great difference between the tracing
produced by this instrument, and that created
by the phOnaut0graph, Is In the regular inter
walls at which there occur elevations and de-
pressiOns; and the cause of these is the alter
nate expansion and contraction of the arteral
walls, to which this instrument is intended to
be applied. The variations in the tracings of
this instrument will, therefore, be attributa-
BILE TO the degree of quickneSS, uniformity or
trregularity OF the heart pulSatiOnS. Whereas
in the tracings created by the phOnautograph,
the excursions of the traces are great or small
from the base line (which represents the uuiet
membrane;) according to the force Of the i'm
pulse, and are prolonged according to the
sounds varying greatly in length as well as in
their intensity. Farther, another great differ
ence in them consists in the relative abrupt
ness OF the rising and falling infections, max
Ing tracing consisting of curves of various
Shapes, even or irregular, with turns acute or
obtuSe- according 10 the peculiar sound to
which their existence is attributable.
The SmOOthneSS or ruggedneSS of a sound
has then its own graphic character, indie pen
dent bo'h of its actual intensity and length
Again In the traeings produced by this instru-
lrregulary curved line, are produced by and
correspond TO the force, dura ion, and other
characteristics of the vocal impulse.
There was as late as 1874 still more delicate
phOnautOgraph invented by Alex Graham
Bell, of Chicago, and DIR. Blake, of Boston, In
this instrument the membrane tympani of the
human ear was used.
But the peculiar style of phOnautograph to
which L particularly wish 20 call your atten-
ton, IS one which was devised some time be-
fore this by Leon Scott; and which is, i'm point
OF principle, the exact eXempificatiOn Of the
Edison phOnOgraph; and, as regards physical
properties, its exact counterpart.
A model OF this instrument has for some
time back been lodged on one of the shelves of
a case In the Smithsonian Institution ar Wash
lngtOn. So great and striking is the similarity
between 1t and the pkOnOgraph. that now,
since that marvellous instrument has excited
such widespread wonder, numerous visitors
may be seen daily, standing with a great de-
gree OF satisfaction before the case containing
1t, surprising themselves to be viewing the
wonderful talking machine.
This instrument consists of a SQUARE plat.
form, from each side of which arise stand
ards, which support an axis possessed of
screw thread, and which passes through
brass cylinder, precisely like the one used in
the Edison photograph, with the exception
that IL has no endless or spiral groove cut upon
It's surfaces. The axis, also like the one used
IN the Edison machine, has upon one eXtrem.
lty large balance wheel 20 regulate its mo-
ton, and upon the other a crank. by means of
which the cylinder Is reyOlyed; or, this may