Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-06-07
The PhOnograph,

,Wo had heard and read so much IF the
phonograph, Of which Professor Edison is
tho inventor, that We determined to see and
judge for ourselves. AS for tho telephone,
it has ceased to bo wonder, and the fact
that it has already reached Japan, would
seem to havo placed it already among the
list of wornout novelties. Wo arc living
so fast and making such rapid strides that
year appears to BIO an ago. The Atlantic
telegraph has como to DO regarded as
matter -of-fact affair, and we read yestcr-
days nows from Europe with the same
sang Ji'oi0 with which We peruso the
Washington dispatches, or reports Of things
still nearer home. In fact, like Sir Charles
Coldstream, wo are becoming surfeited and
dlase, and it requires something out Of the
usual order to arouse our interest, or excite
our pulses to quicker motion. The phono
graph, 'we must soy, has accomplished this.
1t surpassos all previous discoveries. The
popular. mind can understand how the cleo.
trio current can be sent from point to point
and how sound can be communicated
through material agencies; but the great
majority of those who have seen the phono.
graph in operation and heard it speak can
not comprehend how distinct words, sen
tences and sounds can be recorded and
reproduced as they were uttered.
The machine by which this Is done is of
very simple construction, coDsieting of
brass cylinder threaded after the manner of
screw. There is, besides, mouthpiece
similar to those attached to speaking-tubes
at the back Of which is set very sensitive
metallic. disk that 7ibrates to tho sound of
the voice In the contre Of the disk is q
steel point or needle which is placed in
contact With the cylinder. Before the
machine is put in motion sheet of tinfoil
is wound closely round the cylinder, to one
end of which is attached balance, while at
the other is the handle by which it is
, turned. When the machine is ready for
operation the mouth is applied to the speak.
ing tube, tho desired words arc pronounced,
the disk vibrates, the needle strikes the tin.
foil, and as tho cylinder rovolvos certain
marks are recorded on tho thin metallic
sheet. The sounds arc literally written
or impressed upon the tinfoii. These
are indentations varying in form and
depth IN conformity with tho vibrations
Of the disk, or diaphragm, as il is called;
Now, thore would seem to bo, and there
certainly is, nothing wonderful 10 this so
far. The marvellous feature 10 tho whole
affair is that by removing tho mouthpiece,
returning tho cylinder to it's original posi-
tioh, substituting funnel shaped vessel
like trumpet, therefor, and turning tho
handle Of tho cylinder, every word, sound.
and tone is reproduced with Surprising ae.
curacy. AS we have said, there is nothing
remarkable In the vibration Of the dia.
phragm, nor in the marks or indentations
caused by tho needle; it is the repetition Of
oil the words, no matter 10 what Ian euape.
all tho sounds, no matter what they initiate
tho barking of q dog, the mssicg of oat.
or the growing of a rooster--eyerythio il
given back from that piece Of tinfoii when
the cylinder is set in motion.
What is the explanation Of this2 It has
been suggested that the sound is absorbed
by tho tinfoil, as sponge absorbs water. If
so, then, like tho sponge, which when
pressed, gives up tho liquid, tho tinfoil
scems to possess an inexhaus!ible supply.
and, by tho operation Of the .maobine'
repeats the sounds with which it is charged
and with tho samo force and distinctness oa
on the first utteranco But this is not the
correct explanation, although we arc aware
that il has beon ADOPTED by many. The
process is very simple, and the whole oper-
alton Of the maohine by which tho sounds
are reproduced, is purely mechanical aud
easily understood. Tho needo, affected by
Tho vibrations Of tho dlnpl,ogm, makes