The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-07
EdIson,s Musical Telephone and
EleelrO-MOGOgraph.

New York Sun.
While Mr.. Edison was entertaining his
visitors with the photograph, his
assistants put in order musical tele.
phone. The instrument was placed upon
table in the center Of the room. A
telegraphic wire connected It with 9
molthpiece far away on the lower floor.
The machine upon the table was not much
larger than 4 common stock indicator.
The chemically. soaked strips Of paper
dried at the hot stove were wound around
little wheel, and carried over the sur
face Of o drum, pressed up to the mouth Of
the instrument. This wheel was turned
outward by small crank. An assistant
on the lower floor murmured the Mar
seillaise" into the mouthpiece below, and
Mr.. Edison began TO turn the crank. The
music filled the vast laboratory: Il arose
and died away like the notes Of 4 power.
ful Eolean harp, apparently controlled
10 volume by the Professor at the crank.
This instrument differs greatly from
Belle musical telephone. The latter
sings through an ingenious arrangement
Of reeds. The music Of the Edison mach
inc Is brought out by the action Of .
current Of electricity upon = solution OF
pulphate OF sodidm in which the strips OF
white paper are soaked. The prepara-
ton Of this paper and solution Is the Pro-
fessor's own secret. The paper goes into
the instrument as white a snow, and
comes out Withls tinge Of blue. Mr.. Edi-
son claims that low murmur at the
other end Of the wire may be increased
in volume by proper instruments until
the effect would be deaiening, he speaks
Of tearing roofs from mnsic halls, and
evidently has great faith in the scope
OF the invention.
Mr.. Edison next exhibited his electro
photograph. 1t is claimed that this in
strument would have given "a perfect
system oft Biography were magetisim new
er discovered. In experiments Mr.. Ed.
sin learned that certain chemicals salts
lost their friction when subjected 10
electric currents. A strip Of paper
moistened in common'chemical solution
Is laid upon metal plate connected with
one pole Of battery. A fat platinum
strap fastened TO the other pole Is press.
ed down upon the moistened paper BY the
thumb. The thumb can draw the planti.
mum over the paper as though It was
creased, until the electric current Is inter.
rupted. Then the normal friction OF the
paper IL restored, and the hand will be in.
Voluntarily stopped. The elements Of this
discovery are applied to Mr.. Edison's
musical telephone, mentioned above. In
that instrument the paper Is carried over
the surface to drum touched by 4 steel
spring witha platinum face. A sound
ing board IL stood upon edge, with q brass
arm reaching to the center Of the drum.
When the drum is turned the chemical
paper il drawn under the platinum spring, |
and the sounding. board drawn outward |
by the friction. The electric current pas.
ses through the paper, destroying the
friction, and the sounding.board drops
back to il first position. The cessation Of
the current again causes friction, and
the board i. again drawn out. This
mechanical, chemical and electric action
Is so instantaneous that the finest and
highest notes OF the female voice are
200 miles away.