River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-05-23
Edison's Latest Invention.
m. Y. star.

N. Y. Star.
While Mr.. Edison was testing one OF his
lately improved machines last Monday morn
ing his restless intellect conceived The posi-
bility of making it record and speak stimuli
taneously. To think with him is to act. To
conceive new problem is to set about It's
solution, which, III thiR instance, was soon
accomplished. BY the introduction of d
seccnd, on following needle. and diaphram to
tie recording needle, and in close proximity,
the one plate and its system OF elockworh
causes the machine to both record and talk
almost simultaneously. In two days Mr..
Edison had one III successful operation, and
his fertile imagination was again wandering
of into new fields of conquest.
Parties who have personally Inspected and
listened TO the Talking Machine nov on
exhibition iii this city, will recall to mind
the metallic hoarseness of tone as well IA
slight falling off in volume of its utterances.
Many attribute this to the use of tin
trumpet in delivering the sound, and ex-
pertinent has since shown this supposition
to have been correct. Long ago Mr.. Edison
had realized the necessity of utilizing some
other and less defective medium, more sensi-
tive, and less resonant in material and con-
struction. After many failures he at last
succeeded in supplying this want by con-
strueting delivery horn out of new sub
stance compounded mairly of Catchouc gel
atine and the sensitive carbon, which enters
SO largely into Mr. Edison's manufactures.
modification was also made on its shape
and construction, more especially adapt
ing it to the needed purposes. Upon the
very first time, 1t was found to be almost
perfect in action. repeating the voice with
such absolute fidelity in tone and infection,
as To actually startle the experimenters
themselves. Upon the subsequent day,
while again testing its merits. the tube por-
ton of tile trumpet accidentally became
twisted, when the ever watchful egr of the
inventor at once detected an increase of vol
ume of sound. His attention was at once
directed to the economy of the convolution
of the human ear, and the problem pre-
scented itself as to whether they do not em-
body mechanical principle. 1t was not
long before this secret yielded itself TO the
prying search of the wonderful inventor,
W discovered that by cooling the neck or
pipe of the trumpet in peculiar way, and
by adding to its convolutions, the faintest
sound-wave could be made to re-
call ITSELF through the medium of the dla-
phragtn, upon the receptive plate or matrix,
ordinary conditions. In short, he succeeded
in demonstrating the fact absolutely that by
means of proper mechanical arrangements
the volume of sound capable of being emitted
by the photograph was actually limitless,
and entirely independent of the application
of steam, air, valves or any extraneous force.
Impressed with the value of both these
discoveries, it was natural i'll Mr.. Edison to
set about combining the two, result he
accomplished with little difficulty, the opera
ton of which is to be witnessed at his
laboratory III Menlo Park, and which he has
nomed the "Au1phohe."
This new invention of Edison's IS briefly
described as follows: In the ceiling of his
private Office, concealed from view with the
exception of a small ear-shaped funnel, of
dark color he has fitted between the rafters
and the floor above one of his double-reced-
ing and speaking machines. In the room
above portion of the machine rises through
the floor, and attached to it is small wooden
| box, said to contain the coils of the pipe of
| the trumpet, the bell or mouth of which
opens through one side, and is made of the
new substance discovered by MIR. Edison,
and alluded to elsewhere. With the excep-
ton of the box, all other portions of
the machine are open to inspection. Every
word uttered in the room below is repeated
| in the room above, with about treble or qua
druple the volume of sound although it can
be arranged in vast excess of thisl. While
at the same time it is being recorded on the
matrix-plate for future reference and pre-
servation through the electrotyping process.
The effect produced by the auriphone Is not
only comically weird, but, i'll many ways,
alarming. Sending an assistant to the room
below i'll order to test its capacity for catch
ing whispers, the orator, directed by Mr..
Edison, bent down his ear to the little box
only to be deafened by the inquiry, s'What
do you think of the auriphone?" shouted in
tones that almost made the house
rock, followed by laugh so mock
ingly hideous and unearthly as
to make the blood eurdle with horror. This
we soon discovered to be one of the peculiar
Jokes incidental to an introduction to the
auriphone, always hugely enjoyed by the IN
ventor and his attaches. Subsequent expert
ments proved the exquisite sensitiveness of
the machine. The faintest whisper. the tick
ing of a clock, the rolling of a lead-pencil
over the desk, the tearing of small piece of
newspaper, sigh. tune hummed IN the
lowest register--all were successfully deliv-
cred in the room above in exaggerated vol
ume. AT night, when the quiet is more pro-
found, Mr. Edison informed us that he could
plainly hear the purring of his cat IN the
Office below.