The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1878-02-02
THE PHoNoGRAPH.


a Machfne Bepeooueang words aoo
Aussc.
New York World: A short time ago
it was announced that Mr.. Thomas A.
Edison, of MEMO Park, New Jersey,
had Invented an instrument which he
called q photographer. and which was
SO constructed that 1t would reproduce
sounds so accurately that IL they origi-
naiiy formed words the words them
selves could be distinctly heard when
reproduced. Mr.. Edison WAS formerly
. telegraph operator, but for several
years past has given up his entire time
TO inyenting instruments connected
with telegraphy. Probably his most
useful, and certainly his best known,
invention is that of the quadruplex sys-
TEN of telegraphy which Is now general
~ in use in the United States. and by
which four messages can be sent at
once over the same wire. Mr.. Edison's
last iuvention--thep honographer-isa az
simple as it is wonderful, and it was
spoken of yesterday by telegraph"
people who were present at n private
exhibition in tins city as the most won>
derful Continuance of the day.
The words being spoken. the paper is
indented by the pin and the crank turns
the cylinder back 70 its starting point.
A funnel is then placed over the mouth
piece Mr.. Edison used one made OF
plain piece Of writing paper. The eyl>
Infer Is then turned over tho same
space it originally traversed and the
sounds are reproduced accurately. and
can be heard several feet around the
instrument. varying always with the
ioudness of tone in which the words
were spoken to the machine. After re-
ceiving the indentstion made by the
pin the lead paper can be taken of the
cylinder and by replacing it at any
time, the words can be exactly repro-
dured That is what Mr.. Edison thinks
will make the machine practically val
liable
The instrument is composed of
brass cylinder about four inches in Iii
sme,er, and about four inches Icing.
with axles ten inches long. on which a
thread is cut, coming from either end
and passing through nut journals. To
one of these axles a crank is attached,
by which the cylinder Is turned, NOV
ing either way as the crank is moved
The cylinder, from one end Oft to the
other, has small lines eut into it aud
around it. By the side OF the cylinder.
and resting on it is pin attached 10 .
vibrating plate, over which is a mouth
piece with q small hole leading to the
plate Immediately over the hole
When the photograph is to be used a
sheet OF iead-paper is spread over the
cylinder, the words or sounds to be re-
produced are made very close TO the
al =.
air oecasioned by their dtterances cause
the plate to move, and the pin indents
the lead paper upon the cylinder.
which, by the way. is turned by means
of the crank during the operation.
When the reporter of the World en-
tered the room In which the exhibition
was given, Mr. Edison was singing TO
the machine. Tommy, make room for
your uncle" The reporter expected
when the funnel was placed over the
mouth piece, only u hear inartieulate
words reproduced, but he vas astonish>
ed in hearing the words of the song
quite as plainly as he heard them when
uttered Sy Mr.. Edison. Mr. Edison
tried the effect OF turning the crank
slowly, and the slower it moved the
deeper was the sound of the reproduc>
ton. As the crank was moved faster
they came again 10 a shriil tenor
Mr. Edison then said to the instrn>
menI Now is the winter of our discon-
tent made glorious summer, etc. Turn
ing the crank slowly, a Richard was
beard to.speak with deep and diabolic
voice Turning the crank rapidly, the
SAME words were heard in shrill and
petulant voice, As though Richard Was