The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-09
EDISON, THE INVENTOR.
SOME ACCOUNT OF HIM AND HIS EXTRA
ORDINARY INVENTION.

SOME ACCOUNT OF HIM AND HIS EXTRA
ORDINARY INVENTION.
Edison, the inventor, now so famous, is
a young man, only thirty one years Of age
and comes from Ohio. He appears to have
been born inventor, having made his first
invention when he was but twelve years Of
age. In 1868 he was train boy on Michi.
gan railroad. In the fall Of that year he
began to workas a telegraph operator. and
two months later he brought to the mana
ger OF the office in which he was employed
a plan for duplex telegraph arrange
ment which be had studied out for himself.
His first recorded invention, for which,
however, he did not take out a patent, was
published by him in the Telegraph Journal
in 1868. and was also for duplex. His
first application for patent here was in
connection with the gold and stock tele-
graphs, and he has about fifty patents on
record connected with that system, and
his was in an important respect the first
successful invention.
Office, where his inventions recorded num-
Der about $50. He has invented many
forms Of duplex and quadruplex telegraphs;
worked for awhile at the automatic system
OF Baque, which sends messages by perfor-
ated paper, and has worked also at the
multiplex system, which sends, not stimuli
taneously as tile duplex, but in the minute
intervals between other messages. He is
the inventor OF the electric pen, with which
several copies OF letter or document are
| written simultaneously.
| The telephone, aerophone, and phono-
praph have absorbed him for some time
He has made important improvements in
| the first named instrument. The phono-
graph for practical use is now completing,
and in three or four months the practical
machine, which is to consist of fiat dish
instead of the cylinder now used, will be
put on the market. He anticipates that it
will be in demand among merchants who
have a large correspondence; man may
reac his mail, and as he reads speak his
replies to each letter at once into the phono-
graph, which will work at set speed by
clock arrangement. When all is done the
Instrument will he turned over to clerk,
who, setting the clockwork to go more
slowly, will copy from its dictation. 1t is
also suggested that skilled readers will be
employed to read novels and other works
into phonograph, and the impressions,
being duplicated cheaply and made perma-
nent, may then be sold for the use of the
blind or for persons who wish to spare their
eyes, and for whom the photograph will
read aloud at the Preside. 1t is said that
clock company in Connecticut has already
bought OF Mr.. Edison the right to use
form 0f monograph which Is to be cheaply
applied to clocks, which will then call out
the hours and half hours instead of striking.
There can be no doubt that the monograph
will be a boon to the blind.
The aerophone is an instrument intended
to Increase very greatly the volume of the
human voice. It is more ingenious than the
monograph. In steam whistle or an or
gan pipe is placed delicate valve controll-
ing the supply Of the steam or air. This
valve is connected with disphragm similar
to that used in the phonograph and tele-
phone, and the vibrations Of the diaphragm
cause movements in the valve, which opens
and closes in exact accordance with the
vibrations Of the human voice communica-
ted to the Diaphragm throws the steam or
air into similar vibrations, and thus repro
duces the words spoken.
The. possible abuses Of this machine are SO
evident that Edison has already had offers
from eager advertisers who want to use it
to shout out the merits of their wares to a
whole county at time, and if the inventor
should let it fall into reckless hands we
may see special sessions Of State Legisla-
might easily become an intolerable nuisance.
Its legitimate uses are for fog signals and
possibly railroad trains.
His latest discovery of the peculiarly deli
cate impressibility of compressed carbon to
heat has given him the belief that he can
detect and measure accurately the heat
which reaches us from the stars and tele-
scope is already under way for his use for
this purpose. He is of the opinion that as
the action Of the monograph depends en-
tirely on the vibrations of the air, he
thought he should be able to reproduce any
phenomenon which is due to vibration, and
that il the received theory that heat is only
mode of motion and the undulatory the
0rv of liUht are correct he wonld he able
to catch and transmit both. His mind
seems to be constantly engaged on plans
for the new and ingenious application of
natural forces and laws, and he gives the
impression here to all who saw him Of be-
ing man of extraordinary genius in this
direction, from whom, if he lives, many
wonderful things may yet be expected
WashinQton Examiner.