Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-09

ters reslulng In california. His
age could not have been more than
40, as when l saw him in 1871 he
was comparatively young man,
and looked the picture of health.
EdisOa's MuaIcal Telephone and
Electro photograph.
New York SUM-
While Mr.. Edison was entertain
ing his visitors with the phono-
graph, his assistants put in order a
musical telephone. The instrument
was placed upon a table in the CEN
ter of the room. A telegraphic
wire connected it with a mouth
piece far away on the lower floor.
The machine upon the table was
not much larger than common
stock indicator. The chemically
soaked strips of paper dried at the
hot stove were wound around lit
tie wheel, and carried over the sur
face of a drum, pressed up to the
mouth of the instrument. This
wheel was turned outward by a
small crank. An assistant on the
lower floor murmured the "Mar-
seillaise" in the mouth-piece below,
and Mr.. Edison began to turn the
crank. The music filled the vast
laboratory. 1t arose aud died away
like the notes Of a powerful Nolean
harp, apparently controlled in vol
ume by the professor at the crank.
This instrument differs greatly
from Bells musical telephone. The
latter sings through an ingenious
arrangement of reeds. The music
Of the Edison machine is brought
out by the action of current of |
electricity upon solution of sui
phate Of sodium in which the strips
Of white paper are soaked. The
preparation of this paper and solu-
ton is the professors own secret.
The paper goes into heinstrument
as white as snow, and comes out
with a tinge of blue. Mr.. Edison
claims that a low murmur at the
other end of the wire may be in
creased in volume by proper in
struments until the effect would be
deafening. He speaks of tearing
roofs from music halls, and evident
ly has great faith in the scope of
the invention.
Mr.. Edison next exhibited his
electromagnetic. 1t is claimed
that this instrument would have
given a perfect system of telegraph
we're magnetism never discovered.
In experiments, Mr.. Edison learned
that certain chemical salts lost
their friction when subjected to
electric currents. A strip of paper
moistened in a chemical solution
is laid upon a metal plate connec-
ted with one pole Of a battery, A
flat platinum strip fastened to the
other pole is pressed down upon
the moistened paper blythe thumb.
The thumb can draw the platinum
over the paper as though it was
CREASED, until the electric current
is interrupted. Then the normal
friction of the paper is restored, |
and the hand will be ihyoluntarily |
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 of "a drum touched
by steel spring with a platinum
face. A sounding-bOard is stood
upon edge, with a brass arm reach
ing to the center OF the drum.
When the drum is turned the chem
ieal paper is drawn under the pla-
tinum spring, and the sounding
board drawn outward by the fric-
tion. The electric current passes
through the paper, destroying the
friction, and the sounding-board
drops back toits first position. The
cessation of the current again
causes friction, and the board is
again drawn out. This mechanical,
chemical and electric action is so
instantaneous that the finest and
highest notes of the female voice
are reproduced 200 miles away.