, 1878-04-10
Ghe Slarthrrn Star.
EpB0yS PHOy0GRAPH.

Edison's phonograph, which arrests
'retains fugitive sounds, so that they
be Reproduced and repeated at any
ire time, or in any distant place, is
nrvel not less than the photograph,
hlch catches and perpetuates teetlng
s0ns.
The phonograph which does these won
.rs il even more simple than the speak
g telephone, and both OF these great
scoveries are entirely American; crown
g the first two years of our new century.
We were recently introduced to Mr..
H. johnson, of New York, Mr.. Ed
,on's associate. He was sitting before an
lstrument, OF which the mast prominent
eature was wooden cylinder. four
uchcs in diameter and loot or more in
epeth, with crank at one end. (Read,
srs not mechanically disposed may SKIP
the remainder of the paragraph) Round
this cylinder strip of tinfoil was fast
ened, and against this tintoil pressed a
little pointed rod, or style, projecting
from the center of thin metallic plate
or t;isk, which formed the bottom of a
short tube or mouthpiece. The mouth
piece and plate are in the same relative
positions as III the telephone. Amy word
spoken into the mouthpiece OF the pho
negaph would therefore set the plate and
style vibrating and indent the tintoil.
This is the whole instrument, except that
the axis Of the cylinder is fine threaded
screw, and that when it rcvolves.the poin
of the style therefore necessarily describe
spiral on the tinfoil, impressing on it
shallow groove, precisely corresponding
ON the track of the style or pitch OF the
screws. To facilitate this action spiral
goove is permanently inscribed ON the sur
face ofthe wooden cylinder. The tintoll,
under the style, is therefore without solid
support, ana easily yields, when the cyl
lndcr is turned, to the constant pressure
of the style, or to any sound vibrations
communicated to it.
TO come back from this depression,
Mr.. johnson responded to the introduce
tion by turning the crank to the cylinder
and at the same time talking into the
mouthpiece as follows: How do you do,
-? How are all the people in Provi-
denceQ Mary had little lamb; and its
fleece was white as snow, and everywhere
that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.
Fla! hal hal Cough, Cough, (congh).
Ha! ha! hap The latter in a high key.
And then, in conclusion, Mr.. johnson sung
n verse of Uncle Ned" The cylinder
was turned about sixty times during this
rignarole, and about "A inches of the tin
toll were spirally and regularly grooved
by the style. II the grooves were closely
examined, they where found to he filed
with elevations and depressops represent
ing the sound vibrations of the plate and
and style.
Mr.. johnson next moved the cylinder
back to the startling point and readjusted
the style to the tinfoil, then held rough
pasteboard trumpet or cornucopia to the
mouthpiece and turn the crank. The
identical words spoken and sung by him
into the mouthpiece were said and sung
over again by the machine. with every
tone and candence, and the quality of the
voice we'll rendered; the machine laughed
and coughed also perfectly. Our friendly
exhibitor than ran back to the starting
point second time and turned the crank
very fast. The same words now ratified
out with explosive rapidity. The laugh
was hysterical and the cough spasmdic
to the last degree. Then third time
Mr.. Johnson ran the cylinder back and
turned the crank this time slowly. The
same words drawled out hoarsely; the
laughing was very sad and the cough ling
ering; Uncle Ned" was struck on low
er key and was very lugubrious.
The articulation and quality in this
performance was full as good as the tele-
phene six month ago, or, asgood as much
of the telephone talking to-day, while it
was several times as loud. The words
could be heard throughout noisy
front-room on a New York street. Yet the
apparatus was OF the simplest and rudest
kind. The phonograph accomplishes
wha, has thus been described in its baby