The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-08

PROFESSOR EDIsoN's LATEST INvENrIoN-AN-
OTHER MARVEL.
At Menlo Park, N. j., HERALD representative yes.
terday found Professor Thomas Edison in the midst
OF his iabors. Hatess and coatless no stood In his
laboratory anxousIy watching the operations OF lathe
on a curious ltllo machine which no aiierward
explained was "a toy phonograph 10 amuse
tho children" On oil sides were evidsnce
OF deep scientific research. largo cabinet
to the right contained abou. one hundred walls led
with chemicals OF all sorts. Near by dozens Of
volumes Of scientific books, pamphe and papers
scattered about In disorder exhibiting marks Of
frequent handling Tho nun OF machinery, tho click
Ing Of telegraphc INSTRUMENTS the constant buzz OF
electrical apparatus tho fumng Of acids and the pres
enco Of humorous quaint and curious machines. upon
which perspiring worKmen were engaged, dung,
Ing, smoothing aud hammoriug. made up tho scene.
BABY PnoSooRArM
The professor stopped hts lathe TO greet the writer
am said he tried smooth a refractory lock
Of hair that persisted IN standing up-"rhis little
machine for children exclusively Soc, It will re-
cite all sorts OF nursery mes, and The Inventor
shouted into IT.
Old Mother Hubbard. she went to tho cupboard,
But when she got there the cupboard was bare.
Aud 50 the poor dos got none.
sNow," he continued, sail you've got 10 do Is TO
turn this ittio crank and grind Il OUT The crank
the legend Of the aged Mrs. Hubbard. "Im goiug to
make them with short sermons, Sunday school NY
and prayers, SAID Professor Edison. $50 that chill
dreu may be- instr ucted whio being amused, ana I'm
going ~ get them up so cheap that all can have
"Aro there any now developments in the tole-
phone ?, asked Tue writer.
.oh, l Keep working away At ~ answered the
Inventor. 'Unlv an hour ago Professor Barker, pro-
lessor OF physics Of tho University Of Psnnsylvana,
lett hero alter having made several curious expsri
monis with my carbon telephone. Ho made conuec-
ton between the laboratory here and a ncighporing
house by wire, aud every word could be- plainly
hoard. A footsiep and whisper were distinctly
tone 100 iset from the telephone. Would you Ike to
soc the aerophouer"
out from a corner two large cone.shapcd machines,
each about Ave feet In length Their object mu.
been achieved. Conversation has been carried on in
the ordinary tone between persons at farm house
door OF his laboratory tho Professor expresses conf
dence that II Will soon be perfected that captains
OF vessels az sea can talk with each other AT distance
OF lhroc miles.
Tho latest. however M well as tho most curious of
Professor Edtsous Inventions Is tue meg aph Tor
which no has Lut just nisd bis caveaL II Is sort OF
sound opera glass. ny means OF us use persons par
aly deaf are enabled 10 hear tue fanest sound with
dstInctness. II concentrates and muIps. The sound
In us high degree ~ Is required. Ky applying u
be distinctly heard 800 feet away Already
the professor has tested " sufficiently 10 be
satisfied Of rs entire praeticabny. II TO DO Of
small size aud have attached TO IL rubber tube In
tho inventors own words ut can be taken 10 a
theatre BY person hard OF hearing just as person
near signtcd now takos opera glass. All you do rs
place u on your lap lot tho tube toucn your aud
all sounds come 70 you maunined nfty times
sary. The loudness can be regulated Tor the ear a.
you regulate u telescope Tor the eye"
what Is tho history Of this invention ~ asked tho
writer.
swell, 10 has curious origin" answered tho FRO.
fossor, smiling. -"strange AZ u may seem, u came 10
lie through the mistake OF reporter Some weeks
ago reporter csmo 10 soc my photograph aud went
back and got all mixed up IN his paper He stated
that mad got up machins to make partially deaf
people hear. Tue Item was extensively copied, but 1
thought nothing more vi u until alter while found
myself receiving letters from all the country ask
,ng about H. l answered some, saying II was
mistake. but they kept plllng ~ upon me until was
getting thom At the rate OF twenty and thirty day
experimenting Ono day whtc 1t work on u heard
somo ono loudly Singing MARY Had a Lttie Lamb
i looked around noUody was ncar aud nobody
was singing Then discovered that the singer was
Que oil my young men, who Ia distant Of tho
room was softly singing to himself. The Instrument
had magnIhsd tho sound, and heard II distiuctiy
although Pm pretty deal, white others in the room
had not heard whisper. That was the nrst Of the
megaphone."
walk through the workshop revealed to the writer
scores oil Other products OF tho skill OF the great
When asked, ut parting now many patents no had
taken out altogether he seemed lost for answer as
though the idea was new but after reflection no said
he thought tho number must DO quite large.
al viii tell you exactiy,h said Air. =. l. Grimm, the
Professors assistsnt, running his eye over a Uosk
che has taken oct Ia all l5s patents ana ncd seventy
sisht cAvcatsn