The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-07
THE PHONOGRAPH.
rERFECTaNG 1T BEYOND THE WILD
Esr DREAMS OF CARICATURIsTs.

PEHFECEsNG Ii hEHVND shE "AhD
Esr DREAMS OF CARICATURIsTs.
How II VIII Repeat Fun Opera and
Rrad Aloud u Lengthy Novel.
New York World. March 2sI
Yesterday morning reporter Of the World
called upon Prof. Edison ct his laboratory In
Menlo Pork, N. j. After greetings had been
exchanged, the reporter asked: "How Is the
photograph to-day. Mr.. Edjson2" "Oh, about
the same as usual" was the answer; "but
come and ask It. 1t has an answer for every
man, and generally in his own words"
The reporter followed Mr. Edison to an up
per room, where the monograph was resting
on table, and as the cylinder slowly turned
he shouted at 1t pleasantly. GLOW are your
Then the cylinder was shifted backward, and
again turned, and the photograph cried
out In the same cheerful tone that the reporter
had used, "How are your
Mr.. Edison seated himself before his favor
tie invention, and talked. sOolded. sung and
wbistled to 1t for q whlle receiving answers
according to his folly or his wisdom. After a
few moments the Professor threw himself
back in his chair and gazed abstractediy be-
fore him. Then he said, ut is funny, after
whistle, but the phonograph doesn't quicker
one bit. Martin" he continued calling to one
Of his ,workmen. come here and sing bass
for me-"
double monthpiece was placed over the
diaphragm Of the instrument, and while Prof.
Edison sang "John Browns Body" In q loud
voice at one side, Martin struggled at the
other side with q bass SO deep that the ar-vi-
brations were about only three o minute.
"You didn't sing loud enough" said the
Professor IA he shifted the eylinder,
"WeIl, no." answered Martin; 81 couldn't
est git the right chord. But we got 1t
hunky' the other day"
The crank was then turned, and the air of
the song was sung by the monograph with
an occasional far-of bass note struggling to
be heard. Mr.. Edison thought he could i'm
prove upon this rendering, and he again sang
The song as a solo to tho same sheet OF foil
air burst forth with vigor, once or twice fail
ing to connect where note had dragged In
the second singing Of the tune.
The reporter followed Mr.. Edison into the
work room, where about dozen lathes and
machines were In full operation. On one of
the tables was the model. The Improvement
In the phonograph consists in circular plate
being substituted for the cylinder, and clock
work for the crank.
"Ths clock movement is very important
improvement" said Mr.. Edison. 90 1t insures
complete regularity and accuracy, and can
be thrown out of and into gear instantane-
ousy. We're going to start publication
Office In New York when the monograph is
ready"
"What do you intend to publish ?" asked
the reporter.
.'Music, novels, general literature and many
other kinds Of matter that are read by per-
sons and reproduced by instruments or their
vocal organs for the benefit of themselves
and other persons. Take music to begin with.
We will photograph orchestral concerts by
brass and string bands, instrumental and
vocal solos and part songs. The sheets bear
ing the sound Impressions of this music will
be removed from the photograph and multi
piled to any extent by electrotyping. and per-
sons can make selections OF any compositions
they desire. Then this music may be repro
duced by any photograph, with all the orig
that, but the pitch can be raised or lowered by
increasing or diminishing the speed OF the
phonograph."
"What will such sheet Of music cost2"
"About twenty-five cent"
"But how can you take an orchestra, when
1t sneccssary, In talking TO the photograph,
TO apply, your mouth close to the dia-
phragm y
"The photograph will he attached to hole
In one end Of barrel, and from the other
end will project funnel like those used in
ventilating steamships. This will receive
the music from the entire orchestra. but Of
course not reproduce it with so great vol
llme. Piano music will be Photographed by
and the volume Of the reproduction will be
one-fourth that OF the piano"
"What method will be pursued with literary
matter I" asked the reporter.
I'VE calculate that an ordinary fifty-cent
novel can be got on this" said Mr.. Edison,
tapping the circular plate, which was about
six Inches In diameter. "Novels and valuable
literature will be read to the monograph by
elocutionists and persons understanding the
subje ts presented, and the matter will be
multiplied by electrotypes In the same man.
ner as music. You see therefore, that you
can have photograph In your parlor, with
an album Of selected photographic matter ly-
ing beside it. You can take sheet from the
album, place it on the monograph. start the
c!ock-w and have symphony performed
Then by changing the sheet you can listen to
chapter or two from favorite novel, and
this may be followed by o song. duet, or a
quartet AT the close the young people may
indulge in q waltz, In which all may join, fol
no one need be asked to play the dance music
You can easily see, continued the professor,
''what an advantage the photograph will be
to the blind; and, indeed, I have already re-
ceived one hundred orders from such persons
"In some respects the photograph will be
blessing 10 persons who are constitutionally
tir.d," suggested the reporter.
Eyes, and to Industrious persons also" an
swe1ed Mr.. Edison. "You know a man can
never Judge of the value Of his own words or
exactly how to deliver them by hearing his
own voice. Now, II a lawyer speaks an adj
dress to The photograph In the way he thinks
1t should be rendered and then has the instru-
ment repea, it, he can estimate very fairly
what TIN. effect would be On court and jury.
Again, there are many men who can talk bet
TT than they can write. They can, there
fore, talk to the photograph without the
hiudlance necessarily caused by using a pen !