The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-03-07
The Talking PhOnOgraph on Exhibition

Mr. Thomas A. Edison recently cxhib.
tied his talking phonograph before the
Polytechnic Association Of the American
Institute in this city. This was the first
public showing Of the instrument. and
although much yet remains 10 be done 10
make it fulfill the design Of IT, inventor
its capabilities have already been consid
erably advanced beyond those which 10
posscssed when displayed 10 us In this
Office shortly after lie orirination. The
mechanical construction. that is the ros
tatiug sliding cylinder the vibratory
membrane and tho tin foil strip which
receives the indcntation and in turn
transmits tho pulsations TO the receiving
diaphragm, have not been materially
modified. but by the use Of rehectors &ir
Edison has succeeded in magniiying the
sound 80 as TO render the same quite au-
dible throughout a large apartment The
scientists who assembled to hear the pho
nograph manifested genuine astonish-
ment, and the instrument itself. nppar.
emily on its good behavior. did its best To
strengthen the impression. 10 proved
It's capacity a. a linFuist by repeating
sentences spoken to it in Engiish. Dutch.
Germ q, French. Spanish, and the llo
brew. ID initiated with marvellous fdcli
etc and thea taking severe cold. cough
ed and sneezed and wheczed. until the
pms sioiana In the audience instinctivcly
5cgE. - ysF.ts 5.es.r.r ..oas. Li.e. Ga
.a.cn %. -GG e..GiJite4 10 rePr0dlction
Ct : B. 4l-aa...s, -.s 1@.lsofB Nause4 the
machine to initiate theirs also, and for q
long time the apparatus was made the
recipient probably Of nll the different
rJuuds tuat tuc uG..sn ssi.e could pro
u15 oT ss.euti inFcagi.y Gcgiae Ia
withstood the test triumphantly. and
rem aiucl in I.a-cs siicI,s s.ni.p .flisea
were lavishcd upon IL aud suggestions
iunumerablc made as To its future uses
Another proposal was 20 reproduce hg
ures OF popular speakers IN life size
electrotype Mr. Bccchcr, for instance
reproduce bis speech in tin foil, put
phouo1Faph. run by CiolkwoEk. ins.de OF
him-thc statue. aol .bc muu--aud stand
hi'r. on a platform 10 repeat the now Ice
ture on the WASTES and Burdens Of So
ciety." Another suggestion was that
public speakers might repeat their speech.
es To- the phouogTaph. and then twenty.
four hours later have the phonoeraph
repeat the words 90 them. They could
thus prevent themselves from making
rash or ovcrhcatcd or silly remarks An
irrevereut individual didn't see but that
now, with the talking phonograph and
singing telephone. clcrrymen and choirs
were out Of date. The phouogruph could
repeat service every sunday and run oil
old sermons with wonderful accuracy
while, by having enough telephones. one
choir would supply music TO all the
churches in the city. An amendment
10 this was the suggestion 70 use only the
phouograph. because IL could sing as well
A. speak, aud thus il might do the duty
Of both preacher and choir An indolent
listener TO the foregoing wanted 10 know
II a phonorraph could not be combined
with a clock 20 a. at the proper times 20
remark, = clock time % get upi' "l2
o clock. 20 TO dinner, aud 80 On. The
audience. some Of the members of which
were at fret rather doubtful as the found
alton for all we had said regarding Mr.
Edisun's invention. lcft well convinced
a. to its wonderful capabilities. Mean
while the inventor is relaxing no efforts
to improve ID. aud we shall be much mis-
taken if before many months he does not
astouish "a with machine able 10 do
much greater things than those already
accomplished Il Scientific American.