The Russellville Democrat., 1878-09-26
The phonograph.

| crn times, o1 the human mlnd over matter. Concerning the phenomena of sound and vibration, it is at once an ear that catches every note and tone within reach ofIits ri seaanism, and a mouth that repeats .hese i'm pressions in the same time and with the same accuracy asstheyg were re,. ceiyed, but as yet not with equal volume. It analyses the sounds ln the most delicate manner, marking each individual vibration developed in it's sensitive diaphram with an ac- curacy and distinctness that is prov ed by the perfect reproduction of the sound itself The plonograph- is not only a sound writer, but a sound producer.
 In mechanism, the photograph is simply itself. It consists of a cyl finder of hollow brass, mounted on a horizsntal axis, supported by two iron uprights, furnished with a bal ance wheel, and revolved either by l hand, clock-work or stem yower. On the surface of the cylander, which is about inches in diameter, is cut a screw thread, corresponding exactly in pitch with that cut on the axis, for the purpose of giving the cylin- l der longitudinal motion. In front of Ithe cylinder is movable bar or arm which supports the mouth piece of gutt percha, on the under side of which is disc of thin metal, such as is used for taking tin tipes. Against the center of the lowersside of this disc, fine steel point is held by a spring attached to the rim of the mouth yiece; an india rubber cush- ion, between the point and the disc, controls the vibratioe of the spring. In fact, the instrument has no other parts but the cslinder and it's axis, and the vibrater with its arm, yet with it the most wonderful results are obtained.
 To use the photograph, sheet of tinfoil is adjusted around the cylin- der, any secured in position with a little gum. The vibaator, with it's adjustable monthpiece, is then nov ed to the cylinder, and clamped Tn position with It's pointer bearing on the wrapper of tinfoil to such a degree that, if the cylinder IS revolv- ed, the point will trace shallow groove on it's surface, correspond ing with the threads cut on the cy- finder surface. While turning the crank. "sthe operator talks, sings, laughs or whistles into the mouth piece. Every vibration of sound is faithfully recorded on the tinfoil by the steel point, the cylinder making about one revolution to word. In order to reproduce words or sounds. that is, to make the machine talk or sing, the cylinder is turned back, so that the steel point may go over the lndentations made by speak ing into the mouthpiece. A paper funnel, like speaking trumpet, is attached to the mouthpiece to keep the sound from scattering, the cyln- der is revolyed as before, and the phonographI repeats in a clear tone every word and sound re- corded on the tinfoil sheet. In a word, every sound of a pitch that causes vibrations of.the1 1tintype dia. phram, andstheaebythe most minute impressions of the pointer attached to 1t on the .tinfoil wrapper of the cylinder,yis reproduced,
 To produce the sounds that origl- nally caused the svibrationso of the diaphragm and the puncturing of the tinfoil wrapper of the revolving cylinder, itis only .neeessaly tolmakc the pointer pass over and into these punctures, and reproduce the vibra- tions in tho diaphragm. ! These lat ter acting on the air, give to it the same relative impulses, and in the same order and energy as were given It by the organs of speech, or other causes of the original sound. Hence, the conditions of atmospheric vibra- tions being alike in both cases, the same effects must be produced. If the sound of the human voice causes the diaphragm to vibrate and mark the tinfoil, certainly the inverse ac tion of the tinfoll on the diaphragm, when the cylinder IS revolved, will cause the reproduction of the same series of vibrations, and consequent ly the same sounds. Although the quality of the sound as reproduced is not altered, its volume is some what less than that of the original The notes of the higher pitch are given out with more distinctness than those of the lower. Whistling is perfectly reproduced, the sound of low cough or sneeze is repeated with startling accuracy, singing is given out with full and perfect notes, and distinct as to the pronunciation of every word.
 It would be difficult to set limit to the uses to which this wonderful instrument can be put. The phono- graph can be employed in speaking through the telephone over hundreds of miles of wires. With perfected instruments it is possible that a speech delivered by one of the ora tors of the day can be repeated fifty years hence, simultaneously. in . | tbanonnl fo,vnc rouI ot4inc ,xnr1 far