The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-01-26
THE PHONOGRAPH.
4 Machine Reproducing words and
Music,

Music.
New York World A short time ago
it was announced that Mr. Thomas A.
Edison, of MEMO Park New Jersey
had invented an instrument which he
called photographer, and which was
SO constructed that it would reproduce
sounds so accurately that il they origi-
naly formed words the words them>
selves could be distinctly heard when
reproduced. Mr. Edison was formerly
n telegraph operator but for several
years past has given up his entire time
10 inventipg instruments connected
with telegraphy. Probably his most
useful. and certainly his best known,
invention is that of the quadrupleX sys-
tenn of telemaphywhich is now general,
" in use in the United States, and by
which four messages can be sent Mt
once oyer the same wire. Mr.. Edison's
last inventon--thep honographer-is as
simple rs it is wonderful, and it was
spoken of yesterday by telegraph
people who were present at private
exhibition in this city as the most won>
derlul contrivance Of the day,
The words being spoken, the paper is
indented by the pin and the crank turns
the cylinder back to its starting point
A funnel is then placed over the mouth
piece. Mr.. Edison used one made OF a
plain piece of writing paper. The cylN
inder is then turned over tho same
space it originally traversed and the
sounds are reproduced accurately, and
can be heard several feet around the
instrument varying always with the
loudness OF tone in which the words
We're spoken to the machine. After re-
ceiviug the indentation made by the
pin the lead paper can be taken Oil the
cylinder and 10y replacing it at any
time, the words can be exactly repro
duced That is what Mr. Edison thinks
will make the machine practically val
liable
The instrument is composed of
brass cylinder about four inches in di
ameter and about four inches long,
with ayIes fen inches long, on which
thread is cut coming from either end
and passing through nut journals. To
one ofthese axles crank is attached,
Inv which the cylinder is turned, NOV.
inc eitbar wov os the crank is moved.
T6e cyiinder from one end oft to the
other has small lines cut into it and
oronnd IL Nv the side of the cylinder,
and resting ON il is a pin attached to a
vihr,t;ns Hlote over which is a mouth.
ni,co v;Ih a small hole leading to the
rote immediately over the hole.
When the nhononraph is to be used
sheet If lapd.noner Is spread over the
cylinIo, thn word. or sounds to be re,
rroJuced are made very close to the
moutbniecc and the vibrations in the
air oacssiorad nv their dtterances cause
tbe nIatn 70 now and the pin indents
the IoaJ naner mon the cylinder,
which Inv the way is turned by means
of tbn cronI, dining The operation.
Wkon the rrnorter of the World en-
to,oj ,ho roor, in which the exhibition
v,, a;n "r Nv Edison was singing to
tbo ,Soohi,n GTommv mako room for
vorr - Tho renorter expected
Whom tha f,,,ol ,gas placed over the
moth 800 nnIy "a hear inarticulate
vi . 80 oi Lnt he vas ostonish,
sl i, ,l,Gu'"' ,ha ynrds of the song
o,,;,a. ', III. bo hoard them when
n,,eroJ h,' H. EEson Mr. Edison
t,i"j ~. ~ - t,rnirs the crank
.lor.l, '"o AZ III ~ Lover IL moved the
ivy Ivy, anu 'he ., s,UT 81 The r.nroduc.
to,i was 'ne so'in" ,r % moved faster
tL v", as 'ue ,, INN tn, shril tenor
NnIn :. "sali " III - tba irstrus
~, . n>1iso'' ' !i ,. 5 Of our dscon.
n ,a Vow Is !le VIM" .,,,. ~ Y etc Turn.