The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-04-11
THE PHONCCRAPH.
Description Of the New Talking Machine
The Most Wonderful invention of
the Age.

IOC = S0.
\ correspondent Of the Chicago
Tribune at New York has been inves-
tigating the wonderful invention OF
Mr.. Thomas A. Edison. called the
monograph. We copy q description
of this latest electrical machine:
a plain standard supports rod per-
haps two and a half feet long, with a
balance wheel at one end and I. crank
at the other. Midway between wheel
and rod is a brass cylinder, with Il
running grove of finely cut lines. An
arm swinging in front of the cylinder
holds the monograph. This consists
simply OF Il thin plate of metal, like
that used by photographers. set in Il
rubber mouth piece. \ delicate
steel needle, not we'll pointed. but
blunt like those of u screwdriyer,
touches the point with one extremity,
and is brought to bear liz htly upon
the grooved cylinder with the other.
The balance of this needle is eXGuis-
itely fine, SO that it responds to the
slightest vibration. Now. the cylin-
der is covered with a sheet of tin-foil
and the phonograph, adjusted care
fully in relation to the foil recording
sheet, is ready to be talked to. The
volume of sound reproduced is in di-
rect ratio to that of the original
speaker, and the laws Of sound as to
pass aud soprano clearness are fully
manifested. 1t is desirable that the
exhibitor possesses good lungs and Il
clear tone, though the phonagraph is
sure to bring out whatever is co ltided
to it, not hesitating to crow, whistle
sing. or shrek. Turning the crank
with such uniformity as practice has
taught him. the operator puts his
his mouth to the rubber, and pours
whatever of wit or fancy his brain
and memory yield him into the re-
celver.
Following the vibrations of the
plate. the needle dances up and down.
dotting the tin-foil with spots so deli
cate that some of them are almost
beyond microscopic discovery. 9th
ers, where the sound was peculiarly
strong, are pricked quite plainly
through the foil. Then the needle is
removed. the cylinder is reversed till
the beginning of the conversation
rests beneath the point. a common
tin resoundiRg tube is fastened to the
disk. and it is the turn of the phono-
| graph to talk. The crank is moved as
before. and the contents of the foil
sheet are faithfully delivered back to
their originator, with tone some
| what metallic and ventriloauiStic, but
with no loss OF infection or intensity.
/ The effect upon listeners may he inn
agined. One effect is 10 draw Il throng
OF them from morning till night. \
gentleman standing near me remarked
/ that the invention Of such u machine
! loo years ago would have cost the in.
ventor his head. and. indeed. perhaps
it would. since human ingenuity was
then considered by many 10 Ike alto
| sether too ingenious and profane.
The theory of the reproduction Is.
of course. rs plain rs simple as that OF
the recording: but the wonder of il
remains nevertheless. When the
needle-p point is run over by the
grooves. by catching in the delicate
| indentations which were previously
made by it. it causes Z vibration ot
the metal plate corresponding exactly
to that produced by the waves al
I sound. though more feeble.
The words came back as full and
clear as they were given to it. save
the medium reduction in power.
Pieces of rubber are employed to pre-
vent too rapid vibration. By turning
the crank SLOWLY enough. the catching
OF the neeuie may tie ueteated. As The
sounds of words are merely variations
of vibration. the phonograph needle
is as capable as the human throat to
produce the requisite variations.
| The instruments now exhibited are
themselves experiments. and by no
means what Mr.. Edison proposes to
show as the complete product of his
idea The idea was presented to him
by his experiments with the tele.
phone. which has mouthpiece and
needle similar to those of the phono-
graph. His finger happening to rest
on the telephone needle. he felt il
ricking him with considerable force.