The Van Buren press., 1878-05-14
The Photograph.

Yesterday morning reporter OF the
World called upon Prof. Edison at his
laboratory in MEMO Park, N. J. After
greetings had been exchanged, the report
err asked: "How is the photograph to-
day, Mr. Edison p "Oh, about the same
as usual" was tho answer; "hut come
and ask it. 1t has an anawer for every
man, and generally IN his own words"
The reporter followed Mr.. Edison to
an upper room, where the phonograph
slowly turned he shouted at pleasantly,
How are your" Then the cylinder
was shifted backward, and again turned,
and the phonograph cried out in the same
cheerful tone that the reporter had used,
CHOW are you"
Mr.. Edison seated himself before his
| favorite invention, and talked, scolded,
sung and whstied to it for while, re
ceiving answers according to his folly OF
his wisdom. After a few moments the
pro fessor threw himself back in bis chair
and gazed abstractedly before him. Then
he said, at is funny, after all. You
have to pucker up your mouth to whis.
tie, but the phonograph doesn't quicker
one bit Martini" he continued, calling
to one Of his workmen, "come here aud
sing bass for me-"
A double mouthpicce was placed over
the diaphragm of the instrument, and
while Prof Edison sang, "John Browns
Body" in loud voice at one side, Martin
struggled at the other side with bass so
deep that the Authorizations were about
only three minute.
"You didn't sing loud enough said
the professor as he shifted the cylinder.
"Well, no." answered Martin; ~
couldn't jest git the right chord. But
we got it hunky the other day"
The crank was then turned, and the air
Of the song was sung by the photograph
with an occasional far-off bass note strug-
Cling to be heard. Mr.. Edison thought
be could improve upon this rendering,
and he again sang tho song as solo to
the same sheet of'foil. When the cylin-
der was revolved this time the air bust
forth with vigor, once or twice failing to
connect where note had dragged in the
second singing of the tune.
The reporter followed Mr.. Edison into
the work room, where about a dozen
laths and machines were in full operation.
On one of the tables was the model. The
Improvement in the monograph consists
in circular plate being substituted for
the cylinder, and clockwork for the
crank.
This clock movement Is vevy i'm
portant improvement" said Mr.. Edison
at insures complete regularity and &C
curacy, and can be thrown out of and
into gear instaneously. We're going to
start a publication office in New York
when the photograph is ready"
"What do you Intend to publish p
asked the reporter.
and many other kinds oil matter that are
read by persons and reproduced by in
struments or their vocal organs for the
benefit of themselves and other persons
Take music to begin with We will
phonograph 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 phonograph
and multiplied to any extent by elect
rotyping, and person can make selections
of any music have 1t reproduced by any
phono graph, with all the original sweet
ness and expression: and not only that
but pitch can be raised or lowered by
increasing OF diminishing the speed Of
the photograph
"What will such sheet Of music COST?
| About twenty five CENTS
But how can you take an orchestra
when it Is necessary, in talking to the
photograph, to apply your mouth close
to the diaphragm y
"The photograph will be attached tc
hole in one end OF q barrel, and from
the other end will project funnel like
those used in ventlatng steamehips
This will receive the music from the en-
tire orchestra, but of course not repro
duce it with SO great volume. Piano
music will be Photographed by hooc
being placed over the instrument, and
the volume of the reproduction will b.
one. fourth that OF the piano"
"What method will be pursued witt
literary matter % asked the reporter.
'We calculate that an ordinary fifty
cent novel can be got. on this" said Mr.
Edison, tapping the the circular plate
which was about six inches in diameter
Novels and valuable literature will b.
read to the monograph by elocntionist'
and persons understanding the subject
/ presented, afida the matter will be mnlAP
lied by electrotypes in the same name
as music. You see, therefore, that yol
can have photograph in your parlor
with an album Of selected photographic
matter lying beside it. You can take
sheet from the album, place it on tn
photograph, start the clock-work and
have symphony performed. Then by
changing the sheet you can listen to
chapter or two from favorite novel, ant
this may be followed by song, duet
or quartet At the close the young
may indulge in waltz in which all ma,
ioin, for no one need be asked TO play
the dance music. You can easily see,
continued the professor, what an advant
age the phonograph will be to the blind
and, indeed, l have already received on'
hundred orders from such persons"
"In some respect the.phonograph viii
be a blessing to persons who are con
sttutionally tired" suggested the report
err.
eyes, and to industrious persons, also,
answered Mr.. Edison. You know