Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-04
The Wonderful Possibilities Of Edi.
sons Invention.


READ. SONGS SUNG, DOLLS MADE TO SPEAK,
SING AND CRY-ALL THROUGH THE NEW
PHONOGRAPH.
Thos. A. Edison in the North amer. RgUieu. ]
OF all the writer's inventions, none has com
nianded such profound and earnest attention
throughout the civilized world as has the pho
nograph. This fact he attributes largely to
that popularity of the invention which brings
its possibilities within the range of the specu-
lative imagina.ions of all thinking people, as
well as to the almost universal applicability OF
ns the
tive, and their reproduction at will.
From the very abundance of conjectural
and prophetic opinions which have been dis.
Seminated bv the press the public Is liable to
become confused, and less accurately informed
as to the immediate result and effects of the
monograph than If the invention had been
and therefore of less interest to the masses
The writer has no fault to find with this cOndi-
tion of the discussion OF the merits and posi-
sibilities are so illimitabe and the prObabili-
ties so numerous that he-thOugh subject to
the influence of familiar contact-is himself
in somewhat chaotic condition of mind as to
where to draw the dividing line. In point of
fact, such line cannot with safety be defined
in ordinary inventions at so early state of
ton of the nature and scope of the phonO-
graph, it is practically impossible to indicate
1t today, for tomorrow tri1e may extend it
almost Indefinitely.
There are, however, certain stages in the
developing process which have thus far been
actually reached; certain others which are
clearly within reach and others which, though
they. are in the light of 10 day classed as posi-
bilities, may tomorrow become probable, and
little later actual achievements.
If the reproduction of sound is to be made
audible to an audience, considerable force is
requisite in the original utterance; if for the
individual ear, only the ordinary converse
tional tone {eyen whisper has been repro,
duced.) In both cases the original utteranceS
are delivered directly in the mOuth-piece of
the instrument. An audible reproduction
may, however, be had by speaking at the in
feet in loud tone. The, application of far
ing tube or funnel to collect the sound waves
and the construction of an especially delicate
diaphragm and enclosing point, SC, are the
simple means which suggest themselves to
effect this. The writer has not as yet given
this stage of the development much attention,
but sees no practical difficulty in gathering up
waves diffused about the original source, with
in radius of say three feet, Sufficiently re-
moved not to be annoying to speaker or
singer.)
Tie stage of development reached by the
several essential features of the photograph
demonstrates the following as fats dccomptis:
l. The captivity of all manner of sound
waves heretofore designated as Fugitive"
and their permanent retention.
?. Their reproduction with all their original
characteristics at will, without the presence
or consent of the original source, and after the
lapse OF any period of time.
3. The transmission of such captive sounds
through the ordinary channels of commercial
intercourse and trade IN material FORM for
gods. VI ~ III ''''' - 20 " u '''' 1t '''''
4. Indefinite multiplication and preservation
OF such sounds. without re gard to the existence
or non-existence of the original source.
>. The captvatiOn Of sounds, with or with
out the knowledge or consent of the source of
their origin.
The probable application of these properties
of the phonOgraph and the various branches
OF commercial and scientific industry presently
il dictated will require the exercise of more
theapparatuS is practically perfected in 50 far
a. the faithful reproduction of sound is con
cerned, many O the following applications
W i'll be made the moment the new form of APP
paratus, which the writer is now about com
p!eting, is finished. These, then, might be
ciassed as actualities; but they SO. closely
t,ench upon other applications which will
separate them: hence they are all enumerated
under the head of probabilities, and each
speedily considered; Among the more i'm
other forms of dictatiOn books, education
reading, music. family record; and such
eleetrotype o apPllcations as books, musical
apparatus, speeches. &C., &c.
Letter Writing.-The apparatus new being
per ected in mechanical details will be the
standard phonograph, and may be used for all
OF matrix, such as toys clocks, etc, for an in
definite repetition of the same thing. The main
utility OF the phonograph, however, being for
tie purpose. OF letter writing and other forms
of dictatiOn, the design Is made with view to
its utility for that purpose:
The general principles of construction are, a
fiat plate or disk, with spiral groove on the
face, operated by clock work underneath the
plate; the grooves are cut very closely to-
gether, SO as to give a great total length to
as the capacity of each sheet of foil upon
which the record is had, in the neighbOrhoOd
OF 10000 words. The sheets being but ten
inches square, the cost is so trifiing that but
leo words might be put upon single sheet
economically Still, 1t is prOblematical wheth-
er less number of grooves per inch might
not be the better plant certainly would for
letters-but 1t is desirable to have but one
class OF machines throughout the world and
as very extended communications, if put upon
one sheet, could be transported more ecOnOm-
sheet be given as great capacity as possible
The writer has not yet decided this point, but
will, experiment with a view of ascertaining
the best mean capacity.
The practical application of this form of
Simple. K sheet of foil is placed in the phono'
matter dictated into the mouthpiecee Will Without
other effort than when debating to a stenO-
grapher. 1t Is then removed, placed in a suit
able form Of envelope. and sent through the
ordinary channels to the correspondent for
whom designed, He, placing it upon his pho
nograph, starts his clock work and listens to
Wndt MS correspondent mas to say. lnaSmuch
as it gives the tone of voice of his cOrreSpOn-
dent, it is identified. AS it may be filed away
as other letters, and at any subsequent time
reproduced, it is perfect record. AS two
sheets of foil have been indented with the
same facility as a single sheet, the writer
may thus keep a duplicate of his cOmmunica-
ton. AS the principal of a business house, or
his partners now dictate the important bust
ness communications to clerks to be written
out, they are required to do no more by the
Photographic method, and do thereby dispense
with the clerk, and maintain perfect privacy
in their communications.
The monograph letters may be dictated at
home, or in the office of a friend, the presence
of stenOgrapher not being required. The
dictatiOn may be as rapid as the thoughts can be
formed, or the lips utter them. The recipient
may listen to his letters being read at rate of
from $50 to 200 words per minute, and at the
same time busy himself about other matters
Intersections, explanations, emphasis, excla-
nations, &C., may be thrown into such letters
ad libtum.
In the early days of the monograph, ere it
emit in Hong Kong may possibly not be supplied
with an apparatus, thus necessitating written
letter of the old fashioned sort. In that case
the writer would use his photograph simply as
debating machine, his clerk writing it out
from the monograph at leisure, causing as
many words to be uttered at one time as his
memory was capable of retaining until he had
written them down. This clerk need not be a
stenOgrapher, nor need he have been present
when the letter was dictated, SC.
The advantages OF such an innovation upon
the present, slow, tedious. and costly methods
are too numerous, and too readily suggest