Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-21
rRvENTOR EDRsoN.s LAST.


Utter Words which, May he Heard
Distinctly Four Miles Away"
II am very sorry" said Mr.. Edison the
a World reporter who called upon him at
MenlO Park Yesterday, that 1 cannot show
you the aerophone today have Just sent the
have taken the machine had here to pieces
This great disappointment to the reporter.
for from what he had heard of it, the aerophone
upon Mr.. Edison, who is one OF the most
courteous gentlemen in the world. undertook
to explain its mechanism and capabilities The
stand. Mr.. Edison, however, has invented q
machine which, placed upon locomotive, will
raise its voice and announce in giant tones,
maduke, and will stop at BOOntOn Station" or
whatever other warning or information it
chooses, there is not the least reason to doubt.
1t seems probable that Mr.. Edison can make
whatsoever he likes, end even without the
meagre explanation of this his latest wonder
which the reporter Is herewith able to give, no
person who has ever met him or visited his
workshop at MenlO Park should doubt its
practlcability. In the aerOphOne-which, by
the way, is as yet by no means perfected-the
vibrating diaphragm principle in use in the
marvellous photograph is made key to the
| mystery. The vibrating, plate, which in the
Ph,onograPn n moves t sharp point over re.
valve to shut OFF and open the flow OF steam
through pipe leading from the boiler to Il
continuance the steam, instead of producing
words.
upon the perpexed reporter, but if You don't
understand it altogether just take my word
for it that this thing will utter words which
can be heard distinctly four miles off, and wait
patiently for few weeks, when will demon
Strate what say to you"
With this, for the present; the reporter had
called his attention to the immense yaup ir
would have Oh ship board in time of fog or in
light, houses on stormy coasts. from which, by
its aid the keepers could hail surrounding
vessels. informing them of their wherea bouts
and OF the peculiar dangers OF each particular
coast.
II have been 50 busy in perfectng the pho
nOgraph,' said Mr.. Edison as the reporter
turned reluctantly from Il speculation upon
the possibilities of this amiab modern siren
they were standing. that | have thought of
but little else for the last two weeks. All the
monographs that have as yet been exhibited
| are, you know. very imperfect or rather very
meagre i'll their results: They have been mere
experiments. ! have however. perfected the
instrument, and in few days talking ma
| pleted." SO saying. ne led the way down stairs
| to machine shop, where eight busy machin-
! ists were induSfriously at work; and where
perfect pc network OF leather bands: attached to
: motion Among the wOrkmen, looking over
! their shoulders and giving instructions here
and there, this little man, whose brain had
supplied the occasion for all that was going
| on, moved quietly about, while the reporter,
lost IN admiration, followed behind. Eight
men, and these the most expert machinists-
| Swiss W0rkmen all of them-are employed by
Mr.; Edison at an expense OF several hundrel
dollars week merely to make in iron and
brass the myriad inventions that are con
stantiy taking form in his mind.
All, here it is, said he, picking up crcu-
lar piece Of brass, the surface of which was
reamed with a fine thread, which, starting at
IA ia ma M hn,,
and times before the circumference was
gained. This is to take the place of the cyl
inder in t, the new phonograph It reyolyes
! and twirling it around like a platterl, and the
pointer, which is attached to the diaphram,
Will follow How the thread by means of a movable
arm. The plate will be turned by clock work
IT, insure uniform rate of motion. Instead
OF having t.. put the sheets of tinfOii di-
rectly on cylinder, with the risk of tearing
in removing them by the means of this fat
plate we Will be able to have the tinfOil made
secure to cardboard frame, which, having
h0es at the -four re eorneEs that VIII Just fit over
chlne when used and put away in safe place
until wanted again"
The reporter asked how many words could
be put upon sheet of tinfoil sufficiently large
to cover this plate, which was about 10 inches
in diameter. Mr.. Edison replied that he was
confident any ordinary 5ncent novel could
easily be registered upon it. To perfect the
culhvatlOn OF the monographs voice so that
1t will be capable of transmitting precisely
TIE same tones Ol voice tnat are spoken To H.
Mr.. Edison is engaged in making an affair to
take the place OF the metallic funnel which is
now used to bring. out the sound. He pro
poses to construct a tube which shall be
shaped like the interior of the human mouth.
and which shall be supplied with teah some
what similar to those employed in the r0r
hundnd Organ-StOp.
Il have another idea,' said he, as n0ncha
lahtly as If wonderful ideas were as cheap as
common potatoes. :" propose, in sending the
exhibit of several of my inventions to the Paris
ming in the machinery department. will
have piece of tinfOil, e!ectrOtyped 50 that the
Impressions upon it will not wear out by con.
slant use. very simple continuance will
shit the cylinder intend using one of the
cylinder monographs for this purpose-after
1t has passed under the pointer. to the other
SIDE, and SO perpetual stream of talk can be
kept up. l haven't decided just what to make
TINS everlasting photograph say, but have
thought that it would be good plan to have it
llSh, German, Italian. &c.-inStructiOnS how to
get to the main exhibition of monographs
which presume will be in some other build
ing"
Familiar as the reporter was with the habits
and powers of this remarkable machine, this
idea OF one monograph crying out all day in
different languages the way to its companions
seemed almost incredible. Mr.. Edison was,
however, perfectly seriOuS.and proposed while
they were upon the subject the reporter should
a part song. A double mouth piece was then
attached to one OF the machines, and Mr.. Edl-
son taxing the ali. The reporter volunteering 4
tenor, popular negro melody was forthwith
sung to the machine. Now said Mr.. Edi-
son, preparing to set the cylinder in motion,
You will, think, distinctly hear both parts
Instantly the duet began and continued per
1ectly through two verses and the chorus.
"SOmetimes, you know said the inventor
with merry laugh, rude people will talk at
concerts; suppose we see II we can produce
that effect" Reversing the cylinder, he then
poured into the mouth piece string of mean
ingless sentences and calculations occasion
ally interpOlating a shrill whistle and a cat
call The effect when the monograph again
began to operate was droll and wonderful
beyond conception. The strains of the duet
came forth clear and tremendously, but it was
as If a riot had broken out in concert room.
Can yOu," asked the reporter, looking per-
fectly aghast at the imperturbable originator
OF such a contriVance; "can you account for
for that. too"
''Oh,"' said Mr.. Edison, with laugh, its
very simple. Mark well the vortex of that
unprecedented elimination when shall mortal
ken decline amid the but never mind, let's
go to lunch.'' So saying, the hospitable in
ventOr led the way to a comfortable feast, and
patted the head of a bright little three-ye
old boy who called him papa" with genuine
affection that showed, though the most re-
markable inventor of the age, he is by no
means dead to the less exciting episodes and
habits of a domestic world Indeed this il