Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-03-27
The Phenagraph.

Following closely upon the invention
OF the telephone, an instrument, which.
with the aid Of electricity, enables per.
sons situated at considerable distances
from each other, to converse with the
natural voice, the Photograph has
made its appearance and by its wonder
iul achievements excitcs the Incredibly
Of many who have not seen and heard
it. As its name indicates, it is a writer
OF sounds. 1t will record any sound
and will reproduce the same sound at
any time that the operator desires. 1t
records and repeats not only words but
the voice with perfect articulation and
with every infection so that the tones
may be- recognized as those of the speak
er who made them. 1t is said that no
mere description can impart an ade-
quate idea Of its performances. Ii has
been tested thoroughly in New York.
and the most reliable scientific Journals
heartily endorse il. II is the iuven-
tioE of Prof. Thomas A. Edison. OF
New jersey, Its extreme simplicity is
almost as much & matter if surprise as
is the result attained. While it would
be very difficult 10 give a satisfactory
description, without illustrating plates.
the reader will be enabled to form some
idea Of its simplicity when lis parts are
enumerated aud described. 1t consists
OF a speaking tube at one end of which
is 4 thin brass membrane, 4 spring fas-
tened to the side of .he tube extends to
the middle Of the under side Of this
membrane and to this spring is attach
ed fine steel point. \ small cylinder
with spiral grove, covered with tin
foil completes the apparatus for regis
tering sounds. Every vibration of the
brass membrane is marked by the fine
steel point upon the tin foil plate, the
cylinder being turned while the person
is talking. The marks make 10y the
steel points resemble the characters Of
photographic apparatus. To reproduce
the sounds, the cylinder is moved back
to the starting point, a funnel TO pre-
vent the scattering Of the sound is plac-
ed over the brass membrane, and The
operator BY turning the cylinder repro
dHces with astounding accuracy every
sound.
The principle Of The machine IS the
reproduction by means Of The iudcula-
tons in the tin foil. the same vibrations
which were originally caused by thc
voice.
The Seattle 4mcrtcoa in speaking OF
the Phonograph says:
Through the courtesy Of Mr.. ". :.
Applebaugh, who has charge Of tho ap-
now on exhibition in this city,
we have been enabled to make as thor.
ouch an examination Of all its pecu}iari-
lies as We could desire. At ouT request
he exhibitor sang into the machine an
entire verse. and it was repeated as of
len as the cylinder was r,adiu,tcd.-
sounds Of coughing. clearing tie throat.
knocks. noises Of all kinds. were as ac-
reproduced. y curious effect
5 produced by whistlinr. the aPparatu,
giving forth every note clearly and fully;
but more remarkable still j, it to hear
two voices at once come from the ma
chine. The exhibitor first sang a verse
which was registered. and then running
ihe cylinder back talked so that the in
ientations produced By the speech Vi
bratons came over those made by the
song. The instrument repeated both
ntterances simultaneously. each. how
ever, being clearly distingulshablc. An
other odd performance Is turning the
cylinder the wrong way, ana making
the machine talk the language back
ward.