The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-05-01
The Talking Machine

While it is not safe TO limit the posi-
bilities Of science and ingenuity of the fu
ture, we may well doubt whether there
will be more remarkable inventions in
the remainder of this century than the
telephone and the phonograph. In the
history of their invention, the two instru-
ments are intimately connected, one hay
ing doubtless suggested the other. We
shall not undertake to say which Is the
most wonderful, but Prof. Arnold gives
the preference to the phonograph-the
machine which stores away speech and
reproduces it when wanted. Perhaps
the next step of inventive ingenuity will
be TO combine the two contrivances, so
that message uttered at d distance
through a telephone will be recorded for
use at leisure by the photograph, at the
receiving station. This would obviate
some of the present Inconvenience in
using the telephone, and might hope to
make it Of more general service.
The mechanical theory of the phoEo
graph is so exceedingly simple, that the
wonder is that it was not invented long
ago. The fact that a thin plate or mem
brane vibrates to sound that strikes it.,
was recognized many years since as pos
sible means of transcribing sound.
Many attempt 10 decipher the record
have been made. The record itself mas
been obtained, just as it is in the phono-
graph, by means of a steel point attached
to the vibrating membrane. In Mr. Ed
ison's invention the vibrating point i'm
presses its record upon sheet Of tin foil
which is wrapped on grooved cylinder.
The cylinder moves lengthwise as it turns
around, so that the record is a spiral
upon it, like the thread of screw, SO
far, there it nothing surprising. The eX-
traordinary performance is that when the
cylinder is set back a. its starting point
and turned again, the eleva ton and de
preston in the tin foil move the vibrating
point back and forth, and with it the
membrane, setting up anew the vlbra-
tons of the air, and thus reproducing
the sound itself, giving back words,
speech, laughter or music with startling
fidelity.
1t is too soon to say what may be the
uses of this strange instrument. As yet
its tone is metallic and Its enunclatlOn
hoarse and obscure, but already it is i'm
proving in these particulars, as the causes
of its defects are discovered. Methods
will undoubtedly be devised for making
its voice louder, as well as more distinct.
Obviously this can be done by any means
which enlarge its record, the impression
on tin foil being almost microscopic.
Perhaps this may be done directly, if the
vibrations can themselves be enlarged by
mechanical connections like those OF
pentagraph. Perhaps it may be
done, by means of electrotypes from
the tim foil, which will be increased
in all their dimensions by some of the
recent processes of photo engraving.
Among the results hoped for, or sug-
gested, is that the actual song of pri-
ma donna may thus be transferred to the
| hand-ofgans; though whether street mu-
sic will be thereby improved, is at least
doubtful A more useful device, if il
can be perfected, will be to attach ma
chine with abundant power of sound tC
each lighthouse, so that from the dan
| aefous rocks their own name, loudly and
! continually repeated, may warn the ap
preaching NAVIGATOR. For such siren'a
song, the whole world would be thank
| ful. IN. Y. Tribune.