St. Landry democrat., 1886-07-31
ANEW PHONOGRAPH.
The Marvellous Instrument Invented by
Some Washington Electricians.

The Marvellous Instrument Invented by
Some Washington Electricians.
Some electricians in this city have
been at work for several months to per-
feet photograph which can be used
with such accuracy as to be an aid in
reporting with precision the proceed
7ngs of courts and public assemblies.
1t is said that d state of perfection has
already been attained which will war
rant the introduction of this instrument
in courts of justice. When the phono-
graph is perfected it will be a great
help to stenographic reporters in one
way and d great rival and hinderance
in another way. One of the machines
can be taken into court for instance,
and all of the proceedings will be re-
corded by it. At the close of the day
it can be taken to room and
gagged to talk at any rate of
speed-at thirty words minute, which
can be written out by an ordinary long
hand writer. If it is desired to get the
proceedings transcribed as fast as they
occur new cylinders are put in the pho
nograph as fast as the proceedings are
written out. For instance, long-hand
writers can put in cylinder and let it
remain ten minutes, then take it out
and put in another, and transfer the
cylinder which has the proceedings up
on another instrument, and it is made
to repeat the proceedings with accuracy,
and. at the expiration of its term, is re-
placed in the photograph and the other
cylinder taken from it, and so on. One
Of the great difficulties the scientists
have encountered is in securing the
distinction of tone and voice. Hereto
fore the photograph has not been sufi-
GENTLY distinct in the pitch of the voice
to make one voice distinguish itself
from another if they are similar in vol
ume and tone. 1t is believed, however,
that the instrument will be perfected
in short time SO that any one who has
heard a number of voices in room can
readily distinguish them from the sounds
the monograph will give out. 1t is the
distinguishing of one voice from another
that gives the names of the speakers.
For instance, if the monograph is used
to record the proceedings of the Legis-
iature it will not, of course, have the
names of the persons participating in
the debate, and the person translating
from the record Of the phonograph will
have to place the speakers by the tone
of voice. 1t is said that some of the
official reporters intend trying the pho
nograph within short time and deter
mining how it will work in public de-
bates. In event it fails they will have
the proceedings by the usual methods
and no risks will be run. When the
photograph is perfected the stenograph-
ers intended to use it in their work as
safeguard. BY its assistance they will
be enabled to have every thing that is
said in their room, and a number of
persons speaking at one time and the
rapidity of their speech will be no in
convenience, as the phonograph will
catch every thing that is said. 1t will
be of more use as an amanuensis than
any thing else, enabling one to dictate
any amount of correspondence to the
machine and leaving it SO that any one
can transcribe it, because the machine
can be set to report the dictation at
any rate of speed. = Washington Critic.