The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-21
THE pHoNoaRApH,s MUSIC.
Some Difficulties To Be overcome-Re
cent Changes and improvements.

| Some Difficulties To Be Overcome-Re-
cent Changes and improvements.
From the New York Post
An exhibition OF Mr.. Edison's new pho
nograph, especially in the reproduction Of
singing and the sounds OF musical instru-
ments, was given yesterday afternoon at
the Orange laboratory OF the inventor.
The monographs used did not differ ma
terially from those described at length
In the Etening Posi- some months ago. Ex-
periments were made with piano, violin,
cornet, and clarinet, and with all four in
struments together. According to prom
ises held out by Mr.. Edison, the phono-
graph will become the singer, the pianist,
and the violnist for the million, enabling
the poorest farmer and his family, living
on the outskirts OF civilization, 10 hear an
echo the worlds great players and singers,
II nothing more. For many weeks the in
ventor has been at work adapting the in
strument TO music. For recording the
music OF the piano funnel Of card board,
five feet long and two feet in diameter at
the bell, was placed with the bell above
the strings Of the piano and the small end
at the niouthpiece OF the photograph. The
monographs version Of some chords and
polka was clear distinct and musical;
oven tho ring" or vibration, OF the
strings when chord was struck was per-
iectly audible. The result was loud enough
and musical enough TO give pleasure TO a
sensitive ear. With funnel for magnify
ing the sound placed on the machine, the
music sounded rs the music OF a piano
might sound coming through thick par
tition; every note could be heard, but
much OF the musical effect was lost. The
monographs reproduction OF music was
invariablya trihe sharper In pitch than
the original, owing 10 the fact that the in
denting stylus offered more resistance 10
the motor than the reproducing stylus,
and therefore moved faster and impaired
more vibrations TO the diaphragm in the
same space OF time. OF the different in
struments tried, the cornet gave back the
loudest and clcarest tones. The cornet air
given out by the phonograph could be
easily distinguished twenty or thirty feet
away from the instrument.
Within the last month Mr.. Edison has
made several improvements in the phono-
graph, 10 which he attaches great import
ancc. Formerly, when II was desired TO
Use ono OF the cylinders over again for
new matter much time was wasted in
passing II through the apparatus, while a
little blade took thin shaving Off, leav-
ing smooth surface ready for new work.
MIR. Edison now arrapges minute knife
upon the arm which bears the diaphragm
stylus; the knife cuts of the shaving and
The diaphragm-stylus follows in its wake,
both operations thus being accomplished
ut once. The wax cylinders are made
thick enough 10 allow the indented sur
face 10 be planed of fifteen times, 40 that
the same cylinder can be used for fifteen
different letters.
Another new device Of importance is the
pcriccting Of method Of duplicating the
phonograms containing matter which may
10 worth selling such as books, music,
plays, etc. When a phonogram is oh.
tanned which gives out lis message with
particular distnctncs, IL Is coated cleo
trieslly. with nickel until thick plate is
obtained; this plate, when detached from
the wax and pressed against fresh sheet
OF warm wax, gives an exact reproduction
OF the original phonogram, and such du-
plicates may DO made no easily and rap
idly as 10 cost scarcely anything To OBJ
tain the first ph0nogram Of book or a
piece OF music may require care and spc-
cial skill; once obtained n million can be
made from this one nickel mold. So far
| as the countless experiments In tho Orange
| laboratory show, there IN no pcrccptibl,
or audible wear In the wax phonogram
no matter how frequently II Is made TO ~.
peat It's message.
Mr.. Edison has announced 40 often that
the phonograph would be ready for sale
within few weeks" that he Is now
somewhat avcrsc 10 saying anything about
the future. The factory at Bloomfield Is
turning out the instruments at the rate OF
twenty day, however, aud, unless some
thing unexpected intcriercs, the frst or.
dcn will be filed by the middle OF June
OF sooner. There are some 1000 orders
now ON the books, some OF them from
as far as Japan. The price finally
settled upon is SIS. This will be for
the ordinary commercial" photograph,
which Mr.. Edison expects will take the
place OF the stenographer In business Of.
fees. Some tests made at the laboratory
yesterday failed, however, 10 show that
every word IL q dic.nti0n could be- dis.
iinglished In the monographs version.
There was good deal Of noise In the lab
oniory. A better device for excluding
outside noises than the onlinary earphone,
and some method Of deadcning the rattle
made by the electric motor which rcvolyes
the cylinder, will have TO be devised bc.
fore the phonograph can be- used by every
ono-iudging nj least from yesterdays
tests.