The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-01-14
vided with two mouthpieces, one fol
receiving and one for speaking.
THE NEW INSTRUMENT.

ASN$ifiHS anu oilt III oJIuhibSs
THE NEW INSTRUMENT.
The new phonograph is of about the
size of an ordinary sewing machine. In
its construction 1t Is something like a
very small engine lathe; the man
spindle is threaded between its bear
ings, and is prolonged at one end to
receive the hardened wax cylinder upon
which the sound record is made. Be-
hind the spindle and the cylinder is a
rod upon which is arranged a slide,
having at one end an arm adapted to
engage the screw of the spindle, and at
the opposite end an arm carrying a
pivoted head, provided with two dia-
phragms. whose positions may be in
stantly interchanged when desirable.
One of these diaphrams is turned into
the position of use when it is desired
to talk to the phonograph, and when
speech is to be reproduced the other
diaphragm takes its place. The needle
by which the impressions are made in
the wax is attached to the centre of
the diaphragm, and pivotally con-
nected to spring arm attached to
the side OF the diaphragm cell.
The device by which the speech is re-
produced consists of a cell containing
delicate diaphragm of gold beater's
skin, to the centre of which is secured
stud connected with a small curved
steel wire, one end of which is attached
to the diaphragm cell. The spindle of
the phonograph is rotated regularly by
an electric motor in the base of the
machine, which is driven by a current
from one or two cells of battery. The
motor IS provided with a sensitive gov
ernor which causes it to maintain a very
uniform speed. Motion is transmitted
from the motor to the spindle by bev-
| eled friction wheels. The arm which
carries the diaphragms is provided with
turning tool for smoothing the wax
cylinder preparatory 10 receiving the
sound record.
HOW II IS MANAGED.
The first operation in the use of the
machine is to bring the turning too
into action and cause it to traverse the
cylinder. The turning tool is then
thrown out, the carriage bearing the
diaphragm is returned to the position OF
starting, the receiving diaphragm is
placed in the position of use, and, as
the wax cylinder revolves, the dia-
phragm is vlbrated by the sound waves
thus moving the needle SO as to cause
it to cut into the wax cylinder and pro-
duce indentations which correspond to
the movements of the diaphragm. After
the record is made, the carriage is again
returned to the point of starting. the
receiving diaphragm is replaced by the
speaking diaphragm, and the carriage is
again moved forward by the screw, as
the cylinder revolves, causing the point
of the speaking diaphragm to traverse
the path made by the recording needle
As the point of the curved wire at
tached to the diaphragm follows the in
dentations of the wax cylinder, the
speaking diaphragm is made to vibrate
in manner similar to that of the re-
ceiying diaphragm, thereby faithfully
reproducing the sounds uttered into the
receiving mouthpiece.
A crucial test of the capabilities o.
this machine was recently made in oul
presence at Edison's labratory, neal
Llewellyn Park, Orange, N. J. A para.
graph from the morning newspaper was
read to the machine in our absence
phonographically, every word was dis.
tinctly understood, although the names
localities and the circumstances men,
toned in the article were entirely new
and strange 10 Us. Another test OF the
perfection of the machine was the per
feet reproduction of whistling and whis,
perlnG, all the imperfectlons OF tone,
the half tones and modulations even
being faithfully reproduced. The per.
feet performance of the new instrument
depends upon mechanical perfection
upon the regularity of its speed, the sus
ceptibility of the wax cylinder to the
impressions of the needle, and to the
delicacy Of the speaking diaphragm
No attempt is made in this instrument
to secure loud speaking-distinct artic-
ulation and perfect intonation have beer
the principal ends sought.