The Portland daily press., 1888-10-22
PHoNocRAPn. cRAPAoPHoNE.
The Wonderful instrument that Re-
produces the Voice.

bout ten years ago Edison, the inventor,
displayed machine that stored up and re-
produced at win tbs. sounds. Of the human .
voice. AS fist exhibited the mSthine was
-imperfect, and useful pfincjpallSs 70 the stis'
.ehtlsts laboratory or the musedm of cirlosi--
ties. Since that time the early defects have
been overcome and the perfected photograph
and the phonograph- graphophone is as prac-
teal as the typewriter or telephone BY it
the slightest shades and variations of the hu-
man voice are registered and reproduced
with absolute accuracy music, whether vo-
cator instrumental !, in anits rhythms, melo-
dy and intonations; in word, all kinds of
sounds may be treasured up in this extraor-
binary instrument and reproduced as many
times as desired.
A company has been formed for the man
ufacture and sale of these perfected phono-
graph-graphophones and Mr.. Smith. a gen.
tleman well known to many Of our citizens,
who is visiting Portland. has one of them
with him which he has kindly exhibited to
several gentlemen interested in scientific
pursuits. The instrument resembles sew
Ing machine. The foundation principle con-
" - $50 ~Nheab6 VA iuAhabC iuP4cociSfo up
on the surface of small wax cylinder by
means OF "A tiny cutting instrument, actuated
by sound waves, and in these same minute
Impressions or punctures afterwards setting
In vibration small diaphragm attached to a
delicate needle point that delves in and out
of the myriads of minute impressions with
inconceiyable rapidity, as the wax cylinder
is revolyed beneath the needle point, with
the latter slightly resting on the waxen sur
face. The wax-cyllnder, or impression plate
is less than six inches long, and is held in
place on steel bar. To the recorder is at
Tackled rubber tube with mouth piece, and
the person whose words or song are to be
recorded speaks or sings through it, The
adjusting of the recorder takes but
moment and then the reproduc
er is placed on the feeder.
To this reproducer is attached tube, with
small trumpets placed tat one end, and these
trumpets are placed in the ears of the person
who wishes to hear what the instrument has
to say. When either the recorder or repro
Queer is in use, the cylinder reyolves by
means Of the treadle, whose speed is regulat-
ed by governor.
IL - CluiuiSu iOI tulo INSTRUMENT IIldI III
will supersede in many cases both stem
ographer< aud copywrlters, because it re-
produces every word with perfect accuracy,
it never gets tired, and never wants lunch or
holidays. A lawyer or business man, whose
time is very valuable, fits cylinder to the
steel bar of the machine, puts the recorder
ON the feed bar, and talks into the recorder
an important opinion, complete argument,
or all the details of number of business let
ters, and they can be reproduced at any time
without any more care taken on his part
1t was our pleasure to attach the trumpets
to our ears and hear a discussion on the
merits of the instrument that had been re-
corded some time, reproduced in the speak
er's own voice, as plainly as If he were talk
ing with him at the telephone We also
heard the song of "Old Dog Tray" fairly well
sung, and some whistling that if it was not
quite equal.to Mrs. Shaw's or Miss Chamber
Inns, was still very good Mr.. Smith brought
some cylinders with him from New York, in
to which his wife-who has visited in Port
land good deal--and his children had
spoken sending messages to their friends
here, and these were reproduced in their own
voices to the great delight of Il who heard
them. Rev. DIR. Hill was present at the time
and was asked il the instrument fully came
up to his anteipations, and he said it did.
The Photographs graphophone embraces
all the patents of Edison, Bell and fainter.