The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-01-21
THE PHONOGRAPH.
How Edison Has Perfected an
Extraordinary Instrument.
A Machine Which Records and
ReproduceS Human Speech.


finished the first monograph more
than ten years ago. 1t remained more
or less toy. The germ Of something
wonderful was perfectly distinct, but 1
tried the impossible with it, and when
the electric light business assumed COM
mercial importance. l threw everything
overheard for that. Nevertheless, the
photograph has been more or less con-
constantly in my mind ever since.
When resting from prolonged work up
on the light, my brain would revert
almost automatically to the old idea.
Since the light has been flashed, have
taken up the phonograph, and
after eight months of steady
work, have made it commercial in
Tention. My photograph l expect to
rec in every business office. Theil opera
ton is simplicity itself, and cannot fail
The merchant or clerk who wishes to
send Il letter has only to set the machine
in motion, and to talk in his natural
voice AID at the u5ull rate OF speed into
the receiver. When he has finished, the
sheet, or 'phonorram, as | call it, is
ready for putting into little box made
on purpose for the mails We are max
ing the sheets in three sizes---one for
letters Of from so to 1000 words, an
other size for 1890 words. l expect that
an arrangement may b, male with the
postofiice authorities enabling the pho.
nOgram boxes to bc sent ut tn, same rate
as a letter.
The receiver of phonogran will
put 1t into his apparatu, aad the mes
sage will be given out more clearly, moro
distinctly than tho best telephone mes
sage ever Sent. The tones OF the voic.
IN the two Photographs which I have
finished are so perfectly rendered that
one can distinguish between twenty diff
ferent persons, each one of whom has
sand few words. Olc tremcniou, adj
vantage is that the letter may be re-
peated a thousand times il necessary.
The phonogram does not wear out by
use; moreover it may be fled away for
a hundred years and be- ready the in
slant it is needed. If man dictates his
will to the photograph, there will be no
disputing the authenticity of the docu-
ment with those who knew the tones OF
his voice in life. The cost of making
the phonOgram will be scarcely more
than the cost of ordinary letter paper.
The machine will read out the letter or
message at the same speed with which it
was dictated
al have experimental with device
for enabling printers to set typo directly
from the dictation of the photograph,
aai think that It will work 10 Il charm.
1t Is so arranged that the printer by
touching lever with his foot all ows
fiye or ten words of til, phonogram 70
be sounded; if he is not satisfied with
the first hearing n, en- make it re3ea.
the same words over and over arain nm
til he has them in type. For busy men
who dictate a great deal for the press,
am sur. that the phonograph will be n
necessity after Il very little experience.
"fcr musicians the photograph is 90
ing to do wonders, owing 10 the extreme
cheapHeSs with which 1 can duplicate f,
phonograms and the dclicacy with which |
the apparatus gives out al the musical
SQUADS. In the carly photograph of ten
years ago, which was a very iln perfect
and crude affair compared to that of
to-day, it was always noticed that |
sounds came out peculiarly well; |
the machine would whistle or sinr far |
better than it could talk. This pccu-
liarity of the photograph remains. l |
have taken down the music of an or
chestra, and tn, result is marvellous, |
each instrument can be perfectly |
the strings are perfectly
distinct, the vioiias from the cellos. the
wind instruments and the wood arc per
fect!y heard, and even in the notes of a
violin the over-tones are distinct to n
delicate ear. 1t is going to work Won
ders for the benefit of music-lovers. A
piece for any instrument, for the piano.
or for an orchestra, or an act, or the
whole OF an opera, musical Instruments
and voices, can be given ont by the