The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-31
Mr.. EDISON'S PHONOGRAPH.
Another Marvel of Scientific Hnge-
nNity.

Mr.. Edison claims to have made i'm
provements in his monograph which
are extraordinary. Ia a recent CONVEX
sation he thus describes them: "You
know l finished the first monograph
more than ten years ago. 1t remained
more or less of a toy; the germ OF some
thing wonderful was perfectly distinct,
but tried the impossible with it. When
the electric light business assumed COM
mercial importance [ threw everything
overheard for that. Nevertheless, the
photograph has been more or less con-
stantly in my mind When resting, my
mind reverted almost automatically to
the old idea Since the light has been
finished l have taken up the phono-
graph, and, after eight months steady
work, have made it a commercial inven-
ton I expect to see it in every bust
ness office. The first 500 [ hope will be
ready for distribution at the end of Jan
uary.
''The operation is simplicity itself. a
merchant who wishes to send letter
has only to set the machine in motion
and talk in his natural voice at the
usual rate of speed into the receiver.
When he has finished sheet or phono-
graph, as 1 call it, it is ready for putting
into little box made on purpose for the
mails. We are making sheets three
sizes-one for letters of 800 or 1000
words, another of 1000, another 1000.
The receiver of the phonogram will put
it into his apparatus and the message
will be given out more clearly than the
best telephone message ever sent. The
tones of the voice in two monographs 1
have finished are SO perfectly rendered
that ore can distinguish between twenty
different persons, each of whom said
few words. The great advantage is that
the letter can be repeated thousand
times if desired. The phonogram will
not wear out by use. 1t may be put
away for hundred years, and be ready
the instant it is needed. If man die
tates his will to the phonograph, there
will be no disputing the authenticity of
the document. The cost of making a
photograph is scarcely more than that
of an ordinary letter paper machine. 1t
will read message at the same speed as
it is dictated. have experimental with
a device for enabling printers to set type
directly from the dictation of the phono-
graph, and think it will work perfectly.
1t is 50 arranged that the printer, by
touching z. lever with his foot, allows
five or ten words to be sounded. If not
satisfied with the first hearing, it can re-
peat.
''For musicians the phonogram is go
ing TO do wonders, owning to the ex-
IRENE cheapness with which can dupli-
cate the phonograms, and the delicacy
with which it gives out all musical
sounds. In the early photograph, ten
years ago, though imperfect and crude,
it was noticed that musical sounds came
out peculiarly well. 1t would whistle
and sing far better than it would talk.
This popularity remains. / have taken
down the music of an orchestra, and the
result is marvellous. Each instrument
can be perfectly distinguished The
strings are perfectly distinct; violins
even from violoncellos, wind instru-
ments and wood, all are heard-even the
notes of the singer. The violin over
tones are distinctly audible to delicate
ear. A selection for any instrument or
for an orchestra, or the whole act of an
opera, including musical instruments
and voices, can be given out by the
phonograph with beauty of tone and
distinctness past belief, and the dupli-
cate apparatus for phonograms is SO
cheap that the price of music will be
scarcely worth considering. AS the
phonogram is practically indestructible
by ordinary use, such music can be
played over and over again.
MY first photograph consisted simply
OF a roller-carrying foil, and provided
with diaphragm point turned by hand.
There is far more complication in the
new photograph, but altogether different
results. The propelling machinery con-
Sisss OF small electric motor, run by