The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-09-30
EDISON STUMBLED ON 1T.
How the Wizard or aIenlo Park Happene
to Invent the PhoDograph

How the Wizard or afenlo Park Happened
to Invent the PhoDograph.
81 have never seen in print true sc-
count of how Thomas A. Edison first con-
ceived the idea of the phonOgraph," re.
marked an electrician who was at one time
in the "Wizard's1 employ to q World re-
porter. "The phonogrsph is the wonder
of the world, and one of the few inven-
tiOns which envious rivals have not
charged Edison with having stolen. In
fact, even his bitterest rivals for fame, all
of whom appear to hsrbor the idea that II
is their duty to detract from his reputation
for genius and honesty. as a rule concede
that Edison did really invent the phono-
graph. 1t is an interesting story how he
came 70 invent 1t. Many years ago, when
Edison was still at MenlO Park and work
ing night and day for fame, he devoted
months 10 perfecttDg the telephone, and
undoubtedly did more than any other in
ventOr 10 make il practical by introducing
the carbon plate into the traDsmitter.
While experimenting on diaphragms for
the telephone, Edison had constructed a
number of small sheepskin drumheads, TO
test their value as diaphragms as compared
with metal and other substances
"ro some OF these sheepskin diaphrums
he had attached a small metal needle,
WHICH WAS lultUutu 70 DTOltCI IOWArQt the
mSgDet and assist In conveying the vihra-
tons caused by the human voice. The
sheepskin diaphrams did not fulfill Edi
sons expectations, and he discarded them,
and as usual with appliances he decides TO
be useless, they were thrown aside to be
removed with other rubbish.
"His assistants soon discovered that by
holding the sheepskin diaphrams in front
of their mouths and emitting a gutteraI
sound between the lips peculiar noise ap-
asafra 10 a
was something similar 20 the alleged music
produced by covering comb with thin
paper and hummtng tune
on 1t In passing one OF the
men engaged in playing on the diaphragm
one day, Edison playfully attempted TO
stop the noise by touching the projecting
metal pin with his finger, and no sooner
had be done so than he gave one of his
peculiar starts. 'Eh! What's that p said
he, which so sStonisned the performer tha
he dropped the diaphragm DO that
again. said the WIZARD aud it WAS re-
peated, and again his finger touched the
pin TO his evident delight. He went about
for some time asking one after another of
his assistants TO hum or sing against the
diaphragm, aud finally he got them 10 talk
ing against il, he all the time touching the
pin lightly with his finger
'"I have it, said be, finally, and he re-
tired To his den and commenced drawing
diagrams for new machinery, which his as-
sistsDts speedily mace, and q few days
later the first phonogrRph was put togeth.
er. lt wsS a crude affair, the pin making
an impression on wax and it talked imper-
feotly. but IL did well enough tO show Edi-
son that be was on the right track, and he
rapidly improved il until now it il very
nearly perfection. A hundred men might
have felt the vibration of that pin attached
90 the piece of sheepskiD. but IL tooS an
Edison 10 instantly realize that the vib-a-
tions might De made 10 indent soft sub
stance and be susceptible of reproS ocine
| the exact sound OF the human voice that
| caused the different vibrations The phon-
| ogrsph was regarded a toy at first. but
| Il sold for 81, ,0O0, 900 recently