The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-03-07
THE NEW TALKING MACHINES.
As saving in the time given up to

As a saving in the time given up to
writing, the phonograph promises to
far outstrip the typewriter. The busi-
ness man can dictate to the phono-
graph as fast as he can talk, and the
wax cylinder, inclosed in suitable
box, can be sent off by mail to read
out its message perhaps thousands of
miles away. Or else, as is now done
in MIR. Edison's laboratory in Orange,
n. j., the typewriter girl can print out
upon paper what her employer has
dictated to the photograph. For the
reporter, the editor, and the author
who can dictate, device has been
adapted to the phonograph which
causes 1t to stop its message at every
tenth word, and to continue only when
spring is touched. THUS, the editor
can dictate his article to the phono-
graph as he does now to his steno-
grapher, and when the printer at the
case gets the resulting phonogram the
instrument will dictate to him in short
sentences. If he cannot set up the
sentences at one hearing, it will repeat
its ten words. If he is satisfied, it reads
out ten words more. | really see no
reason why the newspaper of the flu
in the shape of a phonogram. 1t would
have to begin, however, with a table
of contents, in order that one might
not have to listen to a two hours
speech upon the tariff question in or
der to get at ten lines of musical
notice. But think what a musical
critic might be able to do for his pub
lie! He might give them whole arias
from an opera or movements from a
symphony, by way of proof or illus
tration. The very tones of an actors
or singers voice might be reproduced
in the morning notice of last nights
important dramatic or musical event.
1t has been remarked, by the way, that
business letters and orders by phono-
graph would not be so binding as
when put in black and white upon
paper. A little wax cylinder covered
with microscopic dots would not be
considered rs good evidence in court.
But if the speakers voice, infection,
accent, were SO reproduced that wit
nesses could swear TO the personality,
would it not suffice? How could there
be any dispute over a mans will, when
the voice Of the dead man was heard?
In music, as | have already said the
value OF the phonograph even in its
present condition is indisputable.
Musicians are divided, and probably
always will be, as 20 the manner in
which certain famous symphonies
ought to be conducted. The metronome
marks used by Beethoven are but un-
certain guides at best, while no writ
ten directions as to dynamic values,
expression, etc, are worth much. The
phonograph will at least make it pos
sible for the musician of the future to
know exactly how our composers
wished their music given, for it will
repeat that music as played to-day, |
with every shade of expression, with
all its Infinite changes of time. More !
over, the phonograph will offer to the
composer that long-sought instrument,
an automatic recorder of improvisa- |
ton upon the piano or other instru-
ment. In the far-of future, when our
descendants wish to compare our SIM
pie little Wagner operas with the COM
pleX productions Of their own days, |
requiring, perhaps, 4 dozen orchestras, |
playing in half dozen different KEYS |
at once, they will have an accurate
photographic record of our harmonic |
simplicity.
At present but few of the new pho
nographs have been finished, and those |
only for exhibition purposes. When |
they will be offered for sale seems to
be doubtful; probably within a few
months. MIR. Edison says that by the |
beginning of 1890 the phonograph will |
be far less a curiosity than the tele- |
phone is now, and that he could begin
selling the instruments at once if he |
were fully satisfied with them. There |
is always something which needs i'm
proving. just at present there is !
needed a funnel for SO magnifying the |
sound that if the instrument is placed |
in the centre of a table all the persons |
sitting around can hear its reading or
its music. For the last year it has
been the same story,-the phono-
graphs would be ready for sale next |
month. 1t was SO Il yCaragO, and it may |
be so a year from now. But these many |
delays, which have made people rather |
skeptical as to the dOings of the phon-
ograph, do not make the wonders al |
ready achieved less wonderful, or
warrant any doubts as to the vast pos
sibilities which the little device con-
tains.-Philp G. Hubert, Dr., in AttaD-
tic.