The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-02-22
SPEAKING NEWSPAPERS.
Fdisou's Latest Idea aud Emile Bcrliucr'
MArVelou, Gramophouc.

Marvelou, Gramophouc.
The latest development OF the phon-
ogruph 4, project OF Thomas \. Ed
ison, the inventor. TO produce "a MAJ
chine that shall tell the news Of tho
preceding day by word OF mouth, and
be in effect a talking newspaper Con-
densed reports OF interesting events
will bee talked into tho instrument,
which will record what is said on tho
wax cylinder or phouogram. Tho
phonogram will then bc duplicated in
electro plates, which can be distrib-
utcd and used in the Photographs OF
subscribers
The latest development OF talking
machines is the gramophone, which
differs materially from the phonograph
and the graphophouc, 1t is the .nvcn-
tion OF Emile Bcr,incr, who recently
gave private exhibition OF its pow
crs in this city. In this machine a ro-
tary motion is given 10 thin disk OF
metal. eleven inches i'm diameter, COW
cred with "a very delicate etching
ground. ON which stylus presses
lightly and traces the waves of speech,
or other sounds. that enter the MOUTH
picca The plato is then put into an
acid bath, and i'm "a few minutes the re-
cord il etched into the metal and viii
last a. long "a the plate. For COM
mcrcial purposes "a medium OF sealing
wax can bc used, upon which treat
mcnt with alcohol fixes the record in
fifteen seconds.
Al the exhibition here reproduced
playing OF "a German band filled tho
room. Mr.. Berincr said that ut an
exhibition given in Washington it was
distinctly heard ty five hundred per-
sons. The accuracy OF pitch was some-
what unplcssantly evident II must
have been toward the end OF the day
when the strains OF the German
and the leader was probably weary,
for his tone was undcniably Hat and
spasmodc. But the fidelity of the re-
production was beyond question, and
all the shakes and gradation- OF tone
were distinctly given. Marching
Through Georgia was rendered with
fine effect \ test was made by Mr..
Bcrlincr TO show the accuracy Of re-
produced language, and the history Of
lIumpty Dumptys great final caias-
trophc was Immediately heard and
recognized word for word
The striking characteristic Of the in
strumcnt il power I'm some cases,
however, there was "A slightly burning
sound. When Mr.. Bcrlincr'7 attention
was called 10 this. he explained that
this was the fault of the medium. De-
taching the stylus from the instrument,
he drew it over the back OF the metal
record disk. The sound lacked dis
tinctnc--. He then passed the stylus
over the window pane, and the differ
cncc was striking; the sound WIS now
clean cut, soft and almost musical.
IL shall soon have plato OF yitrc-
Gus material, hc said, "aud then my
machine will bee perfect"
Though the gramophono i- intended
for commercial use. It's immediate mis-
sion, Mr. Bcrlincr thinks, is TO pro-
lt' ~ lil''llN W WI '''i'''l
halls or parlors, which will be always
available. The hostess cha. few
friends, and has no one 90 sing for
them. a disk OF Patti i'm La Sonnam.
bua, or Gcr-tcr in Lucia, i- put into
the instrument, and every one is de-
lighted. II "a little instrumental music
is wanted, JoscGy, on a List rhap-odio,
will probably Gll the bill. lfthc young
people want "A dance. the latest walt,
rendered in the most approved fash.
ion, may be reproduced.
No turning Of the handle is ncccs-
sary, as a small electric motor can bo
used, and the gramophoue will 20 on
playing as long as it is wantcd.-N. I.
Commercial Advertiser.