The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-12-19
EDISON AND HIS INVENTIONS.

An INTELLIaENCER reporter listened to
Edison's phonograph, which is exciting
such universal admiration and comment,
and which is at present on exhibition at
Geyer & Co.'S. These wonderful machines
can be made to register and reproduce
every conceivable sound. They are being
extensively used for exhibition, social or
business purposes in every part OF the
civilized world, and there is a strong
probability that they will soon find their
way into the jungles of Darkest Africa"
as an exploring party is earnestly discuss
ing the advisability of taking one with
them as a means of terrifying and inspir-
ing the superstitious natives with.
There appears to be no limit to Edison's
inventive genius. He has taken out no
less than seven hundre patents. Chief
among his inventions are the electric
light, the telephone and the monograph.
He is very charitable, and, though known
to be worth about three millions, he york.
from twelve to sixteen hours daily and
his laboratory is one of Americas great
est curiosities. This plain, unassuming
man is never so happy as when discover
ing a new principle or perfecting an old
one. What is most surprising about his
invention OF the monograph, is the fact
that he is as "deaf as a post"
These machines can neither be purchas-
ed or leased; the only way to secure one
is to purchase a County" from the Mis-
souri, Photograph Company, of st. Louis,
who, in their turn had to buy the ~''state''
from an eastern company.
Geyer & Co.'s machine was in use at the
st. Louis exposition, and is said to be one
of the best in existence. 1t will cost them
one thousand dollars to run it one year.
The effect upon the listener who hears il
for the first time is quite startling.
Edison has all but completed his latest
effort, which he terms the "kenitograph.'
He has a camera which photographs OBJ
jects in motion at the rate OF forty-six 8
second. By coloring these "negatives,'
with the assistance of machinery and
electricity he can reproduce n life-likt
fac-simile OF a circus performance, prize
fight or anything OF that description
which he chances to witness.
The "wizard' will next attempt anC
undoubtedly succeed in uniting tn,
photograph and kenitograph, and THU
combination will enable us to see tn
clown turning his summersaults and a
the same time hear him crack his Jokes
Will wonders never cease?
The machine at Geyers' is a pretty piec
of mechanicism, and to undertake a tech
nical description would pull too heavil,
upon the INTELLIaENCER's scientist, an,
the task is given up. The 'record' is
hollow cylinder OF some soft material, a
wax, about six inches long and perhap
two inches in diameter. Upon its QUITE
surface are marks almost too fine to OBJ
serve. When placed in the ~phonograpI
and the machinery started by the electric
al current, an arm OF the machine, lyin
IN the record, conveys the sound to tn
ears of the listener through q wire EN-
bedded in a rubber tube. The p~honograp
will reproduce every sound distinctly. l
/, a piece recorded from Gilmore's band, tn
, solo cornet player makes one false not
which is faithfully reproduced.
Albert Geyer says the photograph wi
be soon sent on a tour to the colleges, aftt
which it will be placed in the postoffic
1 for a few days.