The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-31
ED1soN's LATEST INVENTIONS.
A New Phonograph-The Wonders OF
the KinetoRraph.
From the ST. Louis Globe. Democrat,

From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The Edison Phonograph Works at this
place are expected to resume operations
next week. The skilled employees will
then begin turning out new style of pho
nograph, differing in a number of particu-
lars from the machine now on the market.
Thomas A. Edison has devoted himself to
the new invention at his laboratory for
some time, shutting himself up night and
day, like an old monk in a cloister, as he
always does on such occasions He has
been successful, and the new arrangement
will not only be sold at a cheaper price
than the old machine sells for, but the
cylinders have been so adjusted that just
double the former number of words can
be placed thereon The old cylinders had
a capacity of 100 lines, while the new
ones will receive 200 lines. New batteries
have been devised which, while much less
expensive, are even more effective than
the ones now in use. The new batteries,
with the improved cylinders, give TO the
machine the power of increasing the vol
ume of sound, and also of furnishing
double the quantity of matter. Other
changes of a technical character have
been made in the instrument calculated
TO improveits effectiveness and to decrease
its cost.
Another Of Mr.. Edison's inventions,
the public, will be put on the market in a
short time. This instrument is of the
nickel-in-the-slot type machine, has been
called the photograph, and is intended to
outvie the instantaneous process OF pho
Biography, in that, by means of the pecu-
liar mechanism with which it sprOVided,
a series of photographs, about forty TO
the minute, can be taken So rapidly
does this machine work that every mo-
tion of a dancers feet, every twist or
turn Of club-swinger' wrists and arms
are reproduced. The impressions are
taken on a long slip of gelatine film with
such rapidity and accuracy that not the
faintest motion of the performing athlete
is missed II is the intention of the in
ventor to have the gelatine strips manu-
featured at some central point, in the
same manner as the photographic cylin-
ders. The machines will be sold or rented
10 parties under the same conditions as
prevail with the monographs. Then the
gelatine strips will be inserted, and the
weight of nickel, as it drops through
the slot. sets the machinery in motion and
the photographs are flashed before the
gaze Of the beholder with such rapidly
that he seems TO see living subjects.
For the edification of party Of sight
seers at the Orange laboratory last week
an improvised barber shop was fitted up,
and the services Of nearby tonsorial
artist were secured. An attendant at the
laboratory took a seat In the chair, and
the machine was put In motion. The
barber lathered his man, and then pro-
ceeded TO shave him in regulation style.
While the barber was at work several
pretended customers entered, and one
showed the barber humorous paragraph
in a newspaper.
When the strip of gelatine was again
passed through the kinetograpb every de-
tail of the shave, every motion Of the
barber's hands, each expression Of the
mems faces were reproduced so perfectly
and so well-timed that the spectators
could see the scenes repeated in the ma
chine.
AS yet the new instrument has no COM
mercial value, but the parties interested
believe that its possibilities as a means of
furnishing amusement are unlimited. 1t
is claimed that by the use of this ma
chine all the rounds Of boxing contest,
every blow ina prize fight or other con-
test, can be reproduced, and the whole
placed on exhibition at a nickel head.
BY this means the hundreds Of thou
sands who would wish to see the meeting
between Corbett and Mitchell can wit
ness the encounter, counterfeited by the
photograph. on every street corner within
a week after the gladiators meet
"StorieS Of the great inventor are al
ways in order" said one of the party, af-
ter the kinetograph had been duly in
spected and praised. Il heard one re-
Gently which relates to his early career
as an inventor, and which / do not be-
lieve has ever yet found its way into
print. This tale relates TO the very first.
invention Mr.. Edison sold to the Western
Union Telegraph Company. at a time
when he was but little known. This in
vention was nothing more nor less than
the stock ticker, which, with very few
alterations or improvement s. is still in
use. Thoroughly satisfied that his in
vention was success, Mr.. Edison laid it
before the president of the Western Union
Telegraph Company with many doubt
and fear, not as to the value of his inven-
ton, but about his chance of receiving
fair treatment from the corporation.