The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-27
EDISON'S KALEIDOSCOPE.
Invention That RepTOduCeS Action as
Well as Sound.


Artists Are Dead.
- Just what the photograph and the
kaleidoscope really will accomplish is
known to few people, because of a lack
of any authentic and authorized descrip-
ton of the instruments. This will be
supplied by an interesting article written
for the June number of the Century by
Antonio and W K. L. Dickson, the latter
Mr. Edison's laboratory assistant and the
expert who took the magic pictures repro
duced by the kaleidoscope. The article is
accompanied by illustrations showing the
photographic theater and laboratory at
Orange, N. J.. and the minute photo
graphs, taken in a series on a long strip
and recording all the phases of some com
pleted action.
Mr. Edison himself writes a brief intro
duction In the year 1887 the idea oe-
Cured to me that IL was possible to de-
wise an instrument which should do for
the eye what the photograph does for the
ear, and that by combination of the-two
all motion and sound could be recorded
and reproduced simultaneously. This
idea, the germ of which came from the
little toy called the zoetrope and the
work of Muybr!dge, Marie, and others,
has been now. accomplished, so that every
change of facial expression can be re-
corded and reproduced lifesize. The
kinetoscope is only small model Illus
trating the present stage of progress,
but with each succeeding month new
possibilities are brought into view. [
believe that in coming years by nv
own work and that of Dickson, Muy-
bridge, Marie and others who will
doubtless enter the field grand opera
bo NJ tho MofroY,o1itar,
house a New York without any material
change from the original, and with art
lists and musicians long since dead"
The synchronous attachment of pho
Biography with the monograph was early
contemplated by Mr.. Edison, in order to
record and give back the impressions to
the eye as well as to the ear" say the
DicksoDs in their article
The comprehensive term for this inveu-
tion is the kineto-p honograph. The dual
''taking-machine' is the phono-kineto-
graph, and the reproducing-machine the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES in contradistinction to
the kinetograph and the kinetoscope.
which relate respectively to the taking
and reproduction of movable but soundless
objects
The initial experiments took the form of
microscopic pin point photographs, placed
on a cylindrical shell, corresponding in
size to the ordinary photograph cylinder.
These two cylinders were then placed
SIDE by side on ashaft, and the sound
record was taken as near as possible syn
enormously with the Photographic image
impressed on the sensitive surface of the
shell.
The Photographic portion of the work
presented many difficulties. and the
writers describe at length the efforts that
were made to get a film sufficiently sensi-
tive to take the impression in the brief time
possible for exposure, and that would give
such detail as TO bear enlargement, This
was finally accomplished, however, and
shutter was invented which gave an ex-
posure of l-2720 part of a second. The
next step, and one which sorely tried the
patience and ingenuity of the inventors,
was to connect the camera and the phono-
graph so that the action and the accom-
panying sound should both be recorded
exactly simultaneously. The pictures
were taken in specially devised theater,
which is described
The actors, when more than one in
number, are kept as close together as
possible, and exposed either to theGlare of
the SUM- to the binding light of four para
oollc magnesium lamps or to thelight OF
twenty arc-lamps, provided with highly
actlnlc carbons, supplied with powerful
rehectors equal TO about $4,000 candle
power. This radiance is concentrated
upon the performers while the kineto-
graph and photograph are hard at work
storing NJ records and impression for fu-
ture reproduction.
"A popular and inexpensive adaptation
Of microscopic methods in the form of the
well-knOwn nickel-in-the-slot a machine
consisting OF cabinet containing an cleo
trlcal motor and batteries for operating
the mechanism which acts as the impell-i
ing power to the film. The film is in the
shape of an endless band 50 feet in length.
winch IS passed through the
held OF magnifying-glass per
pendlcularly placed. The photo
graphic impressions pass before the
eve at the rate of forty-six per second,
through the medium Of a rotating, slotted
disk, the slot exposing picture at each
revolution, and separating the fractional
gradauons OF pose. PROJECTED against
screen or viewed through a magnifying
glass, the pictures are eminently life
Ike, Tor the reason that the enlargement
need not be more than ten times the
original size On exhibition evenings the
projecting room, which is situated in the
upper story of the Photographic depart
ment, is hung with black, in order to pre-
vent any reflection from the circle of light
enanatlng from the screen at the o6her
END, the protector being placed behind
curtain, also of black, and provided with
single peep-hole for the accommodation
ASAASs l. lAC OlACCb OlN lHcSt SUN Gt
araperles, aud the weird accompanying
monotone of the electric motor attached
10 the protector, are horribly impressive,
ana ones sense of the supernatural is
Alghtened when figure suddenly springs
mo MS path, acting and talking with a
ylgor which leaves him totally UMPIRE
pared Tor its mysterious vanishing. Pro-
!ecIed stereoscopically, the results are
even more realistic, as those acquainted
WIN that class of phenomena may
Imagine, and pleasing rotundity is APP
parent which, In ordinary Photographic
uisPlays is conspicuous by its absence.
Nothlng more vivid or more natural
Soulq be imagined than these breathing,
auulole forms. with their tricks of famill
t tGI gesture and speech. The inconceiya-
we swlftness of the Photographic sue
.essiions, and the exquisite synchronism
vi. Ohe Photographic attachment, have re-
moSe ca the last trace of automatic action,
Inu Iue Illusion is complete. The organ
t - monkey jumps upon his shoulder
~ Ihe accompaniment of a strain from
NoIma The rich strains of tenor or
ooPIdno are heard, set in their appropri-
eve dramatic action the blacksmith is
zen swinging his ponderous hammer, ex-
iGoylS as IN life, ana the clang of the anvil 4
TIPS pace with his symmetrical move
,, reuts along with the rhythmical meas
S SSes OF the dancer go her soft-sounding
t,I5otIaHs; the wrestlers and fencers ply