Year: 1878

Some months since, says the Balti-
more Moratng Herald, we gave a mi
mute account of the manner in which
Thomas A. Edison operated his won
derful invention, the telephone. 1t was
received with some incredulity, but
now comes more wonderful inven-
ton of Edison, known as the speaking
phonograph, an exhibition Of which
was given Friday night in Philadel-
phia with wonderful success. The in
strument was operated by Mr.. James
Adams, the representative of the in
ventor, who explained the instrument
before the performance began, which
is not larger than a Webster's una
bridged and fac sinaile of one which
Professor Edison is now constructing
and which is to havea capacity of forty
eight thousand words. Mr.. Adams in
explaining the instrument, said


"In this gutta pereha mouthpiece is
a very thin diaphragm, made Of tin
type metal. The vibrations of the
voice jar the diaphragm, which has in
its centre, underneath, a fine steel
point Around the brass cylinder,
which, you see, is closely and finely
grOoved by spiral, | wrap sheet of
tin foil. l shove the mouthpiece up
until the steel point touches the tin
foil, just above the first groove on the
left. Turning the cylinder with this
crank I talk into the mouthpiece. The
diaphragm vibrates, causing the steel
point to perforate the tin foil, leaving
little holes of different diameters and
resembling the old Morse telegraphic
alphabet. The cylinder moves from
left to right until the steel point has
gone over the entire length Of the spi-
raj. Thus we have, as it were, ster-
eotype plate of the voice. From this
plate a matrix in sulphur (the most
desirable substance for the purpose)
can be formed, and years from now
there can be taken from that matrix
other plates capable of the same work
which you will presently see this one
perform.


COMING OUT OF THE BOTTLE"


"Now I turn the cylinder back to
the starting place, in order that the
steel point may go over the perfora-
tions which is made when I talked in
to the mouthpiece. The steel point,
kept down by a rubber spring under
meath the diaphragm to vibrate as it
did when | was talking into the mouth
piece. This causing a corresponding
opening and closing of the valves of
diaphragm, the words, information and
accent are reproduced with perfect ac-
curacy. It would be impossible for
any human mimic to do it so we'll.
The small end of this tin funnel is
fixed in the mouthpiece to keep the
reproduction from scattering Now,
listen"


Several gentleman, evidently sup
posing that they would not be able to
hear without having their ears close to
the funnel, were putting their heads
near the instrument, but Mr.. Adams
told them that such a proceeding was
unnecessary, as they could distinguish
the sound well enough at distance.


Mr.. Adams having wrapped a sheet
of tin foil around the cylinder, spoke
into the mouthpiece in voice of ordi-
nary pitch and time, but with distinct
articulation, meanwhile slowly and
regularly turning the crank, the fol-
lowing


Jack and Jill went up the hill


To get a bucket of water;


Jack fell down and broke his crown


And Jill came tumbling after.


Having reset the cylinder and fixed
the funnel in the mouthpice, he turned
the crank and the diaphragm repeated
the rhyme, not only as distinctly as he
had uttered it, but with SO perfect a
mimicry of the Scotch accent as to
cause general outburst of laughter,