IX.
THEPHONOGRAPH
AND ITSFUTURE.
such pro
Of all the writer's
inventions, none has commanded
the civilized world as has
found and earnest attention throughout
This fact he attributes
the phonograph.
largely to that peculiar
its
the
within
of
invention
which
range of
possibilities
brings
ity
as
as
all
well
of
the speculative
people,
thinking
imaginations
to the almost universal
foundation
of
the
applicability
principle,
up and retaining of sounds hitherto
fugi
namely, the gathering
at will.
tive, and their reproduction
and" prophetic
From the very abundance
of conjectural
opin
the
is
ions which
have been disseminated
press, the public
by
liable to become confused, and less accurately
informed as to the
than if the inven
immediate result and effects of the phonograph
to certain specific applications,
tion had been one confined
and
The writer has no fault
therefore of less interest to the masses.
to find with
this condition
of the discussion
and
of the merits
are
so
his
of
the
invention;
for, indeed,
possibilities
possibilities
so numerous
and the probabilities
that he?though
illimitable
in a some
himself
subject to the influence of familiar contact?is
what chaotic condition of mind as to where to draw the dividing
In point of fact, such line cannot with safety be defined in
line.
at so early a stage of their development.
In
ordinary inventions
an
invention of the nature and scope of the phono
the case of
it is practically
to indicate it to-day, for to
impossible
graph,
a trifle may extend it almost
morrow
indefinitely.
There
certain stages in the developing
are, however,
process
which have thus far been actually reached;
certain others which
are
are in
reach; and others which,
clearly within
though they
as
the light of to-day classed
be
to-morrow
may
possibilities,
come probable, and a little later actual achievements.
It is the
to the
intention of the writer in this article to confine himself
THE NORTH
528
AMERICAN
REVIEW.
to the end that a clearer conception
actual and the probable,
of
realizations
of the phonograph may be had. He
the immediate
of science
the im
concedes to the public press and the world
and
of
work
the
upon
pointing
commenting
aginative
possible.
in which
this has already
It is in view of the liberal manner
treatment he has received at their
been done, and the handsome
to dis
hands, that he for the first time appears in propria persona
cuss and comment upon the merits
of one of his own inventions.
In order to furnish a basis upon which
the reader may take
in his pre
his stand, and accept or combat the logic of the writer
a few
of the phonograph,
sentment of the probabilities
categori
are put and answers given upon the essential
cal questions
feat
:
ures of the principle
involved
a complex
1. Is a vibrating plate or disk capable of receiving
shall correctly represent
the peculiar property
motion which
of
vocal and other sound-waves
?
each and all the multifarious
The telephone answers affirmatively.
be transmitted
2. Can such complex movement
from such
a
means
attached
of
thereto, to
single embossing-point
plate, by
such
with
effect a record upon a plastic material
by indentation,
same varied and com
as
to
to
the
such
indentations
fidelity
give
this embossing-point,
upon being
and, if so, will
plex form;
over
it
thus
with
such
follow
the
record
made,
fidelity as
passed
to retransmit to the disk the same variety of movement,
and thus
or reproduction
of the vocal or other sound
effect a restoration
to producing
essential
loss of any property
waves, without
upon
the ear the same sensation as if coming direct from the original
source ?
to this may be summed up in a statement
of the
move
of
for
of
the
power
that, by
application
uniformity
to many
and
and by attention
seemingly
unimportant
ment,
and material
of the embossing
minor details, such as the form
of the plate, the character of the
point, the proper dampening
over the
of the mouth-piece
the
formation
material
embossed,
at
times
various
the
has
the
writer
past
etc.,
during
plate,
such degree of accuracy in
these waves with
weeks
reproduced
each and every detail as to enable his assistants to read, without
columns of a newspaper
article
the loss of a word, one or more
the
into
to them, and which were
unfamiliar
apparatus
spoken
The
fact
answer
THE PHONOGRAPH
AND
ITS FUTURE.
529
The
when
loss was
they were not present.
only perceptible
found to be in the quality of the utterance?a
in
non-essential
the practical
of the apparatus.
application
Indeed, the articula
tion of some individuals has been very perceptibly
improved by
the phonograph,
the original utterance
passage
through
being
of lip and mouth
mutilated
and these
by imperfection
formation,
or corrected
mutilations
eliminated
of the pho
by the mechanism
nograph.
3. Can a record be removed from the apparatus upon which
it was made, and replaced upon a second without mutilation
or
loss of effective power to vibrate the second plate ?
no greater ob
This is a mere mechanical
detail, presenting
stacle than having proper regard for the perfect
interchangeable
ness of the various working
so nice a
parts of the apparatus?not
as
the
manufacture
of
the
American
watch.
problem
as to
4. What
and removing
the record
facility of placing
as
to
and
its
mail
?
sheet,
transportation
by
But ten or fifteen
seconds suffice for such placing or remov
al. A special envelope will probably be required for the pres
and form of which, however, will but
ent, the weight
slightly
increase the cost of postage.
as to durability
5. What
?
have proved that the indentations
experiments
Repeated
pos
sess wonderful
has
enduring power, even when the reproduction
been effected by the comparatively
rigid plate used for their pro
It is proposed, however,
duction.
to use a more flexible plate for
a
with
smooth stone point?dia
which,
reproducing,
perfectly
mond or sapphire?will
render the record capable of from 50 to
100 repetitions,
enough for all practical purposes.
as to duplication
6. What
of a record and its permanence
?
more
or
have
been
made
with
less
experiments
success,
Many
in the effort to obtain electrotypes
of a record.
This work has
been done by others, and, though the writer has not as
yet seen
he
is
informed
it
suc
has
been
it,
that, very recently,
reliably
can
see
no
He
cessfully accomplished.
great practical
certainly
in the way.
obstacle
of an indefi
This, of course, permits
nite multiplication
of a record,
and its preservation
for all
time.
7. What
are the
requisite
force
of wave
impinging
upon
the
THE NORTH
530
AMERICAN
REVIEW.
to the diaphragm
and the proximity
of the mouth
to
diaphragm
effect a record ?
These depend in a great measure
upon the volume of sound
in
If
the
the
is to be made
desired
reproduction.
reproduction
force is requisite in the orig
audible to an audience, considerable
if for the individual ear, only the ordinary con
inal utterance;
has been reproduced).
tone (even a whisper
In both
versational
are delivered
cases the original utterances
in
the
mouth
directly
An
audible reproduction
may, how
piece of the instrument.
a
at
had
instrument
the
from
distance of
be
ever,
by speaking
The application
from two to three feet in a loud tone.
of a flar
or
funnel
the
to
collect
and
the
tube
sound-waves
construc
ing
and
tion of an especially delicate
diaphragm
embossing-point,
to effect
themselves
etc., are the simple means which
suggest
The writer has not as yet given this stage of the develop
this.
in gathering
ment much attention, but sees no practical difficulty
a sectional
the
of
sound-waves
diffused
up and retaining
part
a radius of, say, three feet
about the original source, within
(suf
to a speaker or a singer).
removed not to be annoying
ficiently
of the stage of development
The
presentment
foregoing
de
reached by the several essential features of the phonograph
as faits
the following
monstrates
accomplis:
of sound-waves
of all manner
heretofore
captivity
"
as
retention.
and
their
permanent
fugitive,"
designated
all their original
characteristics
2. Their reproduction
with
at will, without
the presence or consent of the original
source,
and after the lapse of any period of time.
3. The transmission
sounds through
the or
of such captive
in material
trade
and
of
commercial
intercourse
channels
dinary
or as merchantable
form, for purposes of communication
goods.
1. The
4. Indefinite
without
regard
multiplication
to the existence
and preservation
or non-existence
of such sounds,
of the original
source.
the knowledge
5. The captivation
of sounds, with or without
or consent of the source of their origin.
of the phono
of these properties
The probable
application
in
and
scientific
of
branches
and
various
commercial
the
graph
more or less
of
exercise
the
indicated
will
require
dustry presently
that the apparatus is practi
mechanical
Conceding
ingenuity.
THE PHONOGRAPH
AND
ITS FUTURE.
531
in so far as the faithful
of sound
reproduction
cally perfected
is concerned, many of the following
will
be
made
the
applications
moment
the writer
the new form of apparatus, which
is now
is finished.
be classed as
about completing,
These, then, might
so
trench
other
but
upon
actualities;
they
closely
applications
to separate
which will
follow, that it is impossible
immediately
under the head of proba
them: hence they are all enumerated
the more impor
bilities, and each specially considered.
Among
and other forms of dicta
tant may be mentioned:
Letter-writing,
and such
tion books, education,
reader, music,
record;
family
as books, musical-boxes,
toys, clocks, ad
applications
electrotype
and signaling apparatus, speeches, etc., etc.
vertising
in me
apparatus now being perfected
Letter-writing.?The
and may be used
chanical details will be the standard phonograph,
as
such
for all purposes,
except
require special form of matrix,
such as toys, clocks, etc., for an indefinite
repetition of the same
the
main
The
of
however,
utility
thing.
phonograph,
being for
and other forms of dictation, the de
the purpose of letter-writing
a view to its
utility for that purpose.
sign is made with
The general principles
of construction
are, a flat plate or disk,
on
the
with
under
face, operated by clock-work
spiral groove
neath the plate;
the grooves are cut very closely together, so as
to give a great total length to each inch of surface?a
close calcu
lation gives as the capacity of each sheet of foil, upon which
the
record is had, in the neighborhood
of 40,000 words.
The sheets
being but ten inches square, the cost is so trifling that but 100
wrords might be put upon a single sheet economically.
Still, it is
a less number of grooves
whether
per inch might
problematical
not be the better plan?it
for letters?but
it is
certainly would
desirable to have but one class of machine
the world;
throughout
and as very extended
if put upon one sheet,
communications,
could be transported more economically
than upon two, it is im
as great
as
that each sheet be given
portant
capacity
possible.
The writer has not yet decided
this point, but will experiment
with a view of ascertaining
the best mean capacity.
The practical
of this form of phonograph
for
application
communications
is very simple.
A sheet of foil is placed in the
the clock-work set in motion,
and the matter dictated
phonograph,
into the mouth-piece
without
other effort than when dictating
to
THE NORTH
532
AMERICAN
REVIEW.
a stenographer.
It is then removed, placed in a suitable form of
sent
and
to the corre
envelope,
through the ordinary channels
for
whom
it
He, placing
upon his phono
spondent
designed.
and
starts
his
clock-work
to
listens
what
his
graph,
correspondent
has to say.
Inasmuch as it gives the tone of voice of his corre
it is identified.
it may be filed away as other let
As
spondent,
time reproduced,
it is a perfect record.
ters, and at any subsequent
As two sheets of foil have been indented with the same facility
"
"
as a
of his
may thus keep a duplicate
single sheet, the writer
As the principal of a business house, or his part
communication.
ners now dictate the important business communications
to clerks,
to be written
out, they are required to do no more* by the phono
and do thereby dispense with the clerk, and main
graphic method,
in their communications.
tain perfect privacy
at home, or in the
The phonograph
letters may be dictated
office of a friend, the presence
not being re
of a stenographer
as
as
The
dictation
be
the
may
quired.
rapid
thoughts can be
or
utter
them.
the
The
formed,
lips
recipient may listen to his
letters being read at a rate of from 150 to 200 words per minute,
about other matters.
and at the same time busy himself
Inter
be
thrown
etc.,
exclamations,
may
emphasis,
jections, explanations,
into such letters, ad libitum.
ere it has become uni
In the early days of the phonograph,
a
in
may possibly
adopted,
correspondent
Hong-Kong
versally
a written
an apparatus, thus necessitating
not be supplied with
case
In
that
the
writer
sort.
letter of the old-fashioned
would use
a dictating-machine,
as
his
clerk
his phonograph
simply
writing
at leisure, causing as many words to
it out from the phonograph
was capable of
at one time as his memory
be uttered
retaining
This clerk need not be a ste
them down.
until he had written
nographer, nor need he have been present when the letter was dic
tated,
etc.
advantages of such an innovation upon the present slow,
are too numerous,
and too readily
tedious, and costly methods
to
warrant
their
there are
enumeration, while
suggest themselves,
with
the
no disadvantages
coincident
which will not disappear
new
the
method.
introduction
of
general
kinds and manner
of dictation which will
Dictation.?All
The
permit
of the application
of
the mouth
of
the
speaker
to the
THE PHONOGRAPH
AND
ITS FUTURE.
533
of the phonograph may be as readily effected by the
If the matter
as in the case of letters.
is for the
phonograph
it
in
in
much
he
would
up
type, to use
setting
prefer,
printer,
It would
his ears in lieu of his eyes. He has other use for them.
in court to speak di
to compel witnesses
be even worth while
in order to thus obtain an unimpeach
rectly into the phonograph,
mouth-piece
able record of their testimony.
is in the
of the phonograph, which
The increased delicacy
It may then include
near future, will enlarge this field rapidly.
but the judge and the
all the sayings of not only the witness,
the
utterances
of public
also
It
will then
counsel.
comprehend
speakers.
BooTcs.?Books
may be read by the charitably-inclined
profes
for that
sional reader, or by such readers especially
employed
purpose, and the record of such book used in the asylums of the
or even with great profit and
the sick-chamber,
blind, hospitals,
or
the
amusement
eyes and hands may
lady
gentleman whose
by
because
the greater enjoy
of
be otherwise
or, again,
employed;
to be had from a book when read by an elocutionist
ment
than
re
The ordinary record-sheet,
read by the average reader.
a hundred
as
to
this
from
book
times
it
would
will,
fifty
peating
command a price that would pay the original reader well for the
difficulty in reading it aloud in the phonograph.
slightly-increased
an
Educational
teacher, or as a
Purposes.?As
elocutionary
primary teacher for children, it will certainly be invaluable.
By
it difficult passages may be correctly rendered
for the pupil but
for in
once, after which he has only to apply to his phonograph
structions.
The child may thus learn to spell, commit to memory,
a lesson set for it, etc., etc.
when
will undoubtedly
be liberally de
phonograph
A song sung on the
is reproduced
phonograph
a
and
Thus
friend
power.
accuracy
may in a
us a song which
an
shall
com
morning-call
sing
delight
evening
a
etc.
As
it
musical
one
teacher
will
to
be
to
used
enable
pany,
master a new air, the child to form its first songs, or to
him
sing
to sleep.
the purpose of preserving
Record.?For
the sayings,
Family
the voices, and the last words of the dying member
of the family
?as
of great men?the
outrank
phonograph will unquestionably
Music.?The
voted to music.
with marvelous
534
THE NORTH
AMERICAN
REVIEW.
In the field of multiplication
the photograph.
of original ma
of one and the same
trices, and the indefinite
repetition
thing,
the successful electrotyping
of the original record is an essential.
As
this is a problem
ranks among
easy of solution, it properly
a vast field.
the probabilities.
It comprehends
The principal
of the phonograph
in this direction
is in the produc
application
tion of
Books.?A
book of 40,000 words upon a sin
Phonographic
gle metal plate ten inches square thus becomes a strong probabil
of such books over those printed
are too
ity. The advantages
seen
to
need
mention.
Such
books
would
be
to
listened
readily
where now none are read.
more
would
than
the
preserve
They
emanations
mental
of the brain of the author;
and, as a bequest
to future generations,
be
would
For the preser
unequaled.
they
vation of languages they would be invaluable.
etc.?The
Musical-Boxes,
Toys,
only element not absolutely
in
the
result
of
thus far made?which
stands
assured,
experiments
at will of Adelina
in the way of a perfect reproduction
Patti's
voice in all its purity?is
the single one of quality, and even that
is not totally lacking, and will doubtless be wholly
attained.
If,
or cabinet, of the pres
it should not, the musical-box,
however,
ent, will be superseded by that which will give the voice and the
words of the human songstress.
doll which may speak, sing, cry, or laugh, may be
Toys.?A
safely promised our children for the Christmas
holidays ensuing.
as locomotives,
toy?such
species of animal or mechanical
Every
and
with
their
natural
be supplied
characteristic
etc.?may
sounds.
tell you the hour of
clock will
Clocks.?The
phonographic
the day ; call you to lunch ; send your lover home at ten, etc.
work is so akin
class of phonographic
etc.?This
Advertising,
to call attention
to it.
to the foregoing,
that it is only necessary
henceforth
be
will
and
other
Utterances.?It
possible
Speech
the voices as well as the words
to preserve for future generations
our Gladstones,
our Lincolns,
of our Washingtons,
etc., and to
"
in
town
and ham
have them give us their
effort"
every
greatest
let in the country, upon our holidays.
the phonograph
will
Lastly, and in quite another direction,
and
revolutionize
the
present systems of teleg
perfect
telephone,
THE
PHONOGRAPH
AND
ITS FUTURE.
535
is now restricted
in its field of
invention
That useful
raphy.
reason of the fact that it is a means of communica
by
operation
leaves no record of its transactions,
thus restricting
its
tion which
use to simple conversational
de
chit-chat, and such unimportant
as are not considered
of sufficient
tails of business
importance
to record.
Were
this different, and our telephone-conversation
recorded, we should find the reverse of the present
automatically
It would
be expressly resorted
status of the telephone.
to as a
our agreements we incor
means of perfect
In writing
record.
the summing
up of our understanding?
porate in the writing
new
from that which we
and
different
phraseology
using entirely
in its dis
of the transaction
used to express our understanding
thus begetting
innocent
cussion, and not infrequently
perfectly
if
causes of misunderstanding.
the
with
the
Now,
telephone,
were
to
in
its
used
the
record
sayings,
phonograph
preliminary
discussion, we would not only have the full and correct text, but
every word of the whole matter
capable of throwing
light upon
seem clear that the men would find
Thus it would
the subject.
or so in
to actually
it more
separate a half-mile
advantageous
than to discuss them
order to discuss important business matters,
verbally, and then make an awkward attempt to clothe their under
a
The logic which applies to transac
standing in new language.
two individuals
in the same office, applies with the
tions between
a
at
to
two
distance
who must discuss the matter be
force
greater
or mail.
tween them by the telegraph
this latter case, in
And
an
orced
is
reenf
the
demands
of
turn,
economy of time and
by
at
mile
of
distance
between
them.
increase
of
money
every
"
can this application be made ?" will
How
probably be asked
or
unfamiliar
with
those
either
the
by
telephone
phonograph.
cause a plate or disk to vibrate, and
these inventions
Both
thus produce
in harmony with
sound-waves
those of the voice
A very simple device may be made by which
of the speaker.
disk may be made to do duty for both the tele
the one vibrating
and
the
thus enabling
the speaker to simul
phone
phonograph,
transmit
and record his message.
What
taneously
system of
at the dis
telegraphy can approach that ? A similar combination
tant end of the wire enables the correspondent,
if he is present,
to hear it while it is being recorded.
Thus we have a mere pas
and durable record
sage of words for the action, but a complete
536
THE NORTH
AMERICAN
REVIEW.
as the result of that action.
of those words
Can economy
of
time or money go further than to annihilate
time and space, and
the mere utterance
bottle up for posterity
of man, without
other
effort on his part than to speak the words ?
In order to make this adaptation,
it is only requisite that the
more
shall
be
made
sensitive
to record, and
phonograph
slightly
in the vibrating
increased
the telephone
force of
very slightly
"
the receiver, and it is accomplished.
Carbon Tele
Indeed, the
phone," invented and perfected
by the writer, will already well
and, as he is con
nigh effect the record on the phonograph;
decided vibration
of
stantly improving upon it, to cause a more
the plate of the receiver, this addition
to the telephone may be
looked for coincident with the other practical applications
of the
and with almost equal certainty.
phonograph,
that no distant
The telegraph
company of the future?and
a
be simply an organization
one?will
having
huge system of
wires, central and sub-central stations, managed
by skilled attend
it
in proper repair,
sole
to
whose
will
wires
be
ants,
duty
keep
to
attention
and give, by switch or shunt arrangement,
prompt
subscriber No. 923 in New York, when he signals his desire to
have private communication
with subscriber No. 1001 in Boston,
details
The minor
and totally inconsequent
for three minutes.
seem to arise as obstacles in the eyes of the groove-travel
which
dis
to existing methods, will wholly
ing telegraph-man, wedded
the needs of man;"
appear before that remorseless Juggernaut?"
trifles in order to
surmount
of man
for, will not the necessities
an
the
full
benefit
invention
which
of
reap
practically brings him
better
face to face with whom he will;
still, doing the work
and,
and infallible scribe ?
of a conscientious
Thomas A. Edison.
MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu
CMS.407 Media and Methods: Sound
Fall 2012
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