A NEW DISCOVERY

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 893, 14 March 1878, Page 3

A NEW DISCOVERY

The world has scarcely been startled by the introduction of the telephone when a new surprise is announced, writes the ' Engineer,' an English journal, which goes on to say, " In the United States, Mr Edison, a gentleman well known for his scientific attainments, has devised a means by which the utterance of the tolephone may be put on record, and it will thus become possible to reproduce years hence, not only the words, but the very inflection and tone of voice of individuals long. dead. This is surely the most remarkable, thing yet performed by ' electrical s* 'ence. The method by which this result is to be produced is extremely simple. A speaking tube fitted at one end with a mouthpeice has at the other a metalic diaphragm — ihat is to say a niinature drum head — which vibrates powerfully under the influence of the human voice. Attached to the centre of the diaphragm is a point, which acts against a small strip of paper, drawn slowly under it by clockwork, as m the well-known Morse recorder. When the apparatus is m action, it anyone speaks through the mouthpiece the strip of paper will be indentified by the fine point. A somewhat similar instrument m which a point is fitted to an exceedingly delicate diaphragm is attached to the telephone. If now the prepared paper be drawn under this second point it will cause the diaphragm to vibrate precisely as though it were spoken to, and the result is that the telephone is pat into action, and the sound of the origiic^oice is reproduced as often as may ,oe desired, so long as the p^per lasts. Think what use may J/c made of such an instrument m treasuring up the accents of a great orator, such as Mr Gladstone or the Rev. Henry Ward JBeecher. The notes of a prima donna can be put on record, and it may yet be possible to compare the voice of Patti with that of a songstress now nnborn. He is already achieved such success that he fails only m recording the finer inflections of the voice. A few weeks since the world would have pronounced the whole idea of such an invention as fit only for the brain of a writer of fairy tales, but after the telephone all things appear possible m telegraphy.'