THE PHONOGRAPH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2739, 1 February 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE PHONOGRAPH.

Relative to the phonograph (says tho Argus) an American merchant, of Detroit, writing to his Melbourne correapendent, says : —" The phonograph is in daily use in our office. Ooly a few days ago Mm W. and a party of ladies were here, to whom I gave some reproductions of music, as rendered by the band of the 2nd Regiment in New York, and also a comet solo, as given by the celebrated Levy, the cornet soloist. The whole of it came out in excellent style from the phonograph. Wo dictate a grtat many of our letters to it, which the type writer subsequently copies at leisure from the dictation of the phonogarph, IfJit were not so complicated, and tho cylinders so fragile, I would as you tell me you have no instrument in Melbourne, send you this communication by phonograph, as a specimen to be heard by yourself at some distant date, when the phonograph shall reach you and reproduce my voice to your ear. The instrument is now in use in a number of law offices in Del roit, and many be considered an established aurl useful adjunct. Referringagain to the music so reproduced, I may state that the cylinders used in its production were apart of a thousand others all produced from one instrumentstereotyped from the first impression. You will understand that Levy's solo heard by one phonograph thus supplied a thousand echoes or repetitions for use in distant places. The stereotypes were sent aboard by post and placed in the instruments, from which they gave forth this far-fetched music. Patti's songs and all operatic airs will be in time the common property of the world at large. In place of having such stars to sing at aristocratic parties at large fees, their voices will be heard at will by those possessing a phonograph, and those listening to its reproduced sounds. The phonograph instruments are only loaned out as pianos and sewing machines often are. The price for rent paid is 40dol a year for each instrument equivalent to £8 sterling. A small extra sum is charged for the cylinders, the reproductions on the surface of which can be erased 200 times, leaving the cylinder clear each time for the production of a new dication."