The Phonograph
Edsion stumbled across the phonograph when he was improving the telegraph and Alexander Grahm Bell's telephone. He experimented with a metal cynlinder with tin foil wrapped around it. This was one of Edison's favorite inventions. The machine had two needle units that could record and play back a voice. The phonograph after experimenting with the phonograph by singing "Mary had a little lamb" and having his words played back to him instantly. It was not hard to advertise this extrodinarly original device which at that time had never been heard or seen of before. Presenting it in front of many newspapers, the word got around fast that Thomas Edison had done it again and made a device that could talk back to you and many people rushed to get it. Thomas Edison, being as "practical and visionary" as always made a list of things that the phonograph would be perfect for and published it in North American Review. It included the following,
- Letter writing and all kinds of dictation without the aid of a stenographer.
- Phonographic books, which will speak to blind people without effort on their part.
- The teaching of elocution.
- Reproduction of music.
- The "Family Record"--a registry of sayings, reminiscences, etc., by members of a
family in their own voices, and of the last words of dying persons.
- Music-boxes and toys.
- Clocks that should announce in articulate speech the time for going home, going to
meals, etc.
- The preservation of languages by exact reproduction of the manner of
pronouncing.
- Educational purposes; such as preserving the explanantions made by a teacher, so that
the pupil can refer to them at any moment, and spelling or other lessons
placed upon the phonograph for convenience in committing to memory.
- Connection with the telephone, so as to make that instrument an auxiliary in the
transmission of permanent and invaluable records, instead of being the
recipient of momentary and fleeting communication.
The machines were hard to operate except to experts and they used up tin foil quickly so Thomas Edison made a company on producing the tin foil and wax cylinders needed to operate the machines, this was on of his most rewarding inventions when it came to capitol.