Phonograph

== =__//**Phonograph : " The Best Invention Since the Telephone "** //__=

= =  Thomas Edison's phonograph was the first device made for recording and playing sound. Its first version was invented in 1877. His invention of the phonograph was actually an accident. He was actually trying to record telegraphic messages on a disk paper laid on a revolving platen, exactly the same as the disk talking-machine of today. The platen had a spiral groove on its surface, like the disk. Over this was placed a circular disk of paper; an electromagnet with the embossing point connected to an arm traveled over the disk; and any signals given through the magnets were embossed on the disk of paper. If this disc was removed from the machine and put on a similar machine provided with a contact point, the embossed record would cause the signals to be repeated into another wire. The ordinary speed of telegraphic signals is thirty-five to forty words a minute; but with this machine several hundred words were possible.

The Edison Speaking phonograph Company was established on January 24 1878. Edison received $10,000 for the manufacturing, sales rights, and 20% of the profits. It was an instant success but it was difficult to operate except by experts. Another problem was that the tin foil only lasted a few playings. By May of 1888 Edison had improved the phonograph so that it used wax cylinders which were much more efficient.

To see how the phonograph works click [|here]. " Thomas Edison the inventor of the Phonograph made back in 1887 by accident" Here is a direct quote from Thomas Edison himself:

"Instead of using a disk I designed a little machine using a cylinder provided with grooves around the surface. Over this was to be placed tinfoil, which easily received and recorded the movements of the diaphragm. A sketch was made, and the piece-work price, $18, was marked on the sketch. I was in the habit of marking the price I would pay on each sketch. If the workman lost, I would pay his regular wages; if he made more than the wages, he kept it. The workman who got the sketch was John Kruesi. I didn't have much faith that it would work, expecting that I might possibly hear a word or so that would give hope of a future for the idea. Kruesi, when he had nearly finished it, asked what it was for. I told him I was going to record talking, and then have the machine talk back. He thought it absurd. However, it was finished, the foil was put on; I then shouted ' Mary had a little lamb ,' etc. I adjusted the reproducer, and the machine reproduced it perfectly. I was never so taken aback in my life. Everybody was astonished. I was always afraid of things that worked the first time. Long experience proved that there were great drawbacks found generally before they could be got commercial; but here was something there was no doubt of."