THE MEGAPHONE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume L, Issue 5459, 21 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MEGAPHONE.

At Menlo Park, New Jersey, a Herald re. presentativo found Professor Thomas A. Edison in the midst of his labours. Hatless and coatless lie stood in his laboratory, anxiously watching the operation of a lathe on a curious little machine, which he afterwards explained was a “ toy phonograph to amuse the children.” On all sides were evidences of deep scientific research. A largo cabinet to the right contained about 100 vials filled with chemicals of all sorts. Near by were dozens of volumes of scientific, books, pamphlets, and papers scattered about In disorder, and exhibiting marks of frequent handling. The hum of machinery, the clicking of telegraphic instruments, the constant buzz of electrical apparatus, the fuming of acids, and the presence of numerous quaint and curious machines, upon which perspiring workmen were engaged, filing, boring, smoothing, and hammering, made up the scene. a baby rnoyoGßArn. The Professor stopped his lathe to greet the writer, and said, as he tried to smooth down a refractory lock of hair that persisted in standing up; “ This little machine is for children exclusively. See, it will recite all sorts of nursery rhymes,” and the inventor shouted into it; Old Mother Hubbard, she went to the cupboard. To get her poor dog a boue; But when she got there, the cupboard was bare. An i so the poor dog got none.

“Now,” he continued, "all you’ve got to do is to turn this little crank and grind it out.” The crank was turned, and the’ little machine faithfully repeated the legend of the aged Mrs Hubbard. “ I’m going to make them with short sermons, Sunday-school hymns, and prayers,” said Professor Edison, “so that children may be instructed while being amused, and I’m. going to get them up so cheap that all can have them.” “ Are there any new developments in the telephone ?" asked the writer. “ Oh, I keep working away at it,” answered the inventor. “ Only an hour ago Professor Barker, Professor of Physics of the University of Pennsylvania, left here, after having made several curious experiments with 'my carbon telephone. He made connection between the laboratory here and a neighbouring house, by wire, and every word could be plainly heard. A footstep and a whisper were distinctly audible, and we heard a sentence, uttered in*a low tone, 100 feet from the telephone. Would you like to see the aerophone ?’’ An affirmative reply caused the inventor to bring out from a corner two large coneshaped machines, each about five feet in length. Their object is to multiply sound, and already marvellous results have been achieved. Conversation has been earned on in an ordinary tone between persons at a farmhouse, over a mile distant, and the Professor, standing at the door of Ids laboratory. The Professor expresses confidence that it will soon be perfected so that captains of vessels at sea can talk with each other at a distance of three miles. THE MEGAPHONE. The latest, however, os well as the most curious of Professor Edison’s inventions, is the Megaphone, for which ho has but just filed his caveat. It is a sort of sound opera class. By means of its use persons partially deaf are enabled to bear the faintest sound with distinctness. It concentrates and multiplies the sound in as _ high a degree os is required. By applying it to the ear at a high rate of adjustment a whisper can be distinctly heard 300 feet away. Already the Professor has tested it sufficiently to be satisfied of its entire practicability. It is to be of small size, and have attached to it a rubber tube. In the inventor’s own words, “ it can be taken to a theatre by a person hard of hearing just as a person near-sighted now takes an opera glass. All you do is place it on your lap, let the tube touch your car and all sounds come to you magnified fifty times if accessary. The loudness can bo regulated for the ear as you regulate a telescope for the eye." “ What is the history of this invention ?" asked the writer.

“ Well, it has a curious origin," answered the Professor, smiling. “ Strange as it may seem, it came to life through the mistake of a reporter. Some weeks ago a reporter came to see my phonograph, and went back and got it all mixed up in his paper. He said that I had sot up a machine to make partially deaf people hear. The item was extensively copied, but I thought nothing of it, until, after a while, I found myself receiving letters from all over the country asking about it. I answered some, saying that it was a mistake, but they kept piling in upon me until 1 was getting them at the rate of twenty or thirty » day. Then I began thinking about the matter and began experimenting. One day, while at work upon it, I heard some one fondly singing, ‘ Mary Had a Little Lamb.’ I looked around, nobody was near me, and nobody was singing. Then I discovered the singer was one of my young men, who, in a distant corner of the room, was softly singing it to himself. The instrument had magnified the sound, and I hoard it distinctly, although I skiff 'of the great inventor, which, he, in his modesty, ta. not mentioned. When asked, at parting, how many patent# he had token

out altogether, he .earned lort to «mjw, u though the idea wa. new, but, after «««• “on?h?.aid he thought the number mart be wSTtell you exactly," »id Mr S. L. 118 patent, and died miuA for our money 1. our right no matter Mndthe artlole may bo that wo par; The IneotUnable bleosingol beine roftorod ttTnee Whonoat and »U*bU beproourod by a moderate outlay, SS^TuXttor "Oaot-La.'. Gmat tobUMCBai." sinoe that New Zealand warranto the aeeertion that they not equal as reliable reeto retire Iff? got the aodiolnso of any ohomlot,) am a Bokxms oa PaojWMWAi^*' ® d Sr»»S!£ g^^Bfttaa^sS'S? ■ sitting posture, the moot oortaia toraoSag theoo effects i» Upouwo ra sSSTSmuiio Scaearro—[Aptt.]