The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

Ir Vol. I. No. t. THE PHONOSCOPE. 7 XTbe ©rapbopbcme botanists, entomologists, crayon artists, fresco painters, china decorators, flower painters, lithographic artists, stained glass workers and in all branches of industrial art. The "Columbia" Graphophone The Columbia Phonograph Company have put a new model Graphophone in the fleld, which they style "The Columbia." This machine in our opinion surpasses any of their former efforts. "The Columbia" is practical, durable, simple, and in size, weight, appearance and construction seems to be an ideal talking machine, that is destined to And its way into the homes of those who desire entertaining and instructive amusement. The "Columbia" type differs from the "Bijou" and "Baby Grand" model in various ways. The end gate, heretofore deemed necessary, has been dispensed with. The cylinder is put on the mandrel without opening or closing any gate or device. The mandrel instead of running on bearings or centres at both ends, revolves on the main shaft, which uses the interior of the mandrel for bearings; which is an ingenious and brilliant idea. Ihis, however, is but one of the many good points possessed by this new machine. The governor is the same style as that in higher priced types, and the speed is regulated in the same manner by a thumb screw located in a convenient part of the machine. The power is derived from a newly designed spring motor, easily wound, which will run two cylinders without rewinding. The diaphragms are practically the same as in preceding types, requiring no adjustment. The machine is enclosed in a neat oak body box, with oval cover, and, complete, weighs about 19 pounds. When Li Hung Chang was dined at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, he was very much interested in the graphophone which was used to entertain him during lunch. Minister Yang is partial to all kinds of amusement inventions and has many quaint and curious specimens which he has gathered in this and his own country. 'Graphs, phones •* ■<* <* anb 'Scopes The Artograph The Artograph is a device for sketching, drawing in pencil or crayon, or painting in colors, anything visible in nature or still life, in exact reproduction of figure, form and color. This is a very broad statement, but is nevertheless a fact. Pictures, objects, views from nature or anything that can be seen, can be reflected on any kind of working material and focussed any size desired. The operator fills in the outlines and goes over the colors, simply fixing the reflection on the working material, thereby obtaining a faithful reproduction of the subject. For painting, sketching, copying, enlarging and reducing anything in nature or still life its uses are innumerable, and it will prove valuable to, portrait painters, art amateurs, textile designers, wood and metal engravers, The Zerograph Details have reached us from England of an improved telegraphic device, "The Zerograph," which promises to make a revolution in telegraphy. It is a telegraphic instrument that, instead of printing dots and dashes on a strip of paper, typewrites a message on a sheet of paper at both ends of the wire simultaneously. There are various automatic appliances for moving the paper, adjusting the alignment, inking the letters, etc. It does not require an experienced telegraph operator, but it can be used by any one who typewrites. It is automatic in its action and delivers its messages whether there is or is not some one at the receiving end. It dispenses entirely with clock work and can be worked on the exchange system: it combines, in fact, the functions of typewriter, telegraph and telephone, and if it comes anywhere near justifying the claims made for it, it will not be long before every business office is provided with its Zerograph in addition to its telephone and typewriters. The Radiophone All the trend of modern physical science is toward establishing the close relationship of the different forms of molecular motion, which for the purpose of distinction, are variously called: light, heat, electricity and sound. And the farther science has gone the more it has been shown that the only difference between light and heat, and electricity and sound is merely a difference of form and rapidity. The conversion of heat or electricity into light is familiar to all, but now we are able by means of Prof. Graham Bell's Radiophone to convert light into sound, practically to hear a shadow fall. The apparatus is practically a telephone minus the connecting electric wire, instead of which the receiving and transmitting diaphragm is provided with a strong reflector at the back which transmits to the rays of light reflected the molecular waves of the voice. Obstacles in the way do not in any way stop the transmission, as this is mainly carried on by invisible rays, X-rays. The Megaphone The Megaphone is a peculiarly constructed cone of light weatherproof material. When spoken into it carries the voice with wonderful power and clearness to a great distance in any direction to which the 'Phone is pointed. On the water, shore, or in any open country where there are no obstructions, and no local sounds to interfere, it is not difficult to talk and hear to and fro over a distance of a mile with this instrument, while a loud call or hail can be heard about two miles. Voices and other sounds from a distance, which would otherwise be inaudible, can be heard with great distinctness when using the instrument as a receiver, that is to say, listening at the smaller end while the 'Phone is pointed in the direction from which the sounds proceed. The Megaphone is four feet in length, the weight of the complete apparatus, including stand, seven pounds. On the deck of a pleasure craft, at yacht club and other shore houses, it is capable of great practical use. It is being used to great advantage by a number of campaign orators, and out-door speakers in general, who find it of great practical value in speaking to great gatherings, as by its use they can be distinctly heard by people in the remotest corners of the crowd, no matter how great it may be. The Cathoscope There is nothing more interesting or instructive than the machines for producing X or Riintgen rays. The public is as quick as ever in its appreciation of their facile adaptibility to almost innumerable purposes. Hamerschlag's Cathoscope, so called because it is the result of inventions of Arthur A. Hamerschlag, of New York, enabling people to see and appreciate the cathode rays without effort, and without darkened rooms, embodies certain new principles, among them being an induction coil of peculiar construction, and especially covered by patents which gives great penetrating power to the rays as well as an almost perfectly steady light. The tubes used are sold to users at a lower price than they can I > made by others and are of the focusing patti m. The entire machine is in cabinet fi'-ni with fluoroscope attached, all controlled by either a hand switch or coin contrivance i which broad patents have been granted in is and other countries. The Hamerschlag Cathoscope has proven it If one of the most perfect developments of tie Riintgen or X-ray machines. It is being used in innumerable cities by exhibitors, physicians, and the scientific fraternity, and being protected by patents, offers a lucrative field for investment as its money earning capacity is far larger than that of any similar machine in the world of equal cost. To demonstrate this they have testimonial letters from users one week after they have purchased the machine stating it had more than paid for itself in that time. At the recent American Institute Fair in Madison Square Garden, New York, the New York "Sun" called it the feature of the fair although thousands of exhibitors were under the same roof. To prove its earning capacity, over 8,000 people paid to see it operate at that fair alone, and many more endeavored to do so, but were prevented by the crowds. Its record has been one long continued success wherever it has been placed, and its radiographs, or photographs, taken for physicians and others, are universally pronounced perfect. The Sympsychograph It is an instrument, devised by Mr. Asa Marvin, president of the Astral Camera Club, of Alcalde. Its object is to photograph the image of a thought w'hich the experimenter holds sharply and fixedly in his mind. The Astral Camera Club's achievements show that this can be done. The members first experimented with the X-rays, obtaining the usual results. Then they began on "the larger problem of photographing objects without visible light. President David StaiT Jordan, of Leland Stanford University, gives in "The Popular Science Monthly" the result of the strange experiments. The club sat silently in utter darkness for a considerable time. President Jordan says: "Then those strange rays of light or odic force, invisible to our eyes because none of our ancestors ever had a chance to gaze upon them, disclosed the presence of objects which had else lain forever in darkness." In addition to this there was visiuie a green light along the vacuum tubes of the X-ray apparatus. The next step was to try to photograph something by the strange luminous rays which the members of the club perceived in the darkness. Mr. Marvin devised an apparatus which should electrically connect each man's head with the sensitive plate of the camera. Then seven persons sat in the darkness and thought of the face of a cat. This they did for 16 minutes, concentrating their minds as much as possible. Result, a faint, queer looking, but unmistakable image of a cat upon the sensitive plate. The Sympsychographic picture is reproduced in "xhe Popular Science Monthly."