The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

I c THE PHONOSCOPE. November, 1896. THE PHONOSCOPE. Copyrighted, 1896. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE PHONOSCOPE PUBLISHING CO., 822-824 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, U. S. A. SUBSCRIPTION : United States and Canada $100 per year Foreign Countries 1.50 " Single Copies, ..... . . 10c. each. ADVERTISING RATES FURNISHED ON APPLICATION. THE PHONOSCOPE is the only journal in the world published in the interest of Talking Machines, Picture Projecting and Animating Devices, and Scientific and Amusement Inventions appertaining to Sound and Sight. Correspondents in London, Pans, Berlin, Amsterdam, Madrid, Alexandria and Constantinople. Australia, South America, Central America, Canada, and 108 cities in the United States. There is one great desire which animates all mankind, from the cradle to the grave, encompassing all: — the desire for amusement and entertainment From this one desire even the most serious pursuits receive their great impulse, and we do not fear going astray if we endeavor in this journal to unite for the benefit of our readers all those discoveries in the field of science and mechanics, which are intended mainly to add to our store of enjoyment. If, whilst following this course, we shall also have occasion to discuss purely scientific matters, we shall strive to do so in an interesting fashion, easily understood by the general public. Our title, "The Phonoscope," signifies "Sound and Sight," the two senses which add most to our happiness by procuring for us the greatest amount of pleasure and amusement. Their capacity is practically unlimited, and their influence on our moral being of the greatest importance. The eyes give pleasure by disclosing to the mind the ever changing, ever beauteous Kaleidoscope of the universe; the ears provide a never ending concert as various and as grand as the music of the spheres. The talking machines, and the different devices for projecting and animating scenes (by means of a succession of views of the same taken at minute intervals of time from each other), all are contrivances for the purpose, as it were, of concentrating sight or sound, and thus to present the quintessence of beauty and pleasure in an agreeable and facile manner. These machines enable us to enjoy all the world can offer in the shape of refined and pure amusement, without our leaving the peace and quiet of our home, as they bring within our own narrow precincts all the life of the world with its social, commercial, military and dramatic phases. By this means we can keep in closest constant contact with the throbbing life of humanity and derive from such contemplation ever varying, ever Instructive entertainment. There is hardly a city of any size in the ■United States which has not its Phonograph or Graph op bone parlor, where popular music ira malic and instructive selections are automatically given to the public, and thousands of families living in the remotest corners of the world are now able to keep in touch with the great centres of progress, by having in tlirir homes these wonderful machines that seem to partake of the power of spirits as they transmit in an actual living manner what has been breathed into them, conquering distance both of time and place. The Talking Machines have long since passed the point of novelty, occupying to-day a foremost place among the standard inventions of this progressive age. It must appear strange, on that account, that up to the present, the ever awake promoters of trade journals have let this interest pass by without a thought. The individuals and companies engaged in this particular business have each contented themselves with sounding their own praises* in order to secure their own particular advantage, totally unmindful of whatever else is of interest to the general public. Conscious of this fact we purpose to devote ourselves entirely to this part of the great field of journalism, trusting that by scrupulously searching and reporting whatever will be of interest in this branch we shall succeed in aiding the progress of instructive and entertaining science, business and amusement. We have planted our standard: "THE PHONOSCOPE," and we shall stand by it firmly in the interests of science in general, and the inventions devoted to sound and sight in particular, as well as to every kindred scientific and amusement novelty. Possessing, as we do, exceptional facilities and connections all over the world, we propose to gather news and information pertaining to the above subjects from every corner, and to present it to our patrons through these columns in an interesting, clear and instructive form, but without auy partiality or bias. In order to add to our already excellent connections, we respectfully request correspondence from all our patrons with information, suggestions or inquiries relating to any of the subjects treated in our journal. We mean to keep well abreast with the advance in these branches of science, industry and amusement to which the greater part of our life has been devoted. Thus we start in the journalistic race for enlightenment: we shall ever strive to be first at the goal for the benefit and profit of our respected patrons. * * * * The curiosity of hearing a machine talk has given way to a more serious consideration, and to-day the general public are convinced of its great possibilities, and are prepared to welcome its entrance into practical utility in almost any sphere. The Phonograph has made its way into many institutions, where it is used for educational and scientific purposes; the Graphophone has entered into the sanctuary of various Government departments in the character of an accurate and ever ready amanuensis, in which capacity it is now being used by a number of officials who prefer to dictate to the Graphophone, instead of to a stenographer, whatever matter they may have for transcription. An eminent New York throat specialist tises the Phonograph for recording the voices of his patients suffering from affections of the vocal organs. By recording their voices from time to time he is enabled to gauge the exact intensity or nature of the ailment, which greatly aids him in locating and curing it. There can be no doubt that the practical employment of these wonderful coutrivancTs will become more general as they become more generally known, and their handling still more simple and easy. Screen flachine Politics For the first time in the history of elections the aid of science has been invoked by the candidates for Presidential honors. One of the attractions at Hammersteiu's Olympia in New York during the past month has been a lifelike representation of the silent Colonel from Ohio. "Win. McKinley, jr., by means of the Biograph. It showed the American Napoleon as he is in all his movements, methodical, exact, careful. The way he adjusts his spectacles to read a telegram is a study, and characteristic of the man. From the country we hear that the ubiquitous and loquacious silverite has sent watchwords and messages to his dutiful followers by means of Phonograph and Graphophone cylinders. Who knows but that all future electioneering campaigns will be carried on entirely mechanically, and that we shall be able to buy catching speeches, with the accompanying paraphernalia, by the yard. Qui vivra verra. * * * * Sudden Zeal In the war which is just now being waged against harmless slot machines all over the United States, designated as gambling devices, we notice a great deal of contradictory inconsistency. Thus, for instance, whilst in Omaha, Neb., the order applies only to such machines by which money is obtained by the winners, expressly exempting those which offer cigars and similar things as prizes, in other States the war is being carried on with unrelenting vigor against all of them. In Michigan, in particular, the mayors have ordered a general cleaning out of every nickelin-the-slot machine, coming under the designation of gambling devices. Seeing that they were allowed to do a great and lucrative business during the summer months, one cannot help smiling at this sudden growth of righteous indignation in the bosoms of the honorable guardians of law and order all over the country.. * * * * New (?) Chimes A New York daily newspaper lately devoted almost a whole column to an article headed, "Now for Chimes by Phonograph." •■Experiments to Get a Clear Reproduction of the Merry Bells at Last Successful." "Tried in Trinity Tower." "Twelve Selections Have Been at Length Secured After Very Many Failures." "To Make Diaphragms of Copper," etc. etc. This was no doubt very instructive and entertaining, but, considering the fact that an Eastern Phonograph company has been taking and selling successful Chime records for the past five years (which were recorded in the belfry of a church nearby), the news was not strictly "up to date." * * * * Chic Paree In Paris it is rumored that the Cinematographe is going to be the main attraction of the season, and it is added in a whisper, that the gay city on the Seine is going to be startled with the most fin-de-siecle show that ever bald head dreamed of. The tombstone of the whole scheme is that the real people will not be there, but only, of course, their moving photographs. The influence of this truth on the "risque"' is. easy of appreciation. Whatever is shown ou the screen— well, it happened long ago and nobody is any the worse for it now. So with bullfights, beheadings in China, atrocities in Armenia, and lynching in Texas, some people are going to make barrels of money.