The Phonogram, Vol. 1:1 (1891-01)

' [ . • 4 THE PHONOGRAM. . 24 making a proposition to Mr. D. F. Murphy, who has the contract for the reporting of the debates of the Senate, to report the en- • tire proceedings himself with the phono- ,graph, sending out the cylinders to be transcribed as rapidly as filled, Mr. Mur- phy to carefully revise the same. The manner in which reporting is done at present (though Mr. Edison has an im- proved machine in view for this purpose, of which I shall speak further on) is to have two phonographs placed side by side, each with what is called a “clean” cylinder upon it. The reporter, holding the tube close to his lips, repeats in a low tone of voice the words of the different.speakers as uttered, and the attendant looks after the changing of the cylinders as rapidly as they are filled. . These cylinders can be transcribed by any typewriter operator, so that the transcript can be made simultaneously with the mak- ing of the record. ■ - ^ A company is about to be started in New York to do reporting in this manner, and instead of having the transcripts made on the typewriter, to have them made on the Mergenthaler Linotype machine, thus fur- nishing.the matter in the handsome-print .produced by that instrument, file phono- graphs are now being used by several of the leading stenographers of. New “'pork City, in connection with the Linotype; various newspapers, who have giveti orders lot) Lino- types, are contemplating having a 44 reader ” to dictate all copy that comes into tthe of- fice to the phonograph, the punctuation marks to be called out, proper names spell- ed. These cylinders, instead of “copy,” to be furnished to their operators. The improved reporting instrument re- ferred to above, which Mr. Edison has spoken of furnishing, consists simply of two phonographs run by a light motor placed upon a small table with a battery underneath. It will be so arranged as to have the reporter shift the one speaking- tube from one machine to tlTC other as soon as the automatic signal gives warning that he is approaching the end of the cylinder. If those who may be interested in the sub- ject will make a test as to the ease with which 200 and 250 words a minute can be repeated, even on the occasion of a first trial, they will be astonished at the result. Jas. D. Ci.ephank, Sec’y Eastern Pa. Phono. Co. How It Works. T11 8 Columbia-Phonograph Co. of Marvla.no, Delaw ark, and thr District of Columbia. 627 E St., N. W., Washington, I). C., November 10, 1S90. To the Editor of The Phonogram : The Columbia Phonograph Company is prospering. We paid our third dividend on October 13, 1890. We have phonographs and graphophones in nearly every Depart- ment of the United' States Government— between fifty and sixty in the Capitol alone, in the hands of senators, members and of- ficials, and several hundred private users. The commercial branch of the enterprise is active, and we are making new rentals fre- quently. We have more than one hundred nickel- in-the-slot phonographs on exhibition in the various drug-stores, hotels, depots, etc., in our territory, and find these machines profit- able. Previous to the introduction of our excel- lent storage battery service, we rented very many treadle machines ; now the treadle is practically dead. In the electrical depart- ment the* storage batteries and motors are cared for. The batteries are changed with such regularity as to insure continued ser- vice to subscribers, who are well satisfied/ and so arc we. In Washington our inspectors go from place to place on bicycles. This system enables us to attend to calls with great promptness. Our Baltimore and Washing- ton offices are manned days, nights and Sundays, and telephone calls are always promptly answered. We are constantly doing something in the way of advertising by means of invitations* to call and see machines, etc.; but the best medium for making business is the thor- oughly instructed and satisfied user of the machine, wherever he is found. One of our new subscribers is Mrs. Gen. John A. Logan, who is an a- complished dictator. Edward D. Easton, • President. I