The Phonogram, Vol. 2:2 (1892-02)

THE PHONOGRAM. 33 Where Shall We Get Our Power^nd What Shall It Be ? That the battery question is still of vital interest and importance is evinced by the fol- lowing communication : 44 In circles whose interests are connected with the phonograph, the ordinary comments of the day seem to be directed towards the lack of propel 1 motive power. 44 Among those interested in the matter. tlie consensus of opinion appears to indicate that the batteries now serving t he purpose of motors are not always reliable, are not constant and are expensive. Surely, the tests to which tlie phonograph as a practical and useful instru- mentality lias been subjected, prove it to he of importance sufficient to rouse inventors to exertion in its behalf and wring from their prolitic brains some model which will come nearer to the required standard than those in present use. “Since storage and primary batteries were introduced,models differing from the originals, and in many instances possessing genuine im- provements, have been furnished by th • army of imitators always ready to follow in the wake of striking movements. But, so far, tin* perfect, imperishable motor power, that will stand at all times equal to the task of running the phonograph, is not in sight. 44 It therefore behooves those mechanicians, and all who are desirous of promoting the complete success of the phonograph, to “ brush the cobwebs from the brain '* and see to it that a new, constant and cheap motor he added to the list of such agencies as are still needed to keep the phonograph in the track where it ought to run. “ Letters from men who understand the hat. tery business in all its details come to us from every quarter of the compass, hut none of them express pronou nce<l approbation of the batteries now in actual use.” X. [We think our correspondent's experience lifts been limited, as. we know whereof we speak when we state that there are several excellent batteries now running the phono- raph and at a moderate cost.—E d.] (I* We take pleasure in acknowledging the re- ceipt of the subscriptions from the KentptTTv Phonograph Co., a substantial recognition of the appreciation of The Phonogram from an enterprising and successful company. Appreeiationfof the Mission of the Pho- ^ . nograph by Chicago. i The practical ideas of Mr. Cray are in ad- vancejof those of his neighbors, yet we can make further suggestions, which future efforts on the part of intending scholars will show to be of great value. A knowledge of .the man- ner of operating the phonograph is not to 1,0 acquired “by a few lessons of an hour or so during a couple of days," and it is net the pupil, but 1 lie instructor alone, who is capable of judging [as to the degree of excellence which the former has attained in this art. To become an expert.; in using the phono- graph bestows the power of acquiring wages ; and this means that it is worth payitnQ f or * To learn to .use a phonograph properly com- prehends a certain dexterity and a perception of certain facts which it requires a trained teacher to impart to the learner. Conse- quentty, a system must he devised and taught. This demands great attention and practice, and is therefore worth a price. This fee should not be returned .to the* pupil, because he has received instruction in a money-making art, well worth the price he has paid lor it, and which equips him in [a short time for more efficient and « fl*taiii services than short - hand could ever give. The Phonograph in 1014. (See illustration.) Tlfe Anglo-Saxon race*find constant occu- pation in digging into the ruins of the past, ami Jp* this process extracting information at oncedseful anu mxereslmg. From Messrs.*Holland Bros., of Ottawa, Canada, we receive a literary production, in which allusion ts made to anjinstrument per- forming functions similar to those effected by the phonograph. v These gentlemen state that this hook, in ap- pearance as ancient and musty as thoiigT unearthed from the tombs of the Pharaohs, is in the possession of Mr. Grant Seymour, of Ottawa, by whose courtesy they are enabled to furtnish the prthlic with the fact that in past ages man produced inventions indicating the same fertility of brain and powers of apprecia- tion which his descendants now evince. • A trench inventor, named Picard, has achieved successful results with simultaneous telephony and telegraphy along the same line i wire. »