Invention of the Phonograph - Essay Example

Invention of the phonograph Phonographs are also known as the gramophone or just record player and were used during the early 1980s mainly to listen to different sounds that had already been recorded. The major feature of the phonographs was the wavy lines. These wavy lines that contained the recordings were grooved, scratched or engraved on a cylinder that rotates about a fix point or just a disc. It also consisted of a need like device which traces the wavy lines that contains the recordings hence vibrates and hence produces the recorded sounds (Noll, 11). This was the only way in which recorded sounds could be listened to by this time before the invention of other modern and finally digital technologies that are currently used. Even though this device was used in the late 1970s as well as in the early 1980s, it traces its invention to the early years. The idea of the phonograph was first seen in the year 1857 when the scholar (Noll, 12). Edouard-Leon Scott who invented the phonoautographs. However, it is important to note that this technology was very limited during this time and hence was not exploited appropriately. It is important to note that this product could only create the visual images of sound (Noll, 12). It is therefore important to note that the idea of phonographs originated as early as a century but was not exploited due to limitations in the technology until the year 1877. The principle of recording and reproducing sound using this technology was however first demonstrated in the year 1877 by Edison Thomas (Bellies). It is this time that the scholar demonstrated first phonograph in the world. The first invention that was developed by Edison was done while he was experimenting while working with a telegraph transmitter. During the time Edison was looking at the telegraphs with an intention of improving its efficiency, he realized that there was. He was interested in the noise that the tape produced since the tape produced some noise that resembles that of a spoken word. He therefore argued that in case he played it at a little bit high speed it may produce even higher and better sounds (Bellies). Through the several experiments that he conducted, he realized that it was possible to read as well as record sounds using the telephone diaphragm ad hence he unleashed what had been difficult for many scientist to understand for over very long time. Since this was the first instrument that could capture and record the sounds during this time, Edison actually became an international figure. Phonograph was identified s the Edison’s trade name which means a device that played cylinders rather than the discs. It is important to note that the machine had two needles that represented the mouth peace and the earpiece. For example, Edison produced the two pieces such that when you spoke in one piece you would actually get the vibrations from your voice integrated and recorded by the mouth piece (Bellies). This was therefore a boost to the existing technology as it resulted into the individuals being able to record and listens to their sounds and voices. This was a great improvements not only inn the information system but was also a development in the music industry. By the end of 1878, phonographs had become the order of the day and there was increasing needs to even produce more (Bellies). Edison took this opportunity to tour other parts of the nation while marketing his new products. He actually suggested different uses of the product in which he encouraged the use of his machine in performing other tasks. He suggested the use of phonographs for writing letters, production of the phonographic books for the blind as well as for dictation purposes. Other uses that emerged from the new technology included also the recordings by the family members and how the family members could easily record their voices. There was improvement in communication with emergence of the clocks that could announce time, music boxes, toys as well as other activities in which there was need to record group or individual voices. The connection between the Phonograph and the telephones formed the foundations in which the communication between different people could be recorded. It is also important to note that phonographs were then invented in different models. However, the basic principle remained the same with the machine being produced with the human voice (American memory). It is important to note that phonographs were very important with the feature of human voice. The possibility of recording different tones, speech, voices, tones of variety of instruments as well as a single instrument. The possibility of recording a whole orchestra through the use of phonographs opened a new level in the music industry. It is important to note that there was improvements in the quality of music that were recorded using this technology and those who could not hear music in other forms were no able to listen to the music. According to American memory, greater advancements in the phonographic technology took place during then early years of the year 1878s as the need for this technology was increasing. Edison therefore established a company in which several machines were produced and sold. The company produced and sold several machines and Edison also received up to ten thousand dollars from the manufacturing of the product. These were mainly because of the property rights and another twenty percent from profits. It is therefore important to note that he really benefited from the inventions that he made. It was evident that the machine was difficult to operate and could only be operated by the experts; however it still sold for dollars. Works Cited American memory. “The History of the Edison Cylinder Phonograph.” http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edcyldr.html. April 20, 2011. Bellies, Mary. “The Inventions of Thomas Edison.” Inventors’ Guide since 1999. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison.htm. April 20, 2011. Noll, Michael. “Principles of Modern Communication technology.” Artech House Publishers, 2001. Read More