96 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



We are just in receipt of an article 

 on Carniolan bees from Mr. Frank 

 Benton which contains much valuable 

 information never before made public, 

 concerning the habits of this race of 

 bees. We will publish it in the June 

 numbei. 



The latest acquisition to our office is 

 an Edison Phonograph, which was made 

 necessary by the large and increasing 

 business with which our friends are 

 favoring us. The Phonograph is one 

 of the most modern inventions, and is 

 capable of results that a very short time 

 ago were deemed impossible, not to say 

 improbable. 



It consists of a very simple set of 

 devises. There is a brass mandril up- 

 on which is placed a wax cylinder. 

 This revolves either fast or slow as may 

 be desired. Upon this wax cylinder 

 rests a small sapphire pointed needle 

 connected with a diaphragm. Above 

 the diaphragm is attached a tube into 

 which is spoken anything desired. The 

 waves of sound thus set in motion cause 

 the sapphire point to press into the re- 

 volving wax cylinder, making exceed- 

 ingly fine lines hardly visible to the 

 naked eye. About eight hundred words 

 can be recorded in tins way on one cyl- 

 inder, and the record is perfect, no mat- 

 ter how rapidly or slowly one talks. 



To reproduce the sounds all that is 

 necessary is to move a small lever which 

 brings another small sapphire point to 

 press in the light groove or line made 

 by the sharp point. Another tube for 

 hearing is attached in place of the 

 speaking tube, and as the small point 

 passes along the groove it reproduces, 

 by means of the diaphragm , the vibra- 

 tion very accurately, Every word origi- 

 nally spoken can be heard very dis- 



tinctly and can be repeated an indefi- 

 nite number of times. When the work 

 has been transcribed by means of the 

 typewriter and no further use for it is 

 required, the cylinder is smoothed off 

 by means of a little attachment and 

 the cylinder can be filled up again. 

 This can be repeated fifty or sixty 

 times, so that each wax cylinder will 

 record about 40,000 words before it is 

 used entirely up. 



Our phonograph is propelled by 

 means of a small Edison water moter, 

 requiring only a 1-16 in. stream to run 

 it. We find it a great help* as when 

 all our stenographers and typewriters 

 are busy we can take our letters and 

 other matter to the phonograph, and 

 in much less time than the best stenog- 

 rapher can take them in shorthand we 

 can write as much as we wish. This 

 article was originally spoken to our 

 phonograph and was afterwards taken 

 off by one of our typewriters. It was 

 spoken much more rapidly than most 

 of our readers will read it, but the 

 typewriter by turning a screw takes it 

 off as slowly as she wishes. 



The phonograph is a source of great 

 amusement, as it will register music 

 much more accurately than the human 

 ear, so that when it is reproduced it is 

 even more entertaining than when or- 

 iginally heard. We have one cylinder 

 on which is registered a piece played 

 by a celebrated New York band, and 

 it is one of the most beautiful pieces 

 of music we ever listened to. 



We have several other cylinders 

 containing both classical and comic 

 songs, and when we are tired from 

 writing or other work, or have a few 

 spare moments, we put on one of these 

 cylinders and find therein a great source 

 of entertainment. 



Should any of our friends visit us 

 at any time we will gladly entertain 

 them with this little wonder to their 

 hearts content. 



We m ly be able to give an illustra- 

 tion of it next month. 



