231 
THE MEGAPHONE AS A GARRISON 
ARTILLERY ADJUNCT, 
BY 
LIEUT.-COLONEL J. C. DALTON, E.A. 
THE Megaphone is nothing more nor less than our old friend the 
Speaking Trumpet, only in a much cheaper and simpler form. 
When recently on a trip in the United States and staying at a 
friend’s house in the country, I noticed one of these instruments in the 
house, and not having seen one before, enquired as to its use. It was a 
megaphone standing some 2' 6" high, and my friend explained to me 
that it was used by him and by others in order to converse at consider¬ 
able distances when the human voice could not be heard under 
ordinary circumstances. He soon convinced me of its use by speaking 
through it to some people he knew who were driving along the road 
about a quarter of a mile off and who were quite unconscious of his 
presence. He called to one by name in a quiet and natural voice 
through the instrument ; the person addressed at once turned to see 
who was speaking to him and was asked whether he would come in to 
tea that evening or some such remark. He replied, and my friend by 
putting the mouth piece of the megaphone to his ear, clearly heard the 
reply. The idea at once struck me that this instrument might be very 
useful for passing on words of command in a fort, or from one fort 
to another, and might save the necessity of having connecting orderlies, 
so I determined on my return to Bermuda to test it at fort-manning. 
I will briefly describe the instrument which is so simple that it requires 
but little description. 
Megaphones are of different sizes according to the distance at which 
it is required to convey the sound. They may be procured from about 
1 foot in length to 5 feet or even more if required. I got one of 15 
inches which cost 7s., and one of 3 feet which cost £1. This is the 
retail price in the New York shops ; they could, if necessary, be pro¬ 
bably made for half of those prices, or still less if got in a quantity. 
The instrument is simply a cone of millboard or cardboard bound with 
some thin metal at the small end and wood at the large end. The 
6. VOL. XXV. 
