“I saw the ‘Phonograph’ the other day, and though it is very crude I was much interested. I would briefly describe the idea as follows:—

“To the centre of an iron diaphragm is attached a metallic point resting against a strip of paper or tinfoil. You speak against diaphragm through a mouthpiece, at same time the paper being drawn under the points. The vibration of diaphragm and point indent the paper to various depths, making an undulating (as it were) mark, &c. Now, if said paper is afterwards drawn under the point, the diaphragm vibrates exactly as your voice made it vibrate, and all the sounds are reproduced exactly as you said them, making a most astonishing effect—singing, laughing, and articulate words were all reproduced.