[D8850AAI], Letter from George Edward Gouraud to Thomas Alva Edison, January 20th, 1888
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Title
[D8850AAI], Letter from George Edward Gouraud to Thomas Alva Edison, January 20th, 1888
Editor's Notes
"Is there not a way out of the difficulty of the size of the phonograms, for small though they be, they will take up, in any case, considerable room owing to their cylindrical shape. Does not the solution lie in a flat strip of some sort, from two to four inches wide, that will roll up on a stick say the size of a small pencil (simply to keep it stiff), the phonograph to be so constructed as to allow repeating and recording styles to pass from right to left, in other words, working as a pen works across a sheet of paper, but with less space between the lines? ### It occurs to me that your fertile powers can work out such a thing, the advantages of which are obvious, and I venture the suggestion in accordance with your request that I should communicate to you any ideas which I might have as to improving the phonograph. ### If it be possible to so construct a machine as to enable the use of phonograms in this form, an adjustment could easily be added, by which when you have finished the phonogram, it could be rerolled automatically before sending, and so that the receiver would be able to start it right-end-foremost. Of course the tape would when in use, be unrolling. ### This form if p[unclear] wold allow of greatest possible compaction and any [unclear] of communication which for Brooks Player Sp[unclear] etc [unclear] indispensible and invaluable! Try it!" Gouraud [Marginalia: "I can't see any way clear for a flat phonogram. Have you considered the fact that if you write a 1000 words on legal tape and roll it up, it takes more space than the phonogram with a 1000 words. E." "Ans Feb 2/88"]
Author
Recipient
Date
1888-01-20
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8850-F
Microfilm ID
124:644
Document ID
D8850AAI
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University