[D8923AAL], Letter from A Gregory to Thomas Alva Edison, June 4th, 1889
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8923AAL
→ View document with UniversalViewer
→ View document on Archive.org
→ Re-use this digital object via a IIIF manifest
Title
[D8923AAL], Letter from A Gregory to Thomas Alva Edison, June 4th, 1889
Editor's Notes
As I have no axe to grind - no favor to ask - I hope that you will excuse me, as a stranger, addressing you and asking your attention to the following scientific problem if it may so be called. # Reading in Sunday's papers an account of the birthday party given to your little daughter upon which occasion a chandalier was made to exhibit different colored lights by touching an electrical button, I was reminded of a suggestion made by a D. Buchanan of Ky over fifty years ago, to furnish music for the eye by the harmonious rise and fall of the different rays of light. It was only an idea and has never been reduced to practice as far as I know, but in 1866, I contributed to the American Artisan, a paper now extinct, a small article on the subject, of which the enclosed is a copy and explains itself. Now, it has occurred to me that if there is anything in the idea, TAE, by the aid of electricity, is the one to make it a success. A keyboard instrument that would produce color music as pleasing to eye as sonorous music is to the ear would be a source of enjoyment not only to children but to adults and especially to the deaf and dumb, much more agreeable very often to the inmates of a house or adjacent houses than a humdrum piano thumbed upon by a novice. Possibly the manufacture of such an instrument might become a new source of industry - and with electricity as the agent, what heretofore has been a simple idea might become a confirmed and successful reality. Be this as it may, I shall offer the suggstion at least for your consideration.
Author
Recipient
Date
1889-06-04
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8923-F
Microfilm ID
125:951
Document ID
D8923AAL
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University