[LB048401], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to B W Childs, April 3rd, 1891
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB048401
Transcription
3rd April, 1891. B.W. Childs, Esq., #28 Reads Street, New York City. Dear Sir:- Your letter of 23rd ultimo has remained unanswered owing to the absence of Mr. Edison, who only returned to the Laboratory a day or so ago. In regard to the plan which you suggest for recording telephone messages. Mr. Edison had instructed me to say to you that, if ten men were to speak any particular word into the phonograph, “hello” for example, there would be no resemblances whatever in their records. This is accounted for by the different shape of each men’s mouth, teeth, etc. etc. The same word uttered by different persons does not cause the same vibrations. It would seem, therefore, that your plan would not work. Yours truly, (Signed A.O. Tate) Private Secretary.