As related in a preceding chapter of this work, the first commercial phonograph was of the wax cylinder type. Celluloid afterwards superceded wax as a material for the cylinder record, because of its indestructibility. Edison's work on the disc phonograph and record, invented by him in 1878, is related in the following pages.
From the time of his conception of the phonograph in 1877 to the present day Edison has had a deep conviction that people want good music in their homes. That this is not a conviction founded upon commercialism may be appreciated on reading his own words: "Of all the various forms of entertainment in the home, I know of nothing that compares with music. It is safe and sane, appeals to all finer emotions, and tends to bind family influences with a wholesomeness that links old and young together. If you will consider for a moment how universally the old 'heart songs' are loved in the homes, you will realize what a deep hold music has in the affections of the people. It is a safety-valve in the home."
Throughout the years that followed the advent of the earlier type of phonograph with the cylindrical wax records Edison never lost sight of his determination to make it a more perfect instrument, for, of all the children of his brain, the phonograph seems to be the one he loves most. He is the most severe critic of his own work and is never content with less than the best obtainable.
Thus it came about that, some thirteen years ago, having reached the apex of his dissatisfaction with what he thought were the shortcomings of the phonograph and records of that time, he began work on a long-cherished plan of refining the machine and the records so that he could reproduce music, vocal and instrumental, with all its original beauty of tone and sweetness—in fact, a true "re-creation." As the world knows, he has succeeded.
With his characteristic vigor and earnestness Edison plunged into this campaign, fully realizing the immense difficulties of the task he had undertaken. In order to accomplish the desired end he must, in the first place, devise entirely new types of recorder and reproducer which would have essentially different characteristics from any then in existence. In addition to this, an entirely new material must be found and adapted for the surface of the records, a material pliable, indestructible, and, above all, so exceedingly smooth that there should be no rasping, scratching sounds to mar the beauty of the music.
In planning this campaign Edison had decided to return to the disc type of machine and record, which he had invented away back in 1878, and which he now took up again, as it would afford him the greatest scope for his latest efforts.
While simultaneously carrying on a formidable line of experiments to produce the desired material for the records he labored patiently through the days and away into the nights for many months in evolving the new recorder and reproducer, pausing only to snatch a few hours of sleep, which sometimes would be taken at home and at other times on a bench or cot in the laboratory. After some thousands of experiments, extending over a period of more than ten months and conducted with the never-wearying patience so characteristic of him, he perfected his recorder and the diamond-point reproducer which gave him the results for which he strove so many years. This was on the eve of his departure for Europe in August, 1911.
When Edison thinks he has perfected any device his next step is to find out its weakness by trying his best to destroy it. Illustrative of this there may be quoted two instances of severe tests in connection with his alkaline storage battery. After completing it he rigged up a device by means of which a set of batteries were subjected to a series of 1,700,000 severe bumps in the effort to destroy them. When this failed, they were mounted on a heavy electric car, which was propelled with terrific force a number of times against a heavy stone wall, only to show that they were proof against injury by any such means.
His new phonograph reproducer was not exempted from this policy of attempted destruction, and before leaving for Europe he gave instructions for a grilling test, which was, of course, carried out faithfully, but the diamond point was found to be uninjured after playing records more than four thousand times. With such results he deemed it a safe proposition.
On his return from Europe in October, 1911, Edison resumed his attack on the evolution of the new indestructible disc record with a smooth surface, the main principles of which had been determined upon before his departure. In addition, there arose the problem of manufacturing such records in great quantities. The difficulties that confronted him completely baffle description. The whole battle was carried on with the aid of powerful microscopes, which even at their best would fail to reveal the obscure cause of temporary discomfiture. Differences in material, dirt, dust, temperature, water, chemical action, thumb marks, breath marks, cloth and brush marks, and a host of major and minor incidentals, were patiently and painstakingly investigated with a thoroughness that is almost beyond belief to the layman.