IV-18
The wax cylinder was critical part the phonograph
and caused many the operating problems. tried every conceivable
combination oils and fats find hard substance that
would take and hold the impression from the phopnograph stylus.
During 1888 Aylsworth labored mixing, heating, and testing
hundreds wax compounds.
The smallest imperfection bubble the compound— invisible
to the eye— caused crackle that could distinctly heard as
the record played. Jonas Aylsworth, industrial chemist. The composition the wax was
the speciality Dr. Each subsequent model the phonograph had
better reproduction and was more rugged. The number adjustments the
recorder/reproducer assembly was reduced, yet the complaints
about the difficulties operation continued. found that some the chemicals the wax
cylinder tarnished the metal stylus the recorder and
30
rendered the machine useless. was slowly gaining
. One user described the
reproduction the phonograph "but parody the human
voice" that required "careful adjustment practised hand"
to understood. amount of
R&D the West Orange laboratory could defuse the major
criticism poor reproduction.
As more phonographs were put use, more "bugs" emerged
and even the brushes the electric motor version had be
redesigned avoid damage "ignorant people" who turned the
cylinder backwards. One the first
business users the perfected phonograph was Edison's
secretary Tate
