They improved substituting wax for the
tinfoil the cylinder. Chichester Bell and Charles Tainter were working the
Edison tinfoil machine the Volta Associates laboratory in
Washington.
Edison's work improving the phonograph picked up
momentum when realized that faced competition this
field. The
initial experiments were carried out the temporary
laboratory the Lamp Works. believed that the
phonograph idea could turned into successful product and
returned this problem after his electrical work was
complete, giving his close attention during 1886 when he
toyed with several different designs for new machine.IV- 2
commercial product. The major problem was the power
source; the tinfoil phonograph was hand-cranked and required a
steady, even turning motion produce recognizable sound. Edison recalled that only small number of
tinfoil machines were actually manufactured (many the shops
of his associate Sigmund Bergmann), and that "no commercial
2
instrument was made." The "curiosity" market for the
phonograph was quickly satisfied and the tinfoil, and the
company formed exploit it, languished while Edison worked on
his incandescent lighting system. This made the machine more practical
because the wax covering the paper cylinder was more durable
than tinfoil and lasted longer.
Another source power had found before the phonograph
was commercial product. 1885 Edison's English
patents the phonograph lapsed, leaving the field wide open
