(Edison promised Lippincott that would
devote more his time the phonograph 1889.
The extensive R&D work the phonograph failed to
. Tate assured them September 1888
that the machine was last perfected and out the
inventor's hands, but reality the phonograph still absorbed
his attention. The wax composition the cylinders was
hardened improve recording and permit finer cut. Nevertheless, the frantic
activity continued into December and Edison was overburdened
with work that had suspend the exhibitions and interviews
in the laboratory which were vital for the marketing the
machine. fact, the marketing went better than the
"perfecting"; the lab was flooded with inquiries about the
phonograph and the newspapers were full articles about the
wonderful new machine. The motor
was redesigned increase power while requiring less current.IV-13
work the phonograph.
Finally, the main shaft and the bearings were improved to
eliminate the "wobble" that ruined reproduction.) The
reproduction sound was his major concern— aimed at
clearer articulation, louder reproduction, and easier
manipulation the spectacle frame. The expenditure on
development rose rapidly the last half 1888 several
experimenters the laboratory worked eliminate the "bugs"
in the phonograph. 23
improvements that had been made. October
Edison was sure that had finally perfected the instrument
and wired Gouraud that would "drop dead" when saw the
