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The 1888 Crystal Palace recordings

The phonograph leaves New York in 1878

Preece's lecture at the Royal Institution, first considered by Edison the previous September as the occasion for the English launch of the phonograph, went ahead on 1st February 1878. Alexander Graham Bell and his new wife (formerly Mabel Hubbard) were in London on an extended honeymoon. On 28th November Bell had lectured on his telephone at the Society of Arts, and on 14th January he demonstrated to Princess Beatrice at Osborne and attended. Mabel's sister Gertrude sent her account of the Royal Institution lecture to Edison's colleague Uriah Painter:

I am sorry I have not the letter in which Mrs Bell speaks of the phonograph. Some time ago I sent Mr Bell a description of the phonograph and a piece of tinfoil. He was exceeding interested and afterwards Mrs Bell wrote that Mr Bell saw Mr Edison's agent (I understand) that fascinated and astounded at the instruments.

The last lecture speaks of a lecture delivered by Mr Preece on the telephone at the Royal Institution and at the close an exhibition of the phonograph which was received with great enthusiasm. Mr Bell wrote [?] that the audience was one of the largest ever gathered.

The letter will be returned, but I think I have given you the substance.

On 10th February Edison wrote to Theodore Puskas (who was looking after Edison's patent interest on the Continent):

I have shipped Mr Preece his phonograph. If you are in London in 15 or 20 days you might call on him and show him how to work it. I have sent him full instructions...The new clockwork machine is going to be a big success; there is a great deal more excitement here now over phono than when you left.

A day later, Edison wrote Preece himself, giving those full instructions:

I suppose you think by this time that I promise many things and send none. However I have this day sent you by Austin Baldwin's Express an experimental phonograph suitable for lecture purposes. I do not know how your people will take it but where it has been exhibited here before an audience, it created an immense excitement which I cannot account for. I will send you a supply of tin foil, you can probably obtain what you require there - get it smooth and free from wrinkles.

To smooth it for putting on the machine lay on a pane of glass and rub with a strip of the tin foil itself. For putting on the machine push the foil forward so about an inch of the end comes off the glass and lays on the table. Then brush a little thick shellac varnish on the edge - say ¼ inch thus - then pass under cylinder and secure.

Be sure the lap is towards you as the machine turns from you - do not turn backwards when the diaphragm is set.Be sure and have the foil on tight - there is a knack in putting it on there which you soon get.

You will observe that the machine makes a continuous indentation. This is to record the outward movement of the diaphragm and also ensure reproduction. You will also notice that the diaphragm is dampened by rubber tubes - this is to make clearer articulation by preventing the rebound of the diaphragm against the foil.

Be sure that the indenting point in central over the groove and so the continuous indentation is central. You can ascertain its central position by passing the pointed end of the small adjusting pin sent you over the foil the indentation made by the point shows if the other indentation is central.

The loudest talking is obtained when the lips just touch the edge of the hole in the mouth piece. You can easily test this by saying "How do you get this" about ½ inch from hole, again ¼ inch, again 1/8, then 1/16, and then with lips lightly in contact. Speak in a deep bass voice if the audience is large. Use a funnel of paper - thus - that is about 10 inches from the mouth - and slightly larger than the hole in the mouthpiece at the bottom and about 1 foot long. You might try several size.

The right speed, I think, is about 120 turns per minute. Music is best reproduced at high speed. It is impossible to turn the crank so even as to make any harmony in a song with notes long dwelt-on like "The Last Rose of Summer", etc. But anything very quick comes out fairly. I had one of these machines run a clockwork controlled by a pendulum. "The Last Rose of Summer" was reproduced beautifully.

Whistling will come on your machine. In whistling, put lips ½ inch from hole. After a while your point on diaphragm will wear, I think, though I have had none wear yet, so you might observe its shape, etc. so that another one can be made.

You notice I use strips [of tinfoil] narrower than the cylinder. I do this because they are more easily put on. In carrying the machine about be careful not to allow the flywheel to hit anything as the shaft may be bent. Keep plenty of oil on the shaft as it soon drys and it becomes difficult to turn steady.

The practical machine for instruction to the public is most finished and it will be a great success. Have you ever done anything with the Molograph Telephone. I have made one for Prof Scheller - also a phono - who is going to lecture through Germany.

The Motorphone or Electromotograph that Hodgson is exhibiting here is absolutely perfect - all tones being pure and the volume of sound tremendous.

About my speaking Telephone: I shall send you a complete set soon and I think they will be satisfactory on your wires. The reason of my delay lies in the fact that I must get something to work on wires that Bell's will not and you know how difficult that is...

I received a letter from the Polytechnic Institution, London, for a phonograph for exhibition before that institution. But I was told by a gentleman from London that it was a moneymaking concern so I refused to send them one at present. If you do not care to bring it before the public, or have no time, please let me know...

I have made a new discovery which I will write you again soon. It is as curious as the phonograph.

On 12th February Edison wrote to his agent Henry Edmunds in London:

I have shipped Mr Preece a phonograph which left on City of Montreal. I will send you one immediately it is done. I am sorry that I could not have done something through you as you have been so kind. However, I will put you in the way of something good presently...

In this country phono is booming and they are making applications on every side to different things. Await arrival of your machine and I will send you all the points for a good lecture with amplified tracing of the Lord's Prayer and other things...

The most astonishing thing about the whole thing is the great difference it makes whether the machine is turned by hand or by controlled mechanism; with the latter the thing is perfect. I have dictated more than a dozen letters and Mr Batchelor copied them correctly without knowing previously their nature ... to do this with the handturned machine was comparatively a failure, although persons who heard it dictated it was plain. The Times article is first class and I thank you very much.

The Inman Line Royal Mail steamer City of Montreal left New York on 14th February bound for Liverpool. She arrived on the afternoon of 25th February.

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