This so-called Silent Gramophone is the ordinary turntable unit
modified for me in these following particulars: the pickup is electrically
controlled on an a.c. current; there are no tubes of any kind; the
ear-pieces are those used in telephones; instead of an amplification
of sound there is diminished volume; there is a device to control
the volume; it is geared for both short and long records; it will
plug into a lamp or wall outlet with any length of cable, and can
be located any distance from the recipient; the ear-phones may be
applied to the head or laid under a pillow; there is a separate receiver
for anesthetist.
Compared with the radio this instrument will furnish any selected
music at any selected time. Compared with the ordinary phonograph
this one limits the sound to the person, or several, directly connected
with it by the ear-phones.
A selected sound at the selected time for a selected person.
There is no need to amplify this statement nor burden you with the
details of the procedure.
You will be interested to learn that lay-journals have given quite
some publicity to it.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle gave over a page in a recent magazine section;
it has been broadcast over a nation-wide hookup through WABC;
The Scientific American published an illustrated article; Popular
Science contained a picture; Science Service and Medical Economics
have asked for illustrations and articles.
All this since the N.Y.Times reported my first presentation to the
N.Y.Societ[sic] of Anesthetists last December.
The instrument I present to you is the property of the Graybar Electric
Company who have developed it upon the suggestions of Mr.T.I.Rogers
of the A.T.and T. whose help has been invaluable.
I am thinking that you will find some value in the Silent Phonograph.
The time allotted me entirely by the courtesy of Dr.McMechan, for
which I am grateful, as every interposter must be, permits me to add
only that I am at your service at the close of the session to answer
your questions.
P.S. There were many questions asked and much understanding appreciation
expressed by my fellow anesthetists.
