*He sounds quite Scottish.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/26/hear-alexander-graham-bell
Published on Apr 24, 2013
http://bio16p.lbl.gov/volta-release-2...
Cat. No. 287881-A Wax on composition board, vertical cut Pitch: 600 microns Depth: 60 microns Amplitude: 10 microns RPM: 15
"Optical scanning is a process to restore historic sound recordings, non-invasively. The technology used here was developed mainly by a collaboration of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Library of Congress.
"The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History (SI NMAH) Volta Laboratory collection consists of early experimental sound recordings (1881-1886) created by Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Sumner Tainter, Chichester A. Bell, and associates. In collaboration with the Smithsonian some of these recordings are being restored and presented to the public. The present set includes Bell's own voice.
"This disc contains a direct recording of A.G. Bell's voice, as documented in the notes stored with the artifact, and verbal statements. The disc is extensively cracked and the wax appears to be delaminating from the binder board base. There is also extensive particulates and debris in the grooves. This disc is judged to be unplayable with a stylus method.
"P. Feaster discography
• Date: 15 April 1885
• Inscription [in wax around center]: Record made April 15 1885 | AGB and C.A.B. | to test reproduction of numbers. | Disk A. G. B. No. 1
• Format: White or transparent wax composition on binder's board, cardboard ~243 mm; spindle hole ~25 mm; outer diameter of wax coating ~230 mm; inner diameter ~71 mm cracked surface (was stored upside down when found); single, well modulated groove band.
• Documentation: A paper is stored in the cabinet with the recordings: Contents of Disk AGB No 1. | Disk with Numbers | Experiment made April 15th 1885 | 1, 2, 3, 4 &c—to 50 | 10, 20, 30, 40 &c to 100 | 100, 200, 300 &c to 1000 | 1000, 2000, 3000, &c to 10,000 | 10,000; 20,000; 30000 &c to 100,000 | 100,000 200000 30000 [sic] to 1,000,000 | 3571 3571 3571 | 3571 123,941 125,873 | 1,945,876 35,900 33878 | 48715 790042 4,530,870 | $45.½ $89.73 $4029.46 | 35 cents. 25 cents 30 cents 50 cents | half a dollar a quarter dollar | 3 dollars & ½ $5¼ $7.29 | $10½ $3785.56 | This record has been made by Alexander Graham Bell in the presence of Dr. Chichester A. Bell—April 15th on the 15th of April 1885 at the Volta Laboratory 1221 Connecticut Avenue, Washington D. C. In witness whereof—hear my voice | Alexander Graham Bell – Referenced in Floyd K. Harvey, "Mementos of Early Photographic Sound Recording," SMPTE Mot. Imag J. 91:3 (March 1, 1982), 237-244, as evidence favorable to the existence of a recording of Alexander Graham Bell's voice; however, Harvey did not make the connection with 287881-A.
• Related item: Box "E"
Transcript:
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000 100000 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 600000 700000 800000 900000 1000000 3571 123,941 125,873 1,945,876 35,900 33878 48715 790042 4,530,870 $45.½ $89.73 $4429.46 35 cents 25 cents 30 cents 50 cents half a dollar a quarter dollar 3 dollars & ½
5 dollars and ¼ $7.29 $10½ $3785.56 This record has been made by Alexander Graham Bell in the presence of Dr. Chichester A. Bell—on the 15th of April 1885 at the Volta Laboratory 1221 Connecticut Avenue, Washington D. C. In witness whereof—hear my voice Alexander Graham Bell
