Dictaphone Dictaphone

Dictaphone Corporation, New York around 1920

Rationalisation

The dictaphone by Thomas A. Edison makes it possible to record speech and is used mainly in offices. Now the bosses no longer dictate to their secretaries, but to a dictaphone instead.

The rationalisation of work procedures also takes place in the administrative offices. The dictaphone, which was developed by the American Thomas A. Edison in 1877, records speech on rotating wax cylinders. In this way, typists can cope with significantly more dictations than was possible previously.

For business people, the use of dictaphones is highly advantageous. They no longer require the presence of a shorthand typist and her stenographical skills. The device has the ability to cope with even the fastest dictations, never gets tired and is always ready for use, independent of working hours.

Using the dictaphone is also easy. Driven by an electric motor, the cylinder can be activated by hand or foot control. A funnel-shaped mouthpiece is used for recording onto the cylinder. The hand or foot control is used for pausing the device. The length of the recording is controlled via an indicator.