Although this article states that the inventor of the Musolaphone was "J. J. Coma", his name actually was John J. Comer, who had formerly been the General Manager of the Tel-musici company.
Popular Electricity and the World's Advance, January, 1914, pages 1037-1039:
The Loud Voice
In his book "Looking Backward" Edward Bellamy predicted that in the year 2000 we may sit in our homes and hear the music of an orchestra miles away, listen to a prima donna as she sings at the theater, or on Sunday morning by "turning a screw" hear a sermon which if not to our liking may be replaced by another or another until we are satisfied.
But Bellamy was 87 years behind the times. The Utopia which he pictured ls in some details already here. The Musolaphone, "the loud voice," at the "turning of a switch" fulfills his prophecy in part.
From a central station, over telephone wires to the home, office or factory, music, weather reports, etc., may be delivered at the order of the subscriber. The Musolaphone apparatus, in conjunction with the Automatic telephone system which is now serving Chicago, consists of a transmitter (the sending device), one for the voice and one for sending instrumental or recorded music; the reproducer (the delivery end of the system) where the sound is reproduced in its original volume, amplified to a larger volume, or cut down in volume as conditions require, and the amplifier, a device which is used when a large number of reproducers are served from one transmitter or on long distance transmission.
Advance weekly programs received by the subscriber place him in touch with whatever service is being given, making it possible for him to select any of the daily musical programs for the week, which are of diversified character, ranging from the popular to the distinctly artistic renditions by grand opera stars or renowned instrumentalists.
As an illustration, a program is made up as follows: From eight to twelve in the morning, announcement of special bargain sales at the leading stores is made, and the principal news items are read from the morning papers including the United States weather report, stock market quotations, announcements of special events happening during the day, etc. At twelve o'clock the announcement of standard Western Union time is made. From twelve to one-thirty is given up to a musical program, especially adapted to cafes, restaurants, dining rooms, etc., and following this is a running description of ball games of the home team and scores by innings of other teams in both leagues during the baseball season. In winter lectures by prominent people will be obtainable besides language lessons in French, German, Italian, etc., and a period will be set aside for the reading of children's stories. A half hour's music for dancing will be offered each evening.
When the furnace was first invented some one remarked that it would be a sad evening when the family abandoned the fireplace to sit around a hole in the floor. Will future generations leave the piano to listen toward a funnel at an upper corner of the room, where the reproducer is usually installed?
Fireplaces are still a part of a well designed home and the piano will doubtless not lose its charm.
Chas. A. Comiskey of the Chicago White Sox says: "The day of the megaphone man has passed at our park." Nearly 200 reproducers are distributed about the bleachers to keep spectators informed of the details of the game.
At the Naval Pageant, Chicago, last summer, the grandstand was more than two-fifths of a mile long. On the first day Bishop Fallows made an opening prayer to 30,000 people, many of whom would not have known what was taking place, yet with the grandstand equipped with the Musolaphone system the great throng remained silent and with bowed heads, every word being distinctly carried to the remotest seat.
Next summer the S. S. Theodore Roosevelt will be equipped with the system, making it possible for the captain to talk to the crew and also to every passenger at the same time if necessary.
The uses to which the system may be put are beyond mention. Probably the most unique use is the installation of 28 reproducers in a large factory having many employees and seven acres of floor space. At the noon hour music is dispensed to the workers, the girls frequently dancing to the music.
