Thomas Edison - PsychoPhone

[Shawn Merrow]

History Detectives is going to have a segment of the PsychoPhone that is belived to have been invinted by Thomas Edison to talk to the dead. I figured some of you might find that interesting.

History Detectives
PBS - Monday 9:00pm

[Lord Z]

Holy cow! I actually wrote about that contraption in the Court of Tarot article!

And the show will be over by the time I get home. Arrghhh! (quote Charlie Brown)

I'm sure I'll catch it soon. Thank you for the head's up, Shawn.

[Shawn Merrow]

I think they have a second showing later in the night.

[Shawn Merrow]

Some future showings.

6/24 - 3:00am
6/29 - 12:00pm

[mrloucifer]

Sweet! I am so there (as both a BTS player and as a ghosthunter).

[Shawn Merrow]

Seen the episode.

Spoiler:

They were asked by a couple to investigate the PsychoPhone which they were told was made by Edison to hear the dead. It covers some info on Edison's paranormal research. It turns out though not to have been made by Edison. Also it was for subliminal self help messages and had nothing to do with hearing the dead. It was still interesting though.

[mrloucifer]

ACK! what a bummer and a letdown. Still, guess they put that little myth to rest anyway.

[mrloucifer]

Holy cow! I actually wrote about that contraption in the Court of Tarot article!

I wouldnt make any changes to the Tarot notes. As far as I'm concerned in my world, this contraption was built in secrecy and Edison wouldnt want others to know he was involved with it. So in the "real world" there are no ties or links between Edision and the contraption.

[Lord Z]

Yeah, that is pretty much how I implied it. I also changed the name of the gadget to "ectophone." The term "psychophone" could have implied too many different meanings. PBS.Org has a nice video clip specifically about the psychophone: Link!.

It would seem that Thomas was interested in at least exploring spiritual topics through technology. A lot of contemporary paranormal researchers are moving back into that direction.

Interestingly (but slightly off topic), it was Alexander Graham Bell who actually held a belief in P.P.E.

"What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it."
-- Alexander Graham Bell

Thank you for the research, Shawn.

[mrloucifer]

Interestingly (but slightly off topic), it was Alexander Graham Bell who actually help a belief in P.P.E.

"What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it."
-- Alexander Graham Bell

Nice catch on this one Z, I only happened to know this quote/trivia bit from my days of research for ghosthunting.