The Legend and Legacy of Casey Jones

[RodPickett]

This AI generated slide-show is based upon two articles authored by Mark Mathosian on Casey Jones, March and June 2026, The Antique Phonograph.

 

It is being posted here just as a matter of interest and as an example of the evolution of AI tools.

 

 

 

 

[BruceW]

This is the perfect example of how amazing AI has become and how scary it is becoming.   It is obvious, especially after you told us, that it was AI produced, in that there are errors of flow of the narrative.  But just think AI was just a topic of doomsday discussions only a handful of years ago and now it is producing a video based upon some online research.

 

If it keeps evolving at this rate AI will be used in everything we use and see on our computers and TVs.

This will be both a good thing, in exposing more people to content like the story of Casey Jones, but it will destroy the credibility of the internet as nobody will be able to trust anything that is produced.

 

I forecast there will be a backlash against "social media" and "news" because of the lack of trust and if we are lucky there will be an increase  in the interest in non electrical (non AI) technology and an increase in our collecting community.  

 

Bruce

[RodPickett]

Indeed, we included a disclaimer that the slide-deck was AI generated; however, many examples already exist in which there is no such distinction, forcing the consumer to make that leap-of-faith.

 

APS is currently prototyping an AI engine, "Ask The Curator"  to provide context from a photograph.  This is very-early in development and very-much a prototype.  We have not "trained" it yet in all of the various nuances and configurations.

 

We also often receive multiple queries daily.

 

One such example just occurred in which someone asked if their Edison Home was in the documented "new style" cabinet and separately, how to keep drawers on a Herzog cabinet from "pulling-out".

 

This was one of the photos supplied:

 

 

This was the answer generated by "George Intelligence":

 

"You appear to have already learned a good deal about your Edison Home Phonograph. 

 

Your Home is indeed a Model A in the New Style cabinet. 

 

Your Herzog record cabinet was originally equipped with metal latches which prevented the drawers from being accidentally pulled free of the cabinet.  These are often found missing, and no one is reproducing them.

 

I hope the foregoing will be helpful to you.

 

Best,

George Paul - Antique Phonograph Society"

 

This was the answer generated, in 20 seconds, by the "APS Artificial Intelligence Prototype Ask The Curator" from a single cabinet photograph:

 

 

 

 

This was the response after I asked the interactive question: "How Many Were Produced?"

 

 

[phonogfp]

My favorite part is the "...external horn...hidden beneath the lid..."😄

 

I can't quite tell from the image, but AI seems to be able to discern that the finish is "...remarkably well preserved..."  I could be wrong - because I'm not AI - but to me the cabinet looks like it's been overcoated.

 

I'll stop now because it is after all, a prototype.

 

George P.

[RodPickett]

There is certainly work to do on generalizations and assumptions.  The differentiation between “original finish” and “over-done” will require some training effort for sure.

[melvind]

I am a sceptic trying to keep an open mind about all this. But, I might suggest that showing AI inquires that are inaccurate because the model has yet to be trained could be seen as a reason to not trust it. The more wrong answers we collectors see the less trust will be gained. Maybe wait until it is a bit further along to show query results or something.