The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-12-06
A TELEPHONE TRIUMPH.
A Michigan Man Invents an Instrument
Which He Claims Beats Them All
FF'rom the Detroit News

Which He Claims Beats Them All
From the Detroit News
To all appearances Mr.. G. b. Rich
mond, of Lansing, dentist, and stu
dent in the walks of scientific research,
is the man who has made the greatest
stride in advance of Bell. BE has worked
quietly, but has kept up with all the in
formation of the times on the matter,
and, not content with partial success,
has kept0n until he has actually achieved
results that throw Bells work complete
IL in the shade. The following brief
technical description Of his hydro electric
telephone is given by Mr.. Richmond,
which is clear enough for general COM
prehension, and will be of peculiar in
terest to all who have studied the matter
at all. The fact in the ethics of electric
ity on which Richmond starts out liz the
definition that "pure water offers o re-
sistance to the passage Of o current of
electricity over two millions greater than
platinum wire" The instrument con-
sists of the following parts: A circular
brass frame, about two inches in dame
ter, is secured in Il perpendicular posi-
tion, into the upper part Of which is in
serted o speaking tube, and into the low
er part is secured O thin metallic dia-
phragm which can DO frightened to o
proper tension by means of thumb
screws. To the center Of this diaphragm
is eoltcre,t o small platinum wita ab,ut
an inch and . halt long, projecting down
ward. Directly index this diaphragm,
and inclosing the platinum wire, is
glass tube two inches long and about ore
inch in diameter, with u hard rubber
bottom. Into this rubber bottom is fixed
another platinum wire, projecting up
ward through the center of the glass
tube, and reaching within about 1872 OF
an inch Of the platinum wire attached to
the diaphragm. The glass tube is filled
with distilled water, the platinum wire
attached to the diaphragm is connected
with battery, and the lower platinum
wire attached to the line. There is now
O constant current OF electricity passing
from the battery to the main line by way
OF the platinum points, through the
water.
The sound Of the voice, projected
against the diaphragm through the tube,
causes the diaphragm to vibrate, Of
course, in unison with the sound waves
produced by the vocal organs, and the
volume OF water between the platinum
points is consequently alternately in
creased, SIS the case may be, in perfect
unison with the vibrations produced on
the diaphragm. Thus it clearly follows
that, as this volume of water is alternate
ly increased or diminished, currents OF
electricity are thrown on the main line
in perfect unison with the sound that
enters the speaking tube, and this sound
is then received upon the ordinary mag
net and diaphragm instrument, such as,
for instance, the Bell receiver, located
at the other end of the line
Now the improvement thus achieved
On telephone processes is that this
apparatus can be used on long lines, as
it has battery power to back it up and
reinforce it. Bell uses no battery, but
uses the electromagnetic alone. OF
course, by increasing the size and power
of his magnets it is possible to increase
the reach" or power OF overcoming
loss OF electromagnetic power incident
to long connections. Richmond's in
strument, however, can be used on the
ordinary telegraph circuits and appar-
entity for unlimited distances. A short
line operated on this principle has been
in operation between Lansing and North
Lansing for some time, but on Sunday
last most triumphant test of the instru-
ment took place. On the afternoon of
that day (the only time when it was
possible to get the undisturbed use of a
long Gne) the instruments were attached
to the wires of the Western Union tele-
graph on a loop from Lansing to De-
troit aud return, q distance of two hun
bred and thirty miles. Bells instru-
ment's greatest feat was to transmit
sound from Baltimore to Washin gton
(aboutforty-f five miles by the wire route).
The battery, which was of eight hundred
and seventy two cup power, was in De-
troit, the line working through it. The
result was most satisfactory.
Sox,sc AvyoooE e.. nooI-oA asoa