The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-08-24

Since the public were first electrified
by the exhibitions Of the telephone in
yentions Of Messrs. Gray, Edison, and
Bell, says the Detroit Free Press, nearly
every electrician In this country has
been endeavoring 10 solve the problem
Of telephone which would talk directly
from battery, thereby making II posi-
BILE 10 communicate over long distances,
and 70 repeat the acoustical vibrations
sired This problem has at length been
solved by g. b. Richmond, dentist and
student Of science residing in this city,
and in 50 simple and satisfactory man
ner rs to seemingly defy improvement.
II has been tested by several scientific
gentlemen. among them Prof. X. g.
Kedzie, Of the Michigan Agricultural
College, who pronounces Mr.. Rich
mond's invention valuable and scien-
tific discovery.
We give the following brief descrip-
ton Of Mr.. Richmond's telephone from
the model forwarded TO the United
States Patent-Oilice through the me-
chanics' and inventors agency ut De-
troit: A circular brass frame, about
two inches In diameter, Is secured in a
perpendicular position, into the upper
part Of which is inserted speaking
tube, and TO the lower part is secured u
thin metallic diaphragm which can be
frightened TO proper tension by means
of thumb-screws. To the center of this
diaphragm is soldered a small platinum
wire about an inch and half long, pro-
jecting downward. Directly under this
diaphragm, and inclosing the platinum
wire, is glass tube two inches long and
about one inch in diameter, with hard
rubber bottom. Into this bottom is fix
ed another PLATINUM wire, projecting
upward through the center Of the glass
tube, and reaching within about one
thirty-second Of an inch Of the platinum
wire attached to the diaphragm. The
glass tube is filed with distilled water,
the platinum wire attached to the dia-
phragm Is connected with a battery, and
the lower platinum wire attached TO the
main line. There is now a constant
current Of electricity passing from the
battery 10 the main line by way Of the
platinum points, through the water.
It >tltntllit lNtl Ou WDitH MI. hltu-
mond's discovery is based i that pure
water offers resistance to the passage
Of current Of electricity over 10000
times greater than platinum wire. See
Millcr's Chemical Physics, D. AL.
When person speaks or sings into
the speaking-tube, the diaphragm vi
brates in unison with the voice, and the
volume Of water between the platinum
points is alternately increased or dimin-
ished in unison with the vibration. 1t
therefore follows that as the volume Of
water between the platinum points is
increased or diminished, currents Of
electricity Of varying strengtha thrown
into the main line in exact unison with
whatever sound enters the speaking
tube, and is conveyed over the line TO
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., which Is an
electromagnetic and diaphragm Of the
ordinary construction for telephone ex-
periments.
The entire instrument is perfectly
simple in its construction, and the only
wonder is that men Of the first ability
should have labored SO long and over
looked principles and facts with which
they must have been familiar, and which
appear to he the only avenue through
which successful solution Of practical
telephone communication can be
reached.
On the occasion Of our visit, the
transmitting instrument and battery
were located in the office Of Mr.. Rich
mond, and the receiver in another Office
several doors distant. Small copper
wires, insulated, were used on the main
line, and their was no tension, the wires
hanging on nails, and being coiled up
carelessly in all shapes to get them out
Of the way, having been originally ar
ranged for much longer circuit. The
battery was also very light, consisting
Of about 80 common water tumblers /;
yet we distinctly heard talking and sing
ing at the receiver, took IT in shorthand,
and repeated it to Mr.. Richmond on his
arrival at our end Of the line, as we had
no transmittcr, and consequently could
not stalk back Mr.. Richmond claims
for his telephone that il can be used
equally rs well as an ordinary telegraph
and under the same conditions: either
the entire length Of line or cutoff at
any particular point, without impairing
the distinctness of the sounds in the
least. II will soon lie tested to its
fullest capacity. Mr.. Richmond calls
his invention the electro-hydro tele-
u