The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-01

HOW THE TELEPHONE OPERATES.
At this stage OF the crtlon tho reader Is asked
to remember several points set oth In the preceding
paragraphs relating 70 sound und electricity. Tho
object OF treating ol these subjects much length
viii be perceived when reading ine .oilows.ss--e
In the hrsl place u was stated that The production
OF any sound was que 10 the number OF vibrations
per second, through which the SOUND producing
body moved. That low rate OF vibration pro-
duced grave one and high rate high
tone. That The vibrations must be pcriodic or
oil uniform duration to produ:e a musical note
wthin the OF from ory to 40 900 vibrations
second, and that tho intensity oi the tone VAS al.
recly as the energy Of tho vibrations. Wan regard
10 electricity u stated that continuity IN the
that the quantity OF electricity was directly rs
the surface exposed Tor It's development IN the
battery. and that tension was governed by
the energy OF Development; tnat the passage
OF the electric impulse through the coli OF
electro magnet inasnetlzed the soft iron anu
caused IL 10 respond also 10 the electro. magnetic nu
ence by clon2alion aud vibration.
No~ ia the telepnonc apparatus all these physical
conditions aud phenomena are utilized. First the bat
terry with powerful combination OF metals, carbon
ana ACIDS whereby chemical acon Is inuuced, heat
evolved and electricity developed IN IT'S Two condous
Second, the line communicating from terminus To ter
minus Us the main conductor Third, the elcctro-nag.
net for the development OF sound by vibration.
these are added an instrument ny winch tho musical
sounds are prOpagated, dcsc iption Of which Is
Iollows-Thc Inventor, Professor Elisha Gray OF Chit
cage, constructed Keyboard oi two octaves SIM liar
IN appearance 10 that oi u piano. Each key OF thIs
instrument. when pressed by the operator, or per
former no may be called, sets Ia steel reed,
tuned to certain definite rate Of vibration like tuning
FORK, and corresponding 10 It's position in the
scale The vibration VI the reed IS il.alnlained by
placed at each side OF II, and which
alternately exercise All attractive force upon Que
oil the reed is rmiy liked III bar while ITS length
OF course Tree 10 viuratc when excited Referring
to the above dagra Is the rced attached 10 the bar
b. ON each side OF ,hs reed are placed the electro
magnets andd ] nc magnet c has resistance equal
10, say Tour ohms, WINE magnet mas relatively ono
Of about thirty ohms Both OF these magnets
placed in tho circuit OF local battery, and con-
neclei herewith w the wre represented by
the dotted lines, Il having tho highest resist
ance develops tho strongest magnetism, but
when cut oil from the circuit the attractive
lower OF tho vtier magnet increases at once. BY
cosing the local by pressing down tho key the
ioow,ng takes piace:-fhe whole of tho current OF
the local battery passes through magnet g causing
10 attract the reed with It's power oil A. When tho
moved toward lar enough 10 leave the point
the snunt circuit or that which connects the point
with magnet Il, is broken, anu the current nows
through both the magnets Immediately The power OF
aud that Ui tails, bringing buck the reed 10
contact with ! azain This movement being au.
tomato is repeated at the rate OF rapidly predetcr
by the size aud length Of reed aud winch
RESPONDS with the fundamental note 1t Is intended
10 produce by vibration. Thus note OF
given pitcn is produced locally as upon
binary reed organ, bus by The agency OF eicciro-
magnets Now the next thing TO determine IS how
the same vibration be caused tho soIt
OF magnet 100 or 200 miles distant Another battery,
called tire main battery Is now brought into operation.
The place OF sending beng Tor the purpose terminal
station, pole OF the main battery Is connected with
tho earth. which completes the circuit between the
sending anu receiving ends of tho linc The opposite
pole Is connected with the instrument al binding
screw and the wire continued 10 the Key, and from
the kew point II, which makes contact with the reed
a, IRON .ecd ny bar 10 Dndlns screw J, aud thence
to the lirc which extends 10 The distant receiving
instrument
IL VIII be from the diagram that whom the key
Ia at there connection between II and the
local and batteries Therefore no electro cur
pass over the Inc or set the reed ia vbra-
ton by magBctizAton Tho moment. however. tho
clos cd By pressing tic key, the reel Is
vibracL above described by the local battery, aud
these vibrations open and clov tue cur ent alternately
from the man battery to the Inc by the contact at f.
that every vibration OF the reed the cause OF tho
passage of corresponding and instantaneous electric
impulse through the inau line. Now the c.iict UNI
cully experienced by writer who onuca.or5
describe delicate operation electricity
to convey 10 the reader anything ike IN
idea OF the infinite rapidly with which all
such operations occur SurposiDs, Tor instance, that
tic reed Is tuned 10 certain zone requiring 5000
vibrations per second Tor its production. u seems
almost inconreivabc that because VI 1900 contacts
second, between tae reed anu the point H. The cur
electricity from tie main battery 10 the main
hnc cou DO interrupted 8, 900 tunes per second and
that SOFT IRON bar attached to tho emu o tue main
iiuc should DC magnctIzcd and dsnlasDetizcd 1900
separate and dstiuci times In one second. Ana yet
such the fact Each note vi the musical scale
Is produced by Us special reed, ac,ualed
by ns own magnets, which are operated IN
turn by the local battery by means ol regular cOnncc-
tons. AS the intensity OF touu depends on the
crgy Of the producing vibrations 20 Will the energy Of
these depend ON the strength OF the electric impulse
that causes them. This strength depends on the ten
SION oil Tho electricity, when is IA urn governed by
tho strength OF The battery. Another iact worth
combination notes, can pass over tie main wire
from tho reeds without any discord or mutu,. inter-
rupton. Thus cnosds, irls and other variations
as readily aud truly produced ON the recover as simple