The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-03-05

hem. after three years labor. claims that
he has perfected an instrument BY which
forms and colors can be sent by wire the
same A. words are sent. lie calls the
instrument dinphote. The word dia-
phote. from the Greek. dia signi-
wing through. and rhofos signi-
fving light. has been selected ~ IL name,
implying that the light travelled through
or along wire. He read paper on
his invention before the scientific society
here.
The diaphote consists Of four essen
tial parts, the receiving mirror. the trans
hitting wires, a common galyanic bat
terry and the reproducing spccuIum- Dr.
I.icks gave "A detailed account Of the
many experiments undertaken 70 deter
mine the proper composition and ar
rangement Of the mirror and speculum.
For the former he had finally selected
an amalgam of selenium and iodide OF
silver and TOR the latter 4 compound Of
seIenium and chromium. The peculiar
sensitiveness Of iodide Of silver and
chromium to lights has long been KNOWN
and their practical use in photography
suggested their application IN the dia-
photo. Ii was found, however, after
many experiments that their action must
be SO modified that each ray Of light
should influence the electric current
proportionally TO its position In the
solar spectrum, and selenium was as
certained TO be the best adapted 70 this
purpose. At first a small mirror was
employed with only single wire. but the
images reproduced in the spectrum were
indi .tinct and confused, so that 1t be-
came necessary to make the mirror Of .
number Of small pieces each about one
third Of a square inch in area and hav-
ing a small wire attached. In the dia-
photo exhibited BY DIR. Licks TO the club
The mirror was six inches by four and
had seventv-two fine wires, which were
gathered together into one about a foot
back of the frame. the whole then being
finely wrapped with an insulating COW
. ing, and on reaching the receiving spec
ulum each little wire was connected
10 division similarly placed a in the
: mirror. From common galyanic bat
! terry wires also ran to each diaphotic
plate. and thus a circuit was formed
; which could be closed or not at pleas
E IRE. The theoretical action Of the in
I strument appears now to be the follow
: inc. The waves Of light from an object
: are conducted through an ordinary
n camera. 50 that they fall on certain OF
: the divisions Of the mirror when the
: electric circuit is closed. The light and
!. ACCOMMODATING heat produce momentary
n chemical changes in the amalgam OF the
L mirror.which modify the electric current
4 and cause similar changes in the CORE
n spending partitions Of the remote spec
e Mum. thus reproducing a similar image,
L. .o,.x.~,I mara hQ
4 readily seen by the eve or thrown upon
a. 4 screen. DIR. Licks explained how the
10 PROPORTIONS Of selenium in the mirror and
speculum should be scientifically adjusted
IA 10 the size or the divisions and the resist
is ance Of the electric circuit, so as 70
re avoid any blending Of the proportions
S. Of the reproduced image. This, ~
4. said, had been the problem which had
v caused him the most difficulty, AND
which at one time had seemed almos
lie insurmountable.
Y. At the close Of the paper an illustra
tn ton was given Of the powers Of the IN
We strument. The mirror Of the diaphote
re in charge of committee Of three, VA
We taken to a room in the lower part Of IN
Is building and the connecting wires Ian
ld- through the halls and stairways 70 tn
mt speculum on the lecturers platform
'rd Before the mirror the committee he'll
Pc in succession various objects. illumina'
las ing each by the light Of burning maE
in nesium wire, since the rays from gas Al
red deficient in actinic power, and simu
err taneously on the spectrum appeared "a
secondary images, which, for exhibitio
lnd TO the audience, were thrown on scree
ley considerably magnifed- An apple.
nm; pen-knife, and trade-dollar were a
eek first objects shown; on the latter 4
one outlines Of the goddess Of liberty wei
ack recognized, and the date 1878 was piai
ter " legible. A watch was held five mi
rs utes before the mirror, and the audien.
can could plainly perceive the motion Of 4
nge minute-hand on the screen. but u
are movement of the secondhand was q
his satisfactorily seen, although Pr
act Kannich, by looking into :
ird- camera, thought that il was there qui
'eer perceptible. An ink-bottle, hows
and 4 part Of theater handbill We
also shown, and when the head Of
San little kitten appeared on the screen
ties, club testified its satisfaction by the M
i'm hearty applause. After the close OF
was experiments the scientists extend
lany their congratulations 70 DR.. I-icks, q
cks' the President made few remarks
A the probable scientific and industr
r Of applications Of the diaphote in
uali- future. With the telephone and
rnen d;aphote il might yet be possible
nese friends, separated BY the wide Allan
-ners ~ hear and see each other AZ the "a
a by time. 10 talk. a. II were, face 70 IA
car In connection with the interlock
car switch system it might be used % ena
'ews- signal-men Of the central Office 70
agon hundreds OF miles Of railroad track