Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-25
A NEW AND SECRET TELEPHONE

Every few months some new feature is
added to the telephone which adds to its
utility and brings it nearer to perfection.
The last improvement made is a very valua-
BILE one. The telephones in use have the de-
feet that communications sent along them
can be intercepted by others having instru-
ments on the same line, and knowledge detri-
mental to the message-sender might in this
way re ach the last ears it was intended for.
This fact has practically closed to use the
telephone wherever secret matter has been
concerned, yet it is in quick communication
upon that very class of business the services
of the telephone are the most valuable.
Prof. ]. III. Rogers, formerly electrician of
the United States capitol in Washington,
and the eldest son of the Rev. Mr. Rogers,
formerly of st. Lazarus Episcopal church
in this city, has perfected a telephone
BY aid of which two persons can converse
without the possibility of any other than
themselves being aware of the subject of
their intercourse. The new system is covered
by ten patents for circuits, transmitter, re-
ceivers, and so on. Prof. Rogers's most
efficient transmitter employs carbon particles
dust or frsgments-in contact with the
diaphragm, and 30 efficient is it that mes
sages can pass from any part of large room
without the sender approaching the trans
mitter. The receiver is n simple electro
magnet, without armature, inclosed in
wooden box. The molecular action of the
magnet imparts its own vibrations to the
box, from one side of which an earpiece pro-
iects, but it has no aperture through which
the sound waves pass to the ear, for these
are impaired by the vibrating box to the
persons, whose auricular nerves retain SEN
sation, can be made to hear, and in that way
it is possible they may be taught to articu-
late. The important thing in the invention,
however, IS its secrecy, which is secured by
the message travelling not on continuous but
on interrupted currents, SO that outside per-
sons though on the same line, can know moth
ing of the subject of conversation. To Sc
cure this end commutator is placed between
two wires, each passing from separate bat
terry and actuating two induction coils. This
commutator throws the current fret On one
wire then on the other, in rapid succession,
therefore all listener could hear would be
disconnected words without meaning, as first
one wire carried off few words then the
other, the whole being joined together and
conveying sense only to the ear of the re-
ceiver for whom the message was intended.
Instead OF the usual straight line, complete
circuit is formed. The ends Of the circuit
wire at each box are cut and connected with
a commutator, which is in the shape of a re-
volving wheel and is turned by electricity or
clockwork. This wheel dips lever alter
nately in mercury to make and break the cir
cult. 1t is divided into four opposite seq
ments, two of conducting and two of nom
conducting material, so that when one
end of the wire is in contact with the con-
ductor, the other is in contact with the nom
conductor. The wheel divides the CONVERSE
ton phonetically, sending the sounds alter
nately in one direction on the circuit then
on the other. There may be dozen boxes
in line, but only from those in direct COM
munication can the conversation be connect
eddy heard, elsewhere there Is merely unin-
telligible noise. The electrodes inst cad of
being suspended, float in mercury, this gives
distinctness to the sound, therefore the. tele-
phone can be operated at long distance s. In
an experiment in Washington CONVEX sation
in low tone, at a distance of twenty-five
feet from the transmitter, was heard plainly
two and half miles away. Other minor
pecnliarities add to the efficiency of the
instrument, and the whole includes new
Reiss and Bell systems. "The Matt enal
Secret Telephone Company" has organ ized
for constructing lines on the Rogers syst en-.
We congratulate Mr.. Rogers on the complete
success that has crowned his arduous labces.