Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-08
A NoN-MAGNEro TELEPHONE
A Chicago Inventor Think He has the
Instrument TO Upset the Bell MonOp-
- ~ ChicaQo Tri5une.


Instrument TO Upset. the Bell MonOp-
oily.
From tie Chicago Tribune.
In its war against an exasperating tele-
phone service at exorbitsnt charges the
Tribune has heretofore given very full ex-
hiblts and descriptions Of the magnetic
telephone patented 20 Alexander Graham
Bell and claimed not only by him but by
Prof. Elisha Gray OF Highland Park and
numerous other contestants. 1t now
places before its readers an account OF
the invention and Distinguishing cnaTac-
teristics Of new telephone. the owners Of
which claim that it Is 50 different in con-
structiOn and in the essential features Of
the invention that II can be operated IN
dependently Of the Bell patents, even
though they should be permitted to stand.
Although the application for patent was
1led Oct. !. 1888. the difficulties encOunt-
cred IN the Patent Office were so great
that the patent was not allowed until
about a year thereafter, and was not
actually issued until Jan. 20, 1885. The
delay Of the last few months was for the
purpose of obtaining foreign patents.
The following particulars Of the
new Pratt d Plum nOn-magnet TO telephone
are furnished By the inventor, Harry Z.
Pratt.
~ ID LdNAGhtAN inherent AAOAl Nut AGAG-
phones heretofore in use IN that 1t dis
penses wholly with the MAGNET and with
induced action in reproduce speech. It
substitutes for the operative device Of the
magnetic telephone what is called a sim
pie sOlenOid or coil with a fat surface cor
responding to that of the diaphragm with
which il is combined. This coil receives
the electric current from the battery, and
thereby operates directly upon the
TlqVhrnurn roprodmafuV 10 eT,aaoh L
Is the operation Of the coil in place Of the
operation OF the magnet. By this means
the usual cracking aud buZZing sounds
are done away with. Leaving out the
magnet, the most important and most
material element Of the magnetic machine,
dispOses OF the old combination, and the
use Of the Pratt coil as an operative de-
vice makes a new machine. The Pratt
machine operates in defiance Of the pre-
vailing notions on the subject Of the tele-
phone. II his receiver be shown to one
who is skilled in the art OF telephony. as
IL existed prior 70 the Pratt invention. but
who has not previously been informed Of
il, h would undoubtedly say, with great
cOnfderee. that it is impossible that such
machine should satisfactorily reproduce
speech. This has often been done, and
when told that il actually does reproduce
speech II & satisfactory manner great sur
prise j. expressed.
TIE great invention Of this system is the
receiver. which contrasts curiously with
tie comparatively cumbersome and swk-
ward magnetic machine. AL other inven-
lions are subordinate to this. For this
IElts1 states and foreign patents have
been secured. Their other inventions
consist d several forms Of transmitting
Instruments. some OF which are claimed
60 be very superior 70 those previously in
use. and Of various forms Of construction
q the coils which theV use. The Pratt
telephone. standing on an original and in
dependent basis Of construction. mode Of
operation and result Is not involved in
the great controversy that has been rag
1Bg 50 long over tie invention. and for the
possession and control OF the magnetic in
strUments claimed BY Bell, Edison Baxter
and others.
TIE claim Of the Bell monopoly that he
discovered or invented new art, and had
By his patents control OF the only electri-
cal current by virtue Of which speech can
Be produced, the Pratt 4 Plum people de-
clare Is utterly prepOsterous and absurd.
They say that there is no pretense OF them
IN the Bell patents, but that they have
been wholly invented by the lawyers and
experts who have had them IN charge
since the monopoly was created.
While the mechanical details OF the new
system OF telephoning were being per-
AEAt-A nAMEAWua HlALkAGAA tests were
made. The opinions Of legal and electri-
cal experts on these tests were very
favorable, particularly those Of Mr.. Nc
PhersOn. the Western Electrician Of the
Postal Telegraph Company, established
By Prof. Gray, and Of ex-Commissioner
Of Patents Marble, who, since his retire
ment from the Patent Office, has devoted
himself TO electrical inventions as
speciality. One OF the tests was made
April !, 1884, at No. 154 Lake street.
Among the persons who conVersed
through the instrument at that time were
Aessrs. G. z. B0nney, John A. Hamlin,
L. B. Hamlin, William Sherwin. David
Quigg, c. Z. Barrett, and Senator ID. NJ.
Sabin. Other experiments were also made
al different times with the Pratt q Plum
telephone, and number OF persons
testify 70 having carried on converse
tons with persons in Milwaukee and
Elgin.
No corporation has yet been organized
BY the holders Of the Pratt a Plum inyeu.
tons. The instruments are held by
Board Of Trustees for the purpose Of
enabling the inventors 70 com plete the
system in all its details, and when ready
for practical operations 10 surrender their
trust 20 business corporations 10 be form.
cd for the purpose Of carrying on the tel
ephOne business.
Mr.. William $. Plum, who, in connee-
tious with Mr.. Pratt. has perfected the
invention. - well known as the author OF
me work IN two handsome volumes en-
titled "Telegraphy IA the Civil War"
THIS work has given him a wide reputa.
ton among the electrical fraternity
throughout the country.
lnr frau Plum people have not
taken any part In the great controversy
winch now awaits the decision OF Secre-
iAry Lamar on the application 20 insti-
lute q suit Ia the name OF the United
states 70 set aside the patents granted 70
Alexander Graham Bell as hayipg been
obtained by fraud. The reason OF this'non-
parucipa is that the Pratt instrument
y not magnetic telephone. They regard
AZ morally certain that Secretary
Lamar must recommend the INSTITUTION
OF government suit 70 amend the BeIl
patcnts. $3.50.
ia there 30 balm in Giieadg AA--A.t
~ tnerl no physician thtref'
Alanks y Dr.. Pierce there is nbalm. IN