The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-09


as to press against the fatty film the
zinc plate.
ETCHING THE SOUNDS.
The remainder was simple. AS the
Journal correspondent spoke into the
diaphragm, just as he would into teIe-
phone, spiral wave of the words was re-
produced by the needle point the fatty
surface Of the plate caused by the move
ments of the needle as it was agitated by
the vibrations of the diaphragm. The zinc
plate was, of course, turned sideways and
revolved during rne speaking to enable the
needle to find continually a fresh film
The disc was taken next and placed in an
acld bath-a process familiar to every ANA
teur photographer. The etching traced by
the needle is eaten into the zinc by the
acid, leaving the rest of the plate un-
touched. After twenty minutes Immersion
the plate is taken out of the bath, washed.
and the record of the voice shows on the
plate imperishable and almost indestructi-
bic. If copies are desired, they can be
easily made in hard rubber. The whole
thing seems too simple to have escaped in
Nention or rather discovery all these years.
TO reproduce the words spoken and etched
on the plate, 1t is placed on a turntable
OF a repr0ducer, an arm holding a needle
point like the one which made the etching
is adjusted TO the disc, the needle dropped
into the etched lines the turntable turns
the disc, and the voice comes out again
as often as you wish.
1t is unnecessary to point out the possi-
fulness which the eventual development of
the gramophone suggests. The machine
itself is a comparatively small affair.
scarcely larger than a typewriter. and 1t Is
said by Mr.. Berliner that it will eventually
be put on the market for not less than SIS
That however, is in the future. Mr.. Ber-
liner has spent more than three years in
bringing the machine to its present state
of perfection AS it now stands the sound
is loud and distinct enough for an ordinary
house, no matter in which room the gram
ophone stands. But the inventors present
studies are directed to increasing the range
of the sound The toy known as the
'pantograph'-an apparatus by which a
drawing is enlarged by series of levers
is familiar to every one. Mr. Berliner has
in preparation a special photograph, by
means of which the etched record of
small plate automatically is transferred to
a larger plate and the record of the voice
is traced in enlarged proportions. The pur-
pose is obvious. Larger waves mean larger
cessful Mr.. Berliners gramophone ought
to furnish entertainment for a. large
the size of the disc. 1t is as easy to etch
a zinc disc for a talking doll as twenty
four-inch disc for concert machine
An amusing incident occurred one after
noon last week. Mr.. Richard Mansfield
was playing here, and in answer to many
requests had announced special matinee
and the Man" An hour before the mat
inee he visited Mr.. Berliner's rooms, ac-
companied by his wife and one or two
members of the company. Mr.. Mansfield
prides himself on his scholarly interest in
the ScIentlf1e progress or the day. re was
deeply interested in the gramophone and
had record after record made of his own
speeches and of Miss .Cameron'ss. Mean
While the audience had gathered in the
theater Two o'clock came and went. A
messenger was sent to Mr.. Mansfield's
private car CHr. Mansfield never stops at
hotels). but one knew where he was
to be found There was no help but to dis
miss the audience after keeping IL on one
pretext or another until after o'clock.
Mr. Mansfield strollng leisurely out of
Mr. Berliner's laboratory about that time.
met the audience as it was leaving the
theater and, being unknown, was enabled
to hear some frank comments as to the
cause of his nonappearance- Mr.. Mans
field had no s.voice record made of any
of the comments. L. g.