The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-19
PICTURES OF THE VOICE
Sound Records Made by an En-
tirely New Principle.
THE PHONOGRAPH OUTDONE
Wonderful Discovery of Rev. A. C.
Ferguson-SOund Waves Photo
graphed and Reproduced From
Negatives Developed in the Usual
Way How 1t Is Done.

A
| est discovery in the art OF photography
| Is the hghtophone, a simple mechanical
| instrument that photographs the human
| voice and reproduces it in sound like the
photograph and graphophOne. This ina
chine, which bids fair to create sensa-
ton In Photographic circles, Is the In
ventipn OF the Rev. A. c. Ferguson. a
| Baptist minister. of No "a Hanson place,
| Brooklyn.
After nearly two years OF study, MI
! Ferguson obtained these results and has
now completed an instrument aud ma
chine that will photograph the voice.
speech and any tone made into Is
speaking tube. and do this in regular
systematic parallel and continuous wave
lines. 50 that the records thus made Can
be reproduced mechanically from such
photographs.
To u reporter Mr.. Ferguson explained
in detail the workings OF his machine.
which consists of only two disks, each about
seven inches in diameter, revolved by ordi-
nary cIanks, which are turned by hand
ore OF the disks, which records the sound,
revOlves horizontally, while the second. the
reprOducer, reyOlves perpendiculariy.
The recording machine is distinct from
the reproducing machine aud one recorder
viii make an unlimited number OF records
for the reprOducer The recording machine
consists OF d travelling rotating disk, vary
ing in size according TO the capacity de-
si:ed, from five TO twelve inches In diameter.
The entire machine is made light pToof
by means Of shields through which the
speaking and light proof tubes pass, con
Meeting the deIcateIy Constructed record
ing apparatus
ON the disk Is placed the Photographic
plate. Connected with the recording
diaphragm is vibrating shutter Of Opaque
material, which is adjusted within very
close proximity to the surface OF the photo
graphic plate This shutter Is 50 con-
strUcted as 70 admit as small a quantity
OF light as may he desired to make a
perfect register OF she vibration OF the
diaphragm
The machine VIII record as high rs
100 points OF sections OF a wave a
second, which is TapidIty Of photograph
ing heretofore deemed impussihle by
scientists
Tue most successful results have been
obtained from a powerful electric light.
which strikes the sensitive plate through
a narrow metal tube. The inventor made
fnany tests before ne could produce a
voice wave line which would he less than
ixty-fourth OF an inch in width he
finally reached the point where he could
photograph lines as fine as the finest
hair, ana. II necessary. not more than one
hundredth OF an inch apart.
hi. Of y
any tone from the Photographic record is
very simple The negative. after being DE-
vclopcd in the usual way, is photo-etched
either in intagiO or reliefin copper OF other
metal. The plate then goes through u So
CFet process after the etching, which the
inventor refuses TO make public.
This etched die is then STAMPED into eel
iuIoid vulcaniZed rubher or other suitable
substance, reproducing the plate disks in
any desired quantity Next COMES the
tracing stylus. which consists Of needle
attached to diaphragm II is dropped IN
the lines ~ the curves and the disk is
turned by means OF the crank
Attached 20 the diaphragm is a horn
similar 10 that OF a eTamaphOHe. AMI the
tracing stylus, in tracingO out the fine wave
lines, TepTOduCe> the sound spoken into
the recording instrument lead pencil.
or in fact, a piece OF wood sEarpened n
one end, placed inside the horn and the
point dropped in the lines OF the record
gives out series of faint sounds as il
person were whispering
In order To convince the visitor Of the
marvellous results achieved with the IightO-
phone, Mr. Ferguson firS showed negative
Of tile photographed sound waves, pnI-
ducei by the Lords prayer, and placed d
vulcanized rubber disk, reproduced from
this negative, in tire reproducing machine |
When h. began 70 slowly turn the crank |
the sound issued forth Although not as
loud as that from the monograph, nearly !
every word Of the prayer was clearly
enunCiated and could he distinctly heard
There was no rasping or grating sound. |
which, the inventor explained, was due |
to the fact that there was not the pres |
sure on the tracing stylus required TO |
reproduce the sound from the wax |
cylinders or OTHER machines. Where |
there il no pressure there Is no distOF
ton" said he Il am now working on |
a ma crime that will not only reproduce |
sound, hut viii typewrite It as fast A.
person can talk, and am confident that /
this result can be achieved
MANY scientific n.en here and in Eur
rope have heard of my machine, but ! |
have allowed only a few Of my most
intimate friends % see 10. Among them |
are Profs Peckham and. seldner. Of the
Adelphi College. and they pronounce 10
an invention of marvellous interest and
one, they think, tnat will lend great assist
ance to the study of voice culture.
1.-The possibility of using this instru-
neut in Laboratory work is very great Cor
comparing wave sounds. Infect IONS, mod
uIations, CresCen dos and so IN Of the human
voice lam now constructing n sphragm
that will record perhaps even a whisper
There is no electricity employed in the
production or recording of tones IN the
lightOphOne.4 The sounds are produced bv
vibration. or more properly by puISation.
II was ATTACKED with nervous pTCstra-
ton about two years ago, and upon the
advice OF my physician retired from D,ln-
isterial work for n time, devoting myself
to the study OF science AMI TO literary
work About that time the thought struck
me that ID might he possible 20 photograph
sotmI by manipulating ray ofliSlit JpOn
a senatized plate. With the IightOphOne my
highest expectations have been realized
For Piles Use DIR. Agnew'S Oint-
saves many a Tainful surgical 1
operation, gives quick relief In most frri-
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