Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1901-06-20
Arc Lights MAde to Play Tunas.
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi.

Some time ago, while experimenting
with the electric arc, w. Duddell. an
English physicist, made the remark
able discovery that it could be made
to play tunes. He found that the slight
est alteration-even so little as one
ten-thousandth part-in the current
passing through the arc caused a yaria-
ton in the hot vapor column surround
Ing the ends of the carbons. which
produced audible sounds. And he fur
Their found that by the use of device
called a shunt circuit he could control
the variation so perfectly as to obtain
musical scale. He then constructed an
arc with solid carbons-the cored car
bon has no music in it's soul-and by
the use OF shunt circuit containing
capacity and self-destruction and ain
ingenious keyboard he obtained an in
strument upon which tunes could be
played. The shunt circuit was placed
directly across the terminals of the
arc. Mr.. Duddell had no idea at this
time that he could play his new in
strument from distance. In connec-
before the London Institution of Eec-
trical Engineers he exhibited his "mu-
steal arc" and played several pieces
upon II for the audience Up to this
point the discovery was more .curious
than practical-simply a novel prop
erty of the electric arc suitable for
demonstration in the lecture room.
But some new facts have just come to
light-in most curious way, too, saws
the New York Times-which seem 10
promise a considerably wider field for
the new musical instrument and which
may eventually give it important prac-
tical applications. 1t has now trans
pired that in two different laboratories
about fifth of mile away from the
lecture room-one that of Sir w. De
w. Abney and the other Sir Norman
Lockyer's-arcs which were being used
for experimental work behaved in a
most unaccountable manner and were
described as playing tunes or singing
during the time when Mr.. Duddell was
giving his lecture. At first no one
could suggest any satisfactory explana-
ton of their curious behavior. But
upon the publication of Mr.. Duddelrs
lecture 1t was Immediately suspected
that he had inadvertently played upon
these two other arcs. as well as upon
that in the central technical college.
and further experiments have verified
this conclusion. All three arcs were
found to be supplied with current from
the street mains, and it was clear that
this main current had been varied in
such way by Mr.. DuddelPs KEY
board as to reproduce in the two other
laboratories the tunes which he sun
posed he was playing only to his au-
dience in the lecture room This OBJ
Vionsly meant that by playing on one
properly arranged keyboard tunes
could be reproduced in a number of
different arcs and at a distance from
the musician. If such remarkable re-
suits We're obtained purely by acct
dent, and hence without any special
arrangement, it seems very probable
that further experimental work along
these lines will disclose a hitherto un-
suspected possibility in the use of the
arc light for entertainment as we'll as
illumination. As an enthusiastic sci
enlist has put 1t. the time is perhaps
not far distant when we shall be able
to realize something of the grandeur
OF the morning stars singing to-
gether"