The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-05-26
ARC LIGHTS THAT TALK
Facts About a New Invention In
Germany.
FRENoH BLECTR1o1ANs DISCOVERY


the Train Announcements In De-
pots and Can he Made to sing-Use-
full For candle Lectures-Manner
OF reproducing sound Explained.
Try to imagine the intense astonish.
ment Of the passengers in the Grand
Central station waiting room, in New
York, when all the electric arc lights
In the vast depot shall shout in unison
and chorus:
Empire State expressi All aboard!
ALI a-b-O-a-r-dw
Yet it is entirely feasible, easy, to
make the arc lights that illuminate the
station announce the departure Of ev-
cry train that starts from the Grand
Central or any other depot, says the
New York World. On the other hand.
IL you are awaiting the arrival of a
friend some evening do not be sur
priscd TO hear the arc light above you
proclaim;
"The Albany local fifteen minutes
later
In France and Germany arc lights
are now singing and talking-under the
proper regulations and conditions, OF
course. There is nothing imaginative
about all this. Singing and talking arc
lights are already on cold CONNER
cial basis I'm Germany. The very sim.
pie electrical apparatus that will make
an arc light repeat any sound is now
being manufactured by Ferdinand Er-
necke. who has the distinguished hon.
or to make electrical instruments for
his majesty Emperor William. Herr
Ernecke will sell this apparatus for
lI0 marks say Sii. Any woman whose
husband is in the habit Of staying out
late at night can undoubtedly cure
him of that habit for the small sum Of
$44. Let her hang the arc light over
the front door OF her happy home and
fix the microphone by her bedside.
That husbands case Is hopeless who
does not forswear strong drink for.
evermOre when the arc light angrily
says to him:
80 here you are are your The
lodge again, suppose. DO you know
it's O'clock? / 20 home TO my moth.
er tomorrow, slrr'
A distinguished electrician, whose
name is known all over the world, die
tated this explanation OF the way I'm
which an arc light is made TO repro
duce sound:
When a sound strikes the mlcrophone.
when one speaks, shouts, sings into Il or
a band plays into t. the sound varies the
current OF the battery through one wind
ing OF the induction coil. These variations
OF the current produce corresponding va
riations I'm the other winding OF the induc-
tion coil, which Is connected with the arc
light The variations OF the currents pro-
duce again corresponding changes I'm the
heat OF the arc light. and as the arc in
creases and dlminlshes I'm heat air waves
are formed that reproduce the sounds
coming from the mlcrophone.
SO 1t is seen the sounds striking the
microphone are reproduced finally by
waves Of hot air. not by electricity.
And be II understood, the words "hot
air" are used here scientifically, not
slangily.
The French too, like the Germans,
are enjoying the talking and singing
arc lights, although they have not yet
been introduced into the cafes chan
tants. This Is easily eKplicable. An
arc light, however well trained, can re-
produce only sound and not a wink,
gesture or n kick. Without these
accessories the voices OF cafe chantant
songstresses would expend themselves
in undulatlons through an empty at
mOsphere. There would be no audi
ence 20 hear them. But scientific
Frenchmen are much interested in
talking arc lights and are devising
most extraordinary uses to which they
can be put.
The latest issue OF Ia Nature, a
French popular science magazine, con-
tains an article On "The Talking and
Singing Electric Arc. Telephone Re-
cever and Transmitter." NJ. J. Leroy
writes the article and claims that an
observing Frenchman. NJ. Gramme, a
noted electrician, was the first to note
that arc lights repeat sounds. NJ. Lee
rOy's arucle IN Ia nature Is Inusuate0
by very catching picture OF an audi
ence listening 10 an are light which |
seems 20 be talking most interestingly. |
Here is a part OF the article:
Electricity for several years has ac.
us TO many surprises, but
here surely is an additional fact TO as
tonish US more II possible.
'The electric arc light can be used as
4 telephone receiver and transmitter.
Il Is enough 10 place the are light In
he circuit OF telephone or I'm the place
n the ordinary receiver 10 hear at
distance words spoken in the are as In
, receiver.
''rhe principle Of the experiment Is
always the same. II consists IN pro.
iucing variations In the intensity OF a
current and OF closing the telephone
'lrcuit with an electric are. The prl
nary circuit is then formed with a bat.
cry, a microphOne and the primary
ircuit OF an induction coil. The sec.
ndary circuit OF this coil is attached
irectly 10 the carbons OF the arc light
his is fed by a circuit branching from
be public supply OF electricity, with a
uhicient resistance In this circuit.
"In speaking before the mlcrOphone
be vibrations OF the membrane deter.
nine the variations OF the currents 10.
snsity, and the secondary currents in
uced act In their turn IA the electric
re and produce the sOnOrOus undula
ons which are clearly heard.
"As Is seen, the arrangement IL sim.
le and requires no skin. but II Is new
rfhalaaa uagaaaaru 40 faka arr.s 49,. ! .