The Colorado statesman., 1917-06-09
System First Invented by Indiana
Man More Than rs Years
Ago.
EARLY MODELS ON DISPLAY
Uncle Sam Obtains Experimental Ma
chimes and Places Them on Ex-
hibiton in the Smithsonian
Institution.

one shall not eventually be able to see
by wire. 1t is not such an absurd
question, for we now transmit and
receive sound and motion, via wire,
sending even our voices and handwrit-
ing by the telephone and telegraph,
says one of Uncle Sans experts. SO
far, no one has perfected method of
transmitting vision, or enabling us to
actually see objects out of sight, but
there are several methods, which,
though they do not enable us to OBJ
serve an object some miles away, re-
produce 1t mechanically as a picture,
thus practically serving the same pur-
pose. One of these systems, known as
the photo-telegraph or the electro
Autograph was invented by N. S. Am
stutz of Valparaiso, Ind, over % years
ago, and demonstrated both here and
abroad. 1t reproduces photographs by
wire.
The division of graphic arts of the
United States National museum has
lately come into possession of the early
experimental machines, as well as
some of the more perfect machines,
deposited by the inventor. They are
displayed in the exhibition hall of the
Smithsonian building in connection
with series of original photographs
and reproductions, transmitted consid-
able distances and engraved electrical
ly for use as illustrations by this meth
cd of telegraphing photographs.
Develop Automatic Engraving.
Mr.. Amstutz is a research engineer,
who has spent many years in the study
of engraving, and has developed the
art of automatic engraving to
marked degree. He was not the first
to make an electric engraving ma
chine, but he improved the existing
method by using an interrupted vari-
able-strength current, where prior de-
vices had employed an interrupted cur
rent of uniform strength for control
ing the graver or recording device.
Mr.. Amstutz's machine produced half
tones, but the other early engraving
machines made nothing but outline
drawings.
His initial photo-telegraphic machine
was built by adapting synchronizing
method to two local electric engraving
machines, one employed as a trans
mitter and the other as receiver.
The first method employed by Mr..
Amstutz, originally known as the cleo
tro autograph, transmitted a relief
photograph, made on stripping film,
composed of gelatin and bichromate
of potassium, which when washed In
lukewarm water left the parts affect
ed by light in relief. The amount of
relief was in direct proportion to the
light which had acted on the gelatin,
resulting in an irregular surface, rep
resenting in elevation all the varia-
tions of light and shade in the original
picture. The film was then mounted
on a true cylinder which revolved IN
der tracing point mounted on trav-
cling carriage. This point bears light
ly on the gelatin print, rising and
falling, like a monograph needle, but
according to the greater or less relief
due to the degrees of light or shade,
and by so doing varies to correspond
ing degree the intensity of the electric
current which actuates the receiving
instrument, located perhaps miles
away.
With one revolution of the cylinder
only a single line is reproduced with
the exact elevations and depreSSionS
of the profile of the original film pic
ture, and to transmit the whole picture
series of these adjacent lines must
be traced. This is accomplished by
,EaI, aN,t 1Irr
traces a slow spiral around the revolv-
ing cylinder, eventually covering the
whole picture. The successive laps of
the line around the cylinder reproduce
similar tracings at the other end of the
circuit, including all the light and
shade in the original.
Electric Magnet Makes Impression.
Mr.. Amstutz's receiver is similar
machine, but, instead of a tracer,
graver is mounted on the travelling car
riage, and this is depressed into the
cylindrical receiving matriN of hard
wax by an electric magnet whose
strength varies in proportion to the
current received over the line from the
sending machine. When the sending
| tracer drops to a low level or rises
TO a high spot on the film, the en-
craving tool is depressed or elevated
correspondingly and cuts a deep or
shallow slot in the wax on the receiv-
Ing cylinder. After the whole photo
has been gone over, the wax, with its
! Impressions, is taken off the receiv-
ing cylinder and rolled out fiat. An
electrotype is then made, and the tele-
graphed picture is then ready to be
printed.
While experimenting in 1895, the in
ventor discovered that he could get
even better results by using carbon
relief prints on his sending machine
reproducing them on celluloid, and this