Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-06-15
PHOTOGRAPHS ARE
Sent over Wire
System First Invented by Indiana
Man More Than Is Years
Ago.
EARLY MODELS ON DISPLAY
Uncle Sam Obtains Experimental Ma.
chimes and Places Them on Ex-
hibition in the Smithsonian
Institution.

Probably many have wondered If
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 it 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 25 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 a series of original photographs
and reproductions, transmitted consid-
ab1o or ond 40 l.
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 a
marked degree. He was not the first
to make an electric engraving ma
chine, but he improved the existing
method by using an interrupted vaM-
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.
!
machines made nothing but outline
drawings.
His initial photo-telegraphic machine
was built by adapting synchronizine
method to two local electric engraving
machines, one employed as a trans
mitter and the other as a receiver.
The first method employed by Mr.
! Amstutz, originally known as the elec
tro autograph, transmitted a relie-
photograph, made on a stripping film
composed of gelatin and bichromatt
of potassium, which when washed il
lukewarm water left the parts affect
ed by light in relief. The amount O
relief was in direct proportion to tn,
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 origina
picture. The film was then mounte,
on a true cylinder which revolved un
der tracing point mounted on tray
cling carriage. This point bears light
ly on the gelatin print, rising an
falling, like phonograph needle, bu
according to the greater or less relic
due to the degrees of light or shade
and by so doing varies to correspond
ing degree the intensity Of the electri
current which actuates the receivin
instrument, located perhaps mile
away.
With one revolution of the cylinde
only single line is reproduced wit
the exact elevations and depression
Of the profile of the original film .pi,
ture, and to transmit the whole pictur
series of these adjacent lines mu:
be traced. This is accomplished b
the travelling needle which actual
traces a slow spiral around the revoI'
ing cylinder, eventually covering tt
whole picture. The successive laps {
the line around the cylinder reprodut
similar tracings at the other end Of tt
!, circuit, including all the light an
, shade in the original.
, Electric Magnet Makes Impression.
Mr.. Amstutz's receiver is simili
5 machine, but, instead Of a tracer,
5 graver is mounted on the travelling ca
riage, and this is depressed into Il
t cylindrical receiving matrix of hal
| wax by an electric magnet who's
e strength varies in proportion to tt
t current received over the line from Il
;, sending machine. When the sendir
, tracer drops to a low level or ris
e to- high spot on the film, the e
craving tool is depressed or elevate
f correspondingly and cuts a deep
e shallow slot in the wax on the recei
d ing cylinder. After the whole pho
: has been gone over, the wax, with
r impressions, is taken off the recei
t ing cylinder and rolled out fiat. 4
l. electrotype is then made, and the tel
graphed picture is then ready to
e printed.
n While experimenting in 1895, the
l. 7entor discovered that he could G
5 even better results by using carbt
Ii relief prints on his sending machil
t reproducing them on celluloid, and th
method superseded the gelatin al
wax process.
.
n Take Nitrogen From Air.
r01O nj fnIa fhn af1fin Of YOtf