Improvements in Phonographic Dolls or similar Images.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug.,
1889
QUALELETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Phonographic Dolls or similar Images.
I WILLIAM WHITE JACQUES of Newton in the County of Middlesex and State of
Massachusetts one of the United States of America, Electrician do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to certain improveinents upon phonographically talking dolls
and other images such as described in the specification of Letters Patent granted to
Alfred George Brookes on a communication from abroad by me, numbered 616 and
dated January 14 1888 and consists of an improvement in the form and construction
of the resonating chamber to be used therewith, and in the devices by which the stylus
is automatically withdrawn from contact with the record surface while it is being
moved back to its initial position.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a central sectional view of the head and
body of a doll, with the phonograph and its attachments therein also in central section
above the axis of the phonograph cylinder.
Figure 2. is an elevation of the phonograph and its attachments viewed from the
back of the doll as arranged in fig. 1, with the stylus withdrawn from the record so
that the phonogram may be turned back to its initial position.
Figure 3, is an elevation of the phonograph and its attachments viewed from the
front of the doll as arranged in fig. 1, the stylus occupying the same position as in
fig. 2.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the phonograph viewed from the same position as in
fig. 2 but with a portion of the diaphragm frame and resonating chamber and the
regulator and lower part of the cylinder broken away, and having the stylus in contact
with the record ready to produce the sounds there recorded.
Figure 5, is a top view of the apparatus looking into the resonating chamber.
Similar letters and figures in the several views indicate the same parts of the
apparatus.
A, is the head of the doll; C is a box forming a part of the body of the doll, to
contain and support the phonograph is the upper part of the receptacle for the
phonograph, attached to the head and serving as a cover to the lower portion.
e, and f, the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the diaphragm frame or
holder is the diaphragm; h. the stylus, held to the diaphragm at its center
with an interposed piece of india-rubber 23: 4, is the phonograph cylinder having a
spirally grooved surface as shown at j. The journal k, of this cylinder is also
grooved in the same manner and runs in a nut or bearing 1, similarly grooved
within: mm. m², constitute the frame of the apparatus. The upper and lower
portions of the diaphragm frame are screwed together at 4. 4, and it is pivoted
on one side at n. n. by pivots 3, B; at the opposite side the frame is free to move
up and down within limits defined by the adjusting screw 6, but against the
pressure of the spring 7. and the parts 10, 11, which constitute the shipping
device to automatically withdraw the stylus from the record when the record
surface, is given a reverse motion; the shipping device being hung upon the rod 9.
j, is the metal plate upon the cylinder, upon which the record of the vibrations of
the diaphragm is made. In the drawings it is represented as a metal ring of sub-
stantial thickness upon which the record is cut or engraved by a stylus having an
engraving point in distinction from being produced by indentation as may be done
when using a metal foil; is an aperture through the cover or upper portion of the
diaphragm holder to allow the sounds produced by the diaphragm to readily escape;
s, is my improved resonating chamber connected with the aperture r.

page_text: This resonator is the most effective form which I have discovered, being made in
spherical form, having opening 1, . at either pole, and divided by an umbilical shaped
diaphragm, with an opening at the small end coincident with the lower opening t
I find that if the head of the doll or image is composed of such material as thin
papier-mache, metal, wood or bisque, which can be easily set in vibration, and will
readily respond to the vibrations of the air within the head produced bythe diaphragm.
then the head may be made whole; that is, without any orifice for the emission of the
sounds reproduced by the diaphragm from the record, and also when the head of the
image is composed of such thin material, good results may be obtained without the use
of any resonating chamber except that of the hollow head itself, provided the air space
above the diapliragm is in free communication with the chamber formed by the
hollow head.
When the head of the image is made of thick material, or such as will not readily
take up the vibrations of air produced within it, it will be found necessary, in order to
obtain satisfactory "talking" from the phonograph within, to make an orifice in some
convenient part of the head or image. I have found thin sheet zine to be the most
advantageous material for use in making the spherical resonating chambers.
The phonograph illustrated in the drawings is one operated by a spring, commecied
to the journal k, and in figures 1 and 3, e, is a case containing a spring, which, when
wound up by means of a key, inserted in the key-hole p'. causes the phonograph
cylinder to revolve, and in order that it may have a uniform motion. I provide a
regulator, which is set in motion by means of its spindler, coming in contact with
the cylinder j.
The inner end of the spring within the case e, is attached to a sleeve upon the
journal k, which is prevented from turning by being made fast to an arm y. (Fig. 3).
the outer end of which comes in contact with the portion m, of the frame when the
spring is wound up. The other end of said spring is made fast to the journal k.
The weights, within the regulator, are attached to springs 19, which are made
fast to the hub, by means of screws 20, and as the hub is caused to revolve in
the direction indicated by the arrow, the weights, will hear against the rim of the
regulator case with a force proportionate to the velocity of the apparatus, and thus
by the degree of friction caused, equalize its motion. The regulator is pivoted to
the frame of the phonograph at 21, and its spindle, is held in contact with the
cylinder by means of the spring 22. The stylus h, is held in contact with the
diaphragm g, by an interposed piece of india-rubber 23, to make its contact more
readily yielding.
The armis 10 and II, are made fast to opposite ends of the pivot rod 9, the arm 10
being provided with a hook-shaped end turned downward, and when the cylinder i, by
its revolution upon the screw threaded shaft k, has moved toward that arm 10 a
distance equal to the width of the cylinder, a stud or finger 24, projecting from the
side of the cylinder, will strike beneath the arm 10, and thus raise it until the stud 24,
engages with the hook upon the end of the arm, which will stop the cylinder. The
arm 11, being made fast to the rod 9, will be raised at the same time as the arm 10.
and a cam 25. fastened to a crank-rod 26, which is pivoted in bearings upon the top
of the hub or nut, will be thrown beneath the horizontal portion of the arm 11,
through the action of a spring coiled about the crank-rod 26, one end of which is
attached to the cam 25, or the crank-rod, and the other end to one of the bearings of
the crank-rod.
By means of an adjusting screw 27, working through an offset upon the arm 10, in
a position to bear against the under side of the diaphragm frame whenever the arm 10
is raised, it will also raise the diaphragm frame slightly, and thus withdraw the
stylus h, from contact with the record surface. The end of the arm 11, raised upon
the top of the cam 25, will hold the stylus 7, away from contact with the record-plate
while the mainspring within the case, is being wound up. During the operation of
windingthe spring, the phonographeylinder is prevented from its progressive revolution
by means of a cam-shaped arm 28, also made fast to the crank-rod 26, and bearing

page_text: upon the inner surface of the rim of the phonograph cylinder in such a position as to
cause it to hind and hold the cylinder from such progressive movement while the
arm 1t. rests upon the top of the cam 25. In order to start the phonograph cylinder
in its progressive revolution the crank-rod 26, is turned to one side a distance sufficient
to allow the horizontal projection of the arm L. to drop off from the cam surface of
the arm 25, into the position shown in Fig. 4. This will withdraw the cam-arm 28
from contact with the rim of the phonograph cylinder, and allow if to revolve until
it has moved in the direction of the armi 10 a sufficient distance to again cause
the finger 24, to engage with the hook upon the end of the arm 10. and stop the
cylinder; at the same time raising the arm 11, so that its horizontal portion will
again rest upon the top of the cam-surface of the arm 25, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
29 is a thimble made fast to the end of the journal k, and slides over the end of the
hub 7, as the journal k, moves in and out in the operation of the phonograph, and in
winding up the spring in the case 6.
It is desirable to cover the spindle, of the regulator with some material such as
india-rubber to assist in preventing it from slipping upon the surface of the cylinder j,
during its revolution.
Instead of using a thin metal foil upon which to record the sound vibrations of the
diaphragmby indentation a plate of substantial thickness made of Babbitt-metal, block-
tin, or soft-solder, may be used, and the record of the sound vibrations produced
thereon hy engraving with a cutting-stylus.
In practice it will be found advantageous to produce such engraved records upon
the metal plate, by means of a carefully constructed phonograph made with accuracy
for the especial purpose, and having a strong diaphragm, with a sharp pointed cutting
stylus attached, and when such record is engraved upon a metal ring, as illustrated
at, in the drawings, the surface of the periphery of the cylinder i, is made plain and
the spiral groove is produced by the cutting stylus on the outer surface of the metal
ring during the operation of engraving the record.
After the record of the sound vibrations has been engraved upon the metal ring, it
may be removed and readily adjusted upon any cylinder of the proper size, in any
other phonograph, to be there used for the purpose of reproducing the sound vibrations
recorded thereon.
The essential features of my improved resonator are that it is of spherical or globular
form with openings at opposite poles; and divided by a perforated diaphragm, into two
chambers of unequal size and shape, and having the opening at one pole in freo
communication with an enclosed air space above the diaphragm.
The umbilical shaped diaphragm illustrated in the drawings I have thus far
found to be the best form, and an annular air space above the diaphragm; but the
form of these parts may be varied to change the quality of the sounds emitted to
meet the desire of the manufacturer of the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination with a doll or similar image having a chambered body for con-
taining a phonograph, and a hollow head, of a phonograph provided with a globular
resonator, substantially such as described, connected with an air chamber above the
diaphragm, to select and reenforce the sounds reproduced thereby.
2. The combination of a phonographwith a dollor similar imagehaving a chambered
body within which the phonograph is contained and supported, and a hollow head of
resonant material to serve as a resonating chamber to reenforce the sounds reproduced
by the diaphragm.
3. The combination in a phonograph enclosed in a doll or similar image of a
diaphragm supported in a hinged frame held by a spring in operative relation with
the record-surface, and an automatic shipping device operated by contact with the

page_text: phonograph cylinder, to stop the record surface and withdraw the stylus therefrom
when it has completely traversed the record contained thereon, substantially as
described.
T11...
A 188so
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.