Improvements in Gramophones.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 9th June, 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gramophones.
I, FERDINAND VON MADALER, of 47, Königsgasse, Budapest, Hungary, Engineer,
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:-
-
Apparatus for the reproduction of the voice and other sounds, such as phono-
graphs, graphophones and gramophones have the disadvantage that they possess
either wax cylinders (as in phonographs and graphophones) which are very fragile,
cannot be copied or reproduced so as to ensure purity and equal strength of tone,
and cannot be manufactured so simply and cheaply as flat plates; or that where
such flat plates are applied, as in gramophones, they are not adapted for the
reception thereon of tunes or sounds from the public, which latter circumstance
prevents the general adaption of these otherwise desirable instruments.
This invention relates to apparatus in which these disadvantages are remedied.
By means of this apparatus anybody may transmit sounds to such flat plates or
discs without preliminary training and with ease and clearness; and such plates
may be reproduced, if desired, in thousands in celluloid, vulcanised rubber and
the like with great purity and strength of tone.
This apparatus is of very simple construction compared with similar apparatus,
the frame of the driving mechanism being cast in one piece. The reception of
the sounds takes place on a specially prepared plate of wax, which after reception
is reproduced by electro-deposition, the negative thus obtained being then trans-
ferred in any desired number to celluloid, vulcanised rubber and the like. The
reception takes place by a deeply cutting diaphragm. In existing Berliner's disc
apparatus the reception takes place by a side movement of the diaphragm knife
and the reception can take place only in the factory, where the process is kept
secret.
as:
This invention relates further to improvements in details of the apparatus such
A special hinged arrangement and construction of the diaphragm.
The adaptation of a bent steel tube for carrying the funnel which is hinged
thereon.
The arrangement for regulating the velocity of rotation i.e. the arrangement
for adapting the velocity of rotation to the voice during speaking or to similar
requirements for the perfect reception of the sounds.
The arrangement of a telescopic funnel.
In order that this invention may be the better understood. I now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section parallel to the driving mechanism.
Figure 2 shows a vertical section through the casing of the driving mechanism
with the phonograph in elevation.
Figure 3 shows an horizontal section.
Tiros 45 and fi chow details of the phonograph.

page_text: To a round or square base plate a of wood or similar material is screwed a
frame for the driving mechanism by three screws c with intermediate layers or
flanges of rubber d leather and the like. The frame is designed to support a
number of axles which carry the various wheels and other parts of the driving
mechanism. The mechanism is driven from a compressed spiral spring e, by a
ratchet wheel g fixed to the axle f of the spiral spring e, and by pawls h, cog-
wheel i, arranged loose on the axle f, cog-wheels j, k, l, axle m, and bevil
wheels and o. The device is provided with a regulator p. The apparatus is
stopped and adjusted to the desired rate of velocity by the braking and regulating
mechanism, which is provided outside the apparatus with an indicating hand
adapted to move over a scale on the casing, and a pivotted lever r having a
button q¹, wires, crank levert having at its end a block of leather or the like,
and a plate V connected to an adjustable sleeve of the regulator. By the turning
of the lever r the block is lifted off the disc V or pressed against it, thus changing
the velocity of rotation, and stopping the rotation when in the uttermost "brake
position. The upper elongation of the vertical main axle of the driving
imechanism protrudes from the round or square casing y and is provided with a
round metallic disc A, which serves as fly wheel for the driving mechanism, and
as a support for the plate B of wax, celluloid and the like provided for the
reception of the phonograms, for which purpose it may be covered with cloth.
The пррег end of the elongation of the axle is provided with a screw thread on
to which may be screwed a disc C preferably of steel and having a spiral thread,
which disc is designed to guide the diaphragm during the reception of sounds.
The base plate a has a hole for the reception of a steel tube D to support the
funnel. The bent tube D is inserted into the hole and to prevent it from turning
a segmental plate E is provided. The funnel F is placed on the upper end of this
tube D and secured thereon by a pin G hinged to the funnel. The funnel F is
thus arranged so that it may be turned in all directions. The diaphragm is
hinged to the funnel and adapted to be detached therefrom. The arrangement
of the diaphragm causes the sound to pass direct to the diaphragm, without being
weakened by curves, and vice versa. This also ensures the purity of the tone. As
before mentioned the diaphragm may be removed and a similar diaphragm, pro-
vided with a sharp knife, may be substituted for the reception of sounds. For
the attachment of the diaphragm an arm J is provided on the funnel F, which
has a point K designed to engage in the spiral groove or thread of the disc C for
the guidance of the diaphragm during the reception of sounds.
By means of the ball-joint provided on the lower end of the funnel (Figure 2)
the rounded stone or the knife attached to the diaphragm can be moved out of
contact with the disc. This is effected by pressing the two halves of the button, X,
together. The diaphragm casing is secured to the piece al by a bayonet joint. A
pin forms a kind of pivot for the relative motion of the part ' and the sleeve
on the end of the funnel. The reception of the sounds may be effected in exactly
the same manner as the transmission or reproduction of sounds. For this purpose
the diaphragm designed for the reproduction of sound which is provided with a
rounded stone. superseded by a diaphragm, provided with a knife, for the
reception of sounds. The reception takes place of course on a disc of a compound
of wax or other material in which incisions are easily made. Negatives may be
produced from reception plates which have received the melody, speech or other
sounds this may be done by electro-deposition or any other suitable method or
process, and the negatives may be reproduced in any number with the utmost
precision.
If desired the funnel F may be constructed so as to telescope into a small com-
pass for easy transport.
The casing encloses the driving mechanism and may be pressed or cast in
paper pulp, metal, or other material. The centre of the diaphragm plate is hinged
to a crank lever, which is pivotted at in an elastically mounted sleeve on
the casing of the diaphragm. To the end of this crank lever is fixed the writing

page_text: or reception stone by which the diaphragm receives the necessary vibrations
through the waves of the reception plate B.
In order to arrest the apparatus in very short time without being obliged to
turn back the brake lever q, r, a braking arrangement consisting of a pivotted
lever and an oblique plane may be arranged below the plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is:-
Ist. A phonograph with a flat reception plate, adapted for the reception of sound
and the reproduction thereof, having a vertical main axle & rotated by clock-
work, to which is screwed a disc C produced by stamping from sheet metal or in
a similar manner and provided with a spiral thread or groove, designed for the
guidance of the diaphragm during the reception of sounds; a diaphragm or a
funnel F being provided with an arm J adapted to swing out sideways and having
a point K at its end to engage in the spiral thread or groove of the metallic disc C,
so that the cutting edge of the diaphragm lever is guided during the reception of
sounds exactly in a spiral line over a reception plate B of a wax compound or other
suitable material in which incisions can be easily made, substantially as described.
2nd. In apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 the arrangement of a diaphragm,
hinged to the funnel F and constructed so that the sound can pass direct to the
diaphragm without going round curves, and reception takes place by the diaphragm
in a vertical position i.e. in the direction of the up and down movement of the
cutting edge of the lever transmitting the vibrations of the diaphragm, substantially
as described.
3rd. In apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, mechanism for regulating and braking
the velocity of rotation, consisting of a pivotted lever r, a wire s connected
therewith, a crank lever p, a brake block and a plate or disc V connected with the
movable sleeve of the regulator, so that the speed of the driving mechanism
may be regulated and stopped by the rotation of the lever by a lever adapted
to move outside the casing y over a scale, substantially as described.
4th. In apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 flat reception discs or plates receiving
the sounds in vertical direction so that the waves caused by the vibrations of the
diaphragm are produced in vertical direction instead of in a horizontal direction
as in known disc gramaphones, substantially as described.
5th. In apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 and 4, the method of producing a
negative or negatives from a plate of a compound of wax or similar material
adapted to receive incisions easily, so that any desired number of plates may be
obtained from such negative in celluloid, vulcanised rubber or other suitable
material by pressing or otherwise, substantially as described.
6th. In apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 a frame 6 cast in one piece of suitable
form for supporting the various parts of the driving mechanism, substantially
as described.
7th. In apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 à casing y enclosing the driving
mechanism and pressed, stamped or otherwise produced in one piece from paper
pulp, metal or other suitable material, substantially as described.
Sth. In apparatus as claimed in 1 the arrangement of a telescoping funnel F,
substantially as described.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.