Improvements in Apparatus for Reproducing Sound.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1898-Accepted, 23rd July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Reproducing Sound.
I, JOSEPII NATHANIEL BROWN, of Muskegon, in the County of Muskegon and
State of Michigan, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention has reference to a novel construction in a device for reproducing
the sounds of a phonogram record.
The object of this invention is to provide a device for reproducing these sounds,
which is of such simple, inexpensive, and durable construction, that the cost of
the same is such that it may be within the reach of many heretofore unable to
obtain this machine, owing to the price; and also, that its operation is such that
it can be used with less care and furthermore, to produce a device of this kind
that has less to come out of order than those heretofore in use.
The invention consists in the features of construction hereinafter described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,
in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sound reproducing device constructed in accord-
ance with this invention and shown as arranged for reproducing sounds recorded
upon a gramaphone disc..
Figure 2 is a part top plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of this invention as arranged for reproducing sounds
recorded upon a phonograph cylinder.
Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the resilient post or support in detail.
I have discovered that the sound writings of a phonogram can be reproduced
as sonorous vibrations by means of a single bar, rod or analogous vibratory
member that is yieldingly supported and which is provided with a point or pro-
jection adapted to travel in the spiral groove or score containing the sound
writings. This vibratory member, as before stated, may be a bar or rod and
may be of wood as I have illustrated in the drawings accompanying this application.
In constructing a device of this kind, I have successively reproduced sounds,
either musical or articulate speech, from the record of a phonogram by the employ-
ment of a bar or rod of wood that is yieldingly supported near one end thereof
and which is provided at its other end with a pin or projection to travel in the
groove containing the sound writings. I am not prepared to explain the phe-
nomena, nor the manner in which the sounds are reproduced and therefore will
not attempt to specify herein the scientific principles for the reproduction of the
sound, but will s. ly describe the essential features and the principle of the
invention as I have tound them in practical use.
As before stated, the invention consists primarily in a vibratory member, which
can be a bar or rod and which is yieldingly supported near one end so that it may
move laterally to follow the spiral groove or score of the phonogram and which
can also move vertically so that the point or projection carried thereby may adapt
itself to the indentations of the sound record of the phonogram. It is understood

page_text: of course that the invention is applicable for the reproduction of the sounds
recorded upon phonograph cylinders, gramaphone díses and other analogous
-phonogram records, and in the accompanying drawings the invention is shown in
connection with a phonograph cylinder and a gramaphone disc.
In said drawings, I have shown a vibratory member 1 partaking of the shape
of a rod or bar, although it will be understood that in accordance with the principle
involved by this invention, this vibratory member is not confined specifically
to a rod or bar but to any equivalent thereof consistent with the principle involved
by this invention, namely, to support a vibratory member yieldingly and then
to cause it to vibrate by means of a point or projection rigid, therewith and which
travels over the phonogram record. As shown in the drawings, this vibratory
member is yieldingly supported near one end thereof, whereby it can move
both laterally and vertically, while its other end is provided with a projection
or pin 2 that projects below the vibratory member and is conveniently located at
an angle thereto as shown to effectually prevent the scratching of the sound
writings. Upon the vibratory member 1 is arranged a weight 3 that serves to
hold the projection or pin 2 upon the phonogram record under sufficient tension
to produce the most satisfactory results. This weight is adjustable upon the
vibratory member between the point at which it is yieldingly supported and the
pin or projection 2, whereby the tension with which it is held against the phono-
gram record can be regulated.
The device as above constructed, it is found, reproduces the sound without the
aid of a horn or ear tubes, and as above stated, although I am not prepared to
explain the manner in which the sounds are reproduced, yet I have found it
to be a fact.
The particular construction in the yielding support for the vibratory member
consists of a resilient post 4 comprising a coil spring that is firmly fastened at
its lower end upon the base 5, while its upper end is provided with a finger 6
that extends upward on one side of the post and which passes through an
opening 7 in the vibratory member in which it fits snugly. This resilient post
or support by means of which the vibratory member is yieldingly supported
is provided with a socket to receive a horn or ear tube and in the
particular construction illustrated, this socket of course is formed, by the
cylindrical body made by the coil spring and since the finger at the upper end
thereof extends upwardly on one side of the coil spring, the end of the tube
or horn can be easily inserted within the upper end of the coil spring. The said
coil spring can be secured firmly in its upright position by forcing its lower end
over a boss or projection 8 upon the base 5. The pin or projection near the free
end of the vibratory member is removable so that it can be replaced when worn
or whenever it is desired and as an inexpensive and simple embodiment, the
end of the vibratory member is simply provided with an opening in which the
pin or projection is wedged.
In Figures 1 and 2, the device is shown in connection with a phonogram disc,
while in Figure 3 it is shown in connection with a phonogram cylinder. In
Figure 3 I have also shown the pin or projection 2 as provided at its lower end
with a minute roller 9 to come in contact with the phonogram record and which
will of course subject the said record to less wear than if used in connection
with the rigid point or projection as heretofore described and shown in Figures I
and 2. Further, in Figure 3, I have shown the post or support for yieldingly
supporting the end of the vibratory member as solid, as shown at 10, while it
is provided with a yielding finger upon which the member 1 is mounted, said
finger 6, being a small wire bent or offset, is of a more or less yielding character,
and might be provided with a coil so as to permit it to yield or accommodate itself
to the vibration of the bar 1. In this construction, the end of the vibratory
member can be reduced or mounted so that it can be inserted in the end of the ear
tube 11 or in the horn as is obvious.
It is understood of course that the form of post shown in Figures 1 and 2 serves

page_text: to intensify the vibration and to make the sound clearer and of greater volume as
compared with the form of post shown in Figure 3, although in accordance with
the principle involved by this invention, I contemplate employing either a solid,
a coil spring or a resilient post for supporting the vibratory member for the purpose
of reproducing the sounds of a phonogram record, either with or without the aid
of an ear tube or horn, as found most convenient and desirable.
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. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single yieldingly supported
vibratory member provided with a point or projection adapted to travel over the
sound writings of the phonogram whereby the said vibratory member itself repro-
duces sonorous vibrations.
2. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single vibratory member yield-
ingly supported near one end thereof, and provided near its other end with a point
or projection adapted to travel over the sound writings of a phonogram whereby
the said vibratory member itself reproduces sonorous vibrations.
3. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single vibratory member yield-
ingly supported near one end thereof to move laterally and vertically and provided
near its other end with a point or projection adapted to travel over the sound
writings of a phonogram whereby the said vibratory member itself reproduces
sonorous vibrations.
4. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single vibratory member pivoted
near one end thereof to swing laterally and vertically and provided near its other
end with a point or projection adapted to travel over the sound writings of a phono-
gram whereby the said vibratory member itself reproduces sonorous vibrations.
5. A sound reproducing device consisting of a single vibratory member secured
near one end to a resilient post or support and provided near its other end with a
point or projection adapted to travel over the sound writings of a phonogram
whereby the said vibratory member itself reproduces sonorous vibrations.
6. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a vibratory member secured near
one end thereof to a resilient post or support comprising a coil spring and pro-
vided near its other end with a point or projection adapted to travel over the
sound writings of a phonogram.
7. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a vibratory member secured near
one end thereof to an upwardly extending finger at the upper end of a resilient
post or support, said post or support consisting of a coil spring, and a point or
projection adapted to travel over the sound writings of a phonogram.
8. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a vibratory member secured near
one end thereof to a resilient post or support, said post or support consisting of a
coil spring having an upwardly extending finger situated to one side thereof and
upon which said vibratory member is mounted and, a point or projection near
the other end of said vibratory member adapted to travel over the sound writings
of the phonogram.
9. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single vibratory member yield-
ingly supported by a post or support and provided with a point or projection adapted
to travel over the sound writings of a phonogram whereby the said vibratory
member itself reproduces sonorous vibrations, and a socket in said post or support
to receive a tube or the like..
10. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single vibratory member yield-
ingly supported by a resilient post or support and provided with a point or
projection adapted to travel over the sound writings of a phonogram whereby
the said vibratory member itself reproduces sonorous vibrations, and a socket in
said resilient post or support to receive a tube or the like.
11. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single vibratory member sup-
ported near one end thereof upon a resilient post, said post having a finger upon

page_text: which the vibratory member is mounted and also provided with a socket to receive
a tube or the like, and a point or projection near the other end of said vibratory
member adapted to travel over the sound writings of a phonogram whereby the
said vibratory member itself reproduces sonorous vibrations.
12. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single yieldingly supported
vibratory member provided with an inclined point or projection adapted to travel
over the sound writings of a phonogram whereby the said vibratory member itself
reproduces sonorous vibrations.
13. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single yieldingly supported
vibratory member provided with a point or projection adapted to travel over the
sound writings of a phonogram whereby the said vibratory member itself repro-
duces sonorous vibrations, and a weight secured to said member between its point
of support and said point of projection.
14. A sound-reproducing device, consisting of a single yieldingly supported
vibratory member provided with a point or projection adapted to travel over the
sound writings of a phonogram whereby the said, vibratory member itself repro-
duces sonorous vibrations, and a weight supported upon said member and adjust-
able between the point of support in said vibratory member and its point of
projection.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1898
•
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.