Improvements in Way Bars for Phonographs or similar Speaking Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Way Bars for Phonographs or similar Speaking
Machines.
WILLIAM LACEY, Mechanic, 3, Stanley Grove, Topping Street, Blackpool,
ALFRED LOMAX, General Agent, 28, Caunce Street, Blackpool, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present form of the gallery or way bars used for phonographs is generally
a U shaped tube, generally made of metal, and arranged so as to fix on the
outside portion of three sides of a phonograph. At short intervals, small, hollow,
tubular tips or projections are inserted in the sides of the gallery for the purpose
of attaching thereto the rubber way or hearing tubes used by the listeners when
sounds, previously recorded, are being reproduced by a phonograph.
This invention has reference to a new and improved form and arrangement of
the tubular way bars or gallery to which the way tubes are attached of a phonograph
or similar speaking apparatus. These hitherto have generally been made and
used in such a form as to, when connected in their sections, only have one external
opening (at the end) of a diameter equal to that or nearly so of the whole diameter
of the bar-the said way bar or bars being tubular in shape and hollow.
said opening is for the purpose of attaching thereto a flexible connector tube, so as
to extend from the opening to the diaphragm in front of the machine.
The
Sometimes, however, the other end of the connected gallery is left open also to
the full extent of its diameter or, if not so, a portion of the cylindrical surface of
the bar near its end has been cut out, more or less circular in shape, so as to admit
a small sectional upright piece to be attached thereto, of the same general shape as
the gallery tube.
In either of the two last named cases, the object has been to attach an additional
flexible connector, of the same kind above referred to, also to the diaphragm of the
phonograph, the connectors being attached thereto by means of an ordinary
T piece.
The gallery of a phonograph connected up by any of the above methods has
been found more or less defective for the purposes it is used for, namely, to
effectively and strongly assist to give back the sound or record previously recorded
by the phonograph, the reproduced sound becoming weaker the further it travels
along the gallery. The object of the present invention is, that when the sound is
reproduced it shall be equally loud or very nearly so at the end of the connected
gallery tubes furthest away from the front portion of the diaphragm of the
phonograph as it would be at the end nearest to the said front portion of the
diaphragm. In order to effect this object, it is proposed in this invention to make
and arrange the way bars in such a way and manner that the reproduced sound
shall be loud and clear at any and every part of the gallery outlets.
For this purpose the gallery will not, when connected up, be closed in its
sections, so as to only have the external outlet or outlets above referred to, but, in
addition in a gallery containing, say fourteen to twenty way tubes one part of its
length will be open in the following manner, that is to say, the tube will be cut
across in sections, so as to allow free contact by the outside air with the air in the
gallery, and the openings, caused thereby, left open, or, if closed up, though not
preferably, two holes may be cut near to such part, in the cylindrical surface of
the gallery tube, and yet another way of effecting the same purpose first referral

page_text: to in this paragraph is, when the tube is cut across in section, each of the two
openings to be slightly bent so as to form an angle.
In cases where a large number of way tubes are desired or used, say up to forty,
more than one portion of the connected gallery may be made and used in the
way and manner described, and in suitable positions along the course of the
gallery.
Dated this 4th day of September 1894.
WILLIAM LACEY,
3, Stanley Grove, Topping Street, Blackpool, Mechanic.
ALFRED LOMAX,
28, Caunce Street, Blackpool.
Improvements in Way Bars for Phonographs or similar Speaking
Machines.
We, WILLIAM LACEY of 3 Stanley Grove, off Topping Street, Blackpool,
Mechanic, ALFRED LOMAX 28, Caunce Street Blackpool General Agent, 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:-
The present form of the gallery or way bars used for phonographs is generally
a Ụ shaped tube made in two or more closed sections and usually made of metal,
and arranged so as to fix on the outside portion of three sides of a phonograph.
At short intervals small, hollow, tubular tips or projections are inserted in the sides
of the gallery for the purpose of attaching thereto the rubber way or hearing tubes
used by the listeners when sourds, previously recorded are being reproduced by a
phonograph.
This invention has reference to a new and improved form and arrangement of
the tubular way bars or gallery to which the way tubes are attached of a
phonograph or similar speaking apparatus. These, hitherto, have generally been
made and used in such a form as to, when connected in their sections, only have
one external opening (at the end) of a diameter equal to that or nearly so of the
whole diameter of the bar-the said way bar or bars being tubular in shape and
hollow. The said opening is for the purpose of attaching thereto a flexible
connector tube so as to extend from the opening to the diaphragm in front of the
machine.
Sometimes, however, the other end of the connected gallery is left open also to
the full extent or nearly so of its diameter, or, if not so, a portion of the cylindricat
surface of the bar near its end has been cut out, more or less circular in shape, so
as to admit a small sectional upright piece to be attached thereto, of the same
general shape as the gallery tube.
In either of the two last named cases, the object has been to attach an additional
flexible connector of the same kind above referred to also to the diaphragm of the
phonograph, the connectors being attached thereto by means of an ordinary
T piece.
The gallery of the phonograph connected up by any of the above methods has
been found more or less defective for the purpose it is used for namely, to
effectively and strongly assist to give back the sound or record previously recorded
by the phonograph, the reproduced sound becoming weaker the further it travels
along the gallery. The object of the present invention is, that when the sound is
reproduced it shall be equally loud or very nearly so at the end of the connected
gallery tubes furthest away from the frout portion of the diaphragm of the

page_text: phonograph as it would be at the end nearest to the said front portion of the
diaphragm. In order to effect this object, it is proposed in this invention to make
and arrange the way bars in such a way and manner that the reproduced sound
shall be practically equally loud and clear at any and every part of the gallery
outlets.
For this purpose the gallery will not when connected up, be closed in its sections
so as to only have the external outlet or outlets above referred to, but, in addition,
in a gallery containing, say 14 to 20 way tubes, one part of its length will be open.
in the following manner, that is to say, the tube will be cut across in section so as
to allow free contact by the outside air with the air in the gallery, and the openings.
caused thereby, left open, or if closed up, though not preferably, two holes may
be cut near to such part, in the cylindrical surface of the gallery tube and, yet
another way of effecting the same purpose first referred to in this paragraph is,
when the tube is cut across in section, each of the two openings to be slightly bent
so as to form an angle. In effecting the purpose described in this paragraph the
portion of the gallery preferably cut across in section would be at or about the
centre part of the total length of the gallery. This, however, would more
especially apply in cases where the gallery was only intended to carry from
14 to 20 way tubes. In cases where a large number of way tubes was intended to
be in use say up to 40, the Ụ shaped tube would still be preferably the kind used,
though much more extended in its length, but at least three portions of the
connected tube or way bars would be cut across in section in the manner described,
and at or about equal distances apart in the total length of the gallery.
The gallery would still retain the same form and shape, but would be extended
in its length and extending, by means of supports, beyond the end of the
phonograph. In this case the gallery tube would be cut across in three places-
at g. 9. and at c., Fig. 2. With this form of gallery the only place where the ends
would be turned downwards (see Fig. 3) would be at c., Fig. 2.
In conveying the sounds from the first portion of the gallery to the second or
extended portion, the following method or methods would be preferable. Near the
parts 9. g., Fig. 2, of the first gallery tube a portion of the cylindrical surface of
the gallery would be cut out more or less circular in shape so as to admit a small
sectional upright piece to be attached thereto of the same general shape as the
gallery tube. The first portion of the second or extended gallery tube, and in
close proximity to the parts g. g., Fig. 2, would also be treated in a similar manner.
A semi-circular piece of tubing would cornect the sectional upright pieces
referred to so as to convey the sound from the first portion of the gallery to the
second and extended portion of the gallery-this method being adopted at each
side of the gallery, near each of the points 9.g., Fig. 2. Another method would
be to make the Y piece, a, Fig. 2, into a four way piece, so as to carry two
additional flexible connectors similar to those marked b. b., Fig. 2, and conveying
the same to each of the small sectional upright pieces on the first portion of the
second or extended length of the gallery. In this latter case the small sectional
upright pieces at the ends of the first portion of the gallery near the parts 9.g.,
Fig. 2, would not be used.
In cases where a large number of way tubes are desired or used, say up to 40,
more than one portion of the connected gallery may be made and used in the way
and manner described, and in suitable positions along the course of the gallery.
Having now explained the principle of the invention, the manner in which the
same is or may be applied, will now be explained in reference to the accompanying
drawings which make part of this Specification.
Fig. 1. represents a portion of the way bars or gallery with a way tube attached
to the same. a, is intended to show a portion of the gallery tube. b, represents
the way tube attached to the gallery. c, shows one of the hollow projections or
tips to which the way tube or tubes are attached.
Fig. 2. represents an end view of the phonograph, showing the connected gallery
attached thereto and in position for use. a, represents the T piece attached to the

page_text: diaphragm of the machine and which diaphragm is represented by e, and to which
T piece are attached the flexible connector tubes, represented by b. b., the said tubes
joining the main or metal portion of the gallery at the places marked d. d.
f, represents the way or hearing tube itself. c, indicates the manner in which the
opening or brake in the connected gallery tube is effected and for the purpose
described in this invention. g. g. is intended to show the gallery tubes.
Fig. 3. is intended to represent another form of effecting the opening in the
gallery tube or tubes. In this case the ends being slightly bent so as to form an
angle. The letter a being intended to show a portion of the gallery tube.
Fig. 4. represents still another way or mode of effecting the opening in the
connected gallery tube as described. a, represents the gallery tube, and b. b. are
intended to represent the external openings or holes in the gallery tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is ;-
In a phonograph or similar speaking machine for use in connection with same of
the improved form of gallery with opening or openings substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of November 1894.
WILLIAM LACEY.
ALFRED LOMAX.