Improvements in Phonographs.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug, 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Phonographs.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELRUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191 Fleet Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by Thomas Alva Edison, of Llewellyn
Park, in the County of Essex, and State of New Jersey, one of the United States of
America) to be as follows:--
The object of this invention is to increase the simplicity in construction and operation
of the phonograph by decreasing the number of parts of which the machine is composed,
by lessening or avoiding the necessity for adjustment of the various parts in practice,
and by rendering the manipulation of the machine more convenient. To this end
many changes have been made in the machine as represented in the drawings
accompanying the Specifications to Letters Patent No. 17,175'87, No. 12,593'88,
No. 12,594' and No. 16,212's relating to improvements devised by my foreign
correspondent.
Heretofore separate diaphragms and diaphragm-holders have been employed for
the recording and the reproducing points, these being held in the two eyes of a
spectacle-frame mounted in such a manner that either diaphragm with its point could
be swung into position over the phonogram-cylinder.
One feature of the present invention consists in attaching both the recording point
and the reproducing point to the same diaphragm, and in so arranging the parts
carrying such diaphragm that by a simple movement either the recording or the
reproducing point may be brought into operative position.
The diaphragm is connected by means of a link to a lever having a cross head
across one end of which is formed at an angle a sleeve for holding the recording point
formed with a circular gouging edge; while from the face of the cross piece at its
other end extends another sleeve holding the spherical-ended reproducing point. The
diaphragm frame is held in a circular eye at the end of the rocking holding arm and
is arranged to turn to a limited extent, such turning movement bringing either the
recording point or the reproducing point into position for operation, while it reinoves
the point not in use from the surface.. Limiting stops for this movement are provided
and that which limits the movement in the direction for throwing in the producer is
made adjustable, so that a slight lateral adjustment of the reproducing point to bring
it into the track of the record is permitted. This is the only adjustment required for
either the recording point or the reproducing point, the necessity hitherto existing for
adjustment, at the guide rest, for giving the recording point the right depth in the
record surface, being avoided by the use of a pivoted weight or other retarding device
acting upon the lever which carries both points, and being such as to cause the
recording point to enter the record to the right depth when it is lowered thereon.
The resistance of the material to the entrance of the point increases with the distance
to which it enters, and, when it has entered far enough, becomes so great as to over-
come the weight of the retarding device and lift the same so that the knife will enter
no further. This will evidently be the same no matter how much the phonogram
blank may be reduced in size by turning off previous records, and-within the limit
for which the machine is constructed-the recording point will of itself and without
adjustment constantly penetrate to the right depth.
A guide rest is made use of as heretofore for supporting the front end of the
diaphragm receptacle or rocking holding arm, and attached to the latter is a pivoted
handle provided with a cam head of such form that, in lowering the arm, one side of
the head strikes the guide rest before the recording (or reproducing) point reaches the
record. By then lowering the pivoted handle, the cam head is turned so as to lower

page_text: the point gently upon the surface. By raising the pivoted handle so as to turn the
head upon the guide rest, the point is raised from the record and the feeding arm
disengaged from the feed screw, so that the parts may be run back to the starting
position without throwing the rocking arm entirely back.
As a feeding device attached to the sleeve which carries the rocking holding arm,
for engaging with the feed screw on the phonogram-shaft, there is employed a divided
arm, consisting of a flat spring which is split at its free end and carries ou each part a
screw-threaded nnt-section for engaging with the feed screw; so that, in case one of
the nut-sections fails to properly engage, the other may not.
On the exterior of the turning diaphragm holder is placed a pin and on the
stationary eye or receptacle is placed another pin, so that the relative position of such
pins is altered when the diaphragm is turned to change from the recording point to
the reproducing point, or vice versa. On the inner end of the ear-tube used in
reproducing is arranged a plate having notches in such position as to fit over the pins
when the reproducing point is in position; and on the inner end of the mouth-tube
there is a plate with notches suited to fit on the pins when the recorder is on. Thus
only the right tube can be attached to the machine at any time, and this furnishes an
indication whether the parts are in position for recording or for reproducing.
By arranging the recording and the reproducing points as described, one is enabled
to place the knife (employed for turning off the surface of the cylinder to remove a
record)at a distance from the said points. It is placed at the rear portion of the rocking
holding arm, and so arranged that the depth of the cut may be precisely determined.
The knife is mounted at the end of a stem which is constantly held forward by a
spring, and an adjustable stop is provided which engages with the cylinder-surface,
enabling the distance to which the knife is pressed forward to be altered according to
the size of the cylinder, and which is swung off the cylinder by the turning movement
thereof. A simple device is also provided for moving the knife off the cylinder, and
for locking the knife against the cylinder and away from it; the parts being so
arranged that the throwing back of the rocking holding arm trips the device and
moves the knife back; so that, when the arm is again lowered to bring the recording
point into position, the knife is off the surface.
Another feature of improvement consists in the clamping device for the swinging
arm located at the end of the cylinder and serving to hold the parts in place. Here-
tofore this device has consisted of a hinged pin entering a slot in the arm and provided
with a screw-head to be screwed up against the arm to hold it. The head is now
provided with a spring which throws it in against the arm and clamps it without the
necessity of manipulating a screw.
Dated the 28th day of November 1889.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Phonographs.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from Thomas Alva Edison, of Llewellyn Park, in
the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, one of the United States of America,)
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The objects of this invention are to simplify the construction and to facilitate the
operation of the phonograph, by decreasing the number of parts in the machine, and
by lessening or avoiding the necessity for adjustment while the machine is in operation.
To effect these ends, many changes have been made in the machine as represented in
the drawings accompanying the Specifications to Letters Patent No. 17,175'87,
No. 12,593's, No. 12,594, and No. 16,212's relating to improvements devised by
my foreign correspondent.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shews, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, a phonograph con-
structed in accordance with the present invention; the means for causing the cylinder
to rotate being omitted.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding transverse vertical section.
Fig. 3 is a detail view representing, in vertical section, the recorder and reproducer;
Fig. 4 being an under-side view thereof.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the way in which the recording point
and the reproducing point are arranged.
Fig. 6 explains the action of the recording point on the phonogram-cylinder.
Fig. 7 shews, in side elevation, the improved feeding device; the feeding screw,
the sleeve to which the feeding device is attached, and the rod carrying the sleeve
being in vertical section.
Fig. 8 is a plan of the under side of the feeding device.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the mouth-tube; Fig. 10 being a similar view of
part of the ear-tube.
The machine is mounted on a base w. is the phonogram-cylinder, and y the
phonogram. The cylinder is rotated by a belt leading from any suitable motor and
passing over the pulley z keyed to the cylinder-shaft.
Heretofore separate diaphragms and diaphragm-holders held in the two eyes of a
spectacle-frame so mounted that either diaphragm with its point could be swung into
position over the phonogram-cylinder have been employed for the recording and
reproducing points. One feature of the present invention consists in attaching both
the recording point and the reproducing point to the same diaphragm, and in so
arranging the parts carrying such diaphragm that by a simple movement either the
recording or the reproducing point may be brought into operative position.
In the present construction, the diaphragm a is furnished with a post a' which is
connected by means of two links b with a lever c having a cross-piece c*, at one end
of which is formed an inclined sleeve c¹ for holding the recording point d; the latter
having a circular gouging edge d¹. From the other end of the cross-piece c*, there
extends another sleeve c holding the spherical-ended reproducing point e. The lever c
is pivoted between two lugs f* projecting from a weight f* hereinafter more particularly
referred to. The diaphragm-frame fis held in an eye g at the end of the rocking
holding arm gl, and is arranged to turn to a limited extent; such turning movement
bringing the recording point into position for operation and removing the reproducing
point e from contact with the phonogram-blank or vice versa. This movement is
effected by means of the handle f¹, and is controlled in the direction for bringing the
reproducing point into the operative position by an adjustable stop f2, and in the other
direction by a fixed stop f. The adjustable stop fenables a slight lateral adjusting
movement to be imparted to the reproducing point in order to bring the same into the
track of the record. This is the only adjustment required for the reproducing point.
The necessity hitherto existing for adjusting the recording point (so that it might
enter the phonogram to the right depth) is avoided by the use of a pivoted weight f
or other retarding device, which acts upon the lever c. The weight f is pivoted at f",
its movement is limited by the screw f, and it is heavy enough to cause the recording
point to enter the phonogram to the right depth. When the recording point enters too
far, the resistance of the material acted upon overcomes the pivoted weight or other
retarding device; the recording point being thus lifted to the requisite extent. The
same effect takes place no matter how much the phonogram-blank may-within the
limit for which the machine is constructed-be reduced in size by the removal of
previous records; the recording pointitself, without adjustment, constantly penetrating
to the right depth. The tube-attachment is screwed into the diaphragm-frame f
The weight also serves as a retarding device for taking up any movements
due to irregularities in the shape of the cylinder, and prevents such movements froin
affecting the diaphragın.
A guide-rest is used as heretofore for supporting the front end g² of the
circular eye'g'; attached to the latter being a pivoted handle k provided with a

page_text: cam-shaped head of such a form that, in lowering the arm g', one side 2 of
the head strikes the guide-rest before the recording (or the reproducing) point
reaches the phonogram. By then allowing the pivoted handle to fall, the head /
is turned and the part 3 brought into contact with the guide-rest so as to lower
the recording (or the reproducing) point gently upon the phonogram. By raising the
handle so as to turn the head until the part is brought upon the guide-rest, the
recording (or the reproducing) point is raised from the phonogram and the feeding
device disengaged from the feed-screw l, so that the parts may be run back to the
starting position without the arm gl being lifted to the full extent.
As a feeding device for engaging with the feed-screw on the phonogram-shaft (1,
there is attached to a sleeve m, which carries the arm g³, a divided spring n, the
prongs n¹ and n² of which carry the nut-section 12 and 13. If one of the nut-sections 12
or fail to properly engage with the feed-screw l, the other may engage therewith all
right.
On the diaphragm-frame f is placed a pin fi and on the stationary eye g a pin g³.
When the diaphragm-frame f is turned for the purpose of altering the positions of
the recording and reproducing points, the relative positions of the pins and g³ are
changed. To the inner end of the mouth-tube o used in recording is attached a plate
having notches fi* and g** in such positions as to fit over the pins ƒ and g when
the recording point is in contact with the phonogram: on the inner end of the ear-
tube p is provided a plate p' containing notches f* and g3* arranged to fit on the
pins when the reproducing point is in contact with the phonograin. Owing to the
change in the relative positions of the pins, only the mouth-tube can be attached
when the machine is set for recording, and only the ear-tube when set for
reproducing.
When the recording and reproducing points are arranged as described, the knife
employed for turning off a record from the surface of the phonogram may be placed
at a distance from such points. In the drawings, the knife q is attached to a sliding
stem q¹ mounted in a guide r screwed to the rear portion of the arm g¹; the stem
being constantly held forward by a spring q². A lever s is pivoted on a screw rl,
which projects into a slot 2 in the guide and turns with the lever. The part s¹ on
the head of the lever engages with a pin q3 on the stem q'; a projection 8² being
arranged to strike against one side of the slot 2. The lever s comes into contact
with the back of the machine when the arm g¹ is lifted to the requisite extent.
adjustable.stop tt pivoted on the pin 2 at the side of the stem q' is provided to engage
with the surface of the phonogram. The head is screwed on and may be adjusted
longitudinally, the tail t being weighted. The stop enables the distance to which the
knife is pressed into the phonogram to be regulated according to the size of the
phonogram. The rotation of the phonogram swings off the stop.
An
When it is desired to use the turning-off tool, the lever is depressed by hand,
the pin q3 being thereby freed so as to permit the stem q¹ to slide forward to the
extent determined by the stop tt, in which position it is locked by the screw ¹, the
latter having being turned sufficiently to effect this by the depression of the lever s.
When the turning-off operation has been completed, the levers is raised by hand or
by contact with the back of the machine so that the part s¹ may engage with the pin q³
and withdraw the stem q¹ far enough to remove the knife q from the surface of the
phonogram. The material removed by the knife passes into a chute u and is conveyed
away from the cylinder thereby. The chute is attached to the stem q¹; a hole being
left just above the knife for the entrance of the material removed.
81
During the turning-off operation, the handle f¹ may be moved into its middle
position, so that both the recording and the reproducing point may be away from the
surface of the phonogram. If desired, a new record may be made while the old one
is being turned off.
Another feature of improvement consists in the clamping device for the swinging
arm v located at the end of the cylinder and serving to hold the parts in place. Here-
tofore this device has consisted of a hinged pin entering a slot in the arm and provided
with a screw-head to be screwed up against the arm. A hinged pin v¹ having a head

page_text: fitted with a sleeve v² containing a spring v³ is now provided. When the clamping
device is raised, the spring presses the sleeve against the arm and clamps it; the
clamping being thus effected without manipulating a screw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. In a phonograph, attaching both the recording point and the reproducing point
to the same diaphragm ; means being provided whereby either of the points may be
brought into operative position on the surface of the phonogram.
2. In a phonograph, the combination, with the diaphragm, of a pivoted lever cou-
nected therewith, and carrying the recording and reproducing points, and a pivoted
weight or retarding device, such as f*, acting upon the lever so as to regulate the
action either of the recording point or of the reproducing point, whichever may be in
use, substantially as herein described.
3. In a phonograph, the employment of a pivoted lever (k) mounted upon the arm
carrying the diaphragm-frame and provided with a cam-shaped head, which, acting
on the guide-rest, serves to lower or lift the said arm, substantially as herein
described.
4. In a phonograph, the combination, with a sliding spring-actuated cutting knife,
of an adjustable stop pivoted to the knife-stem, a chute carried by the said knife-stem,
a locking device operated by hand, with a withdrawing device operated either by hand
or by engagement with a stationary part of the machine, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described.
a
5. In a phonograph, the employment of a pivoted arm holding a single diaphragm
to which both the recording and reproducing points are attached; the said arm
carrying a knife for turning an old record off the phonogram, substantially as herein
described.
6. In a phonograph, the combination, with a fixed stop on the holding arm and a
stop on the movable diaphragm-frame, of the mouth-tube and the ear-tube having
their inner ends differently formed, so that the mouth-tube may engage with the stops
when the movable stop is in one position, and the ear-tube when the movable stop is in
the other position, substantially as herein described.
7. In a phonograph, providing the swinging arm at the end of the phonogram-
cylinder with a spring-lock arranged and operating substantially as described with
reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
8. In phonograph-feeding mechanism, the employment of two nut-segments carried
on separate arms and adapted to engage independently with the feed-screw,
substantially as herein described.
9. The improved recording and reproducing phonograph, arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 15th day of Jul, 1800
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.