Reproducing Speech and other Sounds.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1888
Specification Accepted, 25th May, 1888
Reproducing Speech and other Sounds.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by The Volta Graphophone Company a Corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Virginia United States of America and
having its principal place of business in Washington District of Columbia and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This Invention relates more particularly to apparatus for recording and repro-
ducing speech and other sounds known as "graphophones" and comprises certain
improvements upon the apparatus described in the specification to Letters Patent
No. 6027 dated May 4th 1886 and upon instruments of the same type.
As described in said specification the record or "phonogram" is cut or graved by
a cutting style in a tablet consisting of a paper tube or cylinder provided with a
coating of wax or wax like composition, the tablet being mounted on a rotating
cylinder or tablet holder and the recorder or style being advanced lengthwise of the
tablet holder by means of a feed screw, so as to trace on the tablet a spiral line.
The present invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction
of the apparatus, to render it more complete and convenient for practical use and to
increase its efficiency in point of accuracy and distinctness in recording and repro-
ducing speech and other sounds.
The apparatus is mounted upon a stand or table, and is adapted to be driven by
foot power, or by a small water, spring, electric or other suitable motor. Upon the
stand or table are clamped two or more flexible tubes terminating in mouth pieces.
At the other end the tubes communicate through a socket and single tube with the
recorder. This arrangement is convenient for recording a conversation between two
or more persons, as for example in taking depositions of witnesses. A bracket or
holder is provided for receiving the recorder which can be readily detached from its
carriage. Hooks are also provided for hanging the hearing tubes when not in use.
These arrangements conduce greatly to the convenience of the apparatus in
practical use.

page_text: Heretofore the tablet holder was on the main shaft. It was provided with a ball
bearing at one end and detachably held in its bearing at the other so that it could be
tilted up to remove and replace the tablet.
In the present invention the tablet holder is on an independent shaft and is
driven from the main shaft by positive gearing. This simplifies the construction
of the apparatus. It also enables the tablet holder when a cylindrical holder is
used, to bo readily removed bodily from the machine, which is desirable both to
give access to other parts, and to enable a fresh tablet to be inserted with the
Icast possible delay.
Forked supports are provided in the front of the frame in which the tablet holder
can be readily inserted. The lattor has a loose collar at each end which fit in the
supports and constitute journal boxes for the shaft. Spring latches on the frame
hold these collars in place, and one of the collars is grooved for engagement with the
support, which is bevelled to an edge whereby ond motion of the holder is prevented.
As the spiral lines formed by the recorder are very close together it is of the utmost.
importance to provent the least end wise movement of the tablet holder.
The tablets are designed to fit the holdor accurately and may be simply slipped
on and held in place by friction. As the tablets are apt to vary somewhat in size it
is preferred to make them a trifle larger than the holder and to make the latter at one
end slightly tapered or of gradually increased diameter, so that the tablet can be
pressed towards that end sufficiently to ensure a tight fit.
In using ordinary spur gearing to rotate the holder it is found that the motion of
the latter is not absolutely uniform, but proceeds by jerks as one tooth strikes the
next. Though this irregularity is very minute and not ordinarily observable it
becomes manifested in the operation of the graphophone. This difficulty is entirely
overcome by connecting the driven gear of the tablet holder with its shaft by a
yielding connection. In practice a tolerably stiff spring may be used with excellent
results.
According to another improvement herein after described the cylindrical tablet
holder is dispensed with, and the tablet is held between two disc shaped holders that
support it at the ends only. One of the disc holders is moveable longitudinally, so
that a tablet can be easily slipped in place and removed when desired. This
improvement, saves the cost of the cylindrical holder and its weight in the machine,
and it also saves considerable time in inserting and removing a tablet. Moreover by
reducing to a minimum the inertia of the tablet it enables the latter to be stopped
instantly when desired.
With the metal tablet holder the inertia is such as to carry the tablet forward a
certain distance after the stopping mechanism has been actuated.
Heretofore the carriage of the reproducer and recorder rested directly on the feed
screw which served as a way or track for the carriage. To this construction a lateral
shaking or wabbling was incident which though actually very slight it is desirable to
avoid.
The carriage is now mounted on a smooth way or track independent of the feed
screw. Preferably the way or track is a fixed tube and the feed screw is placed
within it. The carriage carries a nut which engages and is driven by the thread of
the feed screw. The connection between the nut and carriage is an arm passing
through a longitudinal slot in the tubular track. A weight is provided to counter-
balance the weight of the recorder or reproducer and its accessories. The carriage
may be a permanent part of the apparatus, being used with both recorder and
reproducer. Or the recorder and reproducer may each have a separate carriago.
Preferably the carriage has small antifriction rollers in contact with the cylinder and
these are arranged relatively to the nut so as to ensure the greatest freedom of motion
to the carriage. In one form of apparatus hereinafter described, the lever arm
carrying the nut and weight and the tail piece of the reproducer have cach a finger
piece which when the reproducer is in place, are in such position as to be simulta-
neously operated to raise the nut from the screw and the style from the record,
enabling the carriage to be moved back or forward as desired. To ensure accurate
Le'

page_text: setting an indicator finger with its point close to the surface of the tablet holder is
attached to the carriage.
It is sometimes desirable to make two records simultaneously. For example if the
record being made is a letter, the duplicate could be preserved as a copy. To permit
duplicate records to be made the apparatus is provided with two tablets and tablet
holders (which may be of either of the two forms herein described or of other suitablo
form) and with two recorders connected with a common mouthpiece and supported
by a common carriage. The idea of making two records simultaneously is not new
broadly, and is not claimed herein; but the particular construction of apparatus
herein after described and claimed is believed to be new.
In this form of apparatus the carriage for the recorder is preferably permanently
attached thereto and can be put on and taken off the guide tube. As hereinafter
described it consists of a sleeve or tube divided lengthwise into two parts. The
construction has the advantage of great steadiness in operation. The second recorder,
when one is used, can be suspended from this carriage. If only one record is to bo
made the second recorder can be removed from the carriago.
As heretofore made the recorder did not act as efficiently in recording sounds of
high pitch as in recording sounds of lower pitch. This is believed to be due to the
fact that when the sound waves impinge directly against the centre of the diaphragm
the latter does not act as a unit, for if the sounds are sufficiently high two or more
waves in opposite phases may, owing to the length between the centre and circum-
ference of the diaphragm, be acting upon it at the same time, and a differential
effect is the result instead of the full force of the wave. This difficulty may be
overcome by constructing the sound conveying passage to the diaphragm in such
manner that the atmospheric vibrations will act simultaneously upon the whole surface
of the diaphragm.
The best embodiment of this principle would be to construct a large air chamber of
conical form in front of the diaphragin communicating at its apex with the mouthpiece,
but this plan is not feasible because the vibratory air space in front of the diaphragm
must be made very thin or otherwise a disagreeable hollow quality will be manifested
in the reproduced sound. The object souglit however may be practically attained
without dispensing with the thin air space which is found to bo advantageous, by
dividing the sound conveying passage, as it approaches the diaphragm, into a number
of branches equal in length and communicating with different points on the surface.
the diaphragm, whereby the latter is caused to vibrato with practical uniformity in
every part, even with sounds of high pitch. This improvement obviously permits the
use of a larger diaphragm than could heretofore be used with advantage. This
improvement forms the subject matter of an application by me for a Patent of even
date herewith.
Heretofore the point of the cutting style has been round. It is now found
advantageous to make it flat.
Successful reproduction from graphophonic records which have been properly made
depends largely upon the sensitiveness of the reproducing style, and its ability to
follow closely the irregularities of the record bearing always on it with uniform
pressure and not skipping from one elevation to the next, as is the tendency. The
elevations and depressions of the sound record being so minute, and following in such
rapid succession, make it difficult to insure that the point of the reproducing style
shall descend fully into each depression.
Heretofore the standard of the reproducer has been pivoted at one end, the other
end being provided with the diaphragm and style, the reproducer resting by its own
weight upon the record and being thus left free to follow its irregularities. To assist
further its action and insure its quick return after passing an elevation in the record
a light spring has been arranged to bear upon the style. It is found in practice that
the weight of the diaphragm and mountings upon the free end of the reproducer
standard is too great to secure the best results, and that the device is rendered more
efficient in action by reducing this weight. To this end the diaphragm is now placed
nearer the other end of the standard, and therefore falls mainly on the fulcrum of the

page_text: standard instead of on the record, and it is connected with the style by a thread. The
style itself consists of a lever on one arm of which is the point that rests on the record,
and to the other arin of which the throad leading from the diaphragm is attached.
By this construction the pressure of the reproducer on the record is greatly reduced
and the style is made to follow the record more accurately. Moreover, when the lever
constituting the style rests upon the record, the diaphragm through the thread is
pulled towards the style and thereby held under tension. This tension increases as
the style ascends a ridge, and reacts to compel it to enter the succeeding depression.
As before, the style is made flexible laterally to enable it readily to follow the grooves
in the bottom of which the record is formed.
The reproducer may be constructed so as to be hung from the same carriage that
supports the recorder in operation; or the reproducer may have a separate carriage
to which it is permanently attached, and which is removable from the guide tube. A
carriage of this kind is hereinafter described which is specially devised to secure
rigidity and steadiness in operation, but which can, at the same time, be quickly put
on and taken off the guide-tube.
Heretofore hearing tubes for reproducers and like instruments have been constructed
in various ways to enable them to be held to the cars while leaving the hands free.
According to one part of this invention the ear pieces have extremities of such size
and shape that they can enter the outer portion of the orifice of the car, and are
hook shaped so that they hang from the ridge of the ear.
For convenience in stopping and starting the machine without interrupting the
operation of the motor, a clutch mechanism is combined with the main shaft. The
clutch can be operated by a key lever conveniently placed near the front of the
machine. This contrivance is of great utility in transcribing from the record on a
type writer, for instance; it being of course difficult for the operator to transcribe as
rapidly as the record is reproduced.
By means of the clutch mechanism, the machine can be stopped after a sufficient
number of words have been reproduced until the latter have been transcribed, or
repeated to another person, when the machine can be instantly started again.
Heretofore the fine wax thread or shaving removed by the cutting style has been
brushed off by hand and its entiro removal has been further ensured by attaching a
small brush to sweep over the record in front of the reproducer.
In the present apparatus a rotary brush is provided having on its shaft a pinion
which can be engaged with one of the gears at the same time that the brush touches
the surface of the tablet. The brusli is preferably made a permanent part of the
machine being carried by a swinging frame attached to one of the shafts. When the
record has been cut the brush can be swung into contact with the tablet and by a
slight end wise movement a pinion carried by the brush spindle is thrown into gear
with one of the spur wheels, and the brush is thereby rapidly rotated while the tablet
revolves, completely removing the wax shavings, which fall into a tray placed under
the machine.
The wax thread or shaving has a tendency to wrap itself around the tablet as the
latter revolves, thereby interfering somewhat with the operation of the apparatus.
This is now prevented by a comb or saw toothed plate placed lengthwise of the tablet
with its teeth in close proximity to the surface of the latter.
In addition to the improvements above indicated the invention includes certain now
details of construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully
pointed out.
Having now explained the general principle of the invention, the best mode
contemplated of carrying the same into effect will now be described in connection
with the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification.
Figure I is a perspective view of the apparatus arranged upon a stand or table the
recorder being shown in its operative position; Figure II is a plan view of the
graphopone proper; Figure III is a front elevation with parts of the tray broken
away to show the parts behind; Figure IV is a sectional plan view; Figure V a
vertical transverse section looking to the left, and showing the reproducer in place;

page_text: Figure VI is an elevation of the right hand end of (Figure II) the machine, showing
the recorder in place; Figure VII is an underside view of the recorder; Figure VIII
is a centre section thereof; and Figure IX is a detail view of a portion of the clutch
mechanism. Figure X is a plan view of another form of graphophone provided with
duplex recording apparatus; Figure X1 a cross section and Figure XII a sectional
elevation of the same; Figure XIII is a side elevation of the reproducer and its
carriage; Figure XIV a front view thereof; Figure XV a sectional plan of the
reproducer carriage; Figure XVI an enlarged view of the cutting style; and
Figure XVII an inside view of one half of the sleeve constituting the recorder
carriage.
Referring to Figure I, A is the stand or table upon which are placed the working
parts of the apparatus. The stand A has a hinged lid B which when the apparatus is
in use is thrown back thereby forming a shelf. To the front edge of this shelf are
attached by clamp screws 2 the holder 3 for flexible tubes 4. Two tubes are shown
but a greater number could be applied in the same way.
At their outer ends the
tubes 4 terminate in mouth pieces 5 and at the other ends they connect with the
hollow socket 6 connected by a tube 7 with the recorder C. At the rear of
the shelf B is a bracket 8 in which the recorder C may be placed when not in use, so
that it and its attachments may be entirely out of the way while reproducing. The
arrangement is found to be of great utility in recording conversations and in taking
depositions.
The reproducer D is in like manner provided with two hearing tubes 9 terminating in
enr pieces 10 such as described in the Letters Patent aforesaid. These tubes 9 connect
with opposite ends of a metal tubo 11. screwed to the stand A from which a flexible
tube 12 leads to the reproducer D. Hooks 13 are pivoted to the back of the lid Band
upon them the tubes 9 are hung when not in use. These hooks can be turned inside
the lid B when the latter is to be closed.
The motor for driving the graphophone may be located beneath the stand or
table A and may be a treadle for example. Power is transmitted from such motor
by a belt 1.00 to the pulley 101 of a speed regulator K. The latter may be of any
suitable construction and as it forms no part of the present invention need not be
particularly described. Its object is to prevent the graphophone from being driven
beyond a determined maximum speed regardless of the speed of the motor.
Referring now to Figures II to IX, the framework of the apparatus consists of
two uprights or standards E F and tie rods 20 and 21. The main shaft G is supported
in bearings in the uprights E F. It is driven by the pulley 25 rotated from a
suitable motor by a belt, and it carries a spur gear 26 which transmits motion to the
other working parts.
The tablet holder H has a gear 27 which is driven by gear 26 through an inter-
mediary 28 on the shaft 36. The gear 28 is formed of a disc of leather or other
suitable material clamped between two metal discs, the object being to prevent noise
in operation.
The tablet holder H is detachably supported in forked supports in the front of
uprights E F. It has at the ends loose collars 29 and 30 which, when the tablet
holder is in place are in contact with the frame, and they constitute the bearings or
journal boxes in which the holder revolves, being held stationary in operation.
Collar 29 is formed with a groove 31, and the recess in which it rests is provided
with an edge that enters this groove and prevents end motion of the tablet holder.
The pin 32 passes through a hole in the projection 33 of the upright E and is pressed
down by a leaf spring 34 which holds the pin against the collar 29 with sufficient
pressure to keep the tablet holder in place. A similar spring-latch composed of the
spring 35 and the pin 36 (see Figure VI) is arranged on the upright F to act upon
the collar 30. The surface of the latter is smooth. The construction shown permits
the tablet holder to be instantly removed bodily from the machine, and as quickly
put back in place, thereby avoiding any considerable delay in the use of the machine
when a fresh tablet has to be inserted.
The tablet holder increases at one end to a slightly larger diameter as shown at 40

page_text: (Figures III and IV) so that the tablet 41, being pressed toward that end will be
held sufficiently tight to prevent slipping, even though the tablet fits quite loosely
with respect to the main portion of the holder.
The gear 27 is fixed, not directly to the tablet-holder H but to a collar 42 mounted
loosely on the spindle of said holder. This collar is connected with the holder by a
curved spring 43, so that the connection between the holder and its gear is a yielding
one. The curved spring extends more than half way around the collar, being fastened
at one end to the collar and at the other end to the tablet-holder, the collar 42 being
cut away to permit the connection to be made. The object of this is to prevent
minute vibrations being imparted to the tablet from the toothed gearing, and to 1
insure absolute uniformity of motion. Such vibrations are absorbed or taken up by
the spring 43. The spring is covered by the sliding cap 44.
The feed screw I (Figure V) is placed near the top of the apparatus and is
supported in bearings in the uprights E F. It carries a pinion 45 which is driven
by the main shaft through gear 26, intermediary 28, pinion 46 on the same shaft 36
that carries the gear 28 and spur gear 46. The feed screw I is thus driven at a
much lower speed than the tablet-holder H.
Feed screw I is enclosed in a sleeve or tube L which forms the guide-way or
track for the carriage M. To the latter is pivoted a lover arm 50 which extends to
the rear of the tube L and passes into the same through the slot therein which
extends lengthwise to the limits of the movement of the carriage in both directions.
The arm 50 carries at its end the segment of a nut 52 having threads corresponding
in pitch to those of the feed screw I which it engages. The nut 52 is held in ongago-
ment with the feed screw by the pressure of a weight 53 which is also carried by lever
arm 50.
The carriage M is designed to slide freely on the guide tube or way L which it
surrounds. It carries four small anti-friction wheels or rollers 54 which are in
contact with the surface of the tube L, the carriage itself not being in contact with
the tube at all. The upper and lower pairs of wheels 54 are placed about 100°
apart with respect to the circumference of the tube L, and they are about equi-distant
from the nut 52, so that the bearing points of the carriage are nearly equi-distant and
its pressure evenly distributed around its axis, thereby reducing friction to a minimum.
The thread of the feed screw may be cut away at the right hand end to stop the
carriage when it reaches the end of its movement. The carriage has in front a pair
of sockets 56 adapted to receive the trunnions 57 of the recorder C or re-producer D.
The carriage M is a permanent part of the apparatus, being used with both
recorder and reproducer. As the weight 53 is at the rear of the carriage it not only
acts to keep the nut 52 in engagement with the feed screw, but also serves to counter-
balance the weight of the recorder or reproducer, whichever happens to be in use.
The forward projection of the lever arm 50 has a finger piece 60 by pressing
upon which the nut 52 can be lifted out of engagement with the feed screw, and the
carriage can be slid to any desired point. The reproducer D has also a finger piece 61
which overlaps the finger piece 60. Thus, by pressing upon the part 61 the
style of the reproducer is lifted from the record at the same time that the nut 52 is
disengaged from the feed screw. This arrangement permits the carriage and parts
connected with it to be moved back and forward, as for instance, if it be desired to
repeat any portion of the recorded speech or sound.
at
When the recorder or reproducer is in place it is difficult to set its style accurately
any desired point. To obviate this difficulty the carriage M has a finger or pointer 62
carried by a rod 63. The point of the finger 62 approaches close to the surface
of the tablet, and the said point is in the same vertical plane transverso to the axis
of the tablet as the style of the recorder or reproducer when in place in the carriage.
Consequently by means of the finger 62 the carriage can be set accurately at the
desired point and the recorder (or reproducer) then put in place.
The manner of constructing and mounting the carriage M in addition to other
advantages, prevents lateral vibration or wabbling, and one result of this is that the
spiral lines of the record can be made closer together than was practicable heretofore.

page_text: With the apparatus as described the relative speeds of the feed screw and tablet holder
are so timed that the recorder traces one hundred and fifty-four lines to an inch on
the tablet, thus largely increasing the capacity of the tablets.
The recorder C (see Figures III, VI, VII and VIII) is in most respects the same
as that described in the Specification hereinbefore referred to. It has the diaphragm 70
of mica to the centre of which is attached the cutting style 71 and the adjustable
bar or bridge piece 72, having a smooth surfaced enlargement 78 at its middle for
resting on the surface of the tablet and regulating the depth of the cut to be mado
by the style 71. It is attached to the carriage as already explained by placing the
trunnions 57 in the sockets 56 from which it hangs downward and rests by gravity
on the tablet 41.
The frame of the recorder consists of a metal ring 74 with an internal shoulder or
flange 75 at its lower edge, upon which flange the mica diaphragm 70 is placed. Upon
this diaphragm is a washer 76 of yielding material, such as thick paper or cardboard,
and upon this is placed the metal disc 77, forming a thin air space or chamber in
front of the diaphragm. These parts aro hold in place by the top piece 78 which is
screwed into the ring 74. The top piece 78 has a central cone 79 terminating in a
socket at its apex for the attachment of a speaking tube or mouth-piece. The disc 77
has a series of openings or passages 80, 81, for the sonorous vibrations. Theso
are shown as slots arranged in two concentric rings. Those rings are so disposed as
to affect all parts of the diaphragm equally, the distance between the openings 80
and 81 being equal to the distance from the latter to the edge of the diaphragm, and
to the distance across the inner ring 80. The object is to divide the sound passage
so that the sonorous vibrations will act simultaneously against different parts of the
diaphragm, instead of being concentrated at its centre, and thus cause it to vibrate
uniformly over its entire surface. To carry out this principle it is important that all
the sound passages should be of the same length, which is secured by the construction
of the top piece 78. This is provided at its lower side with an annular shoulder 82
which bears upon and clamps the edge of disc 77, and with a plate or disc 83
which extends across it and forms an annular air chamber in front of the disc 77.
The dise 83 has a shoulder 84 at its centre which bears upon the disc 77 between the
first series of slots 80 and the centre. Disc 83 has a single series of openings or
slots 85 arranged in a ring midway between the two series of openings 80 and 81 in
the disc 77. The openings 85 communicate with air passages formed between the
outer cone 79 and an inner deflecting cone 86. Thus it will be seen that the
sonorous vibrations after reaching the apex of the cone 86 are propogated through
a number of passages all of the same length but communicating with different
points on the surface of the diaphragm. Upon the same principle the number of
sound passages may be multiplied by increasing the number of perforated discs
interposed between the top piece and the diaphragm.
The set screws 87 passing through the frame 74 are for adjusting the position of the
bridge piece 72 to regulate the normal depth of penetration of the style 71 into the
wax coating of the tablet.
The reproducer D is best shown in Figuro V. It is hung in the carriage M in the
same manner as the recorder, and the point of the rubbing style rests by gravity upon
the tablet 41 as heretofore.
The diaphragm 90 is enclosed in a case or chamber 91 near the upper end of the
reproducer standard 92, or the end away from that which carries the style 93. Tho
style is thus partially freed from the weight of the diaphragm and its mountings, and
rests more lightly on the tablet. The style 93 is an elbow or bell-crank lever pivoted
at 97 in the end of the hollow standard 92 with its point projecting slightly beyond the
end thereof. The style is made preferably of spring metal so that while rigid in the
direction of its normal movement, it is flexible laterally, and is therefore not liable
to slip out of the groove in the tablet.
The inner arm of the lever 93 is connected by a thread 94 with the centre of the
diaphragm 90, the thread being enclosed in the hollow standard 92. The pin 95 acts

page_text: as a stop to limit the extent to which the point of the style projects beyond its casing.
The plate 96 which covers the rear of the diaphragm, and to which the hollow
standard 92 is attached, is perforated so that the space behind the diaphragm is in
communication with the outer air, whereby interference which would to a certain extent
result froin reverberation, is prevented. All the working parts of the reproducer are
thus enclosed and protected from damage that might result from careless handling.
When the reproducer is in place with the point of style 93 resting upon the record,
the weight is sufficient to turn the style slightly on its pivot pulling on the thread and
thus putting the diaphragm under tension. The tendency of the diaphragm to return
to its normal position when pulled out by the motion of the style assists in causing the
lattor to follow closely the irregularities of the record and to descend fully into the
depressions thereof.
One advantage of using a lover as the reproducing style is that by making the
inner arm shorter than the outer as shown in the drawing, the motion of tho
diaphragm can be reduced, which though it involves a slight loss in loudness is
found to produce a moro than compensating gain in distinctness of enunciation.
The end of the flexible sound conveying tube 12, fits over the upper end of n
tubo 212, which is fixed in the frame of the reproducer D, and whose lower end
though not in contact with, is in close proximity to the socket piece 213 and the
opening in the periphery of said piece for the passage of the sound waves into the
tube 12. The advantage of this construction is that the socket piece may turn or
rotate on its pivots without friction. It is found that there is no appreciable loss of
loudness in the sound reproduced, with a space of say two one thousandths of an
inch all around.
The apparatus can be started and stopped at will by means of clutch mechanism 2
which will now be described, (see Figures II, III, IV and IX.) The driving pulloy 25
is mounted not directly on the main shaft G but on a stud 98 fastened to the upright
or standard E through which the shaft passes. The hub 97 of the pulley 25 has a
serrated edge 99 constituting one member of a clutch. The boss 103 which is fast on
the main shaft G has a corresponding serrated edge and constitutes the other member of
the clutch, the main shaft G can be moved lengthwise in its bearings sufficiently to
engage and disengage the members of the clutch and thereby stop or start the machine
as desired.
For greater convenience in oporating the clutch a key lever 105, with two
buttons 106 and 107, is fixed on the end of a rock shaft 108 having bearings in 3
brackets 112 screwed to the front of the upright F. The rock shaft at its rear end
carries an arm 109 the point of which takes into a groove 110 (see Figure IX) in the
main shaft G. By pressing on the button 107 the inain shaft is shifted to the right,
so that the members of the clutch are thrown into engagement, and the machine
started. By pressing on the bottom 106 the shaft is moved to the left and the 4
pulley 25 thereby disengaged from the shaft and allowed to revolve idly, the shaft
coming to rest.
The cylindrical brush 115 is mounted on a spindle 116 which has bearings in
the swinging brackets 117, and carries on one end a pinion 118 (Figure III). The
brackets 117 hang loosely from shaft 36, so that except when the brush is actually in 4
use, it hangs clear of the other parts of the apparatus. A spiral spring 119 encircles
the shaft 36 and bears at one end against a collar 120 on said shaft and at the other
end against one of the brackets 117 and therefore tonds to keep the brush in such
position that the pinion 118 is out of the plane of the gear 28.
To use the brush the operator swings it forward by grasping the stud 121, which 5
is on the ond of the brush spindle 116, and at the same time pushes the brush to the
left thereby throwing the pinion 118 into engagement with gear 28 rapidly rotating
the brush against the surface of the tablet, which is also in motion, and clearing it of
all the cuttings of wax, which fall into the tray 124. When the brushing is complete
the operator releases it, and it then falls by gravity to its normal position, the 5
spring 119 throwing the whole frame to the right and moving pinion 118 out of the

page_text: plane of rotation of gear 28. The brush 115 is enclosed for the greater part of its
periphery in a casing 123 which acts as a guard to prevent scattering of the shavings
and also partly as a frame to hold the parts together.
The screw 122 (Figure VI) passes through the stud 121. When the brush is
raised its point strikes the underside of upright F thus limiting the motion of the
brush in the direction of the tablet. The screw 122 can be adjusted to secure the
proper pressure of the brush against the tablet.
The comb 126 (Figures III and V) extends across the machine below the tablet
holder being mounted on tie-rod 21. Its teeth approach to within say one thirty-
second () of an inch of the surface of the tablet 41. The teeth of this comb will
catch the fine wax shaving cut by the recording style and prevent its winding itself
around the tablet.
A thin plate having a saw-teeth edge may be substituted for the comb, with equally
good effect and will be less expensive in construction.
Referring now to Figures X-XVII, the apparatus having duplex recording
devices and containing the other modifications shown in those figures will now be
described.
The two cylindrical tablets B B₁ are placed below the feed screw I and aro
respectively in front of and behind the same. Pulloy 25 drives the front tablet B
while the rear tablet B¹ is driven by pulley 26. The feed screw I is driven by pulley 25
through the gears 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32, the latter being mounted on the feed
screw.
The front tablet B is supported by the two disc holders H H¹. The former is
mounted on the end of a sleeve or hollow arbor having a bearing on a hollow
stud 18 which passes through the standard E and is clamped in place by a shoulder
at 19 and a nut 43 best shown in Figure XII. The sleeve also carries the gear 27
through which motion is imparted to the train of gears operating the feed screw I.
The disc holder H tapers slightly inward so that it will readily enter the hollow
tablet B, and it is provided with a shoulder 34 against which the end of said tablet
bears. The disc H is provided with points, 14 to take into the ends of the tablet and
prevent its slipping.
the
The opposite disc holder H¹ is loosely mounted on the end of a shank h¹ which
passes through a tube 35 rigidly secured to the standard F by clamp nuts 36 *
disc being held in place by a screw 37 tapped into the end of shank h¹.
The shank his free to move longitudinally in the tube 35, and between the ends it
is turned down to leave space between it and said tube for the spiral spring 38 which
bears at one end against a shoulder 39 on said tube, and at the other end against a
shoulder 40 on the shank and tends to press the disc H¹ to the left, that is towards
thetal et B. A pin 41 passing through a slot in tube 35 prevents rotation of the
shank. By the pressure of the spring 38 the tablet B is clamped between the two
discs H H. To remove the tablet it is only necessary to withdraw disc H by drawing
out by means of the button 42 the shank h¹. The operation of inserting and removing
a tablet is thus very quickly performed. The holder H receives no positive motion
but simply turns with the tablet B and disc H.
The rear tablet B₁ is supported by holders H* H³ similar in construction to the
holders H H already described. The only difference in the parts is that holder H³
has no gear wheel corresponding to gear 27 on the hub of holdor H. These
duplicate parts are inserted on the machine frame and held by nuts 43, 44. The
machine would be complete for the purpose of making a single record without them,
and they can be readily added at any time when desired.
The clutch mechanisin is in general form similar to that already described.
Certain modifications have, however, been made.
A rod 50 passes through the rod 20 and carries on its left hand end an upright
finger 51 which takes into a groove in an arbor 52. The arbor 52 passes through
5 the hollow stud 18 which is slotted at 19 to admit of the passage and movement of
finger 51. The arbor 52 carries on its outer end one member 53 of the clutch the other
member 54 being fixed to the hub of driving pulley 25. On the inner end of arbor 52
3

page_text: is fixed a disc 55 which engages and drives the holding disc H through a pin 56,
passing through a hole in said disc 55 and tapped into bolder H. Rod 50 is moved
longitudinally by the key-lever 57 carried by rock shaft 58, the latter being
connected with rod 50 by a crank arm 59. When by means of the lever 57 rod 50
is moved to the left, the arbor 52 is moved in the same direction and thereby
disengaging the clutch, and the pulley 25 can then turn on its bearing without
rotating the holder Hand feed screw 1. In the other position of the clutchi
mechanism, the harbor 52 is connected with the pulley 25, and is rotated, thereby
driving the holder H through the disc 55 and pin 56, and the feed screw I through the
train of gears already described. The rock shaft 58 extends across the standard Fand is
connected by a crank arm similar to 59 with another rod 60 passing through tie-rod 21
and operating a similar clutch mechanism for the second tablet B.
The recorder C is rigidly attached to a sleeve M which constitutes its carriage,
and is adapted to slide on guide-tube L. Sleeve M is divided into two parts
longitudinally, the parts being hinged together at 65. The interior of the sleeve M
is slightly larger than the tube L except at the ends where rings 66 of hard
rubber or like material, are inserted, the diameter of the rings being such as to
fit closely on the tube L (see Figure XVII). This construction permits easy
longitudinal movement of the carriage M and recorder or recorders carried thereby,
while insuring rigidity of the latter against lateral movement. Such rigidity is i
essential, as the speaking tubes are in this case led from the mouth pieces direct to the
recorder, and unless the latter were rigidly supported an irregular line and
consequently a worthless record would be the result. It has been found that
this mode of carrying the recorder has decided advantages in this respect over the
plan of hanging it by trunnions from supports on a carriage.
A segmental nut 67 is carried on the end of a shank 68 and is pressed by a spring 69
into engagement with the feed screw 1. The nut passes through the slot which
extends lengthwise of the tube L. The upper edge 70 of this slot is rounded and
the upper edge of the nut 67 is bevelled, so that the act of lifting the recorder
disengages the nut from the screw and withdrawn it from the slot. In putting the
recorder in position, the nut automatically snaps into place.
A pin 71 on the shank 68 passes through a slot in the frame of the recorder,
limiting the movement of the shank, and affording means for withdrawing the nut
by hand.
A counterweight 72 is attached to the other half of the sleeve from that which
carries the recorder C.
The second recorder C¹ when in place is suspended by semi-circular hangers 73
attached by screws 74 to its frame. These hangers oxtond half way around the tube L
and their upper ends are pivotted on the hinge-pintles 65 of the hinges that
connect the two parts of carriage M. The second recorder, when in position, does
not tend to turn the sleeve, being suspended therefrom at a point dinmetically opposite
the recorder itself, so that its weight acts on a line passing through the axis of the
carriage.
Heretofore the point of the cutting style c has been rounded. As shown in
Figure XVI, it is Hattoned, being shaped like an arrow-head slightly hollowed out on
one edge. Styles of this shape are easier to make, while they lose no rigidity in the
direction of their cutting action by the removal of metal from the sides. In all other
respects the recorders are alike that already described and therefore no further
description thereof is necessary.
The respective sound chambers in the two recorders Care connected by tubes
75, 76, joined at the middle with a T-shaped coupling piece 77 for attachment of a
suitable mouthpiece, or of flexible tubes 78 such as before described. Therefore on
reaching the coupling piece 77 the sound waves are propogated in both directions
through the tubes 75, 76 and duplicate records are thus produced; so that, if letters
are being dictated, one record can be mailed to the correspondent and the other
retained as a copy.
The reproducer D is shown in Fiш VIV and VW
sansturation of

page_text: the hollow standard and the mounting of the diaphragm and rubbing style are as
before described and therefore need no further description here.
The carriage by which the recorder is supported and advanced in action consists
mainly of a frame 80 in which the trunnions 8.1 of the reproducer are pivotted at 8.
The frame 80 has two curved arms 82, the curvature of whose undersides correspond
with that of the guide tube L. The segmental nut 83 is carried by two supporting
arms 85, which turn freely on the trunnions 81 of the recorder, their motion, however,
being limited by pins 86 attached to the frame 80 and engaged by the stops 87 on
the ends of the arms 85. Flat springs 88 press the nut 83 into engagement with
the feed screw I. When the recorder is in place, and as the nut is diametrically
opposite the curved arms 82 these parts hold the carriage in place on the guide
tubo I. The nut can be moved outward against the pressure of the springs 88 far
enough to let the guide tube L pass between it and the arms 82. To secure the
perfect rigidity and steadiness desirable, and to avoid the necessity of extra care on
the part of the operator, the carriage is provided with a locking device which
consists of curved arms 89 connected at their lower ends by a tie-rod 90 and near
their upper ends by tie-rod 92. The arms 89 are pivoted at their upper ends to the
frame 80 by pivot pins 91. The curvature of these arms corresponds with that of the
guide-tube L, and when in place the arms drop by gravity into contact with the said
tube, their lower ends bearing against the same at a point diametrically opposite the
pivots 91. The pivot 91 should be placed at a point where a line drawn through the
axis of the feed-screw I (or guide-tube L) would be intersected by a line perpendicular
thereto from the pivot 84. Any undue pressure exerted on the reproducer carriago
when in operation would tend to turn the whole device upon the pivots 84 as a
centre, and hence the said pressure would be effectually resisted by the whole strength
of the locking-piece and guide-tube. If the pivots 9.1 were shifted to one side or the
other of the intersection of the two lines deterinined as above pointed out, it will be seen
that the pull on the locking device would be in a line more or less oblique to the
surface of the guide tube L, and the liability of slipping would not be so effectually
provided against.
Contact of the tie-rod 92 with the stationary arms 82 limits the movement of the
locking piece in one direction, and its movement in the other direction is limited by
contact of the rod 90 with the end of said stationary arms. As in the case of the nut 67
of the recorder, the nut 83 of the reproducer has a bevelled upper edge so that the
reproducer and carriage can readily be removed from the machine, it not being
necessary to withdraw the nut by hand.
A hollow metal tube or socket piece 95 is rigidly attached to the frame 80 and
communicates at its lower end with the hollow standard of the reproducer. To
the upper end of this socket is attached the end of the flexible tube 96 which
bifurcates at 97 as shown in Figure XVIII and has at the further ends the car pieces 98.
The latter are connected directly with the reproducer, instead of being led to a
fixed metal tube as heretobefore. Hence the necessity of the greater rigidity of the
recorder carriage is secured by the construction just described.
The ear pieces 98 have ends of a proper size and shape to enter the concha of the
ear, and being hook-shaped, can be hung from the ridge known as the anti-tragus and
does not require to be held in position by hand, by spring pressure, or by suspending
devices of any kind. This improvement is found to contribute greatly to ease and
convenience in usc.
It is obvious modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention, and that some of the improvements may, if desired, be used without
others.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for recording and reproducing sounds the combination with
the recorder of a flexible tube or tubes provided with a mouth piece or with mouth pieces

page_text: and communicating with the space in front of the diaphragm of said recorder, and
clamps or holders for attaching the said tube or tubes to the stand or table, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
2. The general combination and arrangement of the graphophone with the recorder,
and reproducer, their flexible tubes and holding devices, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with the graphophone of the removable cylindrical tablet
holder, and the gearing for rotating the tablet holder from the main shaft, sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination with the frame of the removable cylindrical tablet holder
with its collar loosely surrounding the same, and the devices for retaining said tablet
holder in position on the frame, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
5. The cylindrical tablet holder increasing at one end to a larger diameter than
the main portion of the holder, substantially as herein before described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination with the main shaft of the tablet holder, a gear wheel con-
nected therewith by a yielding connection, such as a spring, and gearing for driving
said tablet holder from said main shaft, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination with the recorder and reproducer of the carriage having
sockets for supporting the same, a stationary track or way on which said carriage
slides, a feed scrow and a nut carried by said carriage and engaging said screw,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
8. The combination with the fixed tube, the carriage sliding thereon and the feed
screw, of a lever arm pivoted to said carriage, a nut on said arm and a weight for
holding said nut in engagement with said feed screw, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
9. The combination of the fixed tube, the carriage sliding thereon, the feed screw,
the nut engaging therewith, the lever carrying said nut and pivoted to said carriage,
the reproducer pivoted in said carriage and having a projection overlapping the ond
of said lever, so that by prossing on said projection the style is lifted from the
record and the nut simultaneously disengaged from the feed screw, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated more particularly in Figure V of the accom-
panying drawings.
10. The combination with the tablet holder of the sliding carriage, said carriage
being provided with an indicator finger having the point close to the surface of the
tablet holder, substantially as herein before described and illustrated more particularly
in Figures V and VI of the accompanying drawings.
11. The combination with the diaphragm of the reproducer, of the rubbing style
consisting of a lever, having the rubbing point formed on one arm, the other arm
being connected with the said diaphragni, substantially as horeinbefore described and
illustrated in Figure V of the accompanying drawings.
12. In a reproducer adapted to rest by gravity on the record, the combination
with the standard of a style supported in the free end thereof, a diaphragm mounted
near the other end thereof, and a connection between the style and diaphragm sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure V of the accompanying
drawings.
18. The combination of the standard, the style consisting of a lever pivoted at
one end thereof, the diaphragm supported near the other end, and a thread con-
necting one arm of said lever with the diaphragm, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figure V of the accompanying drawings.
14. The construction and arrangement of the clutch mechanism and operating
finger key, in combination with the feeding and driving mechanism of a grapho-
phone, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
15. The combination with the tablet, tablet holder and driving mechanism of the

page_text: cylindrical brush having bearings in a swinging frame, so as to hang normally free
of said tablet, but adapted to be brought into contact therewith and simultaneously
thrown into gear with said driving mechanism, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. The combination with the tablet, tablet holder and driving mechanism, of the
brush having bearings in a swinging frame hanging clear of the tablet, a pinion for
engaging one of the gears, and a spring for moving the frame laterally to hold said
pinion normally out of the plane of rotation of said gear, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. The combination with the tablet and tablet holder, of the icothed plate or
comb lengthwise of said tablet and having the points of its teeth in close proximity
to the surface thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
18. The combination with the pivotted reproducer having a suitable socket pioce
provided with an opening on its periphery for the passage of sound, of a sound
conveying tube having its end in close proximity to the opening in said socket piece,
but not in contact with the latter, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figure V of the accompanying drawings.
19. A graphophone provided with duplicate tablet holders and duplicate recorders
the latter being connected with a common mouth-piece, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures X and XI of the accompanying drawings.
20. A graphophone provided with duplicate tablet holders, and with mechanism
for driving said tablet holders and for advancing duplicate recorders, substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures X to XVII of the accompanying
drawings.
21. The combination with the feed screw and guide tube, of the carriage con-
sisting of a sleeve divided longitudinally into two parts and adapted to embrace said
tube, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures X and XI of
the accompanying drawings.
22. The construction and arrangement of the feed screw and surrounding tube
having a slot with rounded edge, in combination with a carriage carrying a nut for
engagement with said screw, said nut having a bevelled edge, substantially as heroin-
before described and illustrated in Figure XI of the accompanying drawings.
23. The combination of the reproducer its carriage and pivotted locking device,
substantially as described.
24. The tablet-holder consisting of two rotatable discs for supporting the tablet at
opposite ends, one of said discs being adjustable or movable towards and away from
the tablet, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figures XIII,
XIV and XV.
25.--In combination with graphophones or instruments for recording and repro-
ducing sounds the flexible hearing tubes having hook-shaped ear-pieces adapted
to be suspended from the ears with their ends inside the same, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by Figure XVIII.
1000
Dated this 7th day of February
1000
4036
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents for the said James Yate Johnson.

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1888
Specification Accepted, 1st June, 1888
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been
communicated to me from abroad by the Volta Graphophone Company a corporation
organised under the laws of the State of Virginia, United States of America and
having its principal place of business in Washington, District of Columbia and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to the construction of the sound conveying tube or passage
in instruments(such as Telephones, Graphophones and the like) in which the movements
of a vibratory diaphragm are utilized for transmitting or recording vocal and other
sounds with such instruments as ordinarily constructed it is found that sounds of high
pitch are not so accurately recorded or transmitted as sounds of lower pitch. This is
believed to be due to the fact that when the sound waves impinge directly against
the centre of the diaphragm the latter does not act as a unit, for if the sounds be
sufficiently high two or more waves in opposite phases may, owing to the distance
between the centre and the circumference of the diaphragm, be acting upon it at the
same time and a differential effect is the result instead of the full force of the wave.
On this account it has been found necessary to use diaphragms of very small diameter,
notwithstanding the advantages in other respects which large diaphragms possess.
The difficulty could be overcome by constructing the sound conveying passage to the
diaphragm in such manner that the atmospheric vibrations will be caused to act
simultaneously upon the whole surface of the diaphragm.

page_text: The most obvious embodiment of this principle would be to construct a large air
chamber of conical form in front of the diaphragm, communicating at its apex with
the mouth piece but this plan has been attempted and is not feasible because the
vibratory air space in front of the diaphragm must be very thin or otherwise a very
disagreeable hollow quality is maniflated in the reproduced sound, the intelligibility
of which is greatly impaired. The object sought however may be practically attained
without dispensing with the thin air space which is found to be advantageous
by divided the sound conveying passage as it approaches the diaphragm by means
of a series of perforated discs into a number of branches equal in length and opening
upon different points on the surface of the diaphragm whereby the latter is caused to
vibrate with practical uniformity in every part even with sounds of high pitch. With
a sound tube or passage thus constructed a much larger diaphragm can be employed
than could heretofore be successfully used.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the application of the invention practically.
Figure 1 is a view of the diaphragm and perforated disc of a sound transmitter or
recorder having a tube or passage constructed in accordance with the invention and
Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view. The diaphragm 70 is supposed to be of mica
or other transparent material and one of the slotted discs is shown behind it.
The ring 74 which may be of metal is provided with an internal shoulder or
flange 75 upon which the diaphragm 70 is seated. Upon this diaphragm is an
annular washer 76 of paper or other yielding material and upon this washer is placed
the metal disc 77 forming (by means of the interposition of the washer 76) a thin
air space or chamber between itself and the diaphragm 70. These parts are held in
position by the top piece 78 which forms the outer casing or shell of the sound
passage and which is screwed into the internally threaded ring 74. The top piece 78
has a central conical piece 79 terminating at its smaller end in a socket or thimble for
the attachment of a speaking tube or a mouth piece.
The disc 77 has a series of openings or passages 80, 81 for the sonorous vibrations.
These are shewn as curved slots arranged in two concentric rings. These rings are
so disposed that all parts of the diaphragm will be equally affected by the atmospheric
vibrations transmitted through these slots or openings the distance between the series
of slots 80 and 81 being equal to the distance from the latter to the edge of the
diaphragm and the radius of the inner ring 80. The effect is to so divide the sound
passage that the sonorous vibrations will act simultaneously against different parts of
the diaphragm instead of being concentrated at its centre and thus cause it to vibrate
uniformly over its entire surface. But it is essential to the accomplishment of this
result that all the sound passages should be of the same length which is effected by
the construction of the top piece 78. This is provided at its lower side with an
annular shoulder 82 which bears upon and clamps the edge of the disc 77 and with a
plate or disc 83 which extends across it. This plate or disc 83 has a circular boss 84
at its centre which bears upon the disc 77.
The plate 83 with its boss 84 forms between itself and the disc 77 an annular air
chamber which is in communication with the thin air space in front of the diaphragun
by the slots 80, 81.
The disc or plate 83 has a single series of slots or openings 85 arranged in a ring
midway between the series 80 and S1 of the disc 77. The openings 85 communicate
with the air passage formed hotween the outer conical piece 79 and an inner doflecting
cone 86 as clearly shewn in Figuro II.
Thus it will be seen that the sonorous vibrations after reaching the apex of the
cone 86 are propagated through a number of passages all of the same length but
communicating with different parts of the surface of the diaphragm. Upon the same
principle the number of sound passages may be multiplied by increasing the number
of perforated discs interposed between the top piece and diaphragm.
If the device is to be applied to a Graphophone a style or needle will be affixed to
the centre of the diaphragin if to a transmitting telephone the diaphragm will be
combined with the electrodes constituting the medium of variable resistance or with
the electromagnet of a magneto-telephone in the manner well understood.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a sound recording or transmitting device the combination with a diaphragm
responsive to sonorous vibrations of a disc forming an air chamber in front of the
said diaphragm the said disc having a number of apertures arranged in series dividing
the diaphragin into rings of equal width the said apertures being connected with a
common tube or mouth piece substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
2. The combination with a diaphragm and a sound conveying tube of a conical
deflector having its apex in the axis of said tube an outer casing and one or
more perforated dises interposed between said casing and diaphragm the perforations
of said discs being so disposed as to form sound passages all of the same length
but leading to different points on the surface of the diaphragm substantially as
herein before described.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London,
Agents.

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 7th day of November 1890, Amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the latents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883.
Improvements in Graphophones or instruments for Recording anu
Reproducing Speech and other Sounds.
JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47. Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by The Volta Graphophone Company a Corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Virginia United States of America and
having its principal place of business in Washington District of Columbia and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement.
66
This Invention relates more particularly to apparatus for recording and repro-
ducing speech and other sounds known as graphophones "and comprises certain
improvements upon the apparatus described in the specification to Letters Patent
No. 6027 dated May 4th 1886 and upon instruments of the same type.
"
!!
As described in said specification the record or phonogram is cut or graved by
a cutting style in a tablet consisting of a paper tube or cylinder provided with a
coating of wax or wax like composition, the tablet being mounted on a rotating
cylinder or tablet holder and the recorder or style being advanced lengthwise of the
tablet holder by means of a feed screw, so as to trace on the tablet a spiral line.
The present invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction
of the apparatus, to render it more complete and convenient for practical use and to
increase its efficiency in point of accuracy and distinctness in recording and repro-
ducing speech and other sounds.
The apparatus is mounted upon a stand or table, and is adapted to be driven by
foot power, or by a small water, spring, electric or other suitable motor. Upon the
stand or table are clamped two or more flexible tubes terminating in mouth pieces.
At the other end the tubes communicate through a socket and single tube with the.
recorder. This arrangement is convenient for recording a conversation between two
or more persons, as for example in taking depositions of witnesses. A bracket or
holder is provided for receiving the recorder which can be readily detached from its
carriage. Hooks are also provided for hanging the hearing tubes when not in use.
These arrangements conduce greatly to the convenience of the apparatus in

page_text: Heretofore the tablet holder was on the main shaft. It was provided with a ball
bearing at one end and detachably held in its bearing at the other so that it could be
tilted up to remove and replace the tablet.
In the present invention the tablet holder is on an independent shaft and is
driven from the main shaft by positive gearing. This simplifies the construction
of the apparatus. It also enables the tablet holder when a cylindrical holder is
used, to be readily removed bodily from the machine, which is desirable both to
give access to other parts, and to enable a fresh tablet to be inserted with the
least possible delay.
Forked supports are provided in the front of the frame in which the tablet holder
can be readily inserted. The latter has a loose collar at each end which fit in the
supports and constitute journal boxes for the shaft. Spring latches on the frame
hold these collars in place, and one of the collars is grooved for engagement with the
support, which is bevelled to an edge whereby end motion of the holder is prevented.
As the spiral lines formed by the recorder are very close together it is of the utmost
importance to prevent the least endwise movement of the tablet holder.
The tablets are designed to fit the holder accurately and may be simply slipped
on and held in place by friction. As the tablets are apt to vary somewhat in size it
is preferred to make them a trifle larger than the holder and to make the latter at one
ond slightly tapered or of gradually increased diameter, so that the tablet can be
pressed towards that end sufficiently to ensure a tight fit.
In using ordinary spur gearing to rotate the holder it is found that the motion of
the latter is not absolutely uniform, but proceeds by jerks as one tooth strikes the
next. Though this irregularity is very minute and not ordinarily observable it
becomes manifested in the operation of the graphophone. This difficulty is entirely
overcome by connecting the driven gear of the tablet holder with its shaft by a
yielding connection. In practice a tolerably stiff spring may be used with excellent
results.
According to another improvement herein after described the cylindrical tablet
holder is dispensed with, and the tablet is held between two disc shaped holders that
support it at the ends only. One of the disc holders is moveable longitudinally, so
that a tablet can be easily slipped in place and removed when desired. This
improvement saves the cost of the cylindrical holder and its weight in the machine,
and it also saves considerable time in inserting and removing a tablet. Moreover by
reducing to a minimum the inertia of the tablet it enables the latter to be stopped
instantly when desired.
With the metal tablet holder the inertia is such as to carry the tablet forward a
certain distance after the stopping mechanism has been actuated.
Heretofore the carriage of the reproducer and recorder rested directly on the feed
screw which served as a way or track for the carriage. To this construction a lateral
shaking or wabbling was incident which though actually very slight it is desirable to
avoid.
The carriage is now mounted on a smooth way or track independent of the feed
screw. Preferably the way or track is a fixed tube and the feed screw is placed
within it. The carriage carries a nut which engages and is driven by the thread of
the feed screw. The connection between the nut and carriage is an arm passing
through a longitudinal slot in the tubular track. A weight is provided to counter-
balance the weight of the recorder or reproducer and its accessories. The carriage
may be a permanent part of the apparatus, being used with both recorder and
reproducer. Or the recorder and reproducer may each have a separate carriage,
Preferably the carriage has small antifriction rollers in contact with the cylinder and
these are arranged relatively to the nut so as to ensure the greatest freedom of motion
to the carriage. In one form of apparatus hereinafter described, the lever arm
carrying the nut and weight and the tail piece of the reproducer have each a finger
piece which when the reproducer is in place, are in such position as to be simulta-
neously operated to raise the nut from the screw and the style from the record,
enabling the carriage to be moved back or forward as desired. To ensure accurate

page_text: setting an indicator finger with its point close to the surface of the tablet holder is
attached to the carriage.
It is sometimes desirable to make two records simultaneously. For example if the
record being made is a letter, the duplicate could be preserved as a copy. To permit
duplicate records to be made the apparatus is provided with two tablets and tablet
holders (which may be of either of the two forms herein described or of other suitable
form) and with two recorders connected with a common mouthpiece and supported
by a common carriage. The idea of making two records simultaneously is not new
broadly, and is not claimed herein; but the particular construction of apparatus
herein after described and claimed is believed to be new.
In this form of apparatus the carriage for the recorder is preferably permanently
attached thereto and can be put on and taken off the guide tube. As hereinafter
described it consists of a sleeve or tube divided lengthwise into two parts. The
construction has the advantage of great steadiness in operation. The second recorder,
when one is used, can be suspended from this carriage. If only one record is to be
made the second recorder can be removed from the carriage.
As heretofore made the recorder did not act as efficiently in recording sounds of
high pitch as in recording sounds of lower pitch. This is believed to be due to the
fact that when the sound waves impinge directly against the centre of the diaphragm
the latter does not act as a unit, for if the sounds are sufficiently high two or more
waves in opposite phases may, owing to the length between the centre and circum-
ference of the diaphragm, be acting upon it at the same time, and a differential
effect is the result instead of the full force of the wave. This difficulty may be
overcome by constructing the sound conveying passage to the diaphragm in such
manner that the atmospheric vibrations will act simultaneously upon the whole surface
of the diaphragm.
The best embodiment of this principle would be to construct a large air chamber of
conical form in front of the diaphragm communicating at its apex with the mouthpiece
but this plan is not feasible because the vibratory air space in front of the diaphragm
must be made very thin or otherwise a disagreeable hollow quality will be manifested
in the reproduced sound. The object sought however may be practically attained
without dispensing with the thin air space which is found to be advantageous, by
dividing the sound conveying passage, as it approaches the diaphragm, into a number
of branches equal in length and communicating with different points on the surface of
the diaphragm, whereby the latter is caused to vibrate with practical uniformity in
every part, even with sounds of high pitch. This improvement obviously permits the
use of a larger diaphragm than could heretofore be used with advantage; this
improvement forms the subject matter of an application by me for a Patent of even
date herewith.
Heretofore the point of the cutting style has been round. It is now found
advantageous to make it flat.
Successful reproduction from graphophonic records which have been properly made
depends largely upon the sensitiveness of the reproducing style, and its ability to
follow closely the irregularities of the record bearing always on it with uniform
pressure and not skipping from one elevation to the next, as is the tendency. The
elevations and depressions of the sound record being so minute, and following in such
rapid succession, make it difficult to insure that the point of the reproducing style
shall descend fully into each depression.
Heretofore the standard of the reproducer has been pivoted at one end, the other
end being provided with the diaphragm and style, the reproducer resting by its own
weight upon the record and being thus left free to follow its irregularities. To assist
further its action and insure its quick return after passing an elevation in the record
a light spring has been arranged to bear upon the style. It is found in practice that
the weight of the diaphragm and mountings upon the free end of the reproducer
standard is too great to secure the best results, and that the device is rendered more
efficient in action by reducing this weight. To this end the diaphragm is now placed
nearer the other end of the standard, and therefore falls mainly on the fulcrum of the

page_text: standard instead of on the record, and it is connected with the style by a thread. The
style itself consists of a lever on one arm of which is the point that rests on the record,
and to the other arm of which the thread leading from the diaphragm is attached.
By this construction the pressure of the reproducer on the record is greatly reduced
and the style is made to follow the record more accurately. Morcover, when the lever
constituting the style rests upon the record, the diaphragm through the thread is
pulled towards the style and thereby held under tension. This tension increases as
the style ascends a ridge, and reacts to compel it to enter the succeeding depression.
As before, the style is made flexible laterally to enable it readily to follow the grooves
in the bottom of which the record is formed.
A
The reproducer may be constructed so as to be hung from the same carriage that
supports the recorder in operation; or the reproducer may have a separate carriage
to which it is permanently attached, and which is removable from the guide tube.
earringe of this kind is hereinafter described which is specially devised to secure
rigidity and steadiness in operation, but which can, at the same time, be quickly put
on and taken off the guide-tube.
Heretofore hearing tubes for reproducers and like instruments have been constructed
in various ways to enable them to be held to the ears while leaving the hands free.
According to one part of this invention the ear pieces have extremities of such size
and shape that they can enter the outer portion of the orifice of the car, and are
hook shaped so that they hang from the ridge of the ear.
For convenience in stopping and starting the machine without interrupting the
operation of the motor. a clutch mechanism is combined with the main shaft. The
clutch can be operated by a key lever conveniently placed near the front of the
machine. This contrivance is of great utility in transcribing from the record on a
type writer, for instance; it being of course difficult for the operator to transcribe as
rapidly as the record is reproduced.
By means of the clutch mechanism, the machine can be stopped after a sufficient
number of words have been reproduced until the latter have been transcribed, or
repeated to another person, when the machine can be instantly started again.
Heretofore the fine wax thread or shaving removed by the cutting style has been
brushed off by hand and its entire removal has been further ensured by attaching a
small brush to sweep over the record in front of the reproducer.
In the present apparatus a rotary brush is provided having on its shaft a pinion
which can be engaged with one of the gears at the same time that the brush touches
the surface of the tablet. The brush is preferably made a permanent part of the
machine being carried by a swinging frame attached to one of the shafts. When the
record has been cut the brush can be swung into contact with the tablet and by a
slight endwise movement a pinion carried by the brush spindle is thrown into gear
with one of the spur wheels, and the brush is thereby rapidly rotated while the tablet
revolves, completely removing the wax shavings, which fall into a tray placed under
the machine.
The wax thread or shaving has a tendency to wrap itself around the tablet as the
latter revolves, thereby interfering somewhat with the operation of the apparatus.
This is now prevented by a comb or saw toothed plate placed lengthwise of the tablet
with its teeth in close proximity to the surface of the latter.
In addition to the improvements above indicated the invention includes certain new
details of construction and combination of parts which will be bereinafter fully
pointed out.
Having now explained the general principle of the invention, the best mode
contemplated of carrying the same into effect will now be described in connection
'with the acompanying drawings which form part of this specification.
Figure I is a perspective view of the apparatus arranged upon a stand or table the
recorder being shown in its operative position; Figure 11 is plan view of the
graphopone proper; Figure III is a front elevation with parts of the tray broken
away to show the parts behind: Figure IV is a sectional plan view: Figure Va
vertical transverse section looking to the left, and showing the reproducer in place;

page_text: Figure VI is an elevation of the right hand end of (Figure II) the machine, showing
the recorder in place; Figure VII is an underside view of the recorder; Figure VIII
is a centre section thereof; and Figure IX is a detail view of a portion of the clutch
mechanism. Figure X is a plan view of another form of graphophone provided with
duplex recording apparatus; Figure XI a cross section and Figure XII a sectional
elevation of the same; Figure XIII is a side elevation of the reproducer and its
carriage; Figure XIV a front view thereof; Figure XV a sectional plan of the
reproducer carriage; Figure XVI an enlarged view of the cutting style; and
Figure XVII an inside view of one half of the sleeve constituting the recorder
carriage.
Referring to Figure I, A is the stand or table upon which are placed the working
parts of the apparatus. The stand A has a hinged lid B which when the apparatus is
in use is thrown back thereby forming a shelf. To the front edge of this shelf are
attached by clamp screws 2 the holder 3 for flexible tubes 4. Two tubes are shown
but a greater number could be applied in the same way. At their outer ends the
tubes 4 terminate in mouth pieces 5 and at the other ends they connect with the
hollow T socket connected by a tube with the recorder C. At the rear of
the shelf B is a bracket S in which the recorder C may be placed when not in use, so
that it and its attachments may be entirely out of the way while reproducing. The
arrangement is found to be of great utility in recording conversations and in taking.
depositions.
The reproducer D is in like manner provided with two hearing tubes 9 terminating in
car pieces 10 such as described in the Letters Patent aforesaid. These tubes 9 connect
with opposite ends of a metal tube 11 screwed to the stand A from which a flexible
tube 12 leads to the reproducer D. Hooks 13 are pivoted to the back of the lid B and
upon them the tubes 9 are hung when not in use." These hooks can be turned inside
the lid B when the latter is to be closed.
The motor for driving the graphophone may be located beneath the stand or
table A and may be a treadle for example. Power is transmitted from such motor
by belt 100 to the pulley 101 of a speed regulator K. The latter may be of any
suitable construction and as it forms no part of the present invention need not be
particularly described. Its object is to prevent the graphophone from being driven
beyond a determined maximum speed regardless of the speed of the motor.
Referring now to Figures II to IX, the framework of the apparatus consists of
two uprights or standards E F and tie rods 20 and 21. The main shaft G is supported
in bearings in the uprights EF. It is driven by the pulley 25 rotated from a
suitable motor by a belt, and it carries a spur gear 26 which transmits motion to the
other working parts.
The tablet holder H has a gear 27 which is driven by a gear 26 through an inter-
mediary 28 on the shaft 36. The gear 28 is formed of a disc of leather or other
suitable material clamped between two metal discs, the object being to prevent noise
in operation.
The tablet holder H is detachably supported in forked supports in the front of
uprights E F. It has at the ends loose collars 29 and 30 which, when the tablet
holder is in place are in contact with the frame, and they constitute the bearings or
journal boxes in which the holder revolves, being held stationary in operation.
Collar 29 is formed with a groove 31, and the recess in which it rests is provided
with an edge that enters this groove and prevents end motion of the tablet holder.
The pin 32 passes through a hole in the projection 33 of the upright E and is pressed
down by a leaf spring 34 which holds the pin against the collar 29 with sufficient
pressure to keep the tablet holder in place. A similar spring-latch composed of the
spring 35 and the pin 36* (see Figure VI) is arranged on the upright F to act upon
the collar 30. The surface of the latter is smooth. The construction shown permits
the tablet holder to be instantly removed bodily from the machine, and as quickly
put back in place, thereby avoiding any considerable delay in the use of the machine
when a fresh tablet has to be inserted.
The tablet holder increases at one end to a slightly larger diameter as shown at 40

page_text: (Figures III and IV) so that the tablet 41, being pressed toward that end will be
held sufficiently tight to prevent slipping, even though the tablet fits quite loosely
with respect to the main portion of the holder.
The gear 27 is fixed, not directly to the tablet holder H but to a collar 42 mounted
loosely on the spindle of said holder. This collar is connected with the holder by a
curved spring 43, so that the connection between the holder and its gear is a yielding
one. The curved spring extends more than half way around the collar, being fastened
at one end to the collar and at the other end to the tablet holder, the collar 42 being
cut away to permit the connection to be made. The object of this is to prevent
minute vibrations being imparted to the tablet from the toothed gearing, and to
insure absolute uniformity of motion. Such vibrations are absorbed or taken up by
the spring 43. The spring is covered by the sliding cap 44.
The feed screw I (Figure V) is placed near the top of the apparatus and is
supported in bearings in the uprights E F. It carries a pinion 45 which is driven
by the main shaft through gear 26, intermediary 28, pinion 4G on the same shaft 36
that carries the gear 28 and spur gear 46. The feed screw I is thus driven at a
much lower speed than the tablet holder H.
Feed screw I is enclosed in a sleeve or tube L which forms the guide-way or
track for the carriage M. To the latter is pivoted a lever arm 50 which extends to
the rear of the tube I and passes into the same through the slot therein which
extends lengthwise to the limits of the movement of the carriage in both directions.
The arm 50 carries at its end the segment of a nut 52 having threads corresponding
in pitch to those of the feed screw I which it engages. The nut 52 is held in engage-
ment with the feed screw by the pressure of a weight 53 which is also carried by lever
arm 50.
The carriage M is designed to slide freely on the guide tube or way L which it
surrounds. It carries four small anti-friction wheels or rollers 54 which are in
contact with the surface of the tube L, the carriage itself not being in contact with
the tube at all. The upper and lower pairs of wheels 54 are placed about 100°
apart with respect to the circumference of the tube L, and they are about equi-distant
from the nut 52, so that the bearing points of the carriage are nearly equi-distant and
its pressure evenly distributed around its axis, thereby reducing friction to a minimum.
The thread of the feed screw may he cut away at the right hand end to stop the
carriage when it reaches the end of its movement. The carriage has in front a pair
of sockets 56 adapted to receive the trunnions 57 of the recorder C or reproducer D.
The carriage M is a permanent part of the apparatus, being used with both
recorder and reproducer. As the weight 53 is at the rear of the carriage it not only
acts to keep the nut 52 in engagement with the feed screw, but also serves to counter-
balance the weight of the recorder or reproducer, whichever happens to be in use.
The forward projection of the lever arm 50 has a finger piece 60 by pressing
upon which the nut 52 can be lifted out of engagement with the feed screw, and the
carriage can be slid to any desired point. The reproducer D has also a finger piece 61
which overlaps the finger picce 60. Thus, by pressing upon the part 61 the
style of the reproducer is lifted from the record at the same time that the nut 52 is
disengaged from the feed screw. This arrangement permits the carriage and parts
connected with it to be moved back and forward, as for instance, if it be desired to
repent any portion of the recorded speech or sound.
When the recorder or reproducer is in place it is difficult to set its style accurately
at any desired point. To obviate this difficulty the carriage M has a finger or pointer 62
carried by a rod 63. The point of the finger 62 approaches close to the surface
of the tablet, and the said point is in the same vertical plane transverse to the axis
of the tablet as the style of the recorder or reproducer when in place in the carriage.
Consequently by means of the finger 02 the carriage can be set accurately at the
desired point and the recorder (or reproducer) then put in place.
The manner of constructing and mounting the carriage M in addition to other
advantages, prevents lateral vibration or wabbling, and one result of this is that the
spiral lines of the record can be made closer together than was practicable heretofore.

page_text: With the apparatus as described the relative speeds of the feed screw and tablet holder
are so timed that the recorder traces one hundred and fifty-four lines to an inch on
the tablet, thus largely increasing the capacity of the tablets.
The recorder C (see Figures ILL, VI, II and VIII) is in most respects the same
as that described in the Specification herein before referred to. It has the diaphragm 70
of mica to the centre of which is attached the cutting style 71 and the adjustablo
bar or bridge piece 72, having a smooth surfaced enlargement 73 at its middle for
resting on the surface of the tablet and regulating the depth of the cut to be made
by the style 71. It is attached to the carriage as already explained by placing the
trunnions 57 in the sockets 56 from which it hangs downward and rests by gravity,
on the tablet 41.
The frame of the recorder consists of a metal ring 74 with an internal shoulder or
flange 75 at its lower edge, upon which flange the mica diaphragm 70 is placed. Upon
this diaphragm is a washer 76 of yielding material, such as thick paper or cardboard.
and upon this is placed the metal disc 77, forming a thin air space or chamber in
front of the diaphragm. These parts are held in place by the top piece 78 which is
screwed into the ring 74. The top piece 78 has a central cone 79 terminating in a
socket at its apex for the attachment of a speaking tube or mouth-piece. The disc 77
has a series of openings or passages 80, 81, for the sonorous vibrations. These
are shown as slots arranged in two concentric rings. These rings are so disposed as
to affect all parts of the diaphragm equally, the distance between the openings 80
and S. being equal to the distance from the latter to the edge of the diaphragm, and
to the distance across the inner ring 80. The object is to divide the sound passage
so that the sonorous vibrations will act simultaneously against different parts of the
diaphragm, instead of being concentrated at its centre, and thus cause it to vibrate
uniformly over its entire surface. To carry out this principle it is important that all
the sound passages should be of the same length, which is secured by the construction
of the top piece 78. This is provided at its lower side with an annular shoulder 82
which bears upon and clamps the edge of disc 77, and with a plate or disc 83
which extends across it and forms an annular air chamber in front of the disc 77.
The disc 83 has a shoulder 84 at its centre which bears upon the disc 77 between the
first series of slots 80 and the centre. Disc 83 has a single series of openings or
slots 85 arranged in a ring midway between the two series of openings 80 and 81 in
the disc 77. The openings 85 communicate with air passages formed between the
outer cone 79 and an inner deflecting cone S6. Thus it will be seen
sonorous vibrations after reaching the apex of the cone 86 are propogated through
a number of passages all of the same length but communicating with different
points on the surface of the diaphragm. Upon the same principle the number of
sound passages may be multiplied by increasing the number of perforated discs
interposed between the top piece and the diaphragm.
that the
The set screws 87 passing through the frame 74 are for adjusting the position of the
bridge piece 72 to regulate the normal depth of penetration of the style 71 into the
wax coating of the tablet.
The reproducer D is best shown in Figure V. It is hung in the carriage M in the
same manner as the recorder, and the point of the rubbing style rests by gravity upon
the tablet 41 as heretofore.
The diaphragm 90 is enclosed in a case or chamber 91 near the upper end of the
reproducer standard 92, or the end away from that which carries the style 933. The
style is thus partially freed from the weight of the diaphragm and its mountings, and
rests more lightly on the tablet. The style 93 is an elbow or bell-crank lever pivoted
at 97 in the end of the hollow standard 92 with its point projecting slightly beyond the
end thereof. The style is made preferably of spring metal so that while rigid in the
direction of its normal movement, it is flexible laterally, and is therefore not liable
to slip out of the groove in the tablet.
The inner arm of the lever 93 is connected by a thread 94 with the centre of the
diaphragm 90, the thread being enclosed in the hollow standard 92. The pin 95 acts

page_text: as a stop to limit the extent to which the point of the style projects beyond its casing.
The plate 96 which covers the rear of the diaphragm, and to which the hollow.
standard 92 is attached, is perforated so that the space behind the diaphragm is in
communication with the outer air, whereby interference which would to a certain extent
result from reverberation, is prevented. "All the working, parts of the reproducer are
thus enclosed and protected from damage that might result from careless handling.
When the reproducer is in place with the point of style 93 resting upon the record,
the weight is sufficient to turn the style slightly on its pivot pulling on the thread and
thus putting the diaphragm under tension. The tendency of the diaphragm to return
to its normal position when pulled out by the motion of the style assists in causing the
latter to follow closely the irregularities of the record and to descend fully into the
depressions thereof.
One advantage of using a lever as the reproducing style is that by making the
inuer arm shorter than the outer as shown in the drawing, the motion of the
diaphragm can be reduced, which though it involves a slight loss in loudness is
found to produce a more than compensating gain in distinctness of enunciation.
The end of the flexible sound conveying tube 12, fits over the upper end of a
tube 212, which is fixed in the frame of the reproducer D, and whose lower end
though not in contact with, is in close proximity to the socket piece 213 and the
opening in the periphery of said piece for the passage of the sound waves into the
tube 12. The advantage of this construction is that the socket piece may turn or
rotate on its pivots without friction. It is found that there is no appreciable loss of
loudness in the sound reproduced, with a space of say two one thousandths of an
inch all around.
The apparatus can be started and stopped at will by means of clutch mechanism
which will now be described, (see Figures II, III, IV and IX.) The driving pulley 25
is mounted not directly on the main shaft G but on a stud 98 fastened to the upright
or standard E through which the shaft passes. The hub 97 of the pulley 25 has a
serrated edge 99 constituting one member of a clutch. The boss 103 which is fast on
the main shaft G has a corresponding serrated edge and constitutes the other member of
the clutch, the main shaft G can be moved lengthwise in its bearings sufficiently to
engage and disengage the members of the clutch and thereby stop or start the machine
as desired.
For greater convenience in operating the clutch a key lever 105, with two
buttons 106 and 107, is fixed on the end of a rock shaft 108 having bearings in
brackets 112 screwed to the front of the upright F. The rock shaft at its rear end
carries an arm 109 the point of which takes into a groove 110 (see Figure IX) in the
main shaft G. By pressing on the button 107 the main shaft is shifted to the right,
so that the members of the clutch are thrown into engagement, and the machine
started. By pressing on the button 106 the shaft is moved to the left and the
pulley 25 thereby disengaged from the shaft and allowed to revolve idly, the shaft
coming to rest.
The cylindrical brush 115 is mounted on a spindle 116 which has bearings in
the swinging brackets 117, and carries on one end a pinion 118 (Figure III). The
brackets 117 hang loosely from shaft 36, so that except when the brush is actually in
use, it hangs clear of the other parts of the apparatus. A spiral spring 119 encircles
the shaft 36 and bears at one end against a collar 120 on said shaft and at the other
end against one of the brackets 117 and therefore tends to keep the brush in such
position that the pinion 118 is out of the plane of the gear 28.
To use the brush the operator swings it forward by grasping, the stud 121, which
is on the end of the brush spindle 116, and at the same time pushes the brush to the
left thereby throwing the pinion 118 into engagement with gear 28 rapidly rotating
the brush against the surface of the tablet, which is also in motion, and clearing it of
all the cuttings of wax, which fall into the tray 124. When the brushing is complete
the operator releases it, and it then falls by gravity to its normal position, the
spring 119 throwing the whole frame to the right and moving pinion 118 out of the

page_text: plane of rotation of gear 28. The brush 115 is enclosed for the greater part of its
periphery in a casing 123 which acts as a guard to prevent scattering of the shavings
and also partly as a frame to hold the parts together.
The screw 122 (Figure VI) passes through the stud 121. When the brush is
raised its point strikes the underside of upright F thus limiting the motion of the
brush in the direction of the tablet. The screw 122 can be adjusted to secure the
proper pressure of the brush against the tablet.
The comb 126 (Figures III and V) extends across the machine below the tablet
holder being mounted on tie-rod 21. Its teeth approach to within say one thirty-
second () of an inch of the surface of the tablet 41. The teeth of this comb will
cutch the nue wax shaving cut by the recording style and prevent its winding itself
around the tablet.
A thin plate having a saw-teeth edge may be substituted for the comb, with equally,
good effect and will be less expensive in construction.
Referring now to Figures X-XVII, the apparatus having duplex recording
devices and containing the other modifications shown in those figures will now be
described.
The two cylindrical tablets. B B31 are placed below the feed screw I and are
respectively in front of and behind the same. Pulley 25 drives the front tablet B
while the rear tablet B is driven by pulley 26. The feed screw I is driven by pulley 25
through the gears 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32, the latter being mounted on the feed
screw.
10
The front tablet B is supported by the two disc holders H H'. The former is
mounted on the end of a sleeve or hollow arbor having a bearing on a hollow,
stud 18 which passes through the standard E and is clumped in place by a shoulder
at 19 and a nut 43 best shown in Figure XII. The sleeve h also carries the gear 27,
through which motion is imparted to the train of gears operating the feed screw I.
The disc holder H tapers slightly inward so that it will readily enter the hollow,
tablet B, and it is provided with a shoulder 34 against which the end of said tablet
bears. The disc H is provided with points 14 to take into the ends of the tablet and
prevent its slipping.
The opposite disc holder H' is loosely mounted on the end of a shank h¹ which
the
passes through a tube 35 rigidly secured to the standard by clamp nuts 36 * *,
disc being held in place by a screw 37 tapped into the end of shank h¹.
The shank is free to move longitudinally in the tube 35, and between the ends it
is turned down to leave space between it and said tube for the spiral spring 38 which
bears at one end against a shoulder 39 on said tube, and at the other end against a
shoulder 40 on the shank h' and tends to press the disc H' to the left, that is towards
the tablet B. A pin 41 passing through a slot in tube 35 prevents rotation of the
shank. By the pressure of the spring 38 the tablet B is clamped between the two
lises H. To remove the tablet it is only necessary to withdraw disc H by drawing
out by means of the button 42 the shank h. The operation of inserting and removing
a tablet is thus very quickly performed. The holder H receives no positive motion
but simply turns with the tablet B and disc H.
The rear tablet B is supported by holders H² H³ similar in construction to the
holders H H already described. The only difference in the parts is that holder H
has no gear wheel corresponding to gear 27 on the hub of holder H. Theso
duplicate parts are inserted in the machine frame and held by nuis 43, 44. The
machine would be complete for the purpose of making a single record without them,
and they can be readily added at any time when desired.
The clutch mechanism is in general form similar to that already described.
Certain modifications have, however, been made.
A rod 50 passes through the rod 20 and carries on its left hand end an upright
The arbor 52 passes through
finger 51 which takes into a groove in an arbor 52.
the hollow stud 18 which is slotted at 19 to admit of the passage and movement of
finger 51. The arbor 52 carries on its outer end one member 53 of the clutch the other
member 54 being fixed to the hub of driving pulley 25. On the inner end of arbor 52

page_text: is fixed a disc 55 which engages and drives the holding disc H through a pin 56
passing through a hole in said disc 55 and tapped into holder H. Rod 50 is moved
longitudinally by the key-lever 57 carried by rock shaft 58, the latter being
connected with rod 50 by a crank arm 59. When by means of the lever 57 rod bū
is moved to the left, the arbor 52 is moved in the same direction and thereby
disengaging the clutch, and the pulley 25 can then turn on its bearing without
rotating the holder H and feed screw I. In the other position of the clutch
mechanism, the arbor 52 is connected with the pulley 25, and is rotated, thereby
driving the holder H through the disc 55 and pin 56, and the feed screw I through the
train of gears already described. The rock shatt 58 extends across the standard and is
connected by a crank arm similar to 59 with another rod 60 passing through tic-rod 21
and operating a similar clutch mechanism for the second tablet B.
The recorder C is rigidly attached to a sleeve which constitutes its carriage,
and is adapted to slide ou guide-tube L. Sleeve M is divided into two parts
longitudinally, the parts being hinged together at 65. The interior of the sleeve M
is slightly larger than the tube L except at the ends where rings 66 of hard
rubber or like material are inserted, the diameter of the rings being such as to
fit closely on the tube L (see Figure XVII). This construction permits easy
longitudinal movement of the carriage M and recorder or recorders carried thereby,
while insuring rigidity of the latter against lateral movement. Such rigidity is
essential, as the speaking tubes are in this case led from the mouthpieces direct to the
recorder, and unless the latter were rigidly supported an irregular line and
consequently a worthless record would be the result. It has been found that
this mode of carrying the recorder has decided advantages in this respect over the
plan of banging it by trunnions from supports on a carriage.
A segmental nut 67 is carried on the end of a shank GS and is pressed by a spring 69
into engagement with the feed screw I. The nut passes through the slot which
extends lengthwise of the tube L. The upper edge 70 of this slot is rounded and
the upper edge of the nut 67 is bevelled, so that the act of lifting the recorder
disengages the nut from the screw and withdraws it from the slot.
recorder in position, the nut automatically snaps into place.
In putting the
A pin 71 on the shank 68 passes through a slot in the frame of the recorder,
limiting the movement of the shank, and affording means for withdrawing the nut
by hand.
A counterweight 72 is attached to the other half of the sleeve from that which
carries the recorder C.
The second recorder C when in place is suspended by semi-circular hangers 73
attached by screws 74 to its frame. These hangers extend half way around the tube L
and their upper ends are pivotted on the hinge-pintles 65 of the hinges that
connect the two parts of carriage M. The second recorder, when in position, does
not tend to turn the sleeve, being suspended therefrom at a point diametrically opposite
the recorder itself, so that its weight acts on a line passing through the axis of the
carriage.
Heretofore the point of the cutting style has been rounded. As shown in
Figure XVI, it is Hattened, being shaped like an arrow-head slightly hollowed out on
one edge. Styles of this shape are easier to make, while they lose no rigidity in the
direction of their cutting action by the removal of metal from the sides. In all other
respects the recorders are alike that already described and therefore no further
description thereof is necessary.
The respective sound chambers in the two recorders CC are connected by tubes 5
.75, 76, joined at the middle with a T-shaped coupling piece 77 for attachment of a
suitable mouthpiece, or of flexible tubes 78 such as before described. Therefore on
reaching the coupling piece 77 the sound waves are propagated in both directions
through the tubes 75, 76 and duplicate records are thus produced; so that, if letters
are being dictated, one record can be mailed to the correspondent and the other 5
retained as a copy
The reproducer D) is shown in Figures XIII, XIV and XV. The construction of

page_text: the hollow standard and the mounting of the diaphragm and rubbing style are as
before described and therefore need no further description here.
The carriage by which the recorder reproducer is supported and advanced in action
consists mainly of a frame 80 in which the trunnions S1 of the reproducer are pivotted
at 84. The frame 80 has two curved arms 82, the curvature of whose undersides corre-
spond with that of the guide tube L. The segmental nut S3 is carried by two supporting
arms 85, which turn freely on the trunnions 81 of the recorder reproducer, their motion,
however, being limited by pins S6 attached to the frame $0 and engaged by the stops 87
on the ends of the armis 85. Flat springs SS press the nut 83 into engagement with
the feed screw I. When the recorder reproducer is in place, and as the nut is diametri-
cally opposite the curved arms 82 these parts hold the carriage in place on the guide
tube L. The nut can be moved outward against the pressure of the springs 88 far
enough to let the guide tube L pass between it and the arms 82. To secure the
perfect rigidity and steadiness desirable, and to avoid the necessity of extra caro on
the part of the operator, tho carriage is provided with a locking device which
consists of curved arms 89 connected at their lower ends by a tie-rod 90 and near
their upper ends by tie-rod 92. The arms S9 are pivotted at their upper ends to tho
frame 80 by pivot pins 91. The curvature of these arms corresponds with that of the
guide-tube L, and when in place the arms drop by gravity into contact with the said
tube, their lower ends bearing against the same at a point diametrically opposite the
pivots 91. The pivot 91 should be placed at a point where a line drawn through the
axis of the feed-screw 1 (or guide-tube L) would be intersected by a line perpendicular
thereto from the pivot S4. Any undue pressure exerted on the reproducer carriago
when in operation would tend to turn the whole device upon the pivots 84 as a
centre, and hence the said pressure would be effectually resisted by the whole strength
of the locking-piece and guide-tube. If the pivots 91 were shifted to one side or the
other of the intersection of the two lines determined as above pointed out, it will be seen
that the pull on the locking device would be in a line more or less oblique to tho
surface of the guide-tube L, and the liability of slipping would not be so effectually,
provided against.
Contact of the tie-rod 92 with the stationary arms 82 limits the movement of the
locking piece in one direction, and its movement in the other direction is limited by
contact of the rod 90 with the end of said stationary arms. As in the case of the nut 67
of the recorder, the nut S3 of the reproducer has a bevelled upper edge so that the
reproducer and carriage can readily be removed from the machine, it not being
necessary to withdraw the nut by hand.
To
A hollow metal tube or socket piece 95 is rigidly attached to the frame SO and
communicates at its lower end with the hollow standard of the reproducer.
the upper end of this socket is attached the end of the flexible tube 96.which
bifurcates at 97 as shown in FigureXVIII and has at the further endsthe ear pieces98.
The latter are connected directly with the reproducer, instead of being led to a
fixed metal tube as heretofore. Hence the necessity of the greater rigidity of the
recorder reproducer carriage is secured by the construction just described.
The ear pieces 98 have ends of a proper size and shape to enter the concha of the
ear, and being hook-shaped, can be hung from the ridge known as the anti-tragus and
does not require to be held in position by hand, by spring pressure, or by suspending
devices of any kind. This improvement is found to contribute greatly to ease and
convenience in use.
It is obvious modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention, and that some of the improvements may, if desired, be used without
others.
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-

page_text: and--communicating with--the-spae--in--front--of-the-diaphragm-of-said-recorder;-and
elamps-or-holders-for-attaching-the-said-tabe-or-tubes-to-the-stand-or-table,-substantially
as-hereinbefore-described.
2-The--general-combination--and--arrangement-of-the-graphophone-with-the-r. eorder,
and-reproducer-their-flexible--tubes--and--holding--devices, substantially-as-hereinbefore
described-and-illustrated--in-Figure-1-of-the-accompanying-drawinger
1. The combination with the graphophone of the removable cylindrical tablet
holder, and the gearing for rotating the tablet holder from the main shaft, sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the frame of the removable cylindrical tablet holder
with its collar loosely surrounding the same, and the devices for retaining said tablet
holder in position on the frame, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
5.-The--eylindrical--tablet--holder-increasing--at-one-end-to-n-larger-diameter--than
the-main-portion-of--the--holder,substantially--as--hereinbetore--described-with--reference
to-the-accompanying-drawings.
6. The-combination-with--the -main--shaft--of-the--tablet--holder,-a--gear--wheel--een-
neeted-therewith-by-a-yielding-connection,--such--as-a-spring, and-gearing-for-driving
illustrated-by-the-accompanying-drawings.
said-tablet-holder--from-said--main--shaft,-substantially--as--hereinbefore--described--and
7.The--combination--with--the---recorder-and---reproducer---of-the--carriage--having
sockets-for-supporting-the-same-a-stationary-track--or--way--on-which--caid--carriage
slides, a-feed-serew--and--a--nnt--carried---by-said--earriage-and-engaging--said--cerew,
substantially as hereinbefore-described-and-illustrated-by-the-accompanying-drawings.
8. 3. The combination with the fixed tube, the carriage sliding thereon and the feed
screw, of a lever arm pivoted to said carriage, a nut on said arin and a weight for
holding said nut in engagement with said feed screw, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
94. The combination of the fixed tube, the carriage sliding thereon, the feed screw,
the nut engaging therewith, the lever carrying said nut and pivoted to said carriage,
the reproducer pivoted in said carriage and having a projection overlapping the end
of said lever, so that by pressing on said projection the style is lifted from the
record and the nut simultaneously disengaged from the feed screw, substantially
as herein before described and illustrated more particularly in Figure V of the accom-
panying drawings.
10 The--combination--with--the-tablet--holder--of-the sliding-carriage, said -carriage
tablet-holder, substantially-as--hereinbefore--described--and--illustrated-more-particularly
being--provided--with--an--indicator-finger-having-the-point--elose-to-the-surface-of-the
in-Figures-V-and-VI-of-the-accompanying-drawings.
+ 5. The combination with the diaphragmn of the reproducer, of the rubbing style
consisting of a lever, having the rubbing point formed on one arm, the other arm
being connected with the said diaphragm, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figure V of the accompanying drawings.
12 6. In a reproducer adapted to rest by gravity on the record, the combination
with the standard of a style supported in the free end thereof, a diaphragm mounted
near the other end thereof, and a connection between the style and diaphragm sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figure V of the accompanying
drawings.
13 The combination of the standard, the style consisting of a lever pivoted at
one end thereof, the diaphragm supported near the other end, and a thread con-
necting one arm of said lever with the diaphragm, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figure V of the accompanying drawings.
14. The construction--and--arrangement of the eluteh--mechanism-and--operating
finger-key--in--combination with the--feeding and--driving mechanism-of--a--grapho-
phone, substantially-as-hereinbefore--described--with--reference--te--the-accompanying
drawings.
15. The combination-with--the--tablet,-tablet-holder--and--driving mechani-m-of-the

page_text: eylindrical-brush--having-bearings-in-a-swinging frame, so as to hang normally-free
of-said--tablet-bat--adapted-to-be-brought-into-contact- therewith-and-simultaneously
thrown--into--gear--with--said-driving-mechanism,--substantially-as--described--with
reference-to-the-accompanying-drawings.
10 The-combination--with-the-tablet-tablet--holder-and-driving-mechanism,-of-the
brush-having-bearings-in-a-swinging--frame--hanging-clear-et--the-tablet-a-pinion-for
engaging--one--of-the--gears, and-a-spring-for-moving--the-frame laterally to hold said
pinion-normally-ont of the plane-of-rotation-of-said-gear,-substantially-as-hereinbefore
deseribed-with-reference-to-the-accompanying-drawings.
17 The--combination--with--the-tablet-and-tablet--holder,--of-the--toothed--plate-or
eemb--lengthwise-of-said-tablet-and--baving-the-points-of-its-teeth-in-close proximity
to-the-surface--thereof,-substantially--as--hereinbetere--described--with-reference-to--the
accompanying-drawings.
18. The combination-with-the--pirotted--reproducer-having--a-suitable--socket-pieee
eonveying-tube-having its-end-in-close--proximity-to-the--opening-in-said-seeket--piece,
but-not-in-contact-with-the-latter, substantially-as-hereinbefore-described-and-illustrated
provided-with-an-opening-on--its-periphery-for-the--passage--of--sennd,-of-a-sound
in Figure-of-the-accompanying-drawings.
19 A-graphophone-provided--with-duplicate-tablet-holders-and-duplicate-recorders
the latter-being-connected--with-a-common-month-piece, substantially-as-hereinbefore
20. 8. A graphophone provided with duplicate tablet holders, and with mechanism
for driving said tablet holders and for advancing duplicate recorders, substantially
as herein before described with reference to Figures X to XVII of the accompanying
drawings.
described-with-reference-to-Figures-X-and-XI-of-the-accompanying-drawings.
21. 9. The combination with the feed screw and guide tube, of the carriage con-
sisting of a sleeve divided longitudinally into two parts and adapted to embrace said
tube, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures X and XI of
the accompanying drawings.
22 10. The construction and arrangement of the feed screw and surrounding tube
having a slot with rounded edge, in combination with a carriage carrying a nut for
engagement with said screw, said nut having a bevelled edge, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figure XI of the accompanying drawings.
23. 11. The combination of the reproducer its carriage and pivotted locking device,
substantially as described.
24. 12 The tablet-holder consisting of two rotatable discs for supporting the tablet
at opposite ends, one of said discs being adjustable or movable towards and away from
the tablet. substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figures XIII,
XIV and XV.
1
Jent
25-In--combination-with--graphophones--or-instruments--for-recording--and--repro-
dneing--sounds-the flexible--hearing tubes having book--shaped---ear--pieces--adapted
to-be-suspended-from-the--ears--with-their-ends-inside-the-same-substantially-as-herein-
before-described-and-illustrated-by-Figure-XVIII.