Improvements in Gramophones and like Machines for Recording and Reproducing Sound.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec.,
1899
Improvements in Gramophones and like Machines for Recording and
Reproducing Sound.
I, ELDRIDGE REEVES JOHNSON, of No. 108, North Front Street, City of Camden,
State of New Jersey, United States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in the following statement:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in sound recording and repro-
ducing machines, and particularly to machines wherein a flat record disk is
employed.
The object of my said invention is to provide an improved means for support-
ing the record disk so as to render it capable of a yielding movement in one
direction, in order that it may be kept normally in contact with the
stylus of a reproducer which is supported rigidly against vertical movement,
and at the same time the disk is adapted to yield to accommodate any unevenness
that might occur in the said record disk; also in providing means for tilting
the said record disk so as to remove it from contact with the stylus of the repro-
ducer, and admit of the reproducing mechanism being removed in a lateral direc-
tion from the path of the record when it is desired to remove the said record and
substitute a new one; also in providing means for holding and locking the
record in its tilted position.
A further object of my invention is to provide an improved supporting means
for the reproducer whereby it is held rigid against vertical movement but cap-
able of a lateral or swinging movement, so that the stylus can follow and be
propelled by the grooves of the record when it is in contact with the same; also
to provide means for positively swinging the reproducer to one side and out of
the path of the record as soon as the said record is removed from contact with
the stylus.
Another object of my invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of
machines of this character, and at the same time increase the efficiency of the
working parts. These and other objects and features will be readily under-
stood from the construction hereinafter described.
In sound recording and reproducing machines of the well known types
numerous objectionable features exist in construction which my present inven-
tion is designed to remedy, among others particularly in machines where the
reproducer is loosely mounted and free to be raised vertically from the face of
the record the reproducer is liable to be accidentally dropped when in a raised
position, causing the stylus to strike against the record or its supporting table
and to break or badly damage both the stylus point and the diaphragm of the
reproducing mechanism.
My invention of a reproducer mounted rigidly against vertical movement,
and having means for positively moving the reproducer out of the path of the
record, in combination with means for tilting that side of the record which bears
against the stylus, obviates such difficulties, and renders such liability to damage

page_text: the parts impossible even when the machine is operated by the most inexperienced
hands.
My invention consists in the construction such as herein described and parti-
cularly pointed out in the claims made hereto.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in
which similar letters of reference are used to indicate similar parts:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a gramophone embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the reproducer
being shown in full lines.
Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the pivoted rocking arm in which the record
spindle is mounted.
Fig 5 is a detail section through the same taken about on the line 5-5 of
Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cam mechanism used for tilting the record and
holding the same in its tilting position, the tilted position being shown in dotted
lines.
In carrying out my invention I provide an outer box or casing, A, mounted on
a suitable supporting base, and having located therein a spring motor, B, which
may be of any of the well known constructions now employed in machines of
this character.
Located centrally in the casing, A, is the driving spindle, C, which projects
above the top of the outer casing, and carries the turn table, C¹, which supports
the record disk, D.
The spindle, C, is loosely mounted in a sleeve or socket, E', formed on the
rocker arm, E, which is pivoted at e, to the frame, b, of the motor, as will be
hereinafter described. A pinion, f, is rigidly secured on the spindle, C, which
meshes with a pinion, f¹, "secured on the shaft, F, which is suitably geared to
the propelling mechanism of the motor and by means of which the record
spindle, C, is revolved.
The rocker arm, E, has formed on its inner end a yoke, E2, having a flange, es,
carrying the trunnions, e, located diametrically opposite each other, and adapted
to be supported in the brackets, e3, which are secured to the upper frame, b, of
the motor. Formed on the lower side of the yoke, E2, is the depending sleeve, E',
which supported the driving spindle, C, as before described.
The outer end of the arm, E, extends through an opening provided in the
casing, A, and rests in the bottom of a slot, g, provided in a plate, G, secured on
the outside of the casing, A. A spring, 2, fastened at one end to the arm, E,
and at its other end to the inner side of the casing, A., holds the arm, E, and the
shaft, C, in normal position. The turn table, C, and record, D, is thus normally
held in a substantially horizontal plane. On the plate, G, is pivoted at gl, a
cam lever, G, having formed thereon a cam face, G2, and a projecting lug, g³.
When it is desired to tilt the turn table and its record disk the lever, G, is
thrown back to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the draw-
ings and its cam face, G2, raises the arm, E, its lug, g³, coming in contact with
the arm, E, serving as a stop to limit the downward movement of the said lever.
This movement tilts the side of the record disk diametrically opposite this end
of the rocker arm, E, and moves said record out of contact with the stylus of
the reproducing mechanism, and at the same moment that the record moves away
from contact with the stylus the supporting arm of the reproducer swings out-
wardly by a positive movement as will presently be described, until it is entirely
out of the path of the record disk, and the said record can then be readily removed.
The reproducing mechanism and its support is clearly illustrated in Figures 1
and 2 of the drawings, and referring thereto, L represents the sound box which
carries the diaphragm, and which may be of the usual construction. The stylus, 1,
is suitably secured in the stylus bar which forms a part of the sound box. To
the tubular end of the sound box is fastened by means of an elbow or otherwise

page_text: the trumpet, L. M designates the supporting arm for the reproducer, which is
secured to its inner end in any suitable manner. The outer end of the arm, M,
Lis pivotally mounted in the arm, N¹, of a bracket, N, by means of the pivot
screws, n, or in any other suitable manner, the object being to mount this arm, M,
so as to be capable of lateral movement but rigid against vertical movement.
The bracket, N, may be of any desirable form and is secured to the outer
casing, A, by means of screws or otherwise. An armi, O, extends from one side
of the arm, M, for supporting the trumpet, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of
the drawings. On one side of the supporting arm, M, is a spring, m, secured at
one end to the bracket arm, N1, and having its other end bear against the side
of said arm, M, the purpose of which is to swing the said arm outwardly and
away from the record disk as soon as the same is moved out of contact with the
stylus. A lug, n, is provided on the other side of the arm, M, which will strike
against the bracket arm, N', and limit the movement of the said arm in its
outward swing.
On the upper edge of the casing, A, is a piece of felt or other similar material, æ,
which is located on the side of the casing opposite the rocker arm, E, and against
which the turntable bears when the same is tilted by the mechanism heretofore
described.
In operation, the record disk, D, is secured on its supporting table while in
a tilted position, and the reproducer and its carrying arm are adjusted so that the
stylus is directly over the beginning of the record grooves, as shown in Fig. 2
of the drawings. The cam lever, G, is then thrown up to the position shown in
full lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and the rocker arm, E, is pulled down to
the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings under the action of the spring, 9².
This movement throws the turntable, C, and record disk, C, back to normal
position and causes the grooves of the said record to come in contact with the
stylus of the reproducer, the spring, g, tending to keep the rocker arm down and
the opposite side of the record disk up against the stylus at all times, while at
the same time the said record disk is capable of a yielding movement so as to
accommodate any irregularities or unevenness that might occur in the record disk,
while the pivoted support of the reproducer admits the stylus to move laterally
in following and being carried by the grooves.
When the reproduction has been completed the lever, G, is thrown down and
the pivoted rocker arm, E, thrown up, which tilts the record, C, and removes
it from contact with the stylus of the reproducer, while at the same time the
spring, m, throws the pivoted supporting arm, M, outwardly and away from the
path of the record disk. The record disk can then be easily and readily removed
and a new record substituted.
Various slight changes might be made in my invention as described without
departing from the spirit and scope thereof, hence I do not desire to limit myself
to the exact construction shown in the drawings and described herein.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is;-
1. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a reproducer rigidly sup-
ported against vertical movement, a revoluble driving spindle, a record disk
secured on said driving spindle, a pivoted rocking arm, in which the driving
spindle is journaled, and means for holding the free end of the rocking arm so
as to keep the record disk in contact with the stylus of the reproducing mech-
anism, substantially as described.
2. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a
laterally movable reproducer rigidly secured against movement toward or from
the face of the record, a revoluble record disk mounted so as to yield in one
direction, means for keeping the grooves of the record disk in yielding contact
with the stylus of the reproducing mechanism and means for tilting the record
disk so as to free it from contact with the said stylus, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a later-
ally movable reproducer rigidly secured against vertical movement, a revoluble
pivoted record disk adapted to yield in the direction of its point of contact with
the reproducing stylus, means for holding, the grooves of the said record nor-
mally in contact with the stylus point and means for positively tilting the record
so as to remove it from contact with the stylus point, substantially as described
and for the purpose stated.
4. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a repro-
ducer mounted rigidly against vertical movement but capable of lateral move-
ment, a revoluble driving spindle, a record disk secured on said driving spindle,
a rocking arm pivoted to the frame of the machine, and in which the driving
spindle is journaled, and a spring secured to the free end of said arm for normally
holding it down and keeping the record disk in contact with the stylus of the
reproducing mechanism, substantially as described.
5. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a later-
ally movable reproducer secured against vertical movement of a revoluble driv-
ing spindle adapted to carry a record disk, a rocker arm pivoted at one end to
the frame of the machine and in which the driving spindle is journaled, a spring
for holding the free end of the rocking arm normally down and keeping the
record disk in contact with stylus of the reproducer, and a cam lever pivoted to
the casing of the machine adapted to hear against the free end of the rocking
arm for raising the same and tilting the record disk, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a laterally movable reproducer secured against ver-
tical movement, of a rocker arm, E, having a depending sleeve or socket, E¹,
trunnions, e, by means of which said rocker arm is pivotally mounted to the frame
of the machine, a revoluble driving spindle adapted to the socket, E', a turn
table secured on said driving spindle, a record disk carried by the said turn table,
a spring, g, secured to the underside of the free end of the arm, E, and to the
casing of the machine, and a cam lever, G¹, adapted to engage the free end of
the arm, E, for tilting the same, substantially as described and for the purpose
stated.
7. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a yield-
ing record holder, a reproducer rigidly mounted against vertical movement but
capable of lateral movement to allow of the reproducing stylus being automati-
cally propelled by the record grooves, and means for keeping the grooves of the
record in contact with the stylus of the reproducing mechanism, substantially
as described.
8. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with a
revoluble yielding record disk of a reproducer located above the same, a stylus
carried by the said reproducer adapted to engage the grooves of the record disk,
a laterally swinging arm for supporting the reproducing mechanism held rigid
against vertical movement, and means for automatically moving said arm out
of the path of the record as soon as the said record is removed from contact with
the stylus of the reproducer, substantially as described.
9. The combination of a yielding revoluble record disk, a reproducer located
above the same, a stylus carried by the reproducer adapted to engage the grooves
of the record disk, a supporting arm for the reproducing mechanism pivoted in
a bracket carried by the frame of the machine, said arm being capable of lateral
movement but rigid against vertical movement, means for tilting the record so
as to remove it from contact with the reproducer and means for positively swing-
ing the reproducer and its supporting arm out of the path of the record disk
as soon as the record is removed from contact with the stylus point of the repro-
ducing mechanism, substantially as described.
10. The combination of a yielding revoluble record disk, a reproducer located
above the same, an arm, M, for supporting the reproducing mechanism, a
bracket, N, carried by the frame of the machine in which the arm, M, is pivoted

page_text: so as to be capable of moving laterally but rigid against vertical movement, a
spring, m, adapted to bear against the inner side of the arm, M, for swinging it
out of the path of the record when the said record is moved from contact with
the stylus of the reproducer and a lug, n, for limiting the outward swing of the
arm, M, substantially as described.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.