Improvements in Phonographs.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Phonographs.
I, CARL BOLLÉ, 57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has
been communicated to me by W. Bahre, of 62, Mittenwalderstrasse, Berlin, in
the German Empire, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to phonographs and consists in the improvements
therein hereinafter set forth.
Those phonographs in which the sounding or speaking trumpet is suspended
at the front end and rests with the sound reproducing tool directly upon the
grooved cylinder, generally have the defect that in case of vibration of the
phonographs the reproducing style no longer follows the grooves of the cylinder,
but rapidly slides in an axial direction either to the starting or finishing end of
the cylinder. In both cases the reproduction of the sounds recorded in the
cylinder is interrupted and the user of the apparatus must set the reproducing
style again upon the spot where the interruption occurred, but whenever the
apparatus receives a shaking which need not be very intense the danger of inter-
ruption recurrs. This defect greatly interfering with the proper action of the
apparatus is increased, if the apparatus does not stand quite horizontal so that
phonographs with suspended trumpets frequently do not act satisfactorily even
when most carefully finished.
To remedy this defect I provide a frictional resistance to the speaking trumpet
which is not so great as to prevent the progressive movement of the reproducing
style through the grooves of the cylinder but suffices to prevent any not intended
slipping forward or backward of the style so far that this slipping can only
extend for a short distance and not to the entire length of the cylinder.
My further improvements have for their object to assure the correct trans
mission of the rotary motion of the clock work to the cylinder shaft, the per-
manent durability of the diaphragm of the reproducer and the protection of the
record cylinder against bursting.
For the purpose of applying a frictional resistance to the speaking trumpet, I
arrange a standard on the bed plate of the phonograph to which a bow of wire
is hinged which rests upon the tubular part of the trumpet. A tongue fixed to
the trumpet prevents the bow from jumping too far off the same when the phono-
graph receives a violent vibration. As the bow is stationary and the trumpet
moves under it over the entire length of the cylinder the tube slides on the bow
and is braked thereby in such a manner that when the style of the reproducer
jumps out of the helical groove of the cylinder the reproducing tool cannot slide
to the end of the cylinder in one or the other direction, but is at once pushed
down again into the groove or can at most make a short independent movement,
but then at once again follow the groove.
One end of the bow may be so bent as to afford a rest for the speaking trumpet

page_text: when the phonograph is not used. This has the advantage that the style does
The bow
not rest upon the cylinder or the cylinder carrier and thus is not worn.
is preferably made of wire, but may be formed of other material, such as india-
rubber cord or the like.
In order to use the phonograph not only for reproducing the sound recorded
on the cylinder, but also for recording sounds on the smooth cylinder it is only
necessary to replace the reproducing tool by a recording tool and arrange above
the cylinder carrier a guide screw with the corresponding fine thread. A second
cord pulley is arranged on the shaft of the cylinder carrier or mandril and
another pulley on the guide screw. A cord is passed tight over the pulleys and
a sliding nut, a ring or a wire loop placed on the guide screw and the end of the
trumpet with the recording tool suspended from this nut or its equivalent in
such a manner that the cutter sufficiently rests upon the cylinder. The sounds
entering the mouth piece of the trumpet will now be recorded on the cylinder
and after exchanging the recording tool for a reproducing tool, can be repro-
duced.
To assure the permanent durability of the sound recording and reproducing
diaphragms I form them of corrugated fine plates, which however thin are more
durable than the membranes ordinarily used and may be called indestructible
with ordinary use.
As the uniform rotation of the cylinder is essential for the reproduction of the
recorded sounds, the correct transmission of the rotation of the clock work to the
cylinder carrier is of great importance, and this transmission being usually
effected by a cord, it is necessary to prevent the cord from slipping off and to
keep it properly tightened. This I effect by arranging a lateral guard plate,
the upper and lower edges of which may be bent over the driving cord, which
prevents it being inadvertently slipped off loosened or torn, and by a cord
tightening device for keeping the tension uniform. This device is preferably a
weighted lever hinged to the standard carrying the cylinder shaft and provided
with a small pulley or roller resting upon the cord. Instead of a weighted
lever, a spring may be arranged pulling the roller so as to tighten the cord.
For the purpose of easily fixing the cylinders upon their carriers or mandrils
and prevented their splitting, I use conical bushes upon which the record
cylinders are pushed, and push these bushes upon the mandrils these being either
formed conical or cylindrical with a raised bead at one end or with two raised
beads of different heights, so that the conical bushes fit tightly upon them.
These bushes are formed of a material which is a bad conductor of heat. If
the record cylinder should be warmer than the cylinder mandril and be pushed
as tightly as required on the same in the ordinary way the cylinder will become
cooled by its contact with the mandril and contract, and as the mandril prevents
such contraction and does not permit its internal diameter to decrease,
the record cylinder bursts. This is prevented by the use of a non conductive
bush between the record cylinder and the mandril.
Total 11 of T. 1000
Improvements in Phonographs.
I, CARL BOLLÉ, of 57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has
been communicated to me by W. Bahre, of 62, Mittenwalderstrasse, Berlin, in

page_text: the German Empire, 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 phonographs and consists in the improvements
therein hereinafter set forth.
Those phonographs in which the sounding or speaking trumpet is suspended
at the front end and rests with the sound reproducing tool directly upon the
grooved cylinder, generally have the defect that in case of vibration of the
phonographs the reproducing style no longer follows the grooves of the cylinder,
but rapidly slides in an axial direction either to the starting or finishing end of
the cylinder. In both cases the reproduction of the sounds recorded in the
cylinder is interrupted and the user of the apparatus must set the reproducing
style again upon the spot where the interruption occurred, but whenever the
apparatus receives a shaking which need not be very intense the danger of inter-
ruption recurrs. This defect greatly interfering with the proper action of the
apparatus is increased, if the apparatus does not stand quite horizontal so that
phonographs with suspended trumpets frequently do not act satisfactorily even
when most carefully finished.
To remedy this defect I provide a frictional resistance to the speaking trumpet
which is not so great as to prevent the progressive movement of the reproducing
style through the grooves of the cylinder, but suffices to prevent any uninten-
tional slipping forward or backward of the style so far that this slipping can only
extend for a short distance and not to the entire length of the cylinder.
My further improvements have for their object to assure the correct trans-
mission of the rotary motion of the clock-work to the cylinder shaft, the per-
manent durability of the diaphragm of the reproducer and the protection of the
record cylinder against bursting, as these improvements of the existing phono-
graphs are required to produce a perfect instrument.
On the drawing appended hereunto Figures 1, 2, and 3, show the improved
phonograph in side view, top view and as seen towards the roller carrier respec-
tively, the latter figure also showing a modification permitting the same appa-
ratus to be used as a receiver.
Figures 4 to 8 show constructive details.
On a bedplate A provided with feet a, Figure 1, the clockwork B, the stan-
dard C for the suspension of the sound trumpet D, and the pedestal E for the
cylinder carrier e, upon which the sound producing cylinder is pushed (Figures 6
to 8), are arranged as usual.
The speaking trumpet D rests with the sound producing tool d upon the
cylinder, and the rotation of the clockwork B is transferred by the crossed cord b
to the shaft of the cylinder carrier e, these parts presenting no particular novelty.
When the clockwork is wound up, the reproducing or record cylinder f, Figures 6
and 7, pushed upon the cylinder carrier or mandrel e, and the style of the repro-
ducing tool d placed into the commencement of the grooves cut into the record
cylinder, the speech, music etc. are sounded.
slowly pushed from the beginning of the cylinder to its end, as the grooves of
The style of the reproducer is
the record cylinder are helical, but this regular traverse is at once interrupted,
if the phonograph is shaken only to a slight extent. In that case the repro-
ducing tool slides without regard to the grooves at once to the end or commence-
ment of the record cylinder, and the reproduction of the sounds recorded on the
cylinder is at once stopped.
In order to prevent this I arrange a second standard G on the bed plate A of
the phonograph which carries a bow of wire g, g through which the tubular
part of the sound trumpet is so pushed that the upper hinged part g' of the bow
rests upon the trumpet. A tongue z fixed to the trumpet prevents the bow gl
from jumping too far off the same when the phonograph receives a violent vibra-
tion. As the bow g, g¹ is stationary and the trumpet moves in it over the entire
length of the record cylinder the tube slides along the part g and is braked
thereby in such a manner that when the style of the reproducer jumps out of

page_text: the helical groove of the cylinder the reproducing tool cannot slide to the end
of the cylinder in one or the other direction, but is at once pushed down again
into the groove or can at most make a short independent movement, but then at
once again follow the groove.
The bow g, g may offer the advantage that it may be used for disengaging
the speaking trumpet. If one end of the part y and the corresponding part gl are
bent circularly the speaking trumpet when the phonograph is not used, can be
placed into this bend 2 (Fig. 3 and dotted in Fig. 2). This has the advantage
that the style does not rest upon the cylinder or the cylinder carrier e and thus
is not worn. The bow is preferably made of wire as shewn, but the top part
may be formed of other material, such as an india rubber cord or the like.
In order to use the phonograph not only for reproducing the sound recorded
on the cylinder, but also for recording sounds on the smooth cylinder, it is only
necessary to replace the reproducing tool d by a recording tool and arrange above
the cylinder carrier e a guide screw L with the corresponding fine thread. A
second cord pulley is in this case arranged on the shaft of the cylinder carrier
or mandril and another pulley on the guide screw L. If a cord b¹ Figure 3 is
passed tight over the two pulleys and a sliding nut m a ring or even only a wire
loop placed on the guide screw and the end of the trumpet with the recording
tool suspended from these so that the cutter sufficiently rests upon the cylinder,
the sounds entering the mouth piece of the trumpet will be recorded on the
cylinder which sounds after exchanging the recording tool for a reproducing tool
can be reproduced.
For the permanent use of the apparatus the durability of the sound recording
and reproducing tool are of the greatest importance, and for this purpose the
membrane M (Figures 4 and 5) is made of a corrugated thin plate.
For the rest the construction of these tools is the usual one and need not be
particularly described. The membrane made of corrugated sheet is notwith-
standing its thinness much more durable than all the membranes hitherto used,
so that with normal usage it may be considered indestructible.
As the uniform rotation of the cylinder is essential for the reproduction of the
recorded sounds, the correct transmission of the rotation of the clock work to the
cylinder carrier is of great importance, and this transmission being usually
effected by a cord, it is necessary to prevent the cord from slipping off and to
keep it properly tightened. This I effect by arranging a lateral guard plate H,
the upper and lower edges of which may be bent over the driving cord, which
prevents it being inadvertently slipped off loosened or torn, and by a cord
tightened for keeping the tension uniform. This tightener is preferably a
weighted lever I hinged to the pedestal E carrying the cylinder shaft
and provided with a small pulley or roller i, resting upon the cord b.
from some cause the cord relaxes its tension, the lever I sinks lower and the
roller pulls the cord downwards and tightens it again. Instead of a weighted
lever, a spring may be arranged pulling the roller i, so as to tighten, the cord by
pulling it down or upwards.
If
Though the proper working of the apparatus is assured by the improvements
hereinbefore described, it is not absolutely certain that the sounds recorded in
the cylinder will be heard, for this purpose it is not only requisite that the
cylinders can be placed upon the mandrel, but that they should be firm thereo
and at the same time a rupture of the second cylinder through changes of tempera
ture be prevented.
For the purpose of easily fixing the cylinders upon their carriers or mandrel
and preventing their splitting, the cylinder is constructed as follows:-th
mandrel e as shown on Figures 2, 6, 7 and 8, is formed cylindrical. In orde
to fix the record cylinders f bored conically inside upon these cylindrical man
drels, these may be as shewn by Figs. and 6, formed at their ends with bead
or collars e¹ and e² of different depth, or have only at one end a bead e¹, Figure 7
or instead thereof an indiarubber ring may be pushed firmly upon the mandrel

page_text: The mandrel e¹ is fixed firmly on its axle N, the safe fixing of the cylinder f
however is only attained by means of the bush F inserted into it, and this also
protects the cylinder against rupture, if the bush is made of a bad heat con-
ductor.
If the record cylinder should be warmer than the cylinder mandrel and be
pushed as tightly as required on the same in the ordinary way the cylinder will
become cooled by its contact with the mandrel and contract, and as the mandril
prevents such contraction and does not permit its internal diameter to decrease,
the record cylinder bursts. This is prevented by the use of a non-conductive
bush F between the record cylinder and the mandrel.
1
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 phonographs with sound trumpets suspended at their front ends, the
arrangement of a brake band or surface upon which the sound trumpet rests or
which rests upon the sound trumpet in such a manner that it breaks the lateral
movement of the re-producing tool but does not prevent the lateral traverse of
the style of the reproducing tool in the grooves of the cylinder, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In combination with the improvement claimed in the preceding claim, the
arrangement of a tongue fixed to the speaking trumpet, which prevents the
lifting of the brake from the trumpet in case of violent vibrations; substan-
tially as described.
3. In phonographs the arrangement of a cord guard substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. In phonographs the arrangement of an automatic cord tightening appa-
ratus, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. In phonographs of the kind described, the arrangement of a guide screw
which is turned from the shaft of the cylinder mandril and carrying a nut or its
equivalent from which the recording or reproducing tool can be suspended, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
6. In the sounding tool of a phonograph, the arrangement of a corrugated
metal plate as membrane, substantially as described and illustrated by the
drawing.
7. In phonographs the arrangement of cylindrical mandrels having beads or
collars of different heights at both ends, or one of such at one end.
8. The arrangement of a non-conductive bush for the cylinders of phono-
graphs, substantially as described and illustrated by the drawing.
Dated the 1st day of damil 1900