provements in Means for Recording and Reproducing Sound Waves.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1885
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Means for Recording and Reproducing Sound
Waves.
I, ARTHUR CLARK FERGUSON, of 136 Circular Street, Saratoga Springs,
Saratoga County, New York State, United States of America, Clergymin, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to means for recording and reproducing sound waves, and
it consists substantially in such features of improvement as will hereafter be more
particularly described.
The invention is adapted for the recording and reproduction of articulate speech
and all musical sounds alike, and it has for its object to provide a permanent
record, as well as ก more faithful reproduction than has heretoforo been
accomplished. The invention is distinguished from that class of devices wherein
the original impulses un vibrations are photographically recorded and subsequently
reproduced other photographically of electically in that the sound waves are
photographically recorded and the reproduction or retransmission of the same is
effected by mechameal means, thereby enabling me to both record and reproduce
the sound waves by the use of but one machine Generally speaking, the invention
compuses photo-mechanical devices by which a beam of light is projected onto a
rotating or movable film in smuous lines the altitudes of which are in accordance
with the amplitudes of the vibrations of the diaphragm, and the number or
recuence of which lines are in accordance with the rates of such vibrations
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig 1 is a view in perspective of a photo-mechanical sound recording and
producing device embodying the features of my invention.
Fig 21 a side elevation partly in section representing the recording needle in
position for operation, and the reproducing needle as tunued to one side.
Fig. 3 is a side view representing the recording needle as thrown out of operative
position and the icproducing needle in a position for use
While my invention is capable of being constructed or carried into effect in a
great many different ways, for the purpose of simplicity and cheapness of cost, 1
provide a machume such as is indicated in the accompanying drawings, wherein
1 designates a suitable base, and 2, 2, each indicate a standard or upright, one of
which supports the transmitter 3, and the other the receiver o reproducer 4, the
and standards or uprights being connected in any suitable manner by means of the
cross pieces 5 and 6. As will be observed on reference to the several figures
the said transmitting device is supported so as to be capable of being swung or
Luned on its support, and while a great many constructions could be resorted to
for this purpose, preferably provide a plate on disk 7 having an offset or
projection 8 formed oi provided with an opening 9 through which passes a screw 10
which enters on passes into an opening 11 formed in the upper end of the standard
or support 2 Thus by loosening the screw, I am enabled to turn the plate or
disk in such manner as to carry the erording needle to one side substantially as is
shown in Fig. 3 of the diawings. The said plate or disk 7 is also formed or
provided with a small projection or offset 12 though which is inserted from
beneath an adjusting device or screw 13 to the lower end of which is pivotally
uspended the recording needle 14, the latter having at its outer end a small

page_text: crook 15 having a rounded head 16 which normally bears very lightly against the
undelaide of the diaphragm 17 of the said transmitting device 3, while to the
posite end of the said recording needle is attached in any suitable manner a
shutter 18 of any suitable thin opaque material, which shutter as the recording
needle is caused to vibrate by the impulses imparted to the diaphragm, is in like
manuer made to vibrate on move up and down in guides 19 formed on the outer side
of a sheath or easing 20, the latter being provided with an opening 21 before
which the movements of the shutter take place. The said shutter is provided with
a very fine opening 21, which as is obvious, will cause a beam of light to be
projected through the opening 21 of the casing in sinuous lines whenever the said
shutter e caused to move up and down by the action of the needle when receiving
motion from the vibrations of the diaphragm. The said sheath or casing 20 is for
the pupose of closing over or surrounding a rotating cylinder 25 and for the
purpose of maintaining the casing stationary, the lower end of the latter is screw
threaded at 26 to screw into or fit within a correspondingly screw-threaded
socket 27, preferably in this instance formed with or attached to the upper cross
piece 5 which connects the standards or uprights 2, 2 It is obvious that other
means may be provided for supporting the said sheathing or casing to enclose the
rotating cylinder but the menus which I have shown and described are very simple
and amply suffice for the purpose. In order to impart to the cylinder 25 a rotating
and gradually progressive movement, I attach the same in any suitable way at its
lower end to the upper end of a rotating shaft 42 formed on its lower portion with
a screw 29, and which screw threaded portion works in a screw bearing 30 by
which to effect a gradual feed of the cylinder in an upward direction as the said
shaft is rotated either by hand or from any suitable motor, a diving pulley 32
being held on the shaft and provided with a leather, (not shown) working in a
groove 35 in the shaft so as to permit of the proper movement of the latter
Around the rotating cylinder 25 I place in any suitable manner a sensitized
photographic film 36, and then by properly enclosing the same by the sheath or
casing and swinging the shutter atound and placing the same within its gundes on
the casing, the machine is thus placed in readiness to record sound waves produced
by the vibrations of the diaplingm 17 By talking into the transmitter or producing
musical sounds therein, the diaphragm will vibrate, and the pulsations will be
imparted to the recording needle which causes the shutter to move up and down
before the opening in the sheath ot casing. During this time, the machine is in
motion and the cylinder 25 with its film is caused to rotate at the desired rate
of speed, and the beam of light which passes through the opening in the shutter
will be projected onto the surface of the film in sinuous lines in exact accordance
with the amplitude of vibrations of the diaphragm. It is to be understood that
the opening in the sheath or casing is of sufficient dimensions to permit of
ecording the deepest sound wave which the diaplingm is capable of producing,
and thus an cuabled to record all varying degrees of sound in the most perfect
manuel. When the entire surface of the film has been utilized in the recording
of sound waves in the manner hereinbefore described, I then remove the entire
machine to a photographic dark room and remove the sheath o casing, and then
develop the sensitized film by the ordinary photographic process. As thus
developed, the end films can of comse be kept as long as desued, but in order
to reproduce the sound waves delineated thereon, 1 transfer the sinuous lines onto
either a metal plato or cylinder, preferably in this instance a cylinder 40, and
this cylinder is attached in any suitable manner to the upper end of the shaft 42,
whereupon the reproducing needle 45 is swang around in such manner as to engage
the lines on the cylinder, and then as the cylinder is rotated an exact reproduction
of the sound waves will be produced through the medium of the diaphragm con-
tained in the receiver 50. The construction of said receiver is in all unportant
respects the same as the transmitter 3 with the exception that a bracket 52 18
employed additionally as a support for the reproducing needle 45, the latter being
centrally supported at 46 and operating at its outer end in connection with a fine

page_text: transmitter
1od 53 which transmits the sound waves on the cylinder to the diaphragm in the
It will be understood, of course, that the transfer of the sinuous
lines from the film to the plate o cylinder may be either in intaglio of relief
and produce the same effect, and this transfer is effected either by etching or by
any of the well known engraving or photo-engiasing processes, it being unnecessary
to specifically set forth such process herem
ti is thought that from the foregoing description, the construction and operation
of my invention will be fully understood, and while I have horen set forthi certain
preferred forms of construction of the several parts of my apparatus, it is evident
that various immaterial changes could be resorted to without departing from the
pinciples intended For instance, I have herein stated that in order to develop
the film after its surface has been completely utilized, the entire machine is
removed to the dark room, whereas it is clearly evident that by slightly altering
the construction of the machine, the removal of the film alone together with its
su rounding sheath could be independently effected In connection also with both
the recording and reproducing needles, it will be understood that then construction
and arrangement is capable of various modifications. For all practical purposes
however, I have found the present construction to answer, and therefore I pre-
ferably resort thereto in the practice of my invention
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and without limiting
myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I declare
that what I claim is .-
1 In means for recording and reproducing sound waves, a gradually progressive
rotating sensitized film, a sheath or casing euclosing the same and provided with
an opening, a shutter of opaque material airnuged before said opening and
perforated, a receiver provided with a diaphragm, and a recording needle operated
by the vibrations of said diaphragm and imparting corresponding vibrations to sand
shutter, substantially as shown and for the purpose described
2 In means for ro cording and reproducing sound waves, a receiving of recording
diaphragm supported so as to swing to one side, a recording needle pivoted to the
fame of said diaphragm with one end beating lightly on the latter, a shutter
cated by the opposite end of said needle, the rotating cylinder adapted to receive
the film, means for rotating the said cyluder and gradually feeding the same, aud
sheath or casing enclosing the cylinder provided with an opening before which
the shutter is operated by impulses from the diaphragm, substantially as descubed.
3. In means for recording and reproducing sound waves, the combination of the
otating screw shalt adapted to support a cylinder, the receiving and reproducing
diaphragms, the recording and reproducing needles, and means whereby either one
o both of said needles may be swung to one side, substantially as shown and for
the pin pose set forth
4. In means for recording and reproducing sound waves, a gradually rotating
sensitized film, an enclosure therefor provided with an opening, a shutter perforated
and located before said opening, a receiving diaphragm, and devices intermediate
of said diaphragm and shutter whereby the latter is operated in accordance with
the vibrations of the diaphragm, substantially as shown and for the purpose set
forth.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.