Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1895--Accepted, 29th June, 1895
We THE EDISON-BELL PHONOGRAPH CORPORATION LIMITED of Edison
House, Northumberland Avenue in the County of London, and ALFRED WILKINSON,
of 60, Carlisle Road, Manningham near Bradford, in the County of York, Watch-
maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention relates to improvements in phonographs.
We may employ two diaphragms, mounted in an aluminium, or other light frame,
pivoted in such a manner that either diaphragm may be turned into working position
in relation to the sound tube or diaphragm cell. A recording stylus is fixed
upon one diaphragm, and a reproducing stylus upon the other. The said frame and
cell may be pivoted by a gimbal, or universal, joint to the carriage or saddle,
and an eccentric, or similar device, on the pivot of the frame is preferably provided
and arranged to operate a bolt or detent adapted to automatically lock the
frame, as regards lateral movement, when the recording diaphragm is brought into
position. A spring stud or clip may be employed to engage the said frame, or
projections thereon, to retain either diaphragm in position. The sound tube may
be loosely jointed to give freedom to the stylus particularly when reproducing and
to adapt it to different diameters of cylinders.
The traversing screw may be driven by gearing from the cylinder arbor, or
vice versa, and provision may be made for readily varying their relative speed so
as to enable records to be made at either 100 or 200 revolutions to the inch or the
like, or reproductions to be made therefrom. A coarser screw thread may be cut
upon the arbor of the cylinder and the diaphragm carriage may be arranged to be
operated by this screw for quickly turning up a record cylinder preparatory to
giving it the finishing cut. This coarse screw may be left handed, or arranged to
traverse the cylinder in the reverse direction to the other screw. The mechanism
for putting the carriage in gear with either screw is preferably so arranged that
the stylus is automatically lifted clear of the cylinder when the carriage is disengaged
from both screws, or when it engages the coarse screw.
When clockwork mechanism fitted with a fly or wing regulator is employed to
rotate the cylinder means are provided for varying or adjusting the inclination of the
wings of the regulator to the axis of rotation for the purpose of either increasing
or retarding the speed of the mechanism.
Dated this 17th day of August 1894.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.
We, THE EDISON-BELL PHONOGRAPH CORPORATION LIMITED of Edison
House, Northumberland Avenue in the County of London, and ALFRED WILKINSON
0 of 60, Carlisle Road, Manninghain, near Bradford, in the County of York, Watch-
maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in phonographs.
We may employ two diaphragms mounted in an aluminium or other light frame,
pivotted in such a manner that either diaphragm may be turned into working
position in relation to the sound tube or diaphragm cell. A recording stylus is
fixed upon one diaphragm, and a reproducing stylus upon the other. The said frame
and cell may be pivotted by a gimbal or universal joint to the carriage or saddle,
and an eccentric or other similar device on the pivot of the frame, is preferably
provided and arranged to operate a bolt or detent adapted to automatically lock
the frame, as regards lateral movement, when the recording diaphragm is brought
into position.
A spring stud or clip may be employed to engage the said
frame or projections thereon to retain either diaphragm in position. The sound
tube may be loosely jointed to give freedom to the stylus particularly when
reproducing and to adapt it to different diameters of cylinders.
The traversing screw may be driven by gearing from the cylinder arbor, or
vice versa, and provision may be made for readily varying their relative speed so as
to enable records to be made at either 100 or 200 revolutions to the inch or the
like, or reproductions to be made therefrom. A coarser screw thread may be cut
upon the arbor of the cylinder and the diaphragm carriage may be arranged to be
operated by this screw for quickly turning up a record cylinder preparatory to
giving it the finishing cut. This coarse screw may be left handed, or arranged to
traverse the cylinder in the reverse direction to the other screw. The mechanism
for putting the carriage in gear with either screw is preferably so arranged that the
stylus is automatically lifted clear of the cylinder when the carriage is disengaged
from both screws or when it engages the coarse screw.
When clockwork mechanism fitted with a fly or wing regulator is employed to
rotate the cylinder, I provide means for varying or adjusting the inclination of
the wings of the regulator to the axis of rotation for the purpose of either increasing
or retarding the speed of the mechanism.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation Figure 2 in plan and Figure 2ª an end
elevation of a phonograph constructed according to this invention. Figure 3 is a
transverse section on the line 1-2 Figure 2. Figure 4 is a similar section on the
line 3-4 Figure 2 and Figure 5 is a longitudinal section along the line 5-6
Figure 3. Figure 6 is a front elevation and Figure 7 a back elevation of the
recording and reproducing diaphragms and the frame in which they are mounted
and Figure 8 is an elevation of the gimbal which carries the diaphragm frame.
Figures 9 and 10 are elevations of a regulator for governing the speed of rotation
of the cylinder when driven by means of clockwork and Figure 11 is a front
elevation of the lever by which the speed regulator is adjusted.
A is the cylinder of wax or other material containing the records of the sounds
to be reproduced. This cylinder is mounted on a metal tube or cylinder A²
removably fixed on the overhanging end of a spindle B mounted in bearings a on
the base or table C the overhanging end of the said spindle being supported by a
centre bit carried in a bar c hinged or pivotted at 2 to admit of it being
opened out for the purposes of placing on and removing from the cylinder B,
the cylinder A. The bar is secured in its closed position by a thumb screw b².
The cylinder A may be rotated by any convenient means for example as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2 it is rotated by means of a strap passing round a pulley C² fast on
the spindle B. D D are two diaphragms provided respectively with a recording
stylus d and a reproducing stylus d. These diaphragms are mounted in a light
frame e of aluminium or other suitable material pivotted at e³ to a frame E provided
with a cell in communication with a sound conducting tube f so that by

page_text: arning the frame e on its pivot either of the said diaphragms as required may be
arned into position over the cell f. On the frame e are projections
which come
gainst a spring bolt et when the diaphragms D D* are in their proper working
osition the head of the said spring bolt serving to retain the frame e in its adjusted
osition.
When the recording diaphragm D is in working position lateral movement
hereof is prevented by means of a bolt F carried by the frame E and operated by
an eccentric g fast on the pivot 2 carrying the frame e the said eccentric being
rranged so that when the frame e is turned to bring the diaphragm D opposite the
sound tube it automatically forces the bolt F into contact with the gimbal G
which carries the frame E and so prevents the said frame from moving laterally
and ensures the stylus d acting in a proper manner on the cylinder A. The
sound tube is loosely fitted in the cell f in the frame E so as to admit of free
movement of the stylus particularly when reproducing and also to admit of
cylinders of different diameters being used. The frame E is provided with an
adjustable counterbalance weight e by means of which the stylus is kept in contact
with the cylinder with the required pressure an adjusting screw e being providel
The frame E and parts in
to govern the extent of movement of the frame.
connection therewith and also the sound tube 2 are carried on an arm H hinged at h
to a carriage II2 fitted to slide longitudinally on a rod K carried on supports k
projecting from the base or table C of the apparatus. The part 12 of this carriage
consists of a sleeve i fitted to turn on the rod K and in lugs on the end of the
part I of the carriage, this sleeve being provided with two arms 1³ I carrying
half nuts and arranged to engage respectively with a screw thread k² on the
spindle of the cylinder A, and a screw thread 3 on a spindle 132 which receives
rotation from the spindle B. The screw thread on the spindle B is shewn as being
left handed but it may be either right or left handed, the thread 3 on the
spindle B² being the reverse of that on the spindle B so that the carriage may be
caused to travel either to the right or to the left according to which nut i²
or is caused to engage with its corresponding screw thread. The nut i³ is by the
weight of the arms 13 I normally maintained in gear with the traversing screw
thread on the spindle B2. Rotation is given to the spindle B2 from the spindle B
by means of gearing as follows: On the spindle B (which may be driven from any
suitable motor by a strap passing round the pulley C2) is a pinion 1 gearing with a
carrier wheel loose on a stud 13 the said wheel 12 gearing also with a wheel "
fast on a stern 1 inserted in a longitudinal axial hole provided in one end of the
spindle B². On this end of the said spindle is a crank the crank pin entering a
hole in the wheel so that when the spindle B is rotating, motion will be trans-
mitted through the pinion and carrier wheel 12 to the wheel and through the
crank pin rotate the spindle B². In order to increase the speed of the movement
of the carriage I 1* there is provided on the spindle B a wheel of larger
diameter than the pinion which wheel gears with a carrier wheel with which
the wheel may be caused to engage by sliding the stem further into the axial
hole in the spindle B2 the crank pin which passes through the hole in the wheel /*
5 being sufficiently long to admit of the movement therealong of the said wheel 1.
The inner end of the stem is split or divided longitudinally and made suffi-
ciently springy to retain by frictional contact the said stem in its adjusted position
in the spindle B2. At the completion of the traverse of the nut 3 from right
to left along the screw ³ the said nut passes onto a plain or unscrewed portion of
the spindle and consequently the traverse of the carriage I 12 ceases although the
spindles B and B² may continue to rotate. The carriage with the diaphragms may
be returned to the right hand end of the apparatus by sliding it bodily along
the rod K by hand the nut 3 being first raised out of contact with the screw
thread and the arm H being turned on its hinge so as to remove the stylus
5 from out of contact with the cylinder, a stop h² being provided on the arm H to
rest against the part I of the carriage to prevent the arm H from being thrown too
far open. Or if desired the carriage may be returned into position by causing the

page_text: nut to engage with the screw thread 2 on the spindle B which thread is
preferably made coarser or quicker than that on the spindle B2 so as to cause
the return motion of the carriage to be more rapid than the forward motion.
The mechanism for putting the nut into gear with the screw thread k
automatically operates the arm H so as to put the stylus out of contact with the
cylinder A. This mechanism consists of a spindle L mounted in bearings m on the
base or table C and having thereon an eccentric m² the strap of which is connected
by a bifurcated rod m³ passing through an opening in the base or table to an arm m
projecting from a rocking shaft M mounted on centres m beneath the said base or
table. On this rocking shaft are two other arms m the ends of which are situated
beneath studs m' projecting downwards through holes in the base or table C from a
plate N situated on top of the said table and beneath the arm I of the part 12 of
the diaphragm carriage. The spindle L is provided with handles m8 by which it
can be turned in its bearings m. The eccentric m² is set on the spindle so that
when the nut is engaged with the screw thread 3 on the spindle B² its full throw
or eccentricity is in a vertical direction downwards so that the arms m are held
out of contact with the studs m' which studs are acted on by springs me so as to
retain the plate N down on the table or base C. When the nut is required to be
engaged with the screw thread 2 on the spindle B the spindle L is turned
one fourth of a revolution whereby the eccentric m² through the rod m³ and arm m*
causes the rocking shaft M to turn in its bearings and the arms me to force
upwards the studs m' and plate N which latter by acting against the underside of
the arm I of the diaphragm carriage forces the nut into gear with the screw
thread 2, the nut 3 being at the same time disengaged from screw thread ³ on the
spindle B².
A flattened or square part n is formed on the spindle L on which flattened part
a spring bolt 2 is caused to bear to retain the said spindle in the position to which
it is turned. On the spindle L there is mounted a semi circular disc O having a
straight portion p against which disc a head P on the end of a rod P2 fitted to
slide longitudinally in bearings 2 on the base or table C is pressed by springs S.
The springs S are attached to a block T on the base or table C and bear on
projections s from pins or studs U fitted to slide in vertical slots or openings in the
said block T. The studs U are connected at their upper end to a plate V on which
rests a roller W on the arm H carrying the diaphragm D. D2 so that when this
plate V is elevated the arm H is also raised and the stylus moved out of contact
with the cylinder A. Pivotted to the block T are bell crank levers X one arm
of each lever being in contact with the under side of the projections s from the
studs U the other arm 2 of each of the said levers being in contact with pins or
projections Y on the longitudinally sliding rod P2 so that the springs S through the
intervention of the bell crank levers X and projections s and Y maintain the
head P on the rod P2 in contact with the disc O. When the nut is in gear with
screw thread on the spindle B2 the disc O is in position for the head P on the
rod P to bear on the flat portion p of the disc, then by turning the spindle L for
the purpose of disengaging the said nut ³ from the spindle B and engaging the
nut with the screw thread 2 on the spindle B the circular portion of the disc Ọ
acting on the head P moves the rod P2 longitudinally and through the bell crank
levers X raises the plate V and with it the arm H carrying the diaphragms D D²
thereby removing the stylus out of contact with the cylinder A and retaining it
out of contact while the carriage 112 is being traversed by the screw thread k
and nut 2 towards the right hand end of the apparatus. The portion of the
diaphragm carriage carries a cutting tool for quickly turning or surfacing a record
cylinder preparatory to giving it the finishing cut. In Figs. 2 and 3 we have
shewn a tool for this purpose carried in a holder t adjustably mounted in a lug or
bearing 2 on the carriage I the said tool being adjusted towards and from the
cylinder by means of a screw t³ working in a nut t₁ secured to the carriage, the said
screw being free to turn in the tool holder whilst the said screw holder is prevented
from turning in the lug or bearing t by a pin or projection u engaging in a slot u

page_text: wis an
n the carriage I which slot is sufficiently long to admit of the required longitu
djustment of the tool holder. On the carriage I [2 is a collar provided with a
tud having on its end a friction bowl 2 running in a slot we in a block w* fixed
o the underside of the base or table C the said study being provided for the
urpose of keeping the carriage steady when traversing to and fro.
adjusting screw for adjusting the position of the block w². The collar v
to the carriage I by a screw by slackening which screw the carriage with the
parts carried thereby may be turned axially on the rod K clear of the cylinder
whilst the stud e' remains engaged with the slot w.
secured
When the apparatus is driven by clockwork we provide a "fly" speed regulator
as shewn in Figures 9, 10 and 11 in which are two pairs of vanes mounted on
pins projecting from opposite sides of a boss or piece 3 fast on a spindle **
having thereon a worm gearing with one of the wheels of the clockwork
as usual.
In a slot or opening 26 in one end of the spindle is fitted to slide longitudinally
a bar 2 connected to a rod 8 passing through an axial hole or passage in the end
of the said spindle 2 aud provided on its outer end with a grooved collar with
which engage pins or projections on a lever by means of which the rod 28 may
be moved longitudinally in the end of the spindle and with it the bar in the
slot. Projecting from the ends of the bar 27 are studs or pins which engage
slotted arms projecting from the bosses of the vanes so that by moving the
bar z along the slot the pins 2 acting on the arms 212 cause the vanes to
turn on their pins 2 so as to present their flat surfaces more or less to the plane of
rotation of the spindle and present more or less resistance to the rotation of the
said spindle according to the direction in which the bar 27 is moved.
In Figure 9 the vanes are shewn in the position in which they present the
greatest resistance and in Figure 10 the said vanes are shewn in the position to
offer the least resistance to the rotation of the spindle 2*.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a phonograph the use of two diaphragms one for recording and the other
for reproducing sounds the said diaphragms being mounted in a frame so as to
enable either diaphragm being brought into working position with relation to
the sound conducting tube substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a phonograph the combination with the record cylinder and a traversing
pivotted frame
carriage of an arm hinged to the said carriage and carrying a
provided with a recording diaphragm and stylus and a reproducing diaphragm
and stylus either of which diaphragms may be brought into working position
with reference to the sound conducting tube and a spring stud or catch for
retaining the diaphragms in their working position substantially as hereinbefore
described.
arm
3. In a phonograph, the combination with a frame carrying two diaphragms
and styluses for respectively recording and reproducing sound and pivotted to a
5 counterweighted frame connected by a gimbal or universal joint to an
hinged to a traversing carriage to admit of the reproducing stylus readily
following the sound record on the record cylinder and to adapt itself to cylinders
of different diameters substantially as herein before described.
4. In a phonograph the combination with the record cylinder and pivotted frame
carrying a recording diaphragm and stylus and a reproducing diaphragm and
stylus either of which as desired can be brought into working position with
reference to the sound conducting tube, of a bolt or its equivalent automatically
operated when the recording diaphragm is brought into working position so as to
prevent lateral movement of the frame carrying the diaphragms substantially as
5 hereinbefore described.

page_text: 5. In a phonograph the combination with a sound recording cylinder and a
traversing carriage carrying a reproducing diaphragin of a screw thread on the
spindle of the recording cylinder and a screw thread on a spindle arranged
parallel to the said cylinder spindle the said screw threads being one right handed
and the other left handed and the two spindles being geared together so as to
rotate simultaneously and half nuts carried on a traversing carriage either of the
half nuts being caused to engage as required with its corresponding screw threads
on the spindles so as to traverse the carriage first in one direction and then in the
opposite direction substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The combination with the subject matter of the last preceding claim of
mechanism for removing the stylus out of contact with the recording cylinder when
the half nuts are both disengaged from their screw threads or when the half nut
which effects the return motion of the traversing carriage is engaged with its screw
thread substantially as herein before described.
7. In a phonograph a tool for turning up or surfacing the recording cylinder
preparatory to its receiving a sound record, the said tool being carried in a holder
on the traversing carriage substantially as hereinbefore described.
'
8. In a phonograph when driven by clockwork a "fly" speed regulator provided
with means for adjusting the angle of the vanes with reference to the plane of
rotation so as to vary the speed of rotation substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
9. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improvements in
phonographs substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 1, 2,
3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of April 1895
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.