Improvements in or relating to Graphophones or the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Graphophones or the like.
A communication from abroad by JoHN HOWARD WHITE, of Vermont Avenue, in
the City of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America,
Official Reporter of Debates of the House of Representatives of the United
States of America.
I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention relates to that class of instruments for recording and reproducing
sound which are known as graphophones and phonographs, and in which the sound
waves acting upon a diaphragm cause the latter to operate a style or cutter which
produces a record groove in the wax-like, surface of a revolving cylinder, the
record cylinder thus produced being thereafter employed in connection with a
style traversing its groove, to vibrate a diaphragm by which the recorded sounds are
reproduced.
The objects of the present invention are to simplify the construction of the
instrument, and to secure a more accurate and faithful reproduction of the
sounds.
In a machine constructed in accordance with this invention, two standards are
rigidly connected to the cross-bars in any form and manner adapted to sustain them
in position. The record cylinder is employed of ordinary construction, with a wax-
like surface, removably mounted at its ends on spindles, one of which is provided
with a driving pulley in the usual manner, so that the cylinder may receive a
constant rotary motion.
A tubular guide is fixed rigidly in the top of the frame parallel with the cylinder,
and sustaining a sliding carriage which is mounted permanently thereon, and which
gives support to the recorder and the reproducer which are permanently and
independently hinged to the carriage to swing upward and downward into and out
of their operative positions. The carriage is moved by a feed-screw mounted
within the tubular guide, actuated through intermediate gear from one of the
spindles aforesaid, and engaging a segmental nut mounted in the carriage and
extending upward through a slot made for the purpose in the under side of the
guide. This nut is guided by a spindle and urged forward into engagement with
the screw by means of an underlying spring.
The carriage has, at the top, two ears or arms at its ends to encircle the guide
tube, and also has a dependent arm, the lower end of which straddles and slides
upon a fixed guide-rod to ensure the smooth and steady motion of the carriage.
When the segmental nut is depressed and disengaged from the screw, the carriage
is free to slide to and fro. This depression of the nut is effected by a rotary sleeve
mounted permanently on the guide-rod between the ears of the carriage, and having
at its ends flattened or reduced surfaces. Whenever the sleeve is turned forward or
backward to its extreme limit, these reduced surfaces overlic pins projecting from the
nut and allow it to rise into engagement with the screw, but on turning the sleeve
in either direction it acts upon the pins and depresses the nut.
This sleeve serves
also as a support for the reproducer as presently described.
The carriage has its depending arm provided near the lower end with a rigid
plate, and to this plate is connected, by a horizontal hinge-pin, the gravitating
reproducer-frame made of angular form as usual, and containing the recording

page_text: diaphragm, which is confined at the periphery and provided at the centre with the
recording style or cutter to act on the surface of the record cylinder as usual.
The recorder frame is of such form and pivoted in such position that when not
required for use it may be turned backward to an upright position on the
carriage.
The diaphragm may be of any appropriate material such as sheet iron or mica,
but it is found that the use of aluminium is highly advantageous as regards the
character of the record produced thereby. Owing to some unknown quality or
characteristic of this material it is found that it responds freely to all classes of
sounds, and that the records produced through its instrumentality are more com-
plete and accurate than those produced by diaphragms of any other material here-
iofore employed. My correspondent commonly constructs this aluminium diaphragm
of a single thin sheet of uniform thickness, and provides it near the outer edge with
one or more annular ribs or corrugations formed by pressing or spinning the metal
upward from one side so that it projects above the plane of the opposite surfaces.
These corrugations prevent the diaphragm from twisting or buckling and are
otherwise advantageous.
The diaphragni is seated in the frame from above and peripherally supported
upon a shoulder upon which it is confined by an overlying plate screwed down in
place thereon, but it may be secured in any other appropriate manner.
The style or cutter is attached rigidly to the diaphragm. Various modes of
attachment may be employed, but it is found advantageous to form the style with
shoulders at the upper end to bear against the under side of the diaphragm, and
with a tenon which is projected through a hole in the diaphragm and secured by a
transverse pin and by cement, sealing wax, or other rigid adhesive material applied
to the upper surface of the diaphragm over and around the tenon and pin.
The diaphragm frame, commonly known as the "recorder-frame," is sustained
when in operative position by an arm or wrist centrally pivoted to the under side
of the frame, having at one end a spheroidal projection to ride on the surface of the
cylinder adjacent to the style, while its opposite end is controlled by an adjusting-
screw. This wrist limits the descent of the frame, and thus controls the normal
position of the diaphragm and style in relation to the cylinder, allowing the frame,
diaphragm and style to rise and fall freely, as inequalities in the surface of the
cylinder may require.
In making use of the recorder, it is customary to employ in connection therewith
a mouthpiece and tube for concentrating the sound upon the upper surface of the
diaphragm, and heretofore it has been customary to attach this tube directly to the
recorder frame. When thus attached, excessive strains upon the tube were liable
to affect the operation of the recording style and modify the record groove. To
avoid this difficulty, the speaking tube is now attached to a support independently
of the recorder-frame, so that the frame and diaphragm may rise and fall with
entire freedom and without being affected by the tube. The speaking tube has its
lower end removably inserted into a supporting arm or plate overlying the recorder-
frame and provided with sustaining ears mounted on the hinge-pin which sustains
the recorder-frame. This tube-sustaining plate is also provided with a rigid arm
extending rearward and underlying a rigid stop on the carriage, whereby the descent
of the plate is limited so that the plate and the tube connecteil thereto are sustained
independently of the recorder-frame, although the two are permitted to rise and fall
independently. The manner in which the supporting plate is hinged admits of its
folding upward with the recorder to the inoperative position.
The tube-sustaining plate is provided with an annular neck extending loosely
downward into an opening in the top of the recorder-frame, that is to say, into the
top plate which overlies the diaphragm. This telescopic connection between the
parts prevents the undue escape of air while allowing the parts entire freedom of
motion. If desired, a soft packing, such, for example, as a thin rubber ring, may
be introduced between the diaphragm frame and the tube-support to produce a
perfectly tight joint between them.

page_text: My correspondent believes himself to be the first to combine with the gravitating
recorder a speaking tube and a tube support independent of the recorder, and it is
to be understood that he claims this combination in any form the mechanical
equivalent of that herein described.
The reproducer is of the same general character as those now employed in the
instrument known as the "graphophone," but instead of being mounted upon the
machine in such manner as to require its removal when not in use it is now hinged
to the rotary sleeve previously referred to as mounted in the sliding carriage to
travel on the tubular guide. By rotating the sleeve around the guide, the repro-
ducer may be turned downward to the operative position, or, without detaching any
of the parts from the machine it may be swung backward from the operative
position. It is to be observed that the recorder folds upward into such position
Thus it is that the
that the reproducer may be turned downward above it.
necessity of detaching either the recorder or reproducer when the other is to be
used is avoided. By hinging both the. recorder and reproducer to the one carriage
so that they swing in vertical planes, the trouble and inconvenience of attaching
and detaching them as usual is avoided, as also all the difficulties which commonly
attend their adjustment upon the machine and the danger of their being injured
while detached.
My correspondent believes himself to be the first to connect both the recorder
and the reproducer to a carriage so that they may swing vertically, and the first to
connect them in any manner to a carriage so that they may move independently
into and out of their operative positions, and it is to be understood that he clainis
this construction broadly in any form the mechanical equivalent of that herein
described.
Referring to the details of the reproducer, attention is directed particularly to the
following facts :-
The rotary sleeve is provided with an arm or head having on one side a tubular
projection to receive the customary ear-tube, or a trumpet or other means for
increasing the volume of sound.
In the said arm is jointed or articulated a horizontal cylindrical block forming
the upper end of a tubular arm. The interior of this tube communicates through
this block with the tubular projection. Midway of its length the tubular arm
is enlarged to receive the reproducing diaphragin which is secured peripherally
therein, and connected by a wire with a pivoted style protruding through an
opening in the under side of the tubular arm. When the reproducer is turned to
an operative position, the recorder gravitates toward the cylinder and the style
traverses the record groove. The recorder arm, as a whole, is free to rise and fall
so that the style rests in the groove with a gentle pressure due only to the weight
of the arm.
It will be observed that this vertical motion of the reproducer arm or
tube around its axis is entirely independent of the rotary motion of the sustaining
sleeve around the tubular guide. The essential feature of the invention in this
regard resides in hinging the reproducer to swing vertically in relation to the
supporting sleeve which is in turn free to rotate in a vertical plane around the
horizontal guide for the purpose of throwing the recorder out of its operative
position.
The reproducing diaphragm is commonly made of less diameter than the
recording diaphragm, but its size may be varied at will, and it may be made of
aluminium, mica, or other suitable material.
The expressions recorder" and "reproducer" as herein employed are intended
to include respectively the recording and reproducing diaphragms, and the parts
Limmediately connected therewith, and especially their supporting frames and
styles.
Dated this with day of March 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Agents for the Applicant.
-

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Graphophones or the like.
A communication from abroad by Jonx HOWARD WHITE, of Vermont Avenue,
in the City of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America,
Official Reporter of Debates of the House of Representatives of the United
States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion, 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 that class of instruments for recording and reproducing
sound which are known as graphophones and phonographs, and in which the sound
waves acting upon a diaphragm cause the latter to operate a style or cutter which
produces a record groove in the wax-like surface of a revolving cylinder, the record
cylinder thus produced being thereafter employed in connection with a style
traversing its groove, to vibrate a diaphragm by which the recorded sounds are
reproduced.
The objects of the present invention are to simplify the construction of the
instrument, and to secure a more accurate and faithful reproduction of the sounds.
In the accompanying drawings,--
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an instrument having the improvements
embodied therein, with the parts in position for recording purposes.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same with the parts adjusted for the reproduction
of the recorded sounds.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section through the upper parts of a machine in the
position shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the style is attached
to the recording diaphragm.
Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section on an enlarged scale through the recording
diaphragm and its adjuncts.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a top plan view and a bottom plan view of the
parts shown in Figure 6.
Referring to the drawings:
:-
A A are two standards rigidly connected to the cross-bars in any form and
manner adapted to sustain them in position. Bis the record cylinder of ordinary
construction with a wax-like surface, removably mounted at its ends on spindles B' BY,
the latter provided with a driving pulley, B2, in the usual manner so that the
cylinder may receive a constant rotary motion.
C is a tubular guide fixed rigidly in the top of the frame parallel with the
cylinder, and sustaining a sliding carriage D, which is mounted permanently thereon,
and which gives support to the recorder E, and the reproducer H, which are
permanently and independently hinged to the carriage to swing upward and
downward into and out of their operative positions. The carriage is moved by a
feed-screw 1, mounted within the tubular guide, actuated through intermediate
gear from the spindle B, and engaging a segmental nut, d, mounted in the carriage
and extending upward through a slot made for the purpose in the under side of the
guide. This nut is guided by a spindle d', and urged forward into engagement with
the screw by means of an underlying spring 2
As shown in the drawings, the carriage has at the top two ears or arms at its
ends to encircle the guide tube, and also has a dependent arm, d³, the lower end of
which straddles and slides upon a fixed guide-rod d, to ensure the smooth and
steady motion of the carriage.

page_text: When the nut d is depressed and disengaged from the screw, the carriage is free
to slide to and fro. This depression of the nut is effected by a rotary sleeve a³,
mounted permanently on the guide-rod between the ears of the carriage, and having
at its ends flattened or reduced surfaces. Whenever the sleeve is turned forward
or backward to its extreme limit these reduced surfaces overlie pins projecting from
the nut and allow it to rise into engagement with the screw, but on turning the
sleeve in either direction it acts upon the pins and depresses the nut.
This sleeve
serves also as a support for the reproducer H, as presently described.
The carriage has its its arm d³, provided near the lower end with a rigid plate d
and to this plate is connected by the horizontal hinge-pin the gravitating
reproducer-frame e, made of angular form as usual, and containing the recording
diaphragm e', which is confined at the periphery and provided at the centre with
the recording style or cutter e², to act on the surface of the record cylinder
as usual.
The recorder frame is of such form and pivoted in such position that when not
required for use it may be turned backward to an upright position on the carriage,
as shown in Figure 2, and in dotted lines in Figure 3.
The diaphragm may be of any appropriate material such as sheet iron or mica,
but it is found that the use of aluminium is highly advantageous as regards the
character of the record produced thereby. Owing to some unknown quality or
characteristic of this material, it is found that it responds freely to all classes of
sounds, and that the records produced through its instrumentality are more complete
and accurate than those produced by diaphragms of any other material heretofore
employed. My correspondent commonly constructs this aluminium diaphragm of a
single thin sheet of uniform thickness, and provides it near the outer edge with one
or more annular ribs or corrugations formed by pressing or spinning the metal
upward from one side, so that it projects above the plane of the opposite surfaces.
These corrugations prevent the diaphragm from twisting or buckling and are
otherwise advantageous.
The diaphragm is seated in the frame from above and peripherally supported
upon a shoulder upon which it is confined by an overlying plate e, screwed
down in place thereon, but it may be secured in any other appropriate manner.
The style or cutter is attached rigidly to the diaphragm. Various modes of
attachment may be employed, but it is found advantageous to form the style, as
shown in Figures 5 and 6, with shoulders at the upper end to bear against the
under side of the diaphragm, and with a tenon which is projected through a
hole in the diaphragin and secured by a transverse pine and by cement, scaling
wax, or other rigid adhesive material applied to the upper surface of the diaphragm
over and around the tenon and pin, as shown.
"
The diaphragm frame, commonly known as the "recorder-frame is sustained
when in operative position by an arm or wrist centrally pivoted at to the
underside of the frame, having at one end a spheroidal projection to ride on the
surface of the cylinder adjacent to the style, while its opposite end is controlled by
an adjusting screw ³ as shown particularly in Figures 6 and S. This wrist
limits the descent of the frame, and thus controls the normal position of the
diaphragm and style in relation to the cylinder, allowing the frame, diaphragm and
style to rise and fall freely as inequalities in the surface of the cylinder may require.
In making use of the recorder, it is customary to employ in connection there-
with a mouth-piece and tube for concentrating the sound upon the upper surface
of the diaphragm, and heretofore it has been customary to attach this tube
directly to the recorder frame. When thus attached, excessive strains upon the
tube were liable to effect the operation of the recording style and modify the
record groove. To avoid this difficulty, the speaking tube is now attached to a
support independently of the recorder-frame, so that the frame and diaphragm
may rise and fall with entire freedom and without being affected by the tube.
This is clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, in which G represents the speaking
tube having its lower end removably inserted into a supporting arm or plate g

page_text: overlying the recorder-frame and provided with sustaining ears mounted on
the hinge pin which sustains the recorder-frame. This tube-sustaining plate g
is also provided with a rigid arm 2 extending rearward and underlying a rigid
stop on the carriage, whereby the descent of the plate is limited so that the
plate and the tube connected thereto are sustained independently of the recorder
frame although the two are permitted to rise and fall independently. The
manner in which the plate is hinged admits of its folding upward with the
recorder to the inoperative position.
The tube-sustaining plate is provided with an annular neck extending loosely
downward into an opening in the top of the recorder-frame, that is to say, into
the top plate which overlies the diaphragm. This telescopic connection between
the parts prevents the undue escape of air while allowing the parts entire freedom
of motion. If desired, a soft packing, such, for example, as a thin rubber ring, g
shown in Figure 6, may be introduced between the diaphragm-frame and the tube-
support to produce a perfectly tight joint between them.
My correspondent believes himself to be the first to combine with the gravitating
recorder a speaking tube and a tube support independent of the recorder, and it is to
be understood that he claims this combination in any form the mechanical
equivalent of that herein shown.
The reproducer H is of the same general character as those now employed in the
instrument known as the "graphophone," but instead of being mounted upon the
machine in such manner as to require its removal when not in use, it is now
hinged to the rotary sleeve d, previously referred to as mounted in the sliding
carriage, to travel on the tubular guide. By rotating the sleeve around the
guide the reproducer may be turned downward to the operative position shown in
Figure 2 and in dotted lines in Figure 1, or without detaching any of the parts
from the machine it may be swung backward from the operative position repre-
sented in Figures 1 and 3. It is to be observed that the recorder folds upward into
such position that the re-producer may be turned downward above it. Thus it is
that the necessity of detaching either the recorder or reproducer when the other
is to be used is avoided. By hinging both the recorder and reproducer to the one
carriage, so that they swing in vertical planes, the trouble and inconvenience of
attaching and detaching them as usual are avoided, as also all the difficulties which
commonly attend their adjustment upon the machine and the danger of their being
injured while detached.
My correspondent believes himself to be the first to connect both the recorder and
the reproducer to a carriage so that they may swing vertically, and the first to connect
them in any manner to a carriage so that they may move independently into and out
of their operative positions, and it is to be understood that he claims this con-
struction broadly in any form the mechanical equivalent of that herein shown.
Referring to the details of the reproducer, attention is directed particularly to
Figures 1, 2 and 3. The rotary sleeve d³ is provided with an arm or head having
on one side a tubular projection to receive the customary ear-tube /² or a trumpet
or other means for increasing the volume of sound.
In the arm is jointed or articulated a horizontal cylindrical block ³ forming the
upper end of a tubular arm h*. The interior of this tube communicates through
this block ³ with the tube . Midway of its length the tubular arm, is enlarged
to receive the reproducing diaphragm h, which is secured peripherally therein and
connected by a wire with the pivoted style, protruding through an opening
in the under side of the tubular arm. When the reproducer is turned to an
operative position, as shown in Figure 2, the recorder gravitates toward the
cylinder and the style, ', traverses the record groove.
The recorder arm, as a
whole, is free to rise and fall so that the style rests in the groove with a gentle
pressure due only to the weight of the arm. It will be observed that this vertical
motion of the reproducer arm or tube around its axis 43, is entirely independent of
The
the rotary motion of the sustaining sleeve d³ around the tubular guide.
essential feature of the invention in this regard resides in hinging the reproducer to

page_text: swing vertically in relation to the supporting sleeve which is in turn free to rotate in
a vertical plane around the horizontal guide for the purpose of throwing the recorder
out of its operative position.
The reproducing diaphragm is commonly made of less diameter than the recording
diaphragm, but its size may be varied at will and it may be made of aluminium.
mica or other suitable material.
The expressions "recorder" and "reproducer” as herein employed are intended
to include respectively the recording and reproducing diaphragms, and the parts
immediately connected therewith, and especially their supporting frames and styles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a graphophone, and in combination with a suitable record surface, a
travelling carriage and a recorder and a reproducer independently hinged to said
carriage to swing into and out of their operative positions; whereby the machine is
adapted for recording and reproducing sounds without disconnection of the parts.
2. In a graphophone, the combination with a suitable record surface of a
travelling carriage, a fixed guide, a sliding sleeve revoluble about said guide, a
recorder hinged to said sleeve to swing vertically; whereby the recorder is permitted
a vertical motion independent of the sleeve when in action but caused to swing into
and out of an operative position by the rotation of the sleeve.
3. In a graphophone, the combination of a tubular slotted guide, an internal feed-
screw, a travelling carriage encircling the guide, a sliding nut mounted on the
carriage, a spring to cause its engagement with the screw, and a rotary sleeve
acting upon the nut to effect the disengagement from the screw.
4. In a graphophone, the tubular slotted guide and the internal feed-screw,
in combination with the sliding carriage, its spring actuated nut to engage
the screw, the rotary sleeve acting to control the nut, and the reproducer
hinged to said sleeve; whereby the sleeve is caused to serve the two fold purpose
of releasing the carriage and of throwing the reproducer into and out of its operative
position.
5. In a graphophone, and in combination with a suitable record surface, a
travelling carriage, a recorder hinged to the lower part of said carriage, and a
reproducer hinged to the upper part of the carriage to turn downward over the
recorder to an operative position.
6. In a graphophone and in combination with a suitable recording surface, a
gravitating recorder, a speaking tube, and a tube-support independent of the
recorder.
7. In a graphophone, the hinged gravitating recorder, in combination with the
speaking tube, the hinged support for said tube, and a stop to limit the descent of
said support.
8. In a graphophone, the combination of the recorder and the independent tube-
support, the two mounted on a common axis and having a telescopic connection.
9. In a graphophone, the gravitating recorder, the independent tube-support
having telescopic connection therewith, and an intermediate packing to prevent the
leakage of air between them.
10. In a graphophone, the combination with a suitable record surface and style
of a diaphragm constructed of aluminium as distinguished from other materials.
11. In a graphophone, and in combination with a style, a sheet metal diaphragm
peripherally sustained and provided at or near its margin with one or more annular
ribs or corrugations, substantially as described.
12. In a graphophone, the combination of an annular frame, an aluminium
diaphragm peripherally secured therein and provided with an annular rib or
corrugation and a style rigidly secured to the centre of the said diaphragm.
13. In a graphophone, the combination of a diaphragm, a style having shoulders
seated against a tenon inserted through said diaphragm, a pin passed through said

page_text: tenon and wax or like adhesive material applied over and around said parts
substantially as described.
14. In combination with the gravitating recorder-frame and the underlying
recording cylinder, the recorder support consisting of the lever pivoted at one end
to the recorder frame and provided with a rounded surface to bear upon the record
cylinder, and an adjusting screw mounted in the frame and acting upon the opposite
end of the lever.
15. In combination with a tubular reproducer arm having the cylindrical journal
or axis 3 at its upper end, the supporting arm h enclosing said journal provided
with tube h, communicating through the journal with the tubular arm.
16. In a graphophone, and in combination with the carriage having the recorder
and the reproducer connected respectively to its upper and lower ends, the tubular
guide passing through the upper part of the carriage, and the guide e embraced by
the lower part of the carriage.
Dated this 27th day of December 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.