Improvements in Phonographs and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Phonographs and the like.
I, ARTHUR SYDNEY BOWLEY, of Lyndon, Werter Road, Putney, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
L
The object of my invention is to fit to and provide with phonographs and other
similar apparatus as for example gramophones and the like such cheap and simple
devices as will tend to increase the volume and improve the quality of the tone
of the sounds therein produced in an effective manner.
To carry out this object and to provide the essential requisite of an holder
that will very rigidly hold the needle that bears on the recording plate or cylinder.
or other appliance I can perhaps preferably stamp this holder of any desired
shape and size out of sheet metal one end of which holder can be flanged or
bent at right angles to its plane and in this flanged end can be made an aperture
of the proper size to receive the end of the needle and to allow the same to
project thereout so far as may be desired or claws or other devices may be fitted
on this end of the holder for the same purpose. At the desired distance from
this end the head end of the holder is arranged a bracket under or by which the
tail of the needle can be held and retained which bracket may be so arranged at
right angles with the line of the holder or perhaps preferably may form an acute
angle or an obtuse angle with the head end of the holder according as the tail of
the needle tends to be forced away from or towards the holder and in either case
it is perhaps most convenient that this bracket should sectionally be bowed or
arched. The tail of the holder can be curved downwards and can terminate with
the usual knob resting or in connection with the ordinary phonographic diaphragm
in any usual manner or it can terminate with any other usual devices.
This holder on edge is mounted in its necessary position on a small spring in
such wise that it is capable of a small rocking motion as obviously is requisite
and when the point of the needle is duly held in the head of this holder the tail
thereof will similarly be held in or by the bracket and this needle will be very
rigidly so held without any clamping screw.
Instead of sheet metal, the holder can obviously be similarly made of round or
bar or other metal or material when desired.
To improve the quality of the tone the cup or receiver that holds the ordinary
phonographic diaphragm can be somewhat coned or deepened and through the
walls thereof can be passed two or more adjustable screws. On these screws
can rest a suitable metallic or other cone the apex whereof may enter the passage
leading from this cup or receiver to the trumpet or other appliance that delivers
the sound and this apex is connected it may be by a rod and an elastic band or
the like with a transverse bar in this passage so that the cone will always be
held against its supporting screws and as is obvious the exact position of the
same can be varied by the adjustable screws acting on the cone.
This cone is so
retained the desired distance below or from the diaphragm and the upper surface
1

page_text: thereof or that nearer the diaphragm may likewise be somewhat coned when
desired and in both surfaces of the cone radial grooves may be made in the one
case to receive the ends of the supporting screws and in the other case to prevent
any impediment to the passage of the sound waves on this cone and the cone and
the cup or receiver may be of any desired proportionate sizes and diameters.
1000
I, ARTHUR SYDNEY BOWLEY, of Lyndon, Werter Road, Putney, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, 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:—
The object of this my invention is to fit to and provide with and for phono-
graphs and other similar apparatus as for example gramophones and the like such
cheap and simple but extremely appropriate and efficient appliances and devices
as will tend to increase the volume and improve the quality of the tone of the
sounds therein and thereby produced in an effective manner.
One very essential requisite in a phonograph or the like and especially perhaps
in the matter of the volume of sound produced therein and thereby is that the
needle or other device that bears on the recording plate or cylinder or other
appliance should be as rigidly held as is practically possible and I have shewn in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing the needle holder that I propose
to use to effect this object in an extremely simple and easy manner. Figure 1 is
a side elevation of an ordinary speaker provided with my needle holder Figure 2
is a front or end elevation of the same and Figure 3 is a plan thereof.
The ordinary speaker comprises outwardly the customary two parts that is to
say A¹ the body of the speaker and A" the passage leading from such body A¹
to the trumpet or other appliance that delivers the sound. For and with the
body A of the speaker I provide a needle holder B which can perhaps even
preferably be stamped or otherwise made out of sheet metal as is indicated in
these Figures and it is formed of any desired and appropriate shape and size.
One end D of this holder B can be flanged or bent at right angles or thereabouts
to its plane in which flanged end D can be made an aperture or more conveniently
a recess E of the proper size to receive the end of the needle F and to allow the
same to project thereout and therefrom so far as may be desired or claws or other
usual and appropriate devices may be fitted on this end D of the holder B instead
of the flange to act in the same manner as the aperture or recess E in the
flange acts and to subserve the same purpose. At the desired distance from this
end D the head end of the holder B is fitted and arranged on the holder Ba
bracket H under or by which the tail of the needle F can be held and retained
for which purpose it is perhaps most convenient that this bracket H should sec-
tionally be bowed or arched or angled as is shewn in these figures and this
bracket H may be so arranged at any desired angle with the line of the holder B
whether at right angles thereto or at an obtuse or an acute angle with the head
end D thereof according as the tail of the needle tends to be forced by the
action of the whole apparatus away from or towards the holder B or in other
directions in respect of the same. For example when the travel of the recording
plate or cylinder or other appliance is in the direction indicated by the arrow in

page_text: Figure 3 or the speaker travels in the opposite direction the bracket H would
form such an acute angle (as is shewn) with the head end D of the holder B
that the greater the pressure on the end or point of the needle F beyond this
end D the more firmly and strongly will the tail of such needle F press against the
bracket H and thus and in this manner the needle will be very rigidly held in
and by this my holder in an extremely simple and easy manner as is desired for
no clamping screw or similar device is needed. The tail end K of the holder B
can be curved downwards and can terminate with the usual knob resting on or in
connection with the ordinary phonographic diaphragm inside the speaker in any
usual or convenient manner or it can terminate with any other customary devices.
This holder B is or can be mounted in the ordinary position on the edge or
periphery of the body A¹ of the speaker on a small spring or other device in
such wise that it is capable of a small rocking motion as obviously is requisite
and I have shewn in the accompanying drawing three arrangements for and
methods of effecting this object. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 a tongue L made in the
same piece as the sheet metal holder B and projecting from the lower edge of the
same when as is obviously advisable even if not necessary this holder B is arranged
on edge is formed of a certain desired shape and depends therefrom a certain
desired distance and the middle part of this tongue L can if necessary or con-
venient be somewhat reduced in thickness and consequently in strength while the
lower part L' thereof is turned at right angles to the plane of the holder Bor
thereabouts and therefore can be secured by a screw or otherwise on the edge
of the body A¹ of the speaker in which case the middle part of the tongue L
constitutes the desired spring. In Figure 4 a separate standard or bracket M is
made to be secured to the body A¹ of the speaker the upper end of which
bracket M is formed into jaws M' which can clasp a pivot pin N fitted in and
through the body of the holder B in the proper position and on or with this
pivot pin N the holder B can rock. In Figure 5 the jaws M¹ of the bracket M
are broadened and strengthened or stiffened and the pivot pin N is a bar or rod
whereto or whereon any usual or suitable devices such as the winged screw nut N¹
or the bridge N with a screw tension pin or the like can if desirable be fitted
in any ordinary manner to put the required tension on this bar or rod N. Other
suitable and ordinary means and appliances may also be used whereon to mount
this my holder.
Instead of sheet metal this holder can obviously be similarly made of round or
bar or other metal or suitable material when it may be desired so to do.
Another very essential requisite in a phonograph or the like and especially
perhaps in the matter of the quality of the tone of the sounds produced therein
and thereby is that the waves of sound should be duly directed but as little
impeded as is practicably possible and I have shewn in Figure 6 of the accom-
panying drawing the arrangements I propose to make to effect this object in one
and perhaps the most efficacious way. Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a
speaker constructed for and fitted and provided with the appliances I propose to
use according to a most suitable and convenient mode of procedure and construc-
tion.
In the body A¹ of the speaker is fitted in any usual and convenient manner the
ordinary phonographic diaphragm P whereto the tail end K of the holder B is
connected. At the desired small distance from and below this diaphragm P I
arrange a suitable metallic or other cone or somewhat conical body R the apex
or raised part of which points downwards or away from such diaphragm P and
towards and may even when desired enter the passage All of the speaker herein-
before described. This cone R is of any desired and suitable diameter in respect
of the diameter of the body A¹ of the speaker and a sufficient annular space is
left round the periphery of such cone R to allow the waves of sound produced
by the diaphragm P a free unimpeded passage over and round the sanie to the
passage A of the speaker and with this object and to subserve this purpose it
may oftentimes be more expedient and perhaps even preferable if not necessary

page_text: 11.
a
somewhat to cone or deepen centrally the body A¹ as is shewn at T in a manner
and of a shape it may be complementary of and corresponding to the cone or
somewhat conical body R. To retain and maintain the cone R in its required
position at the desired, small distance below the diaphragm P a bar V is or may
be fitted across the passage A¹ it may be near the end thereof and from this
bar V a rigid rod W can be connected to and support the cone R or instead, of
rigid rod this connection may be an elastic band W or the like in which case
adjustable screws X are provided and passed through the lower wall of the body A
and especially through the coned part T thereof if so constructed on the, ends of
which screws X the cone R. could rest being always held down on the same by
the elastic band W. The exact position of this, cone R in respect of the
diaphragm P and the exact distance of the same therefrom can be regulated and
adjusted under one arrangement by the screws X and under the other arrange-
ment by screwing the rod W into the cone R. Other suitable and ordinary means
and appliances may also be used whereon and whereby to support this cone or
conical body. The upper surface of the cone R or that which faces the
diaphragm P may be plane and flat or may when desired be likewise somewhat
coned as is the lower surface thereof and on or in both the surfaces of the cone R
radial grooves may be formed or made when desired in any convenient and usual
or other manner or thereto any other suitable and ordinary devices may be applied
to assist in the desired due direction of the sound waves. Thus and by these
arrangements and appliances the sound waves will be duly directed while at the
same time they will be ensured such a free unimpeded passage as is desired and
the latter condition is perhaps even enhanced when the lower part of the body
of the speaker is somewhat coned.
.
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 the needle holder of a phonograph and the like mounted on the speaker
and the tail end of which holder is connected with the diaphragm in such speaker
the combination of the head end D of the needle holder B provided with a flange
having an aperture or recess E or with claws or like devices to hold the needle F
and a bracket H fitted on the holder B and set at an angle with the line of the
same to hold and retain the tail of the needle F substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described and declared.
2. In the body of the speaker of a phonograph and the like the combination
with the usual diaphragm P in such body A¹ of a cone or somewhat conical body R
below such diaphragm P means being provided for maintaining this cone or
body R in its exact relative position in respect of the diaphragm P substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and declared.
T
1
HART & Co.,
Agents, 168, Fleet Street, London, E.C.