Improvements in Devices for Recording and Reproducing Sound.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1889 -Accepted; 14th Sept., 1889
Improvements in Devices for Recording and Reproducing Sound.
I, GIANNI BETTINI, of 44 Barclay Street, New York, State of New York, United
States of America, Lieutenant of Cavalry in the Army of H.M. the King of Italy,
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 the record and re-production of sound.
The object of the invention is to record and reproduce articulate speech and other
sound or sounds with great amplitude and distinctness.
With this object in view the invention consists first in the method of recording
sound or sounds which consists in setting up vibrations in a body by articulation or
otherwise, taking the vibrations from the body at several points, communicating them
to a common point and causing this point to make a record; the record to move a
common point and this common point to cause vibrations at several points of a
vibrating body producing sound waves; furthermore the invention consists in an
apparatus comprising a diaphragm or other body capable of vibrating and a conductor
of vibrations bearing on or attached to several points of the diaphragm or other
vibrating body and converging to a common or contral point at which point is placed
a projection or wheel designed to make a record, or to pass over a record made in
a soft or yielding body and communicate the vibrations from such record to several
points of a diaphragin or other vibrating body to produce sound.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is an inverted plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the same.
Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of an apparatus in which the diaphragın or other
vibrating body is provided with three enlargeinonts the point of contact of the
vibration conductor being in the centre of these.
Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of a form of apparatus in which the different parts
of the diaphragın are under separate tensions.
Fig. 5 is a section on the line x-x of Fig. 4, and
Fig. 6 is a detail view representing a modified form of apparatus for retaining the
diaphragm in place and for imposing tension thereon.
In those drawings A represents the body of the apparatus to which the operative
parts are attached. In the body A is a chamber one side of which is formed by a
suitable vibrating body such as a diaphragun B preferably retained in position in such
manner that a practically air-tight joint is formed. On the exposed face of tho
diaphragm is arranged a spider C which has a number of arms or conveyors c
impinging upon or attached to or at several points on the diaphragm and converging
to a common or central point c' where I place a projection with or without a small
wheel. This projection is designed to receive vibrations from the diaphragun and
impart to them a suitable body for making a record, and to pass over a record
made in this way or any other suitable way and impart, the same or nearly the same
vibrations to a diaphragm or the like, as those originally produced, causing sound
waves corresponding to those originally produced.
The spider C is preferably of rigid material in order to prevent as far as possible
the setting up of independent vibrations in it while transmitting vibrations from the
diaphragm to the record, or from the record to the diaphragm."
I find it of advantage to employ a point c² for the purpose of making the record

page_text: and to use a wheel c³ of agate, ruby or the like to pass over the record in reproducing
sound from the same.
On the opposite side of the body of the apparatus to that at which the diaphragm
is placed I attach a tube communicating with the central chamber. In making a
record a speaking tube is connected with this tube and when reproduction takes place
a funnel-shaped attachment is placed in lieu of the speaking tube whereby the sounds
emanating from the vibrations of the diaphragm are caused to unite thus obtaining
greater amplitude of the sounds.
In figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings I have illustrated a form of my apparatus
in which different parts of the diaphragm are retained under separate tensions.
In
this form there is provided a separate chamber for each division of the diaphragm
and from each of these chambers extends a tube D converging to a common or
central point D' where I place a speaking tube or a funnel shaped instrument
according to the operation to be performed."
In order that one diaphragm and its attachments may be employed both for making a
record of sounds and for reproducing sounds from such a record, I employ an adjustable
device such as that designated by the letter E for giving rigidity to the diaphragm
while making the record. This device consists essentially in a bar or pin e screw
threaded at its upper end and also provided with a rack e'. Upon the upper face of
the portion A is a post or projection and upon the bar or pin e is a screw collar or
ring es capable of being moved up and down on the bar or pin e and by striking
against the post or projection limit the downward movement of the bar or pin, and in
this way determine the pressure which the pin imposes upon the spider. The
movement up and down of the pin is caused by a pinion receiving motion in any
suitable manner. The lower end of the pin e is provided with a piece of rubber
or other suitable material designed to bear on the portion C¹ of the spider to
prevent passage of vibrations from the spider to the pin. When the diaphragm
is used to make a record, the pin is moved down to bring its lower end to bear
on the spider in order to prevent any upward movement of the diaphragm. During
the use of the device for reproducing sound the pin is moved from contact with
the spider, allowing free vibration in all parts of the diaphragm. In figure 6 I
have illustrated a modified form of the device for retaining and imposing tension
upon the divisions or parts of the diaphragın. In this form screw rings F are
placed in the frame A in such position that they may be turned to bear more or
less upon the diaphragm in order that the tensions of each division may be adjusted
independently.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is ==
1. The method of recording and reproducing sound which consists in taking
vibrations off a diaphragın or other vibrating body at several points communicating
them to a common or central point causing this point to make a record and then
from this record causing vibrations of the common or central point communicating
them to several points of the diaphragın or other vibratory body producing sound
waves.
2. In a device for recording and reproducing or for recording alone or reproducing
alone, articulate or other sound or sounds the combination of a boby capable of
vibrating two or more conductors suitably applied thereto capable of conveying
vibrations from the body said conductors connecting with a unitary or functionally-
single part or focus capable of making a record or of passing over a record already
made.
3. An apparatus for recording and reproducing articulate or other sound or
sounds comprising a diaphragm or other body capable of vibration and having
different parts thereof under a separate uniform tension and a vibration conductor

page_text: consisting of a body having a common or central point or place at which point is
placed a projection designed to make a record and arins or projections extending
from the central point and bearing upon the divisions of the diaphragın.
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.