Popular Scientific Recreations: in Natural Philosphy, Astronomy, Geology, Chemistry, etc., etc., etc.Tissandier, Gaston
Science
Popular Scientific Recreations: in Natural Philosphy, Astronomy, Geology, Chemistry, etc., etc., etc.
Tissandier, Gaston
Scientific recreations
_a._ Compound magnet. _d._ Diaphragm. _e._ Speaking tube.
_f._ Telegraph wire. _g._ Line to earth. _b_, _c._ Small spaces.]
“As the faithful reproduction of a sound is in reality nothing more
than a reproduction of similar acoustic vibrations in a given time, it
at once becomes evident that the cylinder should be made to revolve
with absolute uniformity at all times, otherwise a difference more
or less marked between the original sound and the reproduction will
become manifest. To secure this uniformity of motion, and produce a
practically working machine for automatically recording speeches,
vocal and instrumental music, and perfectly reproducing the same, the
inventor devised an apparatus in which a plate replaces the cylinder.
This plate, which is ten inches in diameter, has a volute spiral groove
cut in its surface on both sides from its centre to within one inch of
its outer edge; an arm guided by the spiral upon the under side of the
plate carries a diaphragm and mouthpiece at its extreme end. If the
arm be placed near the centre of the plate and the latter rotated, the
motion will cause the arm to follow the spiral outward to the edge. A
spring and train of wheel-work regulated by a friction governor serves
to give uniform motion to the plate. The sheet upon which the record is
made is of tin-foil. This is fastened to a paper frame, made by cutting
a nine-inch disc from a square piece of paper of the same dimensions
as the plate. Four pins upon the plate pass through corresponding
eyelet-holes punched in the four corners of the paper, when the latter
is laid upon it, and thus secure accurate registration, while a
clamping-frame hinged to the plate fastens the foil and its paper frame
securely to the latter. The mechanism is so arranged that the plate may
be started and stopped instantly, or its motion reversed at will, thus
giving the greatest convenience to both speaker and copyist.
“The articulation and quality of the Phonograph, although not yet
perfect, is full as good as the Telephone was. The instrument, when
perfected and moved by clock-work, will undoubtedly reproduce every
condition of the human voice, including the whole world of expression
in speech and song, and will be used universally.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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