The telephone, the microphone & the phonographDu Moncel, Th., comte
History
The telephone, the microphone & the phonograph
Du Moncel, Th., comte
Microphone; Phonograph; Telephone
‘I have found also that a musical tone proceeds from a piece of
plumbago or retort carbon when an intermittent current of electricity
is passed through it, and I have observed the most curious audible
effects produced by the passage of reversed intermittent currents
through the human body. A rheotome was placed in circuit with the
primary wires of an induction coil, and the fine wires were connected
with two strips of brass. One of these strips was held closely against
the ear, and a loud sound proceeded from it whenever the other slip was
touched with the other hand. The strips of brass were next held one in
each hand. The induced currents occasioned a muscular tremor in the
fingers. Upon placing my forefinger to my ear a loud crackling noise
was audible, seemingly proceeding from the finger itself. A friend who
was present placed my finger to his ear, but heard nothing. I requested
him to hold the strips himself. He was then distinctly conscious of a
noise (which I was unable to perceive) proceeding from his finger. In
this case a portion of the induced currents passed through the head of
the observer when he placed his ear against his own finger; and it is
possible that the sound was occasioned by a vibration of the surfaces
of the ear and finger in contact.
‘When two persons receive a shock from a Ruhmkorff’s coil by clasping
hands, each taking hold of one wire of the coil with the free hand, a
sound proceeds from the clasped hands. The effect is not produced when
the hands are moist. When either of the two touches the body of the
other, a loud sound comes from the parts in contact. When the arm of
one is placed against the arm of the other, the noise produced can be
heard at a distance of several feet. In all these cases a slight shock
is experienced so long as the contact is preserved. The introduction
of a piece of paper between the parts in contact does not materially
interfere with the production of the sounds, but the unpleasant effects
of the shock are avoided.
‘When an intermittent current from a Ruhmkorff’s coil is passed through
the arms, a musical note can be perceived when the ear is closely
applied to the arm of the person experimented upon. The sound seems to
proceed from the muscles of the fore-arm and from the biceps muscle.
Mr. Elisha Gray[4] has also produced audible effects by the passage of
electricity through the human body.
‘An extremely loud musical note is occasioned by the spark of a
Ruhmkorff’s coil when the primary circuit is made and broken with
sufficient rapidity; when two rheotomes of different pitch are caused
simultaneously to open and close the primary circuit, a double tone
proceeds from the spark.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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