Aug. 10, 1888.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



123 



the apparatus follows all the irregularities of the recording 

 surface, and perfect accuracy in centering the cylinder is 

 rendered unnecessary. To the diaphragm cell is 

 attached a flexible tube furnished at its free end with a 

 mouthpiece, into which the words to be recorded are 

 spoken. The record cylinder consists of paper wound in 



cylinder. The machine is driven by connection with 

 any power having a fairly uniform speed.- In the 

 engravings the machine is represented as being driven 

 by a small electric motor. The paper cylinders are very 

 light, perfectly portable, and may be transmitted by mai 

 with the same facility as an ordinary letter. The cylinde 



Fig. i.— Tainter's Graphophone. 



a peculiar way to cause it to maintain its cylindrical 

 form, L he outer surface of the paper being coated with a 

 specially prepared wax. Below the cylinder is arranged 

 a panfor receiving the fine shreds of wax cut by the stylus 

 from the cylinder in the operation of recording the message. 

 The groove constituting the record is microscopic in 

 size, it being only three thousandths of an inch wide and 

 about two thousandths deep. One hundred and sixty 

 grooves to the inch are cut on the cylinder. The saddle 

 which holds the diaphragm cell is formed of two parts 

 hinged together to facilitate its removal from the support. 

 After the complete record has been made the cylinder is 

 either removed and placed in another machine or it is 

 allowed to remain, and the recording diaphragm is 

 replaced by the small reproducing diaphragm shown in 

 fig. 2. This diaphragm is connected by a thread with a 

 small rounded finger, pivoted in the end of the arm which 

 supports the diaphragm, adapted to engage the groove 

 and indentations made by the stylus of the recording 

 diaphragm. To the reproducing diaphragm cell is 

 attached a flexible tube which is branched and provided 

 at its extremities with ear pieces similar to those of a 

 stethoscope. The ear pieces are placed in the ears. The 

 rotation of the cylinder containing a message causes 

 vibrations to be set up in the reproducing diaphragm 

 which are similar in character to those of the recording 

 diaphragm which produced the impressions upon the 



will fit any graphophone without any adjustment of the 

 instrument. The graphophone has been in practical use 

 for some time past, carrying on correspondence between 



*"" 



Fig. 2. — Recording and Reproducing Mechanism. 



New York and Washington, and in receiving dictation in 

 every-day matters of business the dictations being 



