The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1914)

52 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. LATEST PATENTS RELATING TO TALKING MACHINES AND RECORDS (Special to Tlie Talking Machine World.) Washington, D. C, December 10. — Stylus Guiding Attachment for Sound Records. — Harrison W. Rogers, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor of one-half to Charles W. Ebeling, same place. Patent No. 1.112,838. The present invention relates to improvements in stylus guiding and starting attachments for sound records, one object of the invention being the provision of an attachment adapted to be connected to and carried by a sound record, and provided with means whereby the stylus will be properly guided to a selected point of the sound groove, thus producing a device which is especially adapted for use in connection with a record carrier operated from a projector mechanism, as particularly set forth in a copending application filed February 7, 1913, Serial No. 746,890, the present attachment rendering it an easy matter for the operator to position the stylus for entering a selected point of the sound groove when the record carrier is operated at the proper time through the projector mechanism. A further object of the present invention is the provision of ■ an attachment carrying a stylus receiving and guiding portion which is so constructed as to be readily adjusted relatively to the sound groove of the record, so that the stylus will be started at a selected point of the groove, and without the necessity of causing the record to be rotated a plurality of revolutions before the sound wave forming portion of the record is in operable engagement with the stylus. A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a stylus guiding attachment, which will reinforce the sound record at the starting point of the phonic groove, in that a metal, or other hard substance is placed to receive the initial presenta tion and guiding of the stylus. This substance is provided with means for insuring the direction of the stylus into the sound groove, at its beginning or at any "lead in" point of such groove. This feature cannot be too greatly emphasized, for where the record is used in a booth with a motion picture machine projector, a stylus positioning and guiding means mus' itself be durable and the record at the starting point must be reinforced to withstand the resulting hard usage. By making the guide a projection above the record surface, a means by which the operator may "feel" the position for inserting the stylus in the dim or no light of the booth is afforded, and thus at all times is provided means whereby the proper positioning of the stylus is assured. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a disc record with one form of the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary portion of the disc showing the structure as shown in Fig. 1 upon a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another modified construction of stylus guiding and starting device or attachment. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device with a portion of the record in elevation. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the pivoted stylus sLarting and guiding member thereof. Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7 — 7 of Fig. 5. Graphophone and Gramophone Sound Box.— Albert L. Roethe, Milwaukee, Wis. Patent No. 1,113,911. This invention consists in what is herein particularly set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, its objects being to eliminate hissing noise in sound reproductions from graphophone and gramophone records and to improve the tone of such reproductions by means of improved sound boxes to which this invention relates. Fig. 1 of the drawings represents a sectional view of one of the improved sound boxes and is indicated by line 1 — 1 in Fig. 2; Fig. 2 of said drawings represents a side elevation of the sound-box partly broken away ; Fig. 3, a plan view of a detail of said sound box partly in horizontal section as indicated by line 3 — 3 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4, a partly sectional view of another detail of the aforesaid sound box on the plane indicated by line 4—4 in Fig, 2. Diaphragm for Sound Reproducers —Frederick W, Thomas, New York City, N. Y. Patent No. 1,116,165. The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved diaphragm for sound reproducers such as are used in gramophones, graphophones, receivers and transmitters of telephones and other sound-reproducing instruments and machines, and which is exceedingly sensitive for the reproduction of sound vibrations. In order to accomplish the desired result use is made of a diaphragm of metal made exceedingly dense or compact throughout by pounding, beating, pressing, hammering or similar processes. Figure 1 is a face view of the diaphragm as applied to a graphophone sound box shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section of the diaphragm on the line 2 — 2 of Fig. 1, and showing in dotted lines the ring for compacting the peripheral edge of the diaphragm, and Figs. •j and 4 are cross sections of diaphragms of different shapes. Diaphragm for Sound Reproducers. — Frederic W. Thomas, New York, N. Y. Patent No. 1,116,166. This invention relates to a diaphragm for sound recorders and reproducers and is especially adapted for use in phonographs, graphophones and the like. At the present time mica diaphragms are in universal use for phonographic sound recorders and reproducers, although numerous other types of diaphragms have been proposed, and among these others are metallic diaphragms variously corrugated or indented for the purpose of obtaining a reproduction or recording of sounds equivalent to that obtainable with mica, the aim being to obtain a cheap substitute, as mica is expensive in the present condition of the market. Corrugated metallic diaphragms are unsatisfactory for various reasons, but mainly on account of their weakness at the central part where buckling occurs, thus showing a lack of strength of material or required stiffness. According to another type of diaphragm, the diaphragm is flat throughout its area and the metal pounded to strengthen the diaphragm by compacting the material, and then the diaphragm is nickel-plated to prevent corrosion or affection by the elements. Such metal diaphragms being of the same thickness from center to edge are unsatisfactory because of the lack of stiffness at the center, and, furthermore, because of the coating of nickel-plate, which materially interferes with the tonal qualities. It is the object of the present invention to overcome the objections above noted by producing a metallic diaphragm which in recording and reproducing qualities is superior to mica, far less expensive, smaller in size for the same capacity of sound reproducing and recording, and which is practically indestructible, whereas mica diaphragms ■are of very short life because of their laminated structure, which results in the separation of the laminae by the vibratory action. In carrying out the invention any suitable metal may be employed that is practically unaffected by the weather and temperature changes, such metals being gold, silver, platinum, antimony, tin, aluminum and the like, and alloys of such metals. Blanks cut from sheets of metal and preferably in the form of discs are subjected to a pounding, hammering or other compressing or compacting operation, whereby the metal is compacted and the air in the pores excluded. The pounding or hammering is so carried out that the resulting diaphragm will be of somewhat greater thickness at the middle than at the periphery, there being a gradual and uniform diminution of thickness from the center outwardly. During the shaping of the diaphragm the metal spreads radially, whereby the diaphragm acquires the required stiffness or rigidty and entirely overcomes any tendency to buckle. In other words, the diaphragm is of uniformly increasing strength from the supported periphery to the unsupported center. When the diaphragms are made of certain kinds of metals it has been found beneficial to subject the diaphragm to a bath of cyanid of potassium, which tempers and strengthens the metal. It may also be necessary in some instances to increase the stiffness or rigidity of the diaphragm, after it has been acted on by the pounding or hammering dies which produce the uniform decrease in thickness from the center to the periphery, by stamping the entire peripheral portion of the diaphragm by means of an annular die which effects a radial expansion and hence radial stress because of the flow of metal outwardly in radial directions. In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1 is a side view of a blank of metal from which a diaphragm is made; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a view showing the blank in the initial stage being hammered; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the final stage of pounding or hammering the diaphragm ; Fig. 5 is a view showing the manner of compressing the peripheral portion of the hammered diaphragm; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the diaphragm resulting from the operation shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the finished diaphragm having one side flat and the other side convex; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a diaphragm convex on both sides; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a diaphragm which tapers from the center to the periphery on straight lines.