[LB050243], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to N E Smith, July 3rd, 1891
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB050243
Transcription
July 3, 1891. Mr. N.E. Smith, N.Y., N.H. & H.R.R. Co., New Haven, Conn. Dear Sir:- Your letter of 27th ultimo, in regard to trouble which you are experiencing with your phonograph, is before me. We have had phonographs here in the Laboratory which have acted in a manner similar to that which you describe. There are several ways of remedying the defect, some one of which we have generally found to be effective. One is to change the polarity of the battery. This you can do by simply reversing connections. The trouble referred to occasionally exists in a phonograph that has been used a great deal and which runs very easily; and on investigation we have found in such cases that the machine has not had enough shunt on it. This can be determined by breaking the contact of the shunt and running the phonograph without any shunt at all. If you find that this eliminates the defect, the remedy is to put in more shunt. If the foregoing suggestions do not meet the case the trouble must be caused by a bad contact somewhere. Assure yourself that there are no clipping of belts etc. Yours very truly. A.O. Tate