[PT032ABQ], Patent Application, Thomas Alva Edison, January 28th, 1889
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Title
[PT032ABQ], Patent Application, Thomas Alva Edison, January 28th, 1889
Editor's Notes
Dyer and Seeley I am not sure that I have applied for this or not if not file.##The object of this invention is to produce a cheap an efficient cylinder or phonogram blank which can be pressed or moulded The surface of which is coated in any suitable manner with a thin coating of proper material for receiving the indentations of the phonograph. The base or principal portion of the weight of the cylinder being composed of very cheap material.##The Coefficient of expansion of the blank material and the thin veneer should be very nearly equal so that in shipping the cylinders or blanks to regions where especially in the winter the temperature falls very low when exposed in freight cars the outer coating will not crack & thus render the blanks useless The principal difficulty is to get a cheap material which will have the same or about the same coefficient of expansion as the coating and yet be cheap The veneer material for recording is always preferably hard and brittle at ordinary temperatures#The record is not so perfect on material which is somewhat pliable at ordinary temperatures The pliability renders it unnecessary generally to have the base the same coefficient of expansion for instance cylinders of paper have been used & coated with a thin veneer of pliable soft recording material whose coefficient of expansion is very much greater than the paper. The pliability of the material accommodates itself to The great difference of expansions between the two except in extreme cases of Low temperature, but where a non pliable veneer is used this accommodation cannot take place hence the Coefficient o expansion of the two material must be close together.##I used for the blank Asphaltic or Bituminous Resins, mixed with a small percent of material which shrinks greatly in solidifying such as Carnauba wax.##Asphalt when melted & poured in moulds does not contract on solidifying hence are difficult to get out of the moulds easily. by mixing 5 to 7 percent of Carnauba wax. The resulting compound shrinks slightly thus allowing it to be taken from the mould easily. Asphalts as found in the market vary considerably in the degree of heat required to melt them and also to the degree of Liquidity or mobility of the molten liquid Som asphalts even at high temperatures give a viscous liquid difficult to pour this may be corrected & the liquied made mobile like water by adding a wax of Low melting point like Japan wax Ozocerite, or a liquid like tar, Crude petroleum Turpentine, or even Rosin##The proportions of Asphalt, Carnauba & Liquifying material such as petroleum to obtain the proper coefficient of expansion to suit the outer coating of material depends on the material and must be determined for each material by experiment. To determine it mix the material above mentioned in various proportions, mould the cylinders by pouring then dip them in the molten veneer material for one or two seconds according to the thickness of the coating desired When the several cylinders are cold place them in a chamber and subject them to a very low temperature by the usual means The cracks which appear will be more or less or none according to the proportions They will show the gradations & thus you will in a second experiment be able to proportion the ingredients to prevent cracking alltogether for the particular material used, for any other material the same method must be employed.##When I speak of Asphalts & bitumens I refer not only to natural Asphalt known in the market as Trinidad, Cubian, Mexican, Syrian but the Asphaltic residue produced artificially in Commercial operations such as Asphalt Pitch, Hard Coal Tar Pitch– Syrian asphalt produces the best results but is too clear Asphalt Pitch which is ordinary trinidad asphalt from which the more valuable elements have been distilled is very cheap & serves the purpose admirably--##The mould I prefer to use is a split mould discribed in my appn________. The inner core should previous to being inserted in the mould be coated with paper which adheres to the asphalt clinder & allows its easy removal from the core##I prefer to put the veneer of recording material on by dipping the cold Asphaltic cylinder in the molten Compound In this case the cylinder when cold should be put on a mandril & the surface tried by turning before it is ready for the market, but the ashphalt cylinder may be placed in a second mould slightly larger than the one originally moulded in and the veneering material poured on its periphery thus rendering turning unnecessary but experience so far shows the turning off is cheaper= of course the blank might be made of powdered cold material & subjected to pressure while heated to form it or forced through a squirting Lead pipe machine in a continuous cylinder & cut off in proper lengths & veneered##Claim, 1st new article mfr consisting of a phonogram blank or cylinder veneered with different material for recording The coefficient of expansion being sufficienly near to prevent cracking##An Asphaltic or Resinous cylinder or phonogram blank Covered with a recording material brittle at ordinary temperatures##A blank or veneer both made from the Liquid state##A blank formed by squirting in press & then veneered##The use of Asphaltic material as a base for blank##The use of a material which contract greatly when returning from a liquid to solid state such as Carnauba Wax to mix with the asphaltic material when the molten process is used to enable enouble get it out mould##The used a a material of low melting point like wax or a liquid like tar or crude petroleum to give the molten asphaltic material great liquidity to assist in pouring--##Turning off the veneer to true it up (It might be ironed by hot iron while rotated, the iron being fixes this would true it perfectly but turning preferable--##Seely– The Graphophone people use paper I find it costs 7¢ doz to wind them & pay for paper & cutting– it costs 5¢ doz to dip & put them in marketable shape making 12¢ as actual cost without profit or general expense & they are compelled to use a very soft material otherwise they crack. now a soft material is no good. I use Asphalt moulded taper just like the regular white cylinder now used but 1/3 thinner the stock costs 1 ½¢ per doz Labor 1¢ Veneering ½¢ turning ½ total 3 ½ cost veneering material & general expenses & profit 7 ½ cents doz= As my new material is very brittle at ordinary temperatures I cannot use paper as it cracks at 40 above zero--hence this new dodge which turns out to be a big thing where the cylinder is only to be used once or musical records are to be made cheaply & duplicated Get me some good claims--##Cant you work in a claim for new art mfr also a phonogram containing a record for amusement & instruction consisting of a blank formed by moulding from a liquid or formed by pressure which is veneered with recording material##I want to confine the Grapho people to paper leaving me the moulded material also the equal coeff expns dodge-- Edison##P.S. of course I use the Regular new material Cylinder for office work it being used 100 times. The new cylinder is only to be used once, although the veneer will be thick enough for several turning off– E
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Author
Date
1889-01-28
Type
Folder/Volume ID
PT032ABQ-F
Microfilm ID
114:611
Document ID
PT032ABQ
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University