[LB055196], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to W H Harrap, January 20th, 1892
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Title
[LB055196], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to W H Harrap, January 20th, 1892
Author
Recipient
Mentioned
Date
1892-01-20
Type
Folder/Volume ID
LB055-F
Microfilm ID
143:38
Document ID
LB055196
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
Has Version
Item sets
Transcription
Jan. 20, 1892.
Mr. W. H. Harrap,
Richmond Hill,
Blackfriars St.
Salford,
Manchester, England.
Dear Sir:-
Your letter of 1st instant addressed to Mr. Edison, in regard to the phonograph, has been received. The latest form of instrument has only one diaphragm, connected to which are the recording and reproducing needles, either of which can be brought into play by a simple adjustment. Therefore the sound is recorded and reproduced through the same orifice.
The fact that the orifice connected to the diaphragm is smaller in diameter than the diaphragm itself does not in any way affect the quality of the sound reproduction, for the reason that the sound vibrations are confined mainly to the centre of the diaphragm, immediately over which the orifice is placed. Therefore any distortion which you may have noticed must have been due entirely to other causes – possibly bad adjustment of the instrument in either the recording or reproduction of the record. The reason for combining in one diaphragm the functions of the two previously used was to simplify the operation of the phonograph.
Mr. Edison receives a great many communications in regard to the phonograph and he appreciates highly the interest which the public is taking in his invention. The various mechanical details embodied in the present type of phonograph are the result of extensive experimentation and nothing has been omitted which would be likely to improve the instrument. I am dictating this reply to one of the latest machines.
Thanking you for your letter
I am, yours truly,
A. O. Tate
Private Secretary,
M.
Mr. W. H. Harrap,
Richmond Hill,
Blackfriars St.
Salford,
Manchester, England.
Dear Sir:-
Your letter of 1st instant addressed to Mr. Edison, in regard to the phonograph, has been received. The latest form of instrument has only one diaphragm, connected to which are the recording and reproducing needles, either of which can be brought into play by a simple adjustment. Therefore the sound is recorded and reproduced through the same orifice.
The fact that the orifice connected to the diaphragm is smaller in diameter than the diaphragm itself does not in any way affect the quality of the sound reproduction, for the reason that the sound vibrations are confined mainly to the centre of the diaphragm, immediately over which the orifice is placed. Therefore any distortion which you may have noticed must have been due entirely to other causes – possibly bad adjustment of the instrument in either the recording or reproduction of the record. The reason for combining in one diaphragm the functions of the two previously used was to simplify the operation of the phonograph.
Mr. Edison receives a great many communications in regard to the phonograph and he appreciates highly the interest which the public is taking in his invention. The various mechanical details embodied in the present type of phonograph are the result of extensive experimentation and nothing has been omitted which would be likely to improve the instrument. I am dictating this reply to one of the latest machines.
Thanking you for your letter
I am, yours truly,
A. O. Tate
Private Secretary,
M.