GB107144A - A "Vibrato" Device for Accentuating Special Notes and Producing Tremolo Effects on Talking Machines. - Google Patents

Abstract

107,144. O'Gorman, M. Oct. 18, 1916. Diminishing " scratch " by vibrating the sound-box; producing tremolo; sound-boxes, mounting.-A talking-machine tremolo effect is produced at will, either during the formation or reproduction of the record, by giving the) recording tool or reproducing needle a vibratory movement along the sound groove. A limited up- and-down vibratory ' movement also may be given, and this is stated to diminish friction and " scratch " during reproduction. As shown in Fig. 1, a sound-box c and needle h are supported on the tone arm d by a flexible connexion e or other joint designed to allow the necessary movement without chatter. A motor with an outof-balance fly-wheel n and carried on a hinged table t is connected to a lever by a wire connexion m which is normally slack, the lever g being held against a padded stop x by a spring s. When the connexion m is made taut by depressing the table t, the vibrations of the motor are communicated through the lever g and a wire or pivoted link f to the sound-box. A modification is described in which the lever g is vibrated directly by the finger. The pivot of the link f is preferably low as shown. Two or more vibrating tables of different period may be provided. Up and down movement may be given by a direct connexion between a vibrating table and an extension of the link f (not shown). Alternatives are described in which the record-carrying table is vibrated. In conjunction with the tremolo arrangement, the volume of sound may be controlled by an obturator or by pinching the flexible connexion. The effects may be controlled from a distance by a suitable key-board and connexions.