A few years ago, someone did a very good explanation of how the Aux'phone works. Frst, he did say that the phonograph was furnished with a conventional Exhibition sound box, as well as the air valve "pickup". The sound box (for want of a better name) has a pair of small gratings in it. One of them is stationary, and the other is connected to the stylus bar. They are placed right together in the sound head. As the stylus bar picks up modulation from the record groove, the movable grating lets more or less of the comprssed air pass through, and out to the horn. Thus, the sound head modulates the flow of pressurized air out into the horn. There was an ideal air pressure designed into the Auxetophone, if course. Too high a pressure, and the gratings would not be able to control the air flow. Too little, and the aadvantage of the air amplification would be lost.
The principle of air amplification was used in other places. I seem to recall that it was used in a portable public address system, before high power vacuum tubes were available, and even with them, the avoidance of very bulky power supplies to run the tubes. I guess I wouldn't mind having one of those Victor doo-lollies. > [Original Message] > From: Walt <[email protected]> > To: Antique Phonograph List <[email protected]> > Date: 8/12/2007 7:06:25 PM > Subject: RE: [Phono-L] Auxetophone Sold! > > Doug/All, > > Firstly, please forgive this somewhat lengthy email, but your [Doug] email > about the Auxetophone was a spark for me that kicked off what I hope is > useful information, although perhaps a bit deeper than usual. So, from me to > Doug, here's a big thanks!!! > > The Auxetophone reproducer uses a lever (called a "weigh bar" by the > inventor) that ultimately interacts with a valve. This arrangement takes the > place of the diaphragm. One way to help envision the technology employed is > to think about how a gasoline carburetion system supplies fuel using a bowl > and float valve. It's not an exact analogy it will help introduce a > principle if you just envision the needle moving in and out to allow or > disallow the flow of fuel. The stylus (needle) is connected to the weigh bar > in such a way that the movement caused during record play essentially > modulates the flow of pressurized air, the effect of which is to generate > air movement (i.e. sound) that is radically more energetic than a mere > diaphragm type reproducer can cause on its own. VE records should sound > fantastic on the system as designed (if it is working correctly) but I have > never heard them played. Has anyone else? > > Since the system doesn't use a diaphragm as such there isn't really much in > the way of a technology that I see to borrow from the Orthophonic system > because control (i.e. movement) of the [modulating] valve ultimately depends > on the stylus' ability to overcome the higher positive pressure exerted on > it from the compressor side of the system. I don't even think that the use > of bearings would afford anything tangible to help the system operate more > efficiently (i.e. better sound) but if someone wants to send me one to tear > apart <grin>..... > > The guy who invented the reproducer (Charles Parsons) was an English > inventor with some amazing patents in the field of pneumatics generally. He > doesn't seem to have been a "phonograph guy" at all really. His other > patents, although not related to the phonograph, actually give a lot of > insight about how the Auxetophone system seems to have been inspired. It > takes some very open minded engineering prowess to consider, so I won't bore > the list with them, but if you want the information, please email me > off-list: [email protected]. > > Thanks Doug for kicking off an intellectual spark.... > Walt > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Douglas Houston > Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 4:36 PM > To: Antique Phonograph List > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Auxetophone Sold! > > Oh, indeed, but the punch in the enjoyment of hearing one of the > "Compresdair-o-phones" is (to me) the way they would have handled an > orchestra in a dance hall of that era. Of course, an orthophonic disc > would drive the player to high output, but I just wonder if an electrical > recording might over drive the pneumatic sound box into very bad > distortion......? I've played a later Victor recording of Smetana's "Dance > of the Comedians" on my Credenza, and that thing is like a P.A. system. > > > > [Original Message] > > From: <[email protected]> > > To: Antique Phonograph List <[email protected]> > > Date: 8/12/2007 4:20:30 PM > > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Auxetophone Sold! > > > > The Caruso record is actually an historically accurate > > demonstration. When new, these machines were often used to present a > > famous singer (by way of the record) in concert with a live orchestra. > > > > If you want to hear a loud demonstration, then later electrical > > record is more dramatic. > > > > > > On Aug 12, 2007, at 11:52 AM, Douglas Houston wrote: > > > > > I've heard an Auxetophone, and granted, it was nice and loud. But > > > it seems > > > that when someone demonstrates one of those players, they always avoid > > > using a musical selection; that is, an orchestra. They universally > > > p,lay a > > > Caruso recording, and I think that the thing is short-changed as > > > far as > > > demonstrated performance is concerned. I'd love to hear one with an > > > orchestra playing, but probably never will. > > > > > > > > >> [Original Message] > > >> From: DeeDee Blais <[email protected]> > > >> To: <[email protected]> > > >> Date: 8/12/2007 11:21:26 AM > > >> Subject: [Phono-L] Auxetophone Sold! > > >> > > >> Portland seems to be the place to find an Auxetophone. > > >> In addition to the two that surfaced a few years ago, > > >> one sold this weekend. I believe I was second in line > > >> but another collector scraped up the asking price of > > >> $2500. I don't know if it had the blower assembly > > >> but the seller said the electronics did not work. It > > >> had the large mahogany horn and had been refinished. > > >> I don't know who bought it but he's one lucky > > >> collector! > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > > ______ > > > ________ > > >> Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search > > >> that gives answers, not web links. > > >> http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> Phono-L mailing list > > >> http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Phono-L mailing list > > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Phono-L mailing list > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.13/947 - Release Date: 8/11/2007 > 2:29 PM > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
