Now this is wickedly beautiful. Its really baffling how much tech solutions, or the core ideas were developed in the early 20th century. We all know the concept of air being used to “suck” down the vinyl for keeping them flat in high-end turntables. But more from early 80’s. JONAS W. AYLswoR’rH predates all these “inventions” by whooping 70 years…
“My invention relates to talking machines or phonographs, and my object is to produce a talking .machineof the type Whicr operates upon disks or flat sound records, which will permit the use of exceedingly thin records and record blanks, which, because of their thinness` are flexible, light, and inexpensive in comparison with the common type of comparatively ,thick disk records `known to the art.l Exceedingly thin -records of the character specified are more particularly described and lclaimedin application Serial No. 541,764, filed by me on even date herewith. Reproduction can be made from such records`on disk talking machines as known to the art with but most imperfect results, if at all, because such records have not suiicient backing in themselves for-the stylus to react against, and because also, when supported upon the usual turntable or record support, they will not lie sutliciently flat and even upon the support to permit the stylus to properly track the same and be fed thereby.
In my present invention, these difliculties are overcome in a simple and effective manner, whereby it is made possible to form records on exceedingly thin disks or other fiat surfaces and reproduce the records formed thereon. Accordingly, my invention comprises a table or support for an exceedingly thin flat record together with means for maintaining the record firmly in uniform contact with the supporting surface. The record is so held. in contact with the supporting surface by means creating a uniform difference in pressure between the upper and lower sides of the record, the pressure upon the lowerl or under side of the record being the less. y 1
More specifically, I provide a record support of porous material and exhaust the air from the pores of this material and beneath the under surface of the record to hold the same upon the table by suction.
Attention is hereby -directed to thel accompanying drawings, forming part of’ this specification and illustrating a number 0f watys in which my invention may be carried ou vertical cross section t rough a t-able and disk sound record supported thereby, together with means for creating suction to hold the rcord upon the surface of the table and embodying one form of my invention. F ig. 2 represents a partial plan view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified’ form of my invention. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 represent similar views of other modifications.
Referring to the drawings, the suction table is provided in all of the modifications with an outer annular solid or non-porous rim 1 designed to form a more or less air tight joint with the record disk 2 beyond the portion of the disk 2 bearing the sound record 3. A solid or non-porous centre 4 is likewise provided, which is designed to form a relatively air tight joint with the disk inside the record-bearing portion 3 and between the same and the central hole 5 of the disk. The table between the outer rim porous material 6. This porous portion of the table is designed to form the bearing surface for that portion of the under side of the disk opposite the record bearing sur- Pface thereof. ,It may be formed of any porous material from which the air may be exhausted, and’is preferably formed of a compact material as for example, plaster of Paris, porous cement or biscuit porcelain or unglazed earthenware. The upper surfaces of rings 1 and 4 and the porous portion 6 should besmooth and hard in order thatl the exceedingly thin record 2 placed thereupon may be reproduced properly. Whenv the record is placed upon the table, the air beneath the disk andl in the pores of the table is attenuated by suction, so that atmospheric pressure above the disk will hold the same firmly against the table, which will support the disk at so many points as to produce practically a solid portion for the same.
The desired suction maybe obtained in 1 and the inner portion luis formed of aQ face of the table comprising the upper sur` Specification o/f Letters Patent. i PatentedfMay 27, 19.13. l”
