The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As some folks may know, I tend to stray into 'Alternate Universe' territory now and then, wondering what might have been.......

Well, we all know about Higham's friction reproducer, and its interesting (but relatively brief) impact on phonographic history. It got me wondering for some time: did he ever experiment with using this principle of mechanical amplification in the recording process?

If feasible, might this not have resulted in a more sensitive recorder, capable of capturing a broader range of sound? Such an innovation might have had a far greater impact on the recording industry than the expensive and relatively high-maintenance Columbia BC and BM machines, as such records could be played on conventional phonographs and graphophones....

So, would such an arrangement be possible? Would the result be a better recording? Is there anyone with the engineering skills who might care to experiment? Submitted for your approval.........

Bill

I am not sure - at least Higham later patented a device to compensate for the distortions in the recording process: Daniel Higham, Talking-Machine Record and Method and Apparatus Therefor. U.S. Patent 1,414,185. Filed June 11, 1920, granted April 25, 1922.

Not sure about the Higham recorder,. But Edison had a recorder based on the electromotograph principal for recording telephone messages, this uses a spinning piece of chalk.

A possible problem with using a friction amp for recording: it makes noise, clearly audible in the playback machines.