JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF MOTION PICTURE ENGINEERS

Vol 48 APRIL 1947 No. 4

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF SOUND FILMS*
[* Presented Oct. 22, 1946, at the !P" #on$ent%on %n &oll'(ood.)
". I. PONA*L"**
[**+(ent%eth #ent,r'-.o/ .%l0 #or1orat%on, Ne( 2or3.)
Introduction
In th%s %ntrod,ct%on I sho,ld l%3e to set do(n the 1,r1ose o4 th%s 1a1er, to sa' so0eth%n5 a6o,t the (a' %n (h%ch I 1ro1ose to treat
the s,67ect 0atter conta%ned there%n, and 1erha1s e$en to 0a3e a 4e( 1ersonal re0ar3s.
.%rst, the 1,r1ose. +here ha$e 6een $ar%o,s doc,0ents 1,6l%shed relat%n5 to the h%stor' o4 so,nd record%n5 on 4%l0, 6,t the' ha$e
not 6een co01lete, nor ha$e the', %n 0ost %nstances, atte01ted to rate the relat%$e $al,e o4 the contr%6,t%on 0ade 6' the $ar%o,s
%n$entors. %nce I a0 so0e(hat %n the sa0e 1os%t%on as the 4a0o,s che0%st *erthelot, (ho (as declared to ha$e 6een the last one
(ho (o,ld 3no( the (hole o4 che0%str', I 1ro1ose to ,nderta3e to arran5e the techn%cal contr%6,t%ons lead%n5 ,1 to the
co00erc%al%8at%on o4 so,nd 0ot%on 1%ct,res %n chronolo5%cal order, and to atte01t th%s e$al,at%on. Perha1s I 0a' 6e 4or5%$en 4or
th%s a11arentl' e5ot%st%cal 1o%nt o4 $%e(, 6eca,se I (as 4ort,nate to ha$e 1art%c%1ated %n 6r%n5%n5 a6o,t the co00erc%al de$elo10ent
o4 so,nd 0ot%on 1%ct,res9 and 4or at least a short 1er%od o4 t%0e I (as 1ro6a6l' the onl' %nd%$%d,al (ho had heard 1ract%call' e$er'
so,nd record and 3ne( %nt%0atel' those en5a5ed %n 0a3%n5 the0. Late %n 1926 I (as, l%3e *erthelot, o$erco0e 6' a 4eel%n5 o4
hel1less 4,t%l%t'9 %t (as then that the art 6e5an s,ch ra1%d e/1ans%on that I co,ld no lon5er 3ee1 ,1 (%th the tre0endo,sl' %ncreased
n,06er o4 so,nd records.
In deal%n5 (%th th%s de$elo10ent, I shall 0ore 1art%c,larl' restr%ct 0' re0ar3s to the 1hoto5ra1h%c 0ethods o4 so,nd record%n5
and shall l%st %n cons%dera6le deta%l the ste1s ta3en %n the de$elo10ent o4 the .o/-#ase s'ste0. +he sect%on o4 th%s 1a1er (h%ch deals
(%th the (or3 o4 +heodore :. #ase conta%ns a6stracts 4ro0 corres1ondence (h%ch he 3%ndl' 0ade a$a%la6le to 0e, and 4ro0 the
notes o4 the #ase Research La6orator', (h%ch he or5an%8ed shortl' a4ter I 7o%ned h%0 %n 19169 I there4ore 3no(, o4 0' o(n
3no(led5e, that these notes (ere 3e1t (%th a h%5h de5ree o4 acc,rac' and deta%l, and are correct. I ha$e ;,oted d%rectl' 4ro0 these
records %n so0e %nstances, s%nce the' are a$a%la6le to the 4,t,re h%stor%an<the or%5%nal #ase La6orator%es ha$%n5 6een 0ade a
0,se,0 %n the c%t' o4 A,6,rn, Ne( 2or3 =no( 3no(n as the #a',5a !,se,0 o4 &%stor' and Art>.
+he re0a%n%n5 1arts o4 the 1a1er, deal%n5 (%th the (or3 o4 others, 0a' ha$e 6een treated %n so0e(hat less deta%l? 4%rst, 6eca,se
0,ch has alread' 6een (r%tten re5ard%n5 the%r (or3 and %t see0s ,nnecessar' to re1eat %t here =e/ce1t to the e/tent re;,%red 4or a
clear chronolo5%cal de$elo10ent o4 the s,67ect>, and, second, 6eca,se I (as 0ore d%rectl' and %nt%0atel' concerned (%th the (or3 o4
!r. #ase.
+o the ,n%n%t%ated, th%s acco,nt 0a' 1ro$e dr' read%n5 at 6est9 %t %s %ntended to do no 0ore than a11eal to those ha$%n5 a
s,6stant%al %nterest %n, and 1resent 3no(led5e o4, the art. I4 %t ena6les those no( de$ot%n5 the%r t%0e and ener5' to the 1er4ect%on o4
so,nd 1%ct,res to see so0eth%n5 o4 the sta5es 6' (h%ch (e arr%$ed at o,r 1resent state, %t (%ll ha$e ser$ed %ts 1,r1ose.
PART 1. EARLY STEPS IN THE HISTORY OF SOUND RECORDING
1857: Leon cott 1atented %n .rance (hat see0s to 6e the 4%rst 0ethod o4 record%n5 so,nd.
1
+h%s d%sclos,re sho(s the ,se o4 a
st'l,s connected to a 0e06rane thro,5h a ser%es o4 le$ers and a 0ethod o4 trac%n5 4%5,res corres1ond%n5 to s1eech, son5, etc. on
1a1er co$ered (%th la016lac3. +he 1a1er (as attached to a c'l%ndr%cal dr,0, (h%ch co,ld 6e rotated 6' hand and 0o$ed 4or(ard 6'
a scre(. &e called the %nstr,0ent the @1hona,to5ra1h@.
1862: Another e/a01le o4 earl' %nterest concern%n5 the nat,re o4 so,nd %s 4o,nd %n the (or3 o4 one Aoctor Ban N. #8er0a3 o4
V%enna, (ho s,cceeded %n 1hoto5ra1h%n5 the $ocal chords %n act%on.
2
1877: +ho0as "d%son 6ro,5ht o,t h%s e1och-0a3%n5 %n$ent%on, the 4%rst 1hono5ra1h. It (as s%0%lar %n 1r%nc%1le to the
1hona,to5ra1h 6,t d%44ered %n that he ,sed t%n4o%l on the c'l%nder and had h%s st'l,s attached d%rectl' to the $%6rat%n5 d%a1hra50. In
h%s later 0odels, (a/ (as ,sed as the record%n5 0ed%,0.
1878: Pro4essor ". :. *la3e, o4 *ro(n Cn%$ers%t', 1,6l%shed a 1a1er on @A !ethod o4 Record%n5 Art%c,late o,nds 6' !eans o4
Photo5ra1h'@.
D
+h%s descr%6es a 0%rror act,ated 6' a 0%cro1hone and the 0o$%n5 o4 a 6ea0 o4 l%5ht o$er a 1hoto5ra1h%c 1late.
1880: A. E. *ell 1atented the 0ethod o4 ,s%n5 selen%,0 4or detect%n5 so,nd s%5nals sent o$er a 0od,lated l%5ht 6ea0.
4
+he
e/1er%0ents %n l%5ht tele1hon' lead%n5 ,1 to th%s 1atent (ere carr%ed on %n 1879.
1880: #harles ". .r%tts 4%led a 1atent a11l%cat%on %n the Cn%ted tates ent%tled @Record%n5 and Re1rod,ct%on o4 P,lsat%ons or
Var%at%ons %n o,nds and other Pheno0ena@.
F
+h%s a11l%cat%on %s re0ar3a6le %n %ts co01leteness, 6road sco1e, and len5th o4 t%0e %n
the 1atent o44%ce. As 4%nall' 5ranted, on Oct. D1, 1916, %t co$ered 26 1a5es and had 96 cla%0s. It %s do,6t4,l %4 .r%tts d%d an'th%n5
1ract%cal9 he con4%ned h%0sel4 to 1,tt%n5 do(n a lar5e n,06er o4 %deas and $ar%at%ons on 1a1er. #la%0 84 o4 h%s 1atent reads @+he
0ethod o4 0a3%n5 a so,nd record (h%ch cons%sts %n 1hoto5ra1h%call' a44ect%n5 a sens%t%$e s,r4ace %n accordance (%th so,nd (a$esGG.
1886: A. E. *ell, #. A. *ell, and . +a%nter 1atented 6oth a $ar%a6le-area and $ar%a6le-dens%t' 0ethod o4 record%n5 a so,nd-
0od,lated l%5ht 6ea0 thro,5h a s0all sl%t ,1on a 1hoto5ra1h%c 4%l0.
6
*oth a 1h's%cal sl%t and an o1t%cal sl%t are d%sclosed.
+h%s see0s to 0e to 6e an %01ortant 1atent that has hereto4ore 6een o$erloo3ed. It clearl' ant%c%1ates R%es, as 0a' 6e seen 4ro0
the 4ollo(%n5 ;,otat%ons? @Accord%n5 to the record 1art o4 the %n$ent%on a $ar%a6le 6ea0 o4 l%5ht %s ca,sed to 1ass thro,5h a 4%ne sl%t
or other o1en%n5, and an %0a5e o4 the sl%t enlar5ed, d%0%n%shed, or o4 the sa0e s%8e %s then 1ro7ected, 6' 0eans o4 one or 0ore lenses
or other s,%ta6le de$%ces ,1on a sens%t%8ed ta6let (h%ch %s 0o$ed 1ro5ress%$el' %n 4ront o4 the sl%t@9 and @o0et%0es %t %s des%ra6le to
,se a second sl%t close to the record%n5 ta6let@.
1887: +he (or3 o4 &ed%c3, a A,tch %n$entor, ,s%n5 4la0es that co,ld 6e $ar%ed 6' so,nd (a$es, sho,ld 6e noted.
7
1887: #. B. &ohenste%n 1atented a 0ore sens%t%$e 0ethod o4 record%n5 a so,nd 0od,lated l%5ht 6ea0 @6' re4lect%n5 l%5ht 4ro0 a
s0all 1%$oted 0%rror se$eral t%0es, 4oc,s%n5 6ea0 o4 last re4lector, (h%ch %s 1ara6ol%c, ,1on a 1hoto5ra1h%c 4%l0@.
8
+h%s %s ;,%te
s%0%lar to the o1t%cs o4 the record%n5 s'ste0 later de$elo1ed 6' Eeneral "lectr%c.
182: Ae0en'Gs @#hrono1hoto1hone@ co06%ned a d%s3 1hono5ra1h and a 0a5%c lantern arran5ed (%th sl%des.
9
18!: "d%son 6ro,5ht o,t the @H%netosco1e.@
1I
+h%s (as a 1ee1-sho( de$%ce ,s%n5 ear t,6es to catch the so,nd, and rather cr,del'
6ro,5ht a6o,t s'nchron%8at%on o4 so,nd and 1%ct,re.
100: J. Pol%a3o44 4%led a 1atent a11l%cat%on on the 4oc,s%n5 o4 a l%5ht 6ea0 ,1on a 1hotoelectr%c cell, thro,5h a 1os%t%$e
1hoto5ra1h%c so,nd record 0o$%n5 ,n%4or0l' across the 6ea0, the 1hotoelectr%c cell 6e%n5 connected to a tele1hone c%rc,%t.
11
+h%s
d%sclos,re %s %nterest%n5 %n that %t 0ent%ons the 4%rst ,se o4 a 1os%t%$e record and also a 1hotoelectr%c cell 4or re1rod,c%n5.
101: "rnst R,h0er 6e5an 1,6l%cat%on o4 h%s (or3 on so,nd record%n5.
12
%nce he (as a 1ro4essor, h%s %nterest (as 0ore
acade0%c than co00erc%al. &e de$%sed the @1hoto-5ra1ho1hon@, an %nstr,0ent so0eth%n5 l%3e the so,nd ca0era o4 toda'. :%th th%s
he recorded and re1rod,ced s1eech ,s%n5 arc l%5hts and Eehr3e t,6es as l%5ht so,rces, and selen%,0 cells %n re1rod,c%n5. &%s 4%l0
s1eed (as rather h%5h, 6e%n5 o4 the order o4 three 0eters 1er second. R,h0erGs or%5%nal @ 1hoto5ra1ho1honGG and so0e so,nd
records (ere 6ro,5ht to th%s co,ntr' 6' the .o/ .%l0 #or1orat%on. +he a11arat,s (as 1ract%cal and the records sho( clear de4%n%t%on
o4 the recorded so,nds =.%5. 1>. Altho,5h R,h0er ne$er co00erc%al%8ed h%s (or3, he sa's %n one art%cle? J.or 1ract%cal ,ses the
a11l%cat%on o4 the 1hoto5ra1ho1hon %n co06%nat%on (%th the 3%neo0ato5ra1h (here6' on one and the sa0e 4%l0 6oth 0ot%on and
s1eech 0a' 6e recorded sho,ld 6e 3e1t %n 0%nd.@ Also %n another art%cle, @As 4ar as s%01l%c%t' %s concerned the 5lo( l%5ht t,6e
s,r1asses all other 1re$%o,s 0eans 4or the 1erce1t%on o4 alternat%n5 c,rrent c,r$es.@
102: An %n$entor na0ed &,ls0e'er o6ta%ned a 1atent on 1rod,c%n5 1hoto5ra1h%c so,nd records.
1D
+h%s descr%6es @an osc%llat%n5
0%rror (h%ch %s $ar%ed 6' so,nd-electr%c %01,lses and (h%ch re4lects a 6ea0 thro,5h a 1late on a 1hoto5ra1h%c str%1, thro,5h a sl%t,
sa%d 1late ha$%n5 a trans0%ss%on $ar'%n5 %n the d%rect%on o4 0ot%on o4 the re4lected 6ea0 %n 1ro1ort%on to the s%ne o4 the an5leG G
102: On No$e06er 8 a 1atent a11l%cat%on (as 4%led 6' :%ll%a0 A,ddell co$er%n5 a 0ethod o4 $ar%a6le area record%n5 and
re1rod,c%n5, ,nder the t%tle o4 @An I01ro$ed Phono5ra1h@. +he 1atent sho(s a co01rehens%$e 3no(led5e o4 the s,67ect and
0ent%ons 0a3%n5 1hoto5ra1h%c co1%es.
10": :%lhel0 Asa0 4%led a 1atent to 1rod,ce records 4or 1hono-5ra1hs ,s%n5 a re4lect%n5 d%a1hra50 to 0od,late a l%5ht 6ea0.
14
10!: F. :. Le+all 1atented a 0ethod 4or 0od,lat%n5 electr%call' a $a1or d%schar5e.
16
10!: A 1atent (as 5ranted to V. Po,lsen =4%led %n 19I1> on a 0ethod o4 0a5net%8%n5 a 0o$%n5 1ara0a5net%c (%re or ta1e 6'
0eans o4 so,nd (a$es.
16
It also sho(ed 0eans o4 de0a5net%8%n5 or o6l%terat%n5 the 0a5net%c $ar%at%ons alon5 the (%re.
106: ",5ene A. La,ste, 4or0erl' an "d%son e01lo'ee, (%th Ro6ert R. &a%nes and Bohn . Pletts 4%led a 1atent a11l%cat%on on
@0ethod and 0eans 4or s%0,ltaneo,sl' record%n5 and re1rod,c%n5 0o$e0ents and so,nds@.
17
Altho,5h La,ste has 6een cred%ted 6'
so0e (r%ters as ha$%n5 the 0aster 1atent on tal3%n5 1%ct,res, one %s %01ressed ,1on e/a0%n%n5 h%s 1atent that he reall' does not
e/1ress h%0sel4 too clearl' re5ard%n5 h%s techn%;,e.
107: B. .. A%r8,(e%t 1atented a 1hoto5ra1h%c 0ethod o4 record%n5 and re1rod,c%n5 so,nd. &e also sho(s the ,se o4 a 5as
d%schar5e t,6e 4or record%n5. +he cla%0s o4 th%s 1atent are rather 6road, 4or %nstance, @#la%0 8A so,nd record%n5 a11arat,s
co01r%s%n5 a 1hotosens%t%$e s,r4ace and a so,rce o4 act%n%c ra's 0o$a6le relat%$e one to the other, and 0eans 4or e/c%t%n5 sa%d so,rce
o4 act%n%c ra's 6' and %n accordance (%th so,nd (a$es@.
107: #arl Lae00le, o4 Cn%$ersal P%ct,res #or1orat%on, tr%ed to co00erc%al%8e the @'nchrosco1e@, a s'ste0 ,s%n5 a
1hono5ra1h.
18
&e ach%e$ed so0e s,ccess, 6,t %t (as 4o,nd that the re5,lar records ,sed (ere too short.
107: Ar. Lee de .orest 4%led h%s 1atent a11l%cat%on on the @A,d%on@ co$er%n5 the add%t%on o4 a th%rd electrode or 5r%d to the
.le0%n5 $al$e.
19
+h%s 6eca0e a 6as%c 1atent o4 5reat %01ortance, as %t sho(ed the (a' to 0a3e a01l%4%cat%on o4 electr%cal %01,lses
1oss%6le.
108: A. !an,ell%, a res%dent o4 Ital', o6ta%ned a .rench 1atent ha$%n5 @as %ts o67ect a 6%c%ne0ato5ra1h%c 1hoto1hon%c 0ach%ne
4or 1,6l%c and 1r%$ate d%s1la's ada1ted to %ns,re 4%/edness o4 1ro7ect%on, stereosco1%c e44ect, 1hoto5ra1h%c re1rod,ct%on o4 so,nd,
etc." &e descr%6es a co01l%cated 0ach%ne ,s%n5 three 4%l0s.
2I
108: A6o,t th%s t%0e "d%son a5a%n 6ro,5ht o,t another $ers%on o4 h%s tal3%n5 1%ct,re de$%ce, th%s t%0e called the @#a0era-
1hone@. +he 1%ct,re (as 1hoto5ra1hed to s'nchron%8e (%th a 1hono5ra1h record. As no close-,1s (ere then e01lo'ed, e/act
s'nchron%s0 (as not an %01ortant 4actor. It (as acce1ted 4or a short t%0e onl', as a no$elt'.
108: B. .. #h%ld 1atented the 0a3%n5 o4 a 1hoto5ra1h%c record o4 a 0ano0etr%c 5as 4la0e and the ,se o4 selen%,0 %n
re1rod,c%n5 the record.
21
110: R. I. P. *er5l,nd, o4 (eden, 1atented record%n5 so,nd ,s%n5 a 0%rror attached to a 0%cro1hone d%a1hra50, th,s
0od,lat%n5 a l%5ht 6ea0 and record%n5 the $ar%at%ons on a sens%t%$e d%s3 or 4%l0.
22
111? #. E. +%00 o6ta%ned a (ed%sh 1atent s%0%lar to that o4 *er5l,nd.
2D
111: .. A. P,d,07ee, o4 Ind%a, descr%6ed a 0ethod o4 ,s%n5 a 0%rror attached to a $%6rat%n5 d%a1hra50 to 1rod,ce a 1hoto1hono-
5ra1h.
24
112: I. &. !ac#art', a res%dent o4 the Cn%ted tates, o6ta%ned a .rench 1atent co$er%n5 @s%0,ltaneo,s record%n5 6' 0eans o4
1hoto5ra1h' ,1on one and the sa0e 4%l0s o4 an%0ated $%e(s and art%c,late or other so,nds (%th a $%e( to %ns,re s'nchrono,s
re1rod,ct%on o4 s,ch $%e(s and so,nds@.
26
=&%s dra(%n5 o4 a co06%ned so,nd and 1%ct,re 4%l0 sho(ed a 0,ch 3eener a11rec%at%on o4
the 1ro6le0 than (as sho(n 6' La,ste.>
11": "d%son 6ro,5ht o,t the @H%neto1hone@.
26
+h%s a11arat,s tr%ed to create s'nchron%s0 o4 1%ct,re and so,nd 6' ,s%n5 a 6elt
connect%on 6et(een a 1hono5ra1h on the sta5e and a 1ro7ector %n the 1%ct,re 6ooth. It had a r,n o4 a6o,t s%/teen (ee3s %n the *. ..
He%th theater %n Ne( 2or3, 6,t atta%ned no 5reat co00erc%al s,ccess.
11": A 1atent a11l%cat%on 4or record%n5 so,nd 4%led 6' ". ". R%es (as 5ranted %n 192D.
27

T#$ %&''&()*+ ,'-). %/&. 0#$ /$,&/1)*+ 2-0$*0 +)3$4 -* )1$- &% )04 4,&2$:
C'-). 14"The method of producing motion pictures and photographic sound records concurrently upon the same photographic
film, which consists in moving a photographic film through a camera at a speed adapted to produce a given number of pictures per
second, simultaneously moving said film at the same rate per second across the back of a screen having a narrow aperture which
exposes the sensitied surface to light in a continuous line or band parallel to the line of pictures and of uniform width throughout
its length, limiting the area of exposure to the area of the aperture, and varying the degree of exposure of said line or band in
accordance with sound waves impressed upon a sound translating device, whereby said sensitive surface when developed will
present ad!acent to the pictures a continuous line or band of uniform width and having alternating sections of varying degrees of
density of translucency representing continuous waves corresponding to the sound waves impressed upon the sound translating
device."
A 4).)'-/ 2-0$*0 ,&3$/)*+ /$2/&15,)*+ (-4 -'4& %)'$1 )* 11" -*1 +/-*0$1 )* 126.
28
In $%e( o4 the dec%s%on %n the de .orest-tanle' case, (here the R%es re1rod,c%n5 1atent (as held %n4r%n5ed, %t %s %nterest%n5 to
note that R%es ca0e to A,6,rn to see #ase %n 192D and o44ered to sell h%s 1atents 4or one tho,sand dollars. Also, that o1%n%ons 6'
+ho01son and E%44ord =!r. #aseGs 1atent attorne's> %n 192F (ere to the e44ect that %t (as $er' do,6t4,l that these 1atents (o,ld 6e
,1held %n #o,rt. R%es later sold these 1atents and se$eral other a11l%cat%ons to the de .orest co01an'.
11!: &. E. toc3s 4%led a 1atent a11l%cat%on co$er%n5 the 1rocess o4 record%n5 so,nd 1hoto5ra1h%call' 6' 0od,lat%n5 a 0erc,r'
la01 4or the 1,r1ose o4 0a3%n5 an o1t%cal 1hono5ra1h.
29
115: &. #. *,ll%s 4%led a 1atent a11l%cat%on that (as 5ranted %n 192I, descr%6%n5 a do,6le s'ste0 0ethod o4 record%n5 so,nd and
1%ct,re on se1arate 4%l0s, r,nn%n5 s'nchrono,sl' thro,5h a s%n5le 0ach%ne, and the ,se o4 0ar3%n5 l%5hts to ena6le 0atch%n5 o4
so,nd and 1%ct,re a4ter the 4%l0s (ere 1rocessed.
DI
116: +. &. Na33en o6ta%ned a 1atent on a 0eans 4or con$ert%n5 so,nd (a$es %nto l%5ht $ar%at%ons9 also a 1atent on 0eans 4or
trans4or0%n5 l%5ht %01,lses %nto electr%c c,rrent %01,lses.
D1
+he $ar%o,s Na33en 1atents (ere 1,rchased 6' the :arners, a4ter ha$%n5 6een o44ered 4or sale 4or so0e t%0e 6' the %n$entor.
118: A. #. R,t8en rece%$ed a 1atent to en5ra$e a so,nd trac3 on a 0o$%n5 1%ct,re 4%l0 ad7acent to the 1%ct,re. B. *alance
rece%$ed a s%0%lar 1atent %n 19I6. A5a%n %n 1926, ". &. .ole' 1ro1osed the ,se o4 a se1arate 4%l0 4or an en5ra$ed so,nd record.
None o4 these 0ethods has 6een 1ract%cal. .. L. !adelar c,t h%s record on the 6ac3 o4 the 4%l0 %n the n%trocell,lose 6ase (%th a
d%a0ond st'l,s. Later, s%0%lar 1atents (ere 5ranted to A. L. #,rt%s and B. Ha%ser.
D2
118 &*: A,r%n5 the s,00er o4 th%s 'ear, e/1er%0ental (or3 (as 6e5,n 6' the Eer0an +r%-"r5on 5ro,1 cons%st%n5 o4 Bose4 "n5%,
Bose1h !assole, and &ans Vo5t.
DD
+he' (or3ed o,t a s'ste0 o4 0a3%n5 so,nd, 0ot%on 1%ct,res ,s%n5 a 5lo( d%schar5e la01 %n
1hoto5ra1h%n5 the so,nd. +he so,nd (as recorded on s1ec%al 4%l0 ha$%n5 standard-s%8ed 1%ct,res and a s1ace o,ts%de o4 the s1roc3et
holes 4or the so,nd 6and. At the t%0e th%s s'ste0 (as 6ro,5ht to th%s co,ntr' 6' .o/ =1926> %t had 0an' no$el 4eat,res 6,t the
res,lts (ere ;,%te %n4er%or to those o6ta%ned 6' .o/-#ase 0ethods.
+r%-"r5on o6ta%ned a6o,t e%5hteen 1atents on the%r s'ste0 6et(een A1r%l 1919 and B,l' 192D. o0e o4 these 1atents<s,ch as the
1r%nt%n5 1atent, the 4l'(heel 1atent, and the 1hotoelectr%c cell 1atent< (ere so 6as%c that the' later (ere the ca,se o4 e/tens%$e
l%t%5at%on and nearl' 6eca0e controll%n5 4actors %n so,nd record%n5 and re1rod,ct%on. +he ,1re0e #o,rt re$%e(ed the 4l'(heel
1atent and held %t In$al%d =!ar. 4,19DF>.
118 &*: B. +'3oc%ner, at the Cn%$ers%t' o4 Ill%no%s, (or3ed o,t a s'ste0 4or 1rod,c%n5 tal3%n5 1%ct,res.
D4
+h%s (or3 (as ;,%te
acade0%c and no atte01t (as 0ade to co00erc%al%8e %t. Var%a6le-dens%t' record%n5 (as ,sed. o,nd and 1%ct,re (ere co06%ned on
the sa0e 4%l0, the so,nd trac3 6e%n5 1laced %ns%de the s1roc3et holes and ad7acent to the 1%ct,res. +he s'ste0 (as called
@Phonact%n%on@. +he so,nd (as recorded 6' 0od,lat%n5 l,0%no,s 5as d%schar5e de$%ces. +'3oclnerGs 1a1er conta%ns a rather
e/tens%$e d%sc,ss%on on record%n5 so,nd. &e 0ade se$eral de0onstrat%ons 6e4ore sc%ent%4%c soc%et%es. Later he s,55ested a no$el
0eans o4 record%n5 that (as cons%dered ;,%te ser%o,sl' 6' #ase at one t%0e. +h%s cons%sted o4 4or0%n5 a 5lo( d%schar5e 6et(een t(o
closel' s1aced se0%cond,ctors %n a%r. +he se1arat%on o4 the electrodes acted so0e(hat l%3e a sl%t, %n that %t l%0%ted the area o4
e/1os,re on a 1hoto5ra1h%c 4%l0 1laced ad7acent to the 5lo(. o 4ar as I 3no(, the 0er%t o4 th%s 0ethod o4 record%n5 has ne$er 6een
$er%4%ed.
120: A. A. :h%tson 4%led a 1atent a11l%cat%on 4or 1rod,c%n5 so,nd records 6' 1ass%n5 a 6ea0 o4 l%5ht thro,5h a Herr cell, and
0od,lat%n5 the latter 0a5net%call', the res,lt%n5 l%5ht 6e%n5 1hoto5ra1hed on a 0o$%n5 4%l0 thro,5h a sl%t.
DF

121: Pro4. &. I. Ran3%ne, o4 "n5land, (or3ed o,t a 0ethod o4 record%n5 so,nd 1hoto5ra1h%call' ,s%n5 a constant l%5ht so,rce
and controll%n5 the l%5ht 6ea0 4ro0 th%s so,rce 6' 0eans o4 a 0echan%cal @l%5ht $al$e@. &e ,sed one 4%/ed 5r%d and one 0o$a6le
,n%t that (as controlled 6' the so,nd %01%n5%n5 ,1on a 0%cro1hone d%a1hra50. +h%s (or3 (as acade0%c and %n the nat,re o4 a
la6orator' de0onstrat%on.
121: Er%ndell !atthe(s de$%sed a 0echan%cal 0ethod o4 record%n5 so,nd 1hoto5ra1h%call' 6' 1rod,c%n5 $%6rat%ons o4 a 6ea0 o4
l%5ht 4ro0 a constant l%5ht so,rce.
121: A de0onstrat%on 6' Pro4essors A,r6en%,s and !ontell%,s (as descr%6ed %n the London Times, e1t. 24,1921. +(o 4%l0s
(ere ,sed, one 4or 1%ct,re and one 4or so,nd. +he' (ere r,n %n se1arate 0ach%nes 5eared to5ether. +he so,nd record (as 1rod,ced
%n a 0anner s%0%lar to that e01lo'ed 6' !atthe(s.
12": +he Peterson-Po,lsen s'ste0 (as (or3ed o,t %n Aen0ar3.
D6
It ,sed a $ar%a6le-area 0ethod o4 so,nd record%n5 on a
se1arate 4%l0 r,n s'nchrono,sl' (%th ca0era and 1ro7ector. +he so,nd record (as 0ade ,s%n5 an osc%llo5ra1h and a s0all sl%t. +he
1rocess (as e/1lo%ted 6' +on4%l0, %n Eer0an'. +he re1rod,cer ,sed a selen%,0 cell.
12": A Cn%ted tates 1atent (as Iss,ed to ". Peterson, sho(%n5 a $ar%et' o4 arran5e0ents o4 a 0a5net%c (%re %06edded %n the
0ar5%nal 1ort%on o4 a 0ot%on 1%ct,re 4%l0.
PART 2. THE 6OR7 OF CASE AND 1$ FOREST81119125
+he res,lts sec,red 6' the earl' (or3ers (ere, 6' l%0%tat%on o4 e/%st%n5 e;,%10ent, rather cr,de and d%d l%ttle 0ore than
de0onstrate the 1r%nc%1les o4 so,nd record%n5 and re1rod,ct%on. It (as +heodore :. #ase (ho, 0ore than an'one else at th%s t%0e,
6e5an to real%8e that, %4 so,nd 1%ct,res (ere to ser$e as a 0ed%,0 4or enterta%n0ent, %t (o,ld 6e necessar' to 1er4ect the s'ste0 to
s,ch an e/tent that the %ll,s%on created %n the re1rod,ced so,nd and 1%ct,res 6e 5ood eno,5h to 0a3e one 4or5et the 0echan%cs o4
the s'ste0 and th%n3 onl' o4 the e$ent 1ortra'ed. Accord%n5l', %n 1,tt%n5 to5ether the #ase s'ste0 each ste1 (as st,d%ed and
de$elo1ed (%th the %dea o4 %ncor1orat%n5 the 6est en5%neer%n5 1ract%ce a$a%la6le at the t%0e. +he (a' (as 0ade eas%er 6eca,se o4 the
de$elo10ents 0ade d,r%n5 the 4%rst :orld :ar, %ncl,d%n5 %01ro$ed 0%cro1hones, 6etter $ac,,0 t,6es, a01l%4%ers, lo,ds1ea3ers,
etc.
111: #ase 6e5an e/1er%0ent%n5 on so,nd record%n5 (h%le a st,dent at 2ale. In a letter to h%s 0other, Ban. 22, 1911, he (r%tes?
@!ost o4 0' t%0e no( %s ta3en ,1 %n e/1er%0ent%n5 (%th 0' elen%,0 #ell (%th the %dea %n 0%nd o4 1hoto5ra1h%n5 so,nd (a$es
and ,s%n5 the 1os%t%$es as records 4or a ne( 3%nd o4 Phono5ra1h or rather %t (o,ld 6e called a L%tho5ra1h I s,11ose.@
And on .e6. 12, 1911 he (r%tes? @2esterda' I at last s,cceeded %n trans0%tt%n5 so,nd 6' l%5ht. I ,sed the 1r%nc%1le o4 the 0ano-
0etr%c 4la0e. +he e'e co,ld not detect the $ar%at%on o4 the l%5ht at all 6,t %t (as re5%stered 1er4ectl' %n the $ar'%n5 o4 the res%stance
o4 the selen%,0. +he re1rod,ct%on o4 the $o%ce (as 1er4ect. Ne/t, I ha$e to set ,1 an a11arat,s 4or 0' del%cate 1hoto5ra1h%n5 o4 the
l%5ht $ar%at%ons. It %s $er' %nterest%n5 (or3 and 5%$es 0e so0eth%n5 to do alr%5ht.@
11": #ase 6e5an e/1er%0ents at A,6,rn, Ne( 2or3, and de$oted h%0sel4 to tr'%n5 to 4%nd a 1ract%cal 0eans o4 con$ert%n5 l%5ht
%nto electr%c%t'.
116: ". I. 1ona6le, ,1on 5rad,at%n5 4ro0 #ornell, 7o%ned #ase and (%th h%0 started the #ase Research La6orator'. #aseGs
e/1er%0ental (or3 (as 0o$ed 4ro0 the cellar o4 h%s ho0e at 196 :est Eenessee treet to a ne( la6orator' des%5ned 6' 1ona6le
and 6,%lt at 2IF :est Eenessee treet. A three-sta5e a,d%on a01l%4%er (as 1,rchased 4ro0 the de .orest co01an'. +h%s (as, ,sed to
test a lar5e n,06er o4 cr'stals and 0%nerals 4or the 1ro1ert' o4 chan5%n5 res%stance (hen %ll,0%nated. A6o,t n%neteen ne(
s,6stances (ere 4o,nd and st,d%ed. It (as at th%s t%0e that #ase 4%rst 0et de .orest.
117: +he @+halo4%de@ #ell =conta%n%n5 a l%5ht sens%t%$e chan5e-o4-res%stance 0ater%al s%0%lar to selen%,0 6,t a 4or0 o4 thall%,0
o/'-s,l4%de 1art%c,larl' sens%t%$e to %n4rared rad%at%on> (as d%sco$ered.
D7
+h%s (as ,sed as the rece%$%n5 ele0ent %n an %n4rared s%5nal
and co00,n%cat%on s'ste0 de$elo1ed 4or and ,sed 6' the Na$' d,r%n5 the 4%rst :orld :ar. A,r%n5 th%s t%0e the #ase Research
La6orator', (or3%n5 %n con7,nct%on (%th the Na$al "/1er%0ental tat%on at Ne( London, #onnect%c,t, (as ent%rel' de$oted to (ar
(or3 and carr%ed on e/tens%$e research %n the trans0%ss%on and a01l%4%cat%on o4 s1eech and s%5nals %n connect%on (%th %ts %n4rared
s'ste0.
118 to 122: Ae .orest 6e5an (or3 on tal3%n5 0ot%on 1%ct,res. &e 4%led 1atent a11l%cat%ons on 0ethods o4 record%n5 %n 1919,
and d,r%n5 1922 carr%ed on e/1er%0ents %n Eer0an' tr'%n5 to record so,nd 6' 0od,lat%n5 a h%5h-4re;,enc' 5as d%schar5e t,6e.
D8
120 0& 122: #ase d%sco$ered the 6ar%,0 1hotoelectr%c cell and 6e5an %ts de$elo10ent.
D9
In %ts 4%nal 4or0 %t (as ,sed %n a
recorder 4or 0a3%n5 1er0anent records o4 the l%5ht $ar%at%ons o4 da'l%5ht and s,nl%5ht.
120: Ae .orest 1,rchased +halo4%de #ells 4ro0 the #ase Research La6orator'.
O,0. 122: #ase sa( de .orest %n Ne( 2or3 re5ard%n5 e/traneo,s no%ses %n +halo4%de #ells that de .orest (as tr'%n5 to ,se 4or
re1rod,c%n5 so,nd.
O,0. 122: #ase, (h%le %n London, (%tnessed a de0onstrat%on o4 Ran3%neGs e/1er%0ents %n so,nd record%n5.
N&3. 122: C1on h%s ret,rn 4ro0 a6road, #ase (as %n$%ted 6' de .orest to $%s%t h%s st,d%o. Ae .orest s1o3e o4 tro,6le he (as
ha$%n5 %n tr'%n5 to record so,nd (%th h%5h-4re;,enc' d%schar5e t,6es. &e e/h%6%ted and re1rod,ced a short 1%ece o4 so,nd 4%l0. +h%s
(as 6arel' ,nderstanda6le. &e a11arentl' (as a6o,t at the sta5e he s1ea3s o4 %n h%s !P" art%cle
1I
<@I (ell re0e06er the 5r%0
sat%s4act%on I 4elt (hen, 4or the 4%rst t%0e %n re1rod,c%n5 a 1hoto5ra1h%c record o4 0' $o%ce, I (as a6le clearl' to deter0%ne (hether
or not %t (as 6e%n5 r,n 6ac3(ardsK@
N&3. 122: A cr,de so,nd ca0era (as 0ade at the #ase La6orator' and a so,nd 1%ct,re 0ade o4 a 0od,lated o/'-acet'lene
4la0e. +h%s (as the sa0e 0ano0etr%c 4la0e that had 1re$%o,sl' 6een de$elo1ed 4or ,se %n %n4rared tele1hon'.
Ae .orest at th%s t%0e tr%ed record%n5 (%th t,n5sten 4%la0ent la01s (%th 1ract%call' no s,ccess. #ase s,55ested to h%0 the ,se o4 a
h'dro5en-4%lled la01 as ha$%n5 4aster react%on. +he #ase La6orator' 0ade ,1 se$eral h'dro5en-4%lled 4lashl%5ht la01s 4or de .orest,
and also tr%ed so0e o4 the0 4or so,nd record%n5 ,s%n5 a 4o,r-sta5e a01l%4%er. +he res,lts (ere 1oor 6eca,se o4 the lar5e a0o,nt o4
,n0od,lated l%5ht.
D$,. 122: Ae .orestGs relat%ons (%th #ase are %nd%cated %n the 4ollo(%n5 e/cer1t 4ro0 a letter 4ro0 de .orest to #ase?
@As 1er o,r tele1hone con$ersat%on I a0 0a%l%n5 'o, toda' s%/ 6lan3s, t(o o4 each ca1%llar' d%a0eter. H%ndl' 4%ll these (%th
n%tro5en and e/ha,st as so4t as 1oss%6le, i. e. to 5%$e the0 0a/%0,0 6r%ll%anc' and 0%n%0,0 $olta5e. Pa%nt (%th 6ron8e the t(o
6alls at each end o4 the t,6e and (ra1 sa0e care4,ll' (%th t%n4o%l and 5lass. +hen a11l' to these ter0%nals alternat%n5 h%5h $olta5e.
@I ho1e 'o, can 5et these t,6es to l%5ht ,1 at DIII or 4III $olts. 2o, 0%5ht 1,t %n a needle s1ar3 5a1 %n sh,nt as a11ro/%0ate
$olta5e %nd%cator.
@I s,55est that 'o, 1,t a dro1 o4 0erc,r' %n so0e o4 these t,6es to see %4 th%s does not cons%dera6l' so4ten the d%schar5e, at least
(hen the t,6es 5et hot eno,5h to l%6erate the 0erc,r'. I a0 also re;,%r%n5 'o, to 6e so 5ood as to 0a3e ,1 t(o or three 6allast
res%stances ,s%n5 $er' 4%ne t,n5sten 4%la0ent and h'dro5en 5as. *el%e$e that the 6,l6 la01s are ,s,all' 4%lled (%th h'dro5en at
at0os1her%c 1ress,re, 6,t a0 not %n4or0ed on th%s 1o%nt.
@I 6el%e$e %4 I can 5et a 1ro1er 6allast s'ste0 %n ser%es (%th the short 4%la0ent la01 I can record the $o%ce 1hoto5ra1h%call' 6' th%s
0eans. +h%s, o4 co,rse, %s an %deall' s%01le 0atter co01ared (%th the h%5h-4re;,enc' l%5ht.
@I shall a(a%t rece%1t o4 these t,6es and 'o,r 4,rther s,55est%ons (%th 5reat %nterest.@
122: #ase 4o,nd that the 5as d%schar5e %n an ar5on-4%lled $ac,,0 t,6e (hose 4%la0ent (as coated (%th al3al%ne earth o/%des
co,ld 6e eas%l' 0od,lated at a lo( $olta5e, and %t see0ed to #ase s,%ta6le 4or so,nd record%n5 1,r1oses. +h%s t,6e had 6een
1re$%o,sl' ,sed %n h%s %n4rared s%5nal s'ste0. +h%s o6ser$at%on led to the de$elo10ent o4 the Aeo l%5ht, and (as a 6%5 ste1 %n 0a3%n5
th%s s'ste0 o4 so,nd record%n5 1ract%cal. Pre$%o,s to th%s d%sco$er' 6' #ase, de .orest had 6een ,s%n5 n%tro5en-4%lled t,6es o1erat%n5
on a h%5h-4re;,enc' c%rc,%t at DIII to 4III $ and 5%$%n5 a $er' l%0%ted 1hoto5ra1h%c l%5ht o,t1,t. +he Aeo l%5ht o1erated on d%rect
c,rrent at 2II to 4II $, and 5a$e o44 rad%at%on (h%ch (as h%5hl' act%n%c.
122: A Po(ers 1ro7ector (as con$erted %nto a so,nd ca0era at the #ase La6orator'. Also the Aeo l%5ht (as %01ro$ed 6' ,s%n5
hel%,0 5as %nstead o4 ar5on, th,s %ncreas%n5 %ts act%n%c l%5ht. oon %t (as 4o,nd that these record%n5 l%5hts co,ld 6e o1erated (%tho,t
heat%n5 the%r cathodes.
+he 4ollo(%n5 a6stracts 4ro0 the #ase Research La6orator' records %nd%cate the sta5es %n the de$elo10ent o4 so,nd record%n5
d,r%n5 the 1er%od 4ro0 192D to 192F, %ncl,s%$e?
J-*. 10: 12": A con4erence (as held a0on5 #ase, 1ona6le, and +ho01son =1atent attorne' 4or #ase> to d%sc,ss the
1atenta6%l%t' o4 &el%o l%5ht =later na0ed Aeo l%5ht> .
41
J-*. 11: 12": It (as 4o,nd that nono/%de coated 4%la0ents %n $ac,,0 t,6es (ere not 5ood 4or so,nd record%n5 and that a
cathode d%schar5e (as 0ore des%ra6le.
J-*. 1": 12": #ase (rote to de .orest tell%n5 h%0 that o/%des. %n the record%n5 l%5hts e44ected an %01ro$e0ent (hen the
4%la0ents (ere o1erated cold. Later %t (as 4o,nd that th%s o/%de coat%n5 (as 1hoto-act%$e.
J-*. 26: 12": A letter (as rece%$ed 6' #ase 4ro0 de .orest a6o,t the l%5hts conta%n%n5 o/%des. It also 0ent%oned tr'%n5 t(o
s0all 6all electrodes, o/%de coated. +h%s 1ro$ed %01ract%cal 6eca,se the area (as not 5reat eno,5h on s0all 6all electrodes and an
arc d%schar5e started too eas%l'.
F$;. 10: 12": #ase s,55ested to de .orest that he re0o$e the lens 4ro0 the &ello l%5ht s'ste0 to 5et r%d o4 @6last%n5@ he had
6een 5ett%n5.
F$;. 1!: 12": A ne( so,nd ca0era des%5ned 6' 1ona6le and 6,%lt 6' the Prec%s%on !ach%ne #o01an' o4 Ne( 2or3 (as
co01leted and 4%rst tested. o,nd records (ere 0ade (%th 5ood res,lts.
F$;. 2": 12": #ase and 1ona6le $%s%ted the de .orest st,d%o %n Ne( 2or3. Ae .orestGs 4%rst co06%nat%on o4 1%ct,res (%th so,nd
(as seen and heard. +hese (ere 0ade ,s%n5 #ase &ello l%5hts. +he 4or0%n5 o4 a co01an' (as d%sc,ssed and a contract 1er0%tt%n5
de .orest to 0a3e co00erc%al ,se o4 Aeo l%5hts and +halo4%de #ells (as ne5ot%ated 6,t not s%5ned.
M-/. 5: 12": Ae .orest not%4%ed #ase he had co01leted e%5ht co06%nat%on 1%ct,res.
M-/. 1": 12": Ae .orest e/h%6%ted h%s so,nd 0ot%on 1%ct,res to ne(s1a1er 0en at h%s Ne( 2or3 st,d%o. At th%s e/h%6%t%on, the
so,nd s'ste0 %ncl,ded a #ase hel%,0-n%tro5en 4%lled 6ar%,0-o/%de-coated record%n5 la01 o1erat%n5 on d%rect c,rrent at lo( $olta5e
and 5%$%n5 a 0oderatel' concentrated 5lo( on the 1late cathode, A :estern "lectr%c a01l%4%er 1ro$%ded the dr%$%n5 1o(er 4or the
&el%o l%5ht. +he #ase +halo4%de #ell (as ,sed %n the re1rod,c%n5 s'ste0. Ae .orest, %n h%s d%sc,ss%ons (%th the 1ress, re4erred to the
#ase &el%o l%5ht as h%s @Phot%on@. +he re1rod,ced so,nd sho(ed 6ad 0echan%cal 0ot%on and 1oor ;,al%t'.
M-/. 1!: 12": #ase s,55ested, %n connect%on (%th h%s record%n5 l%5hts, the ,se o4 an o/%de-coated 4%la0ent as a cathode. +h%s
res,lted %n 0ore l%5ht and lon5er l%4e.
M-/. 17: 12": Ae.orest (rote to #ase sa'%n5 that the latterGs e44orts @to %01ro$e h%s 1hot%on l%5ht (ere (ell 7,st%4%ed so Phono
4%l0 co,ld 6e 6ro,5ht o,t soon@ and that #ase (as ent%tled to 6road cla%0s on the o/%de-coated 4%la0ent. Ae .orest sa%d he (o,ld
5%$e #ase 4,ll cred%t 4or (or3 done %n 1er4ect%n5 h%s Phot%on t,6e.
A2/. !: 12": Ae .orest 5a$e a de0onstrat%on o4 h%s so,nd 1%ct,res 6e4ore the Ne( 2or3 "lectr%cal oc%et'. In descr%6%n5 h%s
record%n5 l%5ht he stated he (as ,s%n5 a h%5h-4re;,enc' 5as l%5ht9 he 5a$e #ase cred%t onl' on the +halo4%de #ell, and 4or $al,a6le
s,55est%ons and %01ro$e0ents to @Phono4%l0,@
A2/. 15: 12": +he 4%rst 1,6l%c e/h%6%t%on o4 de .orest @Phono-4%l0@ (as 5%$en at the R%$ol% +heater, Ne( 2or3.
A2/. 18: 12": #ase 1er4ected the +her0o1hone 4or ,se as a 0%cro1hone. +h%s (as ,sed %n 0a3%n5 0an' o4 h%s earl' so,nd
records.
M-< 7: 12": It (as 4o,nd that hel%,0 1,r%4%ed %n a calc%,0 arc 4,rther lo(ered the o1erat%n5 $olta5e o4 &el%o l%5hts.
M-< 1"91!: 12": #ase and 1ona6le $%s%ted the de .orest st,d%o and o6ser$ed (ea3nesses %n de .orestGs 0ethods o4 so,nd
record%n5 and re1rod,ct%on.
J5*$ 28: 12": +he Prec%s%on !ach%ne #o01an' re6,%lt the #ase so,nd ca0era %n an e44ort to red,ce the a0o,nt o4 4l,tter %t (as
ca,s%n5 %n the record%n5 o4 so,nd trac3s.
J5'< ": 12": A letter rece%$ed 4ro0 de .orest sa%d that the #ase &el%,0 Phot%on l%5ht @had 5one 6ad@. It had 6een %n ,se s%nce
!a' 7, 192D, and the letter ra%sed the ;,est%on as to (hether %t sho,ld 6e recoated. Ae .orest s,55ested that add%n5 a trace o4
0erc,r' (o,ld a$o%d certa%n *r%t%sh 1atents.
J5'< 11: 12": Ae .orest c%ted a Eer0an 1atent (h%ch conta%ned an ad0%ss%on that %t %s old %n the art to ,se a d%schar5e
conta%n%n5 a 0etall%c $a1or. Ae .orest ,sed th%s 1atent on (h%ch to 6ase h%s 6el%e4 that an' e/%st%n5 1atent d%44%c,lt' co,ld 6e a$o%ded
6' %ntrod,c%n5 0erc,r'. It (as 1oss%6le that the coated electrode o4 the Aeo l%5ht 1rod,c%n5 5reen 6ar%,0 $a1or %n the d%schar5e
(o,ld 6e e;,%$alent to %ntrod,c%n5 a 0etall%c $a1or.
A5+. "0: 12": +he contract re4erred to ,nder date o4 .e6r,ar' 2D, 6et(een the de .orest Phono4%l0 #o01an' and the #ase
Research La6orator', (as cons,00ated. +h%s contract 5ranted de-.orest a co00erc%al l%cense to ,se Aeo l%5hts and +halo4%de #ells
%n ta3%n5 and re1rod,c%n5 so,nd 1%ct,res.
A5+. "1: 12": +he 4ollo(%n5 ;,otat%on %s ta3en 4ro0 the #ase La6orator' notes? @A tr%1 (as 0ade to Ne( 2or3 4or the 1,r1ose o4
a%d%n5 the de .orest Phono4%l0 #o01an' %n sett%n5 ,1 the%r "#$ a01l%4%er and also to test o,t the #ase a%r-ther0o 0%cro1hone
,nder st,d%o cond%t%ons. A co01ar%son o4 the stat%c 0%cro1hone ,s%n5 the old set-,1 1re$%o,sl' 0ade at the st,d%o (%th the sa0e
0%cro1hone ,s%n5 the "#$ a01l%4%er (as 0ade. +hese t(o 4%l0s (ere also co01ared (%th a 4%l0 0ade ,s%n5 the a%r-ther0o
0%cro1hone on the "#$ a01l%4%er s'ste0. At Ne( 2or3, %t a11eared that the $o%ce re1rod,ct%on on the a%r-ther0o 0%cro1hone (as
sl%5htl' 6etter and clearer than the records 0ade ,s%n5 the stat%c 0%cro1hone. +he 4%l0s (hen r,n at th%s la6orator', see0ed to
%nd%cate that there (as l%ttle d%44erence %n these 4%l0s9 %4 an'th%n5, the stat%c 0%cro1hone (as o4 sl%5htl' 6etter ;,al%t'.
@Ae .orest (as sho(n o,r 0ethod o4 (%r%n5 ,1 the 8#$ and "#$ a01l%4%ers 4or re1rod,c%n5. +h%s s'ste0 (as a 5reat %01ro$e0ent
o$er the t(o %#$ 6o/es (h%ch he (as ,s%n5. +h%s %01ro$e0ent (as %n ;,al%t' rather than lo,dness.
@A n,06er o4 e/1er%0ents o4 the tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res (ere (%tnessed at the Phono4%l0 st,d%o. +hese %nd%cated that the
1rod,ct had 6een 5reatl' %01ro$ed o$er the old 4%l0s seen on 1re$%o,s tr%1s. In the case o4 0,s%c records the 4%l0 4ro0 th%s
la6orator' see0ed to 6e o4 sl%5htl' 6etter ;,al%t' than those sho(n there.@ *oth #ase and 1ona6le (ere 1resent d,r%n5 these
con4erences.
O,0. 8: 12": Ae .orest %n4or0ed the #ase La6orator%es that he no( had t(ent'-4%$e 4%l0s (orth' o4 e/h%6%t%on %n theaters. A%d
(e ha$e a s,11l' o4 Aeo l%5htsL
N&3. 1!: 12": Ae .orest 0ent%oned a record%n5 he had 0ade o4 a s1eech 6' Ar. .. #rane, sa'%n5 "one can understand every
word first time through."
Aec. 7, 192D? Ae .orest sa%d that the ther0o-0%cro1hone s,11l%ed h%0 6' #ase (as @(onder4,l@, and that the Aeo l%5ht (as
@(or3%n5 4%ne@.
J-*. 2": 12!: .or record%n5 so,nd, de .orest had or%5%nall' ,sed an o1t%cal s'ste0 %0a5%n5 the 5lo( d%schar5e on a sl%t o4 the
order o4 three 0%ls (%de9 %t no( occ,rred to h%0 that a narro(er sl%t, sa' 1.F 0%ls, 0%5ht 6e 6etter. &e reco5n%8ed the 1ro6le0 o4
5ett%n5 s,44%c%ent l%5ht (%th the narro(er sl%t.
J-*. 12!: 1ona6le had cons%dered the redes%5n 1ro6le0s %n$ol$ed %n con$ert%n5 a *ell and &o(ell ca0era 4or record%n5 so,nd
on the sa0e 4%l0 (%th the 1%ct,re. *ell and &o(ell (as a,thor%8ed to re6,%ld one o4 the%r ca0eras %n accord (%th th%s des%5n, (h%ch
%n$ol$ed 1hoto5ra1h%n5 the so,nd at the s1roc3et thro,5h a sl%t %n contact (%th the 4%l0 and (%th the Aeo l%5ht 1laced d%rectl'
6eh%nd the sl%t.
F$;. 8: 12!: In the sa0e (a', a *ell and &o(ell standard 1%ct,re 1r%nter (as redes%5ned to 1ro$%de 6oth so,nd and 1%ct,re 1r%nt%n5
a1ert,res and e/1os,re control sh,tters. +h%s (or3 (as done locall'.
F$;. 8: 12!: #ase (rote? @I th%n3 %t (o,ld 6e 6etter to do a(a' (%th the sl%t ent%rel' %n the so,nd re1rod,c%n5 cha06er as a sl%t %s
l%a6le to 6eco0e d,st clo55ed 6e%n5 so s0all and the 6est 0ethod o4 1roced,re (%ll 6e to constr,ct a l%5ht (%th a $er' 4%ne short
stra%5ht 4%la0ent and 1lace a lens %n 4ront o4 th%s so as to s,%t a6l' 1rod,ce an %0a5e o4 the 4%la0ent (h%ch 0a' 6e 6ro,5ht to the s%8e
des%red, sa' one and one-hal4 tho,sandths o4 an %nch and allo( th%s %0a5e to 1ass thro,5h the so,nd record, s1read, and then co$er
the +halo4%de cell.@
S2/)*+ 12!: Ae .orest had a6o,t t(ent' o,t4%ts 5%$%n5 roadsho(s. %n theaters.
F$;. 28: 12!: A letter rece%$ed 4ro0 de .orest e/1la%ned lac3 o4 #ase 1,6l%c%t' and stated that Phono4%l0 (as a co06%ned
%n$ent%on o4 de .orest and #ase.
M-/. 25: 12!: +he *ell and &o(ell ca0era 0od%4%ed 4or so,nd (as rece%$ed at A,6,rn and (as tested. +he 0ot%on (as
,nsat%s4actor'.
M-< : 12!: #ase s,55ested that the sl%t 6e 1rotected 6' 1lac%n5 a 5lass (ed5e %n the sl%t o1en%n5. Pre$%o,s sl%ts (ere s,sce1t%6le
to d%rt and d,st and (ere cleaned 6' o1en%n5 and clos%n5, or 6' an a%r Bet.
J5'< : 12!: ". *. #ra4t, o4 the :estern "lectr%c #o01an', ad$%sed #ase and 1ona6le that :estern "lectr%c (o,ld 1ro6a6l' 6e
(%ll%n5 to 5rant a l%cense 4or the La6orator' to ,se a01l%4%ers co00erc%all'.
J5'< 25: 12!: Ae .orest 6e5an ,s%n5 the #ase des%5n o4 ca0era %n (h%ch the so,nd (as 1hoto5ra1hed on the 4%l0 at the s1roc3et
1os%t%on. =+h%s sa0e 0ethod o4 record%n5 %s st%ll %n ,se %n ne(sreel ca0eras toda'.>
J5'< 25: 12!: Ae .orest as3ed #ase to 0a3e record%n5s o4 #ool%d5e and La .ollette %n :ash%n5ton. Ae .orest (as to s,11l' a
1ro4ess%onal ca0era0an. =+hese 1%ct,res, 1hoto5ra1hed on A,5,st 11, (ere the 4%rst ne(s so,nd 1%ct,res o4 %01ortance e$er 0ade
<.%5. F.>
A5+. 12!: A s0all so,nd record%n5 st,d%o (as constr,cted %n the 6ase0ent o4 the #ase La6orator'. +h%s cons%sted o4 a roo0
a6o,t 1I 4t s; (%th a 6-4t ce%l%n5. +he (alls (ere 0ade o4 ha%r 4elt. +he ca0era (as 1laced o,ts%de o4 the st,d%o and %ts lens %0a5ed
the %nter%or thro,5h a hole %n one o4 the st,d%o (alls.
Incandescent l%5ht%n5 (as ,sed to the. e/tent o4 t(el$e 1III-( la01s. +he s,67ect co,ld not e/%st %n the st,d%o 4or 0ore than a
4e( 0%n,tes at a t%0e (%tho,t co0%n5 o,t 4or a%r.
D$,. 8: 12!: +o %nd%cate the 5eneral character o4 (or3 at the de .orest st,d%o the 4ollo(%n5 %s ta3en 4ro0 notes o4 Aec. 8, 1924?
@A $%s%t (as 0ade to the de .orest st,d%o. Re1rod,ct%on (as heard on the de .orest s'ste0 ,s%n5 the sl%t arran5e0ent. I0 (as
4o,nd that the%r sl%t (as set at a6o,t 4o,r 0%ls. :hen th%s (as 6ro,5ht do(n to one and one-hal4 0%ls the re1rod,ct%on (as $er'
5ood, altho,5h the ;,al%t' (as not ;,%te as 5ood as (%th the 4oc,sed 4%la0ent arran5e0ent. A 4oc,sed 4%la0ent set-,1 (as 0ade 4or
de .orest ,s%n5 so0e la01s 0ade %n h%s 4actor'. In these la01s the 4%la0ent (as held stra%5ht 6' s1r%n5 tens%on, 6e%n5 the sa0e
arran5e0ent as ,sed %n h%s a01l%4%er t,6es. +he 4%la0ent d%a0eter o4 the la01s ,sed (as a6o,t one-hal4 0%l. +he re1rod,ct%on on
th%s 4oc,sed 4%la0ent arran5e0ent see0ed to 6e $er' 5ood. +he V%tal,/ lens (as ,sed and %01ro$e0ent (%ll 1ro6a6l' 6e not%ced
(hen de .orest o6ta%ns the s1ec%al *a,sch M Lo06 1?1 o67ect%$e (h%ch (e had de$elo1ed.
@As%de 4ro0 a not%cea6le %01ro$e0ent %n h%s re1rod,c%n5 a11arat,s the s%t,at%on at the de .orest st,d%o had not chan5ed
a11rec%a6l'. &e had 0ade a n,06er o4 Phono4%l0s. One, a #hr%st0as n,06er, %ncl,ded a son5 6' !0e. Ra11old %n a #hr%st0as tree
sett%n5 4ollo(ed 6' a ch,rch scene (%th cho%r 6o's s%n5%n5 and end%n5 (%th a tr,01et chor,s %n s,11osedl' a hea$enl' sett%n5. All o4
th%s n,06er (as sl%5htl' so,r and %t %s do,6t4,l (hether or not %t co,ld 6e ,sed co00erc%all'.@
J-*. 12: 125: #ase de$%sed a sl%t (%th co$er-5lass 1rotect%on.
42
+h%s (as a $er' %01ortant ste1 %n 0a3%n5 so,nd record%n5
1ract%cal. +h%s sl%t cons%sted o4 a s0all 1%ece o4 ;,art8 a6o,t I.2F-%n. s;,are and I.I4-%n. th%c3. One s%de (as coated (%th che0%call'
de1os%ted s%l$er and a sl%t a6o,t I.II1 %n. N I.12I %n. (as r,led %n th%s s%l$er coat%n5. A th%n co$er 5lass (as then ce0ented on to1 o4
the s%l$er and the co$er 5lass (as 5ro,nd and 1ol%shed do(n to a th%c3ness o4 less than I.II1 %n., %ncl,d%n5 the ce0ent. +he sl%t (as
then 0o,nted %n a steel shoe that co,ld 6e 1laced %n contact (%th the 4%l0 at the ca0era s1roc3et. +he Aeo l%5ht (as set close to the
;,art8 sl%t, th,s el%0%nat%n5 the ,se o4 a lens to 4oc,s the 5lo( d%schar5e on the 4%l0 and ens,r%n5 the 0a/%0,0 a0o,nt o4 l%5ht
reach%n5 the 4%l0.
M-< 1": 125: Ae .orest 6orro(ed the re6,%lt *ell and &o(ell ca0era 4ro0 #ase %n order to 0a3e so,nd 1%ct,res o4 Ar. "ll%ott %n
*oston.
S$20. 125: *,s%ness co01l%cat%ons ter0%nated the (or3%n5 arran5e0ent 6et(een de .orest and #ase. #ase, ha$%n5 5one th%s 4ar
%n the tal3%n5 1%ct,re 4%eld, dec%ded to cont%n,e the (or3 and 4%n%sh ,1 so0e o4 the techn%cal 1ro6le0s that (ere st%ll not sol$ed.
A,r%n5 the 4all o4 192F, the #ase La6orator' started 6,%ld%n5 the%r 4%rst so,nd re1rod,c%n5 attach0ent. A4ter cons%dera6le
del%6erat%on %t (as dec%ded to des%5n th%s to o1erate 6elo( the 1ro7ect%on head rather than a6o$e, as had 6een de .orests 1re$%o,s
1ract%ce. +h%s (as dec%ded ,1on 4or three reasons? .%rst, %t (as des%red to %ncor1orate a lar5e 4l'(heel that (o,ld 5%$e s,44%c%ent
%nert%a to %ron o,t all %ne;,al%t%es that 0%5ht 6e trans0%tted 4ro0 the 1ro7ect%on head. econd, %n the *ell and &o(cll ca0era the
so,nd ca0e a4ter the 1%ct,re and a 6etter 1r%nter des%5n (as 1oss%6le %4 the so,nd (as not trans1osed to a 1os%t%on ahead o4 the
1%ct,re. And, last, (h%ch see0ed %01ortant at that t%0e, an attach0ent (as (anted that (o,ld not r,n so,nd 4%l0s 1re$%o,sl' 0ade,
(h%ch %n so0e %nstances (ere ;,%te 6ad. 1ona6le la%d o,t th%s des%5n and s,1er$%sed local 0echan%cs %n e/ec,t%n5 %t. It (as here
that the %nd,str' rece%$ed %ts &4&'(#in. han5o$er<the so,nd and corres1ond%n5 1%ct,re (ere d%s1laced 6' &4&'( %n. or 2I 4ra0es.
+h%s earl' attach0ent (as $er' s%0%lar %n 1r%nc%1le and des%5n to the 1resent "RPI t'1e ()*.
S$20. 1!: 125: It 6eca0e a11arent that 5reat 0echan%cal acc,rac' (as re;,%red %n 0a3%n5 the record%n5 ca0era9 th%s %s
e01has%8ed 6' the 4ollo(%n5 ;,otat%ons 4ro0 the #ase La6orator' records?
@+he ca0era (as rece%$ed 6ac3 4ro0 *ell M &o(ell #o01an' on e1te06er 12. +ests (ere 6e5,n oh th%s ca0era e1te06er 14.
+he 4%rst test ta3en (as 0ade o4 $o%ce and 1%ano. :hen th%s (as re1rod,ced %t (as 4o,nd that the ca0era st%ll had a 6ad s1roc3et
1,lse. +he eccentr%c%t' o4 the s1roc3et (as deter0%ned (%th an %nd%cator. It (as 4o,nd that %t (as r,nn%n5 o44 a6o,t .F o4 a 0%l on one
end and .7 o4 a 0%l on the other. +h%s, to5ether (%th a not%cea6le h%5h s1ot %n the 5ears, (as s,44%c%ent to acco,nt 4or the 1,lse
o6ser$ed.@
@:e tr%ed the sha4t alone %n %ts 6ear%n5 and 4o,nd that %t (as r,n n%n5 4a%rl' tr,e. +he s1roc3et, (hen tr%ed alone on an ar6or
r,nn%n5 tr,e, (as 4o,nd to 6e (
&
'( 0%ls o44 and also sl%5htl' o,t o4 ro,nd. :e 0ade %n;,%r' as to the 6est 0ach%n%sts aro,nd here and
a4ter tr'%n5 a n,06er o4 sho1s 4o,nd that Ao'le M :all, D22 Pearl treet, 'rac,se, see0ed to 6e the 6est to do 4,rther (or3 on the
ca0era. +he' are ,sed to (or3%n5 (%th a tolerance o4 .1 0%l and see0ed to 4,ll' a11rec%ate o,r 1ro6le0.@
N&3. 2": 125: @A4ter ret,rn%n5 to A,6,rn #ase (ent o$er the 1atents on so,nd record%n5 and a4ter call%n5 !r. +ho01son %nto
con4erence %t (as dec%ded that the 4%eld (as 0,ch 0ore o1en than (e had 1re$%o,sl' s,11osed. Ae .orest 5as d%schar5e 1atent
see0ed to 6e l%0%ted to the ,se o4 alternat%n5 c,rrent. Also %t see0ed ;,est%ona6le (hether a co,rt (o,ld ,1hold s,ch 1atents as the
R%es and the .r%tts. !r. +ho01son (as sent to Ne( 2or3 to 5et the o1%n%on o4 !r. E%44ord, s,11osedl' one o4 the 6est attorne's %n
the 0atter o4 1atents. !r. E%44ordGs o1%n%on %n th%s 0atter see0ed to con4%r0 +ho01sonGs, that %s, that the 4%eld (as o1en and that no
one see0ed to ha$e an' 4,nda0ental 1atents on the s'ste0 o4 tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res.@
D$,. 8910: 125: @A6o,t a 'ear a5o (e a11roached the :estern "lectr%c #o01an' re5ard%n5 the ,se o4 the%r a01l%4%ers or
co00erc%al sho(%n5 o4 the tal3%n5 1%ct,res. At that t%0e !r. #ra4t ad$%sed ,s to 5o ahead and ,se the0 4or th%s 1,r1ose and stated
(%th%n a 4e( (ee3s the :estern "lectr%c #o01an' (o,ld s,60%t a contract to ,s co$er%n5 so0e 4or0 o4 a l%cense a5ree0ent.
Noth%n5 4,rther ha11ened re5ard%n5 th%s a5ree0ent at that t%0e. No( that (e are %nterested %n ,s%n5 these a01l%4%ers 4or 1oss%6l'
road sho( (or3 and ha$%n5 se$ered connect%ons (%th the de .orest o,t4%t ". I. 1ona6le (ent to Ne( 2or3 4or the 1,r1ose o4 see%n5
!r. #ra4t and %4 1oss%6le, o6ta%n h%s O.H. to 5o ahead (%th the%r a01l%4%ers 4or an' co00erc%al (or3 (e sho,ld (ant to do.@
@On see%n5 !r. #ra4t (e e/1la%ned to h%0 the s%t,at%on and recalled to h%s 0%nd o,r con$ersat%on o4 last 'ear. &e stated that s%nce
that t%0e considerable water had gone over the dam and that the' (ere no( %nterested %n tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res the0sel$es.
.,rther, that the' (ere ne5ot%at%n5 or had co01leted ne5ot%at%ons (%th :arner *ros. to 4,rn%sh the latter co01an' (%th a11arat,s
and techn%cal a%d to ena6le th%s 0o$%n5 1%ct,re 4%r0 to 1rod,ce and 0ar3et tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res. #ons%dera6le d%sc,ss%on o4 the
s,67ect res,lted %n !r. #ra4tGs sa'%n5 that he 6el%e$ed (e (ere 4,rther alon5 %n the art than the' (ere and that he sa( no reason (h'
6oth the #ase Research La6orator' and the :estern "lectr%c #o01an' sho,ld not 5et to5ether and co01are the%r acco01l%sh0ents
and 1oss%6l' enter %nto so0e a5ree0ent (%th a 0o$%n5 1%ct,re co01an' (here6' 6oth the :estern "lectr%c #o01an' and the #ase
Research La6orator' (o,ld 6ene4%t. &e 4,rther stated that he (o,ld l%3e to send t(o o4 h%s techn%cal 0en ,1 to A,6,rn to hear o,r
4%l0s and loo3 o$er o,r de$elo10ents. A4ter the' had ret,rned and re1orted to h%0 he (o,ld then tr' to arran5e a 0eet%n5 6et(een
re1resentat%$es o4 th%s la6orator' and the co00erc%al 0en o4 the :estern "lectr%c #o01an'.@
@*e4ore the call on !r. #ra4t the He%th-Al6ee 1eo1le (ere $%s%ted 4or the 1,r1ose o4 deter0%n%n5 (hether or not the' (o,ld 6e
%nterested %n o6ta%n%n5 o,r tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res 4or an act o4 $a,de$%lle. !r. Oa34ord o4 the 6oo3%n5 de1art0ent o4 the He%th
1eo1le (as 5%$en %n4or0at%on re5ard%n5 o,r s'ste0. &e (as $er' 0,ch %nterested %n (hat (e told h%0 and stated that he (o,ld ta3e
%t ,1 (%th 0en h%5her ,1 %n the co01an' and ad$%se ,s re5ard%n5 the%r %nterests. &e re1orted the 4ollo(%n5 da' that he had tal3ed
(%th the $%ce 1res%dent o4 the He%th co01an' and that the latter (as $er' 0,ch d%st,r6ed to th%n3 that he (o,ld dare to 6r%n5 ,1 the
s,67ect o4 tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res to the0 a5a%n. +he' ad0%tted that the' had 6een st,n5 on the th%n5 t(%ce, once a6o,t 4%4teen
'ears a5o (here the' %n$ested cons%dera6le 0one' %n stoc3 o4 a tal3%n5 1%ct,re o,t4%t, and later %n certa%n connect%ons (%th the de
.orest co01an'. +he $%ce 1res%dent o4 the He%th co01an' stated 1os%t%$el' that the' (ere not %nterested %n tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res.@
D$,. 15: 125: @In o,r con4erence (%th !r. #ra4t last (ee3, he %nt%0ated that the ,se o4 a01l%4%ers %n tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res
(o,ld co0e ,nder the%r 1,6l%c address (or3 and that at least 4or t(o or three 'ears (e (o,ld 6e ,na6le to ,se a01l%4%ers 4or th%s
1,r1ose (%tho,t the 1er0%ss%on o4 the :estern "lectr%c #o01an'.@ @In order to chec3 ,1 th%s 1o%nt %t (as tho,5ht 6est to tal3 %t o$er
(%th Ar. :. R. :h%tne' o4 the Eeneral "lectr%c #o01an'. +h%s (as done 6' ". I. 1ona6le on Aece06er 1F. Ar. :h%tne' stated that
the s%t,at%on (as reall' so0eth%n5 that !r. A. E. Aa$%s =$%ce 1res%dent o4 the Eeneral "lectr%c #o01an'> (as 0ore 4%tted to 5%$e an
o1%n%on on than he. A4ter descr%6%n5 the s%t,at%on to !r. Aa$%s he stated that he 6el%e$ed that the tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res d%d not
co0e ,nder the 1,6l%c address (or3 and that at 1resent the a01l%4%er s%t,at%on (as ;,%te 0,ddled, there 6e%n5 al0ost an endless
n,06er o4 1atents %n th%s connect%on. o0et%0e (%th%n the ne/t 'ear the' ho1e to clear th%s s%t,at%on 6' 1lac%n5 all these 1atents %n
the hands o4 the Rad%o #or1orat%on. !r. Aa$%s stated that he 6el%e$ed (e sho,ld see !r. Aa$%d arno44, 1res%dent o4 the Rad%o
#or1orat%on, and 5et h%s o1%n%on re5ard%n5 o,r re;,%re0ents. &e $er' 3%ndl' s,55ested that he (o,ld arran5e s,ch a 0eet%n5 4or ,s
and %s do%n5 so at the 1resent t%0e.@
@Ar. :h%tne' as ,s,al (as $er' n%ce %n th%s connect%on and too3 the att%t,de that he (as 1art%c,larl' an/%o,s to a%d an'one (ho
(as do%n5 5ood research l%3e the (or3 carr%ed on at the #ase Research La6orator'.@
D$,. 17: 125: @Ar. #randall and Ar. !acHen8%e o4 the *ell +ele1hone La6orator%es (ere sent here 6' !r. #ra4t? +he' (ere
sho(n o,r tal3%n5 4%l0s and all 1arts o4 the ta3%n5 and re1rod,c%n5 s'ste0 (ere e/1la%ned to the0 %n deta%l.@
@:e 5athered 4ro0 the0 that o,r 4%l0s (ere $er' 5ood. +he' stated that the' 6el%e$ed that %n the%r o(n record%n5 that the%r
5ro,nd no%se 0%5ht 6e sl%5htl' less 6,t d%sco,nt%n5 the 4act that (e (ere not ,s%n5 as 5ood lo,d s1ea3ers or tele1hone e;,%10ent as
the' ha$e the' tho,5ht o,r st,44 to 6e re0ar3a6l' 5ood. +he' noted the s%01l%c%t' o4 des%5n o4 the ca0era and 1ro7ector and
co00ented on the 4act that s,ch a des%5n co,ld 6e read%l' co00erc%al%8ed.@
@:e 5a$e the0 data concern%n5 o,r 1hotoelectr%c cells and record%n5 l%5hts. +he' stated that the' (o,ld l%3e to order these
$ar%o,s de$%ces so that the' co,ld deter0%ne the%r constants ,s%n5 the%r o(n a11arat,s at the *ell La6orator%es.@
J-*. !: 126: An o1%n%on (as rece%$ed 4ro0 !r. Ada0s, head o4 the 1atent de1art0ent o4 R#A? @&e stated that d,e to de .orestGs
or%5%nal 1atent ha$%n5 e/1%red that de .orest no( had no 0ore r%5ht to ,se a01l%4%ers or to 0a3e $ac,,0 t,6es than an'one else and
that the 4%eld no( see0ed to 6e co01letel' controlled 6' the Rad%o #or1orat%on as the res,lt o4 1atents held 6' the Eeneral "lectr%c
#o01an' and relat%n5 to the 0an,4act,re o4 $ac,,0 t,6es and the%r ,se %n $ar%o,s c%rc,%ts.@
@:%th re4erence to (ho0 has the r%5ht to s,11l' a01l%4%ers 4or ,se (%th tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res he stated that th%s r%5ht rested
(%th the Rad%o #or1orat%on or- at least (o,ld rest (%th the0 (hen certa%n 1atents no( ,nder ne5ot%at%on are 4%nall' t,rned o$er to
the0. .,rther, that he 6el%e$ed 4ro0 the a5ree0ent (%th the *ell +ele1hone #o01an' that the Rad%o #or1orat%on reser$ed the r%5ht
to ,se a01l%4%ers %n the connect%on (%th tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res 4or the0sel$es.@
J-*. 7: 126: A 0eet%n5 (as arran5ed (%th Ada0s and h%s assoc%ate, #a1t. Ran5er.
@+he onl' ne( th%n5 (h%ch de$elo1ed (as at th%s 0eet%n5 Ada0s re$ersed a state0ent (h%ch he had 0ade at a 1re$%o,s
con4erence (%th ". I. 1ona6le, that %s, that 6oth the Rad%o #or1orat%on and :estern "lectr%c #o01an' (o,ld ha$e r%5hts to ,se
a01l%4%ers 4or tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,re (or3. &e stated that he (o,ld tal3 the 0atter o$er (%th !r. arno44 and ad$%se ,s shortl'
re5ard%n5 so0e arran5e0ent 4or start%n5 a co01an' to handle the tal3%n5 1%ct,re s%t,at%on.@
@Pre$%o,s to th%s 0eet%n5 o4 Ada0s and Ran5er, !r. #ase and !r. 1ona6le (ere at the *ell +ele1hone La6orator%es to see !r.
#ra4t. :e told !r. #ra4t that (e had chec3ed ,1 the a01l%4%er s%t,at%on (%th re4erence to tal3%n5 0o$%n5 1%ct,res and had 4o,nd that
the Eeneral "lectr%c #o01an' see0ed to 6el%e$e that the' controlled the r%5hts 4or the ,se o4 a01l%4%ers %n th%s connect%on. #ra4t
then stated that %t (as reall' so0eth%n5 that 6oth co01an%es had a 7o%nt r%5ht %n and that %n case the Eeneral "lectr%c #o01an'
sho,ld ,se a01l%4%ers 4or th%s 1,r1ose the' (o,ld 1oss%6l' ha$e to o6ta%n 1er0%ss%on to do so 4ro0 the :estern "lectr%c #o01an'.
!r. #ra4t 4,rther stated that he (as an/%o,s to 5et a re1ort 4ro0 h%s 0en re5ard%n5 o,r Aeo l%5hts and 1hotoelectr%c cells (h%ch the'
(%shed to e/a0%ne.@
@:e (ent do(n to Ar. #randallOs o44%ce (here (e sa( the :estern "lectr%c s'ste0 o4 4%l0 record%n5. Inas0,ch as o,r $%s%t (as
rather ,ne/1ected the' see0ed to ha$e cons%dera6le d%44%c,lt' %n 5ett%n5 the%r a11arat,s to (or3 1ro1erl'. +he sho(%n5 (h%ch the'
0ade d,r%n5 th%s e/h%6%t%on (as not %01ress%$e to ,s. +he' (ere, ho(e$er, ,s%n5 4a%rl' h%5h ;,al%t' a01l%4%ers and a la6orator'
0odel o4 a lo,ds1ea3er (h%ch 5a$e e/cellent and tr,e ;,al%t' o4 re1rod,ct%on. +he' sho(ed a n,06er o4 records ta3en o4 the #a1%tol
+heater 0,s%c %ncl,d%n5 1%1e or5an, orchestra and s%n5%n5. +he' also sho(ed one tal3%n5 record 0ade %n the%r o(n la6orator%es. +he
tal3%n5 record (as not 5ood and (hen re1rod,ced on a cone s,ch as (e ,se, %t (as e/tre0el' 6ad. +he%r record%n5 o4 0,s%c
re1rod,ced see0%n5l' (ell altho,5h 1oss%6l' 1art o4 th%s (as d,e to the h%5h ;,al%t' o4 the 0,s%c recorded, that %s, the #a1%tol
+heater orchestra. A4ter hear%n5 these records (e attended a l,ncheon (%th !essrs. Ada0s and Ran5er noted a6o$e and then
ret,rned a5a%n to the *ell +ele1hone La6orator%es. A,r%n5 th%s t%0e the a11arat,s had a11arentl' 6een 5%$en an o$erha,l%n5 and the
sho(%n5 or re1rod,ct%on (as 0,ch 6etter than that heard d,r%n5 the 0orn%n5. It %s %nterest%n5 to note here that (%th the :estern
"lectr%c re1rod,c%n5 a01l%4%er (h%ch the' (ere ,s%n5 the' 4o,nd %t necessar' to add an e;,al%8er to correct 4or a d%scre1anc' %n the%r
1hotoelectr%c cell. :%tho,t the e;,al%8er the lo( 4re;,enc%es ca0e thro,5h %n 5reat 1redo0%nance. Add%n5 the e;,al%8er decreased
the $ol,0e to a6o,t 1PDI and 6ro,5ht the ;,al%t' to a11ro/%0atel' nor0al. +he%r 1hotoelectr%c cell (as connected to the 4%rst t,6e
,s%n5 2I 0e5oh0 res%stances. In o,r (or3 (e ,se a6o,t t(o 0e5oh0s across the cell and a6o,t FI,III oh0s across the 4%rst 6,l6. It
%s 1oss%6le that (e co01ensate 4or the e;,al%8at%on %n th%s 0anner.@
J-*. 2: 126: #ase and 1ona6le $%s%ted the :arner +heater to see a de0onstrat%on o4 !a/4%eldGs V%ta1hone.
@:e all a5reed that the sho(%n5 (as $er' 5ood and o4 co00erc%al ;,al%t'. &o(e$er, (e 6el%e$e that o,r o(n re1rod,ct%on (as
6etter (%th re5ard to %ll,s%on and nat,ralness. In the :estern "lectr%c s'ste0 the' (ere ,s%n5 the lar5e 1,6l%c address s'ste0 th,s
acco,nt%n5 4or the lar5e ran5e (%tho,t d%stort%on. +he%r lo,ds1ea3er (as a11arentl' o4 the horn t'1e 1laced a6o$e the screen. "
@A4ter l,nch%n5 (%th !acHen8%e (e ret,rned to the *ell +ele1hone La6orator%es (here (e 0et Ar. #randall and 1roceeded to !r.
#ra4tGs o44%ce. !r. #ra4t ad$%sed ,s that h%s 0en had onl' 0ade a 1rel%0%nar' re1ort to h%0 6,t %t see0ed that (e had noth%n5 %n o,r
s'ste0 (h%ch (o,ld 6e o4 1art%c,lar ,se or add%t%on to the :estern "lectr%c s'ste0.@
@!r. #ra4t, ho(e$er, (as rel,ctant to 5%$e ,1 o,r s'ste0 ent%rel' and sa%d he (o,ld l%3e to 3no( 0ore a6o,t %t. Inas0,ch as the
re1rod,ct%on o4 the 4%l0 (as the real test, (e s,55ested that the :estern "lectr%c #o01an' send ,s so0e o4 the%r 4%l0, 6oth $o%ce
and 0,s%c. :e co,ld then re1rod,ce %t at A,6,rn and at least sat%s4' o,rsel$es re5ard%n5 the 0er%ts o4 the t(o s'ste0s. +he' d%d not
care to s,60%t so0e o4 the%r 4%l0 alread' ta3en and stated that the' (o,ld ta3e t(o n,06ers and send the0 ,1 to ,s the 4ollo(%n5
(ee3.@
@:e then le4t the :estern "lectr%c #o01an' and 1roceeded to #a1ta%n Ran5erGs o44%ce %n the Rad%o #or1orat%on 6,%ld%n5. :e
ad$%sed #a1ta%n Ran5er that (e (ere no( read' to 5o ahead (%th the tal3%n5 1%ct,res (%th the0 or arran5e 4or l%cens%n5 the ,se o4
the%r a01l%4%er s'ste0. :e as3ed h%0 to 6r%n5 these th%n5s to !r. Ada0sG attent%on and arran5e 4or a 5et-to5ether to tal3 the
s%t,at%on o$er. A4ter lea$%n5 #a1ta%n Ran5er (e sto11ed at the o44%ce o4 !r. E%44ord (here (e tal3ed o$er the 1atent s%t,at%on. &e
had alread' 1re1ared an o1%n%on re5ard%n5 the de .orest and R%es 1atents, th%s o1%n%on 6e%n5 that these 1atents (ere o4 ;,est%ona6le
$al,e. O,r tal3 (%th h%0 see0ed to 4,rther h%s con$%ct%on re5ard%n5 the%r ;,est%ona6le $al,e and he stated that he (o,ld send ,s the
(r%tten o1%n%on %n the near 4,t,re.@
F$;. 1": 126: #ase de$%sed a (a' to a$o%d 4%l0 s1l%ce cl%c3s 6' ,s%n5 5raded o1a;,e at the 7o%n.
F$;. 15 0& M-/. 1: 126: #ase and 1ona6le d%sc,ssed (%th :h%tne' and tone =a $%ce 1res%dent o4 Eeneral "lectr%c #o01an'>
the 1oss%6%l%t' o4 co06%n%n5 the #ase s'ste0 (%th the (or3 o4 the%r %n$entor, #. A. &o/%e. Eeneral "lectr%c en5%neers, Ro6%nson and
!ar$%n, ca0e to A,6,rn and (ent o$er the #ase s'ste0. +he' (ere $er' 1leased (%th %t. tone, ho(e$er, (o,ld not ad0%t the #ase
s'ste0 added 0ater%all' to that o4 Eeneral "lectr%c and no a5ree0ent (as reached.
M-/. 1: 126: Bohn Bo', (ho 3ne( 1ona6le at #ornell, 1a%d a 4r%endl' $%s%t to the #ase la6orator'. +echn%call', he re1resented
#o,rtland 0%th (ho had 7,st 7o%ned the .o/ .%l0 #or1orat%on. Bo' re1orted concern%n5 the #ase tal3%n5 1%ct,re s'ste0 to 0%th
and the latter re;,ested #ase to 6r%n5 h%s e;,%10ent to Ne( 2or3 to de0onstrate to the .o/ 1eo1le.
A2/. 8: 126: !a/ !a'er =a dealer %n theatr%cal e;,%10ent> ca0e to A,6,rn to (%tness the #ase tal3%n5 1%ct,res. &e 1rono,nced
the de0onstrat%on to 6e 1er4ect, 6,t ad$%sed #ase that a 4eat,re 1%ct,re (o,ld 6e necessar' to sell the s'ste0 to a 1rod,cer. #ase
cons%dered 0a3%n5 th%s.
M-<: 126: #ase or5an%8ed the Qoe1hone #o01an' to ta3e o$er and handle the #ase s'ste0 o4 tal3%n5 1%ct,res.
Res1ond%n5? to #o,rtland 0%thGs s,55est%on, re1rod,c%n5 a11arat,s (as ta3en to Ne( 2or3 and s,ccess4,l de0onstrat%ons 5%$en
6e4ore re1resentat%$es o4 the .o/ co01an' at Parlor + on 1Ith A$en,e, at the Ne0o +heater, and at :%ll%a0 .o/Gs ho0e %n
:ood0ere.
!r. .o/ (as at 4%rst s,s1%c%o,s o4 the 1rocess9 ho(e$er, a close-,1 o4 a canar' 6%rd s%n5%n5 (h%le 1erched on the to1 o4 %ts ca5e
see0ed to con$%nce h%0 that the so,nd (as not a 0atter o4 tr%c3er'.
J5*$ 892!: 126: +he re1rod,c%n5 e;,%10ent (as %nstalled %n the .o/ .%l0 6,%ld%n5, 8FI +enth A$en,e. Record%n5 e;,%10ent
(as 6ro,5ht 4ro0 A,6,rn and a6o,t DII,III 4eet o4 test records (ere 0ade %n a te01orar' ha%r 4elt st,d%o roo0 1art%t%oned o44 on
the lar5e sta5e o4 the .o/ 6,%ld%n5. +he 1,r1ose o4 these tests (as to con$%nce .o/ o4 the 1ract%ca6%l%t' o4 0a3%n5 so,nd 1%ct,res
,nder st,d%o cond%t%ons. +he res,lts (ere ent%rel' s,ccess4,l.
J5'< 2": 126: An a5ree0ent (as reached 6et(een #ase and .o/ res,lt%n5 %n the 4or0at%on o4 the .o/-#ase #or1orat%on. In 5en-
eral, #ase t,rned o$er all 1atents and r%5hts %n h%s s'ste0 o4 tal3%n5 1%ct,res to the ne( co01an' =e/cl,s%$e o4 a01l%4%cat%on, %n
(h%ch he had no r%5hts to 5%$e>. #ase a5reed to cont%n,e h%s la6orator' 4or the 1,r1ose o4 0a3%n5 record%n5 l%5hts, 1hotoelectr%c
cells, and 4or 5eneral de$elo10ent 1,r1oses.
REFERENCES*
&
.rench 1atent No. &",4,% =18F7>.
2
-oyal .oc. /at. of .ci. 1a1ers, II, 1. 12D.
"
$mer. four. .ci., 16 =1878>, 1. F4.
4
C. . 1atent No. (0,,&"". R
6
C. . 1atent No. &,()0,&").
6
C. . 1atent. No. 04&,(&0.
7
1. .oc. 2ot. 3ict. 4ng., NVI, 4, 1. 4IF.
8
C. . 1atent No. 0,*,8%%.
9
&A2? @ee and &ear.@ 1. D8.
1I
&A2? @ee and &ear.@ 1. D9.
11
C. . 1atent No. *8),*&4.
12
$nal. der 3hys. =19I1>, 1. 8ID9 3hys. 5eit., D4 =19I1>, 1. 4989 RC&!"R?
@:%reless +ele1hon',@ 1. D6.
1D
*r%t%sh 1atent No. &",")& =19ID>.
14
*r%t%sh 1atent No. 4,**& =19ID>.
1F
*r%t%sh 1atent No. &,0*4 =19I4>.
16
C. . 1atent No. %88,%(8.
17
*r%t%sh 1atent No. &8,),% =19I6>.
18
&A2? @ee and &ear,@ 1. 4I.*
19
+B. . 1atent No. 84&,08%.
2I
.rench 1atent No. 08*,%0% =19I8>.
21
*r%t%sh 1atent No. 4,0"& =19I8>.
22
*r%t%sh 1atent No. &(,&*& =191I>.
2D
(ed%sh 1atent No. 0&,4%(.
24
*r%t%sh 1atent No. &,,0( =1911>.
2F
.rench 1atent No. 448,%,% =1912>.
26
.RANHLIN? @o,nd !ot%on P%ct,res,@ 1. F.
27
C. . 1atent No. &,4%0,"%*.
28
C. . 1atent No. &,*)%,48).
29
*r%t%sh 1atent No. (),%"8 =1914>.
DI
C. . 1atent No. &,00,,*,&.
D1
C. . 1atent No. &,,((,)%) =Re%ss,e No. &*,8%)6.
D2
C. . 1atent Nos. 8(0,)((7 &,(%,,&8"7 &,,8",&0"7 &,,"&,)8&7 &*),,**.
DD
VI*:"E ANA LO&N? @Aer +oe(ende .%l0,@ 1our. 4ngl. 3ub. =1927>.
D4
Trans. .234, 16 =192D>, 1. 9I.
DF
C. . 1atent No. &,4%4,*",.
D6
Aer 1rechende .%l0 !%hal' =1928>.
D7
C. . 1atent Nos. &,0)&,((%7 &,0&*,0,4.
D8
C. . 1atent No. &,4**,%,).
D9
#ase, 1our. 8pt. .oc. =1918>.
4I
+rans. .234, 16 =1922>, 1. 62.
41
C. . 1atent No. &,8&*,8(,.
42
C. . 1atent No. &,*)0,,0&.
&I+ORI#AL A"V"LOP!"N+ O. OCNA .IL!*
[Presented Oct. 22, 194I, at the !P" #on$ent%on %n &oll'(ood. =Parts 1 and 2 1,6l%shed 0 the 1reced%n5 %ss,e o4 the BOCRNAL, 1.
27F.>)
". L PONA*L"**
[** +(ent%eth #ent,r'-.o/ .%l0 #or1orat%on, Ne( 2or3.)
PART ". COMMERCIALI=ATION OF MOVIETONE >Y FO?
A5+. 126: Ae .orest 6ro,5ht s,%t a5a%nst .o/ and #ase, char5%n5 %n4r%n5e0ent o4 the R%es record%n5 and re1rod,c%n5 1atents,
t(o o4 h%s 1atents co$er%n5 the ,se o4 a 5as d%schar5e 4or so,nd record%n5, and a 1atent on the ,se o4 a l%5ht-sens%t%$e cell (%th an
a,d%on a01l%4%er. =Ae .orest had 1,rchased the R%es record%n5 1atent Octo6er 1F, 192F. &e d%d not, ho(e$er, act,all' ac;,%re the
R%es re1rod,c%n5 1atent ,nt%l No$e06er 16, 1926, altho,5h %t %s 6el%e$ed he held an o1t%on on th%s and se$eral R%es a11l%cat%ons
6e4ore th%s t%0e.>
Ae .orest d%d not 1ress the s,%t 4or tr%al9 %t (as 4%nall' allo(ed to la1se on the co,rt calendar.
A5+. 126: At the t%0e o4 the 4or0at%on o4 the .o/-#ase #or1orat%on, 1ona6le ca0e to Ne( 2or3 to ta3e 1art %n
co00erc%al%8%n5 the #ase s'ste0. :%th h%0 ca0e !r. A. *. "ldred to ass%st %n the 6,s%ness 0ana5e0ent o4 the co01an'. "ldred,
#aseGs 6rother-%n-la(, had 7o%ned the #ase La6orator%es %n 192F. #o,rtland 0%th (as 0ade 5eneral 0ana5er o4 the .o/-#ase
#or1orat%on. @!o$%etone@ (as chosen as the na0e o4 the so,nd 1%ct,re s'ste0. +he %nd,str' %s 5reatl' %nde6ted to #o,rtland 0%th
4or h%s 4ores%5ht and a5ress%$eness %n hasten%n5 the co00erc%al%8at%on o4 so,nd-on-4%l0. &e d%d 0ore than an'one else to con$%nce
the @do,6t%n5 +ho0ases@ o4 the 6,s%ness that so,nd 0ot%on 1%ct,res (ere a real%t' and that the da's o4 the s%lent 4%l0 (ere
n,06ered. &e (as %nstr,0ental %n start%n5 and de$elo1%n5 !o$%etone Ne(s and later the Ne(sreel +heater.
A,r%n5 th%s t%0e 1lans (ere (or3ed o,t 4or a so,nd 1%ct,re 1rod,c%n5 ,n%t. 1ona6le des%5ned and 6,%lt t(o st,d%os at the .o/
Anne/ at 46I :est F4th treet. +hese (ere the 4%rst st,d%os, e/ce1t 4or e/1er%0ental roo0s, (holl' des%5ned 4or so,nd record%n5
1,r1oses. +he' (ere 6,%lt to e/cl,de all o,ts%de no%se and (%th the 6est aco,st%c treat0ent 3no(n at the t%0e. Ar. Pa,l a6%ne,
aco,st%c en5%neer o4 the R%$er6an3 La6orator%es at Eene$a, Ill%no%s, acted as a cons,ltant %n th%s (or3.
S$20. 126: .o/ and 0%th ne5ot%ated (%th the Eeneral "lectr%c #o01an' 4or r%5hts to ,se $ac,,0-t,6e a01l%4%ers co00erc%all'.
+he deal (as nearl' co01leted and Eeneral "lectr%c e;,%10ent (as 6ro,5ht 4ro0 chenectad' to Ne( 2or3. At the 4%nal clos%n5 the
1art%es d%d not a5ree, and Eeneral "lectr%c (%thdre( the%r e;,%10ent.
It %s %nterest%n5 to note here that, %4 th%s arran5e0ent had 5one thro,5h, the (hole set,1 o4 the 4,t,re so,nd 6,s%ness (o,ld ha$e
6een chan5ed. +he :estern "lectr%c #o01an' (o,ld 1ro6a6l' ha$e concentrated 0ore and 0ore on d%s3, and the .o/-Eeneral
"lectr%c 5ro,1 (o,ld ha$e led %n the de$elo10ent o4 so,nd-on-4%l0.
O,0. 25: 126: +he 4%rst test record%n5 (as 0ade on the ne( .o/-#ase #or1orat%on sta5e. +he ne/t da' a test record%n5 (as 0ade
o4 &arr' La,der. +'1%cal o4 h%s cotch character, he sto11ed s%n5%n5 d,r%n5 the 0%ddle o4 the record%n5 o4 the son5 @Roa0%n@ %n the
Eloa0%nG@ and sa%d, @+h%s %s a test@<to 6e s,re %t (o,ld not 6e ,sed co00erc%all'.
N&3. !: 126: :or3 (as 6e5,n on 0a3%n5 a n,06er o4 one-reel short s,67ects (%th Rac;,el !eller, ,s%n5 re5,lar 0ot%on 1%ct,re
1rod,ct%on techn%;,e.
D$,. 126: Pr%or to th%s t%0e, ne5ot%at%ons (ere carr%ed on (%th the :estern "lectr%c #o01an' to 5%$e .o/ r%5hts to ,se the%r
a01l%4%cat%on 1atents and a11arat,s co00erc%all'. +hese c,l0%nated %n an a5ree0ent or s,6l%cense 4ro0 the V%ta1hone #or1orat%on
=see Part F> %n (h%ch .o/, a0on5 other th%n5s, a5reed to 1a' a ro'alt' o4 a6o,t 8 1er cent o4 h%s 5ross 6,s%ness %n the so,nd 4%eld.
J-*. 21: 127: +he 4%rst 1,6l%c sho(%n5 o4 .o/-#ase @!o$%etone@ s,67ects (as 5%$en at the a0 &arr%s +heater %n connect%on
(%th the 1re0%ere o4 @:hat Pr%ce Elor'@. +he so,nd 4eat,res (ere not ad$ert%sed. +he sho(%n5 (as 0ade ,s%n5 a #ase so,nd
attach0ent (%th :estern "lectr%c 0a%n a01l%4%ers. No sta01ede res,lted, 6,t ne%ther (as there an ,n4a$ora6le a,d%ence react%on.
F$;. 127: 1ona6le de$elo1ed a screen s,%ta6le 4or 1%ct,re 1ro7ect%on and st%ll trans1arent to so,nd (%tho,t ca,s%n5 d%stort%on.
+h%s ena6led the ,se o4 lo,ds1ea3ers d%rectl' 6eh%nd the screen and (as a 5reat hel1 %n %01ro$%n5 the %ll,s%on. +h%s (as
%00ed%atel' acce1ted 6' the %nd,str'.
F$;.9M-/. 127: +he 4%rst 4%eld record%n5 ,n%t (as asse06led. :%th %t, o,t-o4-door record%n5s o4 a :est Po%nt re$%e( (ere 0ade
and the o,t4%t (as then sent to Ital' 4or the 1,r1ose o4 0a3%n5 a record o4 the Po1e and !,ssol%n%.
M-/. 11: 127: +he Ro/' +heater, des%5ned 6' . L. Rotha4el as the @last (ord@ %n 0ot%on 1%ct,re 1alaces, o1ened %n Ne( 2or3.
+(o (ee3s a4ter %ts o1en%n5, .o/ o6ta%ned control o4 the Ro/' and la%d 1lans to con$ert %t 4or sho(%n5 so,nd on 4%l0.
A2/. 127: .o/-#ase 0ade a ne( a5ree0ent (%th "lectr%cal Research Prod,cts, Inc., s,1ersed%n5 the V%ta1hone s,6l%cense.
"lectr%cal Research Prod,cts had 6een 4or0ed Ban,ar' 1, 1927 as a s,6s%d%ar' o4 the A0er%can +ele1hone and +ele5ra1h #o01an',
4or the 1,r1ose o4 handl%n5 the so,nd e;,%10ent 6,s%ness, %nstead o4 the :estern "lectr%c #o01an'.
M-< 127: A sho(%n5 o4 a :est Po%nt re$%e( as a so,nd 4eat,re (as 5%$en at the Ro/' +heater.
M-< 6: 127: .o/-#ase #or1orat%onGs .%eld O,t4%t No. & recorded a s1eech 6' !,ssol%n% and a n,06er o4 Ital%an ar0' s,67ects.
+h%s (or3 (as done 6' *. !%55%ns as ca0era0an and ". Ha( and A. .. :h%t%n5 as so,nd0en.
M-< 25: 127: A 1ro5ra0 (as o1ened at the &arr%s +heater conta%n%n5 !o$%etone s,67ects. +h%s %ncl,ded a s%lent $ers%on o4
@e$enth &ea$en@ and se$eral so,nd shorts.
J5*$ 12: 127: .o/-#ase recorded the L%nd6er5h (elco0e at :ash%n5ton. #harles E%lson o1erated the ca0era, ". &. &ansen the
so,nd e;,%10ent. +he sho(%n5 o4 th%s, to5ether (%th h%s ta3e-o44, and the !,ssol%n% 1%ct,res re4erred to a6o$e, created the second
6%5 sensat%on %n the 1,6l%c sho(%n5 o4 so,nd 1%ct,res =the @Ba88 %n5erGG 6e%n5 the 4%rst>.
S$20. 127: An all-so,nd 1ro5ra0 0ade ,1 o4 the 4eat,re 1%ct,re @,nr%se@ (%th s'nchron%8ed score, and the !,ssol%n% 1%ct,res,
o1ened at the +%0es ;,are +heater. +h%s sho(%n5 (as 0ade on a :estern "lectr%c so,nd-on-4%l0 %nstallat%on.
O,0. 28: 127: +he 4%rst @!o$%etone Ne(s@ (as sho(n at the Ro/' +heater. +he %ss,e conta%ned the 4ollo(%n5 s,67ects?
9a: N%a5ara .alls
9b: Ro0ance o4 the Iron &orse
9c: Ar0'-2ale .oot6all 5a0e at 2ale 6o(l
9d: Rodeo %n Ne( 2or3
O,0.9N&3. 127: 1ona6le s,r$e'ed the .o/ :est #oast st,d%os (%th a $%e( to con$ert%n5 the0 4or so,nd (or3, and dre( ,1
des%5ns 4or the 4%rst ,n%t. +he 6,%ld%n5 o4 these st,d%os (as held ,1 6' .o/, o(%n5<a0on5 other reasons<to the est%0ated cost o4
S2FI,III 6e%n5 too h%5h.
N&3. 127: #ase s,55ested @no%se red,ct%on@ %n an a44%da$%t 1-0$1 No$e06er 28, 1927, ;,oted 6elo(?
@It %s o4 5reat ad$anta5e (hen 1hoto5ra1h%n5 so,nd on 4%l0 to ha$e the 5ro,nd no%se le$el as lo( as 1oss%6le 6et(een (ords
or so,nds (hen there %s noth%n5 on the 4%l0 %n the 4or0 o4 0od,lat%on to co$er ,1 the 5ro,nd no%se. A 0ethod o4 do%n5 th%s has
s,55ested %tsel4 to 0' 0%nd as 4ollo(s? I4 the record%n5 l%5ht (h%ch %tsel4 %s 0od,lated or 6' another 0ethod %s 0od,lated
0echan%call' %s onl' el%0%nated (h%le 0od,lat%on %s not 5o%n5 on %n the c%rc,%t th%s (o,ld 0ean that (hen no 0od,lat%on %s 1resent
the l%5ht (o,ld 6e red,ced to a 0%n%0,0 a,to0at%call' or 0%5ht e$en 6e 1,t o,t ent%rel'. +h%s (o,ld 0ean that 6et(een 0od,lat%on
or 6et(een (ords or 6et(een so,nds the ne5at%$e so,nd record (o,ld 6e ,ne/1osed or (h%te ,1on de$elo10ent. +h%s, on the
1os%t%$e, (o,ld 6e re$ersed or 6lac3 there6' red,c%n5 an' 5ro,nd no%se that there 0%5ht 6e 6et(een (ords or so,nds. +he 0ethod o4
acco01l%sh%n5 th%s co,ld 6e the sa0e as %s at 1resent ,sed %n the transocean%c tele1hon' (here %t %s essent%al that a,to0at%call' onl'
one send%n5 stat%on %s %n o1erat%on. As soon as act%$e 0od,lat%on ceases %n one d%rect%on and starts %n the other d%rect%on the
0od,lat%on 1ass%n5 %n the c%rc,%t act,ates a rela' 0echan%s0 to %nstantl' 1,t %nto act%on th%s send%n5 stat%on. In other (ords %n o,r
s%01le 0od,lat%on c%rc,%t an' alternat%n5 or 1,lsat%n5 c,rrents (o,ld act,ate a 0echan%s0 to 6r%n5 the record%n5 l%5ht ,1 to the
6r%ll%anc' des%red 4or the 6est o1erat%on o4 the s'ste0 and (h%le no 0od,lat%on (as 1ass%n5, the l%5ht (o,ld a,to0at%call' 6e
red,ced to the 1o%nt (here no record (o,ld a11ear on the 4%l0.
@+h%s %s s%5ned and (%tnessed at 9?4I A.M.: No$e06er 28,1927 and I a0 no( 5o%n5 to call ,1 Ar. !cHen8%e at the :estern
"lectr%c #o01an' and %n4or0 h%0 o4 th%s %dea so that %t can 6e 1,t %nto o1erat%on, %4 the' so des%re, on the%r 0echan%cal 0ethod o4
record%n5 so,nd. ;s ; +heodore :. #ase@
A,r%n5 the last o4 1927 and the 4%rst 0onths o4 1928, there (as 0,ch act%$%t' %n or5an%8%n5 and %n de$elo1%n5 so,nd e;,%10ent
6' the .o/-#ase #or1orat%on. o,nd Ne(s o,t4%ts (ere 1,t %n the 4%eld at the rate o4 one or t(o a 0onth. Var%o,s short s,67ects and
1rod,ct%ons (ere 0ade %n the st,d%os, lar5el' to learn the 6est ,ses 4or so,nd and %ts l%0%tat%ons. !an' s%lent 1%ct,res (ere
s'nchron%8ed. A test (as 0ade co06%n%n5 +echn%color (%th so,nd. A cartoon (as 0ade (%th so,nd e44ects.
M-< 10: 128: A non-e/cl,s%$e a5ree0ent (as 0ade 6et(een "RPI and .o/-#ase<e44ect%$e A1r%l 2, 1927. +he ro'alt'
arran5e0ent (as chan5ed 4ro0 8 1er cent o4 the 5ross to SFII 1er ne5at%$e reel 4or do0est%c release and a sched,le 4or release %n
4ore%5n co,ntr%es that added ,1 to a second SFII.
M-< 128: ";,%10ent 4or three st,d%o record%n5 ,n%ts (as ordered 6' .o/-#ase %n ant%c%1at%on o4 %ts co0%n5 :est #oast st,d%o
de0ands.
A,r%n5 the s1r%n5 o4 th%s 'ear, :%n4%eld heehan, %n char5e o4 1rod,ct%on at the .o/ :est #oast t,d%os, (ho d%d not 6el%e$e too
stron5l' %n so,nd %n the 6e5%nn%n5, ca0e "ast and (as an/%o,s to arran5e to 5et started on :est #oast st,d%o so,nd 1rod,ct%ons. &e
had ta3en o$er t(o ne(s o,t4%ts that (ere or%5%nall' ass%5ned to :est #oast ne(s (or3. :%th these the .o/ st,d%o 0ade a t(o-reel
d%alo5,e co0ed'. @+he .a0%l' P%cn%c@.
J5*$ 18: 128: +h%s o1ened as 1art o4 the 1ro5ra0 (%th @+he A%r #%rc,s@ =s'nchron%8ed so,nd> at the Elo6e +heater %n Ne(
2or3.
J5*$ 25: 128: A !o$%etone 4%eld 1ro7ector tr,c3 (as ,sed on *road(a' to 6all'hoo @+he Red Aance@ at %ts 1re0%ere. +h%s o,t-
o4-door 1orta6le so,nd 1ro7ect%on ,n%t (as a de$elo10ent o4 .o/-#ase that has 6een ,sed to so0e e/tent 4or 1ol%t%cal and
co00erc%al 1,r1oses.
It no( 6eca0e heehanGs des%re to 5et %nto so,nd as ;,%c3l' as 1oss%6le. +h%s (as accelerated 6' the 4act that other 1rod,c%n5
co01an%es (ere alread' start%n5. &e 6ro,5ht $ar%o,s 0e06ers o4 h%s 1rod,c%n5 sta44 "ast to (or3 o,t a (a' o4 start%n5 th%s (or3,
and 1laced h%s !o$%etone de$elo10ent ,nder the d%rect%on o4 h%s st,d%o 0ana5er, *en Bac3son. +he' ret,rned to &oll'(ood on B,l'
12, 1928, ta3%n5 1ract%call' the ent%re sta44 o4 en5%neers 4ro0 .o/-#ase. O1erat%ons (ere 1lanned on a lar5e scale.
J5'< 128: ";,%10ent 4or n%ne :est #oast record%n5 ,n%ts (as ordered.
J5'< 28: 128: e$eral !o$%etone sta5es (ere started at .o/ &%lls, on a locat%on (h%ch (as 1re$%o,sl' ,sed to corral +o0 !%/Gs
horses. +hese (ere erected ,nder the d%rect%on o4 !r. heehan, (%th #. &. !,ldor4er as arch%tect and &. H. :ee3s as constr,ct%on
en5%neer. +he co01let%on o4 these so,nd st,d%os and accessor' 6,%ld%n5s (as acco01l%shed (%th 5reat s1eed and (%th 0,ch cred%t to
the 0en res1ons%6le 4or the (or3. +he (hole 1lant too3 4or0 %n a11ro/%0atel' n%net' da's.
A5+. 128: ";,%10ent 4or t(el$e 0ore :est #oast record%n5 ,n%ts (as ordered, 0a3%n5 a total o4 t(ent'-4o,r.
S$20. 128: ";,%10ent 4or three ",ro1ean record%n5 ,n%ts (as ordered. +hese orders 4ro0 .o/, to5ether (%th those o4 other
co01an%es co0%n5 %nto the 4%eld, s(a01ed the 4ac%l%t%es o4 the :estern "lectr%c #o01an' and 0ade del%$er%es o4 e;,%10ent $er'
,ncerta%n.
+h%s 1er%od (as 0ar3ed 6' a ra1%d 5ro(th o4 the techn%cal sta44 o4 the .o/-#ase #or1orat%on. !an' contr%6,t%ons (ere 0ade 6'
$ar%o,s %nd%$%d,als, 1art%c,larl' L. *. &o440an, L. :. Aa$ee, A. B. an%al, &. ". *ra55, &. .. Ber0a%n, :alter &%c3s, R. ..
N%cholson, and :. .. Bordan. N%neteen ne(sreel 4%eld o,t4%ts (ere o1erat%n5. +he cre(s o4 these ,n%ts d%d 0,ch to o$erco0e the
%n%t%al d%44%c,lt%es o4 4%eld o1erat%on.
S$20. 128: .o/ !o$%etone #%t' (as ded%cated. =+h%s %s the 1resent +(ent%eth #ent,r'-.o/ t,d%os at *e$erl' &%lls, #al%4.>[1946)
O,0. 6: 128: +he .o/ !o$%etone Ne(s release (as %ncreased 4ro0 one to t(o %ss,es 1er (ee3.
D$,. 128: @In Old Ar%8ona@, the 4%rst o,t-o4-door recorded 4eat,re 1%ct,re, (as sho(n at the #r%ter%on +heater %n Los An5eles.
T,ot%n5 .ran3l%n? @+h%s 4%l0 (as 1hoto5ra1hed and recorded o,tdoors a5a%nst a s(ee1%n5 6ac35ro,nd o4 nat,ral 6ea,t', and %n %t
so,nd record%n5 ach%e$ed %ts h%5hest art%st%c s,ccess ,1 to that t%0e. .%l0ed and recorded r%5ht %n the $ast o1en s1aces, the scenes
and h,0an $o%ce and all the acco01an'%n5 so,nds (ere re1rod,ced (%th a clearness and nat,ralness that attracted (%de attent%on.
+he !o$%etone 1rocess ca,5ht and re1rod,ced (%th 4%del%t' not onl' the $o%ces o4 the actors, 6,t act,all' the nat,ral so,nds o4 the
o,tdoors? J+he (h%s1er%n5 o4 the (%nd, the son5 o4 the 6%rds. +he 1%ct,re (as th,s nota6le %n co06%n%n5 the 1er4ected techn%;,e o4
the s%lent 4%l0 (%th the 4a%th4,l record%n5 o4 0,s%c, d%alo5,e and so,nd.@
,6se;,ent .o/ 1%ct,res that (ere (ell rece%$ed and hel1ed to ad$ance the art o4 so,nd record%n5 %ncl,ded the all-tal3%n5 1%ct,res
@+hro,5h A%44erent "'es@ and @&earts %n A%/%e@.
Aec. D, 1928? .o/ !o$%etone Ne(s release (as %ncreased to three %ss,es 1er (ee3.
A,r%n5 the 'ear 1928, a11rec%a6le 5eneral 1ro5ress (as 0ade %n 1er4ect%n5 !o$%etone techn%;,e9 one 1o%nt o4 note (as the
1er4ect%n5 o4 the Aeo l%5hts 6' #ase, %ncreas%n5 the%r ,se4,l l%4e and ,n%4or0%t'.
1ona6le or5an%8ed a research de1art0ent to (h%ch (as ass%5ned the 1ro6le0 o4 %01ro$%n5 so,nd record%n5 a11arat,s,
1art%c,larl' (%th a $%e( to red,c%n5 %ts (e%5ht and %01ro$%n5 %ts 1orta6%l%t' and ease o4 o1erat%on<as (ell as the o$er-all 1ro6le0
o4 %01ro$%n5 record%n5 and re1rod,c%n5 e;,%10ent and techn%;,es. .%4t'-s%/ 4%eld ,n%ts (ere sched,led 4or ass%5n0ent all o$er the
(orld9 three s1ec%al A$%at%on Cn%ts (ere act%$ated9 to 0eet the need 4or s,ch an %ncrease %n 1ersonnel, *ra55 (as sent to %nter$%e(
recent 5rad,ates at $ar%o,s techn%cal %nst%t,t%ons. :ell o$er 1II en5%neers (ere no( en5a5ed %n the so,nd record%n5 4%eld.
F$;. 28: 12: .o/ ac;,%red control o4 Loe(Gs and !E!.
M-/. 12: .o/ anno,nced that all s%lent 1rod,ct (o,ld 6e d%scont%n,ed and onl' !o$%etone 1%ct,res (o,ld 6e 0ade.
J5'< 15: 12: +he .o/ !o$%etone Ne(s release sched,le (as %ncreased to 4o,r %ss,es 1er (ee3.
J5'< 18: 12: :%ll%a0 .o/ (as %n7,red %n an a,to0o6%le acc%dent9 th%s 0a' ha$e ser%o,sl' a44ected the 4ollo(%n5 ,1 o4 h%s
%n$ol$ed ne5ot%at%ons.
J5'< 12: *r%t%sh !o$%etone Ne(s, the 4%rst 4ore%5n so,nd ne(s-reel 1rod,c%n5 co01an', (as started.
A5+. 12: A 0er5er o4 .o/ .%l0, .o/ +heaters, and Loe(Gs (as 1lanned.
S$20. 20: 12: .o/ ne5ot%ated a deal ac;,%r%n5 .o/-#ase stoc3 4ro0 #ase and e/chan5%n5 .o/ +heater stoc3 to 6e redee0ed
e1te06er 1, 19DI. .o/ then 4or0ed the .o/-&earst #or1orat%on, &earst ac;,%r%n5 a6o,t 24 1er cent o4 or%5%nal .o/-#ase stoc3
(%th o1t%on to 6,' a6o,t 2F 1er cent 0ore.
.o/ 0ade a se1arate a5ree0ent (%th #ase to ha$e the latter r,n h%s la6orator' ,nt%l B,l' 2D, 19DI?
S$20. 12: .o/ and &earst ,n%ted the%r so,nd ne(sreels and a5reed that each (o,ld release t(o 1er (ee3.
S$20. 17: 12: An all-Erande,r sho( o1ened at the Ea%et' +heater (%th Erande,r Ne(s and @.o/ !o$%etone .oll%es@.
S$20. 28: 12: &earst !etrotone Ne(s released %ts 4%rst %ss,e.
N&3. 2: 12: +he "06ass' +heater (as o1ened (%th the 4%rst all-so,nd ne(s 1ro5ra0 and called @+he Ne(sreel +heater@.
1"0: +he crash o4 1929 4o,nd the .o/ str,ct,re %n s,ch a cond%t%on o4 o$er-e/1ans%on that %t 6eca0e necessar' 4or .o/ to sell
o,t.
#ontroll%n5 %nterests %n .o/ .%l0 and .o/ +heaters (ere ac;,%red 6' a 5ro,1 headed 6' &arle' #lar3e, (ho 6eca0e 1res%dent o4
the .o/ co01an%es.
o,nd-on-4%l0 6' th%s t%0e (as (ell esta6l%shed as a co00erc%al s,ccess and (as d%s1lac%n5 so,nd-on-d%s3 as a release 0ed%,0.
+he :estern "lectr%c l%5ht-$al$e 0ethod o4 so,nd-on-4%l0 record%n5 (as co00erc%all' 1er4ected. As .o/ .%l0 (as a l%censee o4
"RPI, and as s,ch 1a%d the re5,lar ro'alt' rates, %t dec%ded to 5%$e ,1 %ts o(n 0ethod o4 Aeo l%5ht record%n5 and ,se %n ent%ret' the
:estern "lectr%c s'ste0.
PART !. FOREIGN PROGRESS IN SOUND FILMS AND RELATIONS 6ITH FO?
S$20. 122: +he 4%rst sho(%n5 o4 aco,st%c 4%l0s (as 0ade at the Alha06ra +heater, *erl%n. +hese (ere 0ade ,s%n5 the +r%-"r5on
0ethod (%th the so,nd recorded on a 4%l0 a6o,t 42-00 (%de and the so,nd 1laced o,ts%de the s1roc3et holes. =+h%s s'ste0 (as
(or3ed o,t 6' three %n$entors<"n5l, !assole, and Vo5t, (ho had 4or0ed a so,nd-4%l0 co01an' called the +r%-"r5on A.E., o4
Q,r%ch.>
J5'< 126: .. A. chroeder, (ho (as the A0er%can re1resentat%$e o4 the Eer0an 5ro,1, 6ro,5ht the%r s'ste0 to the attent%on o4
#o,rtland 0%th.
A5+. 126: Bohn Bo' (ent to ",ro1e to %n$est%5ate +r%-"r5on 4or .o/.
D$,. 126: At Bo'Gs re;,est Ar. "n5% 6ro,5ht a co01lete ,n%t o4 the Eer0an a11arat,s to Ne( 2or3 4or e/a0%nat%on and tests.
Records (ere 0ade and sho(n ,nder the d%rect%on o4 Ar. "n5l9 the res,lts (ere 7,d5ed to 6e 4a%r, 6,t not so 5ood as !o$%etone. +h%s
(as to so0e e/tent the res,lt o4 the ,se o4 condenser lo,ds1ea3ers %n the Eer0an s'ste0. +he e;,%10ent as a (hole (as t'1%call'
Eer0an %n des%5n and o44ered 4e( 4eat,res that co,ld 6e ad$anta5eo,sl' co06%ned (%th the !o$%etone s'ste0.
J5'< 127: .o/ too3 o$er r%5hts to the Eer0an s'ste0 4or North A0er%ca and re7ected a chance to ac;,%re the (orld r%5hts. +h%s
soon 1ro$ed to 6e a 0%sta3e, s%nce the 1atents 6eca0e tro,6leso0e %n 4ore%5n co,ntr%es, and ro'alt%es (ere collected on the0.
hortl' therea4ter, Bo' and hroeder (ent to ",ro1e to 5et an e/tens%on o4 sco1e to the .o/ a5ree0ent to 1er0%t ,se thro,5ho,t
the (orld. Also d,r%n5 th%s t%0e, C.A o4 Eer0an' ac;,%red a l%cense ,nder the Eer0an s'ste0.
F$;. 128: A,r%n5 the %nter$al s%nce B,l' 1927, +r%-"r5on had tr%ed to 6r%n5 to5ether all Eer0an co01an%es %nterested %n so,nd
1%ct,res %ncl,d%n5 %e0ens and &als3e, A"E, and others. +h%s (as not ent%rel' s,ccess4,l as %e0ens and &als3e and A"E (anted
too 0,ch and +r%-"r5on (o,ld not a5ree to the%r stand.
A5+. 128: +r%-"r5on 4or0ed a Eer0an o1erat%n5 co01an' 6ac3ed 6' the #o00erce and Pr%$ate *an3 and called +on6%ld
'nd%cate A.E. =or +o6%s> (%th r%5hts %n Eer0an', (%t8erland, and A,str%a.
S$20. 128: Ne5ot%at%ons (ere carr%ed on 6' Bo' and Ro5ers 4or .o/ (%th +r%-"r5on and +o6%s to 0a3e a (or3%n5 arran5e0ent to
record and re1rod,ce so,nd thro,5ho,t the (orld ,nder +r%-"r5on 1atents. No a5ree0ent (as reached.
N&3.9D$,. 128: chles%n5er, o4 London and o,th A4r%ca, (ho had 1,rchased the de .orest Phono4%l0 #o01an', atte01ted
ne5ot%at%on (%th +o6%s and +r%-"r5on 4or 7o%n%n5 de .orest and +r%-"r5on on a (orld 6as%s. +h%s d%d not 5o thro,5h.
J-*. 12: %e0ens and &als3e and A"E co06%ned %nterests %n the so,nd 1%ct,re 4%eld 6' or5an%8%n5 a co01an' called
Hlan54%l0.
Hlan54%l0 atte01ted to release a 1%ct,re 0ade 6' R#A %n A0er%ca %n one o4 the C.A +heaters %n *erl%n. +o6%s sto11ed th%s (%th
an %n7,nct%on on the 5ro,nds that the 1%ct,re (as recorded 6' do,6le s'ste0, i. e., so,nd and 1%ct,re se1arate, and reco06%ned %n a
s%n5le 1os%t%$e. It (as cla%0ed th%s %n4r%n5ed +r%-"r5on 1atents. +he res,lt o4 the co,rtGs dec%s%on, s,sta%ned 6' the h%5her co,rt,
0ade Hlan54%l0 0a3e a (or3%n5 a5ree0ent (%th +o6%s.
A,r%n5 th%s t%0e .o/ %nterests 3e1t ,1 co00,n%cat%on (%th re1resentat%$es o4 +o6%s and +r%-"r5on 4or the 1,r1ose o4 0a3%n5 a
(or3%n5 arran5e0ent thro,5h A0er%can +r%-"r5on to 1er0%t .o/ to record and re1rod,ce thro,5ho,t the (orld ,nder the Eer0an
1atents. No s,ch arran5e0ent (as a5reed ,1on.
A2/. 12: Atte01ts (ere 6e%n5 0ade at th%s t%0e 6' $ar%o,s 5ro,1s to Bo%n to5ether the $ar%o,s +r%-"r5on %nterests and
Hlan54%l0 %n o11os%t%on to :estern "lectr%c 1ro5ress %n 4ore%5n co,ntr%es. Noth%n5 res,lted 4ro0 th%s.
J5*$ 12: H,c3en0e%ster, a Eer0an 1hono5ra1h 0an,4act,rer, thro,5h connect%ons (%th O'ens and ons, a &olland 6an3%n5
4%r0, 6eca0e %nterested %n or5an%8%n5 a hold%n5 co01an' to ,n%te $ar%o,s +r%-"r5on %nterests, not controlled 6' .o/, %nto one 5ro,1.
+h%s (as concl,ded %n B,ne 1929, and called @Aco,st%c Prod,cts #o01an' o4 &olland@.
A6o,t th%s t%0e +r%-"r5on started s,%ts a5a%nst "lectr%cal Research Prod,cts, Inc., and d,r%n5 the s,00er o6ta%ned %n7,nct%ons
restra%n%n5 the re1rod,ct%on o4 all A0er%can 1%ct,res on "RPI a11arat,s %n Eer0an'. o0e o4 the or%5%nal dec%s%ons ha$e s%nce 6een
s,sta%ned so that, e/ce1t 6' s1ec%al a5ree0ent (%th +o6%s, A0er%can so,nd 4%l0s (ere 1re$ented 4ro0 6e%n5 released %n Eer0an'.
:arner *rothers o6ta%ned a s1ec%al l%cense 4ro0 +o6%s and ha$e released the%r 4%l0s.
M-<9A5+. 12: Bo' atte01ted to o6ta%n a (or3%n5 a5ree0ent (%th +o6%s to 1rotect Ne(sreel record%n5 and allo( release o4 .o/
1rod,cts %n Eer0an'. No arran5e0ent (as concl,ded.
Var%o,s con4erences (ere held a0on5 re1resentat%$es o4 "RPI, +o6%s, %e0ens, and A"E 6oth %n ",ro1e and %n A0er%ca. No
a5ree0ent (as reached.
S$20. 12: chles%n5er concl,ded an arran5e0ent (%th H,c3en0e%ster %n (h%ch h%s *r%t%sh co01an' (as all%ed (%th T&;)4 and
Hlan54ll0. Ad$anta5es .o/ co,ld ha$e had (ere no( 6e%n5 ac;,%red 6' others.
O,0. 12: +o6%s 6ro,5ht s,%t a5a%nst !o$%etone %n Eer0an' and A,str%a. All .o/ Ne(sreel tr,c3s (ere re0o$ed 4ro0 these
co,ntr%es.
A,r%n5 the last s%/ 0onths o4 1929, 6oth +o6%s and Hlan54%l0 0o$ed 4or(ard, 6oth %n theater %nstallat%ons and %n the 1rod,ct%on
o4 so,nd 1%ct,res. +he' 0ade an all%ance (%th a .rench 1rod,c%n5 co01an', and arran5ed to 6e5%n so,nd (or3 %n .rance.
J5*$ 1"0: :%ll &a's headed a co00%ttee %n Par%s (h%ch 0et to deal (%th 4ore%5n so,nd 1ro6le0s and to atte01t a settle0ent o4
Eer0an relat%ons. +h%s tan5led s%t,at%on (as 4%nall' %roned o,t and a co01act (as arr%$ed at on B,l' 22 1er0%tt%n5 the sho(%n5 o4
A0er%can 4%l0s a6road.
PART 5. SOUND 6OR7 UNDER THE 6ESTERN ELECTRIC SYSTEMS
1259@26: !a7or de$elo10ent o4 the d%s3 s'ste0 o4 so,nd 0ot%on 1%ct,res, later trade-na0ed @V%ta1hone@, (as carr%ed on 6' a
5ro,1 %n the *ell +ele1hone La6orator%es headed 6' Ar. B. P. !a/4%eld. At a6o,t the sa0e t%0e, another 5ro,1 headed 6' Ar.
#randell and Ar. !acHen8%e (ere (or3%n5 o,t a so,nd-on-4%l0. s'ste0 ,s%n5 a @l%5ht $al$e@ des%5ned 6' Ar. :ente %n the
record%n5.
A2/. 20: 126: :estern "lectr%c #o01an' entered %nto a contract (%th :arner *rothers and :. B. R%ch, a 4%nanc%er, 5%$%n5 the0
an e/cl,s%$e l%cense 4or record%n5 and re1rod,c%n5 so,nd 1%ct,res ,nder the :estern "lectr%c s'ste0. +he V%ta1hone #o01an' (as
4or0ed.
J5*$ 126: +he V%ta1hone #o01an' o1ened a record%n5 st,d%o at the Old !anhattan O1era &o,se, D4th treet, Ne( 2or3.
A5+. 6: 126: :arner *rothers 5a$e the%r 4%rst 1,6l%c 1er4or0ance o4 V%ta1hone at the :arner +heater, Ne( 2or3, sho(%n5 a
scored 1%ct,re @Aon B,an@ and se$eral shorts %ncl,d%n5 a tal3 6' :%ll &a's, and son5s 6' !art%nell%, !ar%an +alle', and others. +h%s
rece%$ed 4a$ora6le co00ent 4ro0 so0e 1a1ers, enth,s%ast%c co00ent 4ro0 others, and 5ra$e do,6ts 4ro0 the %nd,str' that tal3%n5
1%ct,res (o,ld e$er 6e co00erc%al.
D$,. 126: +he V%ta1hone cor1orat%on 5a$e .o/ a s,6l%cense to ,se :estern "lectr%c e;,%10ent %n the 4%eld o4 so,nd 1%ct,res.
D$,. "1: 126: :estern "lectr%c had e;,%11ed a6o,t t(el$e theaters (%th so,nd %nstallat%ons 4or V%ta1hone.
J-*. 1: 127: "lectr%cal Research Prod,cts, Inc. ="RPI> (as 4or0ed as a s,6s%d%ar' o4 :estern "lectr%c and A+M+ to
co00erc%al%8e e;,%10ent 4or the so,nd 0ot%on 1%ct,re 4%eld, the e;,%10ent 6,s%ness ha$%n5 6een 6o,5ht 6ac3 4ro0 the V%ta1hone
#o01an'. +he na0e V%ta1hone (as reta%ned 6' :arner *rothers 4or the%r so,nd 1%ct,re s'ste0.
S2/)*+ 127: V%ta1hone record%n5 (as 0o$ed to &oll'(ood.
F$;. 2": 127: !E!, .%rst Nat%onal, Para0o,nt, Cn%$ersal, and PA#, ter0ed @+he *%5 .%$e@, a5reed to stand to5ether 4or the
1,r1ose o4 deter0%n%n5 the r%5ht so,nd s'ste0 and ,sed the 4ac%l%t%es o4 the &a's or5an%8at%on 4or th%s %n$est%5at%on.
A2/.9A5+. 127: "RPI 0ade the%r 4%rst l%5ht-$al$e %nstallat%on %n the .o/ !o$%etone st,d%o at F4th treet and 1Ith A$en,e, Ne(
2or3. +h%s (as %nstalled at "RPIGs e/1ense and o1erated e/1er%0entall' 6' *ell +ele1hone La6orator' en5%neers. +he "RPI 4%l0
1rocess%n5 s1ec%4%cat%ons (ere r%5%d and the%r techn%;,e o4 o1erat%on (as not s,44%c%entl' ad$anced to %01ress the .o/ 5ro,1 that the
l%5ht-$al$e s'ste0 o44ered an' co00erc%al %01ro$e0ent o$er the #ase s'ste0 then %n ,se.
A2/. 1: 127: :arners sec,red 1II 1er cent o(nersh%1 %n V%ta-1hone 6' 1,rchase o4 :. B. R%chGs %nterests.
O,0. 127: :arners released @+he Ba88 %n5er@. +h%s %s s1o3en o4 as the t,rn%n5 1o%nt %n the co0%n5 o4 so,nd, and ser$ed to
con$%nce the %nd,str' o4 %ts 1otent%al%t%es.
D$,. "1: 127: One h,ndred and 4%4t'-se$en theaters (ere e;,%11ed 4or so,nd, o4 (h%ch 4%4t'-4%$e %ncl,ded 4%l0 ,n%ts. +he rest
(ere d%s3 onl'.
A2/.9M-< 128: "RPI contracts (ere s%5ned 6' the @*%5 .%$e@ 5ro,1. +h%s ens,red the 5eneral ,se o4 tal3%n5 1%ct,res. +he
:arner contract (as re$%sed (hen "RPI too3 o$er the e;,%10ent 6,s%ness and a ne( .o/ l%cense (as also s%5ned a6o,t th%s t%0e.
V%ctor and .%rst Nat%onal anno,nced the release o4 the%r 1rod,ct ,nder the na0e o4 @.%rnatone@. +he "RPI l%censes 5ranted d,r%n5
th%s 1er%od %ncl,ded the 4ollo(%n5 co01an%es? Para0o,nt, Cn%ted Art%sts, !etro-Eold('n-!a'er, .%rst Nat%onal, Cn%$ersal,
#hr%st%e, &al Roach, and V%ctor +al3%n5 !ach%ne #o01an'.
M-<9D$,. 128: +here (as 5reat act%$%t' %n 5ett%n5 st,d%os e;,%11ed 4or record%n5. "$er'one (anted to start at once and
e;,%10ent (as at a 1re0%,0, (%th del%$er%es 0ost %nde4%n%te.
At a6o,t th%s t%0e, so,nd e;,%10ent and record%n5s (ere standard%8ed to a s,44%c%ent e/tent that a11arat,s 0ade 6' e%ther R#A or
"RPI co,ld sat%s4actor%l' 1la' the 1rod,ct 0ade (%th the other e;,%10ent. In the 6e5%nn%n5, "RPI tr%ed to restr%ct the ,se o4 %ts
e;,%10ent to so,nd trac3s 0ade on the :estern "lectr%c s'ste0.
J5'< 128: Para0o,nt 6e5an record%n5 %n &oll'(ood on a te01orar' channel and 4%rst ,sed so,nd %n the%r 1%ct,re @:ar0%n5 C1@,
(%th R%chard A%/.
J5'<9S$20. 128: +he%r 4%rst all-tal3%n5 1%ct,re (as @Inter4erence@, d%rected 6' Ro' Po0ero'. +h%s (as 4ollo(ed 6' @+he Aoctors
ecret@ and others. A,r%n5 th%s earl' (or3 %n a te01orar' st,d%o, 0an' o4 the scenes (ere 0ade at n%5ht to a$o%d o,ts%de no%ses.
D$,. 128: Para0o,nt 6e5an record%n5 %n %ts ne( so,nd st,d%os on re5,lar channels.
D$,. "1: 128: "RPI had 1I46 theaters (%red 4or so,nd, o4 (h%ch 1ID2 (ere 4or so,nd-on-4%l0.
J-*. 12: :arner *rothers 6eca0e %nterested %n the Pacent so,nd s'ste0 and a11ro$ed Pacent %nstallat%ons %n A1r%l 1929. "RPI
6e5an s,%t a5a%nst Pacent 4or 1atent %n4r%n5e0ents.
A5+. ": 12: +he 4%rst %ss,e o4 Para0o,nt o,nd Ne(s (as released.
D$,. "1: 12: +he tre0endo,s 5ro(th o4 the so,nd 0ot%on 1%ct,re 6,s%ness %n a l%ttle o$er t(o 'ears %s e$%denced 6' the 4act that
there (ere 77 "RPI record%n5 channels %n o1erat%on %n the Cn%ted tates. "RPI also had e;,%11ed a6o,t 4III theaters %n th%s
co,ntr' and so0e 12II %n ",ro1e. !ost o4 the theater %nstallat%ons (ere 4or 6oth so,nd-on-4%l0 and so,nd-on-d%s3.
Also at th%s t%0e %t 6eca0e e$%dent that there (as a trend to 4a$or so,nd-on-4%l0 o$er so,nd-on-d%s3 4or theater release 1,r1oses.
A2/. 1"0: :arner *rothers anno,nced the 1,rchase o4 an %nterest %n the +. &. Na33en 1atents. +hese 1atents related to the ,se o4
a 1hotoelectr%c cell and an a01l%4%er. =,6se;,entl' the' (ere ,sed as a 6as%s 4or l%t%5at%on.>
PART 6. SOUND 6OR7 UNDER THE RCA SYSTEM
125: A6o,t th%s t%0e, a s0all 5ro,1 o4 en5%neers at chenectad', headed 6' #. A. &o/%e, e/1er%0ented on record%n5 so,nd on
4%l0 1hoto5ra1h%call', ,s%n5 a s1ec%al osc%llo5ra1h as the record%n5 ,n%t and 0a3%n5 records o4 the $ar%a6le-area t'1e. +h%s so,nd-
on-4%l0 s'ste0 (as called the @Pallo1hoto1hone@. Also at th%s t%0e, &e(lett =a research en5%neer %n the Eeneral "lectr%c la6orator'>
(as 1er4ect%n5 h%s %nd,ct%on-t'1e lo,ds1ea3ers, and R%ce and Hello55 =also Eeneral "lectr%c research 0en> (ere de$elo1%n5 the%r
electro-d'na0%c cone s1ea3ers.
F$;. 127: A,r%n5 the 'ear 1926, 1ro6a6l' st%0,lated 6' the (or3 o4 :estern "lectr%c and others, the Eeneral "lectr%c 5ro,1
co06%ned the%r Pallo1hoto1hone (%th 0o$%n5 1%ct,res and held a de0onstrat%on at the tate +heater, chenectad', %n .e6r,ar'
1927, 6e4ore a 5ro,1 o4 ne(s1a1er 0en and en5%neers. +he%r s'ste0 o4 co06%ned 1%ct,res and so,nd (as called the
@H%ne5ra1ho1hone@. +he de0onstrat%on %ncl,ded s1eech and se$eral 0,s%cal n,06ers 1rod,ced 6' a0ate,r talent. Later th%s
de0onstrat%on (as 5%$en at the R%$ol% +heater %n Ne( 2or3.
M-/. 127: It (as re1orted that 4%$e o4 the 6%5 1rod,cers (ere ne5ot%at%n5 (%th Eeneral "lectr%c to co01ete (%th !o$%etone and
V%ta1hone.
1269@27: +he research la6orator' o4 the :est%n5ho,se "lectr%c and !an,4act,r%n5 #o01an', not to 6e o,tdone, carr%ed on the
de$elo10ent o4 a s'ste0 o4 so,nd record%n5, ,s%n5 4or %ts l%5ht 0od,lator the Herr cell 6ased on the 1r%nc%1le o4 the rotat%on o4 a
6ea0 o4 1olar%8ed l%5ht 6' electrostat%c 0eans.
+o(ard the end o4 1927, Para0o,nt released %ts 1%ct,re @:%n5s@, (%th a so,nd score 1re1ared 6' the Eeneral "lectr%c 5ro,1. +h%s
score (as ,sed %n se$eral d%44erent (a's. At the #r%ter%on +heater, Ne( 2or3, the a%r1lane so,nds (ere ta3en 4ro0 d%s3 record%n5s
,s%n5 a 0,lt%1le t,rnta6le de$%ce and s'nchron%8ed 6' an o1erator 6ac3 sta5e. +he e44ects (ere re1rod,ced %n other theaters thro,5h
the ,se o4 condenser-d%schar5e de$%ces as (ell as 4ro0 a score recorded on 4%l0.
128: +he so,nd 1%ct,re (or3 o4 Eeneral "lectr%c and :est%n5ho,se (as co06%ned %nto one s'ste0 and handled 6' a ne(
s,6s%d%ar' o4 the Rad%o #or1orat%on o4 A0er%ca called R#A Photo-1hone, Inc. +he $ar%a6le-dens%t' Herr cell 0ethod o4 record%n5
(as dro11ed, and the $ar%a6le-area s'ste0 4,rther 1er4ected ,nder the na0e o4 Photo1hone. R#A Photo1hone anno,nced to the
trade that %t had 1er4ected re1rod,c%n5 a11arat,s and (o,ld e;,%1 theaters.
O,0. 128: hortl' therea4ter, R#A ac;,%red the *. .. He%th and Or1he,0 cha%n o4 theaters and the .*O Prod,c%n5 #o01an'. A
s,6s%d%ar' (as 4or0ed called Rad%o-He%th-Or1he,0. +hro,5h th%s 1rod,c%n5 or5an%8at%on, so,nd 1%ct,res 0ade 6' Photo1honeGs
0ethods (ere %ntrod,ced to the 1,6l%c. +he 4%rst e44orts alon5 these l%nes (ere l%0%ted to the 1resentat%on o4 0,s%cal acco01an%0ent9
the 4%rst 1%ct,re (as @+he Per4ect #r%0e@, (h%ch %ncl,ded so0e d%alo5,e se;,ences. I01ortant sta5e 1la's (ere ac;,%red 6' the
RHO 1rod,c%n5 or5an%8at%on, %ncl,d%n5 the $er' s,ccess4,l @R%o R%ta@, (h%ch the' 1rod,ced as a so,nd 1%ct,re.
F$;. : 12: RHO Prod,ct%ons, Inc., anno,nced that the' had selected @Rad%o P%ct,res@ as the trade na0e 4or RHO Prod,ct%ons
=(h%ch (as the 0ot%on 1%ct,re 1rod,c%n5 and d%str%6,t%n5 ,n%t o4 the Rad%o-He%th-Or1he,0 #or1orat%on, s1onsored 6' the Eeneral
"lectr%c #o01an', the :est%n5ho,se "lectr%c and !an,4act,r%n5 #o01an', and Nat%onal *roadcast%n5 #o01an'>.
An a44%l%at%on (as s,6se;,entl' e44ected (%th the Pathe "/chan5e, Inc., (h%ch ado1ted the R#A Photo1hone 'ste0 o4 record%n5
%n the 1rod,ct%on o4 so,nd 0ot%on 1%ct,res. +he 4%rst Pathe 1rod,ct%on sho(n (%th a 0,s%cal s'nchron%8at%on (as @#a1ta%n
(a55er@ (%th Rod La Roc;,e9 and th%s (as 4ollo(ed 6' se$eral others %n ra1%d s,ccess%on. +he Pathe or5an%8at%on also released a
so,nd ne(sreel recorded 6' the Photo1hone 1rocess.
J-*. 12: R#A closed a deal 4or the ac;,%s%t%on o4 the V%ctor +al3%n5 !ach%ne #o01an'.
M-/. 12: R#A, +o6%s, and Hlan54%l0 anno,nced a (or3%n5 a5ree0ent.
D$,. "1: 12: R#A Photo1hone had e;,%11ed 4or so,nd a6o,t 12II theaters %n the Cn%ted tates, and a6o,t 6OO a6road.
D$,. 12: It (as anno,nced that R#A Photo1hone (o,ld shortl' center all o4 %ts so,nd 1%ct,re de$elo10ent (or3 at #a0den, N.
B., co06%n%n5 the Eeneral "lectr%c and :est%n5ho,se 5ro,1s (ho had 1re$%o,sl' o1erated %nde1endentl'.
PART 7. !I#"LLAN"OC OCNA 2+"!
M-< 22: 126: +ho0as A. "d%son declared no 4%eld e/%sts 4or tal3%n5 1%ct,res.
N&3. 126: A de$%ce called the @Re0a1hone@ (as 6ro,5ht o,t. It cons%sted o4 a V%ctor @"lectrola@ (%th t(o t,rnta6les connected
6' a sha4t to the t(o 1ro7ect%on 0ach%nes %n the 6ooth.
F$;. 127: 'nchro1hone #or1orat%on o44ered a ne( s'nchron%8at%on de$%ce 4or ,se %n s0all theaters and 1ro$%ded 0,s%c 4ro0
d%s3s.
S2/)*+ 127: Voca4%l0 and Orchestra1hone (ere 0ade a$a%la6le 4or s'nchron%8%n5 1%ct,res. +he Orchestra1hone (as des%5ned
1r%0ar%l' 4or s0all theaters and %n%t%all' tr%ed %n #h%ca5o.
J5'< 127: Voca4%l0 5a$e a sho(%n5 ,s%n5 %ts so,nd 1%ct,re s'ste0 at the Lon5acre +heater, Ne( 2or3.
D$,. 127: Orchestra1hone, 0ar3eted 6' the Nat%onal +heater ,11l' #o01an', (as sho(n at the +%$ol% +heater, Ne( 2or3.
*r%stol1hone (as de0onstrated 6e4ore the .ran3l%n Inst%t,te.
A2/. 128: !ot%on 1%ct,res (ere trans0%tted o$er tele1hone 6et(een #h%ca5o and Ne( 2or3.
A5+. 128: !. A. chles%n5er 6o,5ht control o4 the de .orest Phono4%l0 #o01an'. &e had 1re$%o,sl' held an o1t%on to 1,rchase
the co01an'9 th%s o1t%on had e/1%red %n 1927. Eeneral +al3%n5 P%ct,res (as 4or0ed as the ne( o1erat%n5 co01an'.
N&3. 128: Aco,st%c Prod,cts =onora> ac;,%red 0an,4act,r%n5, d%str%6,t%n5, and l%cens%n5 r%5hts to *r%stol1hone.
D$,. 128: #%netone, a so,nd de$%ce 4or ho0e ,se, (as o44ered 6' AeVr'.
J-*. 12: Pacent started %nstallat%ons a11ro$ed 6' :arners.
S$20. 12: Po(ers #%ne1hone (as 1laced on the 0ar3et.
D$,. 12: At the end o4 th%s 'ear, there (ere 2D4 d%44erent t'1es o4 theater so,nd e;,%10ents %n ,se9 0ost o4 these, 1rod,ced 6'
the %nde1endents, (ere 4or so,nd-on-d%s3. +he total n,06er o4 theaters e;,%11ed 4or so,nd o4 all 0a3es %n the Cn%ted tates (as
8741. O4 these %nstallat%ons. "RPI and R#A had 1ro$%ded 4D9D.
As has 6een %nd%cated %n the %ntrod,ct%on, these notes ha$e treated certa%n de$elo10ents $er' 4,ll' and ha$e 0ade onl' the
6r%e4est 0ent%on o4 so0e others. +h%s %s not to 6e constr,ed as a 7,d50ent o4 relat%$e %01ortance alone< rather, %t also has 6een
dec%ded on the 6as%s o4 (hat has 1re$%o,sl' 6een (r%tten on the s,67ect, and the a,thors 0ore %nt%0ate 3no(led5e o4 certa%n deta%ls.
.or e/a01le, the 0ater%al on the #ase (or3 has, 4or the 0ost 1art, ne$er 6e4ore 6een 0ade 1,6l%c9 and e$en th%s co,ld not 6e
re$%e(ed %n 5reat deta%l In an art%cle o4 th%s 3%nd. It %s ho1ed, ho(e$er, that eno,5h has 6een told to 5%$e the reader a conc%se 1%ct,re
o4 (hat too3 1lace d,r%n5 th%s rather 6r%e4 de$elo10ent 1er%od.
It has see0ed a11ro1r%ate to end th%s h%stor' %n the earl' th%rt%es, s%nce at th%s t%0e so,nd-on-4%l0 had co01leted the %n%t%al sta5es
o4 %ts de$elo10ent, and had 7,st%4%ed %ts e/%stence as a co00erc%al ach%e$e0ent o4 the 4%rst order.
=4d. >ote..ollo(%n5 !r. 1ona6leGs 1a1er a 4%l0 (as e/h%6%ted de0onstrat%n5 earl' so,nd-on-4%l0, conta%n%n5 4ollo(%n5
s,67ects?)
S5;A$,0 P/&A$,0)&* S2$$1 D-0$
+. :. #ase, close-,1 75 !arch 1924
!an (%th har0on%ca 7F !arch 1924
+. :. #ase =t,/edo> 8I A1r%l 1924
!an 1la'%n5 har1 8I A1r%l 1924
!an and d,c3 8F !a' 12, 192F
+. :. #ase, close-,1 8F !a' 192F
#h%nese 6o' 1la'%n5 ,3,lele 8F B,ne 1926
Ra;,el !eller 9I No$e06er 1926
&arold !,rra' 9I No$e06er 1926
,nr%se =cored s%lent> 9I B,ne 1927