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Ruhmer's 1901 sound on film
Eugene Lauste was experimenting
with optical sound recording at about
the same time as Ruhmer. By 1905 his
Australian Kinematograph Journal camera recorded sound on one half of a
19 June 1913 35mm film and the subject image on
the other half. It was to be another five
In mid-1913, Spencer, who had years or so before Lauste could record
obtained the Australasian rights, again and reproduce synchronised,
(8/p71)
promoted the latest talking pictures in recognisable sounds.
Australia. The Australian There were many other attempts.
Kinematograph Journal of 8 July 1913 Perhaps the most significant was the
reported a demonstration of the German Tri-Ergan Company, which
‘speaking pictures’ in Sydney… which produced a short sound-on-film
used an ordinary Edison projecting production in 1922.
machine with the special synchronising Successful sound-on-film was only
attachment (?) Four cords … described possible after the invention of the
Top: Kinetophone, Queensland 1895 as fishing lines, pass over the top of the thermionic valve by Dr. Ambrose
Above: Linked sound and rear projection operating box, which was in the centre Fleming in the U.K. in 1904 and
of the dress circle and these are refined by Lee DeForest in the U.S.A.
In November 1902 Gaumont
connected with a special Edison in 1907. His triode valve, the Audion,
addressed an assembly of the French
phonograph on the stage. ….The was the key to efficient amplification.
Photographic Society, not in person, but
projecting machine was set in motion in
by means of synchronised film and The 1914-18 war both hindered and
the ordinary way, and there appeared on
disc! Commercial screenings were finally helped the development of
the screen a gentleman in immaculate
introduced in France in 1903 and by suitable amplifying and recording
evening dress, who, after bowing to the
1909 Gaumont's Chronophone had equipment. De Forest, working with
imaginary audience, commenced a
reached the antipodes. The Bioscope of Theodore Case and Earl Sponable,
description of the Kinetophone. His
3 February 1910, reported that Cousens released a sound-on-film system in
words fell upon the ear just as distinctly
Spencer, at The Olympia in 1922, which led to the Movietone
as if one were listening to a conversation
Melbourne, screened to packed houses system.
in a drawing-room. Every word was
from 18 December 1909. So great was
absolutely distinct, so much so, in fact,
the interest that hundreds were reported (6/p4)
that the illusion was perfect.
seeing the film from behind the screen!
In reality this mechanical sound
Perhaps this overflow crowd had the
reproduction was very limited. The
best demonstration of the new sound
recording time available on cylinder or
movie system. The Olympia could pack
disc was one disadvantage, as were
in about 5,000 people and audibility
volume and synchronising problems.
must have been somewhat limited
Effective amplification had to wait until
towards the rear of the auditorium. Even
the invention of the thermionic (or
so, the audience was said to be excited
radio) valve.
to hear Harry Lauder and others
(5/p35)
perform on the silver screen. SYNCHRONISED SOUND AND
The Chronophone was soon IMAGE - AMPLIFIED
competing against Edison’s Optical sound recording or sound-
Kinetophone - a new Kinetophone, on-film was achieved as early as 1901
nothing like the viewer and cylinder by Ernst Ruhmer in Germany - well sort
machine introduced at Charters Towers. of! There were many limitations to his
Edison used the same names for a Photographophone. The light source was
number of his machines - his a noisy, spluttering carbon arc, which
Kinetoscope existed in various forms gave very weak reproduction of the
over the years! sound in telephone headsets. Overall,
A projector fitted for DeForest Phonofilm.
In this new version Edison Ruhmer's system was academic. It was
combined one of his film projectors useless for large audiences, as was the The sound-head is the bulge just below
the top spool.
with an enlarged cylinder (mechanical) Paris Opera telephone demonstration
(7/p3)
sound reproducer. 20 years earlier.
26 2007 CINEMARECORD