Apparatus and method for recording and playing back sound

A phonograph comprising:

• a rotatable lead screw;
• an acoustically compliant unitary cylinder formed as a cylindric resonating chamber for communicating sound waves directly to and from the air, for serving as a sound recording transducer and as a sound reproducer;
• and
• a stylus mounted for bearing against a curved wall of said cylinder, said stylus being mounted to be acoustically non-compliant.

A phonograph comprising:

• a base plate;
• a pair of supports mounted on said base plate, whereof at least one of said supports includes a screw thread;
• a threaded rod supported on said supports and engaging said screw thread;
• a crank coupled to said threaded rod for rotating it;
• a unitary hollow cylinder, said cylinder being formed as a cylindrical resonating chamber and being mounted concentrically on said threaded rod for rotation therewith;
• a stylus assembly mounted on said base plate so as to be acoustically non-compliant, including a stylus for contacting a curved wall of said cylinder, said stylus assembly including a bias device developing a pressure force between said stylus and said cylinder, said stylus being affixed to said stylus assembly so as to be acoustically non-compliant as compared with said cylinder;
• and
• wherein said unitary cylinder is acoustically compliant, susceptible of acoustic vibrations for serving as said cylindrical resonating chamber for communicating sound waves directly to and from the air, for serving as a sound recording transducer and for serving as a sound reproducer, and said stylus is not susceptible of significant acoustic vibrations, as compared with said unitary cylinder.

A method for recording and playing back sounds, comprising the steps of:

• causing said sounds in surrounding air to impinge on a unitary cylinder which forms a cylindrical resonating chamber for communicating sound waves directly to and from the air, for serving as a sound recording transducer and as a sound reproducer, so as to set said cylinder into vibrations responsive to said sounds;
• recording said sounds by rotating said unitary cylinder and advancing it at a predetermined rate as it rotates;
• pressing a stationary, non-vibrating stylus or point against a curved surface of said unitary cylinder as it rotates and advances forming a helical groove on said curved surface, said vibrations causing said cylinder to impale itself upon said stylus to a varying extent depending on said vibrations and thereby form recorded hills and dales in said groove;
• and
• playing back said sounds by rotating said unitary cylinder so that said helical groove is pressed against said stylus so as to cause said cylinder to vibrate responsive to said recorded hills and dales in said groove and impart corresponding vibrations to said surrounding air as played back sound.