US2236785A - Automatic phonograph - Google Patents

Description

April 1, 1941. .1. w. wHlTLocK AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed June 2l, 19258 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 y a 705 we 45 1f 415- av VvLe-nU-f; BV ,QL M,

R15/Na su Arf smv/c AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed June 21, 1938 5 Shee'rs-Sheet 3 W ai J. WHITLOCK AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAXH April l, 1941.

Filed June 2i. 193s M .HM

r fglaifaa.. IIIIIL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,E1/vena@ Patented Apr. l, 1941 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH John W. Whitlock, deceased, late of Rising Sun,

Ind., by Rising Sun State Bank, administrator,

Rising Sun, Ind., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, North Tonawanda, N. Y.,

a corporation of Ohio Application June 21, 193s, sei-in No. 214,924

7 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic .phonographs.

One of its objects is the provision of an automatic phonograph wherein the records are supported axially on the turntable in the form of a stack, and wherein means are provided for elevating the turntable to diierent elevations to bring the respective records in the stack to a common playing position or elevation, and wherein means are provided for separating or splitting the stack at therecord to be played to provide an operating space for the movement of the tone arm for the .playing of the record.`

Another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of this character which is so designed as to successively play the records in the stack from top to bottom thereof, and wherein simple and reliable control means are provided for carrying out the selective playing cycles thereof.

A further object is the provision of simple and effective means for governing the movements of the tone arm into and out of a playing position and in line with the record to be played.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an automatic phonograph of this character which is simple, compact, inexpensive and rugged in construction and whose parts are not liable to get out of order.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of .the automatic phonogr-aph showing the parts in record-playing position. Figure 2 is a rear view thereof. Fig- V ure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section ftaken on line 3 3, Figure 1, showing the -turntable spindle and clutch associated therewith. Figure 4 is a ltransverse vertical secure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elel vation view of the tone arm mounting and one of tion taken on line 4 4, Figure 1, showing the mechanism for raising and lowering the turntable to the proper height, the turntable being shown in its lowered position. Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4, -but showing the position of the elevating assembly when the turntable reaches its maximum raised position for playing the lowermost records. Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 66, Figure 2, showing the drive mechanism control. Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the clutch mechanisms and associated parts. Figure '8 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section of a form of coin control assemblywhich may be used for initiating the playing of the phonograph. Figthe adjoining stack-splitting units. Figure 10 is a vertical section taken on line Ill-l0, Figure 9. Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of one of the records showing the protecting rim thereof.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several Views.

Referring now to the drawings, I0 indicates ay supporting structure or frame on which lthe working parts of the phonograph are mounted and which frame is adapted -to -be mounted in a cabinet of appropriate design. The turntable Il, which is adapted 'to support a stack of records I2 for play, is fixed to a spindle I3 which extends above and below the turntable, the upper portion I3* thereof constituting a guide for the records supported on the turntable, while the lower portion of the spindle is guided for vertical movement in the frame I0 and is adapted to be clutched in driving engagement with an upright drive shaft Il disposed axially below the spindle and in driving engagement at its lower end with s ed for swinging in a given plane of movement for playing engagement with one or another of the records and is mounted on `an oscillatory, vertically-adjustable upright post Il!a suitably guided in the frame I0 for bringing the needle of the tone arm laterally and vertically into and o ut of playing engagement with a given record at predetermined :times in the cycle of operations of the machine. n

In the operation of the machine, the records on the turntable are adapted to be played successively from the top to the bottom ofthe record- .stack and the turntable is adapted to be elevated lower end in a bearing sleeve I9 rising from a cross bar 26 which constitutes a portion of the frame of' the machine. At its lower end the spindle has a feather connection with a friction clutch-collar 2l which is supported against axial movement in the cross bar 20 and with which a vertically-adjustable clutch-collar 22 feathered on the drive shaft I4 is adapted to engage. This adjustable clutch-collar has a yoke or lever 23 connected thereto for moving it into and out of clutched engagement with the spindle-bearing clutch-collar 2|. When this yoke is shifted to an upward clutching position, the driven shaft i4 transmits motion to the turntable-spindle and when shifted to a lower position the drive shaft is unclutched from the spindle, allowing the turntable to come to rest. By this construction, also, the turntable-spindle can be Araised or lowered -independently of the clutch elements to enable the turntable to be intermittently elevated to successively play the records from the top to the bottom of the stack, all in the manner as will hereinafter appear.

'Ihe records l2 are provided at their edges with protecting rims 24 with which vertically and laterally movable record-engaging supports or fingers 25 'arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the turntable, are adapted to releasably engage for splitting the stack above the lrecord selected for play. These record-engaging supports are applied to the upper ends of verticallyswinging levers 26 which are pivoted intermediate their ends at 21 to companion slide brackets 26 guided on upright posts 29, whereby such levers at predetermined times may be raised or lowered and rocked about their pivots to bring the recordengaging supports into and out of operative supporting relation with -the underside of one or another of the records. At their lower ends these levers extend through forked arms 36 applied to companion vertically-adjustable posts 3i disposed parallel to the posts 29 outwardly of and adjoining said levers. At their inner lower ends each of these levers has a downwardly-inclined cam face 32 which is adapted to engage a roller 33 journaled in a forked bracket 34 fixed on the companion adjustable post 3i below the corresponding forked arm 30, so that on the upstnoke imparted to the adjustable posts the companion levers are rocked by a wedging action in the direction about their pivots to bring their supports 25 into supporting engagement with a given record. A spring 35 applied to each lever 26 normally urges it to the released position shown in Figure 9. Furthermore, each of the levers 26 has a coupling pin 36 at its lower end against which the companion roller-bracket 34 is adapted to abut on its upstroke to impart an elevating movement to the levers and effect the splitting of the record stack above the record selected for play. On the downstroke of the adjustable posts 3 l, `the record-supporting levers 26 move by gravity therewith to restore the records on to the turntable, and during this movement the leverpins 36 rest upon the post-brackets 34, as seen in Figure 1.

The means for transmitting motion tothe vertically-adjustable post 3l to raise and lower them to in turn control the splitting of the record stack and the restoration of the records to their initial stacked position, respectivelyfis preferably constructed as follows:

'I'he numeral 31 indicates a driven horizontal shaft which is journaled at its ends in bearing plates 38 and which is provided at its opposite 75 ends with pinions 39 meshing with companion upright gear racks 40 applied to the upright posts 3i, whereby when motion is transmitted in one direction to this shaft, the posts are elevated and when driven in the opposite direction, the posts are lowered. Fixed on this shaft at opposite sides of the axis of the drive shaft i4 are gears 4|, 4| which mesh with companion pinions 42, 42 fixed on companion shafts 43, 44 journaled in bearing plates 45 and adapted to be clutched at predetermined times with the drive shaft I4 to drive the shaft 31 in one direction or the other. For this purpose the drive shaft has a bevel pinion 4l thereon which meshes with companion bevel gears 41, 43, the gear 41 being fixed on a. horizontal shaft 48 in axial alinement with the companion pinion-shaft 43 and having a clutch-collar 50 nxed thereon to turn therewith, such companion shaft having a sliding clutch-collar 5I thereon adapted to be moved into and out of clutch-engaging position to transmit motion to the shaft 31 in a direction to effect the elevation of the posts 3| and their companion record-engaging levers 26. The bevel gear 48 is fixed on a like horizontal shaft 52 in axial alinement with the companion pinion-shaft 44 and having a clutch-collar 53 xed thereon, such companion shaft having a sliding clutch-collar 54 thereon adapted to be moved into and out of clutchengaging position to transmit motion to the shaft 31 in a direction to effect the lowering of the posts 3i and their companion record-engaging levers 26 to thereby restore the split record-stack to initial position. During the playing of a record both clutch units 5U, 5| and 53, 5t are disengaged so that during the rotation of the turntable motion is idly transmitted from the bevel pinion 46 to the companion shafts 49, 52', and it is to be also understood that during the selecting cycle of operations theuclutch mechanism 50, 5i is engaged while the other clutch mechanism 53, 54 is disengaged, while during the restoration of the record stack to its initial position the clutch mechanism 53, 54 is engaged and the other clutch mechanism 50, 5I is disengaged. The means for controlling these clutch mechanisms at predetermined times are constructed as follows:

The movable clutch collars 5l, 54 of the respective clutch mechanisms have actuating levers 55 and 56, respectively, and each of these levers is actuated to and from clutch-releasing position by independent actuating means which are identical in construction and a description of one of them will suflice for both. Each of the clutch-actual;n ing means consists of a horizontal slide bar 51 suitably guided on the bearing plates 45 and having a notch 58 therein with which the companion actuating lever 55 or 56 engages in the manner shown in Figure '1, so that when the bar is shifted in one direction, one end of the notch abuts the actuating lever to shift the clutch to engaged position. Connected to the bar 51 is a vertically swinging actuating lever 59 having a spring i0 connected thereto for constantly urging such lever and the clutch control bar to clutch-engaging position. A trip lever 6I disposed over the slide bar 51 is adapted to have its notched end 62 normally abut against a. stop-pin 63 disposed at the upper end of the actuating lever 59 for normally holding the clutch in released position, Upon the tripping of the lever 6I from engagement with the lever-pin 63, the spring swings the lever 59 and the slide bar 51 in a direction to swing the clutch lever 55 or 56 to clutch-engaging position to effect 2,230,785 3 the motor will be maintained closed by the switch suchmeans including a switch 54 whose movable element is connected to a Alever l55I operatively-as sociated with the side bar 51 ofthe elevating c ontrol clutch 58. 5| and which lever has a spring 85 connected thereto for normally urging it to switch-closing position. Applied to this slide bar is a pin or projection 51 which, in the clutch-released position of the bar, abuts the lever 85 to v hold it in switch-opening position. In the clutchengaged position of the slide bar. its pin 51 re- -cedes from the lever 55, allowing the latter to move under the tension of the spring 58 to switchclosing position and start the motor to drive the upright shaft I4.

l The tripping of the trip lever 5| which governs the shifting of the elevating clutch control lever 55 to engaged position is preferably controlled by an electromagnet 58 whose armature 59 is connected to the trip lever in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 7, so that when the magnet is energized it swings the trip lever upwardly from latching engagement with the lever-pin 83 and releases the slide bar 51 for movement to clutchengaging position. The energizing of the magnet may be effected in any suitable manner, for example, by a normally-open coin-controlled switch included in its circuit and operative to close the circuit by a counterweighted coin-tripping lever 1| pivotally mounted on the lower end of a coin chute 12. Associated with the coin-chute is a` horirontally-shiftable coin-trapping bar 13 which may be urged to its inoperative position by a spring-urged lever 14 and which may be moved to its coin-trapping position and maintained therein during the selecting and playing cycle of the phonograph by a cam 15 which contacts a roller 15 on the end of said bar and which is mounted on a counter shaft 11 journaled in the bearing plates 45 and driven from the elevating control shaft 31 through intermeshing gears 18, 19. As shown in Figure 8, the cam 15 has a dwell 88 therein and when the phonograph is in nonplaying or at rest position, this dwell registers with the roller of the coin-trapping bar, so that when a coin is ldeposited in the chute the bar is positioned clear of the chute to allow the coin to drop onto the coin-tripping lever 1 I, thereby closing the switch 10 to energize the magnet 58 and shift the bar 51 and clutch lever 55 to clutch-engaging position and at the same time closing the switch 54 to start the motor |5. Motion is thence transmitted to the elevating shaft 31*` and through the gears 18, 19 to the counter shaft 11, moving its cam 15 in a direction to force the coin-trapping bar 13 to its operative position shown in Figure 8, In which position it remains until the start of the next selecting cycle.

A second switch 8l is included in the circuit of the motor I5, the movable element 82 thereof being disposed adjacent the cam 15 and the latter having a projection 83 thereon which, at a predetermined time in the record-restoring cycle and in the inoperative position of the phonograph, engages said switch element 82 to shift it to and maintain it in switch-opening position. A spring 84 normally urges the switch 8| to closed position.l This switch and the companion motor-controlling switch 54 are so connected that when the latter is opened upon the release of the clutch 50, 5| inthe manner hereinafter described, the circuit of 8l vto play thel selected record and restore the split record-stack jto normal, when'said 'switchf-wiilzbe opened by the cam-projection 83 'encounterin'giits movable element 82. lDuring the elevatinginpve ment` of -th'e record-engaging levers' 25 to'fefiect the splitting o f the record-stack, th'e `shaft 11 is turned in a clockwise directionV viewing theleft hand end of Figure 1 orFigure 8 and during the lowering movementl of such levers said'shaft is turned in the opposite direction and 'at the Vend 1 will sufllce forboth.

' of thelowering movement the cani-projection 83 engages lthe switch element 82 andfnope'ns` the switch 8|. I

The companion clutch control vassembly 53, 54, which governs the lowering of the upper split portion of the stack to its initial position before selecting another record for play, is adapted to have its actuating lever 55 tripped to clutch-engaging position in the same manner as heretofore describedin connection with the other clutch-control assembly. In this case the electromagnet 85 for governing the tripping of the companion trip lever 5I is included in a circuit controlled by the tone arm I8 in such away that when the playing of a given record is completed, an arm 85 projecting radially from the tone arm post I8a engages The means for restoring the respective clutch control levers 55, 55 to their released position at the end of the vrespective elevating and lowering strokes of the record-engaging levers 25 is controlled from the countershaft 11 and as the construction is the same in both cases, the description of one of these clutch-releasing mechanisms Fixedly mounted on the shaft 11 -are a pair of trip arms 89, 90, the arm 83 being adapted to engage a roller 9| on the clutch lever 55 or 58 at a predetermined time in the cycle of operations to shift the companion clutch from an engaged position to a released position.

Simultaneously with this operation the companion trip arm 90 is adapted to engage a contact roller 92 on the companion actuating lever 59 of the slide bar 51 so as to shift such lever in a direction to restore it into latching engagement with the trip lever 5I4 associated with theelectromagnet 58 or 85. By this construction during the elevating or record-splitting cycle, the clutch lever 55 is in its engaged position and the clutch lever 55 is in its released position, and when the upper portion of the split stack reaches a predetermined position the trip arms 89, 90 associated with the clutch assembly 50, 5I effects the automatic release of the clutch. After the playing of the record is completed, the clutch assembly 5354 is engaged to lower the upper portion o! the split stack and when it is restored onto the turntable, the trip arms 89, 90 associated with this clutch assembly effects the automatic release of the clutch.

Means are provided for automatically controlling the actuating lever 23 associated with the turntable-spindle-clutch 2|, 22 so that when the i record stack has been split in readiness for play- 4 operatively connected to the clutch lever :a sc. that at predetermined times this cam operates toI engage. and release the clutch". v

Means are provided for adjusting the tone arm Il vertically to bring it down into playing engagementwith a record or to elevate it clear of the record after the playing is completed and during the winging o! the tone arm to its initial position out ardly of the turntable. For this purpose a con olllng cam is nxed on the endV of the countershaft 11 and engaging this cam is a follower roller 96 applied to the lower slip end of the tone arm post I8, This cam is so timed that the record selected for play, the tone arm is automatically swung inwardly over the selected record and then dropped onto the record due to the tone arm post-roller registering at that time with the dwell in the post-elevating cam 95. At the completion of playing of the record and as the tone arm is elevated clear of it by the action of the cam 95, the companion key and groove 99 and 90 function, at a predetermined time in the lowering of the record-stack, to swing the tone arm outwardly to its initial position.

The means for effecting the elevating step by step movement of the turntable I a distance approximating the thickness cfa record, so that as the records are played successively from the top to the bottom of the stack they will be played at the same elevation, is preferably constructed as follows: Y

Applied to the turntable spindle I2 about the bearing sleeve i9 for axial displacement relative thereto, and abutting at its upper end against a collar |00 fixed on the spindle to elevate the same, is an elevating sleeve |0| having a gear rack |02 thereon meshing with an actuating pinion |03 fixed onI a horizontal shaft |04 journaled on the cross bar 20. Mounted on this shaft is a ratchet wheel |05 with which'inner and outer pawls |00 and |01 cooperate, the outer or escapement pawl |01 serving as a keeper and the inner one |06 serving as a feed pawl for advancing the ratchet one tooth at a time and in turn correspondingly elevating the turntable through the rack |02 and pinion |03. The feed pawl is actuated during the selecting cycle or elevation of the record-engaging levers 26 .and for this purpose it is pivoted to the upper end of a lift rod |01 guided in the cross.

bar and having a roller |08 engaging a cam |09 fixed on the countershaft 11. A spring ||0 normally urges the lift rod toward the periphery of the cam, and a spring urges the feed pawl |06 toward the periphery of' the at its lower end ratchet wheel. A spring ||2 likewise urges the escapement pawl |01 toward the ratchet wheel. The upper end of the feed pawl |06 abuts at its inner edge against a stop pin ||3 on an arm ||4 extending inwardly from the pawl |01 and serves at predetermined times to retain said feed pawl clear of the ratchet wheel |05, as during the lowering movement of the turntable. When the lowest record of the stack has been played, the turntable is allowed to drop by gravity to its initial position and for this purpose the pawl |01 is adapted to be tripped to released position by La aasenss -ftappet arm lll loosely mounted on the Il(A and actuated"by a pin III projecting from the face of the ratchet wheel.' At apredetermined time, the tappet arm is moved to a position to release the pawl' |l1 from the ratchetV wheel, fol` lowing which the turntable drops b'y gravity to starting position for repeating the playing of the records from` the top to the bottom of the stack.

At the start of the selecting cycle, the turntable Il is. moved upwardly aldistance approximating the thickness of a record by the cam |09, and associated parts, whereby the record to beplayed ispositioned at the proper playing elevation and is immediately below the supporting fingers 2l of the elevating levers 2|. During this timethe elevating posts 3| are raised idly until the turntable is properly positioned, after which the post-brackets Il encounter the' tapered lower ends of the levers 20 to first swing them inwardly in supporting engagement with that record immediately above the one to be played and thereafter such brackets abut the correspondingpins 30 on such levers to impart an elevating movement to the latter and split the record stack to provide an operating clearancefor the playing and return movements of the tone arm. On the down stroke of the elevating posts 3|, the swinging of the levers 2E to released position takes place at the end of such stroke, and the lowering of the feed pawl |00 for governing the step by step elevation of the turntable is timed by the cam |09 to take place at the same time, whereby the parts are in'position for the subsequent selecting cycle of operations.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an automatic phonograph, a verticallyadjustable turntable having a stack of records thereon adapted to be supported as a unit or in part on the turntable when playing a record, a sound reproducing unit operable in a given plane of movement for playing engagement with one or another of the records, ratchet feed means for adjusting said turntable to different elevations for bringing the respective records to the playing elevation oi' the reproducing unit, and adjustable means for selectivesupporting engagement with and for elevating those records in the stack above the record to be played to provide an overhead clearance therefor, said record-supporting and elevating means including laterally-adjustable elements disposed at opposite sides of the turntable for movement into and out of supporting engagement with one or another of the records, and elevating members disposed alongside said laterally-adjustable elements for movement independently thereof and having means thereon engageable with the latter for moving them laterally at predetermined times into and out of supporting engagement with a record and for coupling such elements therewith tomove in unison with said elevating members.l

2. In an automatic phonograph, a verticallyadjustable turntable having a stack of records thereon for successive play from top to bottom of the stack and adapted to be supported as a unit or in part on the turntable when playing a record, a sound reproducing unit operable in a given plane of movement for playing engagement with one or another o i.' the records, means for adjusting said turntable in step by step fashion a predetermined distance to different elevations for bringing the respective records to the playing elevation of the reproducing unit, and adjustable means for selective supporting in the stack above the record to be played to4 provide an overhead Vclearance` therefor, said play, said means including a drive shaft, a pair of reversely driven shafts geared to said driven record-supporting and' elevating means Iincluding laterally-adjustable elements pivoted intermediate their upper and lower ends and disposed at opposite sides of the turntable for movement to bring their upper ends into and out of supporting engagement with one or another of. the records, elevating members disposed alongside said laterally-adjustable elements for movement independently thereof and having means thereon engageable with the lower ends of the latter for moving them'at predetermined times into and out of supporting engagement with a record and for coupling such elements therewith to move in unison with said elevating members, driven means operatively connected to said elevating members for raising and lowering them, clutch means for controlling said driven means to raise and lower the elevating members, and means for automatically governing said clutch means.

3. In an automatic phonograph, a verticallyadjustable turntable having a stack of records thereon adapted to be supported as a unit or in part on the turntable when playing a record, a sound reproducing unit operable in a given plane of movement for playing engagement with one or another of the records, means for adjusting said turntable to differentelevations for bringing the respective records to the playing elevation of the reproducing unit, and adjustable means for selective supporting engagement with and for elevating those records in the stack above the record to be played to provide an overhead clearance therefor, said record-supporting and elevating means including laterally-adjustable elements disposed at opposite sides of the turntable for movement into and out of supporting engagement with one or another of the records, elevating members disposed alongside said laterally-'adjustable elements and having means thereon engageable with the latter for moving them at predetermined times into and out of supporting engagement with a record and for coupling such. elements therewith to move in unison with said elevating members, driven means operatively, connected to said elevating members for raising and lowering them, independent clutch means for controlling said driven means to govern the up and down-stroke movements of the elevating members, respectively, means operatively conected to the up-stroke controlling clutch means for initiating its clutchengaging position, means operatively connected to the down-stroke controlling clutch means and governed by the tone arm when it reaches the end of its playing position for initiating such clutch means to clutch-engaging position, and means operatively connected to both of said clutch means for shifting them to clutch-releasing positions at predetermined times inthe up and down-stroke movements of the elevating members.

4. In an automatic phonograph, a turntable having a stack of records thereon adapted to be supported as a unit or in part on the turntable when playing a record, adjustable means for selective supporting engagement with and for elevating those records in the stack above the record to be played to provide an overhead clearance therefor, and means for actuating said adjustable means'for eiecting the splitting of the record stack for playing a given record and for restoring the stack to its initial position after shaft and adapted to be operatively connected to said adjustable means for governing its recordsupporting positions and its up and down-strokes, respectively, clutch means associated with said driven shafts for governing their operative'connection to said adjustable means, means operatively connected to one of said clutch means for controlling its movement to clutch-engaging position to actuate the adjustable means to stacksplitting posi-tion, means operatively connected to the other clutch means for controlling its movement to clutch-engaging position to actuate the adjustable means to stack-restoring position; and means for restoring the respective clutch means to clutch-releasing position at predetermined times in the up. and down-stroke movements of `said adjustable means.

5. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm, a vertically-adjustable turntable adapted to support a plurality of records in stack-like fashion for successive play from top to bottom of the stack, means selectively engageable with one or another yof 'the records for supporting and elevating those records above a record to be played to provide an overhead clearance space for the operation of .the tone arm, means for actuating said record-engaging means to provide such overhead 'clearance, ratchet feed means correlated with said actuating means and said turntable and operable at a predetermined time in the selecting cycle of the former for vertically adjusting the turntable -to successively varying elevations to play the several records at the operating elevation of the tone arm, and means operatively engageable with said ratchet feed turntable elevating means for releasing the latter from said actuating means at a predetermined time in the maximum elevational adjustment of the turntable whereby to permit rthe turntable to be restored to its initial or lowest position oi' adjustment. 6. In an automatic phonograph, a vertically'- adjustable turntable adapted to support a plurality of records thereon in stack-like fashion for successive playing from the top to the bottom of the stack, releasable drive means for elevating said turntable in step by step fashion to successively bring the records thereon to a common selective playing elevation, means engageable with one or another of the records for supporting and elevating those records above a record to be played vto provide an overhead clearance space therefor and for returning such records onto the turntable after playing of the selected record, a sound reproducing unit movable in the space provided over the selected record for playing engagement therewith, means correlated 'with said releasable drive means for automatically releasing it for elevating engagement .with .the turntable after Ithe bottom record has been played to cause the turntable to drop by gravity to its initial position, and means for actuating the foregoing mearls.

7. In an automatic phonograph, a'verticallyadjustable turntable adapted' to support a plurality of records thereon in stack-like fashion for successive playing from the top to the bottom of the stack, releasable drive means for elevating said turntable instep by step fashion to successively bring the records thereon to a common selective playing elevation, means engageable with one or another of the records for supporting and elevating those records above a vrecord to be played to provide an overhead clearance space therefor and for returning such records onto the turntable after playing of the selected record, a sound reproducing unit movable in the space provided over the selected record for playing engagement4 therewith, an oscillatory verticallyadjustable support for said reproducing unit i'or elevating the latter clear o! the record after its playing and before the return o( the elevated portion oi.` the record-stack on to the turntable, means for actuating said reproducing unit suppor-t at predetermined times in the playing cycle to bring it into and out of playing engagement with a record, means operatively connected to RISING sUN STATE BANK,

0 Administrator of the Estate of John W. Whitlock,

Deceased, l

By LUCIAN HARRIS.

Its President.

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