Of all the mechanisms which have been designed for the transmission of
pictures electrically, that of N. S. Amstutz, of Valparaiso, Indiana, U.
S. A., in the author’s opinion, stands out as the most conspicuous, not
only for fine work, but for the cleverness of its accomplishment, the
first successful picture being sent in May, 1891, over a 25-mile wire in
eight minutes.
“Mr. Amstutz was not the first to send pictures over wire, but he was
the first to send pictures with halftones, the others were simply line
drawings. In this first method Mr. Amstutz used a relief photograph. The
amount of relief was in direct proportion to the amount of light which
had acted on the sensitive gelatine, resulting in an irregular surface,
representing in elevation all the variations of light and shade in a
regular picture.
“The picture received is actually a phonographic spiral around the
receiving drum carrying the celluloid sheet. When finished it is removed
from the cylinder and flattened out and a stereotype or electrotype made
from it for relief printing; or the engraved celluloid sheet can be
inked and printed immediately on the intaglio press.” (_From exhibit in
U. S. National Museum._)
[Illustration: THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN FROM THE RECEIVING MACHINE AFTER
HAVING BEEN TRANSMITTED EIGHT HUNDRED MILES OVER A TELEGRAPH WIRE. THE
INTERNATIONAL ELECTRO-GRAPH CO. NOV. 1ST, 1900. CLEVELAND, O.]
THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN FROM
THE RECEIVING MACHINE AFTER
HAVING BEEN TRANSMITTED EIGHT
HUNDRED MILES OVER A TELEGRAPH
WIRE.
THE INTERNATIONAL
ELECTRO-GRAPH CO.