2. On the Action of the Microphone

Extract

In the microphone transmitter, as usually employed in circuit with a battery and a Bell telephone, we have essentially two pieces of carbon resting lightly against each other, through which the current passes. That the instrument may work effectively two things are requisite,—first, that the carbons be always in contact, or at least sufficiently near for the current to pass between them; and, secondly, that they be not pressed together so tightly as to prevent any motion of the one relatively to the other. This state of things is sufficiently well described by the term “loose contact,” first used, I believe, by Professor Stokes.