The Amstutz System
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.)