The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-14
reIegraphic-slgnaI CAN.
ft.ou,.v,,lc Commercially

There was on exhibition yesterday after.
noon In Room No. 8, IN Chess, Cafley q
Co.'s building, a new invention by Mr. w.
", lie Grand, OF this city, which ne styles
a TeIegraph.Signa Call" The ins'ru..
ment has Just been perfected after sevrraI
months OF experimenting and study by Mr.:
lie Grand, and is protected br clyeat iiled
in the United States Patent Office.
The object OF this invention Is to provide
an instrument that will indicate by visible
signal that q l.graph station has been CALI
ed, the signal remaining visible until the
generator attends the instrument. IL oftens
happens, especially in small offices, that an
operator Is obliged to be absent from The
operating.room. In such case an operator
at another station Is obliged TO call until the
missing man returns. The invention OF
Mr.. lie Grand, BY raising a signal. makes II
necessary TO call but once. In addition 10
this signal an alarm-bell may be attached to
the instrument, which. being started once,
continues 10 sound until interrupted by the
operator who j. called.
The instrument on first notice Is not I'M
like the usual receiving instrument used IN
telegraph offices, and is OF about the same
Size, IL IL constructed upon base about
four by eight inches In It's dimensions, Is
placed i'm circuit with the local battery, ana
is CONTROL, d bv the relay. When the tele-
graph offices on line OF railroad are pro-
yidcd with this instrument, an operator ~
any station can call any other station by
milking a number Of breaks with the trans
hitting instrument corresponding win the
number of the station wanted. TINS sets
M signal, which remains until taken down
by a screw. When given ofhce Is calico,
no signal is displayed in any other Office, ana
no subsequent message passing over the
wires will interfere with the signals.
A large number Of gentlemen connected
with telegrapbing and railroads, and also
several scientists and capitalists, witnessed
the workings Of Mr.. lie Cranes instrument
Yesterday, and the general expression was
in ITS favor. Ii is undoubtedly u vice that
Will come into general use in the course OF
time, one OF the instruments being needed
in every telegraph Office in existence. Many
attempts have been made in the past TO in
vent an instrument for the purpose for
which this Invention is intended, but none
has so far succeeded a. 10 be ready 10 apply
for A patent, aS Mr.. lie Grand has done.
In addition TO IFS utility for telegraph
Offices this instrument can be attached to
The telephone. At present, when an alarm
u Clileu tuiOil8u ltlCPiV.it' y - h'hi"
through every instrument on the line. Be-
sides, il the operator at the Exchange or
Central Office call, patron who happens 10
be out be must call repeatedly until the
party returns.
By the use Ct lie Grand's sigHal-call no
bell would ring except that OF the parry
wanted. bat il a bell were one sounded
il would continue TO ring until answered.
Mr. lie Grand is native LOui>yilleln.
who has devoted his life TO inventions with
more than ordinary success. He l. the in
yentor and patentee of an electromagnetic
watchman's clock which is The most COM
ple,e device Of the kind ever made. II has
been patented in every country in the world
that issues patents. He has also invented
several appliances for steam.engines and
locomotives, and is now engaged on new
thermometer Tor time locks on bank-SaieS.
He is a contributor to some OF the leading
scientific journals OF the day.