The Portland daily press., 1882-09-02
A NEW INVENTION.
The Judkins' & Shaw. Patent Electric
Alarm.

Mr.. henry e. Judkins, the well known con
ductor on the Maine Central railroad, mas III
vented and perfected new electric system OF
alarm signals for railway trains, which IS IN
tended to take the place of bell ropes now IN
use on passenger trains.
A common salt battery is located in an upper
corner of the locomotive cab, from which runs
an insulated wire, that is permanently attach
ed to each passenger coach, and is coupled be-
tween the engine and first coach, and between
the other coaches with automatic couplers. AT
convenient and accessible points in each coach
are push knobs for the purpose OF transmitting
to the engineer any desired signal. A pressure
of one of these knobs or buttons rings gong
in the locomotive cab The signals thus trans
mitted are as quick as lightning, and are accu-
rate; by them the engineer is informed 10
start, stop or back the train Now 1t Is well
known fact to all railway managers and en-
ployes that as transmitting signal, either Of
danger or convenience, for freight or passen-
ger trains, the bell cord now in use has rem
dered imperfect service, and is always getting
out of order. 1t ia practically useless hVe cars
back from the locomotive, and IN cases OF
emergency the conductor is not always sure
that the engineer has received his signal. In
the history of railroads many lives have been
lost from the inability of the conductor to in
stantly signal the engineer to stop, by means OF
the clumsy bell rope, In another way the
Judkins' & Shaw signal will prove Of great
service, viz: in stopping trains at flag stations.
Now, If it be at night, q lamp is hung out az
the side of the train to notify the engineer to
stop at certain station but if the night proves
foggv. the engine driver often has great diff
Guilty in seeing the light and moreover he is
subject to the inconvenience and hazard OF
keeping his head out of the cab portion OF
the time. By the new alarm system he can be
notiGed by prs-arranged signal. In the day
time, the engineer, at present, receives notiti-
cation to start from station by wave OF the
hand, and at night by the swaying OF a lam
tern,-uncertain methods, which can be done
away with by the new system. The inventor
of the electric alarm signal gives the following
reasons why his system is superior to all others:
First-It is always ready to work, and can
not be O 1t of order without instantly signaling
the engineer.
Seconds is automatic and cannot be tam
stast notice to the engineer.
Third-It is an open circuit system, and the
battery Is in use only at the instant kthe signal
is transmitted, hence no battery material is
wasted.
Fourth-The battery requires little or no at
tention; it is always clean and will not freeze,
and can bs transferred from one engine to an
other.
Fifth-Ice, sleet, snow or rain cannot impair
its accurate working at all times
Sixth-When train Aen forget to unsnap
the bell rope while shifting, the rope is drawn
rapidly through the coach, endangering pas
ssngers' heads and breaking lamps and win
dows Unfortunately. In our system. the
automatic COUPLER simply draws apart and
no damage is done.
bell rope through crowded aisles If passenger
coaches becomes necessary, as tho coupling is
made outside, at each end of the coaches.
Eighth-There is no possible means OF rem
dering our system useless on railway trains
without maliciously destroying it.
Ninth-This system can be applied to
freight as we'll as passenger train, and great
saving of property AMI rolling stock exper1-
enced. By placing battery and gong IN the
caboose car of a freight train, the conductor
enjoys instantaneous signal communication
at all times with the engineer OF his train.
Should freight train break apart, with this
system the conductor is signalled at the same
instant with the engineer, which train men
understand is of the greatest Importance.
Tenth-Wish our system it matters not how
long the train. A signal can be given from
the rear end of train of fifty cars, as readily
and quickly as from the first car. Any person
capable of running railway train will thor
oughly understand its operation, and appreci-
ate its simplicity and accuracy.
Messrs, Judkins & Shaw have handsome
working model, about four feet long, consist
ing of a miniature car and locomotive; within
the car are two little knobs, by pressing W ich
q gong is rung in the toy engine. The coupler
the engine and coach of the model
is nearly full size. and admirably illustrates
the operation of this interesting and useful in
vention. The owners of the patent will nego-
tate with some responsible railroad supply
house to introduce the new alarm system.