The Indianapolis journal., 1885-06-23
A GREAT DISCOVERY.
A Mode of Telephoning or Telegraphing
Without the Use of Batteries.

FoRr WORTH. Tex. June 22.-For three years
past T. " Brown. of this city, has been at work
on an invention on which patent was allowed
last week, but which has not been issued yet, at
the REQUEST of Brown TO his lawyers in Washing
ton The invention is a magnetic telephone and
telegraph without batteries, new system Of
transmitting sound and the human voice without
using batteries ef any kind. Brown hes had a
hard time perfeeting his invention, being refused
aid by those to whom he applied. A
short time ago Edwin f. Masterson, a
lawyer of means and well acquainted
with prominent Eastern telegraph and telephone
men, saw the instrument, tested it. and at once
wrote to director of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company and president of the Overland
Telephone Company, setting forth the wonderful
workings of the invenuon. The Western Union
official went to Gen. Charles A. Tinker and
asked him to issue instructions to some expert
enced manager in a Texas Office at Fort
Worth to have the instrument tested over the
Western Union lines and report to him at once.
G.! J. FraHke manager here received the in
structions ana ordered the Cleburne manager to
assist him. This afternoon, at l o'clock. Mr..
Frankei Dir. Brown. the inventor. Mr. Master
son, j. Fl. Murphy and Robert u.
Moore, operators. and the correspondent
Fort Worth Office Mr. Granger. electrician
and G. M. Bouder. manager at Cleourne. were
in the Cleburne Office The batteries on the line
were cut off from the wire, thrty-eight miles
long, and the magnate traLsmitter and receiver
attached at both ends of the line For two
hours the test went on. all parties talking and
the operators by tapping on the diaphragm OF
the instrument telegraphing to the Cleburne
operator, and receiving an answer In the same
manner. The voices of the Cleburne parties
gup a
the absence of all foreign noises interfering
with and incident to other systems
After the test was completed General Tinker
wasH telegraphed: Referring to your letter of
June IA. test made over a thirty-eight- mile cir
cult; worked satisfactorily, without particle of
battery Full report by mail tomorrow.
FRANKEL."
The instrument used to-day was composed of
two ounces of wire and half pound of steel,
and can be made for 25 cents The transmtter
is simply a horseshoe magnet either pole being
covered with fine wire, coiled carefully. The
armature is disk of Steel against which the
voice is thrown, transmitted through tie magnet
TO the wire. The receiver is similar, with
smaller magnet 1t is claimed by the inventor
that he transmit the voice around the
world or across the Atlantic ocean, there being
no limit to distance, all that Is necessary being
the increase in the size of magnet The one
used to-day, weighing half pound, was capable
of transmitting the voice seventy-fve miles.
The cost of batteries is said to be $l00 600 year
~ Whlch would De saved Dy bnlS Invention. In
telegraphing, the key attachment now in
nse would be applied, but very little
noise would he made. The receiving operator
would have disk attached to his ear. hung by a
hook in a cap or strapped around his head. The
noise now incident to telegraph Offices would be
done away with No one could steal informa
ton transmitted to pool-rooms stock exchanges,
etc. The telegraph would be absolutely secret.
The inventor says, further, that the instruments
could be carried on all trains, and. in case of
accident between stations, could be attached to
telegraph wire and notice given to any station
just where the accident had occurred. its nature,
etc, and this done in few seconds. lie also
says miner or diver could take an instrument
attached to insulated wire go into mine or
water pay out wire and converse with person
at the other end. Messrs Brown and Masterson
go to New York this week. when Mr.. Brown will
make arrangements to obtain patents in France,
Germany and England. These being secured,
he will permit thepa to issue in this country.
1t is possible the Western Union will buy the
Datent.