Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04
SETTING TYPE BY WIRE,
An Electric Invention by Which Type
is Set in Distant Places.

~ DASeuht HAuScSs
From the New Orleans Picayune
Donald Murray, a newspaper man OF
Sydney, New South Wales, employed on the
Sydney Morning Herald, has invented and
patented. in this and other countries, a de-
vice which bids fair to revolutionize meth
obs OF newspapers all the world over
by this invention an operator in New
York. with a keyboard before him, like
that OF an ordinary typewriter, can not
only produce typewriter copy in New
orleans, but 1t is claimed, can operate a
typesetting machine here and deliver his
matter thus in lead ready for the FORMS
Not only that. but the same operator, by
using number of telegraph lines, can set
up the same copy simultaneously in dozen
different places. In this operation only
ordinary telegraphic currents are used such
as are capable of being relayed and are
subject to all conditions of ordinary telc-
graphy. The work can be done with the
same speed as ordinary typewriter is
operated, and dispenses with all ciockwork
mechanism, spontaneously moving type
wheels and other cumbrous devices. 1t is
said to be capable of manipulating some
eighty different characters
The invention consists of two very simple
elements. One is transmitter and trans
i'ito IL Vel tam OF I'VE Snort
positive and negative currents. The other
Is an interpreter by the passage through
winch or a certain combination of positive
and negative currents a lever is relea sed
and makes electrical contact, thus energiz-
ing particular electro-magnet which oner-
ates type key. A given combina ton of
currents only unlocks certain correspond
ing key. The transmitter consists of thi--
ty-two elements, arranged, like the keys OF
typewriter, together with shift key ar
H..
writer, and the interpreter is equipped to
correspond
Inc scientific American gives the follow
ing description of the mechanism and use
OF the invention: The transmitter has a
series of keys, each consisting of a rod
operating a peculiarly constructed pole
changer, and comprises a commutator hav-
ing on the side parallel rows of stationary
contacts connected in parallel with the line.
ana having portion of the connection
crossed, the commutator having it's top sur
race inclined. and its lower surface inclined
at right angles to the inclination of the top
surface, Key sliding adjacent to the COM
mutator, and contact block having a
spring connection with the key carrying
contacts adapted to connect with a surface
or electricity, the contact block being ar
ranged To move downward on one side of
the commutator. and to slide inward and
move upward. so as to make contact with
the contacts of the corlmutator
The Interpreter comprises a series of
electromagnetic adapted to connect with
a line through mechanism for printing a
character or operating a key of the key
board machine, each quadrant having a
series of teeth in a different combinat ton
from the teeth of any other quadrant in the
series. Swinging detents adapted to be
actuated by the magnet engage the teeth
OF the quadrants, and electrically and au-
tomatically rotated shafts adapted to be
set in motion by the closing of the circuit
in which the quadrants are arranged to
carry mechanism to return the quadrants
10 locked position. One of the transmitter
keys operates the space key of the type
writer. and three other transmitter keys
operate the shift key mechanism, shifting
the capital, lower case or figures.
When the paper carriage of the tyne
writer comes to the end of a line It may
be returned by the attendant al the receiy-
ing station or by an automatic mechanism
provided for this purpose. The galvanome-
ter on the main line at each station ind:-
Gates when a current is passing When
the instruments are not in use the bells
are put in circuit, and, when the interpre-
ters are left in circuit, the operator at
either station can send message to the
other station. where it will be recorded on
the typewriter, without an attendant being
present, the process being automatic, and
1t being only necessary to provide a sufi-
cient amount of paper in the typewriters to
receive the message.