The record-union., 1893-12-13
SETTING TYPE BY WIRE.
An Electric Invention by Which Type
Is Set in Distant Places.

Is Set IN Distant Places.
Donald Murray, a newspaper man of
Sydney, New South Wales, employed on
the Sydney Morning Herdtd, has invented
and patented, in this and other countries,
device which bids fair to revolutionize
| the methods 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, buI it 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 a
dozen different places. In this operation
only ordinary teiegraphic currents are
used. such as are capable of being relayed
and are subject to all conditions OF or
binary telegraphy. The work can be done
with the same speed as an ordinary type
writer Is operated, and dispenses with all
clock-work mechanism, spontaneously
moving type wheels and other cumbrous
devices. 1t is said to be capable of man
ipulating some eighty different charac-
ters.
Ihe invention consists of two very sim
pie elements. One is transmitter and
transmits certain combination of five
short positive and negative currents.
Inc other is an interpreter by the pas
sage through which of a certain com bina-
! ton OF positive and negative currents q
lever IS released and makes electrical
contact, thus energizing particular cleo
tromagnet, which operates a typekey. A
given combination of currents only un-
locks certain corresponding key. The
transmitter consists of thIrty-two ele-
| ments. arranged like the keys of a type
writer, together with shiftkey arrange
ments similar to those on the typewriter,
and the Interpreter is equipped to corre-
spond.
The Scientific Anaerica3, gives the fol-
lowing description of the mechanism and
use OF the invention:
1.-The transnitter has a series of KEYS,
each consisting of rod operating pecu-
I1arIy constructed pole changer, and COM
prlses commutator having on The side
parallel rows of stationary contacts con-
nected in parallel with the line, and hav-
ing portion OF the connections crossed,
the commutator having its top surface
inclined aud its lower surface inclined at
right angles to the inclination OF the top
surface,a key sliding adjacent to the COM
mutator, and a contact block having
spring connection with the key-carrying
contacts adapted to connect with surface
of 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 the contacts
of the commutator. The interpreter COM
prises series of electro magnets adapted
to connect with a line through mechan-
ism for printing character or operating
a key of the keyboard machine, each
quadrant having series OF teeth in diff
ferent combination from the teeth of any
other quadrant in the series. Swinging
detents adapted to be actuated by the
magnets engage the teeth of the quad
rants, and electrically and automatically
rotated shafts adapted to be set in motion
by the closing of the circuit in which the
quadrants are arranged to carry mechan
ism to return the quadrants to locked po-
sition. One of the transmitter keys op-
crates the space key of the typewriter
and three other transmitter keys operate
the shiftkey mechanism, shifting the cap
itals, lower case, or figures. When the
paper carriage OF the typewriter comes to
the end of a line it may be returned by
the attendant at the receiving station or
by an automatic mechanism provided for
this purpose. The galvanometer on the
main line at each station indicates when
current is passing. When the instru-
ments are not in use the bells are put in
circuit, and, when the interpreters are
left in circuit, the operator at either sta
ton can send message to the other sta
tiQn, where it will be recorded on the
typewriter without an attendant being
present, the process being automatic, and
it being only necessary to provide a suffl-
cient amount of paper in the typewriter to
receive the message. New Orleans Pic
ayune.