The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-24
SETTING TYPE BY WIRE.
An Electrical Invention by Which
Type is Set in Distant Places.
From the New Orleans Picayune.

Type is SET IN distant HlaCeSs
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 device which bids fair to revolution
ize 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 typewritten copy in New
Orleans but, 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
dozen different places. In this operation
only ordinary Geographic currents are
used, such as are capable of being relayed
and are subject to all conditions of ordin-
ary biography. 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 manip-
ulating some eighty different characters.
The invention consists of two very sim
pie elements. One is q transmltter and
transmits certain combination Of five
short positive and negative currents. The
other is an interpreter, by the passage
through which of a certain combination
of positive and negative currents a lever
is released, and makes electrical contact,
! thus energiZing particular electro-mag-
net, which operates type key. A given
combination of currents only unlocks q
certain corresponding key. The trans
mitter consists of thirty-two elements,
| gether with shift-key arrangements, sim
liar to those on the typewriter, and the
| interpreter is equipped to correspond.
The Scientific American gives the fol-
| lowing description of the mechanism and
use OF the invention: 1.-THE transmitter
has series Of keys, each consisting Of a
| rod operating a peculiarly constructed
pole changer, and comprises commute
| tor having on the side parallel rows of
| stationary contacts connected in parallel
with the line, and having portion Of the
connection crossed, the commutator hav-
ing it's top surface inclined and its lower
| surface inclined at right angles TO the in
| clination of the top surface, a key sliding
adjacent to the commutator, and CON
tact block having spring connection
with the key-carrying contacts adapted
to connect with a surface of electricity,
| the contact block being arranged
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 commutator
The interpreter comprises a series of
electromagnetic adapted 10 connect with
line through mechanism for printing a
character or operating key of the key
board machine, each quadrant having a
series Of teeth in o different combination
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 automatically rotated shafts adapted
to be set in motion by the closing of the
circuit in which the quadrants are ar
ranged to carry mechanism to return the
quadrants to locked position. One Of the
transmitter keys operates the space key
of the typewriter and three other trans
mitter keys operate the shift-key mech
anism, shifting the capital, lower case or
figures.
When the paper carriage Of the type
writer comes to the end Of line, it may
be returned by the attendant at the re-
mechanism provided for this purpose
The galvanometer on the main line at each
station indicates when a current is pass
ing. When the instruments are not in
use the bells are put in circuit, and, when
the Interpreters are left in circuit, the
operator at either station can send a mes
sage to the other station, where 1t will be
recorded on the typewriter, without an
attendant being present, the process be-
ing automatic, and it being only neces-
sary TO provide sufficient amount Of pa
per in the typewriter TO receive the mes
sage.