IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPH POSTS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Sharrock, of Aigburth, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TELEGRAPH POSTS."
Scaled the 19th December 1871, and dated the 8th August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Sharrock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th August 1871.
I, SAMUEL SHARROCK, of Aigburth, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPH POSTS," to be as follows:-
These posts consist of a cast-iron socket or foot piece fixed into a cast-
iron disc or base, which is buried in the ground, and wrought-iron tubes
made in lengths and galvanized; the lower length fits on to the socket
or foot piece with a cone joint, and the lengths above fit the one on the
other with similar joints; the disc or base is cast with a hole in the
centre with a very coarse screw thread within it, and the socket or foot
piece is cast with a corresponding thread to screw into it, or it simply

page_text: drops through the hole, and a cotter passed through the socket or foot
piece, by preference, below the disc keeps it in its place; or in place of
using a cotter there may be projections on the socket or foot piece, and
when it has passed through the hole in the disc it may be turned partly
round, so that it cannot return. Hitherto these telegraph posts have
been made of various strengths for different strengths or weight of wires
or different positions on a line of telegraph, but each such varying post
was a separate and irrelative post for its own specific purpose and had
no relation to posts of another size or form.
The posts constructed according to my Invention are so arranged that
each and every different size or strength of post forms a part of a series,
so that whilst each may form a separate and distinct post for a special
purpose and strength, yet each such post is made to fit and join the
others, so that out of the different sized posts required for distinct
purposes masts or high posts of different and desired heights may be
at once formed on the spot; thus preventing much delay and waste of
money. Any two tubes in the series form a post of, by preference,
about 16 feet out of the ground, whilst the strengths bear such a pro-
portion to each other that of a line formed generally of one size of post
the next stronger size will form angle or terminal posts for it, or when
it is desirable to increase the heights of the posts for ravines or other
purposes, three, four, five, or more tubes may be at once fitted together
readily on the spot.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Sharrock in the Great Seal Patent Office 2
on the 7th February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
SHARROCK, of Aigburth, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 3
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Samuel Sharrock, Her special license that I,
the said Samuel Sharrock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or 3.

page_text: such others as I, the said Samuel Sharrack, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPH POSTS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Sharrock, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Sharrock, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
These posts consist of a cast-iron socket or foot piece fixed into a
cast-iron disc or base which is buried in the ground, and wrought-iron
tubes made in lengths and galvanized. The lower length fits on to the
socket or foot piece with a cone joint, and the lengths above fit the
one on the other with similar joints. The disc or base is cast with a
hole in the centre with a very coarse screw thread within it, as is shewn
by Figures 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the socket or foot
piece is cast with a corresponding thread to screw into it, or it simply
drops through the hole, and a cotter passed through the socket or foot
piece, by preference below the disc, keeps it in its place, as is shewn by
Figures 2 of the Drawings; or in place of using a cotter there may be
projections on the socket or foot piece, and when it has been passed
through the hole in the disc it may be turned partly round so that it
cannot return. This arrangement is shewn by Figures 3 of the Drawings.
Hitherto these telegraph posts have been made of various strengths
for different strengths or weight of wires, or different positions on a line
of telegraph, but each such varying post was a separate and irrelative
post for its own specific purpose, and had no relation to posts of another
size or form.
The posts constructed according to my Invention are so arranged that
each and every different size or strength of post forms a part of a series,

page_text: so that whilst each may form a separate and distinct post for a special
purpose and strength, yet each such post is made to fit and join the
others, so that out of the different sized posts required for distinct pur-
poses masts or high posts of different and desired heights may be at once
formed on the spot, thus preventing much delay and waste of money.
Any two tubes in the series form a post of by preference about sixteen
feet out of the ground, whilst the strengths bear such a proportion to
each other that of a line formed generally of one size of post the next
stronger sizes, will form angle or terminal posts for it; or, when it is
desirable to increase the heights of the posts for ravines or other pur-
poses, three, four, five, or more tubes may be at once fitted together
readily on the spot. Thus Figures 4 of the Drawings represent posts
constructed with a regular series of tubes all eight feet long, and marked
A, B, C, D, and E, whilst the sockets and caps bear the letters of the
tubes into which they fit. Any two tubes in this series form a post
about sixteen feet high out of the ground, whilst the strengths of each
(which are varied by using different thicknesses of metal) bear such a
relative proportion to each other that in a line formed generally of one
size of post the next higher sizes would form angle or terminal posts
for it. Thus if the line were generally made of posts A, B, the angle
posts might be B, C, and the terminals C, D; or, when it is desired to
vary the heights 3, 4, or 5 tubes may be fixed together, as shewn in
Figures 5 of the Drawings, which include combinations of,-
A RC

page_text: its socket Z forming a post A, Z.
Further, when it is desired to
lengthen post B, C, less than eight feet, which is done by adding A or D
(according to the strength required) smaller tops three, four, five, or six
feet long can be used. Specimens of these are shewn in the Drawings
"
as 0 feet" or "4 feet tops for B."
The system may be extended still further than is shewn in the
Drawings by using additional lengths, which will produce a mast of
uniform appearance and strength and of any required height. The
joints being made by the ready means of fitting similar cones together
are most simple, and can be put together with the greatest facility on
the spot where the post is to be used. For use with these poles brackets
are shewn at Figures 6 and 6*.
Figure 6 shews a modification of a bracket which with the same class
of insulators allows the wires to be placed at alternate heights so as
to avoid weather contact, the set piece being filed away more or less
according to the circumference it is to fit.
Figures 6* shew a double bracket intended chiefly for use with
post A, Z, or it may be used with post A, B, whilst if a second pair of
wires be afterwards required brackets of the ordinary pattern can be
used, being fixed on by bolts as usual. The double bracket is intended
only for the upper wires, and to slip on to the top of the post, being
kept in its place by a set screw.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that what
I claim is, the construction of telegraph posts substantially as described.
I also claim the construction of the socket or foot piece and disc or
base substantially as described in respect to Figures 1, 2, and 3.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Sharrock, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.