IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by David M'Callum at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th October
1859.
I, DAVID M'CALLUM, of Plymouth, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS," to be as follows:-
. This Invention has for its object improvements in electric telegraphs, and
consists in marking thread, yarn, string, cord, or other suitable flexible material
with consecutive transverse marks of ink or other marking material by the aid
of apparatus put in motion by electro-magnets or other suitable electric or
magnetic apparatus as is herein-after described.
Thus an electric telegraph for the purpose of recording telegraphic train
signals on railways is arranged in the following manner:-The thread, yarn, or
other suitable material to receive the marks is wound on a bobbin or reel, and
the end of the thread or material is also connected with another bobbin or.
reel, which, each time that a signal is transmitted in either direction, is acted
on by an electro-magnet or suitable electric or magnetic apparatus. This is
most conveniently done by giving motion by a ratchet wheel to the axis of the
bobbin or reel. The thread, yarn, or suitable material is also drawn forward"
at regular intervals whenever a time signal is transmitted to the instrument
from a clock or other time-keeper by means also of an electro-magnet or other
suitable electric or magnetic apparatus, the divisions of time being arranged
according to the particular object to be accomplished. When a train signal is
TJ .J.I

page_text: sent from one station to another, the thread or material will be caused, as
hereafter explained, to receive one or more transverse marks across it,
according as one or more electric currents are used for producing the said
signal, and it is preferred that the mark or marks for signals sent to a distant
station should be made with a marking material of one color, and that the
signals received from the distant station should mark the thread or material
with a different color. Thus it will be seen that the marks will be made on
the thread, yarn, or material in regular succession according to the order in
which the respective signals are made, and the signals made by one signal
station will be distinguished by their color from those made by the other
signal station, and the intervals of time will be indicated by distinctive blank
spaces caused to be left on the thread, yarn, or material by the time signals,
which cause the thread to be drawn forward but not to receive a mark; or, if
preferred, the time signals may-be marked in a distinctive colour or colours.
The following is the manner in which the marks are produced on the thread,
yarn, or material: The thread, yarn, or material as it passes from the
containing reel or bobbin to the receiving reel or bobbin passes over or near
but at a short distance from suitable ridges, one for each color employed.
These ridges are constantly supplied with colouring fluid from color vessels or
reservoirs, so that when the thread, yarn, or material is depressed or moved,
and comes in contact with one or other of the ridges or surfaces supplied with
coloring fluid, it becomes marked across its surface, and the necessary.
depression or motion is produced when a signal is transmitted, by means of a
wiré or small finger affixed to the keeper of an electro-magnet or suitable
electric or magnetic apparatus, which is brought into action by an electric
current. In this manner the thread, yarn, or material may be marked across
once, twice, or more times, according to the number of times the signal is
repeated. When a signal is transmitted in the contrary direction another
electro-magnet or electric or magnetic apparatus is brought into action, and
the thread, yarn, or material is deflected on to the other marking surface.
The two electric or magnetic apparatus may either be worked by different line
wires or with one line wire, and relays or otherwise. The same electric or
magnetic apparatus which deflects the thread or material also causes it to
travel forward before or after the mark is made, and so to leave a blank space
to separate the marks. Two or more threads or lengths of material may be
marked at one time to obtain several copies of the register if desired. When
arranging an electric telegraph for general purposes then the thread, yarn, or
material will in a similar manner be caused to move a short distance, and be
marked with ink or coloring fluid transversely across by each transmission of a

page_text: current of electricity, whether by galvanic or magnetic apparatus, the thread,
yarn or material being deflected out of its course each time by a suitable finger
or wire actuated by one or more electro-magnets or other suitable electric or
magnetic apparatus, and the marking may be in one or more colors according
to fixed codes. When only one color is employed the reel or bobbin which
carries the thread; or material forward may be in connection with a train of
wheels moved by a spring or weight or otherwise, and the marks must be
distinguished into short or long according as the electric current is in action.
for a shorter or longer time. When two or more colours are employed the
reel or bobbin may be carried forward either by a train of wheels as above
described, or by the direct action of the electro-magnet, or other. electric or
magnetic apparatus that is used for depressing the thread or material, and the
marks may be in the former case either a combination of short and long marks
of the various colours, or, in the latter case a combination of different coloured
marks, all however, equal in length, and producing an "all-dot code," which
will occupy considerably less time for the transmission of a given telegram thaṇ
do the present well-known dot-and-dash codes. This instrument may be used
by the aid of one or more line wires, or by the intervention of relays or other
similar apparatus. The various transverse marks of one or more colours, as
the object in view may require, may also be made by moving the ink or colours
to the thread, yarn, or material instead of the thread or material to the colour,
and this may be accomplished by causing the wire or finger when at rest to
be in the colour, and when moved by the electric actions hereiu-before
described to convey colour to the thread or material, or two threads or other
suitable material of one color may be made to pass over and near two different
colored ink surfaces, and one part of the letters be transferred to one thread,
and the other part of the letters to the other thread in manner herein-before
described, both threads being necessary for one message, or two threads of
different colors may be used and made to pass over one colored ink or dye,
and the marks made on one colored thread, being certain portions of letters,
and the marks made on the other colored thread making up the number of
symbols necessary to complete the other portion of the letters, both threads
forming the message when laid side by side and read. Although I prefer to.
employ thread, yarn, string, or cord to receive the marks which register the
signals, and the marking on thread, yarn, string, or cord is an important
feature of this Invention, still the apparatus herein-before described may be
employed to mark in like manner narrow strips of paper or narrow woven
fabrics if desired.
By thus using thread yarn, or such like material, and marking the same

page_text: transversely across as above explained, the record obtained will occupy a very
small space, even if it be of a very extensive series of electric telegraphic
signals or communications, and such thread, yarn or like material may be
wound up in hanks or otherwise.
And it is only desirable further to add that in arranging the receiving
cylinder or reel on to which the thread or yarn is wound as it comes off the
containing bobbin that the quantity unwound at each signal should be kept
uniform.