IMPROVEMENTS IN LAYING WIRES FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Fowler, of Temple Gate, Bristol, in the-
County of Somerset, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LAYING WIRES FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS."
Sealed the 12th January 1858, and dated the 21st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Fowler at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 21st October 1852.
I, JOHN FOWLER, of Temple Gate, Bristol, in the County of Somerset,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LAYING WIRES FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of attaching properly insulated wire to a
plough or cutter having a moulding end suitably arranged for making
a hole at any desired depth in the ground; and thus, as the cutter
progresses, the prepared wire is drawn into the hole formed at the lower
end of the cutter; and in cases where the wire is desired to be protected
by tubes, the tubes are also drawn into the earth in like manner with
the wire, and similarly to that in which tubes have been before drawn
into the earth for draining.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Fowler in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN FOWLER, of Temple Gate, Bristol, in the County of Somerset, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Fowler, Her special
licence that I, the said John Fowler, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Fowler, 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 LAYING WIRES FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Fowler, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and scal, 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 John Fowler, 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):
My Invention consists of attaching properly insulated wire to a plough
or cutter having a moulding end suitably arranged for making a hole
at any desired depth in the ground; and thus, as the cutter progresses,
e prepared wire is drawn into the hole formed at the lower end of the
cutter and in cases where wire is desired to be protected by tubes, the

page_text: tubes are also drawn into the earth in like manner with the wire, and
similarly to that in which tubes have been before drawn into the earth
for draining. And in order that the Invention may be fully understood,
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means
pursued by me.
:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, shows a side view of a plough or apparatus suitable for
drawing wire into the earth for telegraphic purposes; Figure 2, is a
plan of the same; and. Figure 3, shows a separate view of the form of
the foot of the coulter I prefer. a, a, and b, b, are the wheels or rollers
upon which the machine runs. When in use, the wheels a, a, are carried
by the frame a'; and one end of the frame a', is supported by a pin on
the frame a', by which the wheels a, a, will be permitted to accommo-
date themselves to the irregularities of the surface of the soil. The
wheels b, b, swing upon the chain attached to the frame a', a', and
when in work the plough is kept in a vertical position or steered in any
required direction by locking the wheels b, b, cither to the right or left
by means of the pole d. e, is the coulter, to which is attached the foot
f, which has a slot formed therein with a dovetail end to receive the
dovetail edge of the end of the coulter e, and it is made fast to the
coulter by the wedge f'. The foot f, of the coulter e, I prefer to be of
the shape shewn at Figure 4, the part f, about two inches from the
front end being broadest, so that it may pass through the land with less
friction on the back part; and I prefer to make the broadest part of a
moveable surface or front of steel or other metal that can be rivetted or
otherwise fixed on and replaced when worn down. I would remark
that, although I have shown the plough arranged for horse power, I do
not confine myself thereto, as steam power may be employed with great
facility, as will readily be understood by reference to a Sepecification of
a Patent for Improvements in Machinery for Draining Land, granted
me of the same date as the present Letters Patent.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that

page_text: what I claim is the mode herein described of laying wires for electric
telegraphs.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Fowler, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
FRED HARRIS.
JOHN FOWLER, JUN³. (L.S.)