IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CONDUCTORS, AND IN THE METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME; ALSO IN THE MACHINERY AND IN THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN OTHER MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Donald Nicoll, of Oakland's Hall, West End,
Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CONDUCTORS,
AND IN THE METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME; ALSO IN THE MACHINERY AND
IN THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN OTHER MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
Sealed the 27th August 1867, and dated the 11th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Donald Nicoll at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
March 1867.
I, DONALD NICOLL, of Oakland's Hall, West End, Kilburn, in the County
of Middlesex, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CONDUCTORS,
AND IN THE METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME; ALSO IN THE MACHINERY AND IN
THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN OTHER MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," to be as follows:-
In order fully to understand my present Invention, I refer to the several
methods for effecting similar objects, as described in my Specification dated
February 15th 1866, No. 480; and in order further to improve upon such
methods before laying conducting wires, as therein set forth, in rigid sections

page_text: and in semi-tubes or troughs, or blocks, of insulating substances, I prepare
them in the following manner :-I take a wire of the required length, and by
a machine which I term a twisting, plaiting, or braiding machine, I twist or
plait, or braid upon the said wire a strand or strands of hemp, jute, cotton,
wool, or any such fibrous substance. This machine I move by foot treddle,
giving a double movement, so as to effect the covering of the wire, except
within one or more inches from each end of the wire. I may use steam
power, or may use any of the known methods of covering wire with fibrous
substances. I then dip or roll the covered wire in a bath of bitumen, gas
pitch, or tar, or asphalte, or any of the known insulating substances, and when
in a plastic condition, such being by preference produced by heat, I then roll
or press the insulating material into the covering of the wire, causing it to
collect in such rolling any hardening matter or substance needful for hot or
cold climates. I then repeat the dipping or rolling, and if the insulating sub-
stance has been previously heated I allow it between each dipping to become
cool and firm, and I may then again cover the wire thus coated with another
coil or plait or covering of a fibrous substance, and again repeat the process
of further insulation, as above described; or I may take a wire of the required
length, and except at an inch or more from each end, I roll it into a canvass
tape made of hemp or cotton previously coated on one of its surfaces with
either of the known insulating substances capable of being made to adhere to
same. The covering process of the wire may then be facilitated by the use of
a clip and roller moved either by hand labour or steam, and when the coating
on the tape bas cooled or set into a plastic condition I place it on an even
surface. I prefer to use a heated plate or table, the surface of which is
rendered non-adhesive to any portion of the insulating substance which may
escape through the tape to the uncovered surface placed next the hot plate or
table on which it is rolled. When these operations are complete the covered
wires may be laid singly, or placed with others in troughs or moulds and
rendered solid, and laid in the manner described in the Specification herein
referred to, and they may be joined to other wires in the manner also described
in the said Specification; or they may be joined by the following new method:-
They will have one end of each wire split or opened for a short distance, so as
to receive the end of another wire sharpened. in the form of a wedge; over.
this junction I twist wire, or I place a prepared helix or twist of wire, which.
I tighten by pressure, and the points of junction of two sections of wires are
then ready for insulation in the way described in the Specification referred.
to; or the several junctions of wires may be coated by any insulating material
used capable of being employed in a plastic form, and in quantities to fill the

page_text: junction chamber, and I prefer to use any substance known to harden quickly,
but the nature of the insulating substances or any compound of the same with
other substances will be regulated by the temperature of the climate through
which the telegraph has to pass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Donald Nicoll in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DONALD
NICOLL, of Oakland's Hall, West End, Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex,
Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS er most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did,. for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Donald Nicoll, Her special licence that I, the said Donald Nicoll,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Donald Nicoll, 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 of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CONDUCTORS, AND IN THE METHOD OF PRE-
PARING THE SAME; ALSO IN THE MACHINERY AND IN THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN
OTHER MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Donald Nicoll, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Donald Nicoll, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In order that my present Invention may be fully understood, I refer to the
several methods for effecting similar objects, as described in my Specification

page_text: dated February 15th 1866, No. 480; and in order further to improve upon
such methods before laying conducting wires, as therein set forth, in rigid
sections, and in semi-tubes or troughs, or blocks, of insulating substances, I
prepare them in the following manner :-I take a wire of the length required
to be insulated, and by means of a twisting or plaiting machine I plait upon
the said wire strands of hemp, jute, cotton, wool, or other fibrous substance,
such strands being worked loose, so as to leave interstices or spaces for the
percolation and incorporation of the insulating compound.
The machinery or apparatus which I employ for this purpose is shewn in
the annexed Drawing, but other well-known machinery or apparatus for
covering with fibrous substances or manual labor may be employed for the
purpose.
The machine consists of a series of braiding spindles a, a, a, set vertically
in bearings resting on plates b, b, b, bolted together between standards c, c;
these spindles are provided with bobbins or reels d, d, supplied with fibrous
strands with which the wire is to be plaited. The machine is worked by a
horizontal shaft and bevel wheel e gearing with a bevel set on the central
shaft f; the spindles being all worked by cog wheels f' at the same speed are
caused to travel from place to place, being aided by stops g, g, which cause
the spindles to change their bearings continually, and to pass around the wire h,
crossing and recrossing the strands, and forming a loose plait around the wire,
which passes through the centre of the machine, or otherwise as convenient,
and is wound off by suitable apparatus. The wire is then ready for further
treatment with the insulating materials as described.
In the annexed Drawing five bobbins are shewn, but any number may be
used according to the substance of plait required. The wire when so covered
or previously to being so covered, is dipped in a bath of bitumen, asphalte, or
other insulating substance, and when in a plastic condition (such being by
preference produced by heat) the insulating material is pressed into and
through the interstices of the strands of the fibres covering the wire, so as to
fill all the interstices and saturate the fibrous substances thoroughly with the
insulating material; and for facilitating this filling and saturation of the
interstices, I use a roller worked by hand, or any suitable apparatus. The
percolation and incorporation of the insulating material may also be facilitated
by rolling the covered wires after dipping and covering between flat surfaces,
as on a table, to which the insulating material will not adhere, care being
taken to prevent the insulating material adhering to the surfaces. For
temporary purpose; a wire or wires,, or a section or sections of wires so
prepared and connected together as hereafter described may be laid under-

page_text: ground without the use of troughs or semi-tubes, which I should use for per-
manent purposes, as described in the Specification of my former Patent above
referred to. The dipping and rolling may be repeated as often as may be
thought desirable, and if the insulating substance has been previously heated,
I allow it between each dipping to become cool and firm. The wire thus
coated may be covered with another coil or plait or covering of a fibrous sub-
stance, and a further application of the insulating material, as above described.
And I would observe that such application of a further coating of the fibrous
and insulating material is advisable when the wire is to be laid in the ground
without tubes or troughs. When these operations are complete the covered
wires may be laid singly, or placed with others in troughs or moulds, and
rendered solid by pouring in bitumen or other insulating substance, and they
may be joined to other wires in the manner also described in the Specification of
my former Patent above referred to; by adequate pressure upon the several
points of junction a more perfect contact may be secured than by the means
therein described, but they may be joined by any of the well-known means of
joining wires.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim is,-
Covering conducting wires with strands of fibrous substances by plaiting
such wires with fibrous strands, and coating the wires so covered with
insulating materials, and joining the same together, as above described.
I also claim the use of the machinery and apparatus herein referred to
when the same is employed in and for the construction of electric telegraph
conductors, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Donald Nicoll, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
DONALD NICOLL. (L.S.)