IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS."
-A communication from abroad by Royal House, of the City of New
York, United States of America.
Sealed the 27th December 1864, and dated the 21st July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st July 1864.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-TELEGRAPHIC
APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of telegraphic apparatus,
which transmits signals by sounds, the sounds being produced by the deflection
of a suspended magnetic needle, which strikes against fixed metal bars or
sonorous limiters, forming a part of a sounding apparatus situate near the ear
of the telegram receiver when inscribing the transmitted message at his desk.
The deflection of the needle is effected by the traverse of the electric current
through a proportional magnetic helix of peculiar construction situate adjacent
thereto. The proportional helix is made up of a combination of helices, and

page_text: the number of helices employed for each proportional helix will depend on the
number of stations on the telegraphic line and their distance apart, and the
conducting power of the wires and the battery power employed. Thus, the
belices at the extremes of the line will contain more wire than those nearer
the centre, and the intermediate helix will contain the least amount of wire.
Each helix forming a component part of the proportional helix is to be wound
so as to leave the ends of the wire on the outside in order that they may be
joined to the adjoining helices and the line wire. Thus one half is wound in
one direction and the other in the opposite direction, and they are insulated by
an interposed plate of glass. Insulating plates are also used to separate the
helices as well as the parts of each helix, and the compound or proportional
helix thus formed is made hollow to receive the sonorous bars that are to be
acted upon by the needle. The proportional helix is fitted into a hinged box
or case, which opening at the middle opens out the helix to allow of ready
access to the deflecting needle. The sonorous bars against which the needle
beats are fixed to a circular metal plate which closes the larger end of a
conical tube situate within a larger metal cone affixed to the case containing
the proportional helix, and covering an aperture concentric with the central
opening in the helix. The needle is suspended horizontally by a torsion
thread or wire, and it bears against a knife edge carried by a bar parallel to
the sonorous limiters, which latter are so placed in the helix as to arrest the
deflections of the magnetic needle. In doing this they transmit a sound
produced by the beat of the needle against their ends, and this sound is
conducted by the cones before-mentioned to the ear of the attendant at the
receiving instrument. By the number of successive beats, denoting letters or
words, and the groups divided by intervals of time, the attendant reads the
transmitted letters, transmitting it to writing without removing his ear from
the sound conductor. The torsion wire is divided at about its middle, and
from the severed ends branch two threads or wires, which are connected to
rings that carry the needle at its extremities. The upper end of the divided
torsion wire is fixed to the centre of a spur pinion (suitably mounted), and its
lower end is coupled to a weight which depends through the centre of a
similar pinion (suitably mounted). A pin on this weight and a pin on the
pinion couples, the two together, so that the rotation of the pinion will effect
the torsion of the wire. By means of intermediate pinions gearing with.
pinions on a vertical shaft, the twist or torsion of both ends of the needles,
wire, or thread may be simultaneously regulated, it being requisite to make
that torsion equal to the duty of reacting upon the needle, and returning it
to its normal position when released from the attraction of the helix. The

page_text: torsion of the wire is regulated by an index hand working over a graduated
plate, the index hand being connected through any suitable gearing with the
vertical pinion shaft before-mentioned. Each revolution of the ends of the
torsion wire is noted by a fixed pointer and a graduated travelling band, and
the fractional parts are denoted by the index hand on the graduated plate.
Besides the adjustment of the torsion wire or needle suspender, it is necessary
also to provide a suitable electric adjuster, which shall be readily under the
command of the operator. To this end the following contrivance is adopted:―
Attached to a vertical board are three vertical glass tubes, the upper ends of
which are enlarged; their lower ends are cemented into faucets connecting
with tubes which extend to the under side of the attendant's desk to draw off*
the water in the glass tubes. The height of the tubes is also adjustable. Into
the glass tubes are inserted the regulating circuit wires, the lower ends of
which are made wedge-shaped, so as to fit the wedge-shaped receptacles in their
corresponding fixed poles, and they should be guided by lightly touching in
opposite directions the inside of the tubes. This may be done by crooking the
wire a short distance above the wedge-shaped pole. One adjusting circuit
wire is bent at the top of its tube, so that a portion is brought down parallel
to the tube, and held in any desired position by a binding screw. To this
part of the wire is fixed an index band, which points to the divisions on a
graduated scale fixed to the vertical board that carries this apparatus. The
circuit wires in the other glass tubes are made of a single piece of wire curved
in the centre that the ends may extend in similar directions parallel with each
other, suitable to be moved with ease up and down in the tubes by a rack
which is geared to a wheel on the shaft of the index hand of the graduated
plate before-mentioned. An index hand is fixed to this rack so as to point to
the divisions on an adjacent graduated scale. The rack works in suitable
guiles, and its movements upwards and downwards are limited by adjustable
stops, which gauge the different distances through which the circuit wires
shall be required to work. The rack wheel is loose on its shaft, and is turned
by friction plates, one of which it carries while the other is fixed to a spool on
the index hand shaft. A second friction plate on the opposite end of the
spool bears against the friction plate on a cog wheel, by which it is propelled.
The spool is worked by a weighted cord and wound round to the barrel of
the spool and attached to a treadle, so that the heft of the weight will revolve
the spool and bring up the treadle until it strikes a stop. The opposite
motion is produced by pressing down the treadle until it strikes a second stop.
The alphabet used in working this telegraph may be formed by any
approved arrangement of consecutive sounds made by the commutator, which

page_text: is worked by the operator, as practised in various telegraphs; the commutators,
batteries, and line of insulated wires are not changed from those already in use.
The regulation of the reacting torsion, suspension of the deflecting needle to
counterbalance the effects of the waste current of the line, may be effected to
the greatest nicety by merely turning the index hand on the dial plate, and
to regulate the current adjuster so as to increase the amount of electricity
passing through the helix when receiving a message, and also to increase the
force of the deflecting needle it is merely necessary to, depress the treadle, but
to adjust the current regulator to guage a smaller current through the helix
when not receiving a message, and to regulate the reacting force of the
needle the foot is raised and the weight of the cord on the barrel is allowed
to fall.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st January 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen. Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRO-TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS," being a, communication. from
abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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..

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of telegraphic apparatus
which transmits signals by sounds, the sounds being produced by the deflection
of a suspended magnetic needle, which. strikes against fixed metal bars or
sonorous limiters forming a part of a sounding apparatus situate near the ear
of the telegram receiver when inscribing the transmitted message at his desk.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1, Sheet I., represents a line of
insulated electric telegraph conductors A, A, A, A, A, connected at each end
with generators of electricity B, B, and thence. connected with the ground by
branch wires C,C, or their equivalents operated by commutators D, D, D, D, D.
A set of proportioned helices E, E, E, E, E, connected with the line so as to
be worked by branch currents of electricity gauged by current adjusters
F, F, F, F, F, and protected from atmospheric electricity by electrical
protectors G, G,.which have a good ground connection. by a conductor H and
branch wires I, I, I..
Fig. 2, Sheet II., represents a telegraphic desk and its necessary apparatus
arranged and connected for transacting telegraphic business. The chiro-
grapher's writing paper may be fixed on the desk at J, his ear at the
aperture K of a conical case or ear trumpet W, and elbow at L,.so that the.
commutator D and adjuster q may be operated with ease when required,.
while the telegraph audibly dictates near the operator's ear the message as it
is being intelligibly written by him to be sent. to its recipient. The audible
sounds of the telegraph are produced by a proportional magnetic helix
deflecting a magnetic needle in the case M against sonorous limiters, which
form a part of the sounding apparatus. For the purpose of more clearly
describing these parts in combination a horizontal section is made through the
sounding apparatus at K and case M and helix designated by a red line in
Fig. 2, Sheet II. of the Drawings. The lower half of these parts is repre-
sented in Fig. 8, Sheet I. of the Drawings. The proportional helix is made
by a combination of helices numbered from each pole to the centre, as
represented in Fig. 1, Sheet I., and Fig. 8, Sheet I., thus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The number and size of helices combined, and the conducting power of the
wire used to form them should be determined with reference to the number of
stations, and to the length and conducting power of the telegraph line between.

page_text: the stations, and the distance and intensity of the battery at each end of the
line, and the current adjuster so as to be capable of producing the full effect
allowable under the principles and laws which govern electrical phenomena in
the practical working of magnetic telegraph lines in damp and rainy weather.
Each numbered helix forming a component part of the proportional helix
should be wound in such manner as to leave the ends of the helical wires on
the outside for the purpose of facilitating their connection with the wires of
the adjacent helices, and with the line, as shown in Fig. 1, Sheet I. of the
Drawings. This result may be accomplished by having each helix wound in
two parts, one being wound in an opposite direction from the other. These
parts are placed together, but insulated from each other by a suitably shaped
plate of glass O, Fig. 8. The inner ends of the wires forming this divided
helix are united by a good metallic connection, and pass through the aperture
of the glass insulator O. The two parts of this divided helix are then firmly
bound together by an insulating band passing around the outside of each part
of the helix and insulating plate. The parts N, N, may be wound on a
machine suitably formed for the purpose, so that each layer of convolutions
may be held together by insulating binders, inserted at the time of winding
the helical wire, so that the compound helix may be withdrawn in detached
parts after the winding is complete without changing its form. The several
helices of the proportional helix should be separated from each other by
insulating plates of glass P, having suitable apertures in the centre corre-
sponding with those of the helices. The helices are surrounded by insulating
holders Q; the outside of these holders and the plates of glass correspond in
size and form with the inside of the wooden case M, into which they fit, and
by which they are firmly held. The case is divided into two parts, and suitably
hinged at R. One half of the helices are held in each part, and are con-
nected in any suitable manner which will allow one part of the case to swing
round without injury to the conducting power of such connection. The
connections of the several helices are best represented in Fig. 1, Sheet I., of
the Drawings. An end view of the helix is shewn in Fig. 6, Sheet I., with
the end of the case and sounding apparatus removed. The sounding apparatus
has sonorous limiters S, S, S, Fig. 8, Sheet I., made of hard demagnetic bell
metal, of suitable size and form, to allow one end to be firmly fixed in the
concentrating sonorous head T, and the other to extend through the elongated
aperture 6 in the centre of the helix without touching, so as to be free to.
vibrate and give distinct audible sounds with the least concussion of the
magnetic needle U. The conducting and concentrating sonorous parts of the
sounding apparatus T, V, W, are made of thin sheet steel, iron, tin, or bell

page_text: metal, or their equivalents. The head T is formed with two apertures, one on
each side of the limiters; it is circular and cup shaped. The inside concave
surface of the head should correspond in form to the segment of a circle struck
from a point at the aperture K of the conical case W. V is an inner conical
case or sound conductor, firmly soldered to the case W and to the head T,
which closes its larger end; and it is held in a central position in the case W
by three wires, as shown. The outer cone W is stiffened at its larger end by
a stout rim wire a inserted in the usual manner, and suitably fastened in
proper position on the end of the case M, which case has an aperture 6.
sufficiently large to admit the limiters S, S, S, without touching. The outer
cone W is used as auxiliary means to the inner cone, and limiters for con-
centrating sound at the aperture K. The half of the case M that carries the
sounding apparatus is held in a desirable position by any suitable device
attached to the pillar c, Fig. 2, Sheet II., leaving the other half free to open
when unlocked by the operator. The connecting wires of the outer ends of.
each helix should protrude through a convenient part of the case, so as to
admit of any or all of them being tested whenever required without incon-
venience. The magnetic needle U, Figs. 4 and 8, is made of suitable cast-
steel wire, selected for its superior magnetic qualities, and should be about
three inches in length, with conical-shaped ends, and of equal size, the entire
needle weighing about thirty-four grains troy weight, and should have a lifting.
magnetic power of thirty-three times its own weight when suitably hardened
and magnetised. The needle is suspended in a horizontal position in the helix
by an adjustable torsion hair thread or wire d, d, Figs. 2 and 4, of such torsion
power as to admit of suitable adjustment to serve as a mechanical reacter to a'
deflecting needle of a magnetic telegraph, whether the commutator is used to
break and close the circuit or alternately to change its direction. A very:
good way of attaching the needle U to the torsion wire is shewn in Fig. 4, in
which the torsion wire is made to branch out and connect with light rings
made of demagnetic metal of suitable size to hold each end of the needle,
leaving the space between them to be occupied by the sonorous limiters S, S, S.
Each outside limiter limits the motion of its respective end of the needle U,
and throws the aggregate force of momentum on the middle limiter at each
movement of the needle. The end of the middle sonorous limiter is con-
structed with a suitably sized elongated aperture, with a knife edge running.
parallel with the axis of oscillation of the needle, so that in placing the needle
one half may be passed through this aperture, and the middle made to rest
lightly on the knife edge opposite the ends of the outside limiter, so as to hold
the needle when oscillating to its proper position without its partaking of the

page_text: tremulous motion of the torsion suspension. The adjusting torsion wire d, d,
Fig. 2, is fixed to the centre of the lower end of the journal of the spur
wheel e, and is stretched to the magnetic needle, and thence to the centre of
motion of the axial weight f, in which it is fastened. This weight passes
loosely through the journal of the spur wheel 9, so as to be free to move up
and down, as may be required, to keep a uniform tightness of the torsion wire
although it is made to revolve with the wheel by means of pins h, i, one of
which is attached to the wheel g, and the other to the weight f. The wheels g
and e are geared together by wheels j, k, and l, m, and shaft n, n, or their
mechanical equivalents, constructed and arranged so that the turning of the
shaft n, n, will correspondingly turn each end of the torsion hair, thread, or
wire d, d. The shaft and wheels are properly supported in any well known
manner on plates o, p, fixed by any substantial adjustable device to the pillar c,
so that the ends of the torsion hair thread or wire d, d, may be moved to a
position which will cause the centre of the needle U to lightly rest against the
knife edge of the middle limiter S, as before described. The index hand 9,
Figs. 2, 5, and 7, is geared to the vertical shaft n, n, in any well known
practical manner. A convenient arrangement of shafts and cog wheels for
this purpose is shewn in the Drawings. The index hand q and cog-wheel w
are fixed on the shaft u, and held in turning position by a dial plate v and
journal box r, so as to gear into the cog wheel a fixed on the horizontal shafty,
which extends and is geared by suitable wheels to the vertical shaft n, n, by
which means the index hand q is caused to correspondingly turn each end of
the torsion wire d, d. The dial plate v has a graduated scale of one hundred
divisions, to be used in combination with the moveable tape line z, the latter
having a graduated scale and stationary index hand, suitably arranged for
noting each revolution of the ends of the torsion wire d, d, while the former,
in connection with the index hand q, notes the fractional parts of each
revolution; thus enabling the person regulating the reacting force of the needle
to have definite knowledge of the exact amount of power employed.
In order to allow the operator to gauge and determine the amount of
electricity. passing or to be passed through the helices without disturbing
the amount passing along the line wire, I employ a novel arrangement of
electrical adjusters F, one of which is shewn in position at Fig. 2, and
detached, and on an enlarged scale at Fig. 3. They are constructed with
tubes of glass a', a', a³, the upper ends h¹, h³, h¹, of which are enlarged; they
are placed in a vertical position, and their lower ends are cemented into
faucets. d, d, d, connecting with tubes e, e¹, e', which extend to the inner
side of the attendant's desk, and are intended to draw off the water in the

page_text: glass tubes. The height of the tubes is adjusted by nuts f¹,f,f', the
apertures g', g', g', and 6, 6, 61, in the plates 1,, in which they are inserted,
being made sufficiently large for that purpose. The plates are fastened to the
vertical board k, which is fixed to the desk in the position represented in
Fig. 2. In the glass tubes. are inserted the regulating circuit wires, the lower
ends of which are made wedge-shaped, so as to fit the wedge-shaped receptacles
in their corresponding fixed poles m',m, m³, and they should be guided by lightly
touching the opposite sides of the tubes. This may be done by crooking the
wires a short distance above the wedge-shaped pole. The adjusting circuit
wire, n', n', is bent. at the top of its tube a³, so that a portion is brought down
parallel to the tubes, and held in any desired. position by a binding screw q'.
To this part of the wire n', n', is fixed an. index hand o¹, which points to the
divisions on a graduated scale. p', which is fixed to the. vertical board k', that:
carries the apparatus. The circuit. wires, , in. the glass tubes a and: a² are.
made of a single piece of wire curved. in the centre, that the ends may extend:
in similar directions parallel with each other, and admit of being moved with
ease up and down in the tubes. by a rack r. which is geared to. a. wheel u¹ on
the shaft. u,. which carries the index hand q before mentioned. An index
hand & is fixed to this rack, so as to point to the divisions on an adjacent
graduated scale. The rack works in a suitable guide: plate v¹, and its move-
ments, upwards and downwards are limited by adjustable stops w¹; x¹¹ which
strike against the ends of the guide plate ¹. These stops are made adjustable
for gauging the different distances through which the circuit wires 1, 1, shall
be required to work. The rack. wheel. u', Figs. 3 and 7, is mounted loosely
on the shaft u, and is turned: by friction. plates. ; ; one of which it carries,
while the other is fixed to a spool! y on the index hand shaft. A second
bears against the friction plate
friction plate on the opposite end of the spool y
on the cog wheel. w, by which it is propelled. The friction plates are clothed
with woollen cloth, a', and; the amount of frictional power is regulated by'a
nut 63. The spool is worked by a weighted cord.c²; c², which is wound around'
the barrel of the spool y', and fastened, to a weight d², and to a treadle e³, so
that the heft of the weight will revolve the spool and bring up the treadle until
it strikes a stop or limiter g. The opposite motion is produced. by pressing
down the treadle until it strikes.a. second stop or limiter h³.
In constructing the helices of the several stations of a line of telegraph,
each helix should have a size proportiopate to the waste current from its most
distant battery, so that the helices when thus arranged form a proportional
pair or set with the batteries at the ends, as shown in Sheet I. of the Drawings
in which the stations are numbered, commencing at the middle of the line-witli

page_text: the smallest helix, which has ten of the smaller sized proportioned compart-
ments, whilst the stations located half way between the middle and the end of
the line Nos. 2, have twelve, adding two larger ones, and the end stations
Nos. 3, have two more still larger added, so as to make fourteen in all, being
about six times the size of the helix shown in Figs. 6 and 8. This proportional
arrangement is made with reference to the rate of waste per mile of line wire
of transmitted electricity in rainy weather, and by improper insulation. The
size of the end helices is well proportioned for nineteen-twentieths of the
current being wasted.
The apparatus for protecting the helices is arranged so as to carry off
atmospheric electricity from each side of each helix. It consists of plates and
thin wires running through grooved plates, which are connected with the
ground by a good ground connection. The conducting wire of the telegraph
line running to and from each helix is provided with metallic plates, which
are held in position by insulating supporters in close proximity to metallic
plates, which are connected with the ground, the former being separated from
the latter by a thin sheet of paper or other insulating medium. This part of the
apparatus is suitably proportioned to carry off the heavy charges of atmospheric
electricity, which if allowed to pass through the helix would melt the con-
ducting wire. The light changes of atmospheric electricity which only effect
the working of the magnetic needle are carried off by a part of the apparatus
constructed with reference to its extreme sensitiveness. The line plates before
mentioned, one of which is placed each side of the helix, have fine insulated
wire connections running towards the helix, each wire is surrounded by a
metallic covering connected with the before-mentioned plates having a ground
connection. Each before-mentioned metallic covering may be made by tightly
winding suitable sized insulated wire around the fine insulated conducting
wire, or by the employment of two plates of metal suitably grooved and placed
together in such manner that an aperture of the size of the insulated con-
ducting wire is formed the entire length of the grooved plate, which when in
use tightly holds it in position, and receives from it the slight atmospheric
discharges of electricity, which on account of its high tension, is accompanied,
when passing through a fine wire of inadequate conducting power of such
radiating repellant force as to carry it to the outer surface of the metallic
covering.
Sheet I. shows this arrangement of plates in longitudinal edge view, and
also their relative connections.
The apparatus is arranged so that heavy atmospheric charges are carried off
by the close proximity of the plates 2, 3, whilst the smallest charges are taken

page_text: off from the fine wires 3,, which pass through grooved plates k, k². The
several Figures of the Drawings are not made to the same scale.
Fig. 2, Sheet II., is made about one-twelfth size, and Figs. 3, 5, and 7 are
one-half size, and Fig. 4, full size, Figs. 6 and 8, one-sixth size.
A description of the parts of the phonetic telegraph having been made, it
becomes necessary to describe its operation; and lastly, to point out the new
features of improvements.
The alphabet used in working this telegraph may be formed by any approved
arrangement of consecutive sounds made by the commutator which is worked
by the operator, as practised in various telegraphs; the commutators, batteries,
and line of insulated wires are not changed from those already in use.
depress the treadle
}
The regulation of the reacting torsion, suspension of the deflecting needle to
counterbalance the effects of the waste current of the line may be effected to
the greatest nicety by merely turning the index hand 9 on the dial plate v, and
to regulate the current adjuster, so as to increase the amount of electricity
passing through the helix, when receiving a message, and also to increase the
force of the deflecting needle it is merely necessary to
down to the stop or limiter h; but to adjust the current regulator to gauge
a smaller current through the helix when not receiving a message and to
regulate the reacting force of the needle, the foot is raised and the weight of
the cord on the barrel y¹ is allowed to fall and raise the treadle up to the stop
or limiter g. When all the line current is to pass through the helix, the
key is retained in the position shewn in the upper part of Fig. 1, when it
will break the circuit formed by the current adjusters a¹ and a³ by pressing.
down the treadle e with which it is connected; but when the treadle is raised
by the weighted cord, the circuit will be closed by the key, which is operated
upon by a spring m². The limiters which limit the motion of the treadle must
be adjustable so as to meet the requirements of the combination of forces to be
regulated.
I may
bere remark that by the use of the current adjusters I am enabled
to increase the effective current of a line of telegraph in stormy weather, as
they admit of any desired diminished amount of electricity being passed
through all the helices of the line when not employed in receiving messages,
while any helix employed in the reception of messages is gauged to receive its
full amount. I can also use an amount of electricity on the line wire equal
to its conducting capacity, instead of being limited by the conducting capacity
of the helical wires of the stations while not employed in receiving messages,
and not disconnected from the line or temporarily changed for others
unobjectionable.

page_text: Having now set forth the nature; of the Invention of "Improvements in
Electro-telegraphic Apparatus," as communicated to me by my foreign cor-
respondent, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish
it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I
claim,―
1st, the use of proportional deflecting needle helices. located at the stations
of the line at varying distances from the batteries, the size of each helix to
correspond with the waste current of the line to its most distant battery
substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
2nd, suspending a deflecting magnetic needle by an adjustable torsion
suspension thread, or wire, which may have its force adjusted to meet the
requirements of the waste current of a magnetic telegraph line, and also to
serve as a reacting force, such needle being mounted between limiters, con-
structed and operating as described.
3rd, the combination of the conducting and concentrating sonorous cones or
cases, or either of them, with the limiters for telegraph purposes, substantially
as described.
4th, the use of the graduated scales and the index hands, for the purpose of
determining the amount of reacting torsion force employed in oscillating the
deflecting needle, as described.
5th, the use of a current adjuster at each station of the line, constructed as
described, and connected with the line and with the helix in such manner as
will allow the operator to gauge the amount of electricity passing through the
helix, as described, without disturbing the amount passing along the line.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)