IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Spence, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS."-A communication from Messrs. Digney,
Brothers, of 8, Rue des Poitevins, Paris, Manufacturers of Telegraphic
Sealed the 2nd August 1858, and dated the 15th February 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Spence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th February 1858.
I, WILLIAM SPENCE, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS," communicated to me by Messrs. Digney,
Brothers, of 8, Rue des Poitevins; Paris, Manufacturers of Telegraphic
Apparatus, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the improvements herein-after described applied
to the telegraphic apparatus known as the "Morse telegraph," and also to the
telegraphic apparatus known as the "French telegraph."
The Invention has for its object generally the application to these two kinds
of apparatus of a mode of printing by means of the pressure of a hammer
moved by electricity upon a band or strip of paper against a disc conveniently
placed, and kept supplied with fresh ink by an inking roller saturated with an
oily kind of ink, capable of retaining its fluidity and oily quality; also the
arrangement of mechanism by which this result is accomplished; and par
A

page_text: ticularly the application or the apparatus herein-alter described to cach
separately.
With reference to the "Morse telegraph," instead of the mode hitherto
adopted of attaching to the lever moved by electricity the tracing instrument,
of whatever kind, under this Invention the tracing disc is fixed on an axis
independently of the lever, such axis not changing its position, and receiving
from the clockwork a rotary motion in a direction contrary to the advance of
the paper, thereby dispensing with all reservoirs for ink, and maintaining the
tracing instrument in permanent relation with its supply of ink, the inking
roller, the points of which that rub against the disc, are changed as desired by
other means.
Another feature with reference to the "Morse telegraph" is in relation to
the ordinary relay, in order to improve the efficiency of the apparatus, and
consists in placing the electro-magnet on a carriage capable of moving in a
slide, whereby the electro-magnet may be brought nearer or removed further
off without injury to the bobbins.
And with reference to the application of the said mode of printing to
ordinary dial telegraphs, such as the "French telegraph," this Invention
includes the different mechanical arrangements herein-after described and
referred to, by which they are made to reproduce in a more permanent manner
the signs which they indicated only in a comparatively fugitive manner, and
that without changing the mode of handling or operating with the apparatus.
These arrangements are more particularly the following:-
The adaptation to the axle of the escapement wheel produces beyond and
behind the case or frame of the clockwork movement of the indicator of a disc
presenting in relief on its circumference the same letters and the same in
number as those marked on the dial of the indicator and of the commutator.
The division of the escapement wheel of the indicator into as many teeth
and of the sinuous groove on the face of the moveable wheel or disc of the com-
mutator into as many wavings or sinuosities as there are characters on the
dials and on the disc intended to print. By this means there is produced an
identity in the electrical phænomena occasioned by each passage of any given
letter, in consequence of which identity the electrical phænomena intended to
produce the impression may be developed for any letter whatever, and that
whether such phænomenon be the inversion of the current or the increase of
its intensity, &c., which was not possible with the arrangement of dial appa-
ratus in which the passage of a letter takes place under different circumstances,
The particular arrangement of the mechanism of the commutator which allows
the operator for any given letter to change at will by merely lowering the handle

page_text: into contact with the metallic mass of the dial the interruption of the current
into the emission of an inverted current, thereby causing the printing of the
particular letter before which the lowering of the handle has taken place.
The modification of the electro-magnet ordinarily employed to produce the
escapement in the indicator, for the purpose of bringing therein four poles into
opposition by two and two instead of two only, which is effected by connecting
the two hinder extremities of the two bars of soft iron by a non-magnetic bar
of copper, wood, or other suitable material.
The addition of a second electro-magnet animated or actuated by a local
battery, but only at the moments required for printing the letters to transmit.
The substitution for the pallet of soft iron of the first electro-magnet, the
oscillations of which produce the escapement in ordinary apparatus, of a pallet
of magnetised steel, forming an artificial magnet having its poles of the same
name as those of the electro-magnet when the current passes which is en-
ployed to seek the letter.
The addition of a second pallet of the same kind placed against the hinder
ends of the said electro-magnet, and having its poles in name contrary to the
two poles of the latter, which correspond therewith.
The taking advantage of the phænomena resulting from the foregoing, in
order to cause the repetition on the toothed wheel of the escapement of the
indicator, as well as the needle and the lettered disc governed by the said wheel,
of all the movements of the handle of the commutator without any impression
being produced, so long as nothing is done but to seek the letter, and in order
that, on the other hand, when the handle of the commutator is lowered before
a given letter on the dial the same letter of the disc shall stop before the band
of paper, and that owing to the repulsion of the magnetised pallet placed
behind, and to the contact thus produced, which establishes the circuit in the
local battery, the lower or secondary electro-magnet animated or actuated by
this circuit, causes the hammer to be swung, and thereby to print the desired
letter, and immediately afterwards by the action communicated to the small
mechanism of the delivery paper the band of paper advances a distance equal
to the space between the respective letters.
The arrangement of mechanism by which the escape wheel can be stopped
at a fixed point, and the needle of the dial and the printing disc itself brought
into repose, either gradually or at once (called in France "la remise à la
by pressure on the end of a rod or presser.
croix
The arrangement by means of which the local battery is suppressed and the
second electro-magnet, by acting directly on the printing agents by the pallet
of the electro-magnet of the escapement.

page_text: Two other arrangements almost similar, by the aid of which, the local
battery being suppressed, the second electro-magnet is retained by causing it
to act through the current coming from the line and the hinder pallet of
the first electro-magnet is suppressed.
Another arrangement in which, while retaining the local battery, the pallet
itself of the escapement is employed to discharge the functions of the hinder
pallet, and to establish the circuit of the local battery, which determines the.
printing.
And, lastly, an analogous arrangement, in which the pallet of the escape-
ment, instead of being a permanent magnet, is of soft iron, and establishes the
circuit of the local battery, producing the impression without the current being
reversed, but by the mere effect of an increase in its intensity resulting from
the greater duration of its action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Spence in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the
12th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SPENCE, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Spence, Her special license that I, the said William
Spence, my executors, administrators and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Spence, 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 TELE-
GRAPHIC APPARATUS," being a communication from Messrs. Digney, Brothers,
of 8, Rue des Poitevins, Paris, Manufacturers of Telegraphic Apparatus, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Spence, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I; the said William Spence, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of "Improvements in Telegraphic Apparatus" relates to
the improvements herein after described applied to the telegraphic apparatus
known as the "Morse telegraph," and also to the apparatus known as the
"French telegraph."
The Invention has for its object generally the application to these two kinds
of apparatus of a mode of printing by means of the pressure of a hammer
moved by electricity upon a band or strip of paper against a disc conveniently
placed and kept supplied with fresh ink by an inking roller saturated with an
oily kind of ink, capable of retaining its fluidity and oily quality, also the
arrangement of mechanism by which this result is accomplished, and particu-
larly the application of the apparatus herein-after described to each kind of
apparatus separately.
With reference to the "Morse telegraph," instead of the mode hitherto
adopted of attaching to the lever moved by electricity the tracing instrument
of whatever kind, under this Invention the tracing disc is fixed on an axis
independently of the lever, such axis not changing its position, and receiving
from the clock work a rotary motion in a direction contrary to the advance of
the paper, thereby dispensing with all reservoirs for ink, and maintaining the
tracing instrument in permanent relation with its supply of ink, the inking
roller, the points of which that rub against the disc are changed as desired by
other means. Another feature, with reference to the "Morse telegraph," is
in relation to the ordinary relay, in order to improve the efficiency of the
apparatus, and consists in placing the electro-magnet on a carriage capable of
moving in a slide, whereby the electro-magnet may be brought nearer or
removed farther off without injury to the bobbins.
.
And with reference to the application of the said mode of printing to ordi-
nary dial telegraphs, such as the "French telegraph," this Invention includes
the different mechanical arrangements herein-after described and referred to,
by which they are made to reproduce in a more perfect manner the signs
which they indicated only in a comparatively fugitive manner, and that with-,
out changing the mode of handling or operating with the apparatus. These
arrangements are more particularly the following:-

page_text: The adaptation to the axle of the escapement wheel, produced beyond and
behind the case or frame of the clockwork movement of the indicator, of a
disc presenting in relief on its circumference the same letters, and the same in
number as those marked on the dial of the indicator and of the commutator.
The division of the escapement wheel of the indicator into as many teeth,
and the sinuous groove on the face of the moveable wheel or disc of the com-
mutator into as many wavings or sinuosities as there are characters on the
dials and on the disc intended to print. By this means there is produced an
identity in the electrical phenomena occasioned by each passage of any given
letter, in consequence of which identity the electrical phenomena, intended to
produce the impression, may be developed for any letter whatever, and that
whether such phenomenon be the inversion of the current or the increase of its
intensity, &c. which was not possible with the arrangement of dial apparatus,
in which the passage of a letter takes place under different circumstances.
The particular arrangement of the mechanism of the commutator which
allows the operator for any given letter to change at will by merely lowering
the handle into contact with the metallic mass of the dial, the interruption of
the current into the emission of an inverse current, thereby causing the
printing of the particular letter, before which the lowering of the handle has
taken place.
The modification of the electro-magnet ordinarily employed to produce the
escapement in the indicator for the purpose of bringing therein four poles into
opposition by two and two instead of two only, which is effected by connecting
the two hinder extremities of the two bars of soft iron by a non-magnetic
cap of copper, wood, or other suitable material. The addition of a second
electro-magnet animated or actuated by a local battery, but only at the
moments required for printing the letters to transmit.
The substitution for the pallet of soft iron of the first electro-magnet, the
oscillations of which produce the escapement in ordinary apparatus of a pallet
of magnetised steel forming an artificial magnet, having its poles of the same
name as those of the electro-magnet when the current passes, which is
required to seek the letter.
The addition of a second pallet of the same kind placed against the hinder
ends of the said electro-magnet, and having its poles in name contrary to the
two poles of the latter which correspond therewith.
The taking advantage of the phenomena resulting from the foregoing in
order to cause the repetition on the toothed wheel of the escapement of the
indicator as well as the needle, and the lettered disc governed by the said wheel
of all the movements of the handle of the commutator without any impression

page_text: being produced, so long as nothing is done but to seek the letter; and in
order that on the other hand when the handle of the commutator is lowered
before a given letter on the dial, the same letter of the disc shall stop before
the band of paper, and that owing to the propulsion of the magnetised pallet
placed behind, and to the contact thus produced, which establishes the circuit
in the local battery, the lower or secondary electro-magnet, animated or actu-
ated by this circuit, causes the hammer to be swung, and thereby to print the
desired letter, and immediately afterwards by the action communicated to the
small mechanism of the delivery paper, the band of paper advances a distance
equal to the space between the respective letters.
The arrangement of mechanism by which the escape wheel can be stopped
at a fixed point, and the needle of the dial and the printing disc itself brought
into repose either gradually or at once, (called in France. "la remise à la
croix,") by pressure on the end of a rod or presser.
The arrangement by means of which the local battery and the second electro-
magnet are suppressed or dispensed with by acting directly on the printing
agents by the pallet of the electro-magnet of the escapement.
Two other arrangements, almost similar, by the aid of which the local bat-
tery being suppressed, the second electro-magnet is retained by causing it to
act through the current coming from the line, and the hinder pallet of the first
electro-magnet is suppressed.
Another arrangement in which, by retaining the local battery, the pallet itself
of the escapement is employed to discharge the functions of the hinder pallet,
and to establish the circuit of the local battery which determines the printing.
And, lastly, an analogous arrangement, in which the pallet of the escape-
ment instead of being a permanent magnet is of soft iron, and establishes the
circuit of the local battery, producing the impression without the current being
reversed, but by the mere effect of an increase in its intensity resulting from
the greater duration of its action.
Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, I will proceed to describe,
by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in what manner the same is to be
performed.
PARTICULAR APPLICATION TO THE "MORSE TELEGRAPH."
Mr Morse
The idea of tracing in ink the despatches which are ordinarily produced by
the Morse telegraph by means of marks or tracings is not new.
had originally indicated the employment with this object of pens, wheels, or
rollers supplied with ink, but his efforts, as well as those of others with the.
same object in view, failed in practice. These failures were principally due to

page_text: the fact that the tracing instrument, (pen, wheel, roller, &c.,) was attached to
the lever moved by electricity and oscillated with it. The distinction of the
present Invention from the foregoing consists in the fact that instead of
causing the tracing instrument (which in the present Invention is a simple
turning disc), to go to and fro from the source whence it receives its supply
of ink to the paper on which it is to deposit the marks or characters; it is
rendered fixed by mounting it on an axle which extends into the interior of
the case of the clockwork, and carries on its end a pinion gearing with one of
the wheels from which it derives a continuous rotary motion. This little disc
not changing its place, has been susceptible of being maintained in perma-
nent relation with the inking supply, and it has been practicable to substitute
a small inking roller saturated with ink for the inkstands or other reservoirs
of ink hitherto employed. The lever moved by electricity has only to impart
to the paper a slight raising movement in order to press it against the disc for
a longer or shorter time, according to the length of the tracings to be left on
its surface.
Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet I., represent in elevation and plan a "Morse apparatus,"
furnished with the improved means of tracing with ink; as will be seen the
modification applied to the ordinary "Morse apparatus" is quite simple. The
band of paper carried by the wheel is guided by the roller f', so as to cause it
to pass under the little tracing disc h. This band of paper is as usual drawn
forward by drawing rollers q, q', between which it passes. The tracing disc h
is, as above-mentioned, carried by an axle which extends through the partition
of the clockwork movement, and has on its inner end a pinion p, which sets
in motion one of the trains of wheelwork; the rotation of the disc on its
own axis is in a direction contrary to the course of the paper; this disc rubs
against an inking roller R, saturated with ink. The fatty oily ink which is
preferred has this advantage, that it preserves its fluidity for a long time, and
that it is enough to deposit a few drops of it on the roller every two or three
days, in order to have the required inking supply. This roller is mounted on
its axis in such a manner as to be capable of receiving a change of position
longitudinally, in order to change the points of contact of the said roller with
the disc, and so as to be easily removed altogether, and replaced by other
rollers as may be required.
The raising hammer or striker D' which is intended to bring the paper as
required into contact with the tracing disc may be of different forms, among
others, that with a transverse edge has appeared to be the best. This hammer
is fixed at the end of the lever D, as was the dry point in ordinary use for.
producing the marks or figures, the paper passing at a slight distance from the

page_text: tracing disc, the course or travel of the hammer may be very small, which
tends to facilitate its proper operation. The arms of the lever which carry
this hammer have moreover an elasticity so as to relieve the pressure thereof.
Independently of the foregoing improvements there is also the improvement
herein-before referred to relative to the construction of the relay. As is well
known, it is necessary according to the state of the battery or of the atmosphere
itself, and the variations caused in the force of the electric current to bring
nearer or remove farther the electro-magnet to or from the pallet on which it
should act. This effect is ordinarily produced by causing to advance or recede
across the bobbins fixed elsewhere on the base plate of the apparatus, the two
bars of soft iron of the electro-magnet temporarily magnetised by the current
at the time of its passage through the wire of the bobbins, but this mode of
operating is inconvenient; indeed, the passing of these bars in the spaces of
the bobbins being as true as possible, it will be conceived that the friction
resulting therefrom, especially in case of oxydation, may cause the displacement
of the bobbins, which may rub and fray against the stays by which they are
secured to the base plate; moreover, in thus changing the extent to which the
bars project outside the bobbins, there may result a variation in the attractive.
force of the two poles. It has been found preferable to mount the electro-
magnet y on a small carriage which moves in a slide X, and which is caused.
to advance or recede by means of an adjusting screws, without at all deranging
the relation of the parts which compose the electro-magnet.
PARTICULAR APPLICATION TO THE "FRENCH TELEGRAPH."
The modifications that have been applied to dial telegraphs in order to adapt
thereto the printing agents herein-before referred to, and to cause them to
reproduce in a permanent manner the signs or marks which they had only
indicated in a-fugitive manner have involved but little change in the general
arrangement of this kind of apparatus, and the analogy between the apparatus.
thus modified and that in general use on French railways is such, that the
former may be readily worked by those employed to work the latter without
any special study. Indeed, just as in the ordinary system of dial telegraphs,
the operator who sends a dispatch turns the handle of a dial commutator, and
stops it before the letter which he desires to transmit, and by means of
continuations and interruptions of the current of electricity, determined by the
mechanism of the apparatus, all the motions and stoppings of the handle are
repeated at a distance by the needle of the indicator at the. station with which
he is corresponding, and in consequence also by a small disc fixed on a
continuation of the axis of the said needle, and presenting in relief on its

page_text: circumference the same letters and signs which may be read on the dial. This
small disc is like that in the Morse apparatus above described supplied with
fresh ink by a small inking roller against which it rubs. It is also, as in the
said apparatus, almost in contact with a band of paper passing underneath it,
and a small raising hammer is made at the required intervals to press the
paper against the letters which are intended to be printed thereon. As will be
herein-after explained, by reason of the manner in which the mechanism of the
indicator and that of the commutator are respectively arranged, while the
handle of the commutator and in consequence the needle of the indicator turn
in traversing successively the different letters of the dial, in other words, while
no operation is performed but that of seeking the letter, the printing disc, the
movements of which are dependent on those of the said needle turns at the
same time with it, and presents with regard to the band of paper a letter,
similar to that before which the said handle and the said needle respectively
pass.
And when the operator has brought and stopped the handle to the right
of the letter which he desires to transmit, it is sufficient for him to lower this
bandle, and to cause the tooth which it carries to enter the notch of the dial
corresponding to the said letter, in order that immediately under the influence
of a current in a contrary direction sent into the line wire, by this contact the
disc of the indicator is stopped and presents the same letter to the band of
paper on which it immediately becomes printed by the blow of the pressing.
hammer. But in order that these different effects may be produced, it has
been necessary to introduce into the construction of the ordinary commutator
and indicator certain mechanical arrangements which I now proceed to
describe.
THE COMMUTATOR.
Fig. 3, Sheet I., represents in plan the commutator modified according to
the Invention; the dial is represented as partly cut away in order to exhibit
the wheel with a sinuous groove moved by the handle, as well as the action of
the levers and the bands of copper establishing the different electric communica-
tions under the base plate. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same commutator.
The Figure represents only two or three pillars or columns which support
HTT
0

page_text: nected to a disc with a sinuous groove J, which it draws round as it is turned, but
the wavings of this sinuous groove instead of being, as in ordinary dial apparatus,
in number equal to half the number of characters on the dial, are in number
precisely equal thereto, that is to say, whereas, in the French apparatus, for
instance, in which the dial contains twenty-six characters including the cross
(or zero) the sinuous wheel or disc in the present Invention has not thirteen,
but twenty-six wavings or sinuosities. This number, twenty-six, peculiar to
the French alphabet, would vary with other alphabets. This peculiarity is to
be remarked that the axis of the handle is insulated by ivory from the metallic
mass of the dial. In the sinuous groove are inserted, so as to work therein,
two studs G and G' respectively united by an insulating connection to the
levers K, K", and L, l. The lever on the left K, K", is in two branches, of
which the connection K is covered with ivory, in order to insulate them one
from the other. The large branch K, K³, oscillates around a centre K', which
communicates by the copper band G, K', placed under the base plate with the
point of attachment G of the wire proceeding from the copper pole of the
battery; the centre of oscillation K³ of the small branch K², K', is similarly
united at one part to the point of attachment Z of the wire proceeding from the
zinc pole of the battery, by the band Z, K³, and at another part to the axis O.
of the handle by the band K³, O. When the handle is turned, and with it the
wheel with the sinuous groove, the studs G and G' by sliding in the sinuosities
of the latter receive an oscillating motion which they communicate to the lever
with two branches K, K, and to the lever L, l. On each oscillation of the
branch K, K2, of the lever K, K, the flexible blade in which it terminates is
made to strike alternately against the two contact pieces m and m¹. The
contact piece on the right m communicates through the bands of copper m, p,
p', p, E, M, with the end of the wire which is attached at M, to the centre of
the supplementary commutator which has been placed on the button E leading
to the line. The contact piece on the left m³, communicates through the band
m', T, with the blade T of the earth wire. It is also with the earth T that
the contact piece n communicates through the band n, T, against which con-
tact piece the small branch K, K*, of this same lever is made to strike. As
to the lever on the right L, l, moved by the stud G1, it has its centre of oscilla-
tion united by the band 1, p³, to the band m, p, p, p², E, and the contact
piece O against which the flexible blade L in which this lever terminates is
brought to strike during its oscillation communicates through the band o, R,
with the button R of the reception from the line. The relative positions of the
studs G and G in the sinuous groove, with reference to that of the handle
itself, are such, that when the index of the handle is on the right of one of the

page_text: lines, marking on the dial the separation between two consecutive letters, the
stand G is found at the top of one of the wavings or sinuosities of the wheel,
and is thus pushed towards the left, and in consequence, when the handle is on
the right of a letter, this same stud. G is on the contrary in a hollow, and
carried back thus to the right. As to the stud G₁, it is placed in such a
manner as to be at the bottom of a waving or sinuosity, that is to say, carried
towards the left at the moment when the stud G having passed over the hollow
of a waving is found half way between this hollow and the next top of a waving
on the left. This is what results from these arrangements. When the handle
is at rest, in which case its tooth i rests on a small ivory button placed to the
right of the cross and at a quarter of the space between the latter and the first
letter A of the dial, and in general whenever the handle in its rotation after
having cleared a letter arrives at a quarter of the space between this letter and
the next one, the two branches of the lever K, K, become in a straight
line and touch none of the contact pieces m, m, n, so that at such moments
the electricity proceeding from the station battery cannot pass to the line;
whilst on the contrary, at the same moments the blade L of the lever L, 1, is
brought against the contact piece o, and in consequence the current which the
next station might send by the line wire may arrive through the course M, E,
22, 1, L, at the contact piece o, and thence through o, R, at the station
indicator. In this manner is maintained the facility which this intermittent
communication allows to the operator at the station to which the message is
being transmitted to give notice to the operator who is communicating with
him, of any derangement or mistake.
.
Secondly, when the handle in its rotation arrives at a point to the right of
the line of separation between two consecutive letters, the stud G forced to
rise again to the top of one of the wavings of the sinuous groove is pushed
back again towards the left, in consequence of which the blade K of the lever
K, K, is brought to the right against the contact piece n; owing to the same
movement of the sinuous grooved wheel, the stud G₁ is carried back to the
right, and consequently the blade L of the lever L, l, is removed from the
contact piece o.
In this position of the mechanism, the electricity proceeding from the copper
pole c of the station battery is diffused from c to K¹, from K' to the contact
piece m, thence along the course m, p, p², E, M, into the line wire. It cannot
besides this pass along p', p³, 1, L, since the lever L has its two extremities
insulated. As to the electricity proceeding from the zinc pole Z of the battery
it goes to the earth along the course Z, K³, K+, n, T. The circuit is then
established and a positive current is transmitted by the line wire.

page_text: Thirdly, when the handle, continuing its movement, reaches to the right of
a letter, the stud G has gone into the hollow of a waving, and consequently
been brought back to the right, the blade K of the articulated lever K, K',
is pushed back to the left against the contact piece m', which communicates
with the earth at T, and the blade K* is removed from the contact piece n
and touches nothing. The same movement has the effect of bringing back
the blade L of the lever on the right towards its contact piece o, whence it
follows that the positive current of electricity flowing from C passes by
C, K', K, m' to m', and by m¹ T, to the earth, and that the negative current
of electricity flowing from the zinc pole Z arrives constantly by Z, K³, into the
second arm of the articulated lever K, K, but its extremity being insulated,
the current can no longer pass to the earth, it is diffused through the band'
of copper K³, O, into the axle of the winch handle, and into the metallic
mass of the latter. But as the said axle is insulated as well as the extremity'
of the said winch handle itself, which the operator holds at a distance from
the dial by the haft or handle, composed of insulating material, it follows that'
the electricity has no issue, and that in consequence the circuit in a contrary
direction which has a tendency to occur cannot do so, there is then in reality'
a suspension of the current. Thus whilst the handle of the commutator:
under this Invention does no more than advance from one letter to another,
it will only produce on each passage from one letter to another an emission
of a current of positive electricity followed by an interruption of the current,"
but (and this is the fourth and most important effect of the improved com-
mutator) if the handle being, as just mentioned, to the right of a letter, the
operator lowers it and causes the metallic tooth to enter the notch corre-
sponding with this letter immediately as the metal of the handle is thus put
in contact with the metallic mass of the dial, which communicates through
the pillar. Qwith the band of the line wire, through this medium an issue
towards the line is opened to the negative current, which would have a
tendency to become established, but could not flow forth so long as the handle
was raised, and instead of the absence of a current an inverse current is
produced. It may be here remarked that in order the better to insure the
contact of the handle with the 'dial, and consequently the sending to the line
of the reversed current, two small springs are placed under the arm of the
handle, which springs do not touch the dial whilst the hand of the operator
continues raised, but which press thereon as soon as he lowers his hand.
As will be understood by the aid of the modifications above described, as
applied to the mechanism of the ordinary commutator of dial telegraphs, the
improved commutator combines with the functions which it fulfils that of a

page_text: true reverser. It is almost needless to observe that the effects of transmitting,
interrupting, and reversing of the current would remain the same if instead
of deriving from the copper pole the current first transmitted to the line the
same were derived from the zinc pole.
The effects produced on the station indicator corresponding with these
transmissions, interruptions, and reversals of the current will be seen hereafter,
but it becomes necessary first to describe the modifications applied to the
mechanism of the indicator.
interrupting, and reversing of the current would remain the same if instead
of deriving from the copper pole the current first transmitted to the line the
same were derived from the zinc pole.
The effects produced on the station indicator corresponding with these
transmissions, interruptions, and reversals of the current will be seen hereafter,
but it becomes necessary first to describe the modifications applied to the
mechanism of the indicator
THE INDICATOR.
This is represented in its principal details in the different Figures of
Sheet 2.
Fig. 1 represents the indicator in front view, the box and dial being
removed in order to allow the mechanism to be better seen. Fig. 2 repre-
sents it entire in side view. Fig. 3 represents it as seen from behind in order
to shew especially the printing mechanism, the position of the wheel carrying
the paper being indicated. Fig. 4 represents detached and in front view the
escapement wheel as well as the pallet of the escapement with two branches,
and the pedal of the said pallet, and which, when it is lowered by the driver
of that which brings the needle to the cross (or zero), completely liberates
the escapement. Fig. 5 represents in side view the escapement wheel as well
as the pallet of the escapement with two branches, and the disc furnished
with letters on its circumference, which is fixed at the other end of the axle
of the said escapement wheel. Figs. 6 and 7 represent in front view and in
plan the rocking lever, the play of which in disengaging the escapement
wheel, and stopping it at a fixed point, allows, under the pressure of the
driver P, to return the needle of the dial to the cross (or zero) whether
gradually or suddenly, and at the same time the printing disc itself. Fig. 8
represents in plan view the pallet of the local battery and its accessories,
that is to say, the pillar J forming a rest, the lever D, D¹, which carries the
raising hammer, and which drives at the same time the pin or gudgeon D³,
which acts in a fork, and the small mechanism of the winding-up paper.
Fig. 9 represents this small mechanism in side view. In all these several
Figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. G, G,
glasses forming the front and top of the wooden box containing the indicator.
H, H, dial of the same. M, needle mounted on the axle of the escapement
wheel; f, escapement wheel, having twenty-six divisions; h, printing disc,
having twenty-six letters engraved on its circumference, and fixed outside the
clockwork case on continuation of the axle of the escapement wheel; R,

page_text: inking roller; d, pallet for the escapement wheel, with two branches; c, axle
of the escapement; c', pivot of the fork d; in which the pin or gudgeon d'
acts, such pin being fixed on the stem e, e' of the pallet E; c, pedal fixed to
the axle of the escapement, and the lowering of which causes the escapement
to swing, and disengages the wheel; P, screw button of the driver of the
return to the cross (or zero); a, a, stem of the said driver; b, b¹, rocking
lever of the return to the cross (or zero), yielding to the pressure exerted on
its projecting part 6 by the stem a of the driver; ³, stop fixed perpendicularly
on the internal vertical face of the rocking lever b, b', and extending through
the partition of the case, so as to meet the finger fixed on the axle of the
escapement wheel for the return to the cross (or zero); g³, g', piece forming
a spring, and carrying one of the two screws g, g, intended to limit the course
of the stem e, e¹, of the pallet E and of the escapement on which it acts:
This flexible piece g¹, g', offers sufficient resistance not to yield to a slight
pressure of the rocking lever b, b', but by pressing firmly for about fifth
part of a second on the button P of the driver, and consequently on the said
rocking lever, this piece g', g', yields, and allows the pallet of the escapement
to become completely disengaged, and the wheel to turn as far as the stop of
the return to the cross (or zero), which is thus brought into operation at a
single blow or action; b, spring serving to bring the rocking lever b, b¹,
down again after the driver has ceased to act; A¹, electro-magnet animated
by the current proceeding from the line, its two bars of soft iron are united
at the back by a non-magnetic cap (of copper or wood) in order that each bar
may present to its two extremities two opposite poles. E front pallet of
magnetised steel (forming an artificial magnet,) the two branches of which
present poles of the same name as those which the current proceeding from
the line (when this current is positive) produces on the extremities of the
bars in front of which these two branches become placed as above mentioned,
the stem e, e', forming the continuation of this pallet, actuates the escapement;
o, o', pivots of oscillation of the pallet E; controlling spring, of which the
tension cord is returned towards the pillar K to be stretched or unstretched by
means of a pulley, as shewn; E¹ another pallet of magnetised steel (or
artificial magnet) placed in relation to the opposite extremities of the same
electro-magnet A', its poles are placed symmetrically with those of the pallet
E, that is to say, that the north and south poles of E', are opposed to the poles
of the same name of E. X counterpoise weight for regulating the movement
of the pallet E', and performing the part of a controlling spring; U support
in the form of a frame placed above the clockwork case, and supporting the

page_text: pallet E by two points n, n, which form its centres of oscillation; V, V,
springs with which the pallet E¹ is brought in contact, when it is repelled by
the electro-magnet in order to establish the circuit of the local battery intended
to animate, at certain intervals, the second electro-magnet A². These springs
are carried by two supports of copper fixed to the frame U, and insulated
therefrom by ivory. To one of these supports is attached the wire from one
of the poles of the local battery. The wire from the other pole is attached to
the same frame, these two supports, and consequently the springs themselves,
communicate with each other by means of a metallic wire, in this manner the
fluid from the copper pole, for example, of the local battery reaches the two
springs, and the fluid from the zinc pole reaches the metallic mass formed by
the frame U, the pallet E', &c.; but, owing to the insulation produced by the
ivory, the circuit can only become established when the pallet E¹ touches one
or other of the two springs; this double contact is a source of security, inasmuch
as they cannot both fail at once. A2, A3, second electro-magnet placed on the
wooden bottom or base of the apparatus, and which is only animated by the
electric circuit established between the two wires of the local battery by the
movement of the pallet E¹; E2 pallet of soft iron of the electro-magnet A²,
attracted by the latter when the current of the local battery is established, and
becoming released when it ceases; r controlling spring of the pallet E²; 0, 0,
centres of oscillation of the pallet E2. D, arm of the lever forming a con-
tinuation of the pallet E2, and becoming raised when the latter is lowered, and
vice versa. J stop against which the arm D abuts; D' pressing hammer
fixed on the extremity of the lever D, and advancing when the pallet E² is
lowered to raise the band of paper T, T, and press it against the printing
disc h; f, roller for conducting the paper T, T; h a slot for guiding the said
paper; q, q', drawing rollers for taking up the paper; the pressure of the
roller q against the lower roller q', is regulated by the moveable weight Q.
fratchet, f star wheel, both firmly fixed on the axle of the roller q', the
number of the teeth of these two wheels is alike, and their dimensions are
adapted to the space to be observed between the letters; D³ pin or gudgeon
fixed to the lever D, and taking into the fork of the lever at the end of the
click j, which in swinging on its centre of oscillation o" advances the ratchet
fone tooth each time the extremity of the click j, which acts on the ratchet,
is jointed so as to yield by causing to bend a small spring which brings it back
again to its position immediately that it has escaped; 1 small arm connected
to the foot of the click j, and the extremity of which being cut to an angle
passes underneath, enters the teeth of the wheel f, after the ratchet f³ has

page_text: advanced one tooth, and thus forms a stop in order to ensure the regularity of
the change of place of the paper and of the distribution of the letters printed
thereon.
It is easy now to describe the working of the mechanism of the indicator
under this Invention, thus, as we have seen when the operator at the station
who is sending a message turns the handle of his commutator, each time that
this handle passes from one letter to the next there are produced successively
an emission of a current towards the line wire, then an interruption of tliis
same current. Then the following effects are produced by those successive
emissions and interruptions of current on the mechanism of the indicator at the
station to which the message is sent. In the manner in which as already seen
the electro-magnet A', and the two pallets forming an artificial magnet E, E',
are arranged the magnetising produced by the positive current from the line
gives to the two bars of soft iron of the electro-magnet poles of the same
name as those of the magnetised pallet E, placed in relation thereto. In con-
sequence of this the said pallet is repèlled out of the circuit of this current,
and as the poles of the opposite extremities of the said bars are in name
contrary to those of the hinder pallet E', the latter becomes on the contrary
attracted towards the electro-magnet, against which its own attraction towards
the soft iron of the electro-magnet already kept it resting before the magnetising
of the latter by the current, the pallet E¹ then remains stationary; this
takes place when the handle of the commutator passes to the right of the
space between one letter and the next, when on the contrary the handle
reaches to the right of a letter, but without the operator lowering it into
contact with the dial, that is to say when the current ceases, and when in'
consequence the bars of the electro-magnet A¹ cease to be magnetised the
pallet E, in virtue of its own magnetism, becomes attracted towards the soft
iron of the electro-magnet, as also, the pallet E' on its side. Thus the pallet E
has been repelled, then attracted, and the pallet E¹ on the contrary, has
remained stationary. This to-and-fro movement of the pallet E, and with it
its stem e, e', has the effect of causing two half teeth to escape, that is to say,
one tooth of the escapement wheel and the needle of the dial to advance by
one letter, also the printing disc itself. Each time that the same action is
repeated in the commutator, it will become repeated also in the indicator, that
is to say, that whilst the operator with the commutator does no more than
turn his handle, or as it is termed; seeks' a letter without lowering the handle'
into contact with the dial, the pallet E will remain stationary, and the pallet
E will make two oscillations, and will cause a letter to be passed in the
indicator for each passing of a letter in the commutator. When the operator'

page_text: with the commutator reaches the letter that he wishes to transmit, and he
lowers his handle into contact with the dial, it has been seen that, owing to
this contact, instead of an interruption of the current a reversal thereof is
produced, and this reversal of the current produces the following effect in the
indicator at the station which receives it.
The current having become negative which was at first positive, has the
effect of reversing the poles of the bars of soft iron, which it magnetises;
whence it follows that the poles developed at the front extremities of the
electro-magnet having become in name contrary to those which correspond
therein in the pallet E, this pallet, instead of being repelled, becomes held
more strongly against the electro-magnet by the increased magnetism of the
latter, added to that of the pallet itself, it does not then stir, and in con-
sequence the escapement wheel and the printing disc which it actuates remain
stationary, and maintain in relation to the band of paper the letter of the
printing disc identical with that before which the handle of the commutator
was stopped. On the other hand, the poles of the electro-magnet having
become of the same name as the corresponding poles of the pallet E', this pallet
becomes repelled. Owing to this movement of repulsion the pallet E' is made
to press against the springs V and V, and in virtue of the metallic communi-
cation thus established between these contacts, and the two wires positive and
negative of the local battery connected therewith, an electric current is
established, passing through the bobbins of the electro-magnet A2. The
magnetising of the bars of soft iron of the latter immediately attract the pallet
of soft iron E; owing to this swinging movement the hammer D', placed on
the end of the lever D, is made to press the paper against the letter presented
thereto by the disc h, and thereby to print it. When at length the operator
begins again to cause the handle to turn, and the magnetising of the electro-
magnet A² ceases, the pallet E rises again, the arm D is lowered, and acts
through the pin or gudgeon D³ on the foot of the click j, so as to cause the
ratchet of the taking-up. paper to advance a tooth, and so cause the band of
paper itself to advance sufficiently to allow space for the printing of a new
letter thereon. The advance of the foot of the click j is rendered certain
and regular by the action of the small arm j¹ on the auxiliary star wheel f*.
If, after having printed a letter, the operator wish to repeat it he has only
to raise his handle without otherwise moving it, and to lower it afresh into
contact with the dial. Indeed, the wheel with the sinuous groove remaining
stationary, no other effect will be produced than an interruption, then an
emission of an inverse current, and the phenomena producing the impression
will be reproduced without the disc of the indicator ceasing to be stationary,

page_text: that is to say, that the paper will have been moved, and that this will be the
same letter which will be printed.
It may be remarked that if it be desired to obtain messages with double
expedition, it will be sufficient to place two discs instead of one on the axle of
the escapement wheel, and two hammers on the lever D, and to use a band of
paper a little wider, which might be afterwards divided in the direction of its
length.
This description of the printing apparatus may be concluded with the follow-
ing observation. It may be asked why it should be proposed to double the
number of the wavings of the sinuous grooved wheel of the commutator, and
the teeth of the escapement wheel of the indicator, and in consequence to
double the number of the emissions and interruptions of current, and of the
oscillations of the 'escapement which ought to be produced for one single
traverse of the handle of the commutator and of the needle of the indicator on
their respective dials?
The following is the reason for this modification: In order that the
phenoniena which, bring the printing agents into. operation may become
reproduced indifferently, for any letter whatever of the dial or of the printing
disc, it was necessary that the passing of each letter should take place under
the same circumstances. It could then no longer take place as in ordinary
dial apparatus alternately, on an emission, and on an interruption of current,
and it is so that it might take place on one only of these phenomena that it
has been necessary to double the action of the sinuous grooved wheel, and the
escapement, in order that there might be both an emission and an interruption
of current in passing from one letter to the next, and that thus the passing of
a letter might be always produced on that one of these two phenomena, which
rendered it impossible to obtain this effect, viz., in the arrangement adopted
in this Invention on a cessation of current, or to speak more strictly, on the
emission of an inverse current being only able to pass to the line when the
operator lowers the handle into contact with the dial, and that at the moment
in which he makes a stop on the letter to be transmitted.
It may be further remarked that without in any. respect changing the
fundamental idea on which the improvements in ordinary. dial apparatus
under this Invention rest, and which has the effect of making them printing
apparatus, the details by which the idea is realized in practice might be
varied. The following different arrangements may be mentioned by way of
example: First, instead of employing the supplementary magnetised pallet
placed behind the electro-magnet of the escapement, in order to establish the
circuit of the local battery, which in the arrangement above described-produces

page_text: the impression, the oscillations of this supplementary pallet may be directly
employed to give motion to the printing lever by means of a rocking lever
which might be connected thereto; thus the local battery and the supple-
imentary electro-magnet animated by it would be dispensed with. Secondly;
the second electro-magnet may be retained in order to actuate the printing
hammer by suppressing, the local battery as well as the hinder pallet of the
first electro-magnet. In that case, by re-establishing in ordinary conditions
the electro-magnet of the escapement, and connecting its bobbins with those
of the second electro-magnet, and making its pallet of magnetised steel like
that of the escapement, with its poles arranged in the same manner, the
printing of the letters would be obtained as before by the inversion of the
current. In effect, the pallets of the two electro-magnets will be submitted
to the same actions; when that of the escapement is repelled by the current,
which serves to seek the letter, the pallet of the second electro-magnet will
be also repelled, and the arm carrying the printing hammer will be pressed
from top to bottom against its stop or abuttal. When on the cessation of
the current the first pallet has become attracted, in virtue alone of its own
magnetism, it will be the same with the second pallet towards its electro-
magnet, but by giving to its controlling spring a force sufficient to counter-
balance this attraction the said pallet will be hindered from taking any motion,
and this will only be at the moment in which the current has been inverted,
and will be caused, by the increase of attraction thus produced, to press the
first pallet more firmly against its electro-magnet, when this same increase of
attraction, overcoming the controlling spring of the second pallet, will lower.
it into contact with its own electro-magnet, and raising the pressing hammer
will produce the impression.
This second arrangement may be varied by reversing the action of the
pallet of the escapement, that is to say, by arranging its poles in such a
manner that they may be contrary in direction to those developed in the
electro-magnet by the passing of the current which serves to seek the letter.
But for this purpose it is necessary that the power of the controlling spring.
of the said pallet should be calculated so as to overcome the simple attraction
which carries it towards the electro-magnet, irrespective of any current, in
virtue of its own magnetism, and on the other hand so as to be overcome by
the increase of attraction due to the passing of the current which serves to
seek the letter. In this manner, in reality, when the current passes the
controlling spring of the first pallet, being overcome by the double attraction
to which it is subjected, this pallet is brought nearer to its electro-magnet,
while the second pallet is repelled. When this current ceases, the first pallet

page_text: is repelled by the predominance of its controlling spring over its simple
attraction, whilst the second pallet is prevented by a similar cause from
following its own attraction. When, at length the inverse current passes,
this same first pallet is more firmly pushed back against its stop by the double
effect of the action of the controlling spring, and of the magnetic repulsion
due to the identity of its poles and the corresponding poles of its electro-
magnet, whilst at the same moment and by a contrary effect the second
pallet is more strongly attracted, its controlling spring being overcome, and
becoming lowered raises the arm which produces the impression.
While mentioning the arrangements just pointed out as variations from the
principal idea of the Invention, it is intended to give the préférence to the
plan described in the earlier part of this Specification. In reality, the
simplification which results from dispensing with the local battery is more:
than compensated by this consideration, that in depending so much on currents*
proceeding from the line a risk is run, that in case of variations in the intensity:
of the currents, whether arising from the state of the atmosphere or from any
other cause, some one of the effects that would be looked for would not be
produced, and the action of the apparatus would fail of certainty; but even
while retaining the local battery, the means of producing impressions may be:
varied without departing from the principle of the Invention. Thus, instead.
of employing, as has been done in this Invention, in order to establish the
circuit of the local battery, this second magnetised pallet which has been;
placed behind the electro-magnet of the escapement, the same function may
be imposed even on the pallet of the escapement, and so dispense with the
second pallet by connecting besides the two cylinders of soft iron of the
electro-magnet, so that only two poles may be presented instead of four.
For this purpose it is sufficient to remove from the side of the pallet of the
escapement the two insulated springs to which the wires of the copper:and:
zinc poles of the local battery are attached, and to place these two springs on
a support fixed above the electro-magnet; the pallet of the electro-magnet*
carries at its upper part a continuation, the two branches of which may be
brought near together, even into contact with the two springs above named;
but this contact can only take place when the printing of a letter is to be
produced by the inversion of a current. For this purpose, instead of the
centre of oscillation of the said pallet, there is a stop earried by a spring of
such power, that at the moment when the current is interrupted, and when
the pallet is attracted by its own magnetism, it shall not bend enough to bring
the pallet into contact, but, nevertheless, yielding enough to give way under.
the influence of the increase of attraction produced by the inversion of the

page_text: current, so that thus the upper part of the pallet may be made to press against
the two insulated springs which carry the wires of the local battery; and, by
putting them in communication, shut off the circuit from the latter, and
thereby produce the impression.
The action necessary for the printing might be communicated to the printing
mechanism in this Invention by the aid of this last arrangement, and by
employing, as in ordinary dial apparatus, a pallet of soft iron to bring the
escapement into action, without having recourse to the inversion of the current
which serves to seek the letter, but simply by the mere effect of an increase
produced in its intensity...
.
The principle on which the mechanism in this Invention is constructed
being that for each passage from one letter to another the pallet of the
escapement, should accomplish a to-and-fro movement, and cause a wholo
tooth of the escapement to pass, if in the commutator all that relates to the
power of causing an inversion of current be dispensed with, and the division
of the sinuous grooved wheel into twenty-six wavings or sinuosities, and the
division of the escapement wheel into twenty-six teeth be retained; if then,
things are arranged so that when on the passage from one letter an emission
and not an. 'interruption of current is produced, the following result is ob-
tained. Whilst : in order to seek the letter the handle is turned with a quick
and regular motion at each passing of the current, the pallet of soft iron. of
the escapement will be attracted; then, at each interruption, it will be with-
drawn by the action of the controlling spring. But the momentary attractions
which it, will thus experience, will not be powerful enough to overcome the
spring stop which limits its course, and to bring the upper part of the said
pallet in contact with the two springs carrying the wires of the local battery.
When, on the contrary, the handle of the commutator is stopped before a
letter; and prolongs the passing of the current through the bobbins of the
clectro-magnet the increase of attractive force produced thus in the électro-
magnet by this prolonged action, or this kind of saturation, will cause the spring.
stop to bend, which before limited the course of the pallet; and by bringing
its upper part in contact with the two springs attached to the wires of the
local battery will establish the circuit of the latter and thereby produce the
impression.
It will be understood in how many modes the broad feature or principle of
the Invention might be varied, still resting on the same fundamental modi-
fication applied in the Invention to the ordinary dial apparatus, viz., the identity
of the number of divisions of the sinuous grooved wheel of the commutator
and of the escapement wheel on the one hand, and of the divisions or signs of

page_text: the dial on the other hand, as the means of providing that the passing of each
letter should be accomplished under the same circumstances, in order that the
electrical phenomena intended to produce the impression might be brought
into action indifferently for any letter whatever; and that whatever this
phenomenon might be, besides inversion or augmentation of intensity of the
current &c., a result which was not possible with the ordinary arrangement
of dial apparatus in which the passing of a letter takes place under
different circumstances, that is to say, sometimes an emission, sometimes-
an interruption of the current. Also, only some examples have been pointed
out of the different modifications which might be adopted in carrying the
principle of the Invention into effect, and it may be here repeated, that as
to these different arrangements preference is given to that which is herein-
before described in detail, as offering a greater amount of certainty in action.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention, communicated to me
as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would
have it understood that I claim under the above in part recited Letters
Patent, the several modifications and arrangements of apparatus herein-before
described, and enumerated in the statement of the nature of the Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Spence, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
GEO. BEDELL COULCHER,
50, Chancery Lane,
Law Stationer.
WILLIAM SPENCE. (L.S.)