IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PRINTING TELE- GRAPHS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PRINTING TELE-
GRAPHS." A communication from Charles Claude Etienne Minie, Com-
mandant of the School of Fire-arms at Vincennes, in the Empire of
France, and Louis François Clement Breguet, of Paris, in the Empire
of France.
Sealed the 8th August 1856, and dated the 22nd March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd March 1856.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PRINTING TELEGRAPHS," a communication from Charles
Claude Etienne Minie, Commandant of the School of Fire-arms at Vincennes,
in the Empire of France, and Louis Francois Clement Breguet, of Paris, in
the Empire of France, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improved constructions, arrangements, and
combinations of mechanism for the obtainment of an improved recording
instrument capable of printing either a conventional alphabet in the form of

page_text: symbols or the ordinary alphabet in Roman or other letters by suitable
modifications.
According to one modification of recording instrument for printing or
recording a conventional alphabet, a wooden cylinder is employed, turning in
suitable bearings on wrought-iron journals. This cylinder is rotated by
clockwork, and driven by a pinion on one end of its axis, whilst at its other
end is fixed a continuous helicoidal grooved drum, for the purpose of im-
parting a lateral movement to the strip or strips of paper for receiving the
recorded message.
Two duplicate strips may be printed at one time by
passing them both simultaneously under the recording instrument, which
consists of a lever fitted with a sharp pricking point at one end for perforating
the strips, whilst its other end is drawn down by a helical spring, so as to keep
the pricker elevated until required to operate, which is done by means of an
electro-magnet in connection with one of the poles of the battery. The
manipulator consists of a number of keys somewhat similar to the keys of a
pianoforte, and each key indicates a letter. These keys are hinged above the
cylinder by means of flat blade springs in place of hinged joints, and the
springs of the several keys are prolonged so that their ends are over the centre
of the cylinder, and tangential to its surface. In this cylinder are fitted a
number of metallic studs arranged in a certain order and number under each
of the keys, the studs being flush or nearly so with the surface of the cylinder.
The various letters of the alphabet are composed of a number of prick marks
arranged transversely across the strip of paper in different numbers and
positions, the number of prick marks and their positions being regulated by
the corresponding number and position of the studs in the cylinder for that
particular letter. When a key is depressed so as to bring its spring on to
one of the metallic studs in the cylinder the circuit is established, the pricker
is immediately drawn down by the magnet to puncture the paper, which is
wound off from a reel as required by a pair of feeding rollers. This descent
of the pricker releases also the cylinder, which makes a revolution, and as the
corresponding studs will pass in succession under the spring of the depressed
key, it follows that the circuit will be made and broken as many times as there
are studs, and as at each re-establishment of contact the pricker will descend,
it follows that a corresponding number of prick marks will be made in the
strip of paper, such pricks being placed across the paper, which has a lateral
movement imparted to it by the grooved drum. At each rotation of the
cylinder a catch or arm fixed to one end of it strikes a star wheel on the axis
of one of the feeding rollers, and turns it a short distance, thereby drawing
the strip forward longitudinally for the next succeeding letter. Suitable claws

page_text: or detents are brought into action when a key is depressed, for the purpose of
arresting the movement of the cylinder after one. revolution.
In the arrange-
ment of apparatus for printing the ordinary letters of the alphabet a very
slight modification is required. The cylinder, which is of metal instead of
wood, is fitted with a number of projecting pins arranged spirally round its
surface, each pin corresponding to a key on the manipulator, whilst each key
corresponds to a letter, number, or other character or sign. A type wheel
with letters on its periphery it substituted for the continuous helicoidal
grooved drum, which is no longer requisite, since the lateral traverse of the
strip is not wanted. The pricker is also dispensed with, the end of the lever
which carried it being merely required to press the paper on to the letter
presented to the type wheel to print the same on the paper which passes over
it. Several letters may be produced at the same time, those letters which
follow one another in the same word in alphabetical order being produced
with the same rapidity as a single one. Also by increasing the length of
the key board, so as to allow of several alphabets sliding on it, an entire
word may be produced, whatever may be the order of the letters, by depres-
sing the requisite keys with both hands simultaneously.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd September 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and
of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I.
the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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-MAGNETIC PRINTING TELEGRAPHS," a communication fro:n

page_text: Charles Claude Etienne Minie, Commandant of the School of Fire-arms at
Vincennes, in the Empire of France, and Louis Francois Clement Breguet, of
Paris, in the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument 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 Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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 accompanying Drawing,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to certain' improved constructions, arrangements,
and combinations of mechanism for the obtainment of an improved recording
instrument capable by suitable modifications of marking either a conventional
alphabet in the form of symbols, or of printing the ordinary alphabet in
Roman or other letters. According to one modification of recording instru-
ment for marking or recording a conventional alphabet, a wooden cylinder
is employed turning in suitable bearings on wrought-iron journals. This
cylinder is rotated by clockwork, and driven by.. a pinion on one end of its
axis, whilst at its other end is fixed a continuous helicoidal grooved drum, for
the purpose of imparting a lateral movement to the strip or strips of paper
for receiving the transmitted message. Two strips may be marked with con-
ventional signs at one time by passing them both simultaneously one under
the other beneath the recording instrument, which consists of a lever,, fitted
with a sharp pricking point at one, end for perforating the strips, whilst its
other end is drawn down by a helical spring, so as to keep the, pricker
elevated until required to operate, which is done by means of an electro-
magnet in connection with one of the poles of the battery...The manipulator
consists of a number of keys somewhat similar to the keys of a pianoforte,
and each key has reference to a particular letter. These keys are attached
above the cylinder by means of flat blade springs in by means of hinged joints,
and the springs of the several keys are prolonged, so that their ends be over
the centre of the cylinder, and are tangentive to its surface. In this, cylinder
are fitted a number of metallic studs arranged in a certain order, and number
under each of the keys, the studs being flush or nearly so with the surface
of the cylinder. The various letters of the alphabet are composed of prick
marks arranged transversely across the strip of paper in different numbers

page_text: axis
arresting
and positions, the number of prick marks and their positions being regulated
by the corresponding number and position of the studs in the cylinder for that
particular letter. When a key is depressed so as to bring its spring on to one
of the metallic studs in the cylinder the circuit is established, the pricker
is immediately drawn down by the magnet to puncture the paper, which is
wound off from a reel as required by a pair of feeding rollers. This descent
of the pricker relcases also the cylinder, which makes a revolution, and as the
corresponding studs will pass in succession under the spring of the depressed
key, it follows that the circuit will be made and broken as many times as there
are studs, and as at each re-establishment of contact the pricker will descend,
it follows that a corresponding number of prick marks will be made in the
strip of paper, such prieks being placed across the paper, which has a lateral
movement imparted to it by the grooved drum herein-before referred to. At
each rotation of the cylinder a catch or arm fixed to one end of it strikes a
a star wheel on the axix of one of the feeding rollers, and turns it a
short distance round, thereby drawing the strip forward longitudinally for the
next succeeding letter. Suitable claws or detents are brought into action
when a key is depressed, for the purpose of correcting the movement of the
cylinder after one revolution. In the arrangement of apparatus for printing
the ordinary letters of the alphabet a very slight modification is required.
The cylinder, which is of metal instead of wood, is fitted with a number of
projecting pins arranged spirally round its surface, each pin corresponding to
a key on the manipulator, whilst each key compounds to a letter, number,
or other character or sign. A type wheel with letters on its periphery
is substituted for the continuous helicoidal grooved drum, which is no longer
requisite, since the lateral traverse of the strip is not wanted. The pricker is
also dispensed with, the end of the lever which carried it being merely
required to press the paper on to the letter presented by the type wheel to
print the same on the paper which passes over it. Several letters may be
produced at the same time, those letters which follow one another in the same
word in alphabetical order being produced with the same rapidity as a single
Also by increasing the length of the key board, so as to allow of several
alphabets sliding on it, an entire word, may be produced, whatever may be
the order of the letters, by depressing the requisite keys with both hands
simultaneously.
one.
corresponds
And in order that the same Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall

page_text: refer to the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
sanie letters of reference indicating parts throughout all the corresponding
Figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet One of the Drawings represents a front elevation of the
recording instrument for using the conventional alphabet produced by points
or prick marks.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figure 3 is a transverse section taken
through the line 1, 2, in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a second section taken through
the line 3, 4, in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a detail, full size, of the small grooved
drum; and Figure 6 represents one of the alphabets, which may be obtained
on the strips of paper by means of holes pricked therein. A is a wooden
cylinder turning on a wrought-iron axis a. This axis, it will be seen, is pro-
longed both to the right and to the left to the left, in order to receive the
pinion, a in gear with a wheel b, actuated by the ordinary blockwork B, and to
the right to receive the small drum C, on the circumference of which is cut
the helical groove c.
In this groove works the stud d, Figure 3, in one piece
with the guide D. This guide has its centre of motion at the small support E,
which receives the reel e, upon which the strip of paper to be marked is rolled.
If desirable, two or more strips of paper may be rolled upon the reel, one upon
another, so that two or more copies may be marked at the same time. The
paper passes from the reel, between the large guide D and the small guides d',
and then between two small grooved rollers f and f'. These rollers are
pressed against one another by means of a spring f, so that when the roller f¹
is turned by means of the six-arm star wheel F, the two pieces of paper nipped
by the rollers will be forced to obey the motion and to advance a certain
distance. On the right-hand side of the cylinder A is fixed a hook F1, which,
at each revolution of the cylinder, encounters one of the arms of the star F,
causing it to turn with the small roller f¹ the sixth part of a revolution, and to
propel the strips of paper 9 and g¹, the one into the box G, and the other
above it, as shewn in tho Drawings; thus, at each revolution of the cylinder
A the paper advances a certain distance. This regulated movement of the
paper, the line of marks constituting a sign produced by the descent of the
point screwed to the extremity of the lever II, is separated from the next line
of marks. This lever oscillates on the support H', and its extremity, opposite
to the point, is furnished with a spiral spring h', tending to draw the lever to
the elevated position indicated in Figures 1 and 2. Below this lever are
placed the electro-magnetic coils I, placed in communication by means of the
wire i with one of the poles of a battery, so that when the circuit is established

page_text: by means of the keys, as will be hereafter described, the lever is attracted, and
the point descends and pierces the paper. This motion of the lever not only
causes the point to pierce the paper, but also disengages the hook or catch J,
which is retained by the extremity of the lever, and as this catch is fixed upon
the axis of the cylinder, the cylinder will be set free to move on its axis, and
being actuated by the clockwork, will make an entire revolution and cause the
paper to move forward and the pricking point to be actuated a certain number
of times, according to the number of studs below the key which has been
depressed. The key board is composed of keys alternately longer and 'shorter,
the shorter keys being placed higher than the longer ones, with the view of
facilitating the action of the fingers. They are fixed to blade springs k, which
form hinges, and are secured between two pieces of wood K supported upon
small pillars K¹. These springs are prolonged, so that their extremities
project over the cylinder A, and are tangential to it, as shewn in Figure 4, by
which means, when one of the keys is touched, its spring encounters one of the
metallic studs a³, with which the circumference of the cylinder A is furnished.
By these means the electric current coming, for example, from the position
pole by the wire b6, (Fig. 1 and 2,) passes along the support L, and a communi-
cation with the negative pole is thereby established, the electric current from
the latter pole passing through the wire i and round the coils I; these coils
then attract the lever H, and the cylinder performs a revolution. . If the key
corresponding to the letter C, for example, has been touched (Figure 6), the
spring of the key successively encounters three studs a³ in the same transverse
line on the revolving cylinder. The circuit is thus three times made and
broken, causing the lever H to descend, and the point to pierce the paper a
corresponding number of times. In order that a space may be made to inter-
vene laterally between the holes, the paper is moved laterally by means of the
helicoidal groove c of the drum C, which by turning with the cylinder causes
the guides to have a lateral reciprocating motion.
The method of obtaining holes or marks to indicate letters or words (as shewn
at Figure 6) will now bo readily understood. The leading feature of the
Invention is the arrangement on a non-conducting cylinder of a series of
metallic studs in a certain order and combination for each letter of the
alphabet. To limit the descent of the keys, and prevent them from moving
more than is necessary, a small rod h¹ is placed below them between the
supports L and L. A second rod m fixed to a small frame M, which is fixed
like the keys upon a blade spring, as a hinge to the cross pieces K, is furnished
with two small claws m', which when they encounter the projections m² fixed
to the cylinder A arrest its movement after one revolution. The contact of

page_text: these claws with the projections takes place each time that one of the keys is
depressed. When one of the keys is lowered it presses upon the rod m, which
descends, and with it the claws m³, which are then at a proper height to meet
the projections m², and arrest the revolution of the cylinder. Figure 7 on
Sheet 2 of the Drawings represents an elevation of the apparatus for printing
despatches from types; Figure 8 is a plan of the same; Figure 9 is a transverse
section taken through the line 5, 6; Figure 10 is another section taken
through the line 7, 8; and Figure 11 represents an impression upon a strip of
paper of the types on the circumference of the wheel.
It will be obvious on comparing the Drawings on this Sheet with the other
Sheet that the two sets of apparatus are similar in principle, the mechanical
arrangement alone being slightly modified. The cylinder is in this case
composed entirely of metal instead of wood, and its circumference is furnished
with small projecting studs a arranged in a helix; on the prolongation of the
axis to the right, the drum with the helecoidal groove is replaced, by a metallic
disc furnished with the type or letters in relief on its circumference. The paper
now passes directly from the reel e over the dial c, and tangentially to its
circumference, and thence between the small rollers fand f, which draw it
forward as the letters are printed. These letters are printed by one extremity
of the lever H, that arm being attracted downward by the electro-magnet I;
consequently the extremity descends and presses the paper below it against the
type or letter upon the disc. To actuate this lever by establishing the circuit
of the current, the same process is gone through as in the preceding case,
namely, depressing the keys J, but as it is requisite that the alphabet or series
of letters and figures should be in as small a compass as possible, the small
heads of various heights are screwed to the extremities of the keys, and are
arranged in three rows, so that they may be worked separately, notwithstanding
their close proximity. As the studs a³ are projections, and as the cylinder
turns in the direction indicated by the arrow, Figure 10, the springs K, if
arranged as in the other apparatus, would obstruct the motion of the cylinder.
In order to avoid this, the springs are placed at the extremity of the keys, as
shewn in the Figure 10. By this apparatus impressions of type or other sub-
jects in relief may be very rapidly taken upon paper, and by increasing the
length of the keyboard, and introducing more keys, two bands may be employed
at once in the depression of the keys, whereby an entire word may be printed
with nearly the same facility as a single letter.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the, said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict

page_text: myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of the said Invention; but
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general construction and arrangement of apparatus for recording
or printing electro-telegraphic messages either by conventional signs of, or by
ordinary type letters and characters, as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of a wooden or other non-conducting
cylinder fitted with metallic pins in contact with the metallic axis of the
cylinder, and arranged in combination with a key board in the manner and for
the purpose herein-before described.
Third, the arrangement of the dots or prick marks indicating letters or other
signs in a line across the breadth of the strip of paper upon which the message
is recorded, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of traversing the strip or strips of paper which
receive the recorded despatch laterally, as well as longitudinally between the
pricker, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of printing or recording messages in type by
means of a wheel carrying the type, actuated by a metallic cylinder fitted with
projecting pins, each pin corresponding to a key on the manipulator, and each
key corresponding to a letter or sign on the type wheel, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.B.)