IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING SIGNALS IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRIC TELEPHONES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Henry McClure, of 10, Esplanade, Waterloo, near
Liverpool, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR COMMUNICATING SIGNALS IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRIC TELEPHONES."
Sealed the 12th July 1878, and dated the 23rd January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Henry McClure at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd January 1878.
JOSEPH HENRY MOCLURE, of 10, Esplanade, Waterloo, near Liverpool, Gentleman,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING SIGNALS IN CONNECTION
WITH ELECTRIC TELEPHONES."
These improvements relate to a new method of communicating signals on tele-
phonic circuits to attract attention of the operators at either end.
Hitherto separate instruments bave been used independently of the telephone
itself. These instruments have been brought into action by independent switches or
keys, but this Invention combines the two together; for instance, while one pole of
the permanent magnet is employed as hitherto to vibrate the disc, the other pole
may be used to move a signal indicator, or the same pole may be employed for both
purposes, or a separate and independent electro-magnet may be inserted in or
attached to the same casing box or outside covering as that which contains the
telephone, and this second electro-magnet shall operate the signal indicator.
As it is necessary in any one of these cases to employ batteries or other non-
telephonic currents to produce sufficient force to give a signal, special switches or
keys are used on the telephone, so that the act of taking the telephone in the hand
or placing or holding it in any prescribed position causes the switches or keys to
act automatically and switch or place the telephone the signal indicator or battery.
in or out of circuit.
The telephone and its switch or switches are so arranged that by different move-
ments the telephone alone is in circuit, the signal indicator alone is in circuit, or
both are in circuit or one or other is in circuit with or without the battery.

page_text: I do not confine the use of the switch or switches on the telephone to the above
combination of telephone and signal indicator, but I apply it also to telephones with
separate and independent signal indicators, but in all cases I confine myself to the
Invention set forth, that is the combination with the telephone itself (that is on and
attached to it), the switches or keys to actuate the different signals required.
The operating action of the switch on the telephone may be accomplished in
many ways, either by spring keys which require depressing to bring them into
contact, or by switches, which are moved into or out of contact by any other of the
usual methods for making, breaking, or altering the circuit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Henry McClure in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
July 1878.
JOSEPH HENRY MOCLURE, of 10, Esplanade, Waterloo, near Liverpool, Gentleman
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING SIGNALS IN CONNECTION
WITH ELECTRIC TELEPHONES."
These improvements relate to a new method of communicating signals on tele-
phonie circuits to attract attention of the operators at either end.
Hitherto separate instruments have been used independently of the telephone
itself. These instruments have been brought into action by independent switches
or keys, but this Invention combines the two together; for instance, while one pole
of the permanent magnet is employed as hitherto to vibrate the disc, the other pole
may be used to move a signal indicator, or the same pole may be employed for both
purposes, or a separate and independent electro-magnet may be inserted in or
attached to the same casing box or outside covering as that which contains the
telephone, and this second electro-magnet shall operate the signal indicator.
As it is necessary in any one of these cases to employ batteries or other non-
telephonic currents to produce sufficient force to give a signal, special switches or
keys are used on the telephone, so that the act of taking the telephone in the hand
or placing or holding it in any prescribed position which causes the switches or
keys to act automatically and switch or place the telephone the signal indicator or
battery in or out of circuit.
The telephone and its switch or switches are so arranged that by different move-
ments the telephone alone is in circuit, the signal indicator alone is in circuit, or both
are in circuit, or one or other is in circuit with or without the battery.
I do not confine the use of the switch or switches on the telephone to the above
combination of telephone and signal indicator, but I apply it also to telephones
with separate and independent signal indicators, but in all cases I confine myself to
the Invention set forth, that is, the combination with the telephone itself (that is
on and attached to it) of the switches or keys to actuate the different signals
required.

page_text: The operating action of the switch on the telephone may be accomplished in
many ways, either by spring keys which require depressing to bring them into
contact, or by switches, which are moved into or out of contact by any other of the
usual methods for making, breaking, or altering the circuit.
In the accompanying Drawings forming part of this Specification Figures 1 to 2
show the application of the Invention to a telephone, though many other methods
within the scope of the Invention will obviously suggest themselves to electricians.
Figures 1 and 2 are plans of telephones mounted and arranged with their
accessory pieces.
In these views a, a, are the signal buttons, switches, or keys; b, b, the connectors
to connect the battery wires to the telephones; c, c, are the earth wires; d, d, the
line wires. b is joined up to the carbon of a battery, the zinc of which goes by a
line to earth; c is connected to earth; d is the line wire, the receiving end of which
is connected with a call bell. The operator on pressing the button a, in Figure 2,
or spring a, in Figure 1, sends a battery current along the line d into the bell at the
receiving station.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is the combination with the telephone itself (that is on or attached
to it) of the switches or keys to actuate the different attracting signals required,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Henry McClure, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. H. M°CLURE. (L.S.)