Year: 1888

page_text: We, Ross CONWAY STONE, Electrician, of 70 West One hundred and sixth Street,
and JAMES GILFILLAN, Gentleman, of 114 West Eleventh Street, both of the City and
State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
:-
The object of said improvements is to produce a device by which an inoxperienced
person may transmit messages over telegraph lines, and said improvements relate to
the novel construction and arrangement of devices whereby telegraph messages may be
sent by the employment of a stylus or pencil in connection with a transmitting tablet
and line wire.
The transmitting tablet of any suitable size is composed of a conducting and a non-
conducting plate insulated by any suitable material.
The conducting metal plate is embossed to give elevations corresponding to the
"Morse" alphabet, numerals or signals; or to any alphabet system or code of signals
expressed in "dots and dashes " preferably arranged so as to be readily found, and
over which elevations the metal point of the stylus may be passed at the natural slant in
drawing straight lines downward in writing. By thus drawing the stylus over the
surface of the elevations the equivalents of a telegraph "key are obtained in the
transmission of any desired characters or signals.
An even surface is obtained for the stylus by filling the spaces flush on the
conducting metal plate between the elevations with insulating material. The non-
conducting plate perforated with slanting guide grooves for each character or signal
is firmly secured to said conducting plate to confine and guide the stylus.
In constructing a tablet for the European "Morse" alphabet we prefer to follow
the plan, as "dots; dashes; dots and dashes; dashes and dots; dots and dashes ;
dashes and dots ;" and reverse pairs of characters. The proper letter or numeral
should be placed above or by its equivalent in "Morse" characters, and a marginal
arrangement of letters, numerals and signals in their usual order with the "Morse
equivalents may be advantageously printed on the tablet for convenient reference.
The conducting metal plate is connected with the line and is otherwise insulated.
"

page_text: The pen or stylus is provided with a metallic core and hardened point, and is
connected by a flexible insulated wire with a battery. The battery has a metallic wire
connection which grasps a metallic ferrule, connected to the core of the stylus. The
surface of the stylus excepting said ferrule is covered with a non-conducting material.
The stylus is suspended in a clasp, and when so suspended the circuit through wires is
completed and the battery "short circuited," and when the stylus is removed from said
clasp the circuit is broken.
The operator removes the stylus from said clasp and draws the point of the same
along one of the letters on the tablet. This movement makes and breaks circuit from
the battery through the flexible insulated wire and point of the stylus to the tablet and
along the line wire.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telegraphic Transmitters.
We, Ross CONWAY STONE, Electrician, of 70 West One hundred and sixth Street,
and JAMES GILFILLAN, Gentleman, of 114 West Eleventh Street, both of the City and
State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The object of the improvements is to produce an apparatus by which an inexpe-
rienced person may transmit messages over telegraph lines, and said improvements
relate to the novel construction and arrangement of devices whereby telegraph
messages may be sent by the employment of a stylus or pencil in connection with a
transmitting tablet and line wire."
:-
In the drawings forming a part of this specification:-
Figure 1 is a view of a sufficient portion of the tablet to illustrate our invention,
showing the "Morse" characters.
Figure 2 a section of a portion thereof showing character "A" of, the "Morse"
Alphabet.
Figure 3 a cross-section of the groove showing the slant of the sides of the non-
conducting plate of said tablet.
Figure 4 is a stylus with its connections.
The same letters refer to like parts in each of the Figures.
The transmitting tablet of any suitable size is composed of a conducting and a non-.
conducting plate insulated by any suitable material.
The conducting metal plate A is embossed to give elevations corresponding to the
"Morse" Alphabet, numerals or signals or to any alphabetic system or code of signals
expressed in "dots and dashes," preferably arranged so as to be readily found and
over which the metal point of the stylus may be passed at the natural slant in drawing
straight lines downwards in writing. By thus drawing the stylus over the surface of
the elevations the equivalents of a telegraph "key" are obtained in the transmission
of any desired characters or signals.
An even surface is obtained for the stylus by filling the spaces flush on plate A
between the elevations with insulating material B. The non-conducting-plate C per-
forated with slanting guide grooves, one for each character or signal, is firmly secured
to plate A to confine and guide the stylus.
In constructing a tablet for the European "Morse" Alphabet we prefer to follow
the plan indicated in Figure 1 of letters formed respectively of "dots; dashes; dots
and dashes; dashes and dots; dot and dashes; dashes and dot ;" and reverse pairs
of characters in the order or classification named. The proper letter or numeral
should be placed above or by the side of its equivalent in "Morse" characters and a
marginal arrangement of letters numerals and signals in their usual order with the
"Morse" equivalents may be advantageously printed on the margin of the tablet for
convenient reference.

page_text: The construction of the tablet is clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
drawings. The slant ends a, a¹, of signal groove in guide plate C are shown and the
"dot and dash" D corresponding to Morse" character "A" when read from right
to left or from top downwards on the tablet. The slant of sides c c¹ to metal plate A
is shown clearly in Figure 3. The plate A is connected with the line wire at binding
post L and is otherwise insulated.
The pen or stylus M shown in Figure 4 is provided with a metallic core and
hardened point N and is connected by Hexible insulated wire O with a battery P. This
stylus may be carried at will to any point on the tablet. The battery has a metallic
connection Q, which clasp Q grasps a metal ferrule R connected to the core of the
stylus. The surface of the stylus excepting said ferrule is covered with a non-
conducting material. When the stylus is suspended in clasp Q the circuit through
wires OT is complete and the battery "short circuited" and when the stylus is
removed from clasp Q the circuit is broken.
The operator removes the stylus from clasp and draws point N over one of the
signal grooves on the tablet at a single uniform movement. This movement makes
and breaks circuit from battery P through wire O and point N from the tablet over
the line wire, for the signal thus traversed by point N.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
- and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
First. A telegraphic transmitting tablet consisting of a metallic plate A and a non-
conducting plate containing a guide groove for each signal, and insulating material B,
the latter being provided with perforations to represent the "dot and dash"
characters of a signal.
Second. A telegraphic transmitting apparatus consisting of an insulated metallic
plate A connected to the line wire, a non-conducting plate B extending over the entire
metal except the telegraphic characters and an insulated metallic point N which is
connected to a battery and may be brought at will into contact with said characters
on the tablet to transmit signals in any desired order or combination.
Third. A telegraphic transmitting apparatus consisting of a tablet with oven
insulated metallic surfaces, connected in a telegraphic circuit and which surfaces
correspond to "dots and dashes" of "Morse" characters, a guide groove in non-
conducting material for cach complete signal or character, said grooves being formed
and arranged to confine the movement of a pointed stylus over said insulated surfaces
so that such movement produces the same effect as the operation of a telegraphic
"key" in transmitting "dots and dashes."
Fourth. A telegraphic transmitting tablet having the character to be transmitted
arranged at the normal slant of writing so that a stroke of the stylus from the top
downward transmits the character; and the classification of the characters on the
tablet substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of January 1889.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicants.