IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE SYMBOLS OR CHARACTERS CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS."
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Sacheverell Gisborne, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Electrical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE SYMBOLS OR CHARACTERS
CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Sacheverell Gisborne
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th December 1867.
I, JOHN SACHEVERELL GISBORNE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE SYMBOLS OR
CHARACTERS CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES BY ELECTRIC TELE-
GRAPHS," to be as follows:-
For the purpose of facilitating the speed of transmission of telegraphic
messages, which is the main object of my Invention, I employ the following
means and apparatus:-
First. A new code of symbols. This in its simplest form is composed of
two characters, such as a dot and block, dots and blocks of different sizes, or
of dots or other characters in different colours arranged in a novel manner.
A convenient modification is illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, the symbols being shewn opposite the required letters and nume-
rals, and contrasted with the Morse English code of symbols. In addition

page_text: to having the advantage of being easily read when printed or made, my
said new code of symbols is so devised that it can be received by the ear,
besides only 128 simple contacts of equal duration are required for its pro-
duction as against 132 compound, that is long and short contacts in the
Morse code, or by my system, herein-after called the Gisborne system, only
128 units of time are required as against 258 in the now universally employed
Morse system, which from its great success I have selected for comparison
with mine.
Second. Apparatus or mechanism by which the code of symbols described
in the above first part of my Invention can be made or effected, which said
apparatus or mechanism is also suitable for producing in much less time than
heretofore the Morse or other code of symbols; the time necessary to send
and receive the dash being according to this part of my Invention the same
as the time necessary to send and receive the dot. The said apparatus or
mechanism can be of either of the classes known as magneto-electric or
electro-magnetic, or of the galvanometric kind as in the needle arrangements,
and in all of them the electric current can be caused to act directly on the
registering apparatus, or to bring local currents into play.
The apparatus or mechanism which I employ at the sending station consists
of two finger keys, a double transmitter key, an ordinary needle lever, or of
other means by which positive and negative currents can be sent.
And the apparatus or mechanism which I employ at the receiving station
consists: (a) of a rocking armature with two markers or contactors brought
into play by any reversing relay; (b) of a rocking armature with two markers
or contactors brought into play by the main current without relays; (c) of
a double-lever single coil apparatus with two markers or contactors; (d) of
a pair of needles carrying markers or contactors operated by the main current
direct or through any reversing relay; (e) of a single needle carrying two
markers or contactors, one on each horn of a crescent shaped piece or other-
wise, operated direct by the main current or by a relay if preferred.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Sacheverell Gisborne in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th, June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SACHEVERELL GISBORNE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Electrical
Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Sacheverell Gisborne, Her special license that I, the said John
Sacheverell Gisborne, my, executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the, said John Sacheverell Gisborne, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE
SYMBOLS OR CHARACTERS CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES BY
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Sacheverell Gisborne, my executors, or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Sacheverell Gisborne, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheets of illustrative Drawings, and to the letters and figures thereon,
that is to say-
For the purpose of facilitating the transmission of telegraphic messages,
which is the main object of my Invention, I employ the following apparatus
and means:-First, apparatus or mechanism of various constructions, by
which any alphabet or code of symbols composed of two characters, such as
the dot and dash, the dot and block, dots of different sizes, blocks or cha-
racters of any desired form of different sizes, or dots, blocks, or characters of
different colours can be printed, enibossed, or effected by thorough passage
of the current on paper or other thin material of the ordinary kind or
chemically prepared, in less time than hitherto has been possible by any of the
systems in use; in fact, apparatus or mechanism for making both characters
in the same time, the dash or its equivalent in the same time as the dot.
And I would have it understood that when reference is made to "making"
the dash or its equivalent I include the time occupied in sending and

page_text: receiving that character. An alpbabet or code of symbols suitable for
working under my system and obtaining the advantages above set forth is
hereafter described under the second head of my Invention. The ordinary
Morse code, however, is equally suitable by simply making the dashes in
vertical instead of horizontal lines.
That the arrangements of the several parts according to my Invention may
be clearly seen and understood, and that others may understand their mode
of operation and be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I will now
proceed to describe the same, making reference to the Drawings attached
hereto.
In or with any of the arrangements the transmitter may consist of two
finger keys, a rocking key, a lever such as is used in working the needle
system, or any other means by which positive and negative currents can be sent,
and such currents can be caused to act directly on the registering apparatus,
or through any reversing relay arrangement to bring local currents into play.
On Sheet A, Fig. 1 is a plan, and on Sheet B, Figs. 2 and 3 are respec-
tively views in side and end elevation, all of complete working apparatus,
disposed in the positions preferred by me; a rocking armature with or
carrying two markers or contactors being used in the registering mechanism.
A reversing relay, a galvanometer for testing, an ordinary single needle appa-
ratus hereafter referred to, a switch, wire connectors, and lever transmitter
being shewn. In all these views like letters denote the same parts.
a, the supporting frame; b, barrel containing coiled spring to operate the
train of wheels c; these wheels give motion to the rollers d, which draw off
the paper or thin material from the drum e and propel it through the regis-
tering apparatus;f, f, electro-magnetic coils with armatures g, g', suspended
thereover from the rocking bar g²; g³, fixed centre carrying the rocking
bar 9, to which latter- there is jointed the connecting pieces h, h¹; these
pieces h, h¹, are jointed to two levers h², h³, which carry the markers or con-
tactors, ¹, the one a dot and the other a vertical dash; he and h³ vibrate on
the fixed studs h*, h. To regulate the length of beat of 93 I employ the
adjusting screws j,j'. When the apparatus is in operation the clockwork
rotates the feed rollers d in the usual manner, and causes them to draw the
paper from e; the markers or contactors i, i, nie made to vibrate by
attraction of g or g¹ and the movement of the two intervening parts. The
contact impression of the markers is thereby firmly and distinctly made on the
paper or other thin material.
On Sheet C, Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of registering appa-
ratus the same as that above described; the parts are denoted by the letters
.

page_text: and figures before mentioned. k is a thumbscrew secured on 1 by a screw on
its internal surface or other means; it raises the stem which carries the fixed
centre g³, and thereby adjusts it at the required height; m, m³, are springs to
bring the bar into its normal position the instant the current has been with-
drawn from the coils f, f. A is an ordinary reversing lever transmitter key
with the usual connections; B is an ordinary reversing relay bringing into
play local currents for the electro-magnets f, f¹; C is a switch such as is
employed for diverting the currents in the desired direction; D, thumbscrew
wire connectors; E, galvanometer for testing; F, single needle indicator, this
has been exhibited to show that the ordinary needle system or my apparatus
can be used in the same circuits. It will be obvious too that in places where
the ordinary Morse system is being used I can produce the Morso symbols
by operating through one coil, and by one marker or contactor, the dash
being made by "dwelling" in the ordinary manner.
To the several parts
described in this paragraph I do not make any separate claim.
On Sheet C, Fig. 6 is an end elevation of part of similar registering appa-
ratus, the only difference being that here the rocking bar is made in two
lengths, that is to say, two short bars m, m', each of which has independant
motion on the fixed centre n.
Fig. 7 shews in end elevation part of registering apparatus, in which a
maguetized bar armature o is attached to the rocking bar p; q, q', are electro-
magnetic coils. The rocking is effected by traction and repulsion of q, q',
as is well understood. Fig. 8 is a like arrangement, the difference being that
here the rocking bar and the magnetic bar are made each in two lengths.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a double lever single coil registering apparatus
with two markers or contactors. r is the electro-magnetic coil; 8, 8¹, mag-
netized armatures attached to levers t, t, carrying the markers or contactors
u, u'; t¹ is jointed at v and v¹, and supported at w and w' for the purpose of
imparting the lift or movement of s¹; x is a supporting column.
Fig. 10 is a side elvation of so much of a registering apparatus in which
a single needle is employed to operate two markers or contactors on the horns
of a crescent as is necessary to illustrate this part of my improvement. y is
the needle; z, crescent-shaped piece with markers or contactors 21, 2³, the
former a dash, the latter a dot; is the roller which carries the paper or
other thin material, and receives the thrust or impact of z¹, z².
Fig. 11 is an end elevation, and Fig. 12 is a side elevation illustrative of an
arrangement of registering apparatus, in which a pair of needles carrying
markers or contactors are used. a and a are ordinary deflecting needles

page_text: as, a, the former being the dot, the latter the dash; 6º, 67, are plates
insulated from each other, and formed each with openings at points not
opposite one another; c, paper or other thin material. This arrangement is
best adapted for acting on chemically prepared paper by through currents
which change the colour of the paper or other thin material.
Fig. 13 is a side elevation of another modification of registering apparatus
in which two ordinary deflecting needles are employed to operate two sus-
pended needle-like markers or contactors. d and d' are the needles; e and e,
are the markers or contactors hung on the centres f,ƒ'.
Fig. 14 is a back elevation of that construction of relay which I prefer to
use in the modifications shewn by Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13. is the needle;
y, y, the coils; a, a, contact springs operated by the projections z' attached
to the spindle. These projections act on the contact springs as the needle z
is deflected to the one side or the other, completing local circuits by coming
into contact with the insulated stop pieces w, w; v6, the frame.
Second. The second part of my Invention relates to a new code of symbols...
This, in its simplest form, is composed of two characters, such as a dot and
block, a dot and dash, dots, blocks, or characters of different sizes, or dots;
blocks, or characters in different colours arranged in a novel manner.
.
On Sheet A by Fig. 15, I have illustrated a convenient modification of
dots and vertical dashes, the symbols being opposite the letters, numerals,
and characters constantly required, and contrasted as regards units of time
with the ordinary Morse system. The units of time necessary to print
the said letters, numerals, and characters according to my system being 153
against 324 when the ordinary Morse system is employed. And I would here
point out that when characters equivalent to those employed in the ordinary
Morse system are printed by any of the registering apparatus herein-before
described as of my Invention, that is to say, of the alpbabet, numerals, and
characters constantly required, the units of time taken is only 162 against
324 if printed by any of the existing Morse instruments; this is illustrated
by Fig. 16.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particularized
the same by suitable details, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. The employment of two markers or contactors operated by a rocking
armature, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth as
illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 on Sheets A. and C. of the Drawings.
.
Second. The rocking bars m, m', for the purpose set forth, substantially as
described aud shewn by Fig. 6 on Sheet C. of the Drawings.

page_text: Third. The magnetized bar armatures o, s and s' operating substantially as
herein described and as shewn by Figs. 7, 8, and 9, on Sheet C. of the
Drawings for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The single needle y operating the piece z for the purpose set forth,
substantially as herein described and shewn by Fig. 10 on Sheet C. of the
Drawings.
Fifth. The pair of needles a, a, carrying markers or contactors, and the
pair of needles do, d', carrying markers or contactors to their work for the
purpose set forth, substantially as herein described and shewn by Figs. 11,
12, 13, on Sheet C. of the Drawings.
Sixth. The new code of symbols herein described as illustrated by part of
Fig. 15 on Sheet A. of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Sacheverell Gisborne, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JOHN SACHEVERELL GISBORNE. (L.B.)
In the presence of
JOHN T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool..