IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC PRINTING FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR STICH PURPOSES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hawkins Simpson, of Kilmeena, in Ireland,
Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC PRINTING FOR
TELEGRAPHIC AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR
STICH PURPOSES"
Sealed, the 25th April 1865, and dated the 31st October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hawkins Simpson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st October 1864...
I, JOHN HAWKINS SIMPSON, of Kilmeena, in Ireland, Esquire, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
PRINTING FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE
USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES," to be as follows:
My Invention, in the first place, refers to the following improvements:-
The message set up in type, or written in insulating ink, or w atever has to
be copied, is developed by having the requisite number of styles, that is
printing points, passed in succession over its surface in parallel lines. The
styles when placed ready for use are insulated from each other,and sometimes,
but not necessarily from the rest of the instruinent, but each style becomes
electrically connected with the instrument during the time that it is being
passed over the surface of whatever has to be copied or printed from. Each
style makes only one transit, and all the styles are moved independently of
each other,being guided by a slot or slots, or are by other suitable mechanical

page_text: contrivances moved and guided, each style independently of any other. If it
is preferred 1 can make the type, or whatever has to be copied, move instead of
the styles, whether the movement is under or over, or by the side of the styles.
In this case the styles insulated from each other are arranged so as to let only
one at a time come in contact with whatever has to be copied. At the
receiving station Iuse an instrument of similar construction, which is supplied
with paper chemically prepared and laid upon a metal or other conductor;
the paper is decomposed wherever the electric current has passed through it
from the printing style to the surface on which the paper is laid. One line
wire is sufficient to print with. The movements of the instruments at both
stations must exactly correspond, and may be regulated by clock work, or by
other means or appliances. To multiply copies at one or at both stations I
provide duplicate sets of styles moved simultaneously in duplicate sets
of slots.
1
This Invention also refers to electric printing, or taking copies from
stereotype, or from metallic or other electric conducting surfaces which have
been previously printed or written upon in insulating ink or fluid, the letters
or characters in all cases being placed horizontally, as thus, for instance,
O, in lieu of adopting the ordinary vertical position. If, however, it
should be thought desirable that the copy or printed matter should when
printed appear in the ordinary vertical position, I can effect this by first
placing the type in the horizontal position as aforesaid, and then drawing the
paper diagonally or laterally under the teeth of an electric telegraph printing
comb, or moving the said comb diagonally or laterally across the paper or
surface to be printed.
My Invention also refers to copying, or manifold copying, at the sending
station, by the use of my "printer" arrangements described in my application
for Letters Patent, No. 2260,of the year 1864, laying prepared paper in one
or more folds or layers immediately in contact with the type that is between
the type or object to be copied and the point or points which traverse the
type or object to be copied; or the same thing can be effected with other
typo-telegraphic printing instruments where the type at the sending station
is traversed by a printing comb or style, in which case my "printer" arrange-
ments would be dispensed with. And by this means I can also ascertain
whether the message has been or is being correctly registered or printed at
the receiving station.
Also in order to facilitate the despatch of messages, whether transmitted by
the agency of my "printer" arrangements, or by other printing telegraphic
instruments, I prepare thin strips of metal or other conducting material cut

page_text: so as accurately to fit the recess (or whatever is made) to hold fast the object
to be copied or printed from, and these strips are marked with parallel lines
between which the message is to be written or printed in insulating ink. The
parallel lines must be so near to each other as to let the whole depth of the
characters of the message be fully developed by being once traversed by or
being once passed under or over my "printer," or under or over a telegraphic
printing comb.
In order to produce telegraphic or other copies of a size greater or less
than that of the originals, I provide a "printer" greater or less accordingly.
With regard to the types, sometimes I cast then with letters or characters
presented in relief or intaglio on more than one side, and in order to facilitate
the composition of the type to be printed from when I use conventional signs
or characters in place of ordinary typographic characters, I cast type on which
are both the conventional sign or character, and the lotter or character as
usually formed which the conventional sign represents. To render as smooth
as possible the passage of my said "printer," or a printing comb over the
type, 1 sometimes make type with the letter or character and surrounding
material with one and the same level surface, the portions of material com-
posing the letter or character to be of conducting material, the other portions
being of non-conducting material, or vice versa.
In order to apply my Invention, as regards the multiplication of copies, to
telegraphic and other electric printing instruments in which more than one
wire or conductor is obliged to be used, 1 securely connect the requisite
number of wires directly to each of the teoth or printing points of which the
"comb" is composed, or to one main wire, which is itself immediately
connected with one of the said teeth or printing points, each of these wires
leading a current of electricity to a corresponding tooth of corresponding
combs in contact with prepared paper, or other surface to be printed on.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Hawkins Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HAWKINS SIMPSON, of Kilmeena, in Ireland, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of

page_text: me,
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
the said John Hawkins Simpson, Her special licence that I, the said
John Hawkins Simpson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Hawkins Simpson, 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 ELECTRIC PRINTING FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND
OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Hawkins Simpson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Hawkins Simpson, 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 :-
My Invention, in the first place, refers to the following improvements:-At
the place of transmission the message, or if a subject has to be copied, the
subject is first set up in type, or printed in insulating ink, or stamped out by
perforations in paper or other material. Each line of such message or subject
is transmitted and developed by the transit in succession of the requisite
number of styles over its surface in parallel lines. Each style makes only one
transit in transmitting and developing one line of printed matter, and one
style only is in contact with the type or printed or written matter at one and
the same time. Thus each style, in its operation, or while traversing the
type or printed or written matter, is moved or is guided over a portion of tho
surface independent of and different from that traversed by the other styles.
The styles are arranged on a revolving wheel where a circular movement is
preferred, or in or on a sliding bar or rod, or in an endless band passing over
pulleys or rollers, where a straight movement is adopted,in a manner respec-
tively similar to that described in my Letters Patent, No. 2260, A.D. 1864,
the distinguishing feature of this Invention being that the styles when so
arranged are insulated from each other. Where an endless band is used it
may be necessary to guide the styles by slots whilst traversing the type or

page_text: matter to be copied. If it is preferred I can make the type or subject to be
copied move instead of the styles, whether a circular or straight movement is
adopted. In such cases the styles insulated from each other would be
stationary, and arranged at such respective distances that one style only would
be in contact with the type or subject to be copied at one and the same time.
At the receiving station where a telegraphic circuit is used I employ an
instrument of a construction similar to that at the place of transmission, and
such instrument is supplied with paper chemically prepared and placed on
metal or other conducting material. Only one line wire is requisite between
the stations.
My Invention refers also to electric printing or taking copies from metallic
or other conducting substances which have been previously printed or written
upon in insulating ink or fluid, or stamped out by perforations in paper or
other suitable material, where the letters or characters are placed or written
vertically, as described in my Letters Patent, No. 893, A.1). 1864.
In order to facilitate the dispatch of messages, whether transmitted through
the agency of my "printer," described in my Letters Patent, No. 2260,
A.D. 1864, or by the arrangements set forth in this my Specification, or by
an other telegraphic printing instruments, I prepare thin sheets or strips of
metal, or of any conducting material, such as tinfoil or paper chemically
prepared, or of paper where perforations are intended to be used, cut so as
accurately to fit the desk or whatever is made to hold the subject to be copied
or priuted. The said sheets or strips of metal or other conducting material
or paper are marked or ruled in parallel columns, between which the message
is to be written or printed in insulating ink, or to be staniped out by per-
forations. These parallel columns are arranged at such listances apart that
the styles accurately traverse the matter to be transmitted or copied placed
between them. These parallel columns separate lines of such matter to be
transmitted or copied when the message is read vertically, the letters coming
exactly under each other. If the message is made to read in a line trom left
to right these columns will preserve equal distances between each of the
letters in each line, and will also secure the letters in successive lines being
exactly under each other. Sometimes I cross these parallel columns by lines
drawn at right angles to them, which will still further secure the exact
location of each letter. By this method the clear, correct, and economical
development and arrangement of the characters of the message is insured.
This portion of my Invention will be more clearly understood on reference to
the Drawings accompanying this Specification.
I also accomplish the same result by employing a thin sheet of tin or card-

page_text: board or other suitable material to be laid over the foil or other substance to
be printed upon, such sheet being divided into parallel openings to serve as
guides in impressing or writing the characters composing the message, either
vertically or from left to right, as before described.
Having now explained the nature and object of my said Invention, I
shall proceed to describe the same more particularly, together with such
mechanism and apparatus as 1 deem necessary to carry the same into practical
effect. In order to do this I shall refer to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent a side and edge view of a revolving wheel A which
is caused to rotate by means of a falling weight, as shewn, or by a spring or
otherwise. In it are placed the styles a, y, z, &c., which are insulated from
each other; they are connected with strips of metal or with other metallic
conductors C, C, C, &c., which are insulated from each other, and from the
wheel. B is a piece of metal or other conductor which is to be connected
with one pole of the battery, and made as a spring to press against and slide
upon the metallic strips C, C, C, &c. D is a desk on which foil or paper is
laid connected with the opposite pole of the battery. The action is as
follows: When the style a comes opposite to B, metallic connection is
effected by B touching the metallic strip C connected with the style,and thus
the electric current is completed from the line to B, thence through the
metallic strip Cand the style a to the desk D, which is in connection with
earth, or vice versa. The metallic strips C, C, &c., are of the same length as
the top of the lesk, and the curved top of the desk is rather shorter than the
distance between any two of the styles, so that only one style at a time can
be in contact with the desk. The requisite number of styles x, y, z, &c., are
fixed helically round the wheel, as shown in Fig. 2, and are placed so as to
traverse accurately in parallel straight lines the subject to be copied, each
style traversing a portion of the surface independent ofand different from that
traversed by any other. The same arrangements serve for the purpose both
of transmitting and recording. As I have already stated the type or subject
to be copied at the sending station and prepared paper at the recording
station may be made to move while the styles are fixed in a stationary frame.
Should a multiplication of copies be- required at the receiving station where
a circular movement is adopted, it can be effected by increasing the breadth
of the rim of the wheel, and placing thereon a series of arrangements of styles
each such series being identical in the number and position of the styles with
that which would be necessary if only one copy were required.
Fig. 3 shows the method which I adopt for securing the accurate

page_text: imprinting of the characters or letters, or of determining the places where the
characters or letters are to bo stamped out, in order that they may fall into
position exactly underneath the traversing styles. This Fig. 3 shows foil
marked for imprinting the message or subject to be copied in several lines.
Fig. 4 shows the way in which I divide a narrow strip of foil or other
conductor or paper into a number of spaces at equal or determined distances
from each other. In these spaces the letters are to be imprinted or stamped
out in a single line ready for placing under the printing styles, whether the
styles traverse the strip transversely or longitudinally. By using a sheet of
metal, cardboard, or other equivalent material suitably divided into parallel
openings, through which the letters or characters may be impressed or
stamped out in the foil or conductor or paper below, the correct location of all
the letters in a message may be likewise secured.
Fig. 5 shows the apparatus by which I regulate the movements of my
printing instruments at distant stations. S is the sending instrument, aud R
the recording instrument; D, D', their respective desks, E, E', their re-
spective electro-magnets actuating their respective detents d, d¹; B, B', are
metallic rods or springs connected with the line wire or with earth; C, C, &c,
are metallic strips, the object of which has been shown already in the explan-.
ation of Figs. 1 and 2; a, b, c, &c., are the requisite number of metal bosses
metallically connected with the strips C, C, &c., and projecting out of both
sides of the edges of the wheels, as shewn in Fig. 2. If preferred these bosses
may all be metallically connected with each other, and with the line wire or
with earth, but insulated from the styles and from the metal strips C, C, &c.
The detents d, d, which must be metallic, have forkod ends, as shewn in
Fig. 2, which catch the bosses a, b, c, &c. One end of the coil of the electro-
magnets is in connection with the detents, whilst the other end is connected
with earth or with the line wire.
"The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The wheels S and R when not
in use as they are here represented are retained by the detents d, d', and no
style is in contact with the desks. As soon as the operator completes the
circuit the electric current traversing the electro-magnets E and El, witlidraws
the detents ded', and permits the wheels to move. The first printing style x,
for instance, on cach wheel then comes in contact with the dosks D, D¹, and
the electric current then passes through the styles and desk instead of through
the boss and electro-magnet. The detents by this alteration in the direction
of the current are restored to their places by springs. The wheels are thus
caught and released as often as may be found necessary by the requisite

page_text: number of boses. The red lines denote the course of the electric current.
If preferred, the electric current when actuating the detents may be readily
made to pass through the styles, whilst the styles are in contact with metal
connected with the opposite pole of the battery, an electro-magnet being
placed in circuit between such metal and the battery. In this case the electric
current will not be conducted through the detents d, d¹.
The circular form of printing instrument I have here described is the one
which I prefer to adopt, but my Invention in all its details may be equally
carried out where a straight movement is adopted.
Having now completely described and illustrated the nature and object of
my said Invention, together with the best means I am acquainted with for
carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details I have herein-before described and
illustrated, as they may be considerably varied without departing from my
Invention ; but what I do claim is,-
First, the arrangement of any requisite number of printing styles insulated
from each other, and so situated that one style only shall be in contactatone
and the same time with the matter to be printed from or copied, and so fixed
that each style shall traverse a separate and parallol portion of the letters or
characters to be printed from or copied.
Secondly, I claim the process of electric printing, or taking copies from
motallic or other conducting substances, which have been previously printed
or written upon in insulating ink or fluid, or stamped out by perforations in
paper or other suitable material where the letters or characters are placed or
written vortically, as described in my Letters Patent, No. 893, A.D. 1864.
Thirdly, 1 claim the right to rule or mark, for the purposes herein-before
described or referred to, tin foil or other metallic substances, or paper chemically
prepared, or other paper where perforations are intended to be used in parallel
columns, so as accurately to fix, in the manner herein-before described, the
correct position relatively to the printing styles of the letters or characters to
be printed from.
And I also claim the right to manufacture, for the purposes herein-before
described or referred to, plates or sheets of metal, or cardboard, or other suitable
materialdivided into parallelcopenings, between which the letters or characters
can be accurately imprinted, or written, or stamped out.
Both of these claims I make irrespective of the number or length of the lines
of printed or written matter, or the direction in which the printed or written
matter is made to be read.

page_text: Fourthly, I claim the combination of mechanism herein-before described,
by which I secure exact correspondence in the movements of the instruments
at distant stations.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hawkins Simpson, have hereunto
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
set my
JOHN HAWKINS SIMPSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
CHARLES S. BAKER,
General Patent Comp³, La.,
71, Fleet Street.