IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel John Holmes, of 9, Primrose Hill
Road, Regent's Park, Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 23rd February 1869, and dated the 28th August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by tho said Nathaniel John
Holmes at the Oflice of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 28th August 1868.
I, NATHANIEL JOHN HOLMES, of 9, Primrose Hill Road, Regent's
Park, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be
as follows:-
My improvements consist in the combining together of certain parts
and principles in a specific manner so as to constitute when so combined
a new and modified form of the step by step apparatus employed in the
sending and receiving of telegraphic signs or signals through metallic
conductors between any two or more places.

page_text: My first improvement consists in a combination of parts which together
form the magneto-communicator, the apparatus which produces and
controls the succession of electric currents flowing into the line necessary
to record the sign or signal at the distant station. This communicator is
simply a mechanical generator or producer of currents from the magnet,
the necessary succession of which are regulated by the clevation and
depression of a series of finger keys or buttons corresponding to the
several letters or signs on the dial and under the control of the operator.
The apparatus does not in any way form a part of the telegraphic circuit,
cither as an interrupter of the current or as a short circuit connecter.
Its action is purely mechanical, and the currents from the coils of the
magnet pass at all times directly into the telegraphic circuit. All insu-
lation of parts and delicacy of adjustment is thereby avoided in the
construction of the communicator, which consists of an ordinary horse-
shoe magnet and coils securely planted upon a base plate. The coils,
four in number, with soft iron cores, are placed two upon the opposite
faces of the N. pole of the magnet, and two upon the opposite faces of
the S. pole of the magnet, and are so fixed that cach side or face of the
magnet presents two coils, representing a N. and S. pole, the soft iron
cores of which are situated in a vertical line. An axle mounted upon
two bearings attached to the base plate passes between the poles and
coils of the magnet, and two soft iron armatures are so fixed upon this
axle as that each armature shall oscillate when a reciprocating motion is
applied backwards and forwards before the ends of the poles or soft iron
cores of each pair of coils. The position of the armatures on the axle
with reference to the coils is so arranged that the approach of the one
takes place simultaneously with the recession of the other, whereby the
strong current of breaking contact of the one armature is united with
the weak current in the same direction of the making contact of the
other armature, and currents of uniform intensity in alternate directions
are passed into the circuit in rapid succession from the terminals of the
instrument in connection with the coils. A rapid oscillating motion is
given to the armatures by means of a crank rod or arm attached by a
pin, and a reciprocating motion is given to this arm by suitable gearing
actuated by the hand of the operator or other such means. The gearing
wheels are so arranged that each backward or forward motion of the
armatures representing a current shall by means of a pinion having the
requisite number of teeth rotate forward an index wheel, carrying on
its axis the external hand or pointer on the dial, the requisite space or

page_text: number of teeth to represent the advance of the pointer from one letter
or symbol to another. If therefore this index wheel has 150 teeth and
there are 30 signals or keys ranged round the dial, each backward or
forward motion of the armatures, the equivalent of a current, will
advance the index wheel and pointer one step or 5 teeth. Round
the external dial plate of the instrument are placed the several finger
keys or buttons spaced at intervals to represent the automatic advance
of 5 teeth of the index wheel upon the formation of cach successive
current consequent upon cach make and break of the armatures. When
no finger key is depressed, and the machine is in action, the index
wheel continuously revolves, and the currents formed at the magnet flow
in rapid succession into the telegraphic circuit. Upon the depression
of any one finger key the end of the key arm is deflected inwards
towards the periphery of the index wheel, the key working upon a T
centre, and the advancing motion of the index wheel is arrested by a
projecting arm attached to it coming in contact with the key arm and
which forms a mechanical stop, the sequence of currents passing into
the telegraphic circuit being likewise interrupted at the same moment
by the cessation of motion of the armatures mechanically geared to the
index wheel. Thus each key on depression mechanically controls the
number and succession of currents that pass into the circuit by arresting
the motion of the index wheel at that particular part of its revolution
which represents the equivalent of the armature make and break and
determination of the current. This revolution and cessation of motion in
the index wheel is made to be independent of though consequent upon
the mechanical power applied to the gearing of the machine by the hand
of the operator by means of suitable friction rollers and break piece
attached to the axis of one of the driving wheels. The depression of
any one key will cause that key to remain permanently down until it
is released by a second depression upon the opposite button of the T
centre. By this means the sequence of letters or signs necessary to
indicate any given word or signal at the distant station are preserved
without risk of error or confusion, and any number of consequctive keys.
required to form a word can remain depressed at the same time, the
succession of currents being determined by the liberation one by one
as each has regulated the sequence of currents passing into the circuit.
The action of this communicator therefore is simply that of a mechanical
generator of the magneto currents, it has no complication of parts or
niceties of adjustment, neither is there any necessity for the insulation

page_text: of currents or circuits through the apparatus, which resembles in its
functions those of an ordinary sewing machine.
In my second improvement the indicator consists of two permanent
bar magnets so mounted upon bearings fixed to an axis that the N. pole
and S. pole of each magnet are in juxtaposition. Attached to the
extremity of the axis is an arm which carries the pallet action in con-
nection with the index wheel. Two parallel electro-magnets are fixed
on to a frame, the soft iron poles of which are arranged so as to admit of
the oscillation of the bar magnets placed between them, as the alternate
currents from the communicator cause them to exert a momentary
attractive or repellant action upon the permanent magnets. This motion
oscillates of necessity the arm carrying the pallet adjustments, which
being brought alternately to press on to each side of the index wheel
causes a step by step advance of the pointer round the dial so long as
the currents continuously flow from the communicator, and a cessation
of movement takes place on the depression of any key in the communi-
cator arresting the flow of the current into the circuit. The index
wheel being furnished with 15 teeth, each current vibration of the bar
magnets will advance the index wheel and external pointer forward half
a tooth or one symbol or signal space on the dial. In order to secure a
dead beat movement a light spring is fixed upon the frame which acts
upon a break wheel of 30 teeth mounted upon the axis carrying the
index wheel. The adjustment of the index wheel to zero on the dial
is obtained when necessary by the motion of an external finger pin
acting upon two flexable levers which mechanically vibrate the bar
magnets so as to cause the movement of the index wheel and pointer
irrespective of the passage of any current into the coils.
Any of the well known and ordinary forms of signal alarums may be
employed when desired in connection with the apparatus above described.
In these my improved combinations of parts my chief object has been to
construct a cheap form of the alphabetical step by step letter shewing
telegraph actuated by alternately inverted magneto currents which shall
be free from all unnecessary complication and delicacy of construction,
and so simple in its adjustment that it may be placed in the hands of
the most ordinary manipulator without risk or fear of derangement.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Nathaniel John Holmes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHANIEL
JOHN HOLMES, of 9, Primrose Hill Road, Regent's Park, Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-cight, in tlie thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, Her special licence
that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, 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 TELEGRAPHS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes,
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 Oflice within six calendar months next and inune-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, of 9,
Primrose Hill Road, 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 improvements consist in the combining together of certain parts
and principles in a specific manner so as to constitute when so combined
a new and modified form of the step by step apparatus employed in
the sending and receiving of telegraphic signs or signals through
metallic conductors between any two or more places.

page_text: This
My first improvement consists in a combination of parts which
together form the magneto communicator, the apparatus which produces
and controls the succession of electric currents flowing into the line
necessary to record the sign or signal at the distant station.
communicator is simply a mechanical generator or producer of currents
from the magnet, the necessary succession of which are regulated by
the elevation and depression of a series of finger keys or buttons cor-
responding to the several letters or signs on the dial and under the
control of the operator. The apparatus does not in any way form a
part of the telegraphic circuit, either as an interruptor of the current
or as a short circuit connector. Its action is purely mechanical, and
the currents from the coils of the magnet pass at all times directly
into the telegraphic circuit. All insulation of parts and delicacy of
adjustment is thereby avoided in the construction of the communicator,
which consists of an ordinary horse-shoc magnet and coils securely
planted upon a base plate. The coils, four in number, with soft iron
cores are placed two upon the opposite faces of the N. pole of the magnet,
and two upon the opposite faces of the S. pole of the magnet,
and are so fixed that each side or face of the magnet presents two
coils representing a N. and S. pole, the soft iron cores of which are
situated in a vertical line. An axle mounted upon two bearings attached
to the base plate passes between the poles and coils of the magnet,
and two soft iron armatures are so fixed upon this axle as that cach
armature shall oscillate when a reciprocating motion is applied back-
wards and forwards before the ends of the poles or soft iron cores
of each pair of coils. The position of the armatures on the axle with
reference to the coils is so arranged that the approach of the one takes
place simultaneously with the recession of the other, whereby the strong
current of breaking contact of the one armature is united with the
weak current in the same direction of the making contact of the other
armature, and currents of uniform intensity in alternate directions are
passed into the circuit in rapid succession from the terminals of the
instrument in connection with the coils. A rapid oscillating motion
is given to the armatures by means of a crank rod or arm attached
by a pin, and a reciprocating motion is given to this arm by suitable
gearing actuated by the hand of the operator or other such means.
The gearing wheels are so arranged that each backward or forward
motion of the armatures representing a current shall by means of a

page_text: pinion having the requisite number of teeth rotate forward an index
wheel, carrying on its axis the external hand or pointer on the dial,
the requisite space or number of teeth to represent the advance of
the pointer from one letter or symbol to another. If therefore this
index wheel has 150 teeth and there are 30 signals or keys ranged
round the dial, each backward or forward motion of the armatures, the
equivalent of a current, will advance the index wheel and pointer one
step or 5 teeth. Round the external dial plate of the instrument are
placed the several finger keys or buttons spaced at intervals to represent
the automatic advance of 5 teoth of the index wheel upon the formation
of each successive current consequent upon cach make and break of
the armatures. When no finger key is depressed and the machine is
in action the index wheel continuously revolves, and the currents formed
at the magnet flow in rapid succession into the telegraphic circuit.
Upon the depression of any one finger key the end of the key arm
is deflected inwards towards the periphery of the index wheel, the key
working upon a T centre, and the advancing motion of the index wheel
is arrested by a projecting arm attached to it coming in contact with
the key arm and which forms a mechanical stop, the sequence of
currents passing into the telegraphic circuit being likewise interrupted
at the same moment by the cessation of motion of the armatures
mechanically geared to the index wheel. Thus each key on depression
mechanically controls the number and succession of currents that pass
into the circuit by arresting the motion of the index wheel at that
particular part of its revolution which represents the equivalent of the
armature make and break and determination of the current. This
revolution and cessation of motion in the index wheel is made to be
independent of though consequent upon the mechanical power applied
to the gearing of the machine by the hand of the operator by means
of suitable friction rollers and break piece attached to the axis of one of
the driving wheels. The depression of any one key will cause that key
to remain permanently down until it is released by a second depression
upon the opposite button of the T centre. By this means the sequence
of letters or signs necessary to indicate any given word or signal at the
distant station are preserved without risk of error or confusion, and any
number of consequetive keys required to form a word can remain
depressed at the same time, the succession of currents being determined
by the liberation one by one as each has regulated the sequence of

page_text: currents passing into the circuit. The action of this communicator
therefore is simply that of a mechanical generator of the magneto
currents, it has no complication of parts or niceties of adjustment, neither
is there any necessity for the insulation of currents or circuits through
the apparatus, which resembles in its functions those of an ordinary
sewing machine.
In my second improvement the indicator consists of two permanent
bar magnets so mounted upon bearings fixed to an axis that the N.
pole and S. pole of each magnet are in juxtaposition. Attached to the
extremity of the axis is an arm which carries the pallet action in con-
nection with the index wheel. Two parallel electro-magnets are fixed on
to a frame, the soft iron poles of which are arranged so as to admit of
the oscillation of the bar magnets placed between them, as the alternate
currents from the communicator cause them to exert a momentary
attractive or repellant action upon the permanent magnets. This motion
oscillates of necessity the arm carrying the pallet adjustments, which
being brought alternately to press on to each side of the index wheel
causes a step by step advance of the pointer round the dial so long as
the currents continuously flow from the communicator, and a cessation
of movement takes place on the depression of any key in the com-
municator arresting the flow of the current into the circuit. The index
wheel being furnished with 15 teeth, each current vibration of the bar
magnets will advance the index wheel and external pointer forward half
a tooth or one symbol or signal space on the dial. In order to secure a
dead beat movement a light spring is fixed upon the frame which acts
upon a break wheel of 30 teeth mounted upon the axis carrying the
index wheel. The adjustment of the index wheel to zero on the dial is
obtained when necessary by the motion of an external finger pin
acting upon two flexible levers which mechanically vibrate the bar
magnets so as to cause the movement of the index wheel and pointer
irrespective of the passage of any current into the coils.
Any of the well known and ordinary forms of signal alarums may be
employed when desired in connection with the apparatus above described.
In these my improvements and improved combinations of parts my chief
object has been to construct a cheap form of the alphabetical step by step
letter shewing telegraph actuated by alternately inverted magneto currents
which shall be free from all unnecessary complication and delicacy of

page_text: construction, and so simple in its adjustment that it may be placed in
the hands of the most ordinary manipulator without risk or fear of
derangement.
In witness whereof I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this the Twelth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
ninc.
NATH. J. HOLMES. (L.S.)