Improvements in Type Printing Telegraphic Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
Improvements in Type Printing Telegraphic Apparatus.
A communication by JOHANN KUSTERMANN, of Lauchdorf, near Mindelheim,
Swabia, in the Empire of Germany, Watchmaker.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
Under the present extraordinary demand for a rapid transmission of news in all
branches of public life, the requirements necessary for the really practical working
of telegraphic apparatus may be summed up as follows:-
1st. The machine must be simple and durable in construction, in order that
interruptions in working may be avoided as far as possible :
2nd. The machine must be capable of operation by any person in case of need
without a practical acquaintance with its working, and thus in general dispense
with an expensive staff to work it:
3rd. The telegrams transmitted thereby must be thoroughly legible to any one
without further transcribing :
4th. The machine must afford means for a transmitted telegram to be
simultaneously delivered at any suitable number of stations connected with it:
5th. The machine must be capable of being operated with extreme rapidity:
6th. The operation of the same must be as simple and light as possible, so that
even if long continued the operator will not become exhausted :
7th. In consequence of its simple form of construction the cost of the instrument
must be such as not to be a hindrance to its general introduction.
The telegraphic instruments hitherto known and at present partly employed,
only very partially fulfil these requirements, in spite of their high cost of
construction. They either deliver the telegram in a very involved series of signs
so that when badly delivered, an official who is not very well skilled can only
decipher the telegram with difficulty, thus causing many mistakes and delays in
its delivery and which in any case causes very much loss of time owing to the
translation and long transcribing, or the instruments deliver the telegram in a
printed form, but are themselves of so complicated a construction, and require in
their operation such careful watching of their many peculiarities that very long
practice is required to learn them, whilst even the most skilful operator must
work with the most strained attention, which when long continued acts very
deleteriously upon the nerves, if frequent interruptions in the working of the
apparatus are to be avoided, apart from the disadvantage that messages with this
apparatus can only be exchanged between two stations, etcetera.
This invention has for its object the construction of a type-printing telegraph
instrument which shall thoroughly correspond with the requirements stated at the
commencement of this Specification.
In the present invention there is placed at the front of the table a keyboard
consisting of 27 keys, which are marked with letters, figures and punctuation
marks, and which when pressed down complete the circuit between the battery and
the conducting wire. At the rear of the table, between the vertical sides of the
apparatus, are two light clockwork mechanisms. The clockwork on the right

page_text: band which is operated by means of a weight drives a type wheel and the key
contact mechanism which are situated at the front of the apparatus, whilst the
clockwork on the left hand, which is operated by means of a spring, actuates a
pressure roller.
The right hand clockwork is connected with a regulator, by
means of which the mechanism driven by this clockwork may be quickly given a
similar speed to that of the transmitting apparatus. Between the key board and
the clockwork mechanisms, a circular plate of good insulating material is let into
the table, and is provided near its edge with 28 radiating slots which are each
covered by a small copper, or like plate which is firmly let into the plate herein
before described. Hook-shaped key-contact-pins engage from below in each of
these slots with the exception of one, and these pins are in frictional contact
with the axis of the keys connected with the conducting wire, and when their
corresponding keys are depressed they come in contact with the said plate.
An electro magnet of the usual kind, is placed on the right hand side of the
apparatus, together with a two-armed armature lever suitably pivoted also
adjusting screws and a pulling-off spring, which is adjustably arranged on the
walls of the apparatus. A reel or drum for a ribbon of paper is placed over the
magnet on a side arm of the frame of the apparatus. A lever which may be
moved horizontally backwards on a pin, is connected with the arm of the armature
lever, which arm lies behind the type wheel, and this lever is constantly pressed
forward against a stop pin of the armature lever by means of a flat spring placed
in the rear.
The type wheel is loosely seated on the axle of the right hand clockwork, and
is provided on the rear side with a spring pawl, which engages in a ratchet wheel
firmly connected with the abovenamed axle, and thus connects these two wheels
with one another. The typewheel axle which projects through the type wheel is
here provided with a rectangular piece to which a spindle is coupled by means of a
stirrup, thus forming to a certain extent a continuation of the type-wheel axle.
This horizontal spindle is connected by means of bevel gearing with a vertical
spindle, which at its lower end is arranged in the centre of the insulated plate,
and at the upper end is held by an elbow-shaped arm, which is electrically
connected with the electro-magnet. It must be further noted that the end of the
horizontal spindle carrying the bevel wheel is supported in a side arm of the
elbow-shaped arm, whilst in a second branch of the arm arranged opposite to
the former, there is placed a bar which lies over the lower bevel wheel and is
movably connected with the above-named horizontal lever. A pin is arranged on
the bevel wheel, which pin, when this wheel moves, pushes the bar, which at this
point is somewhat bevelled off, against the apparatus, from whence it is again
rapidly pushed back by means of the horizontal spring lever after the pin bas
slipped off.
The key-contact mechanism is arranged somewhat above the insulated plate on
a horizontal supporting arm which is connected with the vertical spindle. This
key-contact mechanism consists of a shorter spindle horizontally supported by the
said supporting arm of the vertical spindle and by the latter spindle itself.
A rubbing piece or brush arranged obliquely to the plate and resting thereon is
attached on the outer end of this shorter spindle, this end being situated over one
of the small plates on the insulated plate. This rubbing piece is suitably pressed
on the insulated plate by means of a spring adjustably arranged in proximity to
the vertical spindle on the small spindle, and the supporting arm.
This rubbing
piece, when set in motion by the bevel gearing thus rubs the plates which cover
the aforesaid slots and causes the circuit to be closed when it passes over the
corresponding plate of the key which has been struck, as the contact mechanism is
connected with the electro-magnet by means of the vertical spindle and the elbow-
shaped arm, whilst the keys are connected with the conducting wire.
When the keys are released, their pins are again drawn away from the plates by
means of springs, or in other words are returned to their original position.
As ali cady stated, 28 contact plates are arranged on the insulated plate, whilst

page_text: the key-board only contains 27 keys which engage beneath these plates. The
surplus plate, in combination with a movable contact lever arranged in proximity
thereto on the table of the apparatus, serves to produce a similar operation in all
the apparatuses placed in circuit which work simultaneously as will be further
explained hereinafter. An elbow lever is arranged close to the type wheel, and
the longer and horizontal arm of that lever is movably attached to the side of the
apparatus and a spring has a constant tendency to press it down upon its seat.
This lever has, at the end of its horizontal and also elbow-shaped arm, a tappet,
and, on the end of the vertical arm, on a small augular projection, a free-moving
pin, which lies in the plane of the bar before referred to as engaging with a pin on
the bevel gearing.
As the contact mechanism receives, by means of the bevel gearing, a similar
motion to the type wheel, at each revolution of the wheel the former will always
stop at the same place when the latter is stopped at a given position, which, in this
case, is effected by the uncoupling of this wheel from the type-wheel axle. This
uncoupling is effected by means of a pin arranged on the spring pawl before
described, which pin, when passing over the somewhat bevelled tappet, lifts the
pawl from off the ratchet wheel, and remains caught on the tappet until the latter
has been sufficiently depressed. The ratchet wheel has in the meantime been
moved on alone by means of the clockwork, whilst the type wheel, which is provided
on its periphery alternately with the letters, figures and punctuation marks, suitably
engraved, remains, with its two free spaces which serve for producing the word
spacings, stationary at the lowest point, and the friction lever or rubbing piece of
the contact mechanism remains stationary on the surplus plate before mentioned.
The operator transmitting the telegram then brings his contact lever, which, as
already mentioned, is connected with the conducting wire, in contact with this
plate. This lever must be kept on the outside of this plate in all the other
simultaneously working apparatuses, no matter how many there may be. The
result of this is that the circuit through all the apparatuses is always only closed
from the transmitting apparatus when the contact mechanism of this despatching
apparatus passes over this small plate. As the pin on the bevel wheel of the
vertical spindle is so arranged that the bar engaging therewith pushes the
horizontal lever under the pins of the elbow lever even before the contact or
rubbing piece touches the surplus plate, the horizontal lever, which is corre-
spondingly elevated by the depression of the armature or of the armature lever,
can carry with it the pin, and thereby the elbow lever, when the resultant closing
of the circuit takes place (whether this be done in the manner herein before
described or by contact of the keys). By this movement of the elbow lever, the
tappet is sufficiently lowered to render it possible for the spring pawl to engage
in the ratchet wheel, with the object of coupling the type wheel, etcetera, with the
latter and with the clockwork. If therefore, for instance, one or more type
wheels of the various connected apparatuses belonging to one line, together with
their contact mechanisms, have moved forward in advance of the transmitting
apparatus, they remain stationary after reaching the above-mentioned position,
and disengaged from the clockwork, until the contact or rubbing piece of the
transmitting apparatus has also reached this position, and, by the closing of the
circuit in the manner hereinbefore described, the connection of the type wheel
with the clockwork mechanism is effected. The result of this is that, at each
revolution of the type wheel of the transmitting apparatus, all the other co-working
type wheels are automatically adjusted, so that, during the whole process of sending
a message, on all the type wheels the same letters in every case come uniformly
into the lowest position, and consequently make impressions.
The armature is always immediately drawn back again from the electro-magnet,
by means of the spring which acts on the lever of the armature, by which means
the remaining levers connected with it return again to their former position, whilst
their movement may be suitably adjusted by means of the regulating screws which
limit the movement of the armature lever.

page_text: Beneath the point of oscillation of the armature lever, a fork-shaped support is
attached to the foot of the apparatus, on which support are arranged a guide
roller for the ribbon or strip of paper, which is unwound from the drum or reel,
and a lever which supports the pressure roller. This latter lever is connected, by
means of a short connecting lever, with the pressure lever which is pivotted to
the wall of the apparatus, and this pressure lever at its other end is bent upwards
in the form of a hook. This hooked end rests behind a wheel which is connected
with the left hand clockwork or driving mechanism, and this wheel is provided
with four pins directed inwards, which pins, as the wheel rotates, push the pressure
lever alternately downwards, by which means the pressure roller is thrown, by
the assistance of the levers aforesaid, against the type wheel, which is in full
operation. Such types (which are inked with printer's ink) as at the moment in
question, stand exactly at the lowest position on the wheel, are then imprinted on
the strips of paper which are carried by the guide roller over a movable pressure
roller, and held on the same by means of a forked spring.
The inking of the types on the type wheel takes place continually as long as
the apparatus is in operation, by means of a movable inking roller which rests on
this type wheel; this inking roller being arranged on a lever movably attached to
the side of the apparatus. When the pin of the wheel, which forces down the
pressure lever, has slipped off the hooked end of this lever, in the lowest position
of the wheel, the pressure roller, together with its lever, falls down by its own
weight and the hooked end of the lever springs again upwards, and remains resting
on the next pin.
A spring pawl is also attached to the table plate, the hook of which pawl
engages in the teeth of a ratchet wheel connected with the pressure roller, and
at each movement upward of the latter, turns the same and thus pushes forward
the strip of paper to the extent of one type.
The releasing of the left hand clockwork or driving mechanism for the pressure
device takes place by means of a two-armed lever, which is pivoted to the front
side of the apparatus; the larger, inclined, downwardly pointing arm of this lever
resting on the end of the horizontal lever, whilst the divided end of the shorter
horizontal arm is curved inwards to form two projections, the lower one of which
lies somewhat nearer the pivot of the lever than the upper one.
The spring
connected with the second arm of this lever has a tendency to constantly press the
lever against the horizontal lever.
Between these projections or on the lower one, when the pressure mechanism is
in a state of rest, the cam of a pawl, which is connected, by means of a small spur
wheel, with a spur wheel of the wheel which actuates the pressure lever, is moved
to the right when released.
If the horizontal lever be then raised by the circuit being closed through the
armature lever, it carries with it the long arm of the two-armed lever, by which
means, naturally, the shorter arm is correspondingly depressed, and, in consequence,
the cams of the pawl lever, which were previously resting on the lower projection,
are released, and thereby release the clockwork or driving mechanism, and moved
by this latter and sliding over the projection, they make a very rapid rotation, and
are brought to rest at the upper projection of the still depressed arm of the two-
armed lever, and, after the falling of the horizontal lever or the rising of the shorter
arm of the two-armed lever, they again rest on the lower projection. During this
movement of the pawl, the wheel whose pins actuate the pressure lever receives a
suitable impulse from the clock work or driving mechanism and drives the pressing
mechanism in the manner herein before described.
In this apparatus, the current impulse is given, as already stated, (with the
exception of the contact device for obtaining uniformity in the running of the
various apparatuses) by means of the key board of 27 keys, which are arranged in
two rows, one ever the other; the upper row is black, the under row white. All
the keys, with the exception of the first and the last white keys, commencing
from the left hand, are provided with a letter, and a number, or mark of

page_text: punctuation. The left hand white key serves for spacing words, or the like, whilst
the right hand blank key serves for adjusting the type wheel on its axle, for the
purpose of bringing into or out of action figures and punctuation marks, or for
bringing them out of the printing plane.
This throwing in and out of gear is carried out, on the closing of the circuit, by
means of the respective keys by the following mechanism :-
The type wheel is movable on its axle, and on the circumference thereof, as
already stated, are the letters and figures, or marks of punctuation, alternate with
one another. A disc is fixed on the same support, and is provided on its edge
above the axle with two recesses 1 and 2, in which the projection of a spring pawl,
which is somewhat curved, and is arranged on the type wheel, engages, when this
wheel is adjusted for printing the letters. The periphery of the type wheel has,
in addition to the two blank type spaces, a further blank space on which a straight
lever bar, attached to the disc, rests. The latter is loosely connected with a
knee-shaped lever, which is suitably pressed in on its curve, and which is pivotted
to the disc. A three-armed lever, which is close to the bar, is connected, by
means of a small hinged piece, with the knee-shaped lever, the curved part of
this latter lever lying on the point of engagement of a suitably broad pawl. This
three-armed lever is pivotted to the disc. The vertical arm of this lever engages
on the front side of the pawl, whilst the third arm is also loosely connected with
another straight lever bar, the lower end of which rests over the type which lies
next the other bar. A push lever is arranged on the lever of the pressure roller,
which push lever, on the transmission of current by means of the right hand white
key, when the corresponding blank type space assumes the lowest position, pushes
up the first named straight lever har by the springing up of the pressure roller.
By this means, the spring pawl of the knee-shaped lever is lifted out of the recess
of the disc and is pushed forward so far that it can drop into the second recess,
after which it tends to again assume its previous curved form, and thereby draws
the type wheel towards it, or pushes it forward to the extent of the width of a
type. The three-armed lever is thus moved round its pivot, whereby it pushes the
second bar to the position previously assumed by the first bar. The type wheel is
then arranged for printing figures, and punctuation marks, until, by the suitable
white keys of the push lever being afresh depressed, the second bar is pushed
upwards, whereupon the vertical three-armed lever pushes back the pawl from the
first recess into the second recess, so that the type wheel and the first bar are
moved back into their former position.
It must be further noted, that in order to drive the clockwork mechanism
weights of about two kilogrammes, or a suitably powerful spring will suffice,
which, when the working is continuous, will only need to be wound up every two
hours. The call from the transmitting operator takes place by means of a
Morse key. If for instance by means of the same, one or more stations are called
up, the latter must first repeat the signal of acknowledgement, whereupon each
person called on sets his right hand clockwork mechanism in operation, which is
done by means of a suitable turning of a brake lever arranged on the side of
the apparatus, the pawl of this lever having been previously caused to engage with
one of the cog wheels of the regulator in order to stop the mechanism.
The type
wheels of the several connected apparatuses will thus only move so far until the
pins of their pawls remain seated on the tappets of the elbow lever, by which
means, as hereinbetore described, the type wheels are disengaged from their
driving mechanism, and remain stationary with their two blank type spaces in the
lowest position, until the despatching operative brings his contact lever in contact
with the surplus small-plate of his insulated contact plate. By this means he
produces the closing of the circuit when his contact mechanism passes over this
plate, so that all the type wheels in question, together with their contact
mechanisms are simultaneously connected with their driving mechanisms, and make
a revolution, after which (if their movement be exactly even) they would continue
to operate without stopping, or in the opposite case would be regulated in their

page_text: movement at their surplus plate by automatic circuiting from the transmitting
apparatus.
Each operator may, by a suitable adjustment by means of a thumb screw of
a horizontal regulating lever connected with a centrifugal governor, arrange his
driving mechanism to suit the requirements of a rapid, or slow speed, in order to
bring it into unison with the transmitting apparatus, the type wheel and contact
mechanism of which continues to move forward uninterruptedly and evenly. If
one station gives the starting signal by pressing down the Morse key, the current
in all the other stations branches off from the line wire, passes through the Morse
key and each instrument to the electro-magnets, and from here to the earth.
From this it results that when a circuit is closed by means of one of the keys, or
the contact lever, all of the electro-magnets connected with the wire attract their
armatures, and at each of the stations the type letter struck is printed off, or in other
words the type wheels, etcetera, which by any means have been disconnected and
have remained stationary, are connected by means of the levers with their
actuating mechanisms.
It is thus evident from the foregoing, that this apparatus thoroughly fulfils all
the requirements detailed at the commencement of this Specification, as the few main
parts of the machine admit of a strong mode of construction, and consequently
possess a great power of resistance even when subjected to considerable rough
treatment by unskilled persons, etcetera, so that interruptions of their working are
avoided. They also may be attended to by unskilled persons without any
considerable explanation, if it is necessary to employ such, as there is nothing to
be observed with these instruments except the starting of one operating mechanism,
the adjustment of the contact lever, and the pressing down of the keys, in which,
contrary to other similar instruments no given intervals between the separate
letters need be observed. Further, the telegram transmitted is legible by any body
without further difficulty, and also the telegram may be simultaneously delivered
at any suitable number of stations.
Dated this 4th day of January 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type Printing Telegraphic Apparatus.
A communication by JOHANN KUSTERMANN, of Lauchdorf, near Mindelheim,
Swabia, in the Empire of Germany, Watchmaker.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Under the present extraordinary demand for a rapid transmission of news in all
branches of public life, the requirements necessary for the really practical working
of telegraphic apparatus may be summed up as follows-
1st. The machine must be simple and durable in construction, in order that
interruptions in working may be avoided as far as possible;
2nd. The machine must be capable of operation by any person in case of need
without a practical acquaintance with its working, and thus in general dispense
with an expensive staff to work it;
3rd. The telegrams transmitted thereby must be thoroughly legible to any one
without further transcribing ;

page_text: 4th. The machine must afford means for a transmitted telegram to be simul-
taneously delivered at any suitable number of stations connected with it;
5th. The machine must be capable of being operated with extreme rapidity;
6th. The operation of the same must be as simple and light as possible, so that
even if long continued, the operator will not become exhausted;
7th. In consequence of its simple form of construction the cost of the instrument
must be such as not to be a hindrance to its general introduction.
The telegraphic instruments hitherto known and at present partly employed,
only very partially fulfil these requirements, in spite of their high cost of
construction. They either deliver the telegram in a very involved series of signs
so that when badly delivered, an official who is not very well skilled can only
decipher the telegram with difficulty, thus causing many mistakes and delays in its
delivery and which in any case causes very much loss of time owing to the
translation and long transcribing, or the instruments deliver the telegram in a
printed form, but are themselves of so complicated a construction, and require in
their operation such careful watching of their many peculiarities that very long
practice is required to learn them, whilst even the most skilful operator must work
with the most strained attention, which when long continued acts very deleteriously
upon the nerves, if frequent interruptions in the working of the apparatus are to
be avoided, apart from the disadvantage that messages with this apparatus can
only be exchanged between two stations, etcetera.
This invention has for its object the construction of a type-printing telegraph
instrument, which shall thoroughly correspond with the requirements stated at the
commencement of this Specification.
On the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1 and 4 are front views of the apparatus ;
Figure 2, a plan view;
Figure 3, a sectional elevation on line A B, Figure 1, whilst
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are detatis ;
Figures 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the current supply to three stations;
In carrying out this invention there is placed at the front of the operating table
a keyboard consisting of 27 keys a which are marked with letters, figures and
punctuation marks, see Figure 2, and which when pressed down complete the
circuit between the battery and the conducting wire. At the rear of the table,
between the vertical sides of the apparatus, are two light clockwork mechanisms
as shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines.
The clockwork on the right hand of Figure 1 which is operated by means of a
weight 9° drives a type wheel c and the key contact mechanism K which are
situated at the front of the apparatus, whilst the clockwork on the left hand, which
is operated by means of a spring Fo actuates a pressure roller a¹. The right hand
clockwork is connected with a regulator R by means of which the mechanism
driven by this clockwork may be quickly given a similar speed to that of the
transmitting apparatus. Between the key board and the clockwork mechanisms,
a circular plate d of good insulating material is let into the table, see Figures 2
and 3, and is provided near its edge with 28 radiating slots e, Figure 3, which are
each covered by a small copper, or like plate e¹ which is firmly let into the plate
herein before described. Hook-shaped key-contact-pins f engage from below in
each of these slots with the exception of one, and these pins are in frictional
contact with the axis g of the keys connected with the conducting wire, and
when their corresponding keys are depressed they come in contact with the said
plate.
An electro-magnet M of the usual kind is placed on the right hand side of the
apparatus, together with a two-armed armature lever suitably pivoted at h, also
adjusting screws i and a pulling-off spring 1 which is adjustably arranged on the
walls of the apparatus. A reel or drum; for a ribbon of paper is placed over
the magnet on a side arm of the frame of the apparatus. A lever k¹ which may be
moved horizontally backwards on a pin k is connected with the arm of the armature
Figures, and are details;
Figures 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the current supply to three stations;
In carrying out this invention there is placed at the front of the operating table
a keyboard consisting of 27 keys a which are marked with letters, figures and
punctuation marks, see Figure 2, and which when pressed down complete the
circuit between the battery and the conducting wire. At the rear of the table,
between the vertical sides b of the apparatus, are two light clockwork mechanisms
as shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines.
The clockwork on the right hand of Figure 1 which is operated by means of a
weight drives a type wheel c and the key contact mechanism K which are
situated at the front of the apparatus, whilst the clockwork on the left hand, which
is operated by means of a spring Fo actuates a pressure roller a¹. The right hand
clockwork is connected with a regulator R by means of which the mechanism
driven by this clockwork may be quickly given a similar speed to that of the
transmitting apparatus. Between the key board and the clockwork mechanisms,
a circular plate d of good insulating material is let into the table, see Figures 2
and 3, and is provided near its edge with 28 radiating slots e, Figure 3, which are
each covered by a small copper, or like plate el which is firmly let into the plate
herein before described. Hook-shaped key-contact-pins f engage from below in
each of these slots with the exception of one, and these pins are in frictional
contact with the axis g of the keys connected with the conducting wire, and
when their corresponding keys are depressed they come in contact with the said
plate.
An electro-magnet M of the usual kind is placed on the right hand side of the
apparatus, together with a two-armed armature lever suitably pivoted at h, also
adjusting screws i and a pulling-off spring which is adjustably arranged on the
walls of the apparatus. A reel or drum for a ribbon of paper is placed over
the magnet on a side arm of the frame of the apparatus. A lever t¹ which may be
moved horizontally backwards on a pin k is connected with the arm of the armature

page_text: lever which arm lies behind the type wheel, and this lever is constantly
pressed forward against a stop pin of the armature lever h¹ by means of a flat
spring placed in the rear.
The type wheel is loosely seated on the axle 6 of the right hand clockwork,
and is provided on the rear side with a spring pawl c' which engages in a ratchet
wheel firmly connected with the above-named axle, and thus connects the two
wheels c and 6 with one another. The type-wheel axle which projects through the
type wheel is here provided with a rectangular piece to which a spindle m is
coupled by means of a stirrup 60, Figure 3, thus forming to a certain extent a
continuation of the type-wheel axle. This horizontal spindle is connected by
means of bevel gearing m³ with a vertical spindle m' which at its lower end is
arranged in the centre of the insulated plate d and at the upper end is held by an
elbow shaped arm which is electrically connected with the electro magnet M.
It must be further noted that the end of the horizontal spindle m carrying the
bevel wheel is supported in a side arm of the elbow-shaped arm d', Figures 2 and 3,
whilst in a second branch of the arm arranged opposite to the former, there is
placed a bar n which lies over the lower bevel wheel m² and is movably connected
with the above-named horizontal lever k¹. A pin n¹ is arranged on the bevel
wheel m³, which pin, when this wheel moves, pushes the bar, which at this point is
somewhat bevelled off, against the apparatus, from whence it is again rapidly
pushed back by means of the horizontal spring lever after the pin has
slipped off.
The key-contact mechanism K, Figure 3, is arranged somewhat above the
insulated plate d on a horizontal supporting arın o which is connected with the
vertical spindle m¹. This key-contact mechanism consists of a shorter spindle o¹
horizontally supported by the said supporting arm o of the vertical spindle m' and
by the latter spindle itself. A rubbing piece or brush p arranged obliquely to the
plate and resting thereon is attached on the outer end of this shorter spindle, this
end being situated over one of the small plates e' on the insulated plate, see
Figures 3 and 4. This rubbing piece is suitably pressed on the insulated plate d
by means of a spring p', Figure 4, adjustably arranged in proximity to the vertical
spindle m¹ on the small spindle o' and the supporting arm o. This rubbing piece, when
set in motion by the bevel gearing thus rubs the plates e' which cover the aforesaid
slots and causes the circuit to be closed when it passes over the corresponding plate
of the key which has been struck, as the contact mechanism K is connected with
the electro-magnet M by means of the vertical spindle m' and the elbow-shaped
arm d' whilst the keys are connected with the conducting wire.
When the keys are released, their pins fare again drawn away from the plates e¹
by means of springs f¹, Figure 3, or in other words are returned to their original
position.
As already stated, 28 contact plates e¹ are arranged on the insulated plate d
whilst the key-board only contains 27 keys which engage beneath these plates,
Figure 2. The surplus plate, in combination with a movable contact-lever q,
Figures 1 and 2, arranged in proximity thereto on the table of the apparatus,
serves to produce a similar operation in all the apparati placed in circuit which
work simultaneously as will be further explained hereinafter with reference to
Figures 8 and 9. An elbow lever q₁ Figure 1 is arranged close to the type wheel,
and the longer and horizontal arm of this lever is movably attached at to the
side of the apparatus and a spring has a constant tendency to press it down upon
its seat. This lever has, at the end of its horizontal and also elbow-shaped arm,
Figures 2 and 3, a tappet s, and, on the end of the vertical arm, on a small angular
projection, a free-moving pin s¹ which lies in the plane of the bar n before referred
to as engaging with a pin on the bevel gearing.
As the contact mechanism K receives, by means of the bevel gearing m³ m², a
similar motion to the type wheel c at each revolution of the wheel, the former will
always stop at the same place when the latter is stopped at a given position, which,
in this case, is effected by the uncoupling of this wheel from the type-wheel axle b¹.

page_text: This uncoupling is effected by means of a pin c arranged on the spring pawl c
before described, which pin, when passing over the somewhat bevelled tappet s
lifts the pawl from off the ratchet wheel 6 and remains caught on the tappet until
the latter has been sufficiently depressed. The ratchet wheel has in the meantime
been moved on alone by means of the clockwork, whilst the type wheel, which is
provided on its periphery alternately with the letters, figures and punctuation
marks, suitably engraved, remains, with its two free spaces which serve for producing
the word spacings, stationary at the lowest point, and the friction lever or rubbing
piece of the contact mechanism K remains stationary on the surplus plate e' before
mentioned.
The operator transmitting the telegram then brings his contact lever q which,
as already mentioned, is connected with the conducting wire, in contact with this
plate. This lever must be kept on the outside of this plate in all the other
simultaneously working apparati, no matter how many there may be. The result
of this is that the circuit through all the apparati is always only closed from the
transmitting apparatus when the contact mechanism K of this despatching
apparatus passes over this small plate. As the pin n¹ on the bevel wheel m¹
of the vertical spindle is so arranged that the barn or the lever k engaging
therewith pushes the horizontal lever under the pins s¹ of the elbow lever q' even
before the contact or rubbing piece p touches the surplus plate, the horizontal
lever which is correspondingly elevated by the depression of the armature h³ or
of the armature lever h¹ can carry with it the pins and thereby the elbow lever q¹
when the resultant closing of the circuit takes place (whether this be done in the
manner hereinbefore described or by contact of the keys). By this movement of the
elbow lever, the tappet s is sufficiently lowered to render it possible for the spring
pawl c¹ to engage in the ratchet wheel 6 with the object of coupling the type
wheel, etcetera, with the latter and with the clockwork. If therefore, for instance,
one or more type wheels of the various connected apparati belonging to one line,
together with their contact mechanisms K have moved forward in advance of
the transmitting apparatus, they remain stationary after reaching the above-
mentioned position, and disengaged from the clock work, until the contact or rubbing
piece of the transmitting apparatus has also reached this position, and, by the
closing of the circuit in the manner herein before described, the connection of the
type wheel with the clockwork mechanism is effected. The result of this is that,
at each revolution of the type wheel of the transmitting apparatus, all the other
co-working type wheels are automatically adjusted, so that, during the whole
process of sending a message, on all the type wheels the same letters in every
case come uniformly into the lowest position, and consequently make impressions.
The armature is always immediately drawn back again from the electro-
magnet M by means of the spring i' which acts on the lever h' of the armature, by
which means the remaining levers connected with it return again to their former
position, whilst their movement may be suitably adjusted by means of the regulating
Screws which limit the movement of the armature lever.
Beneath the point of oscillation of the armature lever A', a fork-shaped support t,
see Figures 1 and 2, is attached to the foot of the apparatus, on which support are
arranged a guide roller t¹ for the ribbon or strip of paper' which is unwound from
the drum or reel ; and a lever t which supports the pressure roller a¹. This latter
lever is connected, by means of a short connecting lever u with the pressure lever u³
which is pivoted to the wall of the apparatus at u', and this pressure lever at its
other end is bent upwards in the form of a hook. This hooked end rests behind a
wheel which is connected with the left hand clockwork or driving mechanism,
and this wheel is provided with four pins v' directed inwards, which pins, as the
wheel rotates, push the pressure lever alternately downwards, by which means the
pressure roller a¹ is thrown, by the assistance of the levers u and t³ aforesaid,
against the type wheel, which is in full operation. Such types, (which are inked
with printer's ink) as at the moment in question, stand exactly at the lowest
บ
B

page_text: position on the wheel, are then imprinted on the strip of paper which is carried by
the guide roller t' over the movable pressure roller, and held on the same by means
of a forked spring v².
The inking of the types on the type wheel takes place continually as long as the
apparatus is in operation, by means of a movable inking roller w, Figures 1 and 2,
which rests on this type wheel; this inking roller being arranged on a lever
novably attached to the side of the apparatus at w¹. When the pin of the wheel v
which forces down the pressure lever, has slipped off the hooked end of this lever, in
the lowest position of the wheel, the pressure roller, together with its lever, falls
down by its own weight and the hooked end of the lever springs again upwards,
and remains resting on the next pin vl.
A spring pawl w², Figure 1, is also attached to the table plate, the hook of
which pawl engages in the teeth of a ratchet wheel connected with the pressure
roller, and at each movement upward of the latter, turns the same and thus pushes
forward the strip of paper to the extent of one type.
The releasing of the left hand clockwork or driving mechanism for the pressure
device takes place by means of a two-armed lever which is pivoted at to the
front side of the apparatus; the longer, inclined, downwardly pointing arm of this
lever rests on the end of the horizontal lever k¹ whilst the divided end of the
shorter horizontal arm is curved inwards to form two projections, see Figures 2 and 5,
the lower one of which lies somewhat nearer the pivot of the lever than the upper
one. The spring connected with the second arm of this lever has a tendency to
constantly press the lever against the horizontal lever k¹.
Between these projections or on the lower one, when the pressure mechanism is
in a state of rest, the cam y of a pawl y which is connected, by means of a
small cog wheel, with a cog wheel of the wheel which actuates the pressure lever,
is moved to the right when released.
If the horizontal lever k be then raised into the position shown in Figure 1 in
dotted lines by the circuit being closed through the armature lever, it carries with
it the long arm of the two-armed lever a by which means, naturally, the shorter
arm is correspondingly depressed, and, in consequence, the cams of the pawl
lever y which were previously resting on the lower projection y are released, and
thereby release the clockwork or driving mechanism, and moved by this latter and
sliding over the projection, they make a very rapid rotation, and are brought to rest
at the upper projection of the still depressed arm of the two-armed lever, and, after
the falling of the horizontal lever or the rising of the shorter arm of the
two-armed lever they again rest on the lower projection. During this movement
of the pawl y the wheel v whose pins actuate the pressure lever receives a suitable
impulse from the clockwork or driving mechanism and drives the pressing
mechanism in the manner hereinbefore described.
In this apparatus, the current impulse is given, as already stated, (with the
exception of the contact device for obtaining uniformity in the running of the
various apparatuses) by means of the key board of 27 keys, which are arranged in
two rows, one over the other, see Figure 2; the upper row may be black, the under
row white. All the keys, with the exception of the first and the last white keys,
commencing from the left hand, are provided with a letter, and a number, or mark
of punctuation. The left hand white key serves for spacing words, or the like,
whilst the right hand blank key serves for adjusting the type wheel on its axle, for
the purpose of bringing into or out of action figures and punctuation marks, or for
bringing them out of the printing plane.
This throwing in and out of gear is carried out, on the closing of the circuit, by
means of the respective keys by the following mechanism, which for the sake of
clearness is not shown in the principal drawings, Figures 1, 2 and 3, but is shown
more in detail in Figures 6 and 7.
The type wheel c is movable on its axle, and on the circumference thereof, as
already stated, are the letters and figures, or marks of punctuation, alternate with

page_text: one another. A disc C is fixed on the same support, and is provided on its edge
above the axle with two recesses 1 and 2, Figure 7, in which the projection of a
spring pawl 3 which is somewhat curved, and is arranged on the type wheel,
engages, when this wheel is adjusted for printing the letters. The periphery of the
type wheel has, in addition to the two blank type spaces, a further blank space on
which a straight lever bar 4 attached to the disc, rests. The latter is loosely
connected with a knee-shaped lever 5 which is suitably pressed in on its curve, and
which is pivotted at 6 to the disc. A three-arned lever 7 which is close to the
bar 4 is connected, by means of a small hinged piece, with the knee-shaped lever,
the curved part of this latter lever lying on the point of engagement of the suitably
broad pawl 3. This three-armed lever is pivotted to the disc Cat 8. The vertical
arm of this lever engages on the front side of the pawl 3 whilst the third arm is
also loosely connected with another straight lever bar 9, the lower end of which
rests over the type which lies next to the bar 4. A push lever 10 is arranged on
the lever t² of the pressure roller, which push lever, on the transmission of current
by means of the right hand white key, when the corresponding blank type space
assumes the lowest position, pushes up the first named straight lever bar 4 by the
springing up of the pressure roller. By this means, the spring pawl 3 of the knee-
shaped lever 5 is lifted out of the recess 2 of the disc and is pushed forward so far
that it can drop into the recess 1 after which it tends to again assume its previous
curved form, and thereby draws the type wheel towards it, or pushes it forward to
the extent of the width of a type. The three-armed lever is thus moved round its
pivot, whereby it pushes the second bar 9 to the position previously assumed by the
first bar 4. The type wheel is then arranged for printing figures, and punctuation
marks, until, by the suitable white keys of the push lever 10 being afresh depressed,
the second bar 9 is pushed upwards, whereupon the vertical three-armed lever
pushes back the pawl from the recess 1 into the recess 2, so that the type wheel and
the first bar 4 are moved back into their former position.
It must be further noted, that in order to drive the clockwork mechanism,
weights of about two kilogrammes, or a suitably powerful spring will suffice, which,
when the working is continuous, will only need to be wound up every two hours.
The call from the transmitting operator takes place by means of a Morse key D.
If for instance by means of the same, one or more stations are called up, the latter
must first repeat the signal of acknowledgement, whereupon each person called on
sets his right hand clockwork mechanism in operation, which is done by means of a
suitable turning of a brake lever 21 arranged on the side of the apparatus, the
pawl of this lever having been previously caused to engage with one of the cog-
wheels of the regulator in order to stop the mechanism. The type wheels of the
several connected apparati will thus ouly move so far until the pins of their
pawls remain seated on the tappets of the elbow lever y', by which means, as
herein before described, the type wheels are disengaged from their driving
mechanisms and remain stationary with their two blank type spaces in the lowest
position, until the despatching operative brings his contact lever g in contact with
the surplus small-plate e' of his insulated contact plate d. By this means he
produces the closing of the circuit when his contact mechanism k passes over this
plate, so that all the type wheels in question, together with their contact mechanisms
are simultaneously connected with their driving mechanisms, and make a revolution,
after which (if their movement be exactly even) they would continue to operate
without stopping, or in the opposite case would be regulated in their movement at
their surplus plate by automatic circuiting from the transmitting apparatus.
Each operator may, by a suitable adjustment by means of a thumb screw of a
horizontal regulating lever connected with a centrifugal governor, arrange his
driving mechanism to suit the requirements of a rapid, or slow speed, in order to
bring it into unison with the transmitting apparatus, the type wheel and contact
mechanism of which continues to move forward uninterruptedly and evenly.
Figure 8 shows a diagram of the current supply for three stations, numbered
respectively I, II, III, of which the station I is assumed to be the one from which

page_text: the message is sent. B is the line battery, D the Morse key, M the electro-
magnets, K the contact mechanism, 9 the switch lever for producing an equal move-
ment of all the apparati in unison with one another, A the keys of the separate
letters and punctuation marks, and E, E', E2 are the earth plates. Assuming that
the station (Figure 8) gives the starting signal by pressing down the Morse key D
the current takes the following course. In station I (Figure 8) from the line
battery B to V1 and to the contact piece I of the Morse key D, through the
lever IV of the same (as it is now pressed down) to the contact piece II into the
lines to the other stations where in front of each station it branches off at V (in
the case of the end station it passes directly into the apparatus). From this contact
point V, the current passes in the various stations to the contact piece II of the
Morse key D (which is a condition of repose) over its lever IV to the contact
piece 11 up to the final connecting point VI; from here it branches off to the
contact device and its separate parts, such as the arm d', keys a and the like, but as
in no part of it is there a connection established (for instance through the keys
being pressed down) it is forced to pass on in the direction of the arrow from the
point VI to the magnet coils of the electro-magnets M, from whence, after passing
through the saine, it goes to the ground through the earth plate E¹. Through the
earth connection E' it goes to the earth plate E of the despatching apparatus I and
returns to the battery B. This distribution of current is the same
apparati connected in the same circuit and the call signal will be repeated in all the
stations.
in all the
When sending a message by striking the keys a of the despatching apparatus,
the current circuit is as follows-
The current passes in station I (Figure 8) (the despatching station) from the
line battery B to VII, from here to the common key spindle and the regulating
lever g placed here for the various apparati (to the contact piece I of the Mor-e
key it cannot go as it does in the call signal as the lever IV of the same is not
pressed down and consequently the wire is disconnected) through the keys pressed
down at the moment, or the lever g to the corresponding small plate e' of the disc d
over the spindle o' m' of the contact mechanism K into the arm d' up to the final
connecting point VI. From here it branches and passes on the one hand through
the electro-magnets M of its own apparatus back to the battery, on the other hand
to the circuit closing piece of the Morse key, passes through the lever IV of the
same to the contact piece I and out into the line wire. In all the other stations it
branches off from the line wire, passes through the Morse key D or through the
contact piece II of the same lever IV and contact piece III of each apparatus to
the electro magnets M and from here to the earth. From this it results that when
a circuit is closed by means of one of the keys a or the contact lever all the
electro-magnets connected with the wire attract their armatures, and at each of the
stations the type letter struck is printed off, or in other words the type wheels,
etcetera, which by any means have been disconnected and have remained stationary,
are connected by means of the levers and 7' (Figure 1) with their actuating
mechanisms.
Figure 9 shows a diagiam in case a middle or intermediate station is sending the
message and the course of the current is easily ascertained by the position of
the arrows.
It will thus be evident from the foregoing that this apparatus thoroughly fulfils
all the requirements detailed at the commencement of this Specification, as the
few main parts of the machine admit of a strong mode of construction, and
consequently possess a great power of resistance even when subjected to con-
siderable rough treatment by unskilled persons, etcetera, so that interruptions of
their working are avoided. They also may be attended to by unskilled persons
without any considerable explanation, if it is necessary to employ such, as there is
nothing to be observed with these instruments except the starting of one operating
mechanism, the adjustment of the contact lever, and the pressing down of the keys,
in which, contrary to other similar instruments no given intervals between the

page_text: separate letters need be observed. Further, the telegram transmitted is legible
by anybody without further difficulty, and also the telegram may be simultaneously
delivered at any suitable number of stations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is-
1. Improvements in type-printing telegraphic apparatus consisting in the
arrangement―
Of a number of metal segments e¹ or the like in the table d of the apparatus,
which segments, when contact is made with the key contact bars f on the one hand,
and on the other hand with a rubbing piece or arm p connected with the type wheel
and rotated by the driving mechanism of the same, cause the closing of the circuit
through the electro-magnets M, whereupon by means of the armature lever and a
lever mechanism a² and y² a second driving mechanism is released by means of the
spur wheel whereby one arm of the pressure lever u² is so actuated that it presses
with its other arm a pressure roller with the ribbon or strip of paper against the
type wheel substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying
drawings.
2. In an apparatus such as described in Claim 1 an equalising device which,
when inequalities of the movement take place automatically retains the type wheel
by means of a ratchet mechanism, until from the apparatus which is sending the
message at the time, the electric circuit for all the co-working apparati is auto-
matically closed by means of a lever q arranged on the operating table, and at the
commencement of telegraphing brought into connection with one of the small metal
plates e hereinbefore mentioned on the passing of this plate through the circuit
lever p, and thereby the arresting mechanism of the type wheel is automatically
released or the latter is set free substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
on the accompanying drawings.
3. In a type printing telegraphic apparatus, a device for changing the position of
the type, consisting of a disc c fixed on the axis of the type wheel and also coupled
with the type wheel (which is movable on such axis) by means of a spring pawl 3,
which, on the pressing down of the switching key, is so actuated by means of the
pressure roller lever that it pushes forward the disc c and thereby moves forward
the type wheel to the extent of one type, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown on the accompanying drawings.
4. The general arrangement and construction of parts forming the improved
type printing telegraphic substantially as herein described and shown on the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of October 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.