IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH APPLIANCES FOR TRANSMITTING OR CONDUCTING SIGNALS OR ACTION BY ELECTRICITY OB MAGNETISM, AND IN THE METHOD OF TESTING INSULATING MATERIALS, COM- BINATIONS, OR STRUCTURES FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRICITY, AND IN TREATING MAL-CONSTRUCTED OR INVALID ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND IN UTILIZING PARTS OF CERTAIN CABLES, OR THE APPLICATION OTHERWISE OF SUCH STRUC- TURES, AND IN CERTAIN INSULATING COMPOUNDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS AND MACHINERY USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1858

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to John Wallace Duncan, of Grove End Road, St.
John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH APPLIANCES FOR
TRANSMITTING OR CONDUCTING SIGNALS OR ACTION BY ELECTRICITY OB
MAGNETISM, AND IN THE METHOD OF TESTING INSULATING MATERIALS, COM-
BINATIONS, OR STRUCTURES FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRICITY, AND IN TREATING
MAL-CONSTRUCTED OR INVALID ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND IN UTILIZING
PARTS OF CERTAIN CABLES, OR THE APPLICATION OTHERWISE OF SUCH STRUC-
TURES, AND IN CERTAIN INSULATING COMPOUNDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS AND
MACHINERY USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
Sealed the 17th June 1859, and dated the 30th December 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wallace Duncan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th December 1858.
I, JOHN WALLACE DUNCAN, of Grove End Road, St. John's Wood, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Juvention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH APPLIANCES POR TRANS-
MITTING OR CONDUCTING SIGNALS OR ACTION BY ELECTRICITY OR MAGNETISM, AND IN
THE METHOD OF TESTING INSULATING MATERIALS, COMBINATIONS, OR STRUCTURES
FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRICITY, & IN TREATING MAL-CONSTRUCTED OR INVALID.
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CABLES. & IN UTILIZING PARTS OF CERTAIN CABLES, OR THE
APPLICATION OTHERWISE OF SUCH STRUCTURES, & IN CERTAIN INSULATING COM-
[Price]

page_text: POUNDS, & IN THE APPARATUS & MACHINERY USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," to
be as follows:-
In forming a central metallic conductor for a telegraph cable (or cord), I
prefer to use a copper or other wire for a centre, which I pass through a
suitable apparatus containing an amalgum consisting of mercury and tin,
silver or other metal, heated or not, & with suitable apparatus I apply
annealed copper ribbon around the central wire, convolute in its cross section,
& fill the space between with the uniting amalgum.
I further apply any number of convolute or concentric layersover the centre
wire, the centre being copper; I use steel, iron, nickel, lead, tin, or other ribbon
foil of different degrees of conductibility cohering by means of the amalgum,
or it may be by a cement combined-with iron fine borings or other metallic
powder mechanically or chemically prepared, or by other cement instead of
complete circles. Narrow strips of metal may be applied around the central
wire; appearing as a section of a circle, or a compound of metal powder com-
bined with cement may be made to form a central conductor enveloped by
gutta percha & textile fabric, or by metal convolute or concentric strips.
When the central conductor is to be composed of several small wires laid
together, I cause the wires to enter the vessel containing the amalgum or
cementing compound, metallic or otherwise, each one at a separate hole
sufficiently wide apart to permit the covering matter to cover every wire and
fill in between them as they are brought close together, and emerge at one hole
asonę solid strand withoutany vacant space between the wires, which are then
all in metallic connection, & form but one conductor. Instead of filling up
the interstices as described by drawing all the wires at once through the
coating material, they may be separately enveloped with tin, lead, or other
foil, or separately varnished or otherwise coated, & subsequently combined by
twisting, and then drawn together through a dic or rolled in the form of a
round cord to compress & solidify the coating material into the interstices, &at
the same time force the wires into metallic contact before covering with cement,
& prior to the application of the gutta percha or other stronger insulating
covering or sheathing. I prefer to pass the annealed copper or other metal
ribbon or strip of metal through fluted rollers to rib the metal across, or
corrugate or buckle it. I arrange a central wire or conductor of iron or soft
steel, & insulate it (or not); if insulated I encircle it with a conducting
sheath of metal either spirally (or convolute in cross section) or with several
sheaths or series of conductors, insulated & arranged spirally or otherwise
with the spirals reversed in the alternate layers, or parallel for the same or
different currents of electricity or magnetism to traverse, or an arrangement

page_text: of covered wires may be used instead of the strip metal, nickel, iron, or soft
steel wire may form the centre of the concentric series, which may be enlarged
at the ends or terminals of the cable, if necessary.
:.
Solid metallic electric conductors may be made by inserting a rod or
cylinder of silver into a hole in the centre of a cylinder of copper, which may
again be inserted into a cylinder of brass or nickel, & this inserted into a
hole in the centre of a cylinder of iron or steel, and the whole rolled or
drawn down to the size of wire required, so that the conductor will consist of
several metals as described.
2
The various metals may be combined in a different order to that above
described, & may consist of any two or more of them, or any suitable fusible
metal may be poured hot into a hole in a less fusible metal, or soldered in the
holes with any suitable solder or combination of metal, and further coated
with zinc if desired, & afterwards insulated or not.
These metals may be combined by simply wrapping strips one on the other
in a spiral form, or it may be in straight, volute, or concentric forms around a
solid metal core or centre. Electricity or magnetism of the same or different
orders may be applied to such conductor or conductors simultaneously or other-
wise as desired; the copper or other strip or strips may be gilded or platinized. '
Powdered silk, wool, cotton, paper pulp, ground nut shells, or cork dust com-
bined with adhesive matter may be put upon the metal ribbon previous to
applying it to envelop the conductors, when it is desired to insulate such
metal strips from each other or from the central conductor.
When the balsams of the pine or terebenthine tribe are extracted by heat
(such as tar) before applying it to compound with gutta percha, or with boiled
linseed or drying oil, to make cement to use for telegraph conductors, I
agitate the tar in a vessel of water mixed or not with metal to free it from the
acids or their salts, which act injuriously upon certain metallic foils.
I construct an electric telegraph cable so as to consist of a central or more
insulated conductors with or without one or more strip metal convolute con-
centric insulated conductors, which I encircle with helically-laid insulated
wire,or with helically-laid insulated strip metal, or with helically-laid insulated
wire warp tape, or with metallized insulated textile fabric. I employ a con-
tinuous or alternate current or currents of electricity to flow in any one or
more of these auxiliary superposed insulated conductors, while one or more of
the conductors may be connected to the earth or otherwise for the object of
preventing the detrimental action of the induced charge; the disturbance by
earth currents, the flow of water, the rays of the sun, or other influences acting
on the insulated conductors intended to convey the telegraph signals.
:

page_text: I weave tape for electric conductors for telegraph purposes with warp.
consisting of either one, two, three, four, five, or six wires of two or more
different metals in the series, arranged as requisite, and interposed or not
with linen or other warp thread, and with weft of wire or of silk, worsted, or
cotton, &c.
..I apply for electric telegraph conductors or cables textile fabric or strips of
paper, prepared by "Mercer's process," or by "Gam's process," by "Schon-
bein's," or by Professor "Schotzer's, of Zurich, process, and coat one of the
sides with tin foil, or with Bett's metal, or with metal powder or gold leaf;
or I subject it to an electrotype coating, rendering it a conductor.
I prepare suitable threads by saturating them with thick hot drying or
linseed oil, or by drawing them through any hot compound of the balsams of
pine, or terebeuthine tribe of trees, or shellac, or other substance, water-
proofing insulating matter, and pass them through waterproof insulating
matter, and pass them through a gauge to force the superfluous matter from
the yarn before it is wove into strips to envelop conductors.
.
I weave textile fabric to be used as convalute lamina to insulate and protect
electric conductors, by selecting warp threads of a thicker and stronger quality
to form the middle portion of the fillets or tapes constituting the web that
embraces the core than the threads for that portion of the fillet near and at
the edges of the fillets, which lap together when applied on the conductor; the
weft may be of the same or different material. I pass the woven web of
textile fabric, or longitudinally separated fillets or tapes of it, along the bottom
of a vessel full of thick hot linseed oil, then through between rollers to squeeze
out the superfluous matter, and again into a cementing compound, and pass: it
over a scraper or guage to regulate the thickness of the coating.
I apply a coating of a bisulphuret of carbon solution of india-rubber upon
fillets or tapes of woven fabric or paper, and allow it to dry, and then apply it
as a convolute insulating envelope for electric conductors, or I unite a fillet of
sheet caoutchouc to tape or paper, and apply it for an insulating sheath.
.I prepare threads of any suitable fibrous material by treating them as in.
Schoubein's process, or such like process, or I varnish or coat them with.
cement, and cover them with the finest dust of cast-iron borings, and
pass them.
through a solution of a salt of copper, in order to apply a metallic coating of
copper, which may be further plated by the electrotype process with other
metal, and used in a state of thread, or woven prior to being used in electric
conductors or cables.
I prepare fabric suitable for protecting insulated cables as an outside
envelope, having warp consisting of horse or bullock hair.spun into strands, in

page_text: combination or not with suitable wire or coir, and worsted or waste silk used
for weft, impregnated with waterproof insulating matter.
Linsulates métal strips varnished, lacquered, or not, by drawing them
through a vessel of hot cementing matter containing a die guage, and further
enveloped in a spiral or convolute manner with prepared textile fabric or
paper by suitable apparatus, and apply them as auxiliary or primary con-
ductors convolutely or spirally.
cil apply as an insulatory coating upon. wire, metal strip, or thread, or paper,
or on textile fabric. a composition known as engravers' etching ground.
acuse drying or linseed oil treated or boiled until it is thick or livery to
compound with "foreign asphaltum," or suitable resin, combined or not with:
powdered silk rags or other fibrous materials, or powdered glass, porcelain, or
nut shells ground,. as an insulating material for electric conductors.
Lpass.linen or cotton tape through a vessel of fused shellac to. saturate it,
and while still hot I apply the charged tape by suitable apparatus to envelope
convolutely and unite upon a metal conductor, and apply suitable additional
sheaths: interpolated as required....
I take gutta percha, treated as mentioned in a Patent granted to me, and
dated the 4th September 1851, and while still hot I compound it with thick
livery drying or linseed oil, and masticate or blend the compound well together
at a temperature varying from 250° to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, and I apply.
it to conductors at a higher temperature than hitherto for an insulating.
coating; the oil compound is useful for other purposes. When a convolute.
envelope of lead foil or "Bett's metal" is applied to a cable near the outside,.
Iuse.a bisulphuret of carbon, containing an excess of sulphur, and make a
thick solution of gutta percha combined with shellac, and apply it with the.
covering machine hot upon the outer camia of the cable, and cause it to pass
through a hot pipe of earthenware or metal surrounded by fire, to vulcanize
or harden the coating as it. passes from the covering apparatus.
For an outer protection to insulate telegraph cables I apply strong canvass
or other suitable textile fabric toe nvelope it, having a continuous longitudinal
lip joint, which may be sewn together by a sewing machine, or riveted by:
suitable apparatus.
I prefer to use a vulcanized caoutchouc envelope coated with thick linseed
oil as an outer coating, to be united longitudinally by a lip joint together with
the inner canvass lip joint, and fastened by the rivetting or sewing thereof.
Ijoin the lengths of metalstrips used for sheathing of telegraph conductors:
or cables together by means of diagonal joints, or by serrated interlocking:
joints, which are soldered with hard solder, uniting them at the edges without
:

page_text: any increase of thickness. Hoop iron used for an outer sheath may be united.
by brazing in the same manner.
. I improve the apparatus used for covering wires, whereby one or more
coatings of insulated matter may be applied simultaneously by arranging the
covering cylinders in a horizontal line, but with their orifices conveying to the
wire and superposed one above the other, the cylinders may be heated by a
charcoal fire or by jets of gas forced with air.
In order to maintain more regular currents of electricity from galvanic
batteries, I construct the zinc or other oxidizable plates of a round form; such
as a series of discs fixed on an axle of coated with porcelain or gutta perclia,
tlie discs of metal being suitably separated with any of the above-mentioned
materials connected for the battery purposes, such series of discs being fixed
on a shaft and fitted in a trough with the negative (which may also rotate).
arranged between them, so as to admit of the rotation of the spindle and zinc
discs by means of water or other power whereby to supply electricity to pass:
through the conductors, which helically or concentrically envelop the contre
conductor of a submarine or terrestrial cable of any of the foregoing or other
constructions.
I utilize invalid electric telegraph cables constructed in the manner of the
present Atlantic, Hanover, Malta, and Red Sea cables, which are formed
without any provision for preventing the penetration between the wires con-
stituting the conductor. I separate the homologous lengths where they have
been united, and introduce the end of the gutta percha insulated conductor
through a stuffing box in connection with a suitable force pump, and if the
interstices in the conductor are charged with water, I force or exhaust
sulphuric acid or a suitable solution thereof along the interior of the cable,
which I afterwards displace by forcing or exhusting, and full up the interstices
between the conducting wires with mercury, or a suitable amalgam (if not
for deep water. If for deep water I fill up the interstices (by forcing or
exhausting) so as to introduce Canada balsam or analogous oleo-resin or
boiled linseed oil, or other suitable matter which will render the conductor
more efficient, and prevent the disturbance of the electrical current by the
action of the water that would otherwise circulate in the spaces between the
strands.
Structures like the above cables, not the most efficient for submarine
telegraphy to indicate signals, may be used for exhausting or forcing fluids
through. In some cases I strip the outer wire covering the tarred yarn of
the gutta percha coated conductor, and pass it through heated dies, and give
it a coat of cement, and envelop.it convolutely with suitable prepared textile

page_text: fabric or other outer protection requisite; a submarine cable like the Embden
one may be advantageously used as a hydraulic telegraph,and would continue
more permanently efficient at the bottom of the sea to convey signals by
forcing or exhausting fluid in it than it will continue efficient to convey signals
by electricity.
My improvements in testing insulated conductors consist, firstly, in con-
nected the end of the insulated conductor through a stuffing box in com-
munication with a force pump, and I endeavour to force fluid through
between the interstices of the conducting strand of wires (if it is a conductor
consisting of several wires in a strand) or between the insulating material
and the metal wire or conductor, or between the sheaths or coating of the
insulating matters; if the forced fluid penetrates these parts, the construction is
imperfect and unsuitable for submarine electric telegraph purposes.
Secondly, I prepare a piece of suitable tubing to resist great pressure (or
a short cylinder) which I japan or enamel on the inside, and make suitable
caps to enclose each end with stuffing boxes in the caps; I place a piece of
the insulated conducto: inside and through the tube, and projecting out
through the stuffing boxes at each end; I then fill the tube with water holding
any suitable salt in solution surrounding the insulated conductor. I make
the tube with a branch pipe and stop valve, which I have partially filled with
water after the stuffing boxes are tightened; Ipump air with a suitable force
pump connected to the branch pipe until the pressure amounts to the degree
required; the air maintains the pressure for a considerable length of time,
whereas with water alone it soon becomes reduced. While the conductor is
under the pressure, I maintaina negative or positive current of electricity on
the conductor, and put in the condition of an electrotype arrangement with or
without the addition of the first process in connection with the same piece of
insulated conductor; if fluid penetrates the insulating material under this
process, the insulation is imperfect for submarine telegraphy.
A further improvement in testing the quality of any insulating com-
bination or material consists in using a conductor coated with the material
to be tested, & of a construction the same as the conductor & system of
applying the insulating coating as that of the present Atlantic telegraph
cable.
I place a piece of such constructed insulated conductor inside a testing tube
of the kind and similarly arranged to that above described, but I force any
suitable aqueous solution of metallic or other salt into the interstices between
the wires of thestrand conductor, and maintain the pressure while the current
of electricity is in the strand conductor; the pressure is at the same time

page_text: maintained on the fluid surrounding the insulated conductor inside the
cylinder. The length of time that the insulating combination or substances
resists penetration by the fluids under this combination of force enables me
to judge of the suitability of the material for submarine telegraph insulation,
To prevent injury to an electric cable from rocky bottom or beach, I apply
protecting sheathing; for this purpose I shape hoop iron of a sufficient width,
or steel strip, by passing it through suitably shaped rolls, to corrugate it in a
direction longitudinal to the insulated cable; it embraces & make good the
joint by introducing vulcanized india-rubber between the flanges which I
rivet or otherwise fix together.
The iron may be of such width as to envelop the cable, & have only one
joint, or it may be in strips, & have two, three, or more longitudinal joints.
The last part of my Invention relates to anchoring submarine cables, &
consists in the application of two concave saucer or bivalve-shaped shells of
metal, earthenware, or other material placed & secured back to back with the
cable passing between them; I apply these at intervals as often as necessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Wallace Duncan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th June 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WALLACE DUNCAN, of Grove End Road, St. John's Wood in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Wallace Duncan, Her special licence that I, the said John
Wallace Duncan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such othersas
I, the said John Wallace Duncan, my executors, administrators, and assigus,
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 lawfullymight
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 OR CONNECTED WITH APPLIANCES FOR TRANSMITTING OR CON-
DUCTING SIGNALS OR ACTION BY ELECTRICITY OR MAGNETISM, AND IN THE METHOD
OF TESTING INSULATING MATERIALS, COMBINATIONS, OR STRUCTURES FOR CONDUCTING

page_text: ELECTRICITY, AND IN TREATING MAL-CONSTRUCTED OR INVALID ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
CABLES, AND IN UTILIZING PARTS OF CERTAIN CABLES, OR THE APPLICATION OTHER.
WISE OF SUCH STRUCTURES, AND IN CERTAIN INSULATING COMPOUNDS, AND IN THE
APPARATUS AND MACHINERY USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Wallace Duncan, 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 per-
formed, 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 1, the said John Wallace Duncan, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The first part of my Invention consists in improvements for attaining greater
efficiency and durability in electric telegraph conductors, as also in their
insulation, than heretofore for submarine and overland communication.
In forming metallic conductors for electric telegraph cables or cords that
will not separate short across, but continue in metallic continuity in the event
of being subjected to a greater strain than the textile strength of the cable
would sustain, and to be free from the liability of water finding its way between
or along interstices of the conductor, which improvement will in some degree
tend to enhance the dispatch of the signals. I prefer to use a copper or other
suitable metal wire for a centre, which I pass through a suitable apparatus
containing an amalgum consisting of mercury and tin, or other metal that will
constitute an easily fusible and suitable alloy, which is heated to the required
temperature. I apply this amalgam by means of a volute cone piece formed
of steel, and connected as an emerging orifice or die with the bottom of the
vessel containing the fused solder, similar to the arrangement shewn in
Sheet B at Fig. 7 in my Specification of Patent No. 906, 1853.
I apply
annealed copper or other metal ribbon around the centre wire, convolute or
concentric in its cross section, but with a thin uniting medium of alloy instead
of cement, as shown on Sheet B at Fig. 7 aforesaid, which fills and makes
good any space there would be between the metal strip and the wire.
further apply any requisite number of strips or ribbons convolutely or con-
centrically in layers superimposed on each other; the strips or ribbons may be
of nickel, aluminum, rhodium, platina, puddled steel, iron, tin, lead, or other
B
I

page_text: metal foil, or alloys of the same or of different degrees of electric con-
ductability. Instead of the metallic uniting medium, a current consisting of
shellac, or any combination of it with resin, or gutta percha combined with
.fine metal powder (preference being given to metallic powders that would
form an insoluble oxide when in contact with water,) may be applied to fill
any spaces.between the metal strips or wire when laid together, by coating
them, with the cement previous to convoluting the outer ones over the
central ones. ⚫
When the conductor of an electric cable is to be composed of several small
wires, of whatever section, laid together, I cause the wires to enter a vessel
containing an amalgam of mercury and tin, soft solder, or other suitable, alloy
in a semifluid state, each wire at a separate hole sufficiently wide apart, to
permit the amalgamating metals or soft solder to cover every wire. These
wires are brought together in passing through the united die and the metallic
solder squeezed out, excepting a small portion that remains to fill up the
interstices, and bed the wires together. The emerging die may be kept
suitably cool by a circulation of water around it. For submarine cables to be
laid in deep water, I prefer to use a cement composed of twenty parts of
viscid boiled drying oil with twenty parts of resin, and 60 parts of gutta
percha, or twenty parts of coagulated drying oil, ten parts resin, & seventy
parts of gutta percha, or a much less proportion of oil and resin may be used;
or it may be other suitable cement; but that secured to me by Patent 906,
1853, described at page 4, line 25, suits very well, and may be mixed or not
with very fine impalpable cast-iron powder. With either of these compounds
I coat the wires and bed them together, forming one conductor, as explained
above, to prevent penetration by water between the metals forming the strand,
and which I effect previous to coating the united strand conductor with gutta
percha, textile fabric, or other insulating or protecting medium.
Another method of effecting the object of close contact between several
strips or wires constituting one conductor, consists inenveloping each with tin,
lead, or other soft foil, or by coating the strips or wires with such soft metal
in a state of fusion, and then drawing or rolling them together through a die,
to consolidate the whole of the conductor into close metallic contact before it
receives a covering of cement, and prior to applying the gutta percha, india-
rubber, or other strong insulating sheathing of prepared textile fabric or
suitable covering. Copper or other hard metal ribbon is very much improved
for telegraph purposes by annealing and corrugating it across, by passing it
through fine fluted rollers.
I construct submarine electric telegraph cables, whereby the retardation of

page_text: signals through induction will be considerably mitigated, and efficiency main-
tained in the insulating covering for a greater length of time than usual
heretofore. For this purpose I arrange central wires of iron, steel, or any other
suitable compound or solid metal conductors, which I prefer to insulate by
coating with cement in the manner shown at Figure 7 in Sheet B, in Patent
No. 906, 1853, before referred to, and further enveloped with textile or fibrous
fabric suitably treated with insulating matter, as herein-after described, but
the whole to be as slight as is consistent with the conditions necessary for
insulating. I then encircle it spirally with a flat tape or ribbon, having one,
two, or more fine conducting silver, copper, or other wires woven in it as part
of the warp, the whole of which are insulated from each other, but designed
to constitute one conductor. A repetition of them, if desired, may be applied
spirally, and laid parallel to the first, or with the spirals winding in a contrary
direction, and further coated with insulating matter, or combined with textile
waterproof fabric, if desired.
I do not claim twisting or laying several insulated wires spirally round a
core wire to be used as independent conductors, and enclosed in a cable, or
otherwise, except as for auxiliary conduction, as herein described as a part of
my Invention. If economy is necessary in the insulation of the conductor, or
the series of conductors, the insulating material may be enlarged at the ends,
commencing at or towards the middle of the length of the cable, which is of
the smallest diameter, and gradually increasing in diameter by successive
lengths or sections as they approach towards the terminals, where the greatest
enlargement is arrived at..
A submarine electric cable designed to contain a single suitable conductor
(or it may be with two or more independent signal conducting wires) can be
constructed advantageously with the superimposed insulating material applied
on the same principle of enlargement at the ends if more conductors than one
is introduced; the covering of each wire is made to increase in thickness by
successive stages from or towards the middle of the length of cable, until it
approaches the terminals. I claim this arrangement as a part of my Inven
tion; but I lay no claim to the strengthening of electric telegraph cables for
a few miles from shore, which has been done to protect them from the injuries
they are liable to near the beach; my object being with a minimum of
material to prevent as much as possible, by the mode herein-above described;
the retarding of siguals in long submarine cables by the influence of the
induced charge
Solid metallic electric conductors may be made by inserting a rod or
cylinder of silver (or other suitable metal) inside of a hollow cylinder or tube

page_text: of copper, which may again be inserted into a hollow cylinder of nickel or
brass, which may again be inserted into a hollow cylinder of iron or puddled
steel, or one, two, three, or more hollow cylinders of the most unfusible metal,
according to their degrees of conductability, may be arranged concentrically
one within the other, leaving space for the required thickness of the more
:fusible metal or metals to be poured fluid into the vacancy between the
cylinders, which will fill up the spaces and produce a solid cylinder, which can
afterwards be rolled or drawn down to the size of conducting wire required.
The best conducting metal is put in the centre of the concentric structure ;
the second best embracing the first, the third best incircling the first and
second, and so on for any desirable number of different metals, the worst
electric conductor to be on the outside of the series..
The various metals may be combined in a different order to that above
described, or any two or more of them, and the cylinders truly surfaced, and
the hollow ones bored out in the lathe, or otherwise, or intermediate metal
cylinders could be cast. On this principle of arrangement the ribbon or strip
formed of combined or compound metal strip conductors can be built up with
the bestconductive metalinthemiddleand soldered together or otherwiseunited
with the next best surrounding it, and so on combining a number of metals, as
.beforementioned. The compound metal conductingribbonsoformed canthenbe
rolled down to the requisite degree of thickness; the exterior ofsuch compound
ribbon may be zinc, tin, or lead, or other such coating. Such compound con-
ductors may in some cases be used for electric telegraph purposes without
further provision for insulation, or it may be insulated as if it were a homo-
yenous copper wire or ribbon.
A cable conductor of this sort may be con-
structed with the combined wire thinner in the middle,and increaseindiameter
towards the terminels.
I do not claim coating superior conducting metals with inferior conducting
metals, nor the application of such coated or galvanized metals as conductors
fortelegraph purposes; but I claim as a part of my Invention the mode of manu-
facturing such conductors for electric telegraphs hereindescribed. Iconstruct
electric telegraph cables consisting of a central insulated conductor, and with
or without one or more strip metal insulated conductors encircling it con-
volately or concentric, which I further encircle with one or more helically laid
insulated wires (if more than one insulated helically laid wires is used), I may
have the one helix in a contrary direction to the other helix, or a repetition of
either around the central conductor. Instead of wire I sometimes employ
insulated strip metal or insulated warp wires woven as tape, or other suitable
conductors insulated. I employ continuous or alternate currents or charges

page_text: A
of electricity or magnetism at one or both ends, the one negative at one end
and the other positive at the other end, to act in any one or more of these
auxiliary superimposed insulated conductors, while one or more of these con-
ductors may be connected to the earth at one or both ends, for the object of
mitigating or preventing the detrimental action of induction, the disturbance
by earth currents tidal flow, the rays of the sum, or other influences, liable to
affect telegraph signals.
I do not claim applying metal spirally round a core for the purpose of
maintaining metallic connection in case of breakage of one or more of the
strand wires, nor for adding strength to a cable or otherwise than as herein
described for the purpose mentioned.
I weave tape for electric conductors for telegraph purposes with the warp
consisting of either 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 wires, of two or more different metals in
the series arranged as required, and interposed with linen, cotton, spun glass,
silk, or other warp threads, and with weft of silk,cotton, or any other suitable
material. I only claim this tape with warp wires embracing more than one
metal to be used for telegraph purposes, and charge this combination with
cement or hot thick viscid drying oil, or balsams, or shellac, or other suitable
substance or compound for the purpose of insulation. "I apply for electric
telegraph conductors or cables, textile fabrics such as felted flax or other felt,
with longitudinal threads as warp of increasing thickness in the middle of the
tape and coated with felt, or paper pulp, or strips of paper, either of which I
prepare or treat with sulphuric acid, as in Mercer's process, or according to
that of Pelouse, Gains, or Schetzer, which has the effect of improving the
strength of the paper or fabric. I also prefer to embody longitudinal threads
in the paper to be used for this purpose, to prevent it being easily torn at the
edges, and further coat one of the sides with tin or lead foil, Bett's metal, or
other single or compound laminated foil, the fabric having been previously
passed through the vessel of hot thick viscid linseed oil, or combination of it
with gutta percha or other suitable cementing substance, rendering it water-
proof, insulating, and adhesive to retain the foil, which is impervious to the
penetration of water, at great depths, and protective of the gutta percha or
india-rubber insulating body.
I prepare suitable threads by saturating them with thick hot livery, linseed
or other suitable drying oil, combined or not with resin or other matter, by
drawing themthroughavessel of itata temperature considerably above boiling
water, whereby the moisture and air is dispelled from the fibres and saturated
with the insulating and waterproof material. I further pass them through a
guage or roller to free the superfluous matter from the threads or yarn which

page_text: may have a superimposed coating of harder substance over it before it is woven
or felted with pulp, (and made into strips or fillets to envelope, insulate,
,and protect wires or metal conductors. I-weave textile fabric to be used
as lamina folded round conductors to protect and insulate them, composed
of warp threads selected of a thicker and stronger quality, to form the middle
portion of the width of the fillet or tape constituting theweb that embraces the
core, than for that portion of the width of the fillet near and at the edges
which lap together when employed either spirally or convolutely to embrace
the core; the weft may be of the same or different material. I cause woven,
felted, or other textile fabric, or plain, common, or chemically prepared fabric
or paper, whether in the full width as made, or as separated into fillets or tapes
to pass along the bottom of a vessel filled with hot thick viscid linseedorother
drying oil, then through between rollers or scrapers to squeeze out the super-
fluous charging matter, and I pass it again into a cementing compound of
thicker consistence, and over a guage to regulate the thickness of the coating.
When applying it on the conductor, I use a compoundof viscid drying oil and
resin compounded with gutta percha if desired, as I find that fibrous or textilo
fabrics that are not well charged with such insulating or waterproof matter,
or when covered only with gutta percha and subjected to hydrostatic pressure,
while electric charges are passed through the conductor, the textile or porous
fibres become saturated with water in time, which penetrates through the
gutta percha. Textile fabrics in strips of suitable widths well charged with
waterproof insulating matter, and applied in longitudinal convolute folds
embracing the conductor of electric cables with superimposed coatings of
gutta percha, india-rubber, or other suitable insulating medium, between and
over each lamina, is the most efficient method of giving strength to withstand
tensile strain, as well as permanency of insulation and affording facility in
laying or submerging for telegraph purposes.
I do not hereby claim the application for telegraph purposes of convolutely
folded textile fabrics under a superimposed coating of gutta percha, or such
matter as such was shown and described by me in Specification of Patent
No. 906, 1853, or otherwise than in the fabrics manufactured as herein-before
described. I apply a coating of bisulphuret of carbon solution of india-rubber
upon prepared fillet or tape of textile fabric, felt, or paper, by a suitable
machine, and allow or cause the solvent to evaporate; but I have found that
all solutions of india-rubber or gutta percha are most unsuitable for insulating
purposes, even when the solvent has been driven off by the required heat from
the gutta percha or india-rubber which is thereby left in a porous state, and
permits water to penetrate; to prevent this I coat those materials with viscid,

page_text: linseed, or other thick drying oil, which does not contain any volatile fluid that
separates from the coagulated oil applied in a hot state to fill the minute pores.
before applying the rubber coated fillet as a convolute insulating envelope to
telegraph conductors, which may further receive superimposed coats of gutta
percha, with or without further cementing coatings, such coatings intervening
between each coat of gutta percha or caoutchouc, or interpolated with paper,
plain or prepared, by coating with the viscous oil alone or compounded with
other matters.
I do not claim the use of the above-mentioned solution of india-rubber,"
except in the manner described, coated on textile fabric, and further treated
with viscous drying oil. I use india-rubber fillet formed by being kneaded in
the kneading machine, and cut and laid on textile fabric that has been-pre.
pared with thick livery linseed oil, and passed through the conical convolute tube
forming apparatus, but just previously to being so applied to unite the edges it is
wiped clean with with coutchime or suitable essential oil or other solvent; the
pressure then causes the edges to unite, and the insulated conductor is caused
to pass through a pipe of earthenware or iron heated to the requisite tempe."
rature, and then passed between the "draw through rollers" to cause it to adhere
at the edges and form a good joint, after which the livery or cragulated linseed"
oil is crated over the whole.
What I claim with reference to the rubber fillet last herein-before described-
is its treatment with oil, and applying it in the convolute form as described:
I prepare threads of any suitable fibrous material, such as linen or cotton,
by treating them with sulphuric acid, as in Gain's process for preparing paper,
or with the ammonia solution of copper as in Schwetzes's process, and varnish
or coat them with cement, and further cover them witli the finest powder of
cast-iron borings, or treat them otherwise to produce a conducting surface, and
pass these through a solution of salt of copper to get coated, which may
further increased by the electrotype process, with any desirable metal, and
used in a state of thread or woven fabric prior to being used in electric
cables..
=
be"
I insulate metal ribbon previously varnished or lackered; if desired; by:
drawing them through a vessel of hot cementing matter, fitted with suitable
shaped entry orifices, and emerging dies, and afterwards coated on the same."
principle, if desired, with a farther coat of gutta percha or its compounds,
and enveloped in a convolute manner with prepared textile fabric, felt, or
paper, which may be used as auxiliary or primary conductors in a telegraph
cable.
I do not hereby claim the metal ribbon or strip convolute conductors for.

page_text: telegraph cables, as they have been before patented by me in Patent Number
906, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, nor do I claim herein
applying cement to them, but I claim the application of the insulating matter
to them by passing them through a suitable apparatus with a flat volute
folding die for covering metal ribbon with textile fabric.
For conductors subject to charges of electricity from powerful apparatus, I
prefer linen or cotton woven, or suitably felted tapes charged or saturated with
fused shellac, or suitable combination of it, with Venice turpentine, by passing
such through a heated vessel containing it in a fused state, and then through an
apparatus something similar to E, Figure 7, Sheet B, shown in Patent 906,One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, containing. fused shellac or its com-
pounds in the part between the wire entrance orifice and emerging die, where
the wire becomes coated with the shellac, and the charged fabric folded round
the wire convolutely, and I may further apply additional coatings, which may
be further crated with gutta percha or rubber, and any outer covering. Gutta
percha forms a better insulator, and is more impervious to penetration by water
when used for telegraph purposes if treated as mentioned in a Patent granted
to me, No. 13,738, in the year One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one,
between the twenty-second and thirty-sixth lines, page nineteen, and I find that
its qualities both for insulation, impermability, and durability, are very much
further improved by compounding it with the coagulated oil herein previously
mentioned, to which a portion of resin may be added, and by masticating or
blending it well together at temperatures ranging from one hundred and fifty
up towards four hundred degrees Fahrenheit. I use linseed or other suitable
drying oil that has been boiled long enough to become coagulated when cold
or treated with metallic salts to produce such condition.
Gutta percha manufactured and applied for electric telegraph insulating
purposes in the manner it has hitherto been, is a very precarious article.
When laid in water at any considerable depth, such as for submarine cables, it
is soon permeated by and becomes charged with water, and when used for over-
land telegraph insulated conductors it shortly becomes affected by atmosphere
influences and unsuitable for insulation.
Amongst a variety of specimens of gutta percha insulating material manu-
factured during One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, and submitted
to experimental tests of time, I find that those in which the gutta percha were
combined with coagulated or livery linseed oil has most satisfactorily withstood
the longest trials. I therefore now desire to secure the use of coagulated
drying oil compounded or combined with gutta percha, or combined with
india-rubber for insulating conductors for electric telegraph purposes, and I

page_text: remark that 'I do not claim the application of drying oil otherwise than in a
coagulated state, and as herein-before described..
Gutta përcha compounded with the coagulated drying oil in proportions
varying from above five to fifty per cent. or more, with or without the additions
of resin or other suitable gum, resin, or bitumen, or suitable semi-fluid balsam,
is useful for surgical and other purposes from its soft and kindly nature and its
little liability to grow hard or rigid.
:
Gutta percha that has been compounded as above witha suitable proportion
of the coagulated oil compound I prefer to apply for an insulating covering
upon the conductors at a higher temperature than gutta percha has been
hitherto applied in order to make it more certainly free from air cells. Wire
insulated with this compound and with the copper ammonia solution
(Schwelzer's process,) prepared paper or textile fabric, as linen or cotton,
saturated with insulating matter by heat in lamina convolutely, as viewed in
cross section,constitutes a permanent and sound method of insulation. When
this conductor is to be placed in very deep water, I prefer to apply a convolute
fold of metal foil enclosing the gutta percha to prevent the water penetrating.
When metal foil is applied to an electric conductor near the outside, a tough
insulation of gutta percha, &c., may be acquired in the following manner:
I use a 'bi-sulphide of carbon, containing an excess of sulphur, and make a
semi-solution of gutta percha that is combined or not with shellac, and apply
it with a covering machine lot upon the outer lamina of the cable and cause
it to pass through a hot pipe or tuble of suitable-length made of earthenware
or metal surrounded by fire to vulcanize, set, or harden the coating of gutta
percha as it slowly passes from the covering apparatus."
I do not claim the use of bisulphite of carbon solution of gutta percha, but
the arrangement of fire-heated pipe to pass the conductor through.
For an outer protection to insulated telegraph cables, lapply strong canvass
or other suitable testile fabric, skin, or leather, prepared and charged with
waterproof substance by heat, united by a longitudinal lip joint, which may be
rivetted togetherbysuitableapparatus,self-acting orotherwise,orsewn together
by any suitable sewing machinery. If iron or steel wires are to form a cable
to protect the insulating conductors, I prefer them (the wires)enveloped singly
with waterproof prepared fibrous material, such as hair, felt, or canvass con-
volutely cemented round them, by means of the volute covering machine,
before laying them round the core: A vulcanized caoutchouc envelope, coated
with thick linseed oil, under pressure if convenient, to fill the pores, would
make a durable outer covering over the canvass where there is danger of.the
canvas.being injured by abrasion ; it can be united in the form of a lip joint in
с

page_text: conjunction with the canvass or leather either by sewing or rivetting. Lead
foil might form an envelope under the canvass or leather electric conducting
ribbons or metal strips used for sheathing telegraph cables; I unite at the
cross sections by diagonal, serrated, or other interlocking joints, which are
brazed, soldered or welded, when of iron or steel), joining them edge to
edge, without any increase in thickness, as seen at Fig: 2 of the Drawings.
I improve the apparatus for covering wires, whereby one or more coats of
different insulating matter may be applied simultaneously or successively by
arranging the containing cylinders with their die orifices one above the
other all in a central and vertical line, so that as the wire or conductor
'to be covered enters the first and lowest orifice from below, and after being
coated it may pass up through an upper chamber in connection with another
die of the same diameter as the gutta percha or other coating material which
has previously been applied. This chamber contains viscous coagulated oil
under considerable pressure, which may be maintained by means of an air
vessel connected to the containing chamber in which fills any pores, and
lubricates the whole surface, and further acts as a cement for the next coating,
and so on for the number of applications desired. The ingress and egress dies
of the oil cylinder or pressure chamber are of the same guage as the previous
one in which the conductor has been coated with gutta percha or other material.
In order to maintain more regular currents of electricity from galvanic batteries,
I construct the zinc or other oxydisable plates of a round form, such as a
series of discs fixed on an axle of copper covered with porcelain,glass, or gutta
percha, the discs of metal being suitably separated by any of the above men-
tioned materials, connected for the battery purposes,such series of discs being
fitted in a trough with the negative plates, which may also rotate, arranged
between them so as to admit of the rotation of the spindle and zinc discs, by
means of water or other power, whereby to supply electricity for telegraph
purposes. Tubes of textile fabric containing suitable salts to excite the
batteries may be arranged to supply regularly and automatically the quantity
required.
I utilize invalid electric telegraph cables constructed in the manner of the
present Atlantic, Emden, Malta, Red Sea, and Channel Island cables, that
are formed with their conductors consisting of several wires laid together
without any provision for preventing the penetration and circulation of water in
the capillary interstices or spaces between the wires constituting the strand con
ductor. I first separate the homogenous lengths at the joints of the conductor
where they have been united together, or at any suitable places, and introduce
the ends of the gutta percha insulated conductor through a stuffing box or

page_text: boxes properly adjusted in connection with suitableforce pumps. And where
the interstices between the wires of the conductor or between the gutta percha
and wire are charged with water, I force in at one end, and exhaust at the
other, sulphuricacid or any suitable gas, air, or fluid, along the interior of the
gutta percha insulating coating, which I afterwards displace, and fill up the
intersirices by forcing and exhausting with Venice turpentine or other suitable
oleo-resin, copaibia, or other balsam or substance, but I prefer boiled viscous
linseed oil or suitable combination of it, with which I may mix any very fine
powder of the most suitable metal that will oxydize and form an insoluble
oxyde or oxychloride that is non-conducting if brought in contact with salt
water, or it may be mixed with other suitable matter that will most efficiently
fill up the detrimental space or pores, and render the insulating coating.
impermeable to water.
:
Invalid electric cables, with a solid wire as well as with the wire strand
conductor, can be rendered serviceable after they have been submerged and
have failed to transmit signals, when the gutta percha insulating core has
been in such depth or has had time to become in any degree charged with
water. For this purpose I strip all protective covering from the gutta percha,
and pass it through a vessel containing sulphuric acid ora mixture of one part
sulphuric and one nitric acid, or through chloride of lime, or other suitable
matter, to sufficiently desiccate the gutta percha; I then pass it through the
covering material above mentioned, containing coagulated drying oil, or any
suitable compound of it or other insulating cement, adjusting the entrance and
emerging orifices or dies to the requisite diameter, according to the guage of
the core: I also regulate the temperature and put on the requisite or desired
pressure on the contents of the covering machine chamber; the core is then
drawn slowly through, during which it becomes impregnated and lubricated
with the improving matter, and which may be further enveloped with
insulating material, prepared paper, felt, or textile fabric, combined or not
with metal foil, and protected as may be desirable.
Structures like the above-mentioned cables, not the most efficient for
electric submarine telegraphy, may be used for exhausting or forcing fluids
through, for instance, the gutta percha insulated conductors of the Emden
telegraph cable if cut with a sharp strong knife (or otherwise) across into
pieces the length of "a straw," such as those through which the Americans
suck the beverages called "gin sling," "brandy smash," "cocktail," and
"sherry cobbler; "these pieces of telegraph cable may be applied for such
purposes. About a pint of fluid per hour can be imbibed through every perfect
piece of each of such conductors; therefore I propose to apply such cables for

page_text: like purposes, unless they can be otherwise more profitably employed. In
some cases I strip the outer wire covering and the tarred yarn off the gutta
ercha coated conductor; I then separate it at the joints, and unite it so
that the capillary interstrices are entire from end to end; I pass it through
heated dies, and give it a coat of suitable cement, and envelope it convolutely
with suitably prepared fabric or other protection requisite. A submarine
cable; such as the Emden one, so prepared may be advantageously used as an
hydraulic telegraph, and would continue more permanently efficient at the
bottom of the sea, & fit to convey signals by forcing or exhausting fluids in it,
than it will continue capable of conducting signals by electricity. When the
balsams or oleo-resins of the terebentlime trees are extracted by fire, commonly
called tar, it becomes charged with creosote acid, alkaline salts, and other
substances, which are detrimental to durable submarine insulation. Now
I have found that if tar is put in a vessel containing water mixed with easily
'oxydisable metals in cuttings, and well agitated for some time, and afterwards
removed and put in another vessel, and subjected to heat of sufficiently high
temperature to drive off the creosote and all the aqueons matter, it is thereby
rendered more suitable to be safely applied for compounding cement for
telegraph insulating purposes. Analogous balṣams extracted by incision in
instances when they contain an unusual quantity of acid are improved by such
treatment, also when they are desired for cement for insulating purposes.
Crude tar only purified by straining, are now used for the Red Sea and other
cables, is detrimental to the durability of efficient insulation. I find that the
creosote and other spirit contained in it affects the gutta percha, and renders
it premeable to water, which is also augmented by the alkaline salts, therefore
I purify it by the means last herein-above described.
My improvements in testing insulated conductors with the view of insuring
durability and efficienty in appliances for conducting electric signals, consists,
firstly, in connecting the end of the insulated conductor under experiment
through a suitable arrangement of stuffing boxes in communication with a
powerful force pump, and I endeavour to force fluid through between the
interstices of the conducting strand of wires (if it is a conductor consisting of
several wires in a strand), or between the insulating material and the metal
wire conductor, or between the sheaths or coatings of the insulating matters.
If the forced fluid penetrates those parts, the conductor is imperfectly
insulated, and unsuitable for submarine electric telegraph purposes.
Secondly, I prepare a piece of suitable tubing to resist great pressure, or a
short cylinder which I japan or enamel on the inside, and make suitable caps
to enclose each end with a stuffing box in each of the caps. I place a piece of

page_text: the insulated conductor, the interior insulating covering of which is mixed with
aisympathetic salt inside and through the tube, and projecting out through the
stuffing boxes at each end...I fill the tube with water, holding any suitable
salt or acid in solution, so as to surround the insulated conductor; I make the
tube with a branch pipe and stop valve, which I have partially filled with
water. After the stuffing boxes are tightened I pump in air with a suitable
force pump connected to the branch pipe, until the pressure amounts to the
degree required. My improvement in the apparatus consists.in: making a
branch pipe or air vessel for this purpose, which maintains a pressure:för a
lengthened period upon the fluid inside the tube, whereas with water alone it
soon becomes reduced; when the conductor is under the elastic; pressure,
I pass or maintain a negative or positive current of electricity in the conductor,
and put it in the condition as applied for electrotype purposes, with or without
the addition in the first process of testing; and in connection upon.
the same
piece of insulated strand conductors.. If fluid penetrates the insulating
material under the process, the insulation is imperfect or unsuitable for sub.
marine telegraphs. A further improvement in testing the quality of any
insulating combination or material consists in using a conductor coated with
the material to be tested, and of a construction similar to the conductor
and insulation of the present Atlantic telegraph. I place a piece::of-such
constructed insulated conductor inside a testing tube of the kind, similarly
arranged to that above described, but I force any suitable aqueous solution: of
metallic salt, such as ferrocyanide of potassium, gas, or other requisite matter
into the interstrices between the wires of the strand conductor, and maintain
the pressure while I pass or cause to circulate a current of electricity; at the
time the electricity is circulating in the conductor, the pressure is maintained
on the fluid, which may be a solution of sulphate of iron, for instance,
surrounding the insulated conductor inside the tube. The length of time that
the insulating compound, or substance, or combination of substances 'under
investigation resists penetration by the fluid; which will be indicated to the eye
by the colour produced under this combination of forces, enables me to judge
of the suitability, of; the material, or arrangement for submarine telegraph
insulation.
To prevent injury to electric cables from rocky bottom or beach, or from
anchorage or other destructive agency, I apply protecting sheathing. For
this purpose I shape hoop iron, puddled steel, or other suitable metal strip
purposely made, by passing it through suitable shaped rolls to corrugate it
across or diagonaly, if desired, and also in a direction longitudinally to the
insulated cable it is designed to embrace, and I make good the joint by intro-

page_text: ducing vulcanized rubber, coated with coagulated drying oil, or prepared linen
or canvas, which may be made to envelope the whole, if desired, around the
outside, as well as on the inside of the iron rivetted envelope between the
longitudinal flanges, in which flanges I punch holes, and rivet together by
suitable machinery, or otherwise. The iron or steel or other metal may
be of such width as to envelope the cable, and have only one lip joint longi-
tudinally, or it may be rolled or drawn in narrower stripes, and have one, two,
three, or more longitudinal joints.
::
I use rolled metal strip, with rabbetted longitudinally corrugated or grooved
edges, so that they may fit the one into the other, and form flush junctions
when wound spirally round a submarine telegraph conductor as a protecting
covering, and such or like manner as represented in cross section at Figure 7.
This protecting covering may also be previously covered in textile material,
treated with waterproofing material.
I do not claim the application of iron, steel, or other metal strip or ribbon
embracing insulated conductors for an outside protection, except when corru-
gated or otherwise prepared and applied as herein-before described.
The last part of my Invention relates to anchoring submarine cables, and
consists in the application of two concave saucers, or bivalve-shaped shells, or
other forms made of metal or of earthenware, placed and secured convex
to convex, with the cables passing between them. I apply these at intervals
where necessary to prevent the cables swinging.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wallace Duncan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
JOHN WALLACE DUNCAN. (L.S.)
Witness,
W. CLARK, Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane, London.