IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE AND LAND SIGNALS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Emmett Forsyth Ruffin, of Lumpkin, Stewart County,
Georgia, America, but at present residing in Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, late Lieutenant of Signal Corps in the Confederate States
Army, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE AND LAND SIGNALS."
Sealed the 8th September 1864, and dated the 15th March 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Emmett Forsyth Ruffin.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th March 1864.
I, EMMETT FORSYTH RUFFIN, of Lumpkin, Stewart County, Georgia, America,
5 but at present residing in Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, late Lieu-
tenant of Signal Corps in the Confederate States Army, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE AND LAND SIGNALS,"
to be as follows (that is to say):
This Invention has for its object a simple and improved system for marine
O and land signalling, expressing messages by signs representing letters and
numerals by day or night, and which in the daytime may be accomplished by
a single flag, and at night by the aid of one fixed and one moveable light.
In explanation, suppose the letter A is represented by figures 1, 1; 'B
by 1, 4, 2, 8; C by 2, 3, 4; D by 1, 1, 1; E
15 1, 1, 4, 2; H by 2, 3, 1; I by 2; J by 2, 2, 3, 1; K by 1, 4, 8, 4; L by
.

page_text: 1, 1, 4; M by 2, 3, 1, 4; N by 2, 2; O by 1, 4; P by 2, 3, 4, 8; Q by
2, 3, 4, 2; R by 1, 4, 2; S by 1, 4, 3; T by 1; U by 2, 2, 3; V by 2, 3, 1, 1;
W by 2, 2, 3, 4; X by 1, 4, 8, 1; Y by 2, 2, 2; Z by 1, 1, 1, 1; etc. by
2, 2, 2, 2. The numeral 1 may be represented by 1, 4, 2, 2, 3; No. 2 by
2, 8, 1, 1, 4; No. 3 by 1, 1, 4, 3, 1; No. 4 by 1, 1, 1, 4, 3; No. 5 by 1, 1,
1, 1, 4; No. 6 by 2, 3, 1, 1, 1; No. 7 by 2, 2, 3, 1, 1; No. 8 by 2, 2, 2, 2, 3;
No. 9 by 2, 2, 3, 4, 2; No. 0 by 1, 1, 1, 1, 1.
The figures representing the letters may by varied at pleasure, and under-
stood with equal facility by the person recieving the message, who has the key
thereto; and messages during the daytime are communicated in the following
manner: The transmittor provides himself with a single flag made from a
white or coloured material, which is attached to a staff of (say) ten or twelve
feet long; he then places himself in such a position as to be prominently seen
by the party-who is to recieve the message; he then commences to signal the
message, which is, say, "Dinner at 5," which will be represented by the
following numbers :-D--1, 1, 1; 1-2; n-2, 2; n-2, 2; e-2, 3;
r-1, 4, 2; then a pause of a few moments; a-1, 1; t-1; then, another pause.;
5-1,1,1,1,4; which is delivered in the following manner:-By waving the flag
three times to the left with a pause between each will represent D; and then
waving the flag twice to the right without a pause between will represent i;'
twice to the right, a pause, then again twice to the right without a pause, will
represent n; twice to the right and twice to the right again is n; twice to the
right without a pause, and three times to the left without a pause represents e;
once to the left, four times to the right, then a pause, then twice to the right
again represents r; at the end of the word throw the flag to the front, then
bring the flagstaff vertical; wave the flag thrice to the left with a pause
between each, which represents a; then once again to the left will represent t;
then throw the flag to the front and bring the flagstaff vertical; wave the
flag four times to the left making a pause between each, then wave the flag
four times to the right without a pause between them, which represents 5; then
throw the flag to the front three times, which signifies the conclusion of the
message.
By the foregoing example the waving of the flag to the left signifies odd
numbers, and to the right even numbers, but this arrangement may be varied.
A short pause is made between each numeral as written; the flag is once thrown
forward at the end of each word, twice to denote the end of a sentence, and
three times to denote the end of a paragraph or conclusion of the message.
In signalling at night the operator places a lantern or other suitable light in
front of his feet, and in place of the flag uses a lantern or torch connected to the

page_text: head of the flagstaff, and signals in the same way as that done with the flag
in the daytime, minding at all times to be in such a position as to bring the
light at the head of the staff vertically above the light at his feet, so that the
reciever of the signal may be sure on which side he dips his light. The flag-
staff or pole upon which the moveable light or flag is suspended may be fitted
to a frame or standard in such a way as to be used with great rapidity without
fatigue to the operator, and which may be actuated through any simple
mechanical contrivance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Emmett Forsyth Ruffin in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th September 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EMMETT
FORSYTH RUFFIN, of Lumpkin, Stewart County, Georgia, America, (but at
present residing in Liverpool,) in the County of Lancaster, late Lieutenant of
Signal Corps in the Confederate States Army, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself,. Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Emmett Forsyth. Ruffin, Her special licence that
I, the said Emmett Forsyth Ruffin, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Emmett Forsyth. Ruffin, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might. make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE AND LAND
SIGNALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Emmett
Forsyth Ruffin, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing.
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Emmett Forsyth Ruffin, do hereby
declare the nature of the said. Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say) :-
This my said Invention has for its object a simple and improved system for
marine and land signals, signalling, expressing messages by signs represented
by letters and numerals by day or night, and which in the daytime may be
accomplished by a single flag attached to the upper end of a staff, and at
night by the aid of one fixed and one moveable light, the fixed light being
placed in front of the feet of the operator, and the other attached to the head
of the flag pole in lieu of the flag. The pole may be held in the hand of the
operator, or may be suspended by a universal joint to a stationary or moveable 1
frame or standard of any convenient form..
In explanation, suppose the letter A is represented by figure 1, 1; B by
1, 4, 2, 8; C by 2, 3, 4; D by 1, 1, 1; E by 2, 3; F by 1, 1, 1, 4;
G by 1, 1, 4, 2; H by 2, 3, 1; I by 2; J by 2, 2, 3, 1; K by 1, 4, 3, 4;
L by 1, 1, 4; M by 2, 3, 1, 4; N by 2, 2; O by 1, 4; P by 2, 3, 4, 8; 1
Qby 2, 3, 4, 2; R by 1, 4, 2; S by 1, 4, 3; T by 1; U by 2, 2, 3;
V by 2, 3, 1, 1; W by 2, 2, 3, 4; X by 1, 4; 3, 1; Y by 2, 2, 2; Z by 1,
1, 1, 1; etc. by 2, 2, 2, 2:
The numeral 1 may be represented by 1, 4, 2, 2, 3; number 2 by 2, 3, 1, 1, 4;
number 8 by 1, 1, 4, 3,1; number 4 by 1, 1, 1, 4,8; number 5 by 1, 1, 1, 1, 4;
number 6 by 2, 3, 1, 1, 1; number 7 by 2, 2, 3, 1, 1; number 8 by 2, 2, 2, 2, 3;
number 9 by 2, 2, 3, 4, 2; number 0 by 1, 1, 1, 1, 1.
The figures representing the letters and numerals may be varied at pleasure,
and understood with equal facility by the person receiving the message, who
has a key corresponding thereto; and messages during the daytime are
communicated in the following manner:-The transmitter having provided
himself with a single flag made from a white or coloured material, and which
is attached to the upper end of the staff of (say) ten or twelve feet long, the
flag staff or pole upon which the flag or moveable light is suspended may be
fitted to a frame or standard in such a way as to be used with great rapidity &
without fatigue to the operator, and which may be actuated through any
simple mechanical contrivance. The operator having so provided himself then
places himself in such a position as to be prominently seen by the party who is
to receive the message, he then commences to signal the message, which may
be, say, "Dinner at 5," which will be represented by the following numbers:
D-1, 1, 1; 1-2; n―2, 2; n-2, 2; 0-2, 3 ; r-1, 4, 2; then a pause for a
few moments; a-1, 1; t-i; then another pause; 5—1, 1, 1, 1, 4; which is
delivered in the following manner :-By throwing the flag three times to the
left with a pause between each will represent D; and then waving the flag twice

page_text: to the right without a pause will represent i; twice to the right, a pause, then
again twice to the right without a pause will represent n; twice to the right
without a pause, then three times to the left without a pause represents e;
once to the left, four times to the right, then a pause, then twice to the right
again represents r; at the end of the word throw the flag to the front, then
bring the flagstaff vertical; wave the flag twice to the left without a pause
between each, which represents a; then once again to the left will represent t;
then throw the flag to the front and bring the flagstaff vertical; wave the
flag four times to the left, making a pause between each, then wave the flag
four times to the right without a pause between them, which represents 5;
then throw the flag to the front three times, which signifies the conclusion of
the message.
By the foregoing example the waving of the flag to the left signifies odd
numbers, and to the right even numbers, but this arrangement may be varied.
A short pause is made between each numeral as written; the flag is once
thrown forward at the end of each word, twice to denote the end of a
sentence, and three times to denote the end of a paragraph or conclusion of
the message.
In signalling at night the operator places a lantern or other suitable light
in front of his feet, and in place of the flag uses a lantern or torch connected
to the head of the flagstaff, and signals in the same way as that done with the
flag in the daytime, minding at all times to be in such a position as to bring
the light at the head of the staff vertically above the light at his feet, so that
the receiver of the signal may be sure on which side he dips his light.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have hereunto annexed Drawings of several modifications of a simple appa-
ratus adapted for signalling by day or night.
Figure 1 is a hand pole, to the head of which may be attached the flag or
moveable light; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a moveable frame with a
signal staff connected thereto by a universal joint; Figure 3 is the signal staff
seen connected to the back of the stationary frame; Figure 4 is a top view or
plan of the moveable stand seen at Figure 2; the dotted lines radiating from
the signal staff show the position in which the signal pole is laid, being to the
right and left and directly in front or at right angles thereto during the making
of any required signal.
In these three modifications the apparatus is shown with a white flag
attached thereto, which is suitable for a dark atmosphere, but I have found in
practice that a red or other dark coloured flag is most suitable for a clear
atmosphere and light background; but of course a flag of any colour or

page_text: colours may be used. When signalling by night I merely substitute a lantern
or torch for the flag, and place a lantern or torch or other fixed light in front
of the operator and stand, when a stand is used..
2
A and A¹ (Figure 1) is the signal staff, which is formed in two parts and
connected together by B and B', pair of "caps" similar to those used on
the mast-head of a ship, but which I prefer to secure to the upper part of the
mast and hold in position against the lower part by means of C and C', thumb
set screws. The lower portion of this mast or staff I prefer to weight or
counterbalance at the lower end by lead, iron, or other suitable material.
D, the signal flag on the head of the pole. The object of making the staff or
mast in two parts is, by relieving the set screws the upper part of the staff
may be slid down in front of the lower part for the convenience of transit.
E (Figures 2 and 4) the signal pole, on the head of which is carried (D)
the signal flag, and which is connected to a moveable frame, which consists of
F, an horizontal triangular frame, of wood or other suitable material, from
which springs G, G', G³, diagonal posts, which are connected together at their
head, and through which works H a working "gudgeon" or axle, the inner
end of which is forked and turned upwards so as to form the bearings of a
pair of trunnions which spring from the side of. the signal post, or from a ring
or collar which encircles and grasps the signal staff, thus forming a universal
joint resembling that used for suspending a marine barometer; the object of
this semi-universal goose-necked joint is to enable the signal staff to be thrown
either to the right or left or forwards with great facility. The staff at the
bottom is counterbalanced to naturally cause it to take an erect position.
The dotted lines show the position the staff would occupy when thrown
forward to denote the end of a word, and so forth. K and K' (Figure 3)
are two oblique standards which are connected to L an horizontal platform,
which together form a fixed standard or frame for carrying the signal staff,
which is jointed to the head thereof in the same way as exhibited at Figure 2,
and is also counterbalanced at the lower end so as to cause it naturally to
take an erect position; the frame is made a fixture by being secured to the
ground by m, m, m, m, spikes or pegs. The dotted lines in Figure 3 show
the position of the signal staff when thrown to the right.
I would here remark that the signal staff or staffs, for convenience of
packing and removal, may be formed of several parts which may be connected
together in any convenient manner; and in lieu of the lantern or torch,
Bengal or blue lights may be used to advantage when the distance it is
required to convey the message is considerable, in which caso I prefer to
provide myself with a pair of metallic or other non-combustible vessels to act

page_text: as extinguishers to place over the lights when it is desirable to dispense
therewith.
The several apparatus herein-before described may be actuated by hand by
a single operator, but the modifications shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, when
made of a large size, may be worked by two or more operators by means of
guy ropes; and in some cases, say, when the apparatus is placed. on the top
of a tower or high rock, the same may be operated from below by passing
the three guy ropes over, say, pullies placed at the right and left and in rear
of the apparatus, by which the required motions can be given to the signal
post from any convenient situation. For the sake of brevity, exper
drop. the use of the vowels in communicating messages.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to
the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions of the apparatus herein-
before described and set forth, as it will be readily seen the same may be
considerably varied without departing from the Invention; nor do I indeed
confine myself to any peculiar form of apparatus so long as the flag or move-
able light may have communicated thereto the required motion, as herein-
before described and set forth; but what I claim is,―
First, the peculiar system of signalling by day or night, as herein-before
described and set forth.
And, lastly, the peculiar arrangement of apparatus and the mode of operating.
the same, substantially in the manner and for the, purposes, herein-before
described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Emmett Forsyth Ruffin, have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal, this Fourteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four...
EMMETT FORSYTH (L.B.) RUFFIN..
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.