A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS, CALLED DESPATCH DISTRIBUTOR," WHICH WILL PERMIT DESPATCHES OF VARIOUS CONTENTS BEING COMMUNICATED AT THE SAME TIME TO ONE OR MORE STATIONS BY MEANS OF ONE OR TWO LINE WIRES ONLY."
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Franz Duncker, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
but now of 4, King William Street, Strand, for the Invention of "A
NEW INSTRUMENT FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS, CALLED DESPATCH DISTRIBUTOR,"
WHICH WILL PERMIT DESPATCHES OF VARIOUS CONTENTS BEING COMMUNICATED
AT THE SAME TIME TO ONE OR MORE STATIONS BY MEANS OF ONE OR TWO LINE
WIRES ONLY."A communication from Mr. A. Bernstein of Berlin.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Franz Duncker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
November 1855.
I, FRANZ DUNCKER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, but now of
4, King William Street, Strand, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHES, CALLED DESPATCH
DISTRIBUTOR, WHICH WILL PERMIT DESPATCHES OF VARIOUS CONTENTS BEING COMMU-
NICATED AT THE SAME TIME TO ONE OR MORE STATIONS BY MEANS OF ONE OR TWO
LINE WIRES ONLY, (being a communication,) to be as follows:-
This newly invented apparatus is here only described as required for two,
three, or four simultaneous dispatches transmitted in connection with Morse's
printing instrument, as its application to any larger number of dispatches
A

page_text: would only necessitate a multiplication of the same arrangements, the principic
being applicable to an unlimited number of dispatches and stations. The
same principle applying to the needle telegraph, I reserve to myself the right
of making such alterations in the apparatus as may be necessary for working
it in connection with that system of telegraph.
I. DESCRIPTION OF THE DISPATCH DISTRIBUTOR FOR TWO SIMULTANEOUS BUT
DIFFERENT DISPATCHES.
At the station from which the despatches are to be transmitted two galvanic
battaries are fixed; the one of the power = 1, the second = 2. Each of
the batteries is connected with a key or contact lever, as used in working
Morse's telegraphs, and each is intended to transmit a given despatch. At
the stations to which the despatches are to be transmitted, Morse's printing
instruments with the usual relays are fixed, and connected with the starting
point by a single line wire, which is passed through the despatch "destributor
which received the electric current, and divides it into its proper proportions
at the first station, passing one current through a branch wire to the printing
instrument of that station, while the other passes on through the line wire to
the second station. This distributor is represented in Figuro I., such parts
being omitted as will be described in Figures II. and III. In Figure I.,
a is a spiral coil, containing a centre piece M of soft iron, and which becomes
magnetic in passing the electric current through the spiral wire by which it is
surrounded.
At present we shall only describe the application of one of its poles, the use
of the other being illustrated at a later period. The wire a of the coil, which
is connected at one end with the line wire, is connected at the other with M,
the centre piece of the coil at a', Fig. 1, (therein differing from the ordinary
arrangement,) and makes it a conductor. The wire then proceeds from
another part of M, as shewn at a", round by a, a, to a touch or contact plate
6. This is a metal plate, fixed to an upright spring, having a small hammer
of soft iron at its head, which we call the anchor of the electric magnet.
Underneath is another contact plate e, also fixed to the spring k, forming
a connection with the earth in f. A spiral spring & retains the anchor k
resting against pillar m, and at the same time produces the connection at 6
and e. If, now, the key is depressed at the starting point in the usual way
the current will pass through the coil a, for as M has become a conductor
through it and a", a, a, b, and e to the earth at f; but at the same moment
M becomes magnetic by the current passing through it, and anchor / will he
attracted, and thus leaving b and e, will break the current to the earth. A

page_text: metallic connection is, however, produced between M and k, and a second
connection between k and the contact plate g, and through the wire n, n, with
a Morse's printing instrument or its relays. By this process the printing.
instrument or its relays will receive its intended current after passing through
the instrument I have given the name of "distributor," the real advantage
of which will not appear until its further application is described.
In Figure I. we only showed one anchor opposite the centre of the coil, or,
more properly, the ono pole of the electro-magnet M; but in arranging for
two simultaneous despatches three anchors will be necessary, as shewn in
Fig. II., M representing the pole of the magnet, the coil being omitted to
simplify the Drawing. Of the three anchors a, b, and a + b, a only is exactly
similar to k in Fig. I., while b and a + b are without the connection with the
earth; therefore the wire a, a, and the contact plates 6 and e, as shewn in
Fig. 1, dispensed with.
The other modifications in these two anchors will be seen on reference to
Fig. 3, which represents anchor 6 on an enlarged scale as seen from the side.
Near the face of the anchor a small wing is attached, consisting of some
flexible and non-conducting material, such as mica, quill, or parchment, and
projecting to the magnet, and lying against it in such a manner as to slide
along its surface as soon as anchor b is attracted by the magnet, so as to cover
the space which anchor a would cover on being attracted, thus breaking the
contact between anchor a and a magnet. A similar wing is attached to
anchor a+b, which passes between anchor 6 and the magnet, and thus
breaks the connection between anchor b and the magnet. The object of these
wings only being to prevent the electric current passing through certain
anchors, some other arrangement may be substituted to obtain the same
result, and I claim the right of making such modifications in the instrument
as may prove more desirable or practicable.
Having described the distributor in its several parts, I will now consider its
working. In Fig. II., A and B are two batteries fixed at the same or two
different stations from which despatches are to be forwarded at the same time
to two other stations a' and 6' by means of a single wire. The wire is
conducted to M, the electro-magnet, and three anchors a, b, and a + b placed
before it are to distribute the currents in such a manner that each of
the two stations shall receive its proper message, which is accomplished in
the following manner:-When two batteries are working, three cases are
possible :-
I. When battery A is working alone and its signal is to be sent to

page_text: II. When battery B is working alone and its signal is to be sent to b¹.
III. When the two batteries are working and their signals to be sent
simultaneously to stations a' and b¹.
To accomplish this, batteries A and B are made of different intensities; A
being equal to 1; B to 2; both together equal to 3. The springs which
carry the three anchors are so varied. in strength that anchor a only is
attracted by the electric magnetic power imparted to the magnet by a current
equal to 1; anchor b by a current equal to 2; anchor a+b by a current equal
to 3. If, now, battery A is set to work, anchor a only will be attracted, and
the current will pass through g, the contact plate, to a'. If battery B is set to
work the current will be equal to 2, and the magnet will attract both anchors
a and b at the same time; but anchor b on being attracted moves the wing
attached to it between anchor a and the magnet, and thus permits of the
current passing through anchor b only, and through the contact plate g' to b'.
But if batteries A and B are both set to work, the current is = 3, and all 3
anchors will be attracted; but anchor a + b insulates anchor b, as also anchor b
insulates anchor a by means of the wings attached to them, and the current
passes through anchor a+b only to the contact plate 9", which is divides into
two insulated parts, one being connected with a', the other with ', thus
carrying the current to both. This will enable each apparatus to mark what
its corresponding battery dictates. If, for example, the operator at A wishes
to make a line, and at the same moment the operator at B makes a dot, the
current will at this moment be interrupted from anchor a, and the line at
apparatus a would have a break; but at the same moment A and B are
closed the current becomes = 3, and anchor a x b is active and operates
on a¹.
It therefore fills up the break at the same moment, or, more simply,
does not permit the scriber in the printing instrument a¹ to become inactive,
so that the line will be produced by instrument a', as though the operator
at A. had alone been at work. At the same time, however, as the current
becomes equal to S, it operates on 6', and the scriber of that instrument
produces a dot.

page_text: The varied strength of the current is produced by the different elements,
as shewn in the Figures; the current for a being = 1; for 6 = 2; and
for C = 4.
In Fig. 4, M represents the electro-magnet, opposite to which seven anchors
are placed, numbered one to seven, each having a connecting plate at g
similarly arranged to those previously described, through which the current is
passed to each separate apparatus. The wing also, as previously described,
is applied to all the anchors with the exception of a, but which have not been
repeated in the sketch, and the springs carrying the anchors are all varied in
strength in proportion to the power of the various currents by which they are
to be attracted.
Thus only one anchor will be attracted at one and the same time, all those
to the right of it, though attracted, being insulated by the interception of the
wings, while all those to the left will not be attracted. After the description
of the working given in the several cases in the distributor for two messages,
it will be easily understood how in the seven possible cases each separate
message will reach its proper destination even though all three operators
should be working at the same time.
If the destinations of the several messages are distant from each other, a
distributor, such as represented in Fig. 4, must be placed at the station where
apparatus a' is fixed, all the wires of the distributor going to 6' and c¹ being
attached together and connected with the line wire leading to the station
where apparatus b' is fixed. Here such a distributor for two messages, as is
represented in Fig. II., must be placed, only differing from it in this respect,
that instead of the strength of the spring carrying the anchors corresponding
to the power of the currents 1, 2, and 3, in this case the first or weakest is
attracted only by a current = 2, the second by a current = 4, the third by
a current 6. By this distributor the current is divided just as though only
two messages had been sent, the one intended for this station being conveyed
to apparatus b', while the current intended for the third station is passed on to
the line wire, and through it to apparatus C³.
The arrangement of the distributor for four or more messages is the same

page_text: as that described in the distributor for three messages, an increased number
only of anchors being required corresponding to the number of combinations
possible in each case. There is no limit to the number of simultaneous
messages that may be transmitted through one and the same wire, except
such as is offered by the number of elements which come into play, and
the consequent nicety required in the mechanical arrangement of the
distributor.
The object has hitherto been to make the working of the distributor in
connection with two or three apparatuses as clear as possible, and important
arrangements which must contribute to the result have consequently been left
unnoticed. It will, therefore, be desirable at the close of this Specification
to give a full description of the working of the instrument as arranged for
four despatches in connection with the keys of the batteries, the printing
instruments, the closing of the current with the earth, and showing how all
side currents and unnecessary contacts are guarded against. Before doing so,
however, another part of the necessary arrangement must be described, which
for simplicity's sake has not been referred to hitherto. The question naturally
arises, is a practical application of the distributor possible, when, as in the
case of the distributor for three despatches at one moment, a current of a
power 1, at another one = 7, is to act upon one and the same anchor a?
Experience has taught that no iron can be found which ceases to be mag-
netic the moment the current is interruption. A remainder of the magnetic
power therefore continues to act upon the anchor after the current is broken,
which the spring has to overcome. And as the feathering power of the spring
which is to detach anchor a from the magnet must necessarily be but small to
enable it to be attracted by a small current, how is the spring to detach anchor
a from the magnet when a remainder of a sevenfold current is still acting
upon it?
Hitherto the use of one only of the magnetic poles has been described, and
to obviate the difficulty above referred to, the use made of the other pole will
require to be illustrated.
The magnet made use of, as drawn in Fig. V., is the horse-shoe niagnet, but
differing from those usually adopted, in having one of its poles M turned in
such a manner as to face the side of the other pole M. By this means the
action of the magnet on all the anchors is varied. The pole M acts, when
influenced by any one current, equally upon all the anchors facing it; but this
is not the case with the side of pole M'; the magnetic power diminishes as the
distance from the real pole M' increases, and consequently acts with greater
power on anchor 1 thau on anchor 2, and on the latter more than all the

page_text: others, so that anchor 7 is least acted upon. A few trials will suffice to find
that position for the whole of the anchors in which they will be subject to the
magnetic influence of pole M' in an inverse ratio to the strength of their
several springs. To enable this influence to be more exactly and easily regu-
lated, a thin brass rod is fixed to the back of each anchor, supplied with a
small cube of iron, moveable by means of a thread cut on the rod. This cube
may be moved towards or from the side of pole M', and its influence on the
anchor thus sufficiently regulated.
III. THE DISTRIBUTOR FOR FOUR DESPATCHES, WITH A GENERAL VIEW OP
ALL THE REQUIRED APPLIANCES.
In Fig. VI. four batteries are placed by the side of four keys, numbered 1,
2, 3, and 4, by means of which each battery may be connected with the
current. The current commences at pole A in the earth, and passes by two
ways to the key; the one leads to the battery h, and from it through the wire
to the key in k, where the current is broken as long as the key remains at
rest; the other branches off at 9 and passes to the key in i, where, by contact,
the current passes to l; from here the current passes to the second key also by
two ways, first to h' and to k', where it is again broken, and secondly, direct to
the key in , where by contact it is conveyed to . In the same manner the
current passes through the other two keys; and it therefore follows, that as
often as one of the keys becomes active a contact is produced at K, K¹, K", or
K, and the battery brought into connection with the current, while the pre-
vious current is interrupted by the contact being broken in i, i, ¹, or 1; it
follows, therefore, that each key can only produce a current through its own
battery, and though it passes through the other keys, does not affect their bat-
teries as long as the keys remain at rest. If several keys are brought into
operation, their batteries work together, and the strength of the current
becomes proportionate to the power of the batteries. Let it be assumed that
battery his 4, h₁ = 10,="=15, and h¹ = 30. The conducting wire in
every case is conveyed to the first distributor. This is supplied with 15 anchors,
numbered 1 to 15, as when employing four batteries 15 cases are possible.
The other numbers represent the power of the current by which each anchor
will be attracted to the pole of the electro-magnet. The letters over the top of
the anchors indicate the keys to which they correspond, the first key being
marked a, the second b, the third c, and the fourth d. It must be remembered
that every distributor has a conductor to the earth, as shewn in Fig. 1, and
that the current to the earth is interrupted whenever the first anchor moves
towards the magnet, even though its contact with the magnet may be inter-

page_text: rupted by the wing of the other, and another anchor conveys the current. The
conducting wires of the fifteen anchors in the first distributor convey the cur-
rent in two ways, either to the first printing instrument by means of anchors 1,
3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15, or to the second distributor by means of anchors 2,
4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. At the first printing instrument there is no conductor
to the earth, the current being conveyed direct from its coil to the wire m, and
through it to the second distributor. The second distributor has seven anchors,
similarly numbered and lettered to those in in the first, having the same signi-
fications. From this distributor the current passes to the earth until its power
becomes equal to 10. When it becomes equal to 10, the first anchor by its
movement to the magnet breaks the connection with the earth, and the current
passes as directed by one of the seven anchors; of these, four conduct the cur-
rent to the second printing instrument, videlicit, 1, 3, 5, 7, while the anchors
2, 4, and 6 are connected through m' with the third distributor. As printing
instrument 2 is not supplied with a conductor to the earth, it passes the cur-
rent through n¹ to m', so that in every case the current reaches the third distri-
butor. The same process is repeated in the third distributor, the current to
the earth, however, not being interrupted by its first anchor until it reaches a
power equal to 15; it has three anchors, numbers 1 and 3, leading to printing
instrument 3, while anchor 2 conducts the current through m" to printing
instrument 4. But the third instrument also passes the current it has received
on through n" and m" to the fourth instrument, which thus receives all the
currents that have passed through the third. The fourth printing instrument
is, however, supplied with a connection with the earth, and its anchor will not
be brought into action until the current is equal to or more than 30.
In con-
sidering the cases that may occur when four keys are used, it will be found
that fifteen are possible, for which as many currents will be required, all
differing in power.
On following the whole of these cases, and the action of the keys on their
corresponding instruments, whether worked singly, in pairs, in threes, or all
fours simultaneously, it will be found that every apparatus can only mark
the telegraphic sign given by its corresponding key. The following few cases,
selected from the fifteen, will sufficiently illustrate this:-
1. The first key alone is depressed; the power of its battery is = 4. The
current passes through the other keys without acting upon any of their
batteries to the first distributor, which receives a current = 4, by which anchor
1 of this distributor is attracted, at the same time breaking the connection
with the earth, and passes through it to the first apparatus, causing its seriber
to nurk, and thence proceeding through the second distributor to the ground.

page_text: 2. Suppose the first and third keys are depressed simultaneously, the cur-
rent produced will be 19. On passing to the first distributor it attracts
anchors to 5, but the first four being insulated, as previously described, passes
through anchor 5 only to the first printing instrument, and its scriber made to
act. The current then passes to the second distributor, and its power being
=19, attracts anchors 1 and 2, but the former being insulated, passes through
anchor 2 only, and through m¹ to the third distributor. Here the first anchor
is attracted, and conducting the current to the third printing instrument, causes
its scriber to act, and proceeds now through n" and m" to the fourth printing
instrument, requiring a current = 30 to be acted upon, and consequently passes
the current to the earth without influencing the scriber of this instrument.
Instruments 1 and 3 only have therefore marked the messages sent by keys 1
and 9.
8. The last and most complicated case of the fifteen is that in which all
four keys are working simultaneously, and the current will consequently be
equal to 59. In the first distributor anchor 15 will be in contact, the other
fourteen being insulated. Auchor 15 will convey the current to the first instru-
ment, and cause its scriber to act and pass through n and m to the second
distributor. Here anchor 7 will be in contact, and convey the current to the
second instrument, cause its scriber to act, and pass on to the third distributor
through n¹ and m³. Here anchor 3 will be in contact, and convey the current
on to the third printing instrument, cause its scriber to act, and proceed
through n" and m" to the fourth printing instrument. As the power of the
current exceeds thirty, it causes the scriber of the fourth instrument to mark,
and then passes to the earth.
In the combination of all the apparatus required for the simultaneous dis-
patch of four messages, as here illustrated, the whole arrangements are much
simpler than those previously described, but which were required more clearly
to illustrate the working of the instrument.
It may be desirable, in conclusion, to give a sketch of an entire distributor
for four despatches, Fig. VII., which, after what has been stated, will be
easily understood. A is the electro-magnet, surrounded by a conducting spiral
coil; M is the one pole; M', the other; numbers 1 to 15 are the anchors;
No. 1 having an insulated position, while No. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 are
fixed to a conducting frame h; and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 to another
similar one i; each anchor being kept from contact with the pole by a spiral
spring, as shown in Fig. 1, but which is not represented in this sketch. a, a, is
the wire which connects the electro-magnet with the contact plate b, and a
contact plate e is in communication with the earth f, while a third connecting

page_text: plate 9 and the frame h are in communication with apparatus No. 1. From
the second frame i a wire m passes to the 2nd distributor, and is joined by
another wire n from the first apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Franz Duncker in the Great Seal Patent Office ou the
15th May 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. FRANZ
DUNCKER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, but now of 4, King William
Street, Strand, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Пer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Ier heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Franz Duncker, Her special licence that I, the said Franz Duncker,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Franz Duncker, 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 "A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR ELECTRIC
TELEGRAPHES, CALLED DESPATCH DISTRIBUTOR, WHICH WILL PERMIT DESPATCHES OF
VARIOUS CONTENTS BEING COMMUNICATED AT THE SAME TIME TO ONE OR MORE
STATIONS BY MEANS OF ONE OR TWO LINE WIRES ONLY," a communication from
Mr. A. Bernstein, of Berlin, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Frauz Duncker, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should parti-
cularly 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 Franz Duncker, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The newly invented "despatch distributor," in connection with some im
provements in the electric telegraphs, described and illustrated in the following

page_text: Specification, will permit any number of despatches of various contents to bo
transmitted to one or more stations at the same time, without in the least
interfering with each other, by means of one wire only, if connected with
Morse's printing instrument. This newly invented apparatus is here described
only as required for transmitting two and three simultaneous despatches in
connection with Morse's printing instrument, as its application to any larger
number of despatches would only necessitate a multiplication of the same
arrangements, the new principle being applicable to an unlimited number of
despatches and stations.
I.-DESCRIPTION OF THE DESPATCH DISTRIBUTOR FOR Two SIMULTANEOUS BUT
DIFFERENT DESPATCHES.
At the station or the two stations from which the despatches are to be
transmitted two galvanic batteries are fixed, the one of the power = 1, the
second 2. Each of these batteries is connected in a new and peculiar
manner with a key or contact lever of an improved construction, but similar
to those generally used in working Morso's telegraphs, and each of these keys
is intented to transmit a given despatch. This key is represented in Fig. 1,
Sheet A, and is of the following construction:-On a solid wooden frame A, A',
is fixed a lever B, B', with the pivot in d, and one of its ends held up by
a spring e. On the left end the lever is perforated by a brass pin c, c', which
when the lever is at rest is in contact with another metal pin n, fixed on the
frame A, A'. From c' a wire h leads to a non-conducting plate i, fixed on
the lever. From this plate a very elastic stick rises to a round metal plate g,
covered on its upper side with ivory. This metal plate is suspended over a
knob f, fixed on the lever in B'. When the lever is at rest there is no contact
between the plate g and the knob f, but when the operator puts his finger
on g, this plate is pressed down upon f, and by a stronger pressure the
spring e will yield as well, so that on the opposite end of the lever the contact
between c, c', and the metallic plate n fixed on A, is broken. On each of the
two stations from which the despatches are to be transmitted a key of this
description is placed, and connected with its proper battery, and with the lino
wire, in the manner illustrated in Fig. II., Sheet A. Number one shows the
one battery and its proper key; number 2, the other battery, also with its
key. The negative pole of the first battery is in connection with the earth E;
a second wire m is conducted to the point n of the key. From the positive
pole a conductor leads to the metallic knob f. In the same way the second
battery is in connection with its key, but not with the earth. The negative
pole is conducted to n; the positive, to the knob f. From both keys c' leads

page_text: to the wire of the line or service wire o, o', and this wire being in connection
with the earth, the way of the current through the batteries and the keys is
the following:-When the keys are at rest the batteries are interrupted on
their positive poles in f. When the operator touches the upper surface of
the plate g of the first key the circuit of the first battery is complete in itself,
because g is in connection with the negative, f with the positive pole; there-
fore, in the line wire o a current does not get pass, but as soon as the lever
is pressed down the contact between c and n is interrupted, and then the
positive current passes by f, g, h, c', into the line wire o, and is sent in this way
to the second battery. Suppose the second key to be at rest, the positive pole
of the second battery is interrupted in f. In this case the current is forced
to pass through the wire m', around the battery, through the contact n, c, iuto
the line wire o¹; but when, on the contrary, the key 2 is not at rest, two cases
are possible.
1. The current from the first battery arrives at a moment when ƒ and g of
the second key are in contact, but when the contact between c³ and n is not
yet broken; in that case the current from the first battery has two ways
through the key 2; one through the second battery from the negative to the
positive pole, and from there through f, g, and h, into the line wire o¹; the
other through the wire m', around the battery, through n and c, into o¹. The
resistance, however, which the second battery opposes to the current forces it
to take this second way around the battery; the second battery therefore has
no influence upon the power of the current coming from the first battery.
2. The current from the first battery arrives, when by pressing down the
lever the contact between n and c is already interrupted; it is then forced to
pass through the second battery, and as the positive pole of the first battery is
in connection with the negative pole of the second, the currents of both
batteries will unite and strengthen each other.
When the first key is at rest, but the second is put into action, the same
may be said of the current of the latter as long as the contact n and c in the
first key is not interrupted; its power is only equal to that of the second
battery, and does not increase but at that moment when the contact n, c,
in the first key is interrupted. The line wire then leads to the station where
the newly invented "despatch distributor" is placed, which is constructed in
the following manner:-Before an upright electro-magnet are placed three
anchors, each of them fixed on a handle which turns between two points; each
of the anchors is retained from the electro-magnet by a spring in such a
manner, that when inactive they are in contact with a metallic stud, against
which they lean backwards.

page_text: Figure III., Sheet A, represents the position of the anchors of the new
apparatus. In that Figure, E is the coil of wire, in the axis of which is
placed a bar of iron M, forming an electro-magnet; a, one of the anchors
standing upright over its turning point d; n, the spring which retains it from
the electro-magnet; and s, t, is the stud against which it leans backwards.
This contact the anchor is in with the stud we will hereafter call its "resting
contact." A second horizontal anchor is 6; its pivot d', its spring n', its
resting contact the stud 8, t. The third anchor c is suspended with its pivot
in ", its spring n", and its resting contact the stud s", ". All these threo
anchors are made of soft iron, their handles of brass, and the studs likewise of
brass. One end of the coil's wire E is in connection with the line wire, the
other end is by metallic connections fixed to the bar of iron M, and from this
a conductor leads to the earth. The springs n, n', n", are fixed to wooden
pillars by screws x, x¹, a¹¹, and so varied in strength that the anchor a bent
by its screw in such a manner that it is attracted by M even then, when only
a current from the weaker battery passes through the coil; but the anchor bis
so bent by its screw that it will bo attracted only then, when a current of the
stronger battery is passing through the coil; lastly, the screw a bends the
spring of the anchor c in such a manner that this anchor will be attracted by
M only then, when a current from both batteries is passing through the coil
E. At the moment when one or both keys complete their circuit, such
currents of different power will pass through the coil, the resistance of which
added to that of the line wire produces the effect, that the bar of iron receive
but a weak magnetism from the weaker battery, so that only anchor a is
brought into contact with M; but the current of the stronger battery is strong
enough to make M so very magnetic that both the anchors a and b will be
attracted, and if both the currents of the batteries co-operate, the anchor c
will also be brought into contact with M.
Near the apparatus which we have called "despatch distributor," Morse's
Of this local
printing instrument is placed, worked by a local battery.
battery the negative polo is conducted to the earth, the positive pole
to one end of the wire of the coils of the printing instrument, the other
end of the coils is connected with the anchor a by h, d. As soon as anchor
a comes in contact with the magnet M, which, as has been mentioned,
has a conductor to the earth, the local battery is complete, and therefore
the printing instrument will work. From the positive pole of the local
battery a second wire p, Fig. 111., leads directly to s", t", the resting
contact of anchor c; a third wire f leads from the handle of the anchor c
to anchor b, and as soon as anchor b is attracted this wire also is con-

page_text: nected with the magnet M through anchor b. Besides this first local
battery, a second one is placed near the distributor. Its negative pole is
likewise connected with the earth, the positive pole with a second printing
instrument, if a second despatch is to be sent to the same station, or with a
relay if the second despatch is to be sent to a more distant station. In the
first case the second battery must be strong enough to work the printing
instrument, in the other case the strength for working a relay is sufficient.
From the second printing instrument or from the relay the second end of tho
wire is conducted to anchor b, as is shown in h' in Fig. III. The effect of
the new instrument will now be understood perfectly well.
The positive current of the first local battery has two ways to the earth; the
first through the printing instrument and anchor a, when in contact with M,
and the second by the wire p (Fig. III.), leading from the positive pole of the
battery to s, t, which will be a conductor to the earth as soon as anchor b is
in connection with the earth. The first way offers to the current the resistance
of the coils of the printing instrument, the second way has no such resistance;
therefore it is evident, that both ways being open to the current, it will take
that way where the resistance is the lesser one. Now, if key No. 1 is set to
work, a weak current only will pass through the coil E, and therefore the
magnet M attracts only anchor a, which when in contact with the magnet,
while the magnet has a connection with the earth, will complete the circuit of
the first local battery, and thus Morse's printing instrument which is in con-
nection with that battery will be set to work; but if the first key remains
inactive, and the second alone is set to work, a more powerful current will
make the electro-magnet attract both the anchors a and b at the same moment.
In this case, however, the current of the first local battery will not pass
through the printing instrument, but will take the way where the resistance is
the lesser one, viz, from the positive pole to the resting contact of anchor c,
and from the handle of anchor c, through the thin wire f (Fig. III.) to
anchor b, and from there to the electro-magnet, through which the current will
pass to the earth. At the same time, however, anchor itself, being brought
in contact with the electro-magnet, completes the second local battery, which
then will set to work the second printing instrument, or will by relay complete
another battery of the same station, which will send the current through the
line wire to a printing instrument with relay of another station. In this way
the stronger current acts only upon that apparatus which is to receive the
second despatch.
At such moments lastly, when the first and the second key are set to work
simultaneously, they act upon both printing instruments, because then the

page_text: three anchors a, b, and c are attracted, and as anchor c is compelled to leave its
resting contact, the way by sl, tl, to c, and from there to f, and through b and
M to the earth, where the current of the first local battery met with the least
resistance, is interrupted. The current, therefore, must pass through the first
printing instrument in the same manner as if anchor a alone was attracted;
but as anchor 6 is attracted likewise, both printing instruments are set to work
by both keys. But because, as we have shown, in all possible cases each of
the keys sets to work its proper printing instrument exclusively, the problem
of sending two despatches by means of one line wine at the same time
is solved.
II. THE DESPATCH DISTRIBUTOR FOR THREE SIMULTANEOUS MESSAGES.
For the purpose of sending three despatches simultaneously by one line wire,
three batteries are required, placed ou one station or on three different stations;
their power must so vary that the one is equal to 1, the other to 2, and the
third to 4. The weakest battery we will call the first, the next in strength
the second, and the most powerful the third, and in the same manner we
will denominate the different keys. The connection of the keys with the
batteries and with the line wire is the same as has been shown for two simul-
taneous despatches; Fig. II., Sheet A, will suffice to make it understood.
As each key sends the current of its battery to the line wire, and as two or all
three batteries when put into action unite their currents, it is clear that by
combinations of the currents seven different degrees of power are produced.
The first key being set to work sends to the line wire a current equal to 1;
the second alone, a current equal to 2; the first and the second working
together, a current equal to 3; the third alone, a current equal to 4; the first
and the third working together, a current equal to 5; the second and third,
a current equal to 6; and finally, the first, the second, and the third working
together, a current equal to 7. The line wire enters the instrument which we
call "despatch distributor," and which for three despatches has the following
construction: In a wooden frame (Fig. V., VI., Sheet A,) H, H', two coils
A and B are placed near to each other, each having a small centre piece of
iron, which is to be electro-magnetized. The wire of the coils are connected
in the following manner :-One end of the wire of the coil A is connected with
the line wire by the cramp screw a, and its other end is by the wire a in
communication with the one end of the coil B; the other end of this coil B
reaches the electro-maguet in s. By a metal picce m, m³, the electro-magnet
of the coil B is in connection with that of coil A, and from this metal plate a
conductor is n.ade to the earth in m³. Opposite coil A, four anchors a, b, c, d, are

page_text: placed; opposite coil B, three anchors e, f, g, like those in the despatch distributor
for two despatches. The springs supporting the seven anchors a, b, c, d, e, f, g,
are all varied in strength, so that the seven currents of different power which
can be produced by the three keys act differently on the anchors too. If the
power of the current is equal to 1, only anchor a will be attracted; if the power
of the current is equal to 2, anchors a and b will be attracted by the electro-
magnet; by a current 3, also, c is attracted; by a current equal to 4, a, b, c, d ;
by a current equal to 5, a, b, c, d, e; by a current equal to 6, a, b, c, d, e.f; by a
current equal to 7, a, b, c, d, e, f,g. At the same time anchor a is placed at
the greatest distance from the electro-magnet, while b, c, d, etc. are placed
nearer and nearer to it; for this reason, that when different anchors are to bo
attracted this will be effected in due time.
Near the distributor three relays are placed, each of them with a local
battery. The negative pole of each local battery is in communication with
the earth, the positive poles lead to relays. According to the succession in
which such relays are to be worked in connection with the three keys, we
call them the first, the second, and the third relay; and in the same manner
the three local batteries belonging to these relays, the first, the second, and
the third. As to the action of the relays, however, in sending three simul-
taneous despatches, seven different cases must be considered.
The first relay is to work in four cases :-
1. When the first key is working alone;
2. When it is working with the second;
3. When is working with the third; and
;
4. When it is working with the second and the third.
The same relay must remain inactive in three cases :-
1. When the second key works alone;
2. When the third key works alone; and
3. When the second and the third key are working at the same time.
Each of these seven cases is provided for in the distributor with an anchor.
The object of those anchors is as follows:-
If anchor a alone comes in contact with the electro-magnet it is to complete
the first local battery.
If anchor also is brought in contact it is to complete the second local
battery, but at the same time it must act upon the first local battery, so that
no current can pass through the first relay, which then must remain inactive.
If anchor c is attracted, that is produced by the working not only of the
second but also of the first key, therefore c must re-tore the current in the
first relay.

page_text: ...Anchor d being attracted, must interrupt the current not only in the first
but also in the second relay, and must set to work only the third relay.
Anchor e must again restore the current in the first, relay, notwithstanding
the lasting interruption by means of anchor d.
Anchor must interrupt the current in the first relay, and restore that of
the second.
Anchor g must likewise restore the current in the first relay.
From all this follows that the object of the conductors of the local batteries
is threefold: now they are to complete the circuits, then to break, and then to
restore them. How that is effected will best be seen by looking at the
Drawings in Fig. VII., Sheet A, where to make the matter clearer we have
deviated from reality, so far as to place the seven anchors side by side in front
of an electro-magnet, and where we have only marked the way of the currents
from the first battery and its relay to the anchors.
!
Fig. VII. shows the first battery and the first relay. m and m', cramp screws.
of the distributor; and the essential parts of the distributor itself, viz', the
electro-magnet M, the seven anchors a, b, c, d, e, f, g; and the resting contacts
s, t, s, t, s, t, of the anchors c, d, g; the resting contacts of the other anchors
need not yet be considered. Anchor d and fare of a peculiar mechanism. On:
the point where anchor & touches its resting contact it has a small cap of
gutta percha covered with a plate of brass, which when the anchor is at rest is:
in contact with s¹, t. As soon as anchor d is attracted, the conducting brass.
cap is separated from s', t'; from that cap, however, a thin wire, leads to
anchor a.
Anchor has two similar caps, not on its upper surface, but on the
opposite side, where when. attracted it touches the electro-magnet; therefore,
anchor itself does not come in contact with m, but only its insulated brass
plate does.. and from this plate a.conducting thin wire leads to anchor J.;
Anchor b and c are connected also by a thin wire, and all these fine wires are
arranged in such a manner that they do not trouble the play of the anchors.
From the screw m, placed upon the frame of the distributor, one conducting,
wire passes to s, t, the resting contact of anchor d, and from there directly to
anchor e.
From the second screw m¹ a wire is conducted to s, t, the resting:
contact of anchor c, and to 8", t", the resting contact of anchor 9. Both screws:
are connected with the positive pole of the battery m by a wire, which passes;
through the relay and m¹ by a wire going directly to the positive pole. The
negative pole of the battery, as well as the electro-magnet, are in connection
with the earth.
Now, we are enabled to judge of the effects of these arrangements in tho,

page_text: 1 Case. If anchor à alone is attracted, and brought also in contact with
the electro-maguet; it completes a circuit, the current of which passes from the
positive pole of the battery through the relay and the screw.m to the resting
contact of the anchor d, from thero to the brass cap of this anchor, and further
on by the thin wire to anchor a, which is connected with the electro-magnet,
and therefore conducts the current to the earth, consequently the first relay
will be set to work.
2 Case. If anchor b and a are attracted at the same time, the relay remains
inactive, because the current takes that away where it meets with the least
resistance, viz, from the positive pole to the screw m', from there.to the resting
contact of anchor c, and from there to anchor b, which by the electro-magnet
is connected with the earth; the relay then will not work.
3 Case. If anchor c is also attracted, the relay will be set to work again,
for at the same moment where c leaves its resting contact the way is inter-
rupted which offered the least resistance to the current, and the current
therefore will take the same way as in the first case, viz, through the relay.
4 Case. If anchor d is attracted, the circuit of the first battery is broken,
because the brass cap of anchor d is removed from the resting contact s¹, t! ;
the first relay remains inactive.
5 Case. But as soon as anchor e is also attracted, a current passes again
through the relay from m toe, and from there to the earth, and therefore the
relay is set to work.
.
6 Case. If anchor fis attracted, a way of less resistance is again opened to
the current, viz, from the positive pole to m', from there to 's", t", the resting
contact of g, and from 9 through the thin wire to the brass cap of anchor f,
which by the electro-magnet is put into contact with the earth; no current
therefore passes through the relay, which also must remain inactive.
7 Case. If, lastly, anchor gis also attracted, then by its separation from the
resting contact s, t, the easiest way for the current is interrupted, and the
current passes through the relay, and by means of m and anchor e to the earth.
From this statement it is clearly to be seen that the first relay works in the
first, third, fifth, and seventh case, while it does not work in the second, fourth,
and sixth; that is to say, the relay does work if the first key is set to work,
either alone, or with the second, or. with the third, or, finally, with both the
second and the third; but the relay remains inactive if the second or the third
key are set to work, as well separately as in common..
We may now go on to consider the conductors of the second.local battery,.
which is to work for the second relay. . Fig. VIII., Sheet A, represents the
ways of these conductors, but without taking notice of any detail which is: not

page_text: strictly connected with the actual question. Opposite the electro-magnet aro
the seven anchors a-g; of the resting contacts only that of anchor f is of
any effect upon the second battery. In the second battery, the negative pole of
which is connected with the earth, as well as the electro-magnet itself, two
conducting wires start from the positive pole; the one passes through the
second relay directly, to anchor b; it has, therefore, to overcome the resistance
of the relay. The second conductor meets with less resistance as it passes
through the screw m" to s, t, the resting contact of anchor f.; this anchor is,
connected with the anchor d by a thin wire. The effect of these two
conducting wires is easily to be understood in all the seven cases.
1 Casc. If anchor a alone is attracted, the second relay does not work.
2 Case. If anchor a and b, are attracted, a circuit is completed by anchor b.
the current of which passes through the second relay to b; the relay, therefore,
will be set to work.
:
:
3 Case. If anchors a, b, and c are attracted, the anchor c has no influence,
upon anchor b; the second relay therefore continues to work.
4 Case. If the anchors a, b, c, d, are attracted, the anchor d opens to the
current a way of little resistance, and the current passes from the positive polo,
to s, t, from f to the thin wire to d, and from d through the electro-magnet to
the earth; the second relay will cease to work.
.
5 Case. If the anchors a, b, c, d, and e are attracted, anchore has no effect,
upon the second relay; this then must remain inactive.
.
6 Case. If anchor a, b, c, d, e, and f are attracted, the easy way of the
current is interrupted by the separation of anchor f from its resting contact,,
and the current therefore goes through the relay to b, which by the electro-
magnet is connected with the earth; the relay works again.
.7 Case. If anchor a, b, c, d, e, f, and g are attracted, the case does still
remain the same. The contact of anchor g with the electro-magnet has 110,
effect upon the second relay, therefore it will continue to work.
It is proved, then, that the second relay is active in the second, third, sixth,.
and seventh case; that is to say, it does not work if the second key works
either alone, or together with the first, or with the third, or with both the first
and the third, but the relay does not work if the first or the third key are set to
work, as well separately as in common: The second relay then is active in all
those four cases where the second key is active, and it does not work in the
other three cases where this same key does not work. The conducting of
the currents for the third relay is very simple, and may be seen in Fig. IX.,
Sheet A. The negative pole of the third battery is connected with the earth,
the positive pole with the third relay; from there the conductor leads to

page_text: anchor d. If anchor a is attracted alone, or with b, or with b and c, the
third relay does not work; but if anchor d also is attracted, the circuit is
completed by it's contact with the electro-magnet; and the relay will be set to
work. The same effect takes place if anchor d is attracted together with
anchor e, with e and f, and with e, f, g. The three cases, however, where the
third relay does not work, are corresponding to the three cases where the first
and the second key are set to work either alone or in common; but the four
cases where the relay is active, correspond to the four cases where the third
key is working either alone, or with the first, or with the second, or with the
first and the second together. The wires conducting from the local batteries,
which we have represented as being separated, are not separated in the appa-
ratus itself; they do not disturb each other if the local batteries and the
resistances of the relays are of equal strength.
In Fig. X., Sheet A, the conducting wires are all shown together, and in
order to make the survey still clearer, the wires conducting from the first
battery and the first relay are painted in black, the conductors from the second
in red, and those from the third in yellow, while the conductors leading to the
earth from the three negative poles and from the electro-magnet are not
exhibited at all.-
III. When it is required to send off two dispatches from (one station to
only one other station, say, from A to B or from B to A, we make use of a
somewhat modified arrangement of the keys, of the way the current is to take,
and of the dispatch distributor. This arrangement is peculiarly adapted to the
wants of submarine telegraph lines, where it is of importance to be able to
send off communications promiscuously by the negative as well as the as the
positive pole. The keys employed in such a case are shewn in Fig I. and 11.,
Sheet B; of the accompanying Drawings. A is the body of the key, made of
metal, and containing an insulating piece C; the prolongation D of the key is
of metal again. At B and D contact screws are placed, resting on the metallic
pieces e and f. The pin of the knob k is moveable in the body of the key.
It is retained in the position shown in the Drawing by a delicate spring o, so
that its point cannot touch the spring h while the instrument is at rest. The
key, Fig: I., Sheet B, differs from the key, Fig. II., Sheet B, in the following
particulars-In Fig. I, i is an insulating piece of ivory, provided at its lower
extremity with a metallic point. While at rest this point is in contact with h,
but when the knob k is pressed down, the point of i will be removed from h,
and the latter will come in contact with the body of the key. In the key,
Fig. II., on the contrary, i is an insulating piece of ivory, not provided with a
metallic contact point; but the pin of the knob k touches an insulated spring 1,

page_text: which when the knob k is pressed down will come in contact with another
spring m fixed in the bed of the key. The connection of both keys with the.
batteries, with the line or service wire, and with the earth, is effected in the
following manner, see Fig. III. At the station there are the two keys, and
also two batteries, k, l,, the small, and g, r, the great one, the latter consisting
of double as many elements as the former. The positive poles of both
batteries are connected and led to h of the upper or first key. This while at
rest is in contact with i, and from i a fixed conducting wire leads to h of the
lower or second key. The negative pole of k, l, leads to a fixed wire con-
necting the resting blocks e and e. The negative pole of g, r, leads to l, and
when the knob of the second key is pressed it leads to m, which is in constant
connection with the earth E.
It follows, from these connections, that when the knob of the first key is
pressed, a positive current from k, l, will go into the line wire L, whilst a
negative current will pass by e and B of the second key to the earth E. When
the knob of the second key alone is pressed, the negative current from k, l,
passes through the resting block e of the first key into the line wire, whilst the.
positive current proceeds through h, i, of the first key to h of the second key,
and from there through the pin of the knob into the body of the key, and to
the earth E. When both knobs are pressed, the negative pole of k, l, is
insulated, and the negative pole of g, r, leads through l, m, to the earth, whilst
the positive current of this battery will pass through h of the first key, and
through the pin of the knob, and through the body of the
line wire.
key into the
We shall now proceed to explain the purpose of the insulated contacts D, f,
of both keys by means of Fig. IV., Sheet B, representing two end stations,.
from each of which two dispatches may be sent off, the same arrangement
allowing of a counter communication in both directions, and being new in
principle. In Fig. IV., A, B, and C, three relays, peculiarly connected, form
the dispatch distributor of station A; and A', B', and C' form the dispatch
distributors of station B. When the work of the stations is done, not with
common relays, but by relays, magnetically inducted, the purport of this
arrangement will appear from the action of the apparatus shewn in the
Drawing. We can employ for this purpose as well real magnets as anchors,
and have also invented means, without using external double coils, but by local
batteries, to magnetise the cores of the relays, in order to make them sensitive
or insensitive to the current in the line wire, as this current may be a positive
or a negative one. Such relays without external coils we get inducted by
means of local currents, in whose circuits we put some resistance, which being:

page_text: stronger than the resistance of the relay itself, does not allow the current of
the line to pass through the local batteries. The apparatus itself consisting
of three relays, as shown in Fig. IV., Sheet B, is arranged in the following
peculiar manner -The line wire proceeds from the key' in s to the coils of the
relay A, from thence through B and C towards the distant station B. But
besides these windings each relay is provided with an external coil, marked red
in the Drawing, and through these external coils currents are made to pass,
which proceed from the batteries called "assisting batteries." The assisting
battery A constantly sends a negative current into the relay C, but it is con-
nected with tlie key s and its contacts D, f, in such a manner, that whenever
the key is pressed the assisting stream will be interrupted. Battery 6 sends a
positive current through relay B, but its assisting. current is also interrupted
whenever the lower key s' is pressed, and D' is removed from f. Battery.c is
closed at the tiine when the anchor of the relay B touches the lower contact
point, as shown by the blue lines. The current of the battery passes through
the external coil of the relay A as often as the anchor of the relay B is
attracted. Station B presents the same arrangement for the line wire, the
keys, the relays, and the assisting batteries, only with this difference, that the
poles of the batteries, and consequently their respective currents, are reversed..
At both stations the distributor relays are put in connection with Morse's
printing apparatus in the following manner-Of the relays C of both stations.
each is provided with its own printing apparatus and local battery; the
relays A and B, on the contrary, have a common printing apparatus, and the
same is the case with the relays A' and B'. These connections are shewn in
Fig. 5 so as they aro at both stations. They are not shown in Fig. IV. in
order not to crowd the Figure.
.
The closing.is
In Fig. V., A, B, and C. are the relays, whose secondary coils are not
shown; M and M' are the printing apparatus; and L, B, and L', B', the:
local batteries appertaining to them. These batteries are always closed,
whilst the keys with which they are connected are at rest.
effected by the coils of the pointers, and at the same time in a shorter way by
the anchors h of the relays, and the resting contacts n, which are connected.
by conducting wires with the poles of the batteries.. As long as the anchor h.
is in contact with n, therefore, no current can pass through the wires of the
printer; but when the anchor is attracted, a current from L, B, passes into
the printer by means of the short closing being interrupted..
We must now suppose the additional parts shown in Fig. V. to. be put in
their right place in Fig. IV, in order to explain how double communications
and reverse communications are made. But beforehand we must advert to:

page_text: another circumstance. The springs of the relays, retaining the anchors h at
the resting contacts n, are adjusted in such a manner, that in the relays C and
B of both stations neither the current of the line of itself nor the assisting
current of itself are able to effect the attraction of the anchor; only when
both currents are present, or when the current of the line attains double
strength, the attraction is effected. Retained by the adjustment of the springs,
the relays A of both stations do not act but by means of still stronger currents,
that is, when both keys of one station are pressed simultaneously. Now, when
keys alone is pressed, a positive current passes into the line wire; at the
same time D of this key is disconnected from f, and the assisting. battery of
the relay C, and the local battery of the relay A and B; are made ineffective.
Relay A of station A only coming into play by means of stronger currents,
and relay B being inducted by a negativo, current, and the assisting battery of
relay ceasing to act, it follows that the relays of station A must be
altogether silent. The current then proceeds to station B. Here it meets
in C' with a positive induction, by assisting battery a', and produces action,
whilst relays B' and A' remain silent, because the former is contrarily inducted,
and the spring of the anchor of the latter has too much tension; the key s,
therefore, only acts upon relay C₁ of the second station. When key s is
pressed, tho assisting battery is disconnected, and the negative current of the
line will act in none of the relays of station A, and at station B only in relay B¹;
which is negatively inducted. When keys s and s' are pressed simultaneously,
a strong positive current is sent through the line; at the same time both keys
of station A disconnect the local batteries of the two printers of station A,
which consequently cannot act. The current passes to station B, and there
acts in relay C'; and while relay B¹ is silent, being negatively inducted, relay A¹
will stand in its stead, and work the common printer. Station B having just
the same connection of the keys with the local batteries, the possibility of
sending double dispatches from station B to A is also evident.
The same apparatuses will allow of making communications in opposite
directions in the following manner:-When at station A the positive key s¹
speaks (or rather prints), the negative key g¹¹ of station B may speak at the
same time, and the dispatches of either will arrive correctly at their respective
places of destination; because when s¹ alone speaks, C of the first station must
be silent, as explained above, and C₁ in station B will speak. When s" at
station B speaks, C' in station B will be silent, and C will speak in station A.
But when s of station A, and s" of station B, are pressed at the same time,
it is true that both of them will disconnect their respective assisting batteries;
but the force of the current of the line will be doubled, because they work

page_text: with contrary currents, and consequently the relays C and C' of both stations
will speak.
Just the same is the case with relays B and B' of both stations. When s
of station A is pressed, B₁ of station B will speak; when s of station B is
pressed, relay B of station A must speak; and when both s' and s are pressed
at the same time, the current of the line is doubled in strength, and both
relays will come into action.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I
claim is,
First, the construction and application of an entirely new instrument, which
I call a "dispatch distributor," which instrument has been described herein-
before with reference to Figs. III., V., and VI. of Sheet A, and Figs. IV.
and V. of Sheet B, as to its construction and use for two and three dispatches,
and which will, by a multiplication of the arrangement described with respec
to three dispatches, be applicable as well for any larger number of dispatches.
Second, the construction of a key or keys, as described in reference to
Fig. I., Sheet A, and Figures I. and II., Sheet B, and the manner of con-
necting such keys with galvanic batteries.
Third, the manner herein-before described in reference to Figs. III., V.,
VII, VIII, IX., and X., Sheet A, and Fig. 1V. and V., Sheet B, of con-
necting local and assisting batteries to the new instrument called "dispatch
distributor."
. In witness whereof, I, the said Franz Duncker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
FRANZ DUNCKER. (LS.)