IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BY SEMAPHORE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Farquhar Larkins of 104 Harley St in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BY SEMAPHORE"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Farquhar Larkins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th September 1883.
«
WALTER FARQUHAR LARKINS of 104 Harley St, in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman, IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BY SEMAPHORE"
The objects of this Invention are to enable "Semaphore" Signals to be hoisted, or
put up, or shown, hereinafter termed "hoisted" in a minimum Number of Hoists of
the Arms of the Semaphore in conjunction (when necessary) with Discs or other
Symbols of any shape so that by these or any other equivalent means the whole
of the Flags (or their representative Letters) constituting any Signal of the
"International Code of Signals" to be used at Sea, (or other like Čode) can be
shewn in one Hoist.
By the existing System of Signalling by Semaphore as applied to the
International Code Three Arms are employed. They are placed one above the
other on a Mast or post & each Arm is made to represent according to its position,
one of the Symbols used for "Distant" Signalling. For instance if an Arm
projects from the Mast or Post, upwards at an Angle of 45° it represents a Square
Flag if it projects in a straight line horizontally it represents a Ball-and if it
projects downwards at an angle of 45° it represents a pennant. The Semaphore
Armis thus take the place of, and are more readily & effectively worked, than the
Symbols they are, according to their positions, intended to represent
It will be seen that the existing Semaphore System in doing away with the use
of Flags does not in any way interfere with the present Signal Code, and I wish to
.
011

page_text: draw especial attention to the fact that neither does my improved method interfero
with that actually in use. But it is designed largely to increase its utility by
extending its capacity so as to admit of all the Signals of the International Code
being made separately in One Hoist very rapidly & with great facility.
For example, by the present Semaphoric method a Code Signal composed of Two
Letters only must be made in Two separate Hoists of all, Three Arms of the
Semaphore together, whereas by my improved mode I am able to shew in One Hoist
any Code Signal whether composed of 2-3-or 4 Flags.
The description of my Invention consists of two parts which together describe a
Complete System.
The First part relates to the Arms, Discs, & other Auxiliary Signs which I use
for indicating the Letters (or Flags which they represent) forming the Codo
Signals.
The Second part relates to the various means which I employ for making the
Hoists necessary for indicating the Signals intended to be made.
As is well known in the "International Code of Signals" Eighteen Code Flags
are employed These Flags are called by the Letters of the Alphabet from B. to W.
omitting the vowels and they are arranged in all Signal Books in Three Columns
of Six Letters (or Flags) in each Column, and Six Lines containing Threo Lotters
(or Flags) in each Line, thus:
Now, under the present Semaphoric System, in order to represent by Signal any
One of the above Letters it requires a Hoist of all the Three Arms of the
Semaphore together, and inasmuch as no Code Signal is composed of less than
Two Flags and may be composed of Four Flags it is obviously impossible to
make any One Signal Complete in One Hoist.
By my Invention I take Masts or posts made of Wood or Metal, or other
suitable material and of any height or shape that may be convenient and on theso
-oither in the outside or by preferenco in suitable grooves or openings (such for
example as are made for Railway Signal Arms)-I put Arms of any convenient
length or shape and made of Wood or Metal or other suitable material: Always
bearing in mind that the size and Shape of the Arms must be arranged so that
they shall be as easily distinguishable at a distance as possible
I fix the Arms either directly to the Mast or post, or they may be fitted in a
separate Case or Frainework, and be hoisted on a Mast, post, or Tree, or on any
suitable height
With reference to the Three Columns of Lotters in the above Table, I place
Three Arms which I project, or exhibit, or hoist on one side of the Mast or post
and each of these Three Arms represents according to its position one of the Three
Columns of the Table, or as it will be seen below it indicates the first second, or

page_text: third letter in one of the Six Lines of Letters, for instance either Arm hoisted or
shown at an Angle of 45° upwards signifies the First Column, (and Letter). If
shewn in a straight line horizontally it signifies the Second Column (and Letter);
and if shewn at an Angle of 45° downwards it signifies the Third Column (and
Letter); thus:
These Arms which I call Column or Letter Arms may be made of a Distinctive
Shape or by preference I may project from one side of the Mast or post, or
whatever the Arms are fastened to, a Ball or other Sign either above the Arms or
in some other suitable position, so as to make it perfectly clear which are the
Column or Letter Arms as distinguished from the Arms in the opposite side which
are used for another object
On the side of the Mast or post opposite to that in which the Column or Letter
Arms are fixed, and by preference immediately opposite to them I place Three other
Arms which may be of a Distinctive Shape and which I call the "Line" Arms.
Each of these Three "Line" Arms can of course be made to indicate by its
position (as hereinbefore described in dealing with the Column or Letter Arins)
either Upwards, or horizontally, or downwards the first, second or third Line of
Letters in the Table thus:
I therefore again refer to the Eighteen Letters in the Table and it is then evident
20 that by hoisting any Three "Columns" or "Letter" Arms and any Three "Line"

page_text: "
But it is clear that though any Three "Column," or 'Letter" Arms as already
described can deal with the whole of the 18 Lotters of the Table, the Three
"Lino" Arms, as above described, are capable only of dealing with the first Three
Lines .c. with Nine Letters only or one half of the Table.
In order to make the "Line Arms deal respectively with the Three Lower
Lines of Letters in the Table, I put up, or exhibit Three "Auxiliary" Arms, one
above or below (but by preference above) each of the Three "Line" Arms-but
shorter than the Line Arms-and if any distinctive shape such for example as a
"Diamond" or other shape and I call these "Auxiliary Line Arms "-and when
either of the Three Line Arms has to indicate the 4th 5th or 6th (being the threo
Lower) Lines of the Table I put up, or show or hoist the "Auxiliary Line Arm"
above referred to, which works in connection with the "Line" Arm itself
Thus a "Line Arm" hoisted together with its "Auxiliary" Arm indicates by its
position, the 4th the 5th or the 6th Line, (being the 3 Lower Lines) of Letters in the
Table whilst the "Column or Letter Arm" in the opposite side of the Mast or
post, at the same time indicates by its position which of the Three Letters in that
Lina is signalled thus:
.

page_text: Here the Line Arm (with its Auxiliary projected) points to the Line H. P. W.
being the sixth of the Table, and the Column and Letter Arm pointing in the
direction downwards indicates the Third Letter in that Line as the One Signalled-
which is W.
Of course instead of using Auxiliary Line Arms I may employ some Sign or
Symbol attached to, or in connection with each Line Arm, and cause such to be
shewn, or hoisted, when desired.
But so far as I have described my Invention it will be seen that the Three
Column Arms together with the Three " Line Arms" and their "Auxiliary" Arms,
will only enable me to make a Hoist of any Three Letters (or Flags) at one and the
same time out of the International or any other like Code of Signals, and whereas
there are a large number of Signals composed of 4 Letters in the International
Code I put a Fourth set of Arms precisely similar to the Three sets of Arms
already described in their construction and their working and by using them in a
precisely similar manner it is clear that I can show in One Hoist Complete any
Code Signal composed of Four Letters out of the Eighteen Letters in the Table
thna
In this way (by adding extra sets of Arms) additional Hoists may of course by
made but I am not aware that it is or will be necessary to provide for more than
Hoists of Four Flags together.
•
t
In stating that I put up or hoist any of the Arms at an Angle of 45° (or any
other specified Angle) I do not bind myself to this Angle but name the aforesaid
Angle as an indication.
ka
Of course instead of using One Mast or post or One frame to fix the sets of
Arms and Signs to, I can use Two or more Mästs posts or frames, or any other
suitable means that may be available.
A
It may become advisable or necessary, in addition to the before mentioned
Eighteen Letters of the International Code of Signals, to incorporate the
Vowels A, E, I, O, U, and Y. in which case it is possible and practicable to add a
fourth Column to the Three existing Columns for the purpose of introducing the

page_text: Six Vowels which could be placed either in their Alphabetical sequence by
rearranging the Table-or which would be far better by leaving the existing
Table intact and inserting the Vowels in a new Fourth Column; thus:
If this be done my Invention is specially applicable to any Alphabetical Codo as
the Four Column Arms the Four Letter Arms & the 4 Auxiliary Arms already
described will show at one time complete in One Hoist any Four of the Letters
contained in the Four Columns-that is to say-any Four out of the Twenty four
Letters in the Table
In any Complete Alphabetical Table the Letters X. and Z. would have to be
grouped with W.
Many modifications of the above plan may of course be made-for instance the
18 Letters of the Twenty four herein before described may bo hereafter arranged, if
found convenient, in any suitable number of Columns, and rows or Lines of Letters
other than that I have described and the "Column," Line," and Auxiliary Arms
mado to deal with any new Arrangement without in any way interfering with the
object of my Invention as hereinbefore described which is to provide the simplest
and most perfect means of making or putting up or hoisting any Signal of the
International Code, or any like Code, of Signals, Composed of Two, or Three, or
Four (or even more) Letters or Flags together, Complete in One Hoist.
So far as I have described my Invention I have only treated it as applicable for s
use in the day time. When however I wish to hoist Signals at night, I light up
the Mast, or post, or other thing to which the Arms are affixed, and also the Arms
themselves so that they can be seen at a distance and also so that an Observer
may be able to distinguish the line of the Mast, or post, or other Support, and the
Angle line which the Arms describe relatively to such Mast, or Support as they s
may be hoisted on.
To effect this I place a lamp of any convenient shape or size lighted by Oil or by
Electricity (when convenient the latter) or by any other suitable means, on each
Arm at its junction with its Mast or support and it moves with the Arm and in
such a way that it shows a strong Light along the Arms and shows the Angle that
the Arms describe relatively to the post or support it is fixed to-and when
convenient on each Arm I put prisms either along the centre, or on one edge, or on
both edges, or all of them, which reflects the light thrown on them by the Lamp
or otherwise, to an Observer on oither Side of the Arm or on One Side whichever
may be convenient so that the Code Signal may be transmitted at night and
may be scon if desired by Observers on both sides of the Signal Arms, and at a
distance.
The Lamp not only throws light along the Arms, but directly outwards from
the Mast or post, or support, to indicate the line of the Arm post or support
Tho Auxiliary Arms (which if desired I make about one-third the length of the
Line Arms) may be so lighted either by reflected Light or by prisms as
herein before described, or by Lamps placed in the Arms, and showing Light on
one or on both sides.
•

page_text: Of course there are very many ways by which the whole thing may be
lighted.
L
The Lamps may be fitted directly to the Arms and Supports in various ways on
one or on both sides, or reflective light may be used and under certain conditions
luminous paint
The second part of the description of my Invention relates to the means I
employ to work the "Arms and Signs," herein before described, and hereinafter
called "Arms."
I put them in a Mast or post or on a frame and by preference I hang them in a
Similar way to that in which Ordinary Semaphore Arms are fitted and pull them
or push them or hoist them by means of Cranks, rods, chains, ropes, wires, pulleys,
and levers, working in a similar way to that in which the present Semaphore
Arms are worked, or as Railway Signals are worked, and I actuate the levers in
the ordinary way.
.
A special feature of my Invention however consists in (where practicable and
convenient) actuating the levers, rods, ropes, wires, or chains, which work the
Arms by means of Magnets and I supply the Electric Current which works the
Magnets from the most convenient source
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Farquhar Larkins in the Patent Office on the 1st March
1884.
WALTER FARQUHAR LARKINS of 104 Harley Street, West in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING BY SEMAPHORE"
The objects of this Invention are to enable "Semaphore" Signals to be hoisted
or put up or shown hereinafter termed hoisted in a minimum number of hoists of
the arm of the Semaphore in conjunction (when necessary) with other symbols
of any shape so that by these or any other equivalent means the whole of the
Flags (or their requisite letters) constituting any signal of the International
Code of Signals to be used at Sea or elsewhere (or other like Code) can be shown in
one Hoist,
By the existing system of Signalling by Semaphore as applied to the Inter-
national code three arms are placed one above the other. on a Mast or Pole, each
arm is made to represent according to its position one of the Symbols used for
"Distant" Signalling. For instance the arm projects from the Mast or Post
upwards at an angle of 45° it then represents a square Flag, if it projects in a

page_text: straight line horizontally it represents a Ball and if it. projects downwards at an
angle of 45° it represents a pennant. The Semaphore arms thus take the place of
and are more readily and effectively worked than the Symbols they are according
to their positions intended to represent.
It will be seen that the existing Semaphore system in doing away with the use
of Flags does not in any way interfere with the present Signal Code and I wish
to draw especial attention to the fact that neither does my improved method.
interfere with that actually in use but it is designed largely to increase its utility
by extending its capacity so as to admit of all the Signals of the International Code
being mado separately in one Hoist very rapidly and with great facility.
For example by the present Semaphore method a.code signal composed of two
letters only must be made in two separate hoists of all Threo arms of the Semaphore
together whereas by my improved mode I am able to show in one hoist any Code
Signal whether composed of one two three or Four Flags
The first part of my Invention relates to the arms Discs and other auxiliary
Signs which I use for indicating the Letters (or Flags which they represent),
forming the Code Signals
The second part relates to the various means which I employ for making the
Hoists necessary for indicating the Signals intended to be made.
As is well known in the International Code of Signals eighteen code Flags are
employed. These flags are called by tho Letters of the Alphabet from B to W omitting
the vowels and they are arranged in all Signal Books in three columns of Six
letters (or Flags) in each column and six lines containing Three letters (or Flags)
in each line thus:-
Now under the prosent. semaphoric system in order to represent by Signal any
one of the above letters it requires a Hoist of all the three arms of the Semaphore
together and inasmuch as no Code Signal is composed of four flags it is obviously
impossible to make any one signal completo in one hoist. By my Invention I tako
Masts or Posts made of wood or metal or other suitablo material and of any height
or shape that may be convenient and on these either outside or in suitable grooves
or openings such as aro made for Railway signal arms and of any convenient length
or shape always: bearing in mind: that the size and shape of the arms must be
arranged so that they shall be easily distinguishable at a distance. If possible I
fix the arms either directly to the Mast or post or they may be fitted in a separate
case or framework or they can be hoisted on a mast post or tree or on any suitable.
height.
With reference to the Three columns of Letters in the above table I place three
arms which I project or exhibit or hoist:on one side of the mast or post and each.

page_text: .
of these, three arms represents according to its position of the three columns of the
table or as it will be seen below it indicates the first second or third letters in.one
of the six lines of letters for if either arm be hoisted or shown at an angle of 45°
upwards it signifies the first column and letter. If shewn in a straight line
5 horizontally it signifies the second column and letter. If shewn on a straight line
horizontally it signifies the second column and letter and if shewn at an angle of
45° downwards it signifies the Third column and letter.
These arms which I call column or Letter arms may be made of a distinctive.
.shape or by preference I may project from one side of the mast or post or whatever the
arms are fastened to a Ball or other sign either the arms or in some other suitable.
position so as to make it perfectly clear which are the column or Letter arms.
as distinguished from the Arms on the opposite side which are used for another
object..
•
On the sides of the mast or post opposite to that in which the Column or Letter
arms are fixed and by preference immediately opposite to them I place three other
arms which may be of a distinctive shape and which I call "Line arms,"
Each of these three "Line arms can of course be made to indicate by its position
(as herein described in dealing with the column or Letter arms) either upwards,
horizontally or downwards the first second or third line of Letters in the table.
thus:

page_text: But it is clear that though any Three column or Letter arms as already described
can deal with the whole of the 18 letters of the tables the Three Line Arms as
above described are capable only of dealing with the first three lines i̟,e with nine
letters only or one half of the table.
In order to make the line arms deal respectively with the Three lower lines of
letters in the table I put up or exhibit Three auxiliary arms one above or below
(but by preference above) each of the Three line arms but shorter than the line
arms and of any distinctive shape and I call theso "Auxiliary Line Arms
" and
when either of the three Line armis has to indicate the 4th 5th or 6th (being the
three lower) Lines of the table I put up or show or hoist the “Auxiliary" Line
arm above referred to which works in connection with the Lino arm itself.
Thus a line arm hoisted together with its auxiliary arm indicates by its
position the 4th the 5th or the 6th line (being the three lower lines) of letters whilst
the column or letter arm on the opposite side of the mast or post at the samo
time indicates by its position which of the Three letters in that line is signalled
thus.

page_text: Of course instead of using Auxiliary Line Arms I may employ some sign or
symbol attached to or in connection with each Line arm and cause such to be
shewn or hoisted when desired.
But so far as I have described my Invention it would be seen that the three
colum arms together with the Three Line Arms and their auxiliary arms will
only enable me to make a Hoist of any Three (or Flags) at one and the same time
out of the International or any other like Code of Signals and whereas there are a
large number of Signals composed of four letters in the International I put a
fourth set of Arms precisely similar to the Three sets of Arms already described
and by working and using them in a precisely similar manner it is clear that I can
show in one hoist complete any Code Signal composed of four letters out of the
eighteen letters in the table thus.
In this way by adding extra sets of arms additional hoists may of course be
made but I do not think it is necessary to provide for more than Hoists of four
Flags together.
In stating that I put up or Hoist any of the arms at an angle of 45° (or any
other specified angle) I do not bind myself to this angle but name the aforesaid
angle as an indicate one.
Of course instead of using one Mast or post or one frame to fix the sets of Arms
and signs to I can use two or more masts posts or frames or any other suitable
means that may be available.
It may become advisable or necessary in addition to the before mentioned
eighteen letters of the International Code of Signals to incorporate the vowels
A, E I, O, U and Y in which case it is possible and practicable to add a fourth
column to the three existing columns for the purpose of introducing the six vowels
which could be placed either in their alphabetical sequence by rearranging the
*

page_text: table or which would be far better by leaving the existing Table intact and
inserting the vowels in a new fourth column thus
If this is done my Invention is specially applicable to any Alphabetical Code as
the Four column arms the Four letter Arms.and the four Auxiliary Arms already
described will show at one time complete in one hoist any Four of the Letters
contained in the Four columns that is to say any four out of the twenty four
letters in the Table.
In any complete Alphabetical Table tho Letters X and Z would have to be
grouped with W.
Many modifications of the above plan may of course be made for instance the
1S letters of the Twenty four hereinbefore described may be hereafter arranged
if found convenient in any suitable number of columns and rows or lines of letters
other than that I have described and the column line and auxiliary arios mado
to deal with any now arrangement again a numeral code may be arranged very
simply thus
The operation of the arms is precisely the same as in the case of the International
Signals ie One arm indicates the "Line" the other the "column" whilst the ciphers
(as in the case of the vowels herein before referred to) are made with the line arm
only which does not in any way interfere with the object of my Invention as
herein before described which is to provido, the simplest and most perfect means
of making or putting up or hoisting any Signals of the International Code or any
other like Code of Signals composed of Two or Three or four (or even more) Letters
or flags together completo in one hoist.
So far as I have described my Invention I have only treated it as applicable for
use in the day time. When however I wish to hoist Signals at night I light up
the mast or post or other thing to which the arms are affixed and also the Arins
themselves so that they can be seen at a distance and also so that an observer may
be able to distinguish the line of the Mast or post or other support and the
angle line which the arms describe relatively to such Mast or support as they may
bo hoisted on,

page_text: To effect this I place a lamp of any convenient shape or size lighted by oil or
electricity (when convenient the latter) or by any other suitable means on each
arm at its junction into its mast or support and it moves with the arm in such
a way that it shows a strong light along the arms and shews the angle that the
arm describes relatively to the post or support it is fixed to and when convenient
I put prisms either along the centre or on one edge or both edges or all of them
which reflects the light thrown on them by the Lamp or otherwise to an observer
on either side whichever may be convenient so that the code signal may be
transmitted at night and may be seen if desired by observers on both side of the
signal arms and at a distance
The Lamp not only throws light along the Arms but directly outwards from
the Mast or post or support to indicate the line of the arm post or support.
The auxiliary arms (which if desired I make about one third the length of the
Line arms) may be so lighted either by reflected light or by prisms as herein-
before described or by Lamps placed in the Arms and showing light on one or
both sides.
Of course there are very many ways by which the whole thing may be lighted.
The Lamps may be fitted directly to the arms and supported in various ways
on one or both sides or reflective light may be used and under certain conditions
luminous paint.
The second part of the description of my Invention relates to the means
I employ to work the arms and signs hereinbefore described and hereinafter
called arms.
I put them in a Mast or post or on a frame and by preference I hang them in
a similar way to that in which ordinary semaphore arms are fitted and pull them
or push them or hoist them by means of cranks, rods, chains, ropes wires, pulleys
and levers working in a similar way to that in which the present Semaphore
arms are worked or as Railway Signals are worked and I actuate the levers in the
ordinary way.
A special feature of my Invention consists in (where practicable and convenient)
actuating the levers rods, ropes, wires or chains which work the Arms by means
of Magnets and I supply the Electric current from the most convenient source.
In witness whereof I the said Walter Farquhar Larkins have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty-seventh day of February in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-four.
TATED
TADI INC
TATED LADIZINIS (L.S.)
4