and other devices may be usedInstead of
Year: 1883

page_text: At
I, GEORGE FRED SHAVER of Erie, Pennsylvania United States of America
Engineer seek leave to amend the Specification of Letters Patent No 1079 of 1883,
as shewn in red ink in the Copy of the original Specification hereunto annexed;
such amendments being, referring to the Queen's Printers' Copy of the said
Specification At Page 3 Line 37 I omit "and other devices may be used."
Page 3 Lines 40 and 41 I omit from "Instead of " to "diaphragms."
At Page
Line 41 for "end" I substitute "ends." At Page 4 Line 2 after "crank" I insert
"of each." At Page 4 Line 4 for "arm" I substitute "arms." At Page 4 Lines 4
and 5 I omit from "The connected" to "means." At Page 4 Line 8 for "is" I
substitute "are" and for "wire" I substitute "wires." At Page 4 Line 45 I insert
at the end of the line the reference letter "D." At Page 5 Line 1 for "the means
stated or other suitable devices" I substitute "means of diaphragms." At Page 5
Lines 8 and 9 I omit "or other suitable devices." At Page 5 Lines 15 and 16 I
omit the seventh claiming clause. At Page 5 Line 17 for "Eighth " I substitute
" Seventh."
My reasons for making this amendment are as follows:-That I am the
Assignee of the said Letters Patent; There are several clerical errors and
inaccuracies in the original Specification which I desire to have corrected. There
are several expressions in the description and claims which might be objected to as
being of a character too general; I therefore wish to omit such expressions, so as
to limit the invention more precisely to that which is described..
The Seventh claiming clause might be objected to as being for a combination
that was not new at the date of the Patent; I therefore wish to excise this
clause.

page_text: n the matter of Letters Patent granted to Herbert John Allison on the
28th February 1883 N° 1079. and in the matter of an application made by
George Fred Shaver for leave to amend the Specification filed in pursuance of
the said Letters Patent.
I hereby grant leave to the said George Fred Shaver (the Assignee of the said 5
Letters Patent) to amend the said Specification in the manner proposed.
H. READER LACK,
Comptroller General.

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Allison, of 41 Southampton Buildings,"
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEPHONE APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED
FOR A CENTRAL OFFICE OR EXCHANGE SYSTEM Communicated to him from
abroad by George Fred Shaver, of Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Allison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1883.
"
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEPHONE
APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR A CENTRAL OFFICE OR EXCHANGE SYSTEM
a communication to me from abroad by George Fred Shaver, of Erie, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
This invention relates to a mechanical or acoustic telephone exchange and chiefly
consists: First. In the mode of and means for supporting, and maintaining the
tension of line wires. Second. In the mode of and means for connecting and
tightening line wires.. Third. In the manner of constructing and supporting the
telephone, and Fourth. In the construction and arrangement of other parts of the
central office apparatus.
The line wires are brought into the central office through diaphragms. The
diaphragms are located for convenience on the walls of the office. The portion of
the line wire outside the central office is secured at the distant end and when mada
taut is maintained in that condition by a washer rigidly fixed on the wire near to
the diaphragm through which the wire passes. These diaphragms may be made of
strong canvas or other suitable materials and other devices may be used to secure
the same object which is to enable the portion of the line wires within the central
office to be slackened without materially affecting the tension of the outside portion
of the same.
Instead of washers other devices may be employed to prevent the
line wires slipping through the diaphragms. The slack end of these wires are
secured for, convenience in slots formed in a ring. The line wires are made taut
when two are connected. These connections are made by means of short wires
supported in the loops of angle hangers. These hangers have a flexible back and
the loops are formed of cotton cord or other suitable material. The object of these
angle hangers is to automatically prevent the formation of any sharp angles in the
connected line wires. The angle hangers may be employed to avoid sharp angles in
the line wires outside the central office. These hangers when in use are more or
less bent according to the relative position of the two lines that are connected.
The bangers are connected to a windlass by means of cords. These windlasses are
employed to tighten the connected lines and the crank is retained in any desired
position by means of detaining pins which are pushed into holes. The windlasses
are provided with sleeves which are adjustable on arms.
The connected lines may
be tightened by other suitable means. The arms are supported on a centre post.
They are made to revolve and may be adjusted on the post. They are held in any
desired position by set screws or other convenient device.

page_text: The telephone has a diaphragm across which is placed a guy wire connected with
the rim which strengthens the diaphragm, and forms a support for the branching
wires hereinafter more particularly referred to. This telephone when located at
the central office is made to slide within a cylinder, the latter being provided with
slots into which pins fixed on the telephone. engage thereby retaining the same
in any desired position in said cylinder. This cylinder is rigidly fixed to a base
piece adapted to slide around circular rings or frames for the purpose of bringing
the telephone in position to be readily connected with any of the line wires as may
be desired. The branch wires are connected with the line wires at the inner side
of the diaphragms. These branch wires are for the central operator and when not
in use are secured in slots on one of the circular rings or frames. By connecting
one of these wires to the telephone the operator. can communicate with a person at
the other end of the line wire and with a person at either end of a connected line,
and thereby be notified of the termination of their communications over the
joined line. An automatic tension device is designed to provide for the expansion
and contraction of the line wires outside the central office caused by variation of
temperature. Levers are made of such shape as will adapt them to any desired
position. They are attached to posts or other suitable supports and the tension on
the line wires is regulated by a weight acting through said levers.
J:
The circular frame is supported on legs or in any other convenient manner and
steps may be placed within the frame for the convenience of the central operator.
The parts of the apparatus may be formed of any suitable material. The telephone
is adapted for use at the outside stations or on single lines as well as in central
offices.
are.
"When the central operator whose proper position is within the circular frame
desires to communicate with any given outside station, he first moves the telephone
into position to connect with the wire leading to said station. He then connects
the wire attached to the telephone to the slack branch wire connected with the
proper line wire. The branch wire is made taut by drawing the telephone towards
the central post through the cylinder and when the requisite tension is obtained the
telephone is sufficiently revolved to force the pins into the slots which keeps the
telephone in position. The central operator then signals to the person at the out-
side station by tapping on the rim of the telephone and the desired communications
made between the parties. When a person at an outside station wishes to
cómmunicate with the central operator he signals in the same manner, the signal
being heard at the diaphragm connected with that line wire. The central operator
connects his telephone to the proper line wire as above described and communica-
tions.commence between the parties. Should this person at the outside station
wish to communicate direct with a person at the outside station on another line
the central operator will then connect his telephone to such line by means of a
branch wire and signal the desired station. The signal being answered the central
operator then revolves one of the arms on the centre post around to a point
midway between the two wires to be connected to form a through line. The line
wires are then joined by the connecting wire and tightened by the windlass when
the line is ready for use by the parties located at the outside stations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Allison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th August 1883.
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent 4 IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEPHONE
APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR A CENTRAL OFFICE OR EXCHANGE SYSTEM," a
communication to me from abroad by George Fred Shaver, of Erie, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
This invention relates to a mechanical or acoustic telephone exchange and
chiefly consists: First. In the mode of and means for supporting, and maintaining
the tension of line wires. Second. In the mode of and means for connecting and
tightening line wires. Third. In the manner of constructing and supporting the
telephone, and Fourth. In the construction and arrangement of other parts of the
central office apparatus.
The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1
is a perspective view of the central office apparatus, showing the line wires
A, A', A³, A³, A*, connecting wires F, F, F, flexible angle hangers H, H¹, H','
movable windlasses S, S, S, supporting diaphragms D, D1, D2, D3, D', branch wires
B, B¹, B³, B³, B*, circular frame C, C¹, C³, movable cylinder N, revolving arms
M, M, M, M and centre post P; Figure 2 is a detached view showing diaphragm D,
branch line B and washer W secured to line wire A, A; Figure 3 is a detached
view showing windlass S secured to sleeve E with. set screw T detaining pin 8
made to fit into holes e; Figures 4 and 5 are views of telephone L and connected
parts; cylinder N with sliding base piece O having detaining pins and z made to
fit into slots n, circular frame C, C, C and short wire a connected to the telephone;
Figures 6 and 7 are views of telephone L showing the disposition of wires across
diaphragm K, extending to rim Ŕ and branching wires connected with wire x.
Figures 8 and 9 are views of modified forms of an automatic tension device,
showing posts P¹, the lever I, I¹ and weights a, a with short angle, hangers H*, H*
and a portion of line wire A.
The line wires are brought into the central office through the diaphragms
D, D, D3, D3, D as shown in Figure 1. The diaphragms are located for convenience
on the walls of the office. The portion of the line wire outside the central office
is secured at the distant end and when made taut is maintained in that condition
by a washer W rigidly fixed on the wire near to the diaphragm through which
the wire passes. These diaphragms may be made of strong canvass or other
suitable materials and other devices may be used to secure the same object which
is to enable the portion of the line wires within the central office to be slackened
without materially affecting the tension of the outside portion of the same.
Instead of washers W other devices may be employed to prevent the line-wires
slipping through the diaphragms. The slack ends of these wires are secured for
convenience in the slots h¹ of ring C. The line wires are made taut when two
are connected as shown in Figure 1. These connections are made by means of
short wires F, F1, F supported in the loops of the angle hangers H, H', H'. These
hangers have a flexible back and the loops are formed of cotton cord or other
suitable material. The object of these angle hangers is to automatically prevent
the formation of any sharp angles in the connected line wires. The angle hangers
may be employed to avoid sharp angles in the line wires outside the central office.

page_text: These hangers when in use are more or less bent according to the relative position
of the two lines that are connected. The hangers shown in Figure 1 are connected
to windlass S by means of cords. These windlasses are employed to tighten the
connected lines and the crank of each is retained in any desired position by means
of detaining pins 8, which are pushed into the holes e Figure 3. The windlasses are
provided with sleeves E which are adjustable on the arms M. The connected lines
may be tightened by other suitable means. The arms M are supported on the
centre post P. They are made to revolve and may be adjusted on the post. They
are held in any desired position by set screws T or other convenient device.
The telephone L has a diaphragm K across which is are placed guy wires p
connected with the rim R which strengthens the diaphragm and forms a support for
the branching wires k. This telephone when located at the central office is made to
slide within cylinder N the latter being provided with slots n, n, into which slots
the pins 7, z, fixed on the telephone engage, thereby retaining the same in any
desired position in said cylinder N. This cylinder is rigidly fixed to a base piece O
adapted to slide around the circular rings or frames C, C for the purpose of
bringing the telephone in position to be readily connected with any of the line
wires as may be desired. The branch wires are connected with the line wires at
the inner side of the diaphragms. These branch wires are for the central operator
and when not in use are secured in the slots h on ring C. By connecting one of
these wires to the telephone the operator can communicate with a person at the
other end of the line wire and with a person at either end of a connected line,
and thereby be notified of the termination of their communications over the
joined line.
The automatic tension device, Figures 8 and 9, is designed to provide for the
expansion and contraction of the line wires outside the central office caused by
variation of temperature. The levers I, I', are made of the shape shown or of
such shape as will adapt them to any desired position. They are attached to
posts P or other suitable supports and the tension on the line wires is regulated
by the weight a, a, acting through said levers.
The circular frame C, C, C is supported on legs as shown in Figure 1 or in any
other convenient manner and steps may be placed within the frame for the
convenience of the central operator. The parts of the apparatus may be formed of
any suitable material. The telephone L is adapted for use at the outside stations
or on single lines as well as in central offices.
When the central operator whose proper position is within the circular frame
C, C, C desires to communicate with any given outside station, he first moves
telephone L into position to connect with the wire leading to. said station. He
then connects the wire x attached to the telephone to the slack branch wire
connected with the proper line wire.. The branch wire is made taut by drawing
the telephone towards the central post P through the cylinder N and when the
requisite tension is obtained the telephone is sufficiently revolved to force the
pins l, z, into slots n, n, which keeps the telephone in position. The central
operator then signals to the person at the outside station by tapping on the rim R
of the telephone and the desired communications are made between the parties.
When a person at an outside station wishes to communicate with the central
operator he signals in the same manner, the signal being heard at the diaphragm D
connected with that line wire. The central operator connects his telephone to the
proper line wire as above and communications commence between the parties.
Should this person at the outside station wish to communicate direct with a person
at the outside station on another line the central operator will then connect his
telephone to such line by means of a branch wire and signal the desired station:
The signal being answered the central operator then revolves an arm M around to
a point midway between the two wires to be connected to form a through line:
The line wires are then joined by the connecting wire and tightened by the
windlass S when the line is ready for use by the parties located at the outside
stations.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner in which
the same is to be carried into effect, what I claim is: First. The aforesaid mode of
supporting line wires by the means stated or other suitable devices, means of
diaphragms so that one portion of the wire may be slack while the tension of.
the other portion is preserved.
Second. The aforesaid mode of regulating the tension of line wires by means of
an automatic device.
Third. The aforesaid mode of connecting and tightening connected wires by the
means set forth.
Fourth. The aforesaid mode of supporting a telephone by means stated or
other-suitable devices so that the same may be moved around to connect with any
of the line wires.
Fifth. The movable cylinder N carrying the telephone L constructed substantially
as set forth.
Sixth. The circular frame or rings C, C₁' for the purpose and constructed
substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination-of-branch-wires within the central office with the
line-wires for the purpose set forth.
Seventh Eighth. The combination in a telephone of the guy wires p, diaphragm Ķ
and branching wires k substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Allison have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
HERREDT I ALLISON
HDT I ALLISON

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Allison, of 41 Southampton Buildings,
"
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEPHONE APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED
FOR A CENTRAL OFFICE OR EXCHANGE SYSTEM "
Communicated to him from
abroad by George Fred Shaver, of Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Allison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1883.
"
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEPHONE
APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR A CENTRAL OFFICE OR EXCHANGE SYSTEM"
a communication to me from abroad by George Fred Shaver, of Erie, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
This invention relates to a mechanical or acoustic telephone exchange and chiefly.
consists: First. In the mode of and means for supporting, and maintaining the
tension of line wires. Second. In the mode of and means for connecting and
tightening line wires. Third. In the manner of constructing and supporting the
telephone, and Fourth. In the construction and arrangement of other parts of the
central office apparatus.
The.
The portion of
The line wires are brought into the central office through diaphragms.
diaphragms are located for convenience on the walls of the office.
the line wire outside the central office is secured at the distant end and when made
taut is maintained in that condition by a washer rigidly fixed on the wire near to
the diaphragm through which the wire passes. These diaphragms may be made of
strong canvas or other suitable materials and other devices may be used to secure.
the same object which is to enable the portion of the line wires within the central
office to be slackened without materially affecting the tension of the outside portion
of the same. Instead of washers other devices may be employed to prevent the
line wires slipping, through the diaphragms. The slack end of, these wires are
secured for convenience in slots formed in a ring. The line wires are made taut,
when two are connected. These connections are made by means of short wires
supported in the loops of angle hangers. These hangers have a flexible back and
the loops are formed of cotton cord or other suitable material. The object of these
angle hangers is to automatically prevent the formation of any sharp angles in the
11

page_text: connected line wires. The angle hangers may be employed to avoid sharp angles in
'the line wires outside the central office. These hangers when in use are more or
less bent according to the relative position of the two lines that are connected.
The bangers are connected to a windlass by means of cords. These windlasses are
employed to tighten the connected lines and the crank is retained in any desired
position by means of detaining pins which are pushed into holes. The windlasses
are provided with sleeves which are adjustable on arms.
The connected lines may
be tightened by other suitable means. The arms are supported on a centre post.
They are made to revolve and may be adjusted on the post. They are held in any
desired position by set screws or other convenient device.
The telephone has a diaphragm across which is placed a guy wire connected with
the rim which strengthens the diaphragm, and forms a support for the branching
wires hereinafter more particularly referred to. This telephone when located at
the central office is made to slide within a cylinder, the latter being provided with
slots into which pins fixed on the telephone engage thereby retaining the same
in any desired position in said cylinder. This cylinder is rigidly fixed to a base
piece adapted to slide around circular rings or frames for the purpose of bringing
the telephone in position to be readily. connected with any of the line wires as may
be desired. The branch wires are connected with the line wires at the inner side
of the diaphragms. These branch wires are for the central operator and when not
in use are secured in slots on one of the circular rings or frames. By connecting
one of these wires to the telephone the operator can communicate with a person at
the other end of the line wire and with a person at either end of a connected line,
and thereby be notified of the termination of their communications over the
joined line. An automatic tension device is designed to provide for the expansion
and contraction of the line wires outside the central office caused by variation of
temperature. Levers are made of such shape as will adapt them to any desired
position. They are attached to posts or other suitable supports and the tension on
the line wires is regulated by a weight acting through said levers.
The circular frame is supported on legs or in any other convenient manner and
steps may be placed within the frame for the convenience of the central operator.
The parts of the apparatus may be formed of any suitable material. . The telephone
is adapted for use at the outside stations or on single lines as well as in central
offices.
When the central operator whose proper position is within the circular frame.
desires to communicate with any given outside station, he first moves the telephone
into position to connect with the wire leading to said station. He then connects
the wire attached to the telephone to the slack branch wire connected with the
proper line wire. The branch wire is made taut by drawing the telephone towards
the central post through the cylinder and when the requisite tension is obtained the
telephone is sufficiently revolved to force the pins into the slots which keeps the
telephone in position. The central operator then signals to the person at the out-
side station by tapping on the rim of the telephone and the desired communications
are made between the parties. When a person at an outside station wishes to
communicate with the central operator he signals in the same manner, the signal
being heard at the diaphragm connected with that line wire. The central operator
connects his telephone to the proper line wire as above described and communica-
tions commence between the parties. Should this person at the outside station
wish to communicate direct with a person at the outside station on another line
the central operator will then connect his telephone to such line by means of a
branch wire and signal the desired station. The signal being answered the central
operator then revolves one of the arms on the centre post around to a point
midway between the two wires to be connected to form a through line.
The line
wires are then joined by the connecting wire and tightened by the windlass when
the line is ready for use by the parties located at the outside stations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Allison in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the
18th August 1883.
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEPHONE
APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR A CENTRAL OFFICE OR EXCHANGE SYSTEM," a
communication to me from abroad by George Fred Shaver, of Erie, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
This invention relates to a mechanical or acoustic telephone exchange and
chiefly consists: First. In the mode of and means for supporting, and maintaining
the tension of line wires. Second. In the mode of and means for connecting and
tightening line wires. Third. In the manner of constructing and supporting the
telephone, and Fourth. In the construction and arrangement of other parts of the
central office apparatus.
The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1
is a perspective view of the central office apparatus, showing the line wires
A, A, A, A', A', connecting wires F, F¹, F', flexible angle hangers H, H1, H2,
movable windlasses S, S, S, supporting diaphragms D, D', D³, D³, D*, branch wires
B, B1, B3, B³, B*, circular frame C, C¹, C³, movable cylinder N, revolving arms
M, M, M, M and centre post P; Figure 2 is a detached view showing diaphragm D,
branch line B and washer W secured to line wire A, A; Figure 3 is a detached
view showing windlass S secured to sleeve E with set screw T detaining pin 8
made to fit into holes e; Figures 4 and 5 are views of telephone L and connected
parts; cylinder N with sliding base piece O having detaining pins and z made to
fit into slots n, circular frame C, C', C and short wire a connected to the telephone;
Figures 6 and 7 are views of telephone L showing the disposition of wires across
diaphragm K, extending to rim R and branching wires k connected with wire x.
Figures 8 and 9 are views of modified forms of an automatic tension device,
showing posts P, the lever I, I' and weights a, a with short angle hangers H*, H³
and a portion of line wire A.
The line wires are brought into the central office through the diaphragms
D, D', D, DS, D' as shown in Figure 1. The diaphragms are located for convenience
on the walls of the office. The portion of the line wire outside the central office
is secured at the distant end and when made taut is maintained in that condition
by a washer W rigidly fixed on the wire near to the diaphragm through which
the wire passes. These diaphragms may be made of strong canvass or other
suitable materials and other devices may be used to secure the same object which
is to enable the portion of the line wires within the central office to be slackened
without materially affecting the tension of the outside portion of the same.
Instead of washers W other devices may be employed to prevent the line wires
slipping through the diaphragms. The slack end of these wires are secured for
convenience in the slots h¹ of ring C³. The line wires are made taut when two
are connected as shown in Figure 1. These connections are made by means of
short wires F, F, F* supported in the loops of the angle hangers H, H, H². These
hangers have a flexible back and the loops are formed of cotton cord or other
suitable material. The object of these angle hangers is to automatically prevent
the formation of any sharp angles in the connected line wires. The angle hangers
may be employed to avoid sharp angles in the line wires outside the central office.
These hangers when in use are more or less bent according to the relative position
of the two lines that are connected. The hangers shown in Figure 1 are connected

page_text: •
to windlass S by means of cords. These windlasses are employed to tighten the
connected lines and the crank is retained in any desired position by means of
detaining pins 8, which are pushed into the holes e Figure 3. The windlasses are
provided with sleeves E which are adjustable on the arm M. The connected lines
may be tightened by other suitable means. The arms M are supported on the
centre post P. They are made to revolve and may be adjusted on the post. They
are held in any desired position by set screws T or other convenient device.
The telephone L has a diaphragm K across which is placed guy wire p connected
with the rim R which strengthens the diaphragm, and forms a support for the
branching wires k. This telephone when located at the central office is made to
slide within cylinder N the latter being provided with slots n, n, into which slots
the pins 1, 2, fixed on the telephone engage thereby retaining the same in any
desired position in said cylinder N. This cylinder is rigidly fixed to a base piece O
adapted to slide around the circular rings or frames C, C for the purpose of
bringing the telephone in position to be readily connected with any of the line
wires as may be desired. The branch wires are connected with the line wires at
the inner side of the diaphragms. These branch wires are for the central operator
and when not in use are secured in the slots h on ring C. By connecting one of
these wires to the telephone the operator can communicate with a person at the
other end of the line wire and with a person at either end of a connected line,
and thereby bo notified of the termination of their communications over the
joined line.
j
The automatic tension device, Figures 8 and 9, is designed to provide for the
expansion and contraction of the line wires outside the central office caused by
variation of temperature. The levers I, I', are made of the shape shown or of
such shape as will adapt them to any desired position. They are attached to
posts P¹ or other suitable supports and the tension on the line wires is regulated
by the weight a, a, acting through said levers,
The circular frame C, C, C² is supported on legs as shown in Figure 1 or in any
other convenient manner and steps may be placed within the frame for the
convenience of the central operator. The parts of the apparatus may be formed of
any suitable material. The telephone L is adapted for use at the outside stations
or on single lines as well as in central offices.
When the central operator whose proper position is within the circular frame
'C, C', C' desires to communicate with any given outside station, he first moves
telephone L into position to connect with the wire leading to said station. He
then connects the wire attached to the, telephone to the slack branch wire
connected with the proper line wire. The branch wire is made taut by drawing
the telephone towards the central post P through the cylinder N and when the
requisite tension is obtained the telephone is sufficiently revolved to force the
pins 1, 3, into slots n, n, which keeps the telephone in position. The central
operator then signals to the person at the outside station by tapping on the rim R
of the telephone and the desired communications are made between the parties.
When a person at an outside station wishes to communicate with the central
operator he signals in the same manner, the signal being heard at the diaphragm
connected with that line wire. The central operator connects bis telephone to the
proper line wire as above and communications commence between the parties.
Should this person at the outside station wish to communicate direct with a person
at the outside station on another line the central operator will then connect his
telephone to such line by means of a branch wire and signal the desired station.
The signal being answered the central operator then revolves an arm M around to
a point midway between the two wires to be connected to form a through line.
The line wires are then joined by the connecting wire and tightened by the
windlass S when the line is ready for use by the parties located at the outside
stations.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner in which
the same is to be carried into effect, what I claim is: First. The aforesaid mode of

page_text: supporting line wires by the means stated or other suitable devices so that
one portion of the wire may be slack while the tension of the other portion is
preserved.
Second. The aforesaid mode of regulating the tension of line wires by means of
an automatic device.
Third. The aforesaid mode of connecting and tightening connected wires by the
means set forth.
Fourth. The aforesaid mode of supporting a telephone by means stated or
other suitable devices so that the same may be moved around to connect with any
of the line wires.
Fifth. The movable cylinder N carrying the telephone L constructed substantially
as set forth.
Sixth. The circular frame or rings C, C for the purpose and constructed
substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination of branch wires within the central office with the
line wires for the purpose set'forth.
Eighth. The combination in a telephone of the guy wires p, diaphragm K and
branching wires k substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Allison have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
HERBERT J ALLISON (LS)
J
HERBERT I ALLISON (LS)