IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELE- GRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wheatstone, of Hammersmith, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELE-
GRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 2nd August 1858, and dated the 2nd June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wheatstone at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
2nd June 1858.
the
I, CHARLES WHEATSTONE, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
TELEGRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of a new combination of mechanism for the purpose
of transmitting through a telegraphic circuit messages previously prepared,
and causing them to be recorded or printed at a distant station. Long strips
or ribbons of paper are perforated by a machine constructed for the purpose,
with apertures grouped to represent the letters of the alphabet and other signs.
A strip thus prepared is placed in an instrument, associated with a rheomotor
(or source of electric power), which on being set in motion moves it along,
and causes it to act on two pins in such manner that when one of them is
elevated the current is transmitted to the telegraphic circuit in one direction,
and when the other is elevated it is transmitted in the opposite direction;
the elevations and depressions of the pins are governed by the apertures and

page_text: intervening intervals. These currents, following each other indifferently in tho
two opposite directions, act upon a printing or writing instrument at a distant
station, in such manner as to produce corresponding marks on a ribbon of
paper moved by appropriate mechanism.
I will proceed to describe more particularly the several parts of this tele-
graphic system, observing, however, that each part has its independent
originality, and may be associated with other apparatus already known.
The first improvement consists of an instrument for perforating the slips of
paper with the apertures in the order required to form the message. The slip
of paper passes through a guiding groove, at the bottom of which an opening
is made sufficiently large to admit of the to-and-fro motion of the upper end of
a frame containing three punches, the extremities of which are in the same
transverse line. Each of these punches is capable of being separately elevated
by an appropriate finger key. By the pressure of either finger key, besides
the elevation of its corresponding punch in order to perforate the paper, two.
different movements are successively effected, first, the raising of a clip which
holds the paper firmly in its place, and, secondly, the advancing motion of the
frame containing the three punches, by which the punch which is raised carries
the ribbon of paper forward the proper distance during the reaction of the
key consequent on the removal of the pressure; the clip first fastens the paper,
and then the frame falls back to its normal position. The two external keys
and punches are employed to make the holes which grouped together represent
letters and other characters, and the middle punch to make holes, which mark
the intervals between the letters. The perforations in the slip of paper appear
.The second improvement consists of an apparatus, which may be called the
transmitter, the object of which is to receive the slips of paper prepared.by
the previously described instrument or perforator, and to transmit the currents
produced by a voltaic battery or other rheomotor, in the order and direction
corresponding to holes perforated in the slip; this it effects by mechanism
somewhat similar to that by which the perforator performs its functions.. An
eccentric produces and regulates the occurrence of three distinct movements,
1st, the to-and-fro motion of a small frame, which contains a groove, fitted to,
receive a slip of paper, and to carry it forward by its advancing motion.;
2nd, the elevation and depression of a spring clip, which holds the slip of
paper firmly during the receding motion, but allows it to move freely during
the advancing motion; 3rd, the simultaneous elevation of three wires placed

page_text: parallel to each other, resting at one of their ends on the axis of the eccentric,
and their free ends entering corresponding holes in the grooved frame; these
three wires are not fixed to the axis of the eccentric, but each of them rest
against it by the upward action of a spring, so that. when a light pressure is
exerted on the free ends of either of them, it is capable of being separately
depressed. When the slip of paper is not inserted, and the excentric is in
action, a pin attached, to each of the external wires passes during each
advancing and receding motion. of the frame from contact with one spring
into contact with. another spring, and an arrangement is adopted, by means of
insulations and contacts properly applied, by which, while one of the wires is
depressed and the other remains elevated, the current passes from the voltaic
.battery to the telegraphic circuit in one direction, and passes in the other
direction, when the wire before elevated is depressed, and vice versa, but
while both wires are simultaneously elevated or depressed, the passage of the
current is interrupted. When the prepared slip of paper is inserted in the
groove, and moved onwards, whenever the end of one of the wires enters an
aperture in its corresponding row, the current passes in one direction, and
when the end of the other wire enters an aperture of the other row it passes
in the other direction; by this means the currents are made to succeed, each
other automatically in the proper order and direction to give the. requisite
variety of signals. The middle wire only acts as a guide to the paper during
the cessation of the currents.
The wheel which drives the eccentric may be turned by hand, or by the
application of any motive power. Instead of a voltaic battery, a magneto-
electric or an electro-magnetic machine may be employed as the source of
electric power. In this case the transmitter and the magneto-electric or
electro-magnetic machine form a single apparatus moved by the same power,
and they are so adapted to each other, that the shocks or currents are
produced at the moments the pins of the transmitter enter the apertures of
the perforated paper.
The transmitters just mentioned require only a single wire of communication,
and currents in both directions are available for printing the signals; but in
some cases it may be advantageous to employ two telegraphic wires, and to
use the inversions of current to bring back the pens or markers without the
aid of reacting springs. In this case the only modification of the apparatus
required is in the disposition of the insulations and contacts necessary to
transmit in their proper order the currents from the rheomotor into the two
wires.
The third improvement is in the recording or printing annaratus which

page_text: .prints or impresses legible marks on a strip of paper, corresponding in their
arrangement with the apertures in the perforated paper.. The pens or styles
are depressed and elevated by their connection with the moving parts of the
electro-magnets; they are entirely independant of each other in their action,
and are so arranged that when the current passes through the coils of the
electro-magnets in one direction, one of the pens is depressed, and when it
passes in the contrary direction the other pen is depressed; when the currents
cease, light springs restore the pens to their usual elevated positions. The
mode of supplying the pens with ink is. as follows:-A reservoir about an
eighth of an inch deep, and of any convenient length and breadth, is made in a
piece of metal, the interior of which may be gilt in order to avoid the corrosivo
action of the ink placed in it. At the bottom of this reservoir are two holes,
sufficiently small to prevent by capillary attraction the ink from flowing through
them. The ends of the pens are placed immediately above these small
apertures, which they enter when the electro-magnets act upon them, carrying
with them a sufficient charge of ink to make a legible mark on the strip of
paper passing beneath them. The motion of the paper ribbon is produced
and regulated by apparatus similar to those employed in other register or
printing telegraphs.
The electro-magnets described as the second improvement in my. Provisional
Specification bearing even date herewith, are well adapted to effect the motions
of the pens of this instrument, but other means may be employed for this
purpose.
Instead of reacting springs for restoring the position of the pens, the
.attractive or repelling force of small permanent magnets may be employed.
All the essential parts of my new recording or printing telegraph are included
in the previously mentioned three improvements. The following improvements
are either auxiliary or substitutions for parts already mentioned.
The fourth improvement is an instrument which I call a translator; its
object is to translate the telegraphic signs consisting of successions of points or
-marks adopted in this system into the ordinary alphabetic characters. In the
system I have adopted, limiting the number of points in succession to four, 30
distant characters are represented.
.
The instrument presents externally nine finger stops, eight of which are
arranged in two parallel rows, four in each, and the remaining one is placed
separately.
The principal part of the mechanism within is a wheel, on the circumference
of which 30 types are placed at equal distances, representing the letters of the
alphabet and other characters; other mechanism is so disposed and connected

page_text: thereto, that when the keys of the upper row are respectively depressed, the
wheel is caused to advance 1, 2, 4, or 8 steps or letters, and when those of the
lower row are in like manner depressed, the wheel advances respectively
2, 4, 8, or 16 steps. By this disposition when the stops are touched suc-
cessively in the order in which the points are printed on the paper, touching
the first stop for one point, the first and second for two points, &c., and selecting
the stops of the upper or lower row, according as the point is in the upper or
lower row of the printed ribbon, the type wheel will be brought into the proper
position for placing the letter corresponding to the succession of points over a
ribbon of paper. The ninth stop when it is pressed down acts to impress the .
type on the paper to cause the advance of the paper, in order to bring a fresh
place beneath the type wheel, and subsequently to restore the type wheel to its
initial position.
The fifth improvement is a modification of the electro-magnets of the instru-
ment of the third improvement, which enables the pens to go back to their
normal positions, when the currents in the telegraphic circuit cease without
the aid of reacting springs or permanent magnets. An extra coil of wire is
wound round each of the electro-magnetic bars, which act on one side of each
of the double magnetic needles, appropriated to the two pens. These coils are
entirely insulated from those connected with the telegraphic circuit, and form
together a short local circuit in which a feeble voltaic current continually
circulates in consequence of the interposition of a small rheomotor; by this
current the needles are held, when no current exists in the telegraphic circuit,
constantly attracted towards these electro-magnets. When, however, tho
current transmitted through the telegraphic circuit acts on the coils, besides
its direct action to cause the deflection of one of the double needles and the
detention of the other, it neutralizes the current of the local battery in that
electro-magnet, where its effect for the time would be disadvantageous.
The sixth improvement consists in the application of ribbons of paper
prepared by the perforator, and passed through the transmitter as heretofore
described, to produce the successive motions of a magnetic needle or needles,
corresponding to the signals required, whether separately employed for this
purpose, or in conjunction with the printing apparatus already mentioned.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Wheatstone in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WHEATSTONE, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give, and grant unto me, the
said Charles Wheatstone, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Wheat-
stone, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Charles Wheatstone, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED "THEREWITH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Wheatstone, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the..
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Wheatstone, 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 thereof, that is to say:
My Invention consists of a new combination of mechanism for the purpose
of transmitting through a telegraphic circuit messages previously prepared, and
causing them to be recorded or printed at a distant station. Long strips or
ribbons of paper are perforated by a machine constructed for the purpose,
with apertures grouped to represent the letters of the alphabet and other signs.
A strip thus prepared is placed in an instrument associated with a rheomotor
(or source of electric power) which on being set in motion moves it along and
causes it to act on two pins in such manner that when one of them is elevated
the current is transmitted to the telegraphic circuit in one direction, and when
the other is elevated it is transmitted in the opposite direction; the elevations

page_text: and depressions of the pins are governed by the apertures and intervening
intervals. These currents following each other indifferently in the two opposite
directions act upon a printing or writing instrument at a distant station, in
such manner as to produce corresponding marks on a ribbon of paper moved
by appropriate mechanism.
I will proceed.to describe more particularly the several parts of this tele-
graphic system, observing, however, that each part has its independent
originality, and may be associated with other apparatus already known.
The first improvement consists of an instrument for perforating the slips of
paper with the apertures in the order required to form the message. The slip
of paper passes through a guiding groove, at the bottom of which an opening
is made sufficiently large to admit of the to-and-fro motion of the upper end of
a frame containing three punches, the extremities of which are in the same
transverse line. Each of these punches is capable of being separately elevated
by an appropriate finger key. By the pressure of either finger key, besides
the elevation of its corresponding punch, in order to perforate the paper, two
different movements are successively effected; first, the raising of a clip, which
holds the paper firmly in its place; and, secondly, the advancing motion of the
frame containing the three punches, by which the punch which is raised carries
the ribbon of paper forward the proper distance. During the reaction of the key,
consequent on the removal of the pressure, the clip first fastens the paper, and
then the frame falls back to its normal position. The two external keys and
punches are employed to make the holes, which grouped together represent
letters and other characters, and the middle punch to make holes which mark
the intervals between the letters. The perforations in the slip of paper
Figure 1 is a side view; Figure 2 an end view; and Figure 3 a plan of an
instrument constructed according to this improvement; Figure 4 is a side view
of the same, with the external case removed; Figure 5 is a view of the other
side of the instrument; Figure 6 is a transverse section taken at the line 1, 2;
Figure 4, a, b, and c, are three finger keys shown separately in plán at Figure 7,
they are all mounted so as to turn freely on the same.axis; on the end of each
of these finger keys a punch rests, and these punches are marked d, e, and f,
respectively; they are mounted in the rocking frame g, and are capable of
sliding up and down through holes in the top and bottom bars of this frame.
h, h, are the centres on which the frame g is mounted. The slip of paper to
be perforated is passed through an opening at the top of the frame g, and

page_text: between it and the picce of steel i, which is attached by screws to the top of
the frame g; in the piece i are three holes corresponding in size with the ends
of the punchies dye, and f, and placed vertically over them, the centre hole is the
smallest of the three to suit the reduced size of the end of the corresponding
punch; the paper also passes under the spring clip, which is attached to the
piece / screwed to the top of the instrument. To the end of the spring clip j
a cross piece is fixed, and under the ends of this cross piece two holes aro
bored in the top plate; and the upper ends of the wires 7, 1, fit into these holes;
the wires l, l, are fixed at their lower ends into an angle piece m, and from this
angle piece a stem m² projects downwards through a hole in the bottom plate of
the instrument and serves to guide the angle piece in its up and down motions.
When one of the finger keys is pressed down, the first effect is to force up the
corresponding punch through the paper; the end of the key then comes in
contact with the angle piece m, and lifting it causes the wires 1, l, to relieve
the pressure of the spring clip on the strip of paper; afterwards, as the key
still rises, its end comes in contact with the cross piece n, fixed to the rocking
frame g, and causes it partially to rotate on its pivots h, h, until it is stopped.
by the end of the key coming in contact with the base of the instrument;
during this motion the frame g carries the strip of paper forward with it; o is
a projection from the frame g, and a spring rests on it, so as to act as a break
and prevent any excess of motion of the frame. When the pressure on the
key is removed, the angle piece m is pressed down by its springs p,p, and
immediately allows the spring clip; to descend on the paper. At the samo
time one of the two projections q, q, from the angle.piece m, pressing on collars
on the punches d, e, and f, acts on the punch which was forced through the
paper to draw it down, and as the key continues its return motion the angle
piece m comes down on the gross piece n, and brings the frame g back to its
original position. By this arrangement the punches can be caused to act to
pierce the paper in any desired order, and between each action the
step a certain regular distance forward.
paper will
The second improvement consists of an apparatus which may be called the
transmitter, the object of which is to receive the slips of paper prepared by the
previously described instrument or perforator, and to transmit the currents.
produced by a voltaic battery or other rheomotor in the order and direction
corresponding to holes perforated in the slip; this it effects by mechanism
somewhat similar to that by which the perforator performs its functions. An
excentric produces and regulates the occurrence of three distinct movements :-
1st, the to-and-fro motion of a small frame, which contains a groove fitted to
receive a slip of paper and to carry it forward by its advancing motion; 2nd,

page_text: the elevation and depression of a spring clip which holds the slip of paper
firmly during the receding motion, but allows it to move freely during the
advancing motion; 3rd, the simultaneous elevation of three wires placed
parallel to each other resting at one of their ends on the axis of the excentric
and their free ends entering corresponding holes in the grooved frame; these
three wires are not fixed to the axis of the excentric, but each of them rests
against it by the upward action of a spring, so that when a light pressure is
exerted on the free end of either of them, it is capable of being separately
depressed. When the slip of paper is not inserted and the excentric is in
action, a pin attached to each of the external wires passes during each advancing
and receding motion of the frame from contact with one spring into contact
with another spring; and an arrangement is adopted, by means of insulations
and contacts properly applied, by which, while one of the wires is depressed
and the other remains elevated, the current passes from the voltaic battery to
the telegraphic circuit in one direction, and passes in the other direction when
the wire before clevated is depressed, and vice versa; but while both wires are
simultaneously elevated or depressed, the passage of the current is interrupted.
When the prepared slip of paper is inserted in the groove and moved onwards
whenever the end of one of the wires enters an aperture in its corresponding
row, the current passes in one direction, and when the end of the other wire
enters an aperture of the other row it passes in the other direction. By this means
the currents are made to succeed each other automatically in the proper order
and direction to give the requisite variety of signals. The middle wire only
acts as a guide to the paper during the cessation of the currents. The wheel
which drives the excentric may be turned by hand or by the application of any
motive power.
Figure 8.is a plan of an instrument arranged according to this improve-
ment; Figure 9 is a plan of the same, with the. cover removed; Figure 10
is a side view; Figure 11 is a longitudinal section; and Figure 12 is an end
viów. a, a, is the frame of the instrument, which is of brass, and mounted on
a wooden baso b; the frame a carries the axis c in bearings d; e is a handle
fixed at the end of the axis c, by which it can be revolved by hand; at its
further end the axis c carries a toothed wheel f, which drives a pinion g on the
axis h, and at the other end of this axis, a fly wheel i is fixed; the axis h may
either have an excentric mounted on it, or it may be cranked; as is shown in
the Drawing; j is a moveable frame mounted on pivots k, k, it is shewn sepa-
rately at Figure 12*; the three needles l, m, and n, pass through holes in the
top of this frame; these needles are continued below the bottom bar of the
frame and terminate in hooks, which pass round the crank on the axis c, and the

page_text: hooks of these needles are kept up in contact, with the axis by the spiral springs
o, p, and 9 respectively. The two outside needles and nare furnished with
bosses of ivory rand,s, and to these bosses the springs o.and q are attached by
small screws, and these springs also serve for the passage of the electric currents
or shocks, as will be hereafter explained; they are in metallic communication
with the small pins t and respectively. It will be seen that each time that
tho axis c revolves, its crank takes down with it all the three needles l; m;
and n, and that when the crank moves to its highest position the needles riso
with it (unless some impediment be interposed), the needles and n, being
drawn up by the springs o and q, and the needle m by the spring p; and in
addition, to the rising and falling motion of the needles, the crank causes the
frame to rock on its pivots.k, k; this it does by coming against the two
springs, fixed to the two sides of the frame j. The motion of the frame is
limited to the required extent by screw.stops.; each revolution of the axis c
also lifts the needle v, so as to cause its upper end to press upwards the spring
clip wand relieve its pressure: When the apparatus is in action the slip of
paper, punctured as already described, is placed between guides at the top
of the instrument passed through the opening in the top of the frame j, and
then under the clip w; then each time that the needles l, m, and n, are allowed
to rise, one of them enters a perforation in the slip of paper; the upper. end
of the frame ; then, immediately begins to move forward (turning on its-pivots
k, k,) and it carries with it the slip of paper, the needle v lifting the spring
clip w. at the same time. When the upper end of the frame has arrived at
the end of its forward course the needles l, m, and n; are drawn down and at
the same time the needle allows the spring clip w to descend on to the slip of
paper so as to nip it firmly; the frame; then recedes, and the operation is
repeated, one of the needles rising into the next hole of the strip. The pins
t and u, carried by the needles and n, by means of the wires y, y, which pass
to binding screws, are brought in connection with the poles of a voltaic battery
or other source of electric power, and the currents or shocks, proceed to the pins
t and u; by the pieces.,, (which .are insulated from the frame) and the
springs o and q. When the pins t and u, are kept down by the interposition
of the paper, or. are drawn down by the crank, they rest on springs A, A, both
in connection. with.a piece of metal insulated from the frame and in.connection
with the line wire; but when either of the pins.t or u, with its corresponding
needle, is allowed to rise, it passes out of contact with the: spring A on which
it rested, into contact with one of the springs.B, B, both of which. are in
electric communication with the earth; thus, according as one or other of the
needles and n,. is allowed to rise-by the perforations in the strip of paper, so

page_text: will the battery or other source of electric power be brought into the circuit
so as to communicato a shock or current in one or other direction.
In place of connecting the pins t and u with the battery and the springs
A, A, and B, B, with the line wire and the earth, this arrangement may be
reversed, and the pins t and it be connected with the line wire and the earth
respectively, and the springs A, A, and B; B, with the battery poles.
Sometimes, in place of transmitting battery currents or shocks by this
instrument, I transmit currents induced by a voltaic battery; and, in this case,
1 connect the terminal wires of the induction coil to the instrument, in lieu of
the battery terminals, and I add to the instrument the parts shown in red
linės in the Drawing, for the purpose of breaking the battery circuit of the
induction instrument, whilst the needles are divided by the strip of perforated
paper. The action of these parts is as follows:-C is a bell-crank lever, the end.
of which, when in contact with the screw carried by the standard D, completes.
the battery circuit of the induction apparatus; the current passing from the
binding screw E to the standard D, thence by the lever C to the frame of the
instrument which is in connection with the binding screw F; the circuit is
broken at the time required by the crank on the axis h coming in contact with.
the tail of the lever C; the return motion of this lever is produced by a
spring.
: Instead of a voltaic battery, a magneto-electric or an electro-magnetic.
machine may be employed as the source of electric
power. In this case, the.
transmitter and the magneto-electric or electro-magnetic machine form a single.
apparatus moved by the same power, and they aro so adapted to each other,
that the shocks or currents are produced at the moments the pins of the trans-
mitter enter the apertures of the perforated paper.
Figure 18 is a longitudinal section of a transmitter combined with a
magneto-electric machine, so as to work. with. the shocks or currents produced:
by it in place of those produced by a.battery. a is an axis, which is turned.
by hand or otherwise; 6 is a toothed wheel mounted on this axis, and driving
a pinion c carried by the axis d. This pinion is not fixed on its axis, but has
ratchet teeth formed on it, and these are kept up in contact with similar
ratchet teeth on an enlargement of the axis d by the spiral spring e. Thus,
if the axis a should be turned in the wrong direction, it does not drive the.
axis d. f is a toothed wheel fixed on this axis, and which drives the pinion g.
on the axis of the armature h, which is thus caused to revolve in front of the
poles of the permanent magnet i, part of which is removed, so that the
apparatus behind it may be seen. The armature h is surrounded with coils in.
the usual manner, and the ends of these coils are connected with two pieces.

page_text: of metal
and let into the insulating wheel of ivory l. This wheel is
mounted on the axis which carries the armature, and is embraced by the two.
springs m and n, insulated from each other, and connected with the trans-
mitter in the same manner as the battery poles are connected with that
instrument when a battery is employed, as already described. It will be seen
that the currents or shocks produced by the magneto-electric machine enter
the springs marked n always in the same direction. The transmitter is not
shewn complete in this Drawing, for it has already been fully described. The
axis o corresponds with the axis h of Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12 and it is here
driven so as to make two revolutions while the armature makes one, thero
being a toothed wheel mounted on the armature axis, and a pinion on the
axis o, as is shewn by the Drawing. The transmitters just mentioned require
only a single wire 'of communication, and currents in both directions are avail-
able for printing the signals; but in some cases it may be advantageous to
employ two telegraphic wires, and to use the inversions of current to bring
back the pens or markers without the aid of reacting springs. In this case
the only modification of the apparatus required is in the disposition of the
insulations and contacts necessary to transmit in their proper order the
currents from the rheomotor into the two wires.
Figure 14-is a perspective view of a transmitter arranged to work with two
lino wires; in this instrument, besides the necessary change in the insulations
and contacts, the mechanical arrangements are slightly varied, the construc-
tion shown being more convenient when two line wires are employed than
that first described. a is a permanent magnet, and 6 is an arinature mounted.
on an axis c, so as in revolving to pass in front of the poles of the magnet.
On the axis c. there is a toothel wheel. d, which drives the pinion e on the
vertical axis f, so that this axis makes twice as many revolutions as the
axis c; at the upper end of the axis f is a cam g, arranged to act on the pin
h, which is mounted on a rocking frame similar to the rocking frame of the
transmitter already described. The pin h is kept in contact with its cam g
by a spring.i. The form of the cam is such that the forward motion of the
frame is gradual, but its return motion takes place as rapidly as the spring i
will react. is another cam on the axis f; it comes in contact with a pro-
jection on the lever & just as the return motion of the rocking frame is going
to take place, and so causes this lever to draw down the three needles carried
by this frame. At the same time. the tail of the lever k presses on the end of
another lever 1, which is fixed to the spring clip m, and so causes the clip, by
turning slightly on its axis, to nip the paper under it. It will be seen that.
the two outside needles carried by the_rocking frame have projections from

page_text: their lower ends, and when they are allowed to rise by the perforated paper,
as before explained, their ends come in contact with the springs n and o,
which are insulated from the rest of the instrument, and are in communi-
cation with the two line wires. On the axis c a metal disc is mounted; it is
made in two parts p and 7, which are insulated from each other and from
the axis. and s are two springs, which press on the periphery of the disc as
it revolves; the spring ŕ is in metallic communication with the working
parts of the instrument, and the springs is insulated from these parts, but is
put into metallic connection with the earth. When one of the needles of the
rocking frame comes into contact with its corresponding spring n or o it brings
the line wire in connection with the spring into metallic communication with
the working parts of the instrument, and any currents or shocks transmitted
to these flow into the line wire. From the construction of the apparatus, the
contact between the needles of the rocking frame and their corresponding
springs when established lasts during half a revolution of the axis c, and in
this period two currents in opposite directions are transmitted into the line
wire. The first current acts to bring one of the pens or markers of the
receiving instrument into contact with the surface to be marked, and the
second current to bring this pen or marker to its original position. It is
evident that, if necessary, the instrument above described may be worked with
one line wire only, without any change being made in the instrument; all
that is necessary is, that in perforating the strip for the message, only one of
the outside finger keys of the perforator should be employed (the alphabet or
signs employed being modified accordingly). Or the perforating instrument
and the transmitting instrument may both be modified, if desired, so as to be
suitable only for working with one line wire by constructing the perforator
with two in place of three finger keys and punches and the transmitter with
two in place of three needles.
The third improvement is in the recording or printing apparatus, which
prints or impresses legible marks on a strip of paper, corresponding in their
arrangement with the apertures in the perforated paper. The pens or styles
are depressed and elevated by their connection with the moving parts of the
electro-magnets; they are entirely independent of each other in their action,
and are so arranged, that when the current passes through the coils of the
electro-magnets in one direction, one of the pens is depressed, and when it
passes in the contrary direction, the other pen is depressed; when the currents
ceasc, light springs restore the pens to their usual elevated positions. The
mode of supplying the pens with ink is as follows:-A reservoir, about an
eighth of an inch deep, and of any convenient length and breadth, is made in a

page_text: piece of metal, the interior of which may be gilt, in order to avoid the corrosive
action of the ink placed in it; at the bottom of this reservoir are two holes,
sufficiently small to prevent by capillary attraction the ink from flowing
through them; the ends of the pens are placed immediately above these small
apertures, which they enter, when the electro-magnets act upon them, carrying
.with them a sufficient charge of ink to make a legible mark on the strip of
paper passing beneath them. The motion of the paper ribbon is produced and
regulated by apparatus similar to those employed in other register or printing
telegraphs.
pens,
The electro-magnets described as the second improvement in the Specifica-
.tion of my Patent, bearing even date herewith, are well adapted to effect the
motions of the pens of this instrument, but other means may be employed for
this purpose. Instead of reacting springs for restoring the position of the p
the attractive or repelling force of small permanent magnets may be employed.
Figure 15 is a plan of a recording or printing apparatus constructed according
to my Invention; Figure 16, a side view, with part of the case removed;
Figure 17, a longitudinal section, taken at the line 1, 2, Figure 15; Figure 18
is a transverse section taken at the line 3, 4; Figure 15 and Figure 19 is an
.end view (with part of the case removed) of the same; a, b, c, d, and e, f, g, h,
represent two sets of electro-magnets, there being four magnets in each set; the
coils of these magnets are all in connection with the line wire, and the wires
are so arranged, that if a shock or current in passing gives a north polarity to
'one of the magnets, it at the same time gives a south polarity to the adjacent
extremities of the two electro-magnets next to it. In the centre of these sets
of electro-magnets axes i and; are mounted, so as to turn freely on suitable
pivots; to each of these axes four curved magnetic needles or bars are fixed,
marked respectively k, k, k, k, and I, 1, 1, 1. These magnetic needles or bars are
kept at their extreme positions in one direction by the attraction of the per-
manent magnet-m, or, for this magnet, light springs may be substituted. 'On
the ends of the axes i and j are mounted styles or pens of bent wire n and o,
.carefully balanced about their axes; when no current or shock is passing in
the coils, both the pens are maintained at their highest position by the attrac-
tion of the magnet m, but when a current or shock passes, it causes the
electro-magnets of one set so to attract and repel their magnetic needles or
bars, as to cause the axis on which they are-mounted to rotate, and the point
of the pen mounted on it to descend. The magnetic needles or bars of the
other set of electro-magnets, together with the corresponding axis and pen,
remain stationary, the influence of the electro-magnets only being to force the
pen against a stop, which prevents its rising. When the pens descend; they

page_text: pass through holes in the bottom of the ink reservoir p, of which several:
detached views are shown at Figures 20; it slides on to the top of the standard 7,.
and is held in position by the catch r; the slip of paper to receive the marks.
passes under the reservoir, through the opening s, and is drawn regularly
forward by clockwork. When the instrument is at work, the hollow of the
reservoir is filled with ink, and the pens in descending carry down sufficient, to
mark the paper legibly, as is shown at Figure 21. I would here remark, that:
the ends of the pens should be filed perfectly flat, also, that for convenience,
the pens are not permanently fixed. on their axes, but are fixed to a small
tube t, the end of which is notched, and a pin on the axis drops into the notch,
the tube being forced up to it by a spring ; this enables the pens being turned
up out of the way, if desired, for the purpose of removing the reservoir when it
requires to be cleaned. In order that the apparatus above described may be
used with two line wires, as when the transmitter, shown at Figure 14, is
employed, it is not necessary that any change should be made in the construc-.
tion of the instrument, but only that the connecting bar v, which carries the
currents or shocks from one to the other of the two sets of magnets a, b, c, d,
and e, f, g, h, should be removed, and that the connections should be so made
as to put one of the sets of magnets into circuit with one line wire, and the
other set with the other wire. A single line recording or printing apparatus
may be constructed to work in this manner, such instrument having but one
set of magnets a, b, c, d, and a single pon, which, by passing down into a
reservoir of ink, and through a hole in the bottom of the reservoir, produces
dots on a strip of paper beneath in the manner already described as forming
part of my Invention. All the essential parts of my new recording or printing
telegraph are included in the previously mentioned three improvements. The
following improvements are either auxiliary or substitutions for parts already
mentioned.
The fourth improvement is an instrument which I call a translator. Its
object is to translate the telegraphic signs, consisting of successions of points or
marks, adopted in this system, into the ordinary alphabetic characters. In the
system I have adopted, limiting the number of points in succession to four, 30
distinct characters are represented. The instrument presents externally nine
finger stops, oight of which are arranged in two parallel rows, four in each,
and the remaining one is placed separately. The principal part of the
mechanism within is a whocl, on the circumference of which 30 types aro
placed at equal distances, representing the letters of the alphabet and other
characters; other mechanism is so disposed and connected thereto, that when
the keys of the upper row are respectively depressed, the wheel is caused to

page_text: advance 1, 2, 4, or 8 steps or-letters, and when those of the lower row are, in
like manner, depressed, the wheel advances respectively 2, 4, 8, or' 16 steps.
By this disposition, when the stops are touched successively in the order in:
which the points are printed on the paper, touching the first stop for one point,'
the first and second for two points, &c., and selecting the stops of the upper
or lower row, according as the point is in the upper or lower row of the printed
ribbon, the type wheel will be brought into the proper position for placing the
letter corresponding to the succession of points over a ribbon of paper. The
ninth stop, when it is pressed. down, acts to impress the type on the paper,'
to cause the advance of the paper, in order to bring a fresh place beneath
the type wheel, and subsequently to restore the type wheel to its initial position."
Figure 22 is a plan of the translator with some of the parts removed;"
Figure 23 is a left-hand side view; Figure 24 is a right-hand side view ;*
Figure 25 is an under side view; Figure 26 is' an end view; Figure 27 is a
horizontal section taken at the line A, A, Figure 23; Figure 28 is a trans-
verse section taken at the line A, A, Figure 22; and Figure 29 is also a
transverse section taken at the line B, B, of the same Figure.
Figure 30 is a plan of the case of the instrument: a is the typo wheel,;
which carries thirty steel types or punches a', a', having letters or characters
engraved on their lower ends; the type wheel a is shown separately at Figures
31, 32, and 33 in plan, longitudinal section, and side view respectively. a², a²;
are two metal discs, through holes in which the types or 'punches a¹ pass."
Each of the types or punches has a small pin fixed in it, and projecting
inwards towards the centre of the type wheel.. a is a metal disc mounted
loosely on the centre of the type wheel, and kept up to the upper disc a² by a
spiral spring: The pins of the types or punches rest on the disc a³, and are.
thus held up by it, but it will allow any one of the types or punches to descend
into contact with the wheel a', when it is pressed on with sufficient force to
overcome the spiral spring, and if a strip of paper is inserted between the type
or punch and the wheel a', it will become printed or embossed with the
character. engraved on the type or punch. The type wheel a is connected
with clockwork, which causes it to revolve whenever it is allowed to do so.
This clock work consists of the following parts:6 is a spring barrel; b' is a
chain, by which the barrel b gives motion to the fuzee 3; 63 is a toothed
wheel mounted on the axis of the fuzce, it drives a pinion *, and a toothed
wheel 6 carried by the same axis gives motion to a pinion 6º, and in this
manner, by other. wheels 7 and 8, the wheel 6 is driven, and this gears directly
with. teeth formed in the periphery of the wheel a. The teeth of this wheel
correspond in number with the types or punches which the type wheel carrics..

page_text: When the instrument is at rest the type wheel is prevented revolving by a
bolt c, the end of which rests against a projection a³ on the under side of the
wheel a. The bolt c passes up through the bottom plate of the instrument,
and through guides above; it is capable of moving longitudinally a short
distance when actuated by the finger keys, as is herein-after described. d, d³, d³
and are the finger keys in the upper row, which produce respectively when
pressed down 1, 2, 4, and 8, steps of the type wheel, and d, de, d', and d³
are the finger keys in the lower row, which produce respectively 2, 4, 8, and 16
steps of the type wheel.
I will proceed in the first place to trace the motions produced by pressing
down the key d³, for in using the instrument either this key or the key d' is in all
cases first depressed at the commencement of every letter. The lower end of the
key d rests on the lever e, which turns on centres ff; as this lever turns, it,
by a fork formed on one of its arms, draws down the bolt cagainst the pressure
of the spring c, but before the bolt gets clear of the projection at another arm
of the lever e¹ raises up the axis g' against the pressure of the spring h', so as
to bring the segment g³ mounted on it into gear with the wheel a', and to
avoid friction, the pressure of the spring h¹ is relieved at this time by the
pin, which passes through both the top and bottom plates of the instrument,
resting at one end on an arm of the lever e and at the other end on the
under side of the spring h', so that when the pin is pushed upwards by
the motion of the lever e¹ it relieves the pressure of the spring h¹ on the
axis g'; this axis is limited in its rotatory motion by having an arm g³ mounted
on it, which is placed between two stops on the bottom plate, so that the
segment 9 mounted on the axis can only turn through a space equivalent to
two steps of the type wheel, and, when the bolt c is entirely withdrawn the
type wheel moves through this space. 9' is a slight spiral spring, which
the arm being in contact with its stop at the commencement of its
partial rotation at the time when the segment g is thrown into gear with the
wheel a. When the key d³ is allowed to rise by the action of its spiral
spring before the segment g² is pushed out of gear by the return of the
spring a catch not yet described falls into the teeth of the wheel a', and
retains it; this catch is marked in the Drawing, and it operates at all times
to retain the type wheel when the finger keys d are not depressed, except
when the printing finger key ke has been last depressed, and then the catch jis
thrown out of action, and the type wheel a is only prevented from revolving
continuously by the bolt c, as already described.
ensures
After the key do either the key dor de would in working the machine be
depressed (if more than one dot is required to indicate the letter to which

page_text: it is desired to bring the type wheel); but before describing the action of
these keys I will describe that of the key d'Its lower end rests'upon the
end of the lever e, which turns on centres f, f; the other end of this lever
passes under the lever e', so that by depressing the key d¹ the lever e¹ is
worked just as if the key d³ were depressed, and the motions produced are the
same, except that the segment 9 is limited in its partial revolution to an arc
corresponding to a motion of one tooth of the wheel a* (in place of to an
arc corresponding to a motion of two teeth, as when the key d³ is depressed,).
this further limitation of the motion is effected by a stop'l fixed on the lever e³,
and passing upwards through a hole in the bottom plate, and when the
key d' is pressed down the stop is brought into such a position that the
arm g³ comes against it when the axis 9' has rotated to the extent required.
When the key d is depressed it comes in contact with the rocking frame.m
(as indeed do all the other keys & when they are depressed); this frame is
mounted on centres m³, m³, and when acted on by the key it presses down-
wards, the bar n overcoming the spring n¹, this bar is carried by the arms
n³, n³, fixed on the axis n³. n, n*. are the centres on which this axis turns,
and n³ is an arm descending from it through the top plate of the instrument,
and passing between the prongs of the fork j attached to the catch j; thus
the arm no serves when motion is given it by depressing the key d, to lift the
catch out of the teeth of the wheel a', but before this wheel is released
the lower end of the key d has by pressing on the lever a¹ raised the
segment into gear with the wheel a': thus by depressing the key & the
type wheel is moved two steps, just as when the key d is depressed. When
the key is pressed down, the catch j is raised as before, and at the same
time the end of the key gives motion to the lever e³, on which it presses, and
this moves upwards the axis o' against the pressure of the spring h³, so as to
bring the segment o³ mounted on it into gear with the wheel at, the pressure
of the spring h³ is relieved at this time by the pin in the same manner as
the pressure of the spring on the axis g¹ is relieved when the key d', d, or d
is depressed.
The parts in connection with the axis o' are in all respects similar to those
in connection with the axis g¹, except that the axis o' is by the stops which
limit its motion, allowed to revolve when it is thrown into gear with the
wheel a through a space corresponding to four teeth of this wheel. The
key d³, when it is acted on,.also moves the lever e³, and produces motions in
all respects similar to those produced by the key do. The keys d' and d' act
on the lever e*, and this raises an axis p¹ carrying a segment p³, and otherwise
arranged similarly to the axes g' and o³, except that the axis p¹ is by its stops

page_text: allowed to rotate to an extent corresponding with 8 teeth of the wheel a*.
The key de acts on the lever e, and raises an axis q¹ with parts in connection
with it (similar to those with which the axes g', o', and p' are furnished), and
the stops in connection with this axis are so arranged as to allow it to rotate
to an extent corresponding with 16 teeth of tho wheel a*.
It will be remarked, that by means of the finger keys d, that is to say, by:
depressing first the key d' or d³ next (if necessary), the key d or do, then:
the key d or d', and lastly, the key d or ds, any number of steps from
1 to 30 may be given to the type wheel a When in this manner the
required number of steps has been given to the type wheel, the printing finger
key k is pressed down, and its end descends on to the upper end of the type:
or punch a' which has been brought under it, and it forces the face of the
type or punch on to a strip of paper placed between it and the wheel a', and.
the letter is thus stamped on the paper; this strip of paper enters the
apparatus by the tube s, and issues from it by the tube s'. The lower end of:
the key k has a projection ¹ formed on it, which rests between the ends of
the two levers and u, which are loosely jointed together, as is shewn, they
turn respectively on the centres t¹ and u¹; at the end of the lever t is a
driver t, which acts on the teeth of the wheel v; each time that the key k is
depressed, the driver t' drops into a fresh tooth of the wheel v, being set into
it by the small spring t³, and when the 'key k is allowed to rise, it causes the
wheel v partially to rotate, and with it the roller v', against which the strip of
paper is pressed by the under roller carried by the spring v³, in this manner.
the strip of paper is caused to make a step forward after each letter is printed.
The lever u is for the purpose of bringing the type wheel back to the starting.
point after printing, this it does by raising the rod u³ which carries the spring
catch u", overcoming the pressure of the spring ut, when the spring catch u³ is
raised it passes over the tail attached to the catch j, and when the key k
again rises, the spring u overpowers the spring on which the axis j* of the
catch rests, and draws this catch down below the level of the teeth of
the wheel a, which, being then free, revolves until the projection a
comes against the bolt c. In order to prevent the type wheel recoiling when
thus suddenly stopped, a disc a is mounted on its axis, and this disc has. 30.
small teeth formed on its edge, against which a spring a' presses, and this
gives the type wheel a tendency to remain stationary when it is stopped
opposite one of the letters.
All the parts have now been described which are essential to the translator;
but as shewn in the Drawing, there is apparatus attached to it by which the
instrument while translating a message is caused to transmit electric currents,

page_text: which, by acting on a receiving instrument at a distant station, there
reproduce the message. w is a piece of ivory fixed to the bottom plate, it
carries four insulated metal springs, w, w, w³, and w, of which two are
connected to the poles of a battery, one to the telegraphic line wire, and 'one
to the earth; & is another piece of ivory carried by an arm m³, fixed on the
axis of the rocking frame m, and descending downwards through the top 'plate
of the instrument, thus, 'each time that one of the finger keys d is depressed,
the piece of ivory a is moved either in one direction or the other; the piece.
has four pieces of metal y, y, mounted on its face, and four others y, y¹-on-its
back. The pieces of each of these sets y and y' are separately attached to
the ivory piece x, but they are connected together in pairs by metallic coupling
pieces y, y, and at each motion of the piece ''one or other of these sets y
or y¹ is brought in contact with the springs w¹, w³, w³, and w, and in con-
sequence of the manner of arranging the coupling pieces y³, y³, one pole of the
battery becomes connected with the line wire, and the other with the earth;
but the direction in which the current proceeds depends on whether the piece
has been moved in one or other direction.
The fifth improvement is a modification of the electro-magnets of the
instrument of the third improvement, which enables the pens to go back
to their normal positions when the currents in the telegraphic circuit
ccase without the aid of reacting springs or permanent magnets. An extra.
coil of wire is wound round each of the electro-magnetic bars, which act on
one side of each of the double magnetic needles appropriated to the two pens.
These coils are entirely insulated from those connected with the telegraphic
circuit, and form together a short local circuit in which a feeble voltaic
current continually circulates, in consequence of the interposition of a small
rheometor; by this current the needles are held when no current exists in the
telegraphic circuit constantly attracted 'towards these electro-magnets. When,
however, the current transmitted through the telegraphic circuit acts on the
coils, besides its direct action, to cause the 'deflection of one of the double
ncedles and the detention of the other, it neutralizes the current of the local
battery in that electro-magnet, where its effect for the time would 'bo 'dis-
advantageous.
•
In carrying out this part of my Invention, I place round each of the
électro-magnets, exterior of the coils, in connection with the telegraphic line
wire another coil formed of the same or of thicker wire than that'employed
for the telegraphic coils, and covered with silk 'in a similar manner; 'this
. second wire is wound once only from end to end of each of the magnets, and
the spirals (so formed) on the different magnets are coupled up together, and

page_text: connected to a battery in such manner that the current passing in the spiral
so magnetizes the soft iron cores of the magnets as to cause them, by
attracting the magnetic needles, to draw both the pens to their highest
position. Any battery of small power may be employed, and in order exactly
to adjust the force of the current, so that on the one hand the rapid lifting of
the pens may be ensured, and on the other hand that the current may not
oppose too much resistance to the action of the currents which pass in the
telegraphic circuit, I employ a well known instrument called a rheostat to
regulate the amount of resistance in the local circuit.
The sixth improvement consists in the application of ribbons of paper
prepared by the perforator, and passed through the transmitter, as herein;
before described, to produce the successive motions of a magnetic needle or
needles corresponding to the signals required, whether separately employed for
this purpose, or in conjunction with the printing apparatus already mentioned.
In carrying out this part of my Invention, I prefer to employ as the
receiving instrument an ordinary single needle instrument, or a double needle
instrument, of which both the coils have been placed in circuit with the single
line wire, and the motions of the needles limited by suitable stops to one side
of the axis only, and the strip of paper may be so perforated, as in its passage
through the transmitter to produce motions of the needle or needles of the
receiving instrument, similar to those which would be produced were the
message transmitted by hand in the usual manner. The transmission may in
this manner be effected more rapidly than can otherwise be effected, because an
exact uniformity is obtained in the duration of the signals and of the intervals
between them.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wheatstone, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
C. WHEATSTONE.
(L.S.)