New or Improved Electrical Fishing Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Electrical Fishing Apparatus.
We, EDWARD POPPOWITSCH Electrical Engineer a citizen of the Empire of
Austria-Hungary residing at 215 Java Street, Brooklyn in the County of Kings
and State of New York, and HERMAN WUSTENFELD, Broker, of 352 East 60th
Street, New York, State of New York, both in the United States of America do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has reference to electrical fishing apparatus adapted for trolling
and other fishing and which indicates by an electric alarm device whenever the
hook is taken by a fish so that the line and fish can be drawn in and the invention
consists of a fishing apparatus comprising a sheet metal or other box a battery in
said box a spring arm provided with an eye-shaped outer end means for adjusting
the tension of said arm a contact screw for the spring arm and conducting wires
between the battery alarm contact screws and spring arm so that as soon as the
spring arm to which the line is applied is moved and placed in contact with the
contact screw an alarm is given and the line can then be hauled in by the fisherman.
The invention consists further of certain details of construction all of which
will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of our improved electric fishing-apparatus
showing the same applied in position for use to the gunwale of a boat or other
suitable support.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 2—2 Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with the lid in open position and showing the battery
and its connection with the contact spring.
Fig. 4 is a top view of this improved electric fishing apparatus with a portion of
the top plate removed.
Fig. 5 is a portion of the exterior box showing the hinged compartment in which
the battery is arranged and
Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the detachable line-guide.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
Referring to the drawings-A represents the exterior box of this improved
electric fishing apparatus. The box A is made of suitable sheet metal and provided
at one side with an opening that is covered by a plate of mica glass or other suitable
transparent material through which the electric alarm device that is arranged in
the box can be readily seen.
The box A is divided by a central longitudinal partition a into two compartments
one compartment containing the electric alarm device B as shown in Fig. 2.
The other compartment is divided by a partition a¹ arranged at right angles to
the partition a into a larger and a smaller compartment the larger containing the
battery D while the smaller compartment serves for storing the chemicals which
are arranged in suitable packages in the nature of cartridges each package con-
taining sufficient for supplying in connection with a suitable quantity of water a
sufficient amount of exciting liquid for filling the battery. The detachable guide
line C is likewise stored with the packages containing the battery charges in the
small compartment the rear side of the box A being closed by a hinged cover A'
which is attached to the body of said box by a suitable fastening device A² as
shown in Fig. 1. The bottom E of the compartment for the battery D is hinged

page_text: so that by opening the same the battery can be readily moved out of or into its
compartment. The battery is provided with a detachable top to which the zines
are applied while the body of the battery is made of suitable glass or other acid-
resisting material into which the exciting liquid is placed the battery being of such
size as to supply a current sufficient for the purpose-for instance for one trip.
When the battery is charged with the liquid it is replaced into its compartment
in the box and moved up in the same until the bottom can be closed so that the
terminals dd on the cover of the battery are made to abut against contact
springs at the top of the compartment for the battery as shown in Fig. 3. The
contact springs d d are connected by wires or metallic strips with binding posts e e
which are arranged at the top part of the compartment in which the electric alarm
device B is located. The posts e are connected by conducting wires M M¹ respectively
with the electro magnet of the alarm device B and with an insulated screw nut
that is supported in the wall of the box A and provided with a screw thread in
which is arranged a contact screw f'. Below the contact screw f' and nutis
arranged an adjusting screw said adjusting screw acting on a spring arm F which
is attached to the wall of the box A and provided at its upper end with a socket ("
into which the lower tapering end or shank of the line guide C is inserted.
The spring arm F extends in upward direction into an opening o in the top of
the box A but not beyond the same so that there are no projecting parts which
may be injured when the apparatus is packed up and carried to and fro. The line
guide C is provided at its upper end with an eye C2 that is formed by a few spiral
convolutions into which the upper end is bent and through which the line is passed.
The electro magnet of the alarm device B is also connected by a wire M with the
screw nut of the adjusting screw which latter serves to adjust the tension of the
spring arm F according as the device is to be set for catching large or small fish.
As soon as a bite takes place the tension of the line moves the line guide C
which is inserted into the upper end of the spring arm F towards the contact
screw so that contact is formed by which the battery circuit is closed and the
alarm device operated. As soon as the signal is given the line is hauled in and the
fish removed from the hook. The line is then paid out again and when the next
bite takes place it is signalled and so on.
To the walls of the box are applied hinged wings we which are provided with
openings through which eye screws s are passed for attaching the box to a gunwale
or other suitable support as shown in Fig. 1. The wings ware placed in line with
the bottom of the box. Above the wing w in front of the line guide C is arranged
a hinged and pointed brace w' the point of which is pressed into the gunwale, or
other part on which the apparatus is supported so that thereby a greater resistance
against sudden strains is imparted and the box supported in firmer position on its
support. The eyes of the screws are connected by strings so that after being
used the same can be unscrewed and stored in the smaller compartment of the
box A in which the charges for the battery and the line guide are likewise stored.
The hinged wings we and brace are then folded up alongside of the box as shown
in Fig. 3 so as to be taken away.
The apparatus described forms a convenient apparatus for catching fish without
being all the time at the line the alarm indicating immediately whenever a fish is
on the hook provided that the tension of the spring arm F is adjusted so that only
an actual bite and not the mere nibbling of the bait by the fish produces contact
and closes the circuit of the battery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination with an exterior storage box of an electric aların device
attached therein a battery arranged therein a spring arm attached to said box and
provided with a line guide a screw for adjusting the tension of the spring arm and
a contact screw for forming contact with the spring arm and closing the battery

page_text: circuit and electric connections between the battery the alarm device the tension
adjusting and contact screws substantially as set forth.
2. An electric fishing apparatus comprising an exterior box having a hinged cover
at one side and means for locking the same partitions for forming a larger inter-
mediate and smaller compartment in said box an electric alarm device located in
the larger compartment a battery located in the intermediate compartment a spring
arm arranged in the larger compartiment and provided with a socket at its upper
end a line guide inserted in said socket and extending through an opening in the
top of the box a screw for adjusting the tension of the spring arm a contact screw
for forming contact with the spring arm and electric connections between the
battery alarm device and the tension and contact screws so that the alarm device
is rung as soon as by the tension on the line guide the supporting spring arm
of the same is placed in contact with the contact screw substantially as set forth.
3. An electric fishing apparatus provided with hinged wings in line with the
bottom of the apparatus and with a hinged and pointed brace above the front
wing and screws for fastening the wings to a gunwale or other support substantially
as set forth.
01 1
CT11004
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.