IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents, of
52 Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPHS and in what
manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to improvements in the branch of telegraphy wherein the
transmission of the electric impulses necessary to indicate the message, are sent
automatically and the message is composed in or on a base and the "composed
message is made to automatically control the transmitting circuit; and it consists
in the means and methods for composing the message, means for transmitting the
message and an arrangement of circuits and batteries specially adapted to this class
of telegraphy.
.
The base upon which the message is “composed" is a smooth metallic drum
which may be readily placed upon or removed from a shaft, which gives it a
rotary motion. An adjustable fan regulator is connected to the mechanism so that
the rotation of the drum can be regulated and controlled.
Upon this drum the message may be "composed" in any arbitrary telegraphic
code for reception by telegraphic symbols or it may be composed in the characters
of any language or in cypher for reception and reproduction in fac-simile.
In the latter case the message may be put upon the drum in circular or transverse
lines, as the transmission is not affected by the relative position of the matter upon
the drum.
In the foriner case the message symbols are placed or "composed" upon the
drum in a regular spiral line, with insulating material, either the insulated or the
uninsulated portions representing the symbols. The spiral line may be made upon
the drum in several ways:-A paper fillet may be perforated and the perforated
fillet wound tight spirally around the drum. The surface is then brushed over
with the insulating ink or paint, the fillet serving as a stencil. The symbols appear
upon the drum, the ink or paint reaching its surface through the perforations, or the
fillet may be used for transmission; the perforations or the insulated portion of the

page_text: fillet representing telegraphic symbols. The message may be imprinted spirally
around the face of the drum by the use of stencils, each representing an arbitrary
telegraph symbol or word, the stencils being joined together to form a message.
This stencil chain is wound spirally around the periphery of the drum and the ends
of the chain are fastened thereon by suitable means. The insulating ink or paint
is then brushed spirally over the perforations of the stencil and the message is
imprinted in a spiral line on the drum. The stencils may be used without being
joined together, but if this system of stencilling be adopted it is advantageous to
use an adjustable mounted blade which is a segment of a ring, whose interior
diameter is a little larger than that of the drum, the interior edge being then used
to hold the stencils firmly on the drum.
.
On the fillet symbols may be marked in insulating and transferable ink or
pigment, the fillet then wound tightly in a spiral form upon the drum, and the ink
or pigment thereby transferred to its surface in any suitable manner. This fillet
may be prepared for transfer process by use of stencils having perforations repre-
senting the telegraphic letters or words or arbitrary symbols. These stencils which
are joined or separate as the case may require are laid upon the fillet in line to
form a message and are held thereon by suitable means. They are then used as
stencils imprinting the message on the paper by brushing the transferable matter.
over the stencils.
Or the insulating ink may be placed upon the fillet by means of a Morse register
and a telegraphic key by inserting a fountain stylographic pen, in place of the
usual metallic point, the pen being filled with the proper ink, the action of which
would be to mark the symbols in dots and dashes of the insulating ink on the
fillet.
The fillet prepared in either of these ways may be used as the agent for trans-
ferring the message to the face of the drum."
The fillet itself may however be wound spirally on the drum, it first having been
prepared by any of said means. When the fillet is thus used the ink to be employed
is preferably un-insoluble in water, either an oily ink, paint, varnish or marking
liquid. A fillet thus prepared is wound spirally around the drum, with the symbols
thereon uppermost, and the ends are tightly secured to the drum. The fillet is then
saturated with water with a brush or other suitable means, the surplus water being
expelled by any suitable means. The moist portion of the fillet becomes conducting,
while the insoluble material forms insulating spaces, and the current through the
transmitting device, is thereby controlled. The water used to moisten the fillet
may be impregnated with metallic salts to increase conductivity. The symbols
also may be made with an insulating ink or colored gum water on a metallized
fillet one side being coated with a conducting metal, or upon a metallic band, the
message being either stencilled or otherwise placed on the fillet.
The drum may be provided with a spiral line to facilitate the placing of the
message in dots and dashes upon its face, or its face may be formed into a bevelled
spiral, showing in cross section a series of bevelled grooves, the bottom of each
groove beginning at a shoulder or wall formed by one of the sides of each following
groove and rising to the top of the next. The drum should be placed upon a
rotating shaft. This shaft is twice as long as the drum and the part which the
drum does not cover is made a screw, the thread corresponding with the spiral
upon the drum. A pin passes through the journal box in which the shaft revolves
into this screw thread. When the drum revolves and the fillet used for placing
the symbols thereon is fed at one end, a true spiral will be formed on the face of
the drum as it moves forward by the action of the pin upon the threaded shaft.
The drums are prepared separately instead of using one machine for preparation
and transmission so that the expensive machinery is left free for transmission of
messages.
The transmitting device consists of any suitable motor, and gearing which gives
motion to a projecting shaft upon which the prepared drum may be mounted and
revolved. A fan regulator is connected to this gearing the blades of which are

page_text: simultaneously adjustable, by which the resistance of rotation is varied and the
speed of the drum is regulated and controlled. A-rod is mounted in the frame of
the machine capable of a reciprocating movement in a direction at right angles to
the axis of rotation. On this rod is. secured a stylus or pen the point of which
bears upon the face of the drum. In this framing parallel to said shaft is another
shaft which receives a rotary motion from the motor of the transmitter. This .
shaft should be of twice the length of the drum, and a screw thread is cast on the
portion extending beyond the framing with a pitch corresponding to that of the
spiral line upon the drum. A. pin or screw point connected with the pen impinges
into the screw thread. Thus as the main shaft and drum revolve the screw shaft
revolves carrying the pen across the face of the drum passing over the line of dots
and dashes thereon and when the proper line and battery connections are made,
signals are sent to line by breaking or making and controlling the circuit in
accordance therewith, and the symbols or signals placed in a continuous spiral line
around the face of the drum are registered on the receiving drum.
When it is desired to send messages in fac-simile the portion of said shaft within
the framing is a screw, cut with a much finer thread. Upon the aforesaid longitu-
dinally moving shaft there is mounted a fixed or adjustable guide. Upon its under
side is formed a half nut adapted, when thrown in proper position, to catch into
and be guided by the fine screw thread. When the desired fac-simile message is
placed upon the drum for transmission, the guide is moved to its initial point,
thrown into contact with the screw shaft and fastened to the longitudinally moving
rod, the said pin being released from the coarse screw thread. The pen is thus
caused to traverse the drum in a fine spiral line, corresponding to the fine screw
making and breaking the circuit so as to produce on the receiving drum in fine
parallel lines, a fac-simile of the message upon the transmitting drum. As this
mechanism may be used for either transmitting or receiving, a magnetic stop or
starter as used in a Morse register may be provided.
The said instrument may be used as a receiver and in practice this use is
desirable. When used as a receiver for code signals of dots and dashes a paper fillet
chemically prepared for that purpose, is wound spirally around the face of the
drum the ends being fastened thereto. The drum thus prepared may be rotated at
& high speed, avoiding the danger of breaking or tearing the fillet.
The stylus or pin used for recording is a fine metal point, generally formed of
steel but varying with the chemicals used in treating the paper. Should the circuit
be made and broken as rapidly as the stylus can pass over the conducting and non-
conducting portions of the drum an imperfect record would result. To obviate this
defect I place at each end of the line, between the sending and receiving instru-
ments a small battery, the two being connected to line so as to neutralize each
other, and at the transmitting end a line battery is connected to line around the
transmitting instrument so that the transmitter forms a shunt circuit away from
the line for this battery. One end of this battery is connected both to the stylus
and the line and the other end to both the drum and the ground. When the
stylus is in contact with the metal surface of the drum, a short circuit for the line
battery is established, so that the current does not flow to line, but when the
electrical contact of the stylus and drum is broken by the insulating material, the
short circuit of the main batteries is broken and the current goes to line. The two
lesser batteries, though neutralizing each other, keep the line charged but do not
prevent the passage of the current from the line batteries.
Sparks and extra currents are avoided by placing a spark coil or other suitable
coils in the line battery circuit.
To discharge the surplus currents, one or more connections may be made from
the line to the ground through large resistances which the ordinary working current
would not, but which the high tension currents, would overcome.
By these means a simple and reliable system of automatic telegraphy is provided,
uniting in one instrument capacity for code or fac-simile transmission, and requiring
little skilled labor in its operation. By use of said stencils, messages may bo

page_text: prepared at business offices and sent to the telegraph office ready for the drum, or,
the transmitting drum itself may be prepared for transmission by the customer and
then sent to the operating office.
The
In preparing the messages, a series or number of drums may be used, it being
preferable that the drums be prepared first and then placed in the transmitting
apparatus. The receiving drums should be coated with tin as this metal withstands
the corroding influences of the chemicals used in treating the receiving paper.
sources of the current for the operation of the line, may be dynamic or mechanical
generators instead of cell batteries, the said relations between the generators being
preserved.
The various chemical, mechanical and electrical conditions stated, may be varied.
without departing from the spirit of my Invention.
The devices for carrying my Invention into practice are illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, in which :-
Figure 1, is a side and Figure 2 a top view of the transmitter.
Figure 3, a side view of the regulator partly in section showing manner for
adjusting the blades of the fan.
Figure 4, is a side elevation of the device for supporting the drums while the
latter are being prepared to control transmission. Figure 5, is a side view partly
diagramatic of a device for preparing the fillet by means of a pen. Figure 6 shows
a form of drum or cylinder for use in lieu of the drum shown in Figure 4. Figure 7,
is a front, and Figure 8, a side view of a device for retaining the stencils in position
for stencilling the message on the drum. Figure 9, is a diagram of the circuit and
battery connections. Figures 10 and 11 are top views of the stencil plates, and
Figures 12 and 13 show convenient ways of using the stencil plates.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings which show the transmitter, 3 is any suitable
base on which are supported the frames 1, 2, between which is placed the casing A
containing the gearing giving motion to the drum E. The motive power is a spring
enclosed within A, but may be of other kind. Beyond the framing 1 and 2, extends
a shaft F connected to and rotated by the gearing within A, upon which is to be
placed the drum E secured by set nut R so as to rotate therewith.
Upon a shaft K connected to the gearing within A, and with a supporting
frame C attached to A, are secured the fan blades B, B, through bevel gears a, a,
meshing into a bevel gear controlled by the thumb piece J. By this arrangement
the inclination or angle of the fan blades B, B, to the plane of rotation may be varied
and hence the speed of drum E controlled and regulated. Upon drum E the
message is placed in alternate conducting or non-conducting spaces. The message
may be in dots and dashes as shown or in any written language or signs. In the
former case they are laid around the drum in a spiral line as shown at a, b, c, d.
Supported by the framings 1, 2, and standard 7, and capable of longitudinal
movement is a rod L upon which is carried stylus holder G having a set screw b to
fasten the holder to said rod.
In the same framing and between L and E is supported a shaft N having
gearing, which is not shown, connecting it to the motor actuating E, so as to rotate
proportionately therewith. Upon said shaft is cut a screw thread u, of a pitch
corresponding to that of the spiral a, b, c, d, on E. Through G passes a screw t,
which impinges in u. When the motor acts E and N will be rotated and the
stylus point b attached to G, will be carried across the face of the drum passing
over the line a, b, c, d, and making and breaking circuit accordingly when E and G
are connected in circuit.
The other extremity of the shaft N, is provided with a screw thread V of much
finer pitch than u. Opposite upon rod L is a guide. M¹, having a screw e¹ to
secure it to L when desired, but loose thereon when not thus secured. A half nut e
is formed on M. When the symbols shown are to be transmitted, the screw e¹, is
turned to loosen M from L, and M¹ is thrown back from contact with V. When
a message in writing, printing or stencilling in any character is placed upon E for

page_text: fac-simile transmission t is turned so that it does not impinge in u, at the same
time M is thrown over so that e impinges in V and M¹ is fastened by e¹ to L
The parts being thus arranged, and motor started, by the action of V, e, M³, L, G,
stylus 6 is caused to traverse the face of E in a spiral of fine pitch corresponding
to V, controlling the circuit accordingly. Thus one instrument is adapted to
transmit either arbitrary telegraphic symbols or fac-simile messages.
By
In the circuit controlled by E and G, b¹, is placed a magnet H, having an
armature lever f and a back stop I limiting its play. The lever f is provided with
a retractor h, g, and its free end is adapted and arranged by a hook or a stop 8,
when the lever is controlled by g, to impinge into a wheel q of the regulator. The
strength of H and g are so adjusted relatively that if H be overcharged, releasing
through f, 8 and q, the motor train, its residual magnetism will hold f during the
rapid "makes" and "breaks" incident to automatic or fac-simile telegraphy.
the adjustment of fan blades B, B, the speed of the transmitter may be changed.
In fac-simile telegraphy, they may be set to allow the drum to rotate slower than
when used in ordinary automatic telegraphy, and when it is desired to transmit
dots and dashes the drums having these signals in spiral line on their face may be
rotated according to the desired rate of speed, which may be a thousand or more
words per minute according to the distance from the sending to the receiving
station.
The fan blades B, B, are set so that the rotations of the transmitting and
receiving drums shall correspond with each other when it is desired to transmit
fac-simile messages.
In order to give both G and M¹ firm contact with E, and V, for preventing any
slipping or skipping, weights d, y, are provided. These weights may be applied as
shown in Figure 1 where d is the weight, applied to a projection either screw
threaded or plain, from the body of the stylus carrier G. The weight is adjusted
to hold the stylus firmly to the face of the drum.
The drum for automatic transmission shown in Figure 2 may be prepared several
ways.
A convenient means for placing the symbols on the fillet is shown in Figure 5,
D¹, D¹, being rolls actuated to feed between them the fillet E¹, while A¹¹, B¹¹¹, H¹,
and K, form the ordinary Morse register. Upon the armature lever Bul is mounted
broad nibbed fountain or stylographic pen C which is lifted from or brought in
contact with F according as the circuit of H¹ is made or broken by key K.
A set of stencils each having perforations representing the arbitrary symbols,
words, or letters of a telegraphic code may be prepared, the ends of each being
bent over so that a series may be hooked together as shown in Figures 10 and 11,
wherein the stencils J, O, H, n, are joined to form a word or message. These
stencils may be kept in stock, selected and joined to form the message, by either
the customer or by the operators. They may be formed with the shoulders a¹, b₁, c¹,
and used as shown in Figures 12 and 13. The fillet C¹ is drawn over a support A¹
and held in position by rollers or clamps D¹, D¹; the stencils a¹, b², c¹, laid thereon
and the message stencilled on C in transferable insulating ink or pigment and
fillet C¹ be then used, as the means by which the message is transferred to
drum E¹.
When a marking substance not affected by water is used, the fillet C¹ is wound
spirally around drum E¹ with the marked side standing uppermost and is fastened
thereto and used for controlling the circuit.
By any of these means the drum E' may be covered with a series of arbitrary
telegraphic symbols in a sprial line. To insure the correctness of the spiral line
and to leave the transmitting apparatus free, I prefer to prepare the drums apart
therefrom and place them in the transmitting apparatus when prepared to control
the electric pulsations. This is accomplished by the devices shown in Figure 4, in
which B is a standard having its upper end formed into a bearing for the shaft F¹,
which, for about half its distance is screw-threaded as shown at u', the pitch of said

page_text: thread corresponding to that of u on N in Figure 2. A screw P passes through the
journal box into said screw thread.
Upon the shaft F' the drum is placed and is secured thereon by set nut R¹. The
shaft F is provided with a hand wheel or pulley D by which it may be rotated.
If the end of a fillet W, be secured to E, and E" be rotated by D and the fillet
fed thereto from one point, it is evident that it will be wound thereon in a spiral
line corresponding to u and u'. To assist the placing of the non-conducting
symbols in a continuous spiral line around the face of the drum, the drum E' may
be turned in a bevelled spiral as shown at i, i, in Figure 6. The bevelled face drum
affords a sure and simple guide for the spiral lines especially when the stencil
plates shown in Figures 10 and 11 are used. To retain firmly against the face of
the drum the stencil plates when in use, the device shown in Figures 7 and 8 may
be used, wherein 12 is a standard having right-angled arm 13, in the end of which
is supported, by means of its shank 16, a slotted piece 15. In the slot of 15 is
secured by means of the set screws 18 the blade 14, which is a segment of a circle,
its interior diameter being a little larger than the diameter of the drum. The
blades are adjusted by the set screw 17, to bear upon the stencil, when placed on the
drum, and hold it firmly while being brushed over with the insulating ink or
pigment. By the means described, the drum may be readily and reliably prepared
to control automatically the transmission of the desired matter, and that with
a minimum of skilled labor. For transmission a desirable arrangement of circuits,
.batteries, and instruments is shown in Figure 9, in which a receiving and trans-
mitting station, the drums E and F, pens S, S¹, are conveniently represented,
the drums being connected to the ground G¹, Q", while the pens are connected to
the line L. At each end of the. line is a weak battery, these batteries being
connected at C and D, of equal strength and connected in the circuit normally to
neutralize each other keeping the line continually charged. At the transmitting
station a main battery M, B, is connected to line so as to reinforce C* and to ground
around the transmitting apparatus E. Between the stations is made a ground
connection H¹ having in it a rheostat R¹ of a resistance to prevent the ordinary
working battery currents from going to earth.
When the transmitter is used, as the pen S, rests on a metallic portion of the
drum E, the main battery M, B, is short circuited; when however electrical
contact between E¹¹ and G is broken by an insulating space, the short circuit
of M, B, is broken, its current is forced to line and to the distant station to
complete its circuit. As its circuit is never broken but merely changed, the
danger of false marks from prolongation of discharge is obviated while the
connection H' and rheostat R¹ (of which there may be any desired number in the
circuit) affords a short path to the ground for any extra or induced currents so
that they will not pass through and affect the receiving instrument.
The line battery M, B, connected to the transmitting drum is herein shown but
the receiving station has a similar battery when the drum F is used for trans-
mission, in which case the main battery M, B, would be disconnected as the
drum E would receive the message. The usual switches are employed for
operating the circuit.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. In an automatic telegraph transmitter the combination of a drum, a stylus
or pen and means substantially as described for causing the stylus to make contact
with the drum when in operation, in either one of two spiral lines of travel, as may
be desired, substantially as set forth.
Second. In an automatic telegraph transmitter, the combination of a drum,
a stylus or pen and a shaft provided with two different screw threads and a guide
so that the path of travel of the stylus over the face of the drum may be changed,
substantially as set forth.

page_text: Third. In an automatic telegraph transmitter, having a drum prepared in spiral
lines of conducting and non-conducting material to control the transmitting circuit,
the combination with the drum, of a motor giving motion thereto, a vibrating or
governing fan for controlling the speed thereof, and means for simultaneously
adjusting the position or angles of the vanes of the fan relatively to each other,
and locking them positively in such position or relation, so as to readily control
and regulate the speed of the motor and of rotation of the drum, substantially as
set forth.
Fourth. A drum for use in an automatic transmitter having its face formed into
a spiral bevilled groove, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. A stencil plate or series of stencil plates, each representing arbitrary
telegraph symbols and provided with hooked ends adapting them to be joined
together to form a message, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The means for holding the stencil in position upon the face of the drum
while in use, consisting of an upright and its right angled arm and an adjustable
ring supported thereby, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with a stylus or pen and a drum for automatic
transmission, prepared substantially as described, of the two neutralizing batteries
in circuit, the main battery and a short circuit thereof controlled by the drum and
stylus and the line connections all arranged and connected substantially as set
forth.
Eighth. The combination with a stylus or pen and drum for automatic trans-
mission, prepared substantially as described, of the two neutralizing batteries in
circuit, the main battery and a short circuit therefor controlled by the drum and
stylus, and one or more ground connections provided with resistances, all arranged
and connected substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The method of automatic transmission herein described, consisting in
causing telegraphic symbols to be recorded upon a drum in conducting and
non-conducting spaces by transferring or stencilling thereon a suitable ink, paint
or pigment and then using the record so made to automatically control the
transmitting or line circuit, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The method of preparing a drum for automatic transmission, consisting
in placing the symbols representing a message upon a paper fillet, in conducting
and non-conducting spaces and winding such fillet spirally upon the drum, the fillet
being wet or dampened either prior or subsequently to its winding upon the drum
substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination of a drum, a stylus, means for causing the stylus to
travel in a spiral line around the drum and a fillet prepared with conducting and
non-conducting spaces representing a message for telegraphic transmission, wound
spirally around such drum, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. The combination of a drum, a stylus, means for causing the stylus to
traverse the drum in a spiral line, a fillet prepared with conducting and non-
conducting spaces representing a message for transmission wound spirally around
such drum and a main line or circuit controlled thereby substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination in an automatic telegraph receiving apparatus of
a drum, a stylus or pen, means for causing the latter to traverse the drum in
a spiral line and a chemically prepared fillet of paper wound spirally upon the
drum for receiving the record substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of March 1884