A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIO RAPID TELEGRAPHY, AND APPARATUS AND MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIO
RAPID TELEGRAPHY, AND APPARATUS AND MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREIN." A communication from abroad by William Augustus Leggo, of
Hartsdale, in the County of West Chester, and State of New York, United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March
1881.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "A NEW
OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC RAPID TELEGRAPHY, AND APPARATUS AND
MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by
William Augustus Leggo, of Hartsdale, in the County of West Chester, and State
of New York, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to furnish a system of automatic rapid telegraphic
transmission in which one machine may be used both for the preparation for
transmission, and for the transmission of messages.
The first part of the Invention relates to an apparatus and system of which the
following is a description in general terms:-
A metallic drum capable of rotation in suitable bearings is arranged to be driven
by any desirable motive power.
Two sets of gearing are arranged between the prime motor and the drum, the
change from one to the other being quickly and easily made by a shifting lever.
One set is calculated to give a comparatively slow rate of rotation to the drum for
the reception upon it of the message at the ordinary speed of the "Morse operator,"
the other set giving the rapid rate permissible in automatic transmission.
· Upon a carriage are mounted in such relation to the drum that when desired
they may have proper contact thereupon a stylus for transmission of the message

page_text: placed upon the drum, and a pen for placing the message thereon. This is controlled
by a magnet mounted upon the carriage, the pen normally resting at its outer end
upon the drum, while upon the other end of its lever it is provided with an
armature, so that when the magnet is charged it is lifted from the surface of the
drum, or vice versa.
To the magnet leads a circuit from any suitable source of electric energy, a
proper key being interposed in such circuit.
The pen is charged with an insulating ink, which may be any ordinary ink, to
which has been added a little gum, mucilage, or sugar.
In operation the drum is set to rotate at its slower rate, and the Morse key
operated in the usual manner, the stylus being thrown back from contact with the
drum.
While the key is open the pen rests upon the drum, placing thereon a line of
insulating ink, whose width depends upon the width of the pen, which may be of
any desired or effective width.
Upon closure of the key the pen is lifted from contact with the drum, leaving its
metallic surface clear.
Thus the message is placed thereon in a series of insulating and conducting
spaces, the latter representing the signals or the unitary portions forming a
signal.
When this preparation of the drum is completed the stylus is thrown down into
contact with the drum, and the pen removed therefrom. The stylus and drum are
properly connected in the circuit leading to the point of reception, and the gearing
shifted to give the drum its higher rate of rotation, whereupon impulses are
transmitted over the line with great rapidity, corresponding exactly to the impulses
which through the medium of the pen caused the record upon the drum.
It should be noted that the carriage carrying the stylus and the pen and its
magnet is mounted upon a shaft on which it may slide, and rests also upon a screw
shaft, receiving motion through intermediate gearing from the shaft of the drum,
so that while the drum is rotating the carriage has a properly adjusted motion at
a right angle to the line of rotation, causing the pen and stylus to describe a spiral
line upon the surface of the drum.
The carriage rests upon the screw shaft by a half nut only, or by a pin, or by a
knife edge, so that it may be lifted therefrom and slid back to the starting point
upon the completion of its range of motion.
The message is received upon any suitably prepared paper as is well understood
in automatic chemical telegraphy, although the paper prepared with nitrate of
silver and then lubricated as set forth hereinafter is preferable.
It is desirable that the drum or other metallic surface used in the transmitter
should be first thoroughly cleaned, and that then a coating of gum or its equivalent
be applied to its surface, the surface then being washed until all the superfluous
gum be removed, in fact, till to ordinary tests of touch or sight no gum apparently
remains.
Such treatment does not interfere with its conductivity, but serves to fill up any
pores in the surface of the metal, rendering it smooth, and avoiding or diminishing
to a minimum the friction thereon, and further preventing the adhesion thereon
of any greasy matter, thus promoting the preparation thereon of the message in
insulating ink.
By the arrangement thus generally sketched the Morse operator using his key in
the ordinary manner may prepare and compose the matter to be sent for automatic
transmission two or three minutes then sufficing for the transmission of what has
occupied an hour for preparation, and which would have occupied an hour in
transmission over the wire by the ordinary methods of Morse telegraphy.
This system then makes one wire suffice practically for many operators, increasing
to that extent the capacity of each wire, and providing for large amounts of
business without the expenditure of large sums of money in additional wires and
apparatus.

page_text: The same general principles are exceedingly applicable and desirable for fac-simile
telegraphy.
For such transmission the message, which may be a writing map, plan, chart,
picture, or any thing else capable of graphic representation, is written or imprinted
upon the face of the drum, which is then caused to rotate, as before explained, a
perfect fac-simile thereof being reproduced at the receiving station.
It is evident that instead of the surface of the drum being used, a plate, band,
ribbon, tape, or any other equivalent form may be used, which may be prepared in
any desirable manner (one method being hereinafter more particularly described)
and then placed in the machine, which in that case need have only the suitable
quick motion.
Further, that instead of a drum a flat plate may be used, or any other form of
message receptacle, to which is connected gearing for giving the two rates of motion
slow and fast, hereinbefore described, when such plate is used in the machine for
both preparation and transmission.
A second part of this Invention relates to that class of devices employed to make
and break an electrical circuit commonly called Morse or lever keys, which may be
employed advantageously in connection with the apparatus just described.
In all such devices or keys as heretofore constructed the amount of motion
permitted the moving contact point has been very small, with a consequent very
small break in the circuit.
The movement of the moveable contact has been very slow, comparatively not so
fast in the ordinary Morse key as the movement of the operator's hand or fingers,
and in automatic devices a simple, direct, but relatively slow lift by a thin strip
of paper or equivalent material.
The result has been that when it was attempted to break the circuit it was
broken sluggishly, the moveable contact moving a very short distance relatively
very slowly, leading thus to a prolongation of the signal, being an undesirable result,
which often was further increased by the formation of an arc between the points
for a portion at least if not for all the space through which movement was
permitted.
In addition this arc (the "spark" seen at breaking circuit) rapidly oxidized and
destroyed the contacts.
The object of this portion of the Invention is to diminish so greatly these results
as to practically eliminate them, and to that end it consists in combining with the
ordinary lever of such a key such means as shall cause the closure and breakago
of the circuit to be made suddenly emphatic and pronounced, the moveable contact
moving through a much larger space than hitherto with great rapidity, impinging
upon the other contact with a sudden firm blow or contact, and on breaking leaving
it as suddenly and rapidly. As thus stated the Invention may be applied to Morse
or lever keys in a number of ways; with the lever of a hand key there may be
combined some device by which the motion given the lever by the hand is
multiplied and increased several times.
A convenient method of accomplishing this is to make the stem of the button
upon the ordinary key lever or upon a spring lever hollow and screw threaded
inside, or with a pin or pins projecting into the hollow to take in the threads of a
screw threaded spindle secured in a bearing upon the base plate in such manner
that it may freely revolve. The thread upon this spindle is preferably of long
pitch, so that it may be readily turned by a pressure downward of the button. To
the spindle is fastened an arm, upon whose outer end is the moveable contact, the
arm being of such length that the slight movement of the button is amplified many
times at the outer end of the arm with a corresponding increase in rapidity of
movement. Such an arrangement it will readily be seen will cause the moveable
contact to strike its anvil or to make its contact suddenly and firmly upon move-
ment thereto, and upon the reverse motion to leave it just as suddenly, and to be
immediately removed therefrom to a distance precluding the formation of any
deleterious arc between the contacts,

page_text: The third part of the Invention relates to a pen adapted for use with the
apparatus described as the first part of the Invention, but capable of use in a great
variety of ways, as will readily be understood, and the object is to furnish a pen
by which any fluid, such as an ink, wash, tint, or colour may be applied in lines
of definite width readily and reliably upon a suitable base; and to that end it
consists in a pen constructed to hold a supply of the fluid, to retain the same when
not applied to the base, and to automatically allow the escape of the fluid whenever
the pen is brought in contact with the base upon which it is desired to have the
fluid deposited.
A convenient means of accomplishing this is by forming the pen of an upper
plate, somewhat springy itself or controlled by a spring, and projecting slightly at
its operative and beyond the under or base plate, against which it normally springs
down.
Between the two is formed a chamber which serves as a reservoir or conduit for
the fluid. The upper plate springing against the lower plate prevents its escape.
As soon, however, as the pen is allowed to rest upon a surface, the upper plate is
carried away from the under plate, leaving an orifice through which the fluid
escapes.
The chamber between the two plates may be filled with a loose fibrous material
for holding a large supply of fluid, which drains therefrom when the jaws or plates
of the pen are separated.
Upon the upper plate a reservoir may be arranged for holding a large supply, or
fluid may be allowed to escape from a separate reservoir into a conduit leading to
the pen, or into a small receptacle placed thereon. The same object may be
accomplished by using two jaws or plates of equal length, separated slightly at their
operative ends, the orifice being filled by a plug which norinally either by gravity
alone or by the assistant resilience of a spring drops into and closes the orifice, but
which when the pen is put in position for use is forced up, leaving the orifice open
for the escape of the fluid. When it is desired to lay on the same colour in lines
or spaces over a surface, or to lay on several colours contiguous to each other or at
stated intervals a series of pens may be arranged in a group.
The fourth portion of this Invention relates to an improvement in the method and
means of lubrication applied to automatic telegraphy, as hereafter fully 'set forth,
which improvement is adapted for use with the apparatus just described.
The systems of automatic transmission wherein the circuit is made or broken by
means of a roller or stylus passing over alternate conducting and non-conducting
portions of the medium upon which the message is composed for transmission,
difficulty has been experienced in keeping the stylus or roller bright, smooth, and
clean, requisite for successful rapid transmission.
When the receiving is done by means of electro chemical deposition the stylus is
apt to become injured, so as to be rough, by the accumulation upon it of resultants
of chemical deposition.
The object of this portion of the Invention is to obviate such difficulties, and to
that end it consists in the method of preparing the blanks either for transmission
or reception, one or both.
In transmission the message is properly composed by any of the ordinary
methods of perforating, or by the insulation of a portion of a conducting medium.
When so prepared the message is coated with a lubricant, for which purpose.
ordinary olive or sweet oil is well adapted.
For reception the paper or other ribbon, sheet, fillet, cord, or other material is 5
first prepared with the desired chemical solution, one which decomposes under the
action of the current; it is then lubricated in the same manner.
The lubricant in either case may be applied in any desired way, for instance, by
brushing or sponging the lubricant upon the prepared transmission or reception
blank.
In practice the stylus or roller displaces the lubricant so that the electrical
connections are not affected, the lubricant at the same time serving to keep the
5

page_text: stylus or roller bright, smooth, and clean, while the roller is effectually lubricated.
In preparing transmission blanks it has been found that they may be well
lubricated by waxing the paper, that is, by coating the paper with paraffine or wax,
or by inserting the paper into or floating the paper on a bath of melted wax or
paraffine.
In such case the paper should be prepared before perforation, as such treatment
insures a clean cut by the perforator, avoiding dust, fluff, or lint, which often in
such use of ordinary paper seriously interfere both with proper perforation and
with transmission.
Linseed oil may be used, which drying leaves a waxy surface upon the paper.
And the Invention further relates to chemical preparations for producing records
of electrical impulses adapted for use with the apparatus just described and fully
explained, as hereinafter set forth.
In chemical telegraphy, that is where the received message is recorded by the
chemical decomposition or change effected at the point of a stylus by the current
passing through properly prepared paper, it is desirable that the paper be prepared
with some chemical or composition of chemicals easily affected by the current and
yielding a clear distinct mark. To this end many substances and compositions
have been devised and used.
The inventor has discovered that excellent results may be attained with a silver
salt, and the Invention consists in combining with any suitable base capable of
serving as a base or carrier of the record, silver in any combination of ingredients
for producing the record of electrical impulses or the passage of an electrical
current.
Any suitable paper in sheets, ribbons, or fillets, or sheets, ribbons, fillets, cords,
or tapes of any suitable fabric are sensitized by immersion in or by floating upon a
solution of nitrate of silver, or the solution may be applied thereto by sponging,
brushing, or in any other desired and effective method.
A plain solution of nitrate of silver may be used, or there may be used in
connection with the silver any other chemicals not incompatible thereto for the
desired purpose, such as iodine or bromine. Some of these, for instance, bromides,
may be used to render the paper more sensitive, others to render it less sensitive
than it would be by the use of nitrate of silver alone.
Instead of a fabric a silver plate sensitized, as in the daguerreotype process, may
be used to receive the record.
Or, further, an emulsion or collodion sensitized with silver may be used.
It is found that a receiving ribbon, sheet, fillet, or tape, prepared as above set
forth with silver, is extremely sensitive to the action of the electric current,
yielding a black mark, which when paper is used gives the best contrast of colour,
facilitating greatly the reading of the record.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th September 1881.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. " A NEW
OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC RAPID TELEGRAPHY, AND APPARATUS AND
MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by
William Augustus Leggo, of Hartsdale, in the County of West Chester, and State
of New York, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to furnish a system of automatic rapid telegraphic
transmission, in which one machine may be used both for the preparation for
transmission and for the transmission of messages.
The first part of the Invention relates to an apparatus and system described in
general terms as follows:-
A metallic drum capable of rotation in suitable bearings is arranged to be
driven by any desirable motive power. Two sets of gearing are arranged between
the prime motor and the drum, the change from one to the other being quickly
and easily made by a shifting lever. One set is calculated to give a comparatively
slow rate of rotation to the drum for the reception upon it of the message at the
ordinary speed of the "Morse operator," the other set giving the rapid rate per-
missible in automatic transmission. Upon a carriage are mounted in such relation
to the drum that when desired they may have proper contact thereupon a stylus
for transmission of the message placed upon the drum, and a pen for placing the
message thereon. This is controlled by a magnet mounted upon the carriage, the
pen normally at its outer end upon the drum, while upon the other end of its lever
it is provided with an armature, so that when the magnet is charged it is lifted
from the surface of the drum, or vice versa.
To the magnet leads a circuit from any suitable source of electric energy, a
proper key being interposed in such circuit.
The pen is charged with an insulating ink, which may be any ordinary ink, to
which has been added a little gum, mucilage, or sugar.
In operation the drum is set to rotate at its slower rate, and the Morse key
operated in the usual manner, the stylus being thrown back from contact with the
drum. While the key is open the pen rests upon the drum, placing thereon a line
of insulating ink, whose width depends upon the width of the pen, which may be
of any desired or effective width. Upon closure of the key the pen is lifted from
contact with the drum, leaving its metallic surface clear.
Thus the message is placed thereon in a series of insulating and conducting
spaces, the latter representing the signals or the unitary portions forming a signal.
When this preparation of the drum is completed the stylus is thrown down into
contact with the drum, and the pen removed therefrom. The stylus and drum
are properly connected in the circuit leading to the point of reception, and the
gearing shifted to give the drum its higher rate of rotation, whereupon impulses
are transmitted over the line with great rapidity, corresponding exactly to the
impulses which through the medium of the pen caused the record upon the drum.
It should be noted that the carriage carrying the stylus and the pen and its
magnet is mounted upon a shaft, on which it may slide, and rests also upon a screw
shaft receiving motion through intermediate gearing from the shaft of the drum, so
that while the drum is rotating the carriage has a properly adjusted motion at a
right angle to the line of rotation, causing the pen and stylus to describe a spiral
line upon the surface of the drum.
The carriage rests upon the screw shaft by a half nut only, or by a pin, or by a

page_text: knife edge, so that it may be lifted therefrom and slid back to the starting point
upon the completion of its range of motion.
The message is received upon any suitably prepared paper, as is well understood
in automatic chemical telegraphy, although the paper prepared with nitrate of
silver and then lubricated, as set forth in another portion of this application is
preferable.
It is desirable that the drum or other metallic surface used in the transmitter
should be first thoroughly cleaned, and that then a coating of gum or its equivalent
be applied to its surface, the surface then being washed until all the superfluous
gum be removed, in fact till to ordinary tests of touch and sight no gum apparently
remains.
Such treatment does not interfere with its conductivity, but serves to fill up any
pores in the surface of the metal, rendering it smooth, and avoiding or diminishing
to a minimum the friction thereon, and further preventing the adhesion thereon
of any greasy matter, thus promoting the preparation thereon of the message in
insulating ink.
By the arrangement thus generally sketched the Morse operator using his key
in the ordinary manner may prepare and compose the matter to be sent for
automatic transmission, two or three minutes then sufficing for the transmission of
what has occupied an hour for preparation, and which would have occupied an
hour in transmission over the wire by the ordinary methods of Morse telegraphy.
This system then makes one wire suffice practically for many operators,
increasing to that extent the capacity of each wire, and providing for large amounts
of business without the expenditure of large sums of money in additional wires,
et cetera.
The same general principles are exceedingly applicable and desirable for facsimile
telegraphy. For such transmission the message, which may be a writing map,
plan, chart, picture, or anything else capable of graphic representation, is written
or imprinted upon the face of the drum, which is then caused to rotate, as
before explained, a perfect facsimile thereof being reproduced at the receiving
station.
It is evident that instead of the surface of the drum being used, a plate, band,
ribbon, tape, or any other equivalent form may be used, which may be prepared
in any desirable manner (one method being hereinafter more particularly described)
and then placed in the machine, which in that case need have only the suitable
quick motion. Further, that instead of a drum a flat plate may be used, or any
other form of message receptacle, to which is connected gearing for giving the two
rates of motion slow and fast, hereinbefore described, when such plato is used in
the machine for both preparation and transmission.
A second part of this Invention relates to that class of devices employed to make
and break an electrical circuit, commonly called Morse or lever keys, which may
be employed advantageously in connection with the apparatus just described. In
all such devices or keys as beretofore constructed the amount of motion permitted
the moving contact point has been very small with a consequent very small break
in the circuit.
The movement of the movable contact has been very slow, comparatively not so
fast in the ordinary Morse key as the movement of the operator's hand or fingers,
and in automatic devices a simple, direct, but relatively slow lift by a thin strip of
paper or equivalent material. The result has been that when it was attempted to
break the circuit it was broken sluggishly, the moveable contact moving a very
short distance, relatively very slowly, leading thus to the prolongation of the
signal, being an undesirable result which often was further increased by the
formation of an arc between the points for a portion at least, if not for all, the
space through which movement was permitted. In addition this arc (" the spark,”
seen at breaking circuit), rapidly oxidized and destroyed the contacts.
The object of this portion of the Invention is to diminish so greatly these results
as to practically eliminate them, and to that end it consists in combining with the

page_text: :
ordinary lever of such a key such means as shall cause the closure and breakage of
the circuit to be made suddenly emphatic and pronounced, the movable contact
moving through a much larger space than hitherto with great rapidity, impinging
upon the other contact with a sudden firm blow or contact, and on breaking
leaving it as suddenly and rapidly.
As thus stated the Invention may be applied to Morse or lever keys in a number
of ways. With the lever of a hand key there may be combined some device by
which the motion given to the lever by the hand is multiplied and increased several
times. A convenient method of accomplishing this is to make the stem of the button
upon the ordinary key lever or upon a spring lever hollow and screw threaded
inside, or with a pin or pins projecting into the hollow to take in the threads of a
screw threaded spindle secured in a bearing upon the base plate in such manner
that it may freely revolve. The thread upon this spindle is preferably of long
pitch, so that it may be readily turned by a pressure downward of the button. To
the spindle is fastened an arm upon whose outer end is the moveable contact, the
arm being of such length that the slight movement of the button is amplified
many times at the outer end of the arm with a corresponding increase in rapidity
of movement.
Such an arrangement, it will readily be seen, will cause the moveable contact
to strike its anvil, or to make its contact suddenly and firmly upon movement
thereto, and upon the reverse motion to leave it just as suddenly and to be imme-
diately removed therefrom to a distance, precluding the formation of any deleterious
are between the contacts.
The third part of this Invention relates to a pen adapted for use with the
apparatus described as the first part of the Invention, but capable of use in a great
variety of ways, as will readily be understood; and tho object is to furnish a pen
by which any fluid, such as ink, wash, tint, or colour, may be applied in lines of
definite width readily and reliably upon a suitable base; and to that end it consists
in a pen constructed to hold a supply of the fluid to retain the same when not
applied to the base, and to automatically allow the escape of the fluid whenever
the pen is brought in contact with the base upon which it is desired to leave the
fluid deposited. A convenient means of accomplishing this is by forming the pen
of an upper plate somewhat springy itself or controlled by a spring, and projecting
slightly at its operative end beyond the under or base plate against which it
normally springs down. Between the two is formed a chamber which serves as a
reservoir or conduit for the fluid. The upper plate springing against the lower plate
prevents its escape. As soon however as the pen is allowed to rest upon a surface
the upper plate is carried away from the lower plate, leaving an orifice through
which the fluid escapes. The chamber between the two plates may be filled with
a loose fibrous material for holding a large supply of fluid, which drains therefrom
when the jaws or plates of the pen are separated. Upon the upper plate a
reservoir may be arranged for holding a large supply, or fluid may be allowed to
escape from a separate reservoir into a conduit leading to the pen, or into a small
receptacle placed thereon. The same object may be accomplished by using two
jaws or plates of equal length separated slightly at their operative ends, the orifice
being filled by a plug, which normally either by gravity alone or by the assistant
resilience of a spring drops into and closes the orifice, but which when the pen
is put in position for use is forced up leaving the orifice open for the escape of
the fluid.
The fourth portion of this Invention relates to an improvement in the method
and means of lubrication applied to automatic telegraphy, as hereinafter fully set
forth, which improvement is adapted for use with the apparatus just described.
In systems of automatic transmission, wherein the circuit is made or broken by
means of a roller or stylus passing over alternate conducting and non-conducting
portions of the medium upon which the message is composed for transmission,
difficulty has been experienced in keeping the stylus or roller bright, smooth, and
clean, requisite for successful rapid transmission.

page_text: When the receiving is done by means of electro-chemical deposition the stylus is
apt to become injured so as to be rough by the accumulation upon it of resultants
of chemical deposition. The object of this portion of the Invention is to obviate such
difficulties, and to that end it consists in the method of preparing the blanks either
for transmission or reception, one or both.
In transmission the message is properly composed by any of the ordinary methods
of perforating, or by the insulation of a portion of a conducting medium. When
so prepared the message is coated with a lubricant, for which purpose ordinary
olive or sweet oil is well adapted.
For reception the paper or other ribbon, sheet, fillet, cord, et cetera, is first
prepared with the desired chemical solution, ono which decomposes under the
action of the current; it is then lubricated in the same manner. The lubricant in
either case may be applied in any desired way, for instance, by brushing or
sponging the lubricant upon the prepared transmission or reception blank.
In practice the stylus or roller displaces the lubricant, so that the electrical
connections are not affected, the lubricant at the same time serving to keep the
stylus or roller bright, smooth, and clean, while the roller is effectually
lubricated.
In preparing transmission blanks I have found that they may be well lubricated
by waxing the paper, that is, by coating the paper with paraffine or wax, or by
inserting the paper into or floating the paper on a bath of melted wax or paraffine.
In such case the paper should be prepared before perforation, as such treatment
insures a clean cut by the perforator, avoiding dust, fluff, or lint, which often in
such use of ordinary paper seriously interfere both with proper perforation and
with transmission. Linseed oil may be used, which drying leaves a waxy surface
upon the paper.
And the Invention further relates to chemical preparations for producing records
of electrical impulses adapted for use with the apparatus just described and fully
explained as hereinafter set forth.
In chemical telegraphy, that is, where the received message is recorded by the
chemical decomposition or change effected at the point of a stylus by the current
passing through properly prepared paper, it is desirable that the paper be prepared
with some chemical or composition of chemicals easily affected by the current and
yielding a clear distinct mark. To this end many substances and compositions
have been devised and used.
I have discovered that excellent results may be attained with a silver salt, and
the Invention consists in combining with any suitable base capable of serving as a
base or carrier of the record silver, in any combination of ingredients for producing
the record of electrical impulses, or the passage of an electrical current.
Any suitable paper in sheets, ribbons, or fillets, or sheets, ribbons, fillets, cords,
or tapes of any suitable fabric are sensitized by immerson in or by floating upon a
solution of nitrate of silver, or the solution may be applied thereto by sponging,
brushing, or in any other desired and effective method.
A plain solution of nitrate of silver may be used in connection with the silver,'
any other chemicals not incompatible thereto for the desired purpose, such as iodine,
bromine, et cetera. Some of these, for instance, bromides, may be used to render
the paper more sensitive, others to render it less sensitive than it would be by the
use of nitrate of silver alone.
Instead of a fabric a silver plate sensitized as in the daguerreo-type process may
be used to receive the record; or further, an emulsion or collodion sensitized with
silver may be used. I have found that a receiving ribbon, sheet, fillet, or tape
prepared as above set forth with silver is extremely sensitive to the action of the
electric current, yielding a black mark, which when paper is used gives the least
contrast of colour, facilitating greatly the reading of the record.
And in order that the first, second, and third portions of the said Invention may be
more clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the
accompanying Drawings, more fully to describe the same.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 being a side view of the transmitting apparatus, and Figure 2 a top
view thereof, while Figure 3 shows a detail for locking the gearing to the shaft;
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a signal as it appears upon the drum
prepared for transmission; Figure 5 is a detailed broken cross section of the 5
apparatus with the pen in position; Figure 6 is a plan of part of the apparatus
showing the surface of the drum and circuit connections; Figure 7 is a side view
of the key, and Figure 8, a top view of the device embodying the Invention;
Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views of 'such a pen, while sectional Figures 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, and 18, illustrate modifications of the same; Figure 11 is, an under end 1
view of the operative ends of the plates, and Figure 12 shows the arrangement of a
series of pens for ruling a large number of various sized and tinted lines or spaces.
The following is a description of the construction shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 6, relating to the first part of the Invention:-
B, B¹, is a framing in which is supported the shaft S, upon which is mounted the 1
drum A. Upon the shaft is the loose pulley 3 moved thereon by means of a shifting
lever (not shewn) taking into the recess 4 in the sleeve of the pulley. On the
shaft S is fixed the clutch 2 with which the pulley may be locked, so that the
shaft and drum may be rotated directly with the pulley, a high rate of speed
being the result. Loose upon the shaft S is the small pulley 5, from which a belt 2
6 leads to pulley 7, from whose small orpinion pulley 8 a belt g leads to pulley 10
also loose upon S, but provided with pawl r taking upon rotation in the proper
direction against pin p in shaft S, and causing S to rotate with it. If the loose
pulley 3 be thrown to engage with 5, its motion is communicated to S and A
through 5, 7, 8, 10, its motion being thereby very much slowed down. Within 2
the upward extensions of the parts B, B, of the framing B, B¹, and upon a
shaft supported in B, B, is mounted a carriage C capable of moving horizontally
along c, and of turning thereon vertically as upon a pivot. At the front end of
C a half nut is formed which rests upon the screw shaft D, which receives
motion from S through gears G, G₁, G. Upon this carriage is mounted a pen P 3
pivotted thereon, and having upon the end of its lever an armature e taking
over the poles of a magnet E supported and carried by the carriage C, and which
is in an electrical circuit provided with any suitable key. In Figure 5, the operation
of the pen is more clearly shown. As shown in dotted lines the pen is raised from
the drum, and the parts A¹, B¹, spring together at a', b', preventing the egress of 3
the fluid C, which is an ink treated so as to possess insulating qualities. When
however the pen is allowed to rest upon the drum, as shown in full lines, A', B²,
are separated and the ink escapes at c', the result being as shown in Figure 6, in
which the black spaces represent the intervals during which the circuit would be
broken, while the clear spaces indicate the closures necessary to the transmission of 4
a message.
•
In Figure 6 the dotted lines represent a local circuit in which is included the
key K, local battery L, B, and magnet E. The key being closed the magnet
attracts e, lifting the pen from the drum. The line is connected on one side to the
pen e and stylus F, and on the other to the drum, the stylus and pen being 4
insulated from the drum.
Upon the carriage C is also pivotally supported the stylus F whose end pre-
ferably carries a roller f. This stylus when in use lies upon the surface of the
drum, when not in use it is raised therefrom.
The operation is as follows:-
The pulley 3 is thrown to engage with clutch 5, and thus rotate the drum at a
low speed. The stylus F is turned up from contact with the drum, the pen P
charged with ink bearing normally upon the face of the drum, laying thereon an
insulated line. The operator manipulating his key the magnet E attracts the
armature e whenever the circuit is closed, lifting the pen from the drum and leaving 5

page_text: thereon the conducting signal spaces, as shown at n, n, n, Figure 4. The drum
rotating m causes the rotation of D, giving a horizontal movement to C, so that the
entire surface of the drum may be covered by a spiral line. When as much as is
desired has been composed upon the drum, the carriage is lifted from contact
with D and slid back to the place of starting, the pen is removed from contact, and
the stylus is put into contact with the drum.
The pulley 3 is thrown to engage with 2, and thus to rotate the drum at high
speed. The stylus and drum are properly connected in the electrical circuit, and
the motive power applied. As the stylus passes over the places inked by the pen,
the circuit will be broken and no current will pass, while in passing over the
spaces left clear by the raising of the pen the circuit will be closed and impulses
sent, these impulses corresponding exactley to the impulses used in preparing the
drum, which were the same as though the key had been connected directly in the
transmitting circuit. In describing the operation it was stated that the pen is
moved back to the place of beginning for transmission. Instead thereof the motion
of the machine may be reversed, and the last of the message placed in the
drum transmitted first. When all the message has been received it is simply
necessary to commence the reading at the last end of the receiving strip, which in
practice will be probably the more convenient.
As hereinbefore described, a positive copy of the message to be sent is shown as
placed upon the drum. When desired a negative copy may be placed thereon, in
which case the unitary numbers of the signals would be placed upon the drum in
insulating ink, while the spaces, et cetera, would be left clear, the reverse of what
is shown in Figure 4.
It is evident that the magnet E and its circuit and the key therein may be
dispensed with when desired, and that the end of the pen itself may be used as the
key, the operator manipulating the pen itself directly, instead of controlling it
indirectly through intermediate devices. The following is a particular description
of the construction shown in Figures 7 and 8 relating to the second part of the
Invention:-
O is any suitable base, preferably of insulating material, but which may be made
of conducting material, in which event the post 3 and back stop S should be
insulated therefrom. Upon this base are secured the binding posts 3, 4, to which
are connected the line or circuit conductors 1, 2. D is a bearing in which is
supported, in such manner as to be free to turn, the spindle C, screw threaded; A is
the finger button having a shank a hollowed to pass over and surround the
spindle C.
The interior of a is either screw threaded or has one or more pins projecting
inwardly and taking in the threads on C, so that a downward movement of A
causes C to rotato.
The button A and shank a are attached to a spring lever B secured to the base
at its other end, the resilience of which normally keeps the button elevated.
Rigidly affixed to C so as to move with it is the arm E, whose outer or free end
forms the moveable contact, connection thereto being made by post 4 and wire 2
leading to D.
The post 3 forms the fixed contact or an anvil, while S forms the back stop of the
arm. It will be seen that a very slight depression of the button causes a partial
rotation of C and a much more extended and rapid movement of E, bringing it
firmly, decidedly, and quickly against 3 in closing the circuit, and that it will leave
3 as rapidly and decidedly as it approached it, moving with a rapidity which
prevents almost if not quite entirely the formation of an arc and removing to such
distance that the circuit is effectively and certainly broken. A slight projection may
be arranged on the button, which will fall or pass into the perforations in paper
prepared for automatic transmission.
Instead of the specific arrangement here shown an elongated lever or a system of
compound levers may be used, or any other equivalent device may be interposed
between the contact points and the portion operated on to control the circuit, which

page_text: will amplify the motion of the latter and produce the results hereinbefore set forth.
The following is a particular description of the construction shown in Figures 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 of the Drawings.
In the Drawings A¹ is the upper plate referred to, projecting at a slightly beyond
the base plate B¹. In Figures 9 and 10 the under plate B' is of corresponding
shape, while in Figures 13 and 14 it is straight, as shown.
In 9 and 10 it is made somewhat shorter than A¹, so that the tip a¹ of plate A¹
projects, as stated, slightly beyond the tip 6¹ of plate B¹. The plates are united at
their other end by a handle or cross piece O. They are fashioned so as to leave a
chamber, reservoir, or conduit C between them.
The construction in Figures 13 and 14 is the same, excepting that as before
stated the plates B₁ are straight. As shown in Figures 9, 13, and 14 the upper
plate normally springs against the base plate preventing the escape of the ink or
fluid therefrom. When however the end of the pen is brought in contact with the
surface on which it is proposed to deposit the fluid, the upper plate is pushed up
and away from the under one, as shown in Figures 10 and 16, leaving an orifice c¹,
from which the fluid escapos in a line equal to the width of the pen. In Figure 15
a reservoir E is constructed connecting with the space between the plates for
holding a large supply of the fluid. In Figure 16 an absorbent e is placed upon the
upper plate which is perforated thereunder, and a reservoir F is arranged to feed a
regulated supply upon the absorbent e, and thus keeping up a constant supply for
the pen, or the same may be fed by a brush.
In Figure 14 D is a fibrous material placed between the plates to hold and feed
to the orifice the fluid, a desirable arrangement when a very thin ink or wash is to
be used. The upper plate should be dentated at its lower edge, as shown in
Figure 11, or it may be slit to facilitate the escape of the fluid. While not
absolutely necessary the under plate may also be dentated or slit in like manner.
When it is desired to lay on the same colour in lines or spaces over a surface, or
to lay on several colours contiguous to each other or at stated intervals, a series of
pens may be arranged, as shown in Figure 12, in which the series of pens 1 to 13
may be charged each with a different colour, or each with a colour different from
its immediate neighbour, or 11, 12, 13, may represent pens charged with the same
colour to be laid on to form parallel rulings or spaces on the surface.
In Figures 17 and 18 G, G, represent the two plates of a pen separated slightly at
the bottom, while H is an inclined plug falling into the separation, closing it and
projecting slightly beyond G, G. In Figure 17 h is a strip which serves as a guide
only preventing H from falling out from between G, G; while in Figure 18 h is
made as a spring accomplishing the same result, and also aiding by its resilience in
forcing H down between G, G. It is evident that whenever either Figure 17 or 18
is placed with the point of H upon a surface that H is forced upward, unsealing the
orifice and permitting the fluid to escape. This form is a desirable one when it is
desired to have a pen capable of use while held in a vertical direction.
.
Having thus described the several portions of said Invention, and the mode in
which they may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,―
First. The method of automatic transmission herein described, which consists in
causing the ordinary manipulations of a key to be recorded in insulating and
conducting spaces upon a suitable surface and then using the record so made to
automatically control the transmitting circuit, substantially as set forth.
Second. The method of automatic transmission consisting in recording the
message to be sent upon a suitable surface in conducting and non-conducting spaces,
and then using such record to control automatically the transmitting circuit,
substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with one transmitting surface of two sets of gearing, one
adapted to give the surface a much greater speed of movement than the other, and
means for changing from one to the other, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of a conducting surface, a pen adapted to normally ink

page_text: its surface, and devices arranged to lift the pen from the surface when it is desired
to indicate thereon signals for transmission, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the drum of a stylus and a pen so arranged that
either may be used in connection therewith, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The method of preparing a surface for the reception of a message consisting
in coating the same with a gum and then removing by washing the superfluous gum,
substantially as set forth.
Seventh. A telegraph key or circuit controlling instrument, in which the move-
able contact point is given an extent and rate of motion greater than the extent
and rate of motion of the actuating power, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Eighth. The combination in a telegraphic key or circuit controlling instrument
of a lever or button to be moved by hand or equivalent means, contact points and
means interposed between the two for giving the moveable contact a more rapid
and a greater motion than that of the lever or button, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the button, the screw threaded spindle, the moving
arm and circuit connections, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. A ruling pen adapted to hold a supply of fluid and having a normally
closed orifice automatically opened for the escape of the fluid when put into position
for operation, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. A ruling pen composed of two plates, one of which projects beyond
the other, the longer normally springing against the other and closing the orifice,
which is opened by the pressure of the longer upon a surface, substantially as set
forth.
Twelfth. The combination of a series of pens arranged as shown and described,
substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. The method of preparing blanks for either automatic telegraphic
transmission or reception consisting in placing upon or in the blank a lubricant
or in charging the blank therewith, substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. A receiving medium for an electro-chemical record prepared with
silver, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.