IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICITY & MEANS OF TELEGRAPHING
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, of the
Oriental Bank Corporation, Threadneedle Street, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICITY & MEANS OF TELEGRAPHING."
Scaled the 26th April 1870, and dated the 30th October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Henry Cradock
Monckton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 30th October 1869.
I, EDWARD HENRY CRADOCK MONCKTON, of the Oriental Bank
Corporation, Threadneedle Street, London, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICITY & MEANS OF
TELEGRAPHING," to be as follows:-
I hereby describe my novel Invention for generating and conveying
the electric currents applicable to telegraphing and to other useful
purposes.
Firstly. I coil a copper wire by preference over a soft iron wire or rod
by preference precisely as is effected in a pianoforte wire where steel is

page_text: used in lieu of iron. The iron wire is previously insulated, as also the
copper wire; this is again by preference covered with any suitable
insulating material, and that again covered with hemp saturated with
pitch and tar, and woven by preference over it, though it may be also
twisted and otherwise secured on it. The insulation of the copper and
iron wires may be effected in the usual way, or by previously dipping in
pure cod liver oil, and this oil may not be previously rendered drying by
boiling and preparation with litharge or other oxide of lead; this coating
is effected by merely passing the wires through the oil as it is coiled on,
or the coiled wire may be immersed for a short time in the heated oil;
it is then dried and is ready for coating with hemp, and pitch, and tar,
or for any additional insulating material, such as gutta percha. I also
use the carbonaceous matter left after the distillation of tar as the basis
of an insulator; this is combined by one method with creosote. The
coiled wire so prepared is the substitute which I use for the ordinary
wires and methods of telegraphing. The iron rod or wire is rendered by
means of a battery into a long magnet intensified in induction according
to its length and the length of copper coil upon it. The sea itself is an
ample battery. The iron rod or wire so covered being thus rendered
magnetic or non-magnetic by making and breaking contact becomes the
medium of communication. From the nature of its construction an
accidental abrasion to the surface would not prevent conductivity along
the iron wire, and even if the latter was broken and the copper remaining
intact but stretched out the conductivity would still remain in the iron
by its means, though in diminished force. Cables so made need not be
more than a fourth or a sixth of the weight and size of sea cables as
now constructed, and in many cases need hardly be covered. In sea
cables the ends near shore would have to be protected, as all other cables
are, by means similar to those now used. In lieu of a single iron wire
or rod as many fine iron wires as may be desired can be united and have
the copper wire coiled round them. Curriers' or fish oils, where pre-
pared from cod liver, may be substituted for the finer cod liver oils as
an insulator. It is obvious that where desired two or more of these
coiled wires may be united together so as to form one cable, and thus
have a multiplicity of telegraphic mediums in the same cable quite
distinct from each other.
Telegraphic shorthand applied on the principles of the present
shorthand systems to telegraphic printing would render telegraphing
nerfect.

page_text: By my system of light cables I propose to place stationary vessels in
mid-ocean where there is immunity from bad weather and strong
currents, as along the equator in the Atlantic near or on the track of
vessels, by means of which vessels might report themselves and receive
instructions. The cables being so small would not require large ships to
carry them nor heavy machinery to lay them. These stationary vessels
would be placed in telegraphic communication with each other and with
the continents, or with islands connected by cables with the continents,
so that a few well arranged cables would answer every purpose. The
vessels would be moored to weights let down into the water, and would
in addition preserve their positions by means of sailing or steam power
in case of currents. These vessels might also be used as coaling or
store depots for ships in distress, and prove places of refuge in case of
shipwreck.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 30th April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
HENRY CRADOCK MONCKTON, of the Oriental Bank Corporation, Thread-
needle Street, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Henry.
Cradock Monckton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter 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 ELECTRICITY AND MEANS OF TELEGRAPHING," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Henry Cradock

page_text: Monckton, my executors 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 performed, 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 Edward Henry Cradock Monckton,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
I hereby describe my novel Invention for generating and conveying
the electric currents applicable to telegraphing and to other useful
purposes.
Firstly. I coil a copper wire by preference over a soft iron wire or rod by
preference precisely as is effected in a pianoforte wire where steel is used
in lieu of iron. The iron wire is previously insulated, as also the copper
wire; this is again by preference covered with any suitable insulating
material, and that again covered with hemp saturated with pitch and tar,
woven by preference over it, though it may be also twisted and other-
wise secured on it. The insulation of the copper and iron wires may be
effected in the usual way or by previously dipping in pure cod liver oil,
and this oil may not be previously rendered drying by boiling and prepa-
ration with litharge or other oxide of lead. This coating is effected by
merely passing the wires through the oil as it is coiled on, or the coiled
wire may be immersed for a short time in the heated oil; it is then dried
and is ready for coating with hemp and pitch and tar, or for any
additional insulating material, such as gutta percha. I also use the
carbonaceous matter left after the distillation of tar as the basis of an
insulator; this is combined by one method with creosote. The coiled
wire so prepared is the substitute which I use for the ordinary wires
and methods of telegraphing. The iron rod or wire is rendered by means
of a battery into a long maguet intensified in induction according to its
length and the length of copper coil upon it. The sea itself is an
ample battery. The iron rod or wire so covered being thus rendered
magnetic or non-magnetic by making and breaking contact becomes the
medium of communication. From the nature of its construction an
accidental abrasion to the surface would not prevent conductivity along
the iron wire, and even if the latter was broken and the copper remaining

page_text: intact, but stretched out, the conductivity would still remain in the iron
by its means, though in diminished force. Cables so made need not be
more than a fourth or a sixth of the weight and size of sea cables as
now constructed, and in many cases need hardly be covered. In sea cables
the ends near shore would have to be protected as all other cables are
by means similar to those now used. In lieu of a single iron wire or rod
as many fine iron wires as may be desired can be united, and have the
copper wire coiled round them. Curriers' or fish oils, where prepared
from cod liver, may be substituted for the finer cod liver oils as an
insulator. It is obvious that where desired two or more of these coiled
wires may be united together so as to form one cable, and thus have a
multiplicity of telegraphic mediums in the same cable quite distinct
from each other.
Telegraphic shorthand applied on the principles of the present short-
hand systems to telegraphic printing would render telegraphing perfect.
By my system of light cables I propose to place stationary vessels
in mid-ocean where there is immunity from bad weather and strong
currents, as along the equator in the Atlantic near or on the track of
vessels, by means of which vessels might report themselves and receive
instructions. The cables being so small would not require large ships
to carry them nor heavy machinery to lay them. These stationary
vessels would be placed in telegraphic communication with each other
and with the continents, or with islands connected by cables with the
continents, so that a few well-arranged cables would answer every
purpose. The vessels would be moored to weights let down into the
water, and would in addition preserve their positions by means of sailing
or steam power in case of currents. These vessels might also be used as
coaling or store depots for ships in distress, and prove places of refuge
in case of shipwreck.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton,
have hereunto set my hand and scal, this Thirtieth day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy.
EDWARD HENRY CRADOCK MONCKTON. (L.S.)