IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING COMMUNICATIONS MADE BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JACOB BRETT, of Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex.
Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,
by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Thirteenth day of November, in the
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jacob Brett, my exors, adiñors, and
assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Jacob Brett, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Jacob Brett, my exors, adiñiors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, usc, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey,
Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING
COMMUNICATIONS MADE BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS," communicated to me

page_text: from a certain foreigner residing abroad, in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that I, the said Jacob Brett, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
Jacob Brett, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully.
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
First, I shall describe the whole of the machine as constructed for
practical operation, and then point out and distinguish the particular
parts and combinations which I claim as my Invention, and which I
desire to secure by Letters Patent. The said machine consists of two
parts; first, of that part which is to be stationed at the place from
which intelligence is to be transmitted, and which, for convenience of
distinction, I denominate the composing machine; secondly, of that
part which is to be stationed at the place to which intelligence is to be
communicated, and which,, for the same reason, I denominate the
printing machine. Those two parts are to be connected by electric or
galvanic conductors, which conductors are to connect with any known
generator of electricity or galvanism, and form a circuit through which,
when connected, a current of electricity or galvanism will pass. These
two parts of said machinery aro chiefly propelled by the power of
: weights, the electric or galvanic force being applied or used only to
regulate the motion of the printing machine by means of an escape-
ment which it moves, and which requires much less power than is
necessary to propel the machinery, and thus both the advantage of the
"instantaneous action of the electric or the galvanic force and the
greater power of the weights are combined in the accomplishment of
the work for which the machine is intended:

page_text: I shall first explain the composing machine; and in order that the
same may be better understood I shall describe it in connection with
(the three Sheets of Drawings which are hereunto- annexed. The
composing machine, as before stated, is to be stationed at the place
from which the intelligence or message is to be communicated, and is
to be worked or operated upon by the person desiring to transmit such
intelligence or message. Its object is to break or close the circuit of
the conductors, and to continue the same, either broken or closed, at
the option of the operator, and in such a manner as to cause any given.
letter to be printed by the printing machine. This said 'composing
machine has twenty-eight, or in some cases from thirty to forty keys,.
which I call the finger keys; a shaft placed under the finger keys
which I call the key shaft; a wlieel fixed to the end of this shaft, which
I call the circuit wheel; a governor attached to the machine, and a.
weight and pulley, with a series of wheels and pinions, to give motion
to the said key shaft. The parts of the said composing machine are to
be arranged in any suitable frame made of metal or wood (metal being
preferable); the precise form of the frame is not material, it being only
necessary that it should be made to sustain the different parts of the
machinery in their positions and connections as I shall berein-after
describe (and in order to prevent the necessity of otherwise specifying
the size and proportions of the different parts of said machinery, the
Drawings connected herewith are made to give the proportions);
Sheet 1, being one third of the size of the working machine, and
the Drawings on Sheet 2, being of the full size of a working. machine
(with the exception of Figure 10, of said Sheet II.). This composing
machine is represented by Figures 1, and 2, of Sheet F. Figure 1,
exhibits the plan, and Figure-2, an elevation. In giving a particular
description of the parts of which, I will commence with the power. by
which the machinery is propelled, following it through its different
connections, and pointing out the object and construction of said parts.
This composing machine is propelled by a weight attached to the
cord (b) passing over the fixed pulley (a), and winding around the
barrel (e); this barrel is hung on an axle which has, at one end the
cóg wheel (d), the barrel being connected with the axle and cog wheel

page_text: These
by a ratchet arranged in the well known and ordinary manner of similar
fixtures for winding up a weight. The cog wheel (d) works into the
pinion (e); the cog wheel (f) carries the pinion (9); the cog wheel (h)
passes through a cross piece of the frame in which it works. On the
upper end is fixed the bevel friction wheel (); this wheel acts upon
and carries a similar wheel (k) attached to the end of the key shaft, 'and
in this way motion is communicated to said key shaft; the weight of
the end of said shaft must rest upon said friction wheel so as to cause
friction sufficient to make it revolve; said shaft extends lengthwise
through the frame, and may work in any convenient bearings fixed in
the ends of said frame. In this key shaft are fixed twenty-eight or
more metallic pins extending out from the surface of the shaft about a
quarter of an inch, and being placed in a helical row extending the
whole length of said shaft, and passing once round the same.
pins are represented in Figure 2, of Sheet I., and Figure 13, of
Sheet II., twenty-six of them being represented by the letters of the
alphabet, one of them by a dot, and one being left blank, (and in case
of an increased number being arranged of the pins, the numerical
Figures from 1, to 0, or conventional signs thus may be made use
of,) so as to correspond with the representation of the alphabetical or
numerical finger-keys to which they respectively belong, and in con-
nection with which they operate, as I shall further explain. Fixed upon
the end of the key shaft is the metallic wheel 1, which revolves with said
shaft, and is used for breaking and closing the circuit of conductors,
and I have therefore called it the circuit wheel. Figure 13, of Sheet 11.
is a side elevation of said key shaft and circuit wheel. This is a
double wheel, that is, the inside of the wheel is about three quarters of
an inch less in diameter than the outside. On the periphery of the out-
side or larger part of this wheel are cut fourteen (or more) cogs forming
between them fourteen (or more) spaces. The periphery of the inside or
smaller portion of this wheel is smooth. This wheel is connected with
the circuit of electric or galvanic conductors, and forms a part of the
same as follows:-m, and n, Figure 1, Sheet 1, are ends of wire or
metallic rods forming a part of said circuit which connects the composing

page_text: and printing machines, and also connects one with the positive, and the
other with the negative pole of a battery, or other suitable generator of
electricity or galvanisın. These wires or rods m, and n, are inserted into
the metallic binding screws o, and p, which are fixed into and pass
through the frame, so as to have a suitable projection on the inside; to
these projections are attached two metallic springs q, and 7, one end of
the spring y, bearing upon the smooth portion of the periphery of the
circuit wheel, and one end of the spring , bearing upon the cogs cut
upon the periphery of the outer portion of said wheel. This wheel is
designed to turn towards the spring q, and from the spring r, so that it
may meet with no obstruction from the end of the spring 7, making fast
to the said cogs. As the said circuit wheel revolves, the spring r, will
slide over the ends of the cogs, and also pass over or through the spaces
between them, and thus the circuit of conductors will be broken by the
spring 1, passing over or through a space, and closed by its sliding over
a cog; the end of the spring 9, in the meantime remaining constantly
in contact with the sinooth portion of the periphery of said wheel. Each
one of these cogs and spaces correspond with one of the pins in the key
shaft, and with one of the finger keys. The cogs and spaces are there-
fore represented in the Drawings by the same characters as are the said
finger keys and pins. Figure 14, of Sheet II. represents an end eleva-
tion of the circuit wheel and key shaft. The position of the finger keys
in the fraine is shown by Figure 2, of Sheet 1; the keys are hung upon
a small rod which passes through them at one end, and on which they
play up and down. These keys may be made of any convenient material,
but I construct them of wood with ivory tops; and on the under side of
them there is a metallic spring and a catch or cog to make fast to the
pins in the key shaft. Figure 8, of Sheet II. represents a side elevation
of one of these keys. The spring is to raise the key after it has been
pressed down by the finger. The use of the governor, before named, is
to equalize the motion of the machinery, preventing its running with too
great a velocity, and also to continue the motion of the other parts of
the composing machine when the key shaft has been stopped by the
pressing down of one of the keys, so that said shaft will resume its
motion more readily on being liberated by the raising of the key. This

page_text: governor is made to revolve by means of the cog wheel as above
described; and when the key shaft is stopped, the governor, by the
momentum which it has acquired, continues to run and to carry the
machinery, by causing the friction wheel j, to slide around under the
friction wheel K, so that when the finger key.is permitted to rise, and
the' catch or cog on the under side of it slips off the pin in the shaft, the
other machinery being-still in motion, the shaft will resume its motion
more readily than it otherwise would.
I will now explain the connected operation of this part of my machine.
I have before stated that each key has a pin in the key shaft, and either
a space or a cog on the circuit wheel, with which it corresponds, and to
which it belongs. I have also stated that this part of said magnetic letter
printing telegraph is to be stationed at the place from which intelligence
is to be communicated, and is to be used for breaking and closing the.
circuit of conductors, and for continuing the same, either broken or
closed, the necessary time for any given letter or dot or conventional
sign to be printed, or blank space to be formed, by the said printing part
of the machine to be stationed at the place to which communication is to
be made. The manner of producing this effect is as follows:-First, it
may be observed, from what has been stated, that when the key shaft,
and consequently the circuit wheel, are put into motion by the agency
of the weight attached to the cord 6, as described, the circuit of con-
ductors will be broken and closed in rapid succession; that is, it will be
broken whenever the spring ", passes through a space between the cogs,
and closed whenever it slides over the end of a cog. While this process
continues by the uninterrupted revolution of said shaft and wheel, no.
printing will be done, and the effect thus far will be only to adjust the
type wheel in the printing part of the machinery, and to bring it into
the proper position for the printing to take place, as will be herein-after
described: When, however, a letter or other character is to be printed
it is necessary that the motion of said shaft and circuit wheel.should be
arrested, allowing said circuit to remain either broken or closed-till. the
desired letter is printed; and this is done by merely pressing down, a
finger key; for example; if desirable to print the letter A, the finger
key A, must be pressed down;. this catches the pin A, in the shaft, and

page_text: .
of the circuit wheel, at the same time, the spring 1 will be on the cog
A, and the circuit of conductors will be closed, and, being closed, a
current of electricity or galvanisni will pass through the circuit, causing;
the letter A, to be printed at the place to which the message is to be.
communicated. If desirable to print the letter B, then, the finger-
key B, should be pressed down, which catching the pin B, will stop the
motion of the shaft and wheel while the spring 2, is in the space B, of
said circuit wheel; and the circuit of conductors being thus broken, the
current of electricity or galvanism will cease, causing the letter B, to be,
printed. In like manner any other letter, or a dot, blank space, or other;
sign, may be formed by merely pressing down the key marked with,
such letter, sign, or dot, or blank space, a like effect being produced,
upon the printing machine by either breaking or closing the circuit...¡
I will now proceed to describe that part of the said magnetic print-.
ing telegraph to be stationed at the place to which intelligence is>
to be transmitted, and which, for convenience of distinction, I have
denominated the printing machine. A front elevation of the said:
printing machine is exhibited by Figure 3, of Sheet 1; and an end,
elevation is exhibited by Figure 4, of said Sheet 1. This machine.
consists of the basis or bottom D, made of wood of any, convenient.
thickness, and supported by legs of any convenient length. Upon this;
basis, on each side of the working machinery, is to be erected a metallic;
framework suitable for the bearings for the different axles to run in,
and to sustain the machine. This framework has been omitted in;
the two last-mentioned Figures, because no particular form of it is.
necessary, and if represented it would obscure the parts of the machinery:
more important to be exhibited. A convenient form for one side of,
this frame is shown in Figure 10, of Sheet II., where the bearings,
for the axles are marked with the same letters that the axles belong-
ing to them are marked with. Two pieces of soft iron, bent in the
form of horse-shoe magnets, are, fixed in this basis, with the bent
part downwards, and the arms or ends upward (the basis or bottoin.
for convenience may be scolloped out on the under side with holes
in the remaining thin part for the ends of the said irons to pass
through, leaving the bent parts on the under side of the basis). Each

page_text: of the four ends of the said irons is encased by a hollow brass cylinder
d; fixed on said basis, Figure 4, Sheet 1. a, a, shew the positions of
two of these cylinders placed on one end of the basis, and which enclose
the arms of one of said bent irons, the remaining two having a similar
position on the other end of said basis. The dotted lines in the Draw-
ings of said cylinders represent said bent irons wound with coils of
wire. The arms of said irons are to be wound, in the usual manner to
form electro magnets, with wire made of copper or other good con-
ducting material; that is, the wire, after forming several helical coils
around an arm of one of said irons, extends to the other arm of the
same iron, and forming similar coils around that, but in a contrary
direction, extends thence to one of the arms of the other iron, and
being coiled round the arms of this iron, in a similar manner as the one
first mentioned, extends to and is connected with the lower end of one
of the metallic binding screws 3, 62, scen projecting from the top of said
basis, the other end of the wire forming said coils being attached to the
lower end of the other end of said binding screws 6, 6. This wire
coiled round the irons should be insulated in the ordinary way, that is;.
wound with silk or other non-conductor. The upper ends of said
binding screws are connected with the wires before mentioned, forming
a part of the circuit of conductors, one with. the wire extending from
the negative pole, and the other with the wire extending from the
positive pole of the battery or other generator of electricity or galvanism,
the wire forming said coils thereby also forming a part of said circuit of
conductors. It must be understood that the extension of the wire
forming said coils from one arm of said bent irous to the other, and in
connection with the lower ends of the binding screws, as described, is to
be made on the under side of said basis, in the space scolloped out for
such purpose aforesaid. The ends or arms of said bent irons should
extend up through or above the tops of the cylinders in which they
are placed, so that armatures may come into contact with them.
An armature of suitable size is hung by a hinge to the negative
pole of each of the temporary or electro-magnets, the other ends
resting upon the positive poles of said magnets, so as to play easily
up and down. c, is a small steel bar about a quarter of an inch

page_text: square, extending-along the front of the machine from the positive pole
of one of said magnets to the positive pole of the other of said magnets,
with the ends resting upon and secured fast to the loose ends of the
two armatures aforesaid. Thus arranged it will be observed that when
the ends of said armatures play up and down upon the positive poles
of the said magnets they will carry the bar c, with them. The rod c,
connects this bar with a spring d, by a joint. This spring is fixed
at one end to a small shaft f, hung in the frame; that part of the
spring between the connecting rod e, and said shaft, is inflexible so
as to form the arm of a lever, and to turn said shaft as the rod works
up and down; the other portion of said spring is flexible, and the end
thereof rests upon a shoulder or pin in the side of the frame so as to
raise the connecting rod e, the bar c, and the ends of the armatures
to which it is attached, the eighth of an inch, when the same are not
held down by the power of the electro-magnets. By this arrangement
the force of the spring and that of the magnets act in opposite directions;
and the effect is, that when the circuit of conductors is closed, and the
electric or galvanic current passes round the magnets, giving them their
attracting quality, the armatures will be drawn down to the ends of
said magnets, bending the flexible part of the spring d, and turning the
shaft to which the other and inflexible part of said spring is attached; and
that when the circuit of conductors is broken, and said magnets thereby
deprived of their attracting quality, the spring d, will again raise the
connecting rod, bar, and armatures, and at the same time turn back the
shaft to which it is attached; and thus the armatures, bar, and councct-
ing rod are moved alternately up and down, and said shaft turned back
and forward, ns often as the circuit of conductors is broken or closed.
To the shaft f, also shown by Figures 5, and 6, Sheet II., at about
one eighth of an inch from the centre is fixed an escapement; the two
arms thereof forming a right angle, as exhibited by Figure 7, Sheet II.,
being a side elevation of said escapement. Letter A, is a wheel fixed
to an axle hung in the frame parallel to the shaft f, which wheel may
be about six inches diameter, and one eighth of an inch thick. On the
periphery of this wheel are twenty-eight protruberances, (and in some
instances a larger number,) formed by scollops in said periphery, as

page_text: shown by Drawings, Figures 1, and 15, of Sheet II., representing a side
elevation of said wheel and its axle; and at Figure 2, a cut section of
the wheel and its axle. On the engl of twenty-six of these protuberances.
is a type of a letter cmbracing the twenty-six letters of the English;
alphabet; on the end of one the remaining two is a type of the period,
ar dot, and the other represents a blank, and may be a little shorter.
than the others. These letters, dot, and blank correspond respectively,
with the letters, dot, and blank, &c. on the finger keys above described.;
This wheel I call the type wheel. Fixed in one side of the type wheel.
(and, for convenience of distinction, say the front side,) are, say, fourteen.
small metallic pius, which project about one quarter of an inch from the.
periphery of the wheel. The arms of the escapement above described,
extend along the front part of the type wheel, so that the catches in
said arms make fast to these pins, the escapement being so adjusted
that the pins will not take into both catches at the same time, but so
that when one pin is liberated from the catch in one arm by a vibration
of the escapement, another will be caught by the catch of the other arm
thereof. The escapement being caused to vibrate by the motion of the,
shaft f, to which it is attached as before described, and the type wheel.
being, caused to revolve by a soparate and distinct power, as will be
lierein-after described, thie, result is, that the pins are caught alternately.
by the arms of the escapement, and. the motion of the type wheel is thus
interrupted and: regulated by an application of the power of electro-,
magnetism; and it may here be observed that this is the only direct use.
or application which I make of this power, that of moving the escape-.
ment, and thereby regulating the motion of the type wheel. The type
wheel is caused to revolve by the power of the weight attached to.
the cord g, passing through the basis D, and winding round the barrel
h, fixed upon an axle hung in the frame, and having a ratchet with the
necessary fixtures arranged in the, ordinary way for winding up the
weight, and also a.cog wheel which works into the pinion.i, with a cog:
wheel at the opposite. end of the axle of said, pinion which works into;
the pinion j, and revolves the type wheel).
I have now described how the type wheel is caused to revolve, and;
the manner in which its motion is interrupted and regulated by the.

page_text: escapement;. and in order to better understand the object, application,1
and effect of the other parts of the printing machine, it may be of user
to notice here what would be the motion of the parts already describedf
if put into operation without any additions being made thereto. If
the weight attached to the cord g, causing the type wheel to revolvė,,
be wound up...and the circuit of conductors be broken and closed in.
rapid succession by the revolution of tlie key shaft and circuit wheel,,
the arms of the escapement will vibrate, and the type wheel will
revolve by a regular hitching motion as fast as permitted by the vibra
tions of the escapement, and the escapement will play with sufficient,
velocity to give the type wheel. about sixty revolutions in a minutē.>
If in the meantime the key shaft be stopped, causing the circuit to
remain broken or closed, the type wheel would be held in one position:
by the escapement, and the whole operation would cease until the key,
shaft had again resumed its process of breaking and closing the circuit.>
It is therefore obvious that the other fixtures are necessary to cause,
the machine to print, and these are as follows:-B, is a cylinder.or
drum, which I call the paper cylinder, the axle.upon which this cylinder,
is placed is hung in two small metallic.supports or arms b, about three,
inches in length;.the lower ends of these supports or arms being firmly}
attached to an axle hung in the frame, and with which they vibrate,)
carrying said cylinder to and from the type wheel. m, m, are small,
metallic, rods,, connecting, by a joint with the upper ends of the posts 1;1;1
these rods are shewn' more.distinctly. by Eigure 5: Sheet 1, being a plan
of said rods, and the parts to which they arc .connected; the angles:
Being formed; in. the rods to accommodate the space between them to
the, length and movement of the paper cylinder. The axle of the,
cylinder is to run in the tops of the supports, and is held down by the
pressure of the springs o, .o. The ends of these connecting rods,m,-m
are connected to eccentrics on the shaft n, by loose bands round said;
excentrics, so that when the shaft n.resolves: (as I shall herein-after,
describe), the connecting rods m², m, and consequently the paper
cylinder B, are projected forward and drawn back 'by said-eccentrics,
the, paper cylinder being hung on the arms, or supports to which the

page_text: rods are attached, and said supports or arms turning with the axle to
which they are attached, as before described. The paper on which the
letter or messuage is to be printed must be wound round the cylinder
B. This paper cylinder must be hungat such a distance from the type
wheel that each revolution of the eccentric shaft n, will bring the paper
wound round the paper cylinder in contact with one of the types. To
cause the paper cylinder to revolve so as to move cach letter forward,
that another may be printed by the side of it, there are two catches
p and q, Figures 3 and 5, Sheet 1, which extend the length of the
cylinder, and works in notches or teeth formed in the edge of one end
of said paper cylinder; said edge extends a little above the paper, and
answers the purpose of a ratchet wheel. The catch g, is attached to the
side of the frame by the pins or screws at y', q', forming an access on
which it turns. Under the catches are springs by which they are sus-
tained and kept in the notches or teeth. The catch p, is permanently
attached to the supports or arms on which the paper cylinder is hung,
so that it moves with the cylinder in its motion to and from the type
wheel. The catch p, also works in the notches on the end of the
cylinders. The effect of these catches in causing the cylinder to revolve
is as follows:-When the cylinder is moved back from the type wheel, the
catch takes into the said notches or teeth, and turns the cylinder far
enough to move the last letter printed out of the way of the next to be
printed; and as the catch p, retains its position, it prevents the cylinder
from turning back, and thus the cylinder is turned forward sufficiently
for the letters to clear each other each time that it is projected forward
by the excentric shaft as before described. A screw is cut upon one end
of the axle of the paper cylinder, and also in the grove on the end of
the supports in which it runs, by means of which the cylinder will be
moved horizontally as it revolves, and the letters will thereby be printed
in a helix round the cylinder. When it has thus moved the length
of it, it is to be lifted out of the grooves in the posts, and set back,
so as to commence the printing again at the other end of the cylinder;
or the paper cylinder may be arranged with the ends of its axle plane
so as not to move endwise, in which case the paper wound round, the

page_text: cylinder niust run off as the cylinder revolves; and as less space would
be necessary in such case for the cylinders between the connecting rods
m, m, said rods may be made without the angles. Figures 6, and 7,
Sheet 1, shew an arrangement of this kind; and Figures 8, and 9, of
said Sheet 1, shews another arrangement for the movement of the
paper cylinder B, to cause the letters to be printed in paralel lines, or
in the usual manner; line after line, by means of the cam wheel m³,
spring guide n, and racket whcel n. The material most convenient
to be used for the printing, instead of ink, is plumbago, with which the
type may be supplied by the small wheel or roller 2, hung in the frame
over the type wheel roller. r, is so hung that its axle will slide up and
lown in a grove, the surface of the roller coming into contact with
the type, and being turned by the friction thereof. The plumbago must
be pulverized, and placed in a groove cut in the perifphery of said roller,
and covered by a suitable substance (woollen cloth answers a good pur-
pose, the plumbago will work through the cloth sufficiently to supply
the type coming into contact with the cloth.
I will now explain the manner in which the shaft n, having tlie
eccentrics to which the rods m, m, are attached, is caused to revolve,
then also how its motions are regulated. The power causing the
revolutions of said shaft is from a weight attached to the end of the
cord ke, which cord is wound round a barrel or drum having a ratchet
wheel and cog wheel arranged for the convenience of winding up
the weight by means of a crank similar to the like fixtures attached
to the weight and cord g, as before described. Figure 4, Sheet II.
exhibits a cut section of these barrels, ratchet wheels, cog wheels,
and the axles on which they are hung. The cog wheel attached .to
the axle of the barrel S, works in and carries the pinion and axis
t. The cog wheel on the opposite end of this axis works into a
pinion attached to the said shaft n, and thus the shaft n, is caused
to revolve. Said series of wheels and pinions should be so adapted
as to gain velocity. If, now, no regulator or obstruction were inter-
posed, the shaft n, would continue to revolve with great velocity
until the weight attached to the end of the cord k, had run down.
and would carry the paper cylinder to and from the type wheel at

page_text: .
! each revolution. But in order to print any given letter, it is 'neces-
sary that the shaft n, should only revolve when the type of the letter
.desired, to be printed is brought opposite the paper cylinder by the
type wheel, that is, it should only revolve when the type wheel has been
stopped by pressing 'down one of the finger keys marked with the given
character, as before described. To accomplish this I use the following
contrivance :-u, is a lever, with the larger end attached to the frame
by an axle forming a fulcrum on. which it works; the other, being the
small bent end of the lever, playing up and down by the side of the
periphery of the type wheel; and on the side of the type wheel opposite
to: that on which the escapement before. described works, and about
half an incl from the periphery of said. wheel, are inserted twenty-
eight (or more small round metallic pins; these pins correspond in
number with the protuberances on the type wheel, and are placed on
radial lines drawn from the centre of said wheel to the types. The
positions of these pins are represented by the sinall quadrants and
circles in Figure 1, and Figure 15, Sheet II. It must be understood,
⚫ however, that these round pins are on the side of the wheel opposite
to that which is represented by said last-mentioned..Figures. The
quadrants on the side of the wheel exhibited representing the pins and
the form of the same, upon which the escapement works, is before
described. a; and b; Figure 2, Sheet II., shows the form of one of
the escapenient pins, and of one of tlie round: pins, detached from the
wheel. The small end of said lever it, has a straight surface of about
three cighths.of an inch in length, so as to rest on the said pins. This
small end of the lever is bent in the manner shewn by the Figure, so
that it may fall when required between said pins. The metallic rod Z,
'is attached to said. lever by ineans of a screw or pin forming a joint on
which it works; the lower end of this rod is connected with a hydraulic
regulator C, so constructed and arranged that the rod. Z, and the lover u
to which it. is attached, may risc rapidly, but can only fall or pass down-
ward very gradually and slowly. The. construction and operation of
the hydraulic regulator I shall hereafter: explain. On the side of said
"lever is fixed the pin V, about one quarter of an inch in length.
Firmly fixed on the shaft n, beford described, is a thin metallic wheel
•

page_text: E, of an eccentric form; and 'shown by Figures 11, and 12, Sheet 1].
The pin V, in the lever is designed to slide on the periphery of this
wheel as the wheel revolves for the purpose of changing the position of
the lever u. The wide part of this wheel, that is, the part of the
circumference furthest from its centre of motion, is made thicker than
the other part of the wheel, say three eighths of an inch thick. In
this thick part of said wheel are formed two catches or shoulders
W, and X, which, successively take the pin V, as it slides upon the
periphery of the wheel, thereby stopping the motion of the wheel.
These catches or shoulders are about half an inch apart, X being
rather farther from the circumference or from the centre of motion
of the wheel than W, so that as the wheel revolves, the pin V will
first take into the shoulder W, and on being liberated from that
will next take into the shoulder X. The shoulder W, is so formed
that the pin V, is to be liberated from it by being raised; but the
shoulder X, consists of a small projection of the thick part of the wheel
having a space worked out under it, so that when the pin V, takes into
it, it can only be liberated by falling below and passing out on the
under side of the catch or shoulder. This wheel and the lever a, with
the pin V, will then operate together thus:-As the wheel E, revolves
with the shaft on which it is fixed, the pin V, supposing it to start from
that part of the wheel nearest to the centre of motion) will slide round
upon the periphery of the said wheel, the lever being gradually raised
thereby until the pin V, comes in contact with the shoulder W, which
will stop the motion of the eccentric wheel and its shaft: The wheel
and shaft will then remain stationary.until the lever 'u, be raised, so as
to lift the pin V, out of the catch W; and this will be done by the first
round pin in the type wheel which may pass the end of the lever, the
round pins in the type wheel.striking the ends of the lever at y, as the
type wheel revolves, throwing the pin out of the shoulder W; on this
being done the said eccentric wheel and shaft will revolve the distance
between the two shoulders W and X, and the pin V- will then take
into the shoulder X, and the motion of the wheel and shaft will again
be stopped; as above stated, the pin can only be extricated from the
shoulder X, by falling below, it, and passing out on the under side, but

page_text: this it cannot do while the type wheel is in motion, for as the lever is
prevented from falling suddenly by the hydraulic regulator, and as the
pins successively come in contact with the small end of the lever at Y,
the lever is kept up, and the pin V, in the shoulder X, until the type
wheel be stopped. "When the type wheel is stopped the small bent end
of the lever gradually falls between two of the said round pins; the pin
V, at the same time falls below the shoulder X, and upon the circum-
ference of the eccentric wheel nearest the centre of its motion and the
wheel and shaft in, revolves, and the pin V again takes into the shoulder
W, as before; and thus the shaft n, is caused to revolve when the type
wheel is stopped, and to bring the paper on the cylinder in contact with
the type. Figure 9, Sheet II. exhibits a cut section of the hydraulic
regulator nsed to regulate the motion of the lever u, before described.
It consists of an exterior glass vessel a', which should be made water-
tight, and when in operation nearly filled with water or other liquid.
Within this glass vessel, and fixed to the bottom thereof, is an apparatus,
constructed to act upon the principle of the forcing pump; and it is to
be entirely immersed in the water contained by the glass vessel: It
consists of the small cylindrical vessel 6', 6', with holes in the sides,
through which water may pass. At the top it has the small projection
C', C', with a screw cut in its outer edge, and on which is screwed
water-tight the upper part of the apparatus d, d'. c, is a metallic guide
extending across the upper end of the cylinder b', b; in this guide works
the spindle of a spindle-valve f, which valve is circular and fits air-tight
on the shoulder c', c'. g, is a hollow piston or plunger, working through
the top of the valve chamber d, d. To the top of this piston or plunger
is attached a piston rod Z, which extends out through the neck of said
glass vessel. The piston or plunger may be solid or hollow; but it is
better to have it hollow, in order that it may be light. The sides of the
valve chamber d, d, converge towards the top. The piston or plunger
should work loosely in the top of the valve chamber d, d', leaving a
spacc between the two sufficient for water to pass in small quantities.
The operation of this hydraulic regulator is as follows:-When the
plunger or piston is raised by the lever u, attached to the piston rod as
described, a vacuum is formied, the water passing the holes in the side

page_text: of the cylinder b, b, and the chamber d, d, is filled with water. When
the piston or plunger descends, the water which it displaces passes
between the plunger and the sides of the chamber d, d, in which it
works;
and as this space is small, admitting the water only in small quan-
tities, the plunger must descend very slowly; but having no resistance
to overcome but the weight of the plunger, it ascends rapidly, which is
important to regulate the motion of the lever u, as above described.
.
After the machine is arranged as above described, all that is necessary
to cause it to print is for the person attending the composing part to
press down the finger key marked with the character or letter which he
may desire to print; this being done, the type wheel will stop when the
type of the same letter or character is opposite the paper cylinder; and
the type wheel so stopping, the lever u will revolve, bringing the cylinder
in contact with the type, and thus the letter or character will be
printed. In case of using only twenty-eight characters on the type
wheel, &c., it might be understood between the person making and
the one receiving communications, that the first ten letters of the
alphabet represent the numerals; when the letters are to represent
numerals, one of the conventional signs or two dots might preceed
said letters, and terminate such representation of numerals.
When a message is about to be transmitted it may be necessary for
the person tending the composing part of the machine to give notice of
the same to the person tending the printing part of the machine by an
alarum. This is effected as follows:-F, Figures 3, and 4, Sheet 1, is a
bell, and a", is its knocker or hammer attached to the frame by a spring
at the lower end. In the side of the eccentric wheel E, is a pin b', about
three quarters of an inch long, against which the rod of the knocker
rests. When this eccentric wheel revolves, the hammer falls upon the
bell and gives the alarum; and thus the bell will be rung as often as
the shaft n, revolves, or until the person tending the printing part of
the machine is attracted thereto. While the machine is in process of
printing the knocker may be secured from the bell by means of a hook
attached to the frame; but the escapement may be driven by an
eccentric wheel which is carried by the power of a weight, and having
its motion regulated by a new and different application of the electric
TR

page_text: or galvanic force, as follows:-Figure 1, Sheet III. exhibits n front
elevation of the printing machine already described, with the parts
thereof omitted which are not to be used when the electric or galvanic
force is applied, as I shall now describe, and with the parts of mecha-
nism added which are necessary for such application.
The parts
omitted are the bent irons wound with wire and used to form temporary
or electro magnets, the cross bar C, the armatures, the perpendicular
connecting rod e, the spring and lever d, and the binding screws b³, b³.
Part 1, of Figure 1, of said Sheet III. exhibits a front elevation of the
printing machine before described, with the parts above mentioned
omitted. Parts 2, and 3, of said Figure 1, exhibits a front elevation
of the mechanism which is to be added for applying the electric or
galvanic force in the manner as I shall now describe; and it may first
be observed that this mechanism is to be enclosed by a framework
which may be attached to the frame of the other parts of the printing
machine, and be made of any suitable materials to form propped
bearings for the shafts and axles to work in, herein-after described.
This framework has been intentionally omitted in the Drawings, as no
particular shape or form of it is important, so long as it answers the
above-mentioned purpose: e, is the connecting rod, placed in a hori-
zontal position instead of a perpendicular position, as before described,
with one end connected to one arm of the escapement by means of a
pin on which it may easily work; the other end of this connecting rod
is loosely attached to an eccentric wheel upon the shaft b. "Figure 3,
of said Sheet III. presents a full size plan of said shaft and eccentric
wheel, with the connecting rod attached to the eccentric wheel, and also
the two arms c', and d, which are attached at one end to the shaft, near
said eccentric wheel; the other or outer end of each arm being bent.
at right angles, as shown by the Drawings. These armis may be made
of small wire. .e, is an arm attached to and extending out from an
axle or shaft. Figure 4, of said Sheet III. exhibits a full sized plan
of this arm and axle; and Figure 5, is a full sized elevation of the
same. f, and 9, are small pins projecting from the arm; the pin g, is
designed to catch the bent ends of the arms c, and d, as the shaft on
which said arms are fixed revolves. The pin f, plays in a hole or slot

page_text: in the end of the rod h. i, i, i, i, i, are helical coils of insulated wire.
wound in the usual way to considerable thickness, and so as to leave.
a small orifice or hole at or near the centre, so as to admit therein a
small magnet; thesc coils of wire are arranged in pairs. Figure 6, of
said Sheet III. exhibits a full sized end elevation of one pair of said;
coils of wire, with a magnet placed in them. j, is a permanent magnet,
being a steel wire or rod, the top similar to those already described.
is the rod connecting the magnets, one end of which is connected with
the wire forming a part of an electric or galvanic circuit. The poles:
of this additional apparatus are W, and X: The poles W, and X,.
should be connected in the circuit which extends to the most distant
place or termini; and this, for the sake of distinction, I will call the
first circuit. When parts 2, and 3, of said Figure 1, are used in con-
nection, the poles or wires to be connected in the second circuit are S>>
and t. This, the second circuit, may extend only a short distance from:
the printing machine, and be broken and closed by the first circuit';
that is, the breaking and closing of the first circuit will also break and,
close the second circuit, as follows:-When the first circuit is closed,
and the magnets in the circuit and the rod u, are drawn down, the end;
of said rod u comes into contact with the wire or pole t, and closes the
second circuit. When the first circuit is broken, the rod u, having a
spring at one end, will be raised so as to break the second circuit; the;
rod, should be a good conductor of electricity; and thus it will be.
seen that when the first circuit is closed, the second circuit will be}
closed also, and that when the first circuit is broken, the second is
broken also; and therefore breaking and closing the first circuit by:
means of said circuit wheel, as described, is, in effect, breaking and
closing both circuits. And as only a very small force will be necessary.
to break and close the second circuit, the first 'circuit, however far it
may be extended, will always have power sufficient for such purpose;
and as the second circuit may be connected with a battery or other.
generator of electricity or galvanism placed near to or in the same or an
adjoining apartment with. the printing machine, all the disadvantago
of the great length of the wire,.which extends from the station of the

page_text: composing machine to that of the printing machine, is obviated, and the
power of a short circuit is brought to bear upon the rod to regulate
the motion of the shaft as described.
On the foregoing description of the said magnetic letter printing
telegraph, I have spoken of circuits of electric or galvanic conductors.
By this I wish to be understood as meaning any known arrangement
or means of causing a current of electricity or galvanism to flow
through or along the wires, so as to pass round the electro mag-
nets represented in Figures 3, and 4, of Sheet 1; or to flow through
or along the wires forming the coils, shown in parts 2, and 3, of
Figure 1, Sheet III., when this latter apparatus is used instead of
said electro magnets. (As these different modes of causing a current
of electricity or galvanism are now well understood, and as I do not
claim them as any part of my Invention, I deem it unnecessary to
describe them in detail.) When the circuit is closed, and a current of
electricity or galvanism passes through said wire, the small magnets
which easily play up and down in the holes left in or near the centre of
said coils are drawn down, together with the rod h, to which they are
attached; and when the circuit is broken, and the current of electricity
or galvanism ceases to pass, the rod h, which is worked in the form of a
spring at one end, as described, rises, together with said magnets,
and thus the rod will play up and down as fast as the circuit is broken
and closed. When said rod is drawn down it carries with it the end
of the arm e', by means of the pin f, in the end of said arm, which
passes through the slot or hole in the end of said rod, and when said
rod is elevated it also carries with it the end of said arm. This motion,
it may be observed, changes the position of the pin g, causing it to rise
and fall as said magnets and said rod and the end of said arm rise and
fall. The cogs or bent ends of the arms c', and d', cach in turn comics
into contact with the pin g, at every revolution of the shaft b. The arm
e, is longer than the arm d', so that the bent end of the arm c', will
come into contact with the pin g, when the magnets are drawn down,
and the pin g is at its greatest distance from the shaft b, or from the
centre of motion of the arms C¹, and d¹. The arm d', must be made of

page_text: such length that its bent end will catch to the piu g, when the magnets
and rod h are raised, and the pin g is therefore nearest to the shaft b,
or to the centre of motion of the said arms C', and d'. The bent ends
of said arms strike said pin in a horizontal position, the side of the bent
end of the arm coming in contact with the side of the pin, so that one
is parallel to the other, and so that the pin may casily slip below or be
raised above the bent ends of said arms. When, therefore, the magnets
are drawn down, carrying with them the rod h, and the end of the arm,
the pin is carried down, and the bent end of the short arm d³, with
which it was in contact, is thereby liberated, and the shaft and eccentric
wheel performs half of one revolution, and the connecting rod e, will be
drawn back, and the bent end of the long arm C', will then take to the
pin g, and stop the motion of the shaft, which will remain stationary
until the magnets, the rod h, and the end of the arm e', are elevated,
when said ping will be raised, and liberating the bent end of the long
arm C¹, the shaft b, and the eccentric wheel to which said connecting
rod is attached, will again revolve half round, projecting said connecting
rod forward. The arrangement, as above described, will operate suc-
cessfully unless the distance be very great between the two stations.
When the distance is very great between the places from which and to
which the message or intelligence is to be communicated, it may be
found of use to add the power of a separate current of clectricity or gal-
vanism. This may be done by having an additional apparatus exhibited
by part 3, Figure 1, of Sheet III., which consists of a set of wire coils
and magnets.connected by a rod bent at right angles; or it may be bent
in the form of a horse-shoe magnet, with the two arms or ends straight,
and passing loosely into the openings or holes formed as aforesaid in the
said coils of wire. A magnet of this description is to be placed into
each pair of said coils of wire, as shown in parts 2, and 3, of sail
Figure 1. But I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to
any particular number or size of said pairs of coils of wire; the more
there are, and the larger they are, the greater will be the force. h, is a
small metallic bar or rod attached to and connecting the tops of said
magnets by joints, with the end k, of said rod firmly attached to the frame.

page_text: The part of the rod near the end , which is attached to the frame,
should be made a spring, so that the other parts of said rod, together
with said magnets to which it is attached, may easily play, up and
down. 1, is a weight attached to a cord, which winds round a drum
or barrel hung upon an axle, and arranged with a ratchet and a
ratchet wheel in the ordinary manner, for conveniently winding up the
weight when the same shall have run down. The cog whcel m, is upon
the same axle on which the drum is hung, and works into a pinion
and carries the wheel and axle n. The cog wheel n, works into a
pinion, and carries the wheel and axle o. The cog wheel o, works
into a pinion, and carries the wheel and axle p, and the cog wheel p
works into the pinion r, on one end of the said shaft b, as shown by
said Figure 3, and thus said shaft is caused to revolve by the power of
the weight. These wheels and pinions are so adapted as to give suffi-
cient velocity to the shaft b.
Having now described the parts of the above mechanism, I will next
explain the manner of their operation; and it may first be observed that
the object of the mechanism, the operation of which I am now about to
describe, is to give the proposed motion to the escapement before
lescribed. This is done as follows:-The weight, by means of said
series of wheels and pinions, connected as above described, give motion
to the shaft b, on which is the eccentric wheel to which the connecting
rod e, is attached as above described; and if the motion of said shaft
were not interrupted, it would revolve with great rapidity until said
weight had run down; and inasmuch as the connecting rod e, is attached
to the eccentric wheel placed upon said shaft, said connecting rod will
be once projected forward and once drawn back at each revolution of
said shaft. This motion of the connecting rod causes the escapement to
vibrate, and produces the like effect thercon as the motion of the con-
necting rod when placed in a perpendicular position, as in the manner
of applying the electric or galvanic force which I have before described:
The manner of regulating the motion of the shaft b, by an application
of the clectric or galvanic force, and by breaking and closing the circuit
is as follows:-S, and t, are continuations of the wire forming the coils

page_text: before described; S, being one pole, and t, the other pole, forming a
part of the circuit. Also I propose to form a connection between
the several stations of the electric printing apparatus, through or across
the occan or inland waters, by forming a line of communication with
places separated by water, which I denominate THE OCEANIC TELE-
GRAPHIC APPARATUS, and to effect which, I propose to construct a line of
two, three, or more wires, in such a manner as to give it strength and
durability; and as a preservative from the action of the marine water I
propose to coat the wires with copal or other varnish, after which to
bind them round with waxed or sere cloth, tape or twine, and then to
have the wires platted by machinery, in the manner of a riding whip,
with cord or twine well prepared with wax, or a composition of bitu-
minous gums and waxy or greasy substances, which will answer a two-
fold purpose, videlicit, to protect the wire from corrosion or contact
with each other, when laid side by side, and to give an increased
strength to the same. After this operation I propose, when it may be
found necessary, to form around the whole of these wires, of rougher or
cheaper material, a platted cable or rope, formed of strong material,
such as hemp combined or saturated with tar, or tar combined with
grease, wax, or bituminous substances, within which said materials I
propose to encase one, two, or more wires of communication. This
said cable or rope I denominate my Oceanic Line, upon which, at inter-
vals of a mile or more, I affix ballasted weights or floats or buoys similar
in form to those shown in Sheet 1II., Figure 8, letters D, E, F, or of
any more convenient form, made of metal, and coated with bitumen,
and ballasted with a concrete. Letter D, exhibits a plan of the surface;
letter E, a section; and letter F, the external side view of a ballast
weight, shown as attached to the cable or oceanic line G, of communi-
cation, which may be supposed to be at or near the bottom of the ocean.
Letters A, B, C, represent the apparatus I proposé to usc for con-
necting the oceanic line of communication with the shore, in positions
where such protection to said line or wires may be deemed necessary,
which is composed of tubes or pipes, coated with bituminous substances,
and which I propose to arrange as much as practicable to a bold coast

page_text: or shore, or, where such cannot be found, to sink the said tubes a suffi-
cient depth below the surface, so as to prevent accident from anchorage
of vessels, &c. &c. The wires in this case inay be passed through the
pipes or tubes separately for such distance, or combined with the cable
or rope as before described. And for the better distinguishing the said
wires one from the other, I propose to bind or to coat them severally
with distinct colours, such as black, red, blue, &c., according to their
number and position, that at any distant point each wire may be known
respectively, in case of accident, or repairs or a reunion being neces-
sary; which marks of distinction should be carefully attended to for the
whole distance. And for the convenience of getting any portion of the
Hine in the said tubes I have arranged a longitudinal opening to them
on their upper surface, over which are to be fitted water-tight coverings,
as shown in Sheet III., letter C, Figure 7, which said pipes can be
used at intervals, or generally where pipes or tubes are requisite. I
propose generally to connect them together by screw joints, and, where
it may be necessary, to cement said joints with bitumen. A, Figure 7,
represents a cross section, and B, another cross section, showing the
longitudinal opening and covering to the same; C, is an external view
of a pipe, with a longitudinal opening and covering to the same, show-
ing the screw joint and shoulder to said tube.
I have now described the mechanism, and the arrangement thereof,
sufficient to transmit intelligence from the place at which the said com-
posing machine is stationed to the place at which the said printing
machine is stationed. But it will be important to reverse the order of
such communications between the same points or places, and this may
be done by having two composing machines and two printing machines
stationed at each place or point, and connected with the same circuit
of conductors in like manner as before described. Also the intelligence
may be communicated to and recorded at any intermediate place or
places between the two most distant points or termini, by having at said
intermediate place or places a printing machine like the one described
above, and connected at such intermediate place or places with the
circuit of conductors, in like manner as the printing machine is con-

page_text: nected with said circuit of conductors at the most distant place or
termini as before described.
.
What I claim as my Invention, and wish to secure by Letters
Patent, is as follows:-
First, the application and arrangement of a set of alphabetical (or
numerical) finger keys, for the purpose of stopping the motion of the
key shaft and circuit wheel as herein described, and for the purpose
herein set forth.
.
Secondly, the adaptation of the key shaft, circuit wheel, and finger
keys respectively, and their combination for breaking and closing
a circuit of electric or galvanic conductors, and continuing the same
either broken or closed, as described in the foregoing Specification.
Thirdly, the combination of the escapement with the type wheel
by means of pins in the side of said type wheel, corresponding in
number with half the number of letters and other characters which the
type wheel is constructed to form, and also with armatures of electro
magnets by means of the other mechanism used, for the purpose of
regulating the motion of said type wheel, as herein described.
Fourthly, the formation of the type wheel and its combination with.
the lever u, by means of pins fixed in the side of said type wheel,
equal in number to the numbers of letters and other characters, (and by
characters I mean as well the blank space or spaces, as the letters and
dot or numerals,) which the type wheel may be constructed to form,
for the purpose of regulating the motion of the shaft n, to carry
paper cylinder to and from the type wheel, all as described in said
Specification.
.
Fifthly, the formation of the eccentric wheel E, on the shaft n, and
the application of the lever u, combined with the pin V, for the purpose
of detaining and liberating the said wheel.
Sixthly, the mutual adaptation of the lever u, and of the hydraulic
regulator, and their combination to produce the effect herein pointed
out, and in the manner herein-before described.
Seventhly, the adaptation and arrangement of the paper cylinder, and
of the mechanism combined therewith, for carrying said cylinder to and
from said type wheel to receive the impressions upon the paper, and

page_text: eausing it at the same time to revolve by a hitching motion, thereby
carrying forward each letter or other character formed, so that the
next may be formed by the side of it, all as hercin-before described.
Eighthly, the application of plumbago to blacken the types of the
type wheel by means of the roller r, hung over the type wheel, as
herein described.
Ninthly, the mutual adaptation and arrangement of the finger keys,
the key shaft, the circuit wheel, and the type wheel, and their combi-
nation with the other mechanism, and with electro-magnets connected
with a circuit of electric or galvanic conductors, for the purpose of
transmitting intelligence between two or more distant points or places,
and to cause the same to be recorded by letters or other signs, as
described in said Specification. Also the combination and use of the
coils of wire, with the permanent magnets represented in parts 2, and 3,
of Figure 1, of Sheet III., for the purpose of giving motion to said
magnets by a current of electricity or galvanism passing through or
along said wire, as herein described. Also the combination of said
magnets and coils, with the other mechanism described, for the purpose
of applying the electric or galvanic force to regulate the motion of the
other parts of said mechanism, as herein-before described. Also the
combination of the shaft b, and the eccentric thereon, with the connect-
ing rod e, the arms c' and d', the arm e', and the pins f and g, to
divide the escapement, as above described, and as shown in part 2,
of Figure 1, Sheet III.
Tenthly, the combination of the parts of the apparatus represented by
parts 3, of Figure 1, Sheet III., and their combination with part 2, of
said Figure 1, for the purpose of breaking and closing the second
circuit, as herein-before described. And also the adaptation of ballasted
weights or floats or buoys to the oceanic line, in connection with this
printing apparatus, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Brett, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
JACOB (L.S.) BRETT.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirteenth day of May,
in the year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid Jacob Brett came before
our said Lady the Queen, in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid
was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that
Tenoso