IMPROVEMENTS IN METALIC TELEGRAPH POLES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Atkinson, of Rock Ferry, in the County
of Chester, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN METALIC
TELEGRAPH POLES."-A communication from abroad by Elijah
Freeman Prentiss, of Montreal, Canada.
Sealed the 5th March 1872, and dated the 6th September 1871.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Joseph Atkinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 6th September 1871, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT KNOWN;
I, JOSEPH ATKINSON, of Rock Ferry, in the County of Chester, am
in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALIC TELEGRAPH
POLES," which has been communicated to me from abroad by Elijali
Freeman Prentiss, of Montreal, Canada, and I, the said Joseph
Atkinson, having petitioned Her most Excellent Majesty to grant
unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Letters Patent
for the said Invention, do hereby declare the following written statement.
to be à full and complete description of the said Invention, and the best.
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect,

page_text: reference being had to the annexed Drawings, and the letters and
Figures marked thereon (that is to say):
The object of the Invention is to combine in the construction of
telegraph poles (or the supports for the wires) the requisite strength
with lightness and capacity for being easily packed for transportation.
The improved pole is composed of sections of wrought iron or other
metal tubes united, supported, and bearing insulator arms, as herein-
after described.
Figure 1 shown on the annexed Drawings represents a vertical
elevation of one of the improved telegraph poles with its foundation,
socketed base plate, and stay pieces; and Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional.
elevation, illustrating the reducing screws or couplings by which the
several sections forming the pole are united. Figure 3 is the top of the
pole with the horizontal transverse adjustable sliding piece of metal
carrying the insulator arms, which may be made of any required length
and may be adjusted by set screws; and Figure 4 is a top view or plan
of the same.
Figure 5 is a top view or plan of the base plate, showing the screwed
socket to receive the heel of the pole and the side stays:
A is a cast-iron base formed with B fixed stays and C a screwed
socket for receiving the bottom of the pole, and D are projectors for
the purpose of effectually fastening the iron base into the ground.
E (Figure 2) is the section of a pipe (shown broken off) of say three
and one-half inches in diameter and of say ten feet or any other
convenient length, the lower end of which is passed through the stays B
and is screwed into the socket C and further fastened by means of keys
to the top of the stays B; and F is another section of say three inches
in diameter and of say eight feet or other convenient length; and G is
another length of tubing of say two inches in diameter about the
length of F; and H is another section which is say one and one-half
inches in diameter, which may be of any required length.
The several sections are fastened together by means of I reducing.
screws or couplings. K is an adjustable sliding piece of metal fastened.
to the pole by a screw or key, and to which are attached k the insulator
arms, which are made of tubular iron or other metal, and may be of.
any required length. They are secured to the sliding piece. K by set
screws.
r

page_text: There are other modes of fastening the sections together, but the one
described is preferred, as it insures a perfect fastening and is not liable
to oxydation.
The poles can be coated with silicate of soda, paint, or other pigment,
but it is preferred to galvanise them.
I would here remark that the number, size, and diameter of sections
may be varied according to circumstances, as for instance, a pole
suitable for country use will in most cases be of less dimensions than the
one herein-before described, fifteen feet being the average height out of
the ground, in which case a good serviceable pole with a base would not
exceed in weight one hundred pounds.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the relative proportions or dimensions of the several
parts herein-before described, as it will be readily seen that the same
may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention, but
what I claim is, the construction and use of the improved iron or other
metal telegraph pole, consisting of a cast-iron base A. with stays B,
socket C, and projectors D, in combination with the tubular
sections E, F, G, H, couplings I, and insulator arms K, k, substantially..
as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Atkinson, have hercunto
set my hand and affixed my seal, this Fifth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
JOSEPH (L.S.) ATKINSON.