IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRES AND CABLES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Hancock, of Upper Chadwell Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRES AND CABLES."
Sealed the 14th May 1859, and dated the 19th November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Hancock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th November 1858.
I, WALTER HANCOCK, of Upper Chadwell Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRES AND CABLES," to
be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in the use, as an insulating material, in the
place of gutta percha, as ordinarily employed, of a compound composed of
gutta percha or of india-rubber, or of an admixture of gutta percha and india-
rubber combined with one or more of the following substances, viz., shellac,
resin, Venice turpentine, or other similar non-conducting resinous or gum
resinous substance.
Secondly, in the preparation of the copper or other conducting wire, by
passing it through a cement composed of bitumen (preferring Trinidad
bitumen) and Venice turpentine, to which may be added, if thought desirable,
shellac, resin, or other similar non-conducting resinous or gum resinous
substance.
After the conducting wire has received its coating of gutta percha or other
insulating material, it may, thus coated, be passed through the same cement
prior to receiving its second, third, or fourth coating.

page_text: Thirdly, in the preparation of insulated wire about to be used in the manu-
facture of a cable, by. the passing it through a cement, as herein-before
described, immediately prior to the laying upon it of the strands or tapes of
the rope or other cable or covering.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter Hancock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th May 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
HANCOCK, of Upper Chadwell Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Walter Hancock, Her special licence that I, the said
Walter Hancock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Walter Hancock, 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WIRES AND
CABLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Walter Hancock,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under niy, 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 Walter Hancock, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists, firstly, in the use, as an insulating material, in the
place of gutta percha, as ordinarily employed, of a compound composed of
gutta percha, or of india-rubber, or of an admixture of gutta percha and

page_text: india-rubber combined with one or more of the following substances, namely,
shellac, resin, Venice turpentine, or other similar non-conducting resinous or
gum resinous substance.
In carrying this part of the Invention into effect, this compound or admixture
may be made by means of a masticating machine as ordinarily used by gutta
percha and india-rubber manufacturers; and the insulating compound may be
applied to the wire by means of the covering machines in general use. It is
obvious that the proportions of this compound (as well as those of the cement
herein-after named, under the second head of this my Specification,) will vary
in each instance, according to the particular degree of hardness, toughness, or
flexibility that may be required.
Secondly, my Invention-consists in the preparation of the copper or other
conducting wire, by passing it through a cement composed of asphalte or
bitumen (preferring in certain cases Trinidad bitumen), and Venice turpentine,
either with or without the addition of shellac, resin, or other similar non-con-
ducting resinous or guin-resinous substance.
In performing this part of my Invention, I prefer to apply the said cement
simultaneously with the laying on of the coating of gutta percha or other
insulating material, by means of an apparatus of a similar construction to that
ordinarily used for the laying on of the gutta percha, and fixed immediately
behind the "die" of the ordinary covering machine.
After the conducting wire has received its coating of gutta percha or other
insulating material, it may, thus coated, be passed through the same cement,
prior to receiving its second, third, or fourth coating.
Thirdly, my Invention consists in the preparation of insulated wire about to
be used in the manufacture of a cable by passing it through a cement, as
herein-before described, immediately prior to the laying upon it of the strands
or tapes of the rope or other cable or covering.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Hancock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
84, Fleet Street.
WALTER HANCOCK. (L.S.)