Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 27th Aug.. 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 1888
I JAMES ALEXANDER MACDONALD 25 Clifton Road, Birkenhead, Wesleyan
Minister do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention consists in the application of glass, porcelain or earthenware to
electric bells, as a substitute for wood or metal generally used, in combination with
the electro-magnetic movement, terminals, and metal or other gong (when other than
glass porcelain or earthenware gongs as below described, are required).
In an ordinary electric Bell the gong is usually of metal, such as steel or bell-metal,
and is, as is well known, liable to tarnish and corrode. The woodwork also is liable
to lose its polish, and in many cases to warp and otherwise become disfigured; and
moreover it liable to contract damp sufficient to upset and disturb its necessary
insulating properties. My object in applying Glass Porcelain or Earthenware is to
avoid all these defects.
As an electric bell is well known, it will be only necessary for me to describe the
method of application best suited to the carrying out of my object. The Base may
be formed of a slab of Glass, Porcelain or Earthenware of suitable shape, with
suitable holes for attaching by means of pins and cement or screws the electro-
magnetic movement and terminals, supports for gong and cover. The cover also is
made of the same materials to which are attached suitable metallic lugs. Or the
whole cover together with its lugs may be moulded in Glass Porcelain or
Earthenware. These lugs are for the purpose of attaching the cover to the Base.
Another way of attaching the cover to the Base is by means of screw bolts going
through from the face and screwing into suitable nuts attached to the base flush with
or below the surface thereof. The gong may be formed of glass, porcelain or
earthenware with a hole moulded or otherwise made in its centre and attached to a
suitable support by means of a screw passing through this hole. The gong is better
moulded or formed with a supporting stem all in one piece, this stem proceeding
from under the centre of the gong to a sufficient distance to allow of its being firmly
cemented or attached to the base. One method of attaining this object is to let

page_text: the stem into a socket in or on the Base and to hold or secure it there by a
suitable cement; or it may be attained by letting the stem into a ring composed of
India-rubber or other elastic material and fixed in hole made in the base to
receive it.
In addition to the advantages of my invention described above another great
advantage is that Glass, Porcelain and Earthenware are well adapted for receiving
artistic ornamentation and displaying beautiful effects.
Dated this Swoond day of December 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Bells.
I JAMES ALEXANDER MACDONALD, late of 25 Clifton Road, Birkenhead, and
now residing at 43 Hillside Road Stamford Hill, London, N., Wesleyan Minister,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement—
It consists in the application and use of Glass or Porcelain or Earthenware or
artificial Stone to Electric Bells in combination with or in substitution for the
Metal and Wood commonly used, in connection with the Electro-Magnetic Movements
and Terminals and Metal or other Gongs (when other than Glass or Porcelain or
Earthenware Gongs as herein described are required). And in the construction of
Gongs together with their supporting stem, in one homogeneous piece of casting or
moulding.
In the ordinary Electric Bell the Gong is usually of metal such as steel or
bell-metal, and as is well known, is liable to tarnish and corrode. The woodwork
also is liable to lose its polish, and moreover to warp and otherwise to become
disfigured and it is also liable so to contract damp as to disturb and upset its
necessary insulating properties. My object in applying Glass or Porcelain or
Earthenware or artificial Stone is to avoid all these defects. Besides which the new
materials are better adapted for receiving artistic ornamentation and displaying and
exhibiting beautiful effects.
As an Electric Bell is well known, it will be only necessary for me to describe the
method of application best suited to the carrying out of my objects.
The Base may be formed of a Slab of Glass or Porcelain or Earthenware or
artificial Stone of suitable shape with suitable holes for attaching-by means of

page_text: cement or pins or screws-the Electro-Magnetic Movement with Terminals and
Cover and Gong.
The Cover is also made of Glass or Porcelain or Earthenware or artificial Stone,
to which are attached metallic lugs, or lugs cast or moulded with the Cover in a
single piece. These lugs are for the purpose of fastening the Cover to the Base.
Or the Cover may be attached to the Base by means of Screw-bolts going through
from the face and screwing into nuts on the opposite side.
The Gong may be formed of Glass or Porcelain or Earthenware with a hole
moulded or otherwise made in the centre and attached to a suitable supporting stem
by means of a screw passing through this hole. The Gong is better moulded or
formed with its supporting stem in a single piece, the said stem being extended to a
sufficient length to allow of its being firmly attached to the Base.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The use and application of Glass or Porcelain or Earthenware or artificial
Stone in the construction of the Gongs Covers and Bases to be combined with the
Electro-Magnetic Movements and terminals in the Manufacture of Electric Bells.
2. The production of the Gong together with its supporting stem in a single piece
of Casting or Moulding in the Manufacture of Electric Bells.
Dated this 25th day of August 1888.
JAMES ALEXR. MACDONALD